An Unlikely Proposition by Rosalyn Eves is a delightful Regency romance that weaves together a love triangle, fake engagement, blackmail, and dual points of view, creating a captivating tale that is sure to enchant fans of Regency Fiction. Rosalyn Eves masterfully brings 19th-century London to life. The dual perspectives provide a well-rounded view of these perfectly imperfect characters and is sure to delight fans of Bridgerton.

Meet Eleanor, the not-so-typical seventeen-year-old widow. She's not looking to tie the knot again, especially with her late husband's nephew breathing down her neck for the inheritance he himself will inherit upon her marriage. So, what does she do? Cooks up a plan involving a fake engagement to keep her nephew at bay.

Then there's Thalia, trying to start afresh after a disastrous debut in London. No room for romance, just focused on her poetry and being Eleanor's companion while trying to get her work published. Things get a bit complicated once she meets her employers fake fiancee.

This story is the second book in the the Unexpected Seasons Series, I did not read the first book, and I had no trouble at all diving head first into this one. Readers first meet Thalia in An Improbable Season and after reading An Unlikely Proposition I am interested in going back to Book One to discover more of her backstory and a bit of Henry's as well. Thalia was my favorite character, I liked her down to earth personality, Eleanor seemed immature and flightly to me but then again they are teenagers. This story also explores the stigma of social classes and the challenges of being a successful woman during this time period.


Read if you enjoy:

YA/Kisses only romance
Regency Era Drama
friendships and found family
HEA
Feel good, easy read

Thank you, Rosalyn Eves, and Austenprose PR for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

What a beautifully written and charming YA Regency romance! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

A 17-year-old widow, Eleanor, finds herself in a predicament. Despite her late husband's fortune, she is unable to remarry due to restrictions left in his will, and she’s constantly being hounded by his greedy nephew about it. In an effort to get him to leave her alone, Eleanor establishes a fake engagement with a friend.

Thalia answers an advertisement placed by Eleanor and goes to London to work as her companion. While there, she continues to pursue her quest to become a published poet. Not an easy feat in a very male dominated world.

I enjoyed both of these characters and was so invested in their experiences. I felt their frustrations with gender inequality, class differences, and their individual doubts and fears. I loved the way they evolved and grew through the story, and became true to themselves.

The romances they had with their unlikely suitors were sweet and charmingly portrayed. Owen and Henry were the perfect partners for these two unique women.

The overall story has the traditional terms, settings, and elements of a typical regency novel, but with a bit more modern dialogue. That in no way took away from the pleasure of the story.

An Unlikely Proposition is a fun read for regency romance lovers who enjoy YA fiction with complex characters and storylines, and kisses only romance.

Thanks to NetGalley, Rosalyn Eves, Macmillan USA, and Austenprose PR for providing me with an early copy. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Fans of An Improbable Season won't be disappointed by this follow-up! I enjoyed getting to see the continuation of Talia's story and meet some new characters.

An Unlikely Proposition comes back to the world of the ton we saw in the first book but explores class and relationships in a way that the first did not. While romantic relationships are a part of the story, friendships, and family also play a key role. There is also a theme of self-discovery that I think lots of younger readers will relate to.

I tend to be more one for a character-driven story but in this case, I really enjoyed the plot. I liked how the situations the characters managed to get themselves into brought clarity to their relationships and feelings. I would have liked to see a bit more of Eleanor and Owen's connection. It felt a bit shallow and based on physical attraction. However, I did love the friendships that all the characters developed and the sense of family we are left with.

An Unlikely Proposition is the second book in Rosalyn Eves’ Unexpected Seasons series. Although it features a character (Thalia) from the first book in the series, An Improbable Season, An Unlikely Proposition is a standalone novel.

An Unlikely Proposition is told from the alternating viewpoints of Eleanor and Thalia.

While Eleanor comes from a questionable background, she was still able to marry “up.” That gives her some standing in society as a widow, but it’s a tenuous grasp with her late husband’s nephew pushing back at every turn.

Thalia comes from an upstanding family and has the “right” relations, but last season’s faux pas continue to weigh heavily. She’s determined to make a name for herself as a poetess, if only the men in her life would get out of the way.

With themes of social class, gender inequality and romance, An Unlikely Proposition has a lot to offer. It was easier for me to connect with the main characters than with An Improbable Season. Eleanor is strong and determined. And Thalia is much more likeable this time around. She’s matured and it shows.

Eves utilizes two romantic tropes in An Unlikely Proposition — a fake courtship and a love triangle. She does so with ease and they make for some good twists and turns. Her pacing is strong, and the use of alternating narratives keeps things fresh.

An Unlikely Proposition is a chaste romance that should appeal to fans of the genre, young adult and older.

An Unlikely Proposition is a sweet and fun teen romance story, with 2 POV. I find it cool and original that the two points of view are not the main couple, but two girls, Eleanor y Thalia. An Unlikely Proposition it’s the love story of each girl, as well as their personal struggles and the friendship between them.

Eleanor is a young wealthy widow, she is harassed by her political nephew who wants money, to feel more comfortable, she is looking for a companion. Thalia responds to her ad, she is a writer and living in London she thinks she has time to write and get her poems published.

It’s fast pacing, fun, I loved both girls, they feel genuine, some of their problems still apply today. They are smart, loyal and brave but also a little naive and make normal teen mistakes. It's light but it has everything, forbidden romances, secrets, friendship, family, a little angst and drama. The setting feels realistic, love the fashion, the balls and the theater scenes, The author has a very visual style and you almost feel like you're there (especially at the secret masquerade ball 😉) Also, I loved reading some of Thalia's poetry, very romantic.

It’s cute and witty. Eleanor and Thalia are fun and lovable, with real problems that you can empathize with, my only but is that it seemed short, being two girls, we follow two different plots, I would have liked the story to be a little longer. The romance, although sweet, it seemed a little rushed to me. But overall, I recommend it, if you want something light, lovely, and fun. It is the second in a series, but I think it works as standalone (although to understand Thalia better, read the first book)

Read it if you want:
• YA Historical Romance
• Female friendship
• Cute Romance
• London Season & Balls

3.75 Stars. I think this is a sweet regency romance that also dives into women being more than just wives and mothers in the regency era. I think it’s perfect for YA audiences, so I feel like it should be marketed as such rather than “for fans of Bridgerton.” While I do think it can be read on its own, one of the things I enjoyed the most was Thalia and Henry’s individual growth from book one, so I highly suggest reading an Improbable Season first. In addition, I do think Eleanor is a strong, well rounded character even though she is new to this book. I think the actual romance elements were stronger in this book as well. All in all, a quick, enjoyable read, and I hope there are more books in the series!

This is a sweet Regency romance that is stand-alone companion to An Improbable Season. Eleanor comes to London after the death of her husband. She is seventeen years old and desperately wants her independence. She is trying to survive the season, and figure out how to move forward as widow. Thalia is trying to start fresh in London and wants to be a published poet. She becomes Eleanor’s companion and their stories become intertwined. Told in alternating POVs. Refreshing and sweet!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for this e-arc.*

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Well this book was absolutely delightful!

An Unlikely Proposition is a sweet, fun historical romance. You follow two ladies as they navigate London society- one young widower looking to avoid marriage if at all possible and her new companion with a heart for poetry.

After reading a couple of heavy, deep historicals, this book was a breath of fresh air. I absolutely loved this story from beginning to end. It's a quick read with the perfect amount of swoony romance and witty dialogue. I love a story with mixed classes as well.

Henry is my kind of hero and he is oh so adorable. I love his character so much! He is definitely a favorite.

@rosalyn.eves caught me at the right moment with this book. It's exactly what I wanted.

An Unlikely Proposition is perfect for regency romance lovers who like YA and sweet reads. Thank you to @austenprose and @macmillanusa for my #giftedcopy. All thoughts are my own.

*Romance- kisses

#anunlikelyproposition #rosalyneves
#macmillian #austenprose #gifted #regencyromance #historicalromance #yellowdress #dualpov #friendstolovers #londonsociety #booksbooksbooks #flatlayfriday #fridayfavs #flatlay #youngadultfiction #bookstagram #newbooks #bookreview #booktwitter #booktour #austenprosepr

An Unlikely Proposition is a charming YA Regency novel that explores social class, gender inequality, and romance. Eleanor is a young widow struggling to define herself after moving to London. She's unfamiliar with London society and enters into a fake engagement to protect her finances from a greedy relative. Thalia, a novice poet, is hired as Eleanor's companion. She's determined to find a way to fine-tune her craft in a male-dominated world. Romantic interests and plot twists come from all directions in this PG novel.

Thanks to Netgalley, Rosalyn Eves, and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"An Unlikely Proposition" is a beautifully-written, sweet, and absolutely delightful YA Regency-Romance! The setting, characters, locations, and clothing are described very well and with detail that really immerses the reader into the story and time-period. As i was following these characters and their story I felt like I was there! Wonderful storytelling. The characters feel three-dimensional and are so lovable! Each character feels original along with personalities, thoughts, emotions, and personal/familial challenges of their own. The character development in this book is done so very well! It was great to get to know these characters and to see them grow and change as people and to see them realize their own value and self-worth. Both romances in this book are sweet, swoony, and are full of emotional depth! I really like both couples! I loved reading about Thalia's poetry and seeing how some chapters include lines from her poems. It was also so much fun seeing Thalia meet John Keats and other people from that social circle of that time. This made the story feel even more three-dimensional and was very enjoyable. Although this is book 2 in the "Unexpected Seasons" series it can be read as a standalone. I did not have any trouble understanding who the characters were or feel confused about what had already happened in book 1. I am very much looking forward to reading book 1 though! The speed of the plot is perfect, the author's writing style is smooth and dazzling with beauty, wit, and emotion. The characters are three-dimensional and lovable, the story original and captivating, and the romance sweet and swoony! This is a book that I feel both readers of YA and non-readers of YA will enjoy. This book is so much fun! I cannot recommend it highly enough! 5 stars and definitely a must read!

Thank you very much to author Rosalyn Eves, AustenprosePR, FSG Books, Macmillan Publishers, and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of being a part of this book tour and for providing me with both physical and digital copies to read and review honestly.

This is a fun and sweet standalone novel in the Unexpected Season series. The story alternates between Eleanor and Thalia's stories as they spend a season in London and learn to follow their hearts.

A seventeen-year-old widow, Eleanor comes to London with a newfound independence and a desire to have some fun. Eleanor knows she can't remarry or else she loses her inheritance to a greedy nephew, but she enters a fake relationship to get her nephew off her back. She's a dynamic protagonist, and I enjoyed her growth over the course of the story. While trying to fulfill her husband's dying wish, she learns so much about herself, her life, and what she wants for her future.

Thalia is a companion to Eleanor, but she has hopes of becoming a poet. I was happy to see Thalia again after loving her character in the first book in the series. While in London, Thalia tries to ingratiate herself into the literary community, and it is an eye-opener. I love how the author integrates literature, poetic philosophies, recognizable artists of the time, and literary analysis into the narrative. These conversations are very revealing, especially in relation to many men's perspectives on women at the time. They also show just how fierce and intelligent Thalia is. She's definitely a woman ahead of her time, and her friendship with Eleanor, though it goes through a few bumps, is lovely.

I enjoyed both women's stories, and the romances were great, too. Both find love in the unlikeliest of places, and with social and economic obstacles, as well as their own doubts and fears, their road to happiness is filled with bumps. It's interesting to see how they face these and other struggles.

As much as I adore historical romance, I haven't read many that are geared toward young adults. I think I need to change that because I'm really enjoying this series. It's charming and fun, and the banter and dialogue are fantastic. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Eleanor, a 17-year-old widow, fresh out of mourning, has the world at her feet. Her husband left her a fortune, but seemingly made it so she could never remarry, something that she is consistently reminded of by his nephew. What is a girl to do except swear off marriage and set up a fake engagement. Add to that an equally inexperienced companion who had a failed elopement and you have a duo trying to navigate the ton who are less than strictly proper. Thalia wants to be a writer of poetry and comes to London in order to meet the writers of the day.

This was a well written romp in Regency England, if not strictly proper. Some of the language felt a bit more modern, but the story was well written and I didn't mind. I am used to Regency novels being strict in their propriety so it is fun to have one that just hits a bit differently from time to time.

I liked these characters and the growth that each experienced, both in their personal journeys and in their romantic ones as well. They each found something in each other and their chosen gentlemen that was unexpected and something that felt undeserved., This story could definitely attract a younger audience, though it was a good story all around. I love when authors include a bit of mystery to be solved or a problem to be fixed.

I think Eleanor's growth was the most poignant as she had to decide what meant most to her. I love a good Happily ever after, but I also love it when the lead comes into her own and comes out stronger. This story had both.

I received an early copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

🤍 Thank you @austenprose and @macmillanusa for the gifted copy of An Unlikely Proposition by @rosalyn.eves! 🤍

Rosalyn Eves has a new fan in me! This book was just completely charming and so addictive!

The multiple POVs flowed perfectly together, creating this movie-like quality. I truly felt like I was watching a regency romance play out!

The characters were all so lovable, with struggles and growth that endeared me to them even more.

Plus the romance!? I was unwell, so swoony!

Read if you love:
• regency London
• two romances
• coming into your own
• laugh-out-loud moments

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: kissing
TW: attempted s*xual assault
Out March 5th

An Unlikely Proposition by Rosalyn Eves is a sweet Regency romance. An Unlikely Proposition is stand-alone companion to An Improbable Season. Eleanor comes to London after the death of her husband. She is seventeen years old and desperately wants her independence. She is trying to survive the season, and figure out how to move forward as widow. Thalia is trying to start fresh in London and wants to be a published poet. She becomes Eleanor’s companion and friend.

This was a wonderful Regency read with romance, a compelling story and excellent historical details. I felt like I was visiting London and I did not want to leave. The alternating points of view with Elanor and Thalia made this an interesting read and helped me to feel very invested in the characters. The historical details were fascinating and gave the story depth. The book truly sparkled and kept me up late reading.

I adored An Unlikely Proposition by Rosalyn Eves. It is filed with wonderful characters, sweet romance, and the setting of Regency London is fabulous. . This will be one of my favorites this year. I highly recommend.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Once again, this book delivered from start to finish.

If you want a book with historical tones, dazzling characters, imperfect choices and double the romance, then add this to your list!

One woman...a young widow with independence wanting to soak up her freedom for all that its worth and the other...a woman who has her sights set on making a name for herself in a man driven field. Both were so passionate and endearing in their own right....with love interests to match them perfectly.

I love that this book feels like a true YA historical romance that is accessible for all ages. Both points of view were equally as engaging that I never felt the others loss when it switched. The characters themselves are bright and witty and blaze with passion and personality.

The double romance only amplified this book and I loved seeing how the conflicts resolved themselves only to bring people together. I thought it felt original while still staying true to the genre.

An overall just really good time and I loved that I never wanted to put it down. Definitely recommend reading these in order to get the best experience, but can be read as standalones as well.

Perfect for fans of Bridgerton who love to see a leading lady get so much more than just her man (even though she certainly does that too)! I adored this story. It’s Regench romance from a feminist angle that discusses the challenges women faced during the time as well as their triumphs. I absolutely devoured it!

3.75 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I was excited to hear Rosalyn Eves was writing another historical romance, following last year’s An Improbable Season, which I really enjoyed. But while there’s a lot I enjoyed about this book, there were also some elements that left me perplexed.
It was wonderful to see Thalia again from the last book, and while you don’t need to have read that one to understand this one, it will amplify your enjoyment. I loved reading about her literary pursuits, especially since it led to cameos from some iconic figures from the literary world at the time, like John Keats and Samuel Taylor Coleridge (and just when Taylor Swift announced the Tortured Poets variant that some people are speculating is referencing Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” too!).
I found myself much more mixed about Eleanor’s story, and it’s one of those cases where I wonder if this was actually meant to be a YA story at the outset, or it became one for marketing purposes, and the powers that be felt it wouldn’t matter because YA is increasingly targeting adults. Because while there isn’t much that I’d call objectionable here (there’s suggestive references, but nothing explicit), the whole premise on Eleanor’s side works so much better if she’s not a teenager. While it’s not impossible for a seventeen year old girl in the Regency period to already have been married and widowed, it would be extremely rare, as women of her station typically would have their debut in society at the age she is now, and be married by her early twenties. Add on the year of mourning and it just made it hard to suspend disbelief that she was so young. I would often forget how old she was, because of how many books I’d read with a similar plotline to this, but then I’d be reminded of it, and I’d be confused again.
The romances are cute, and while I did sometimes feel like there being two of them meant that they were a tad underwhelming in places, I did like each of the love interests and feel they suited each of the girls.
The one major issue aside, I did mostly like this book. While I don’t know if it will work for avid historical romance readers, especially those like me who may be prone to overthink certain aspects, I think this is a fun book for younger readers and others looking to try a fun historical romance.

CHARMING.

I really enjoyed this! Another charming and delightful read in this standalone series. I love the London atmosphere and the balls and intriguing romances that come about.

Eleanor and Thalia both had a lot of character and I liked seeing their growth throughout the book. Eleanor needed to learn to lean on others and I was so happy to see how things worked out for her in the end. Thalia meanwhile, gained confidence in her writing and the courage to pursue her passions. Add in two handsome men and this brought a smile to my face.

A few small tidbits that kept me from that full five stars, but a genuine enjoyable read nonetheless. I like the voices the author creates for these characters and the drama and hope that flows throughout. If you’re needing something on the lighter side with a bit of swoon, I would absolutely recommend this (or book one! Which can be read on its own too).

Overall audience notes:

YA Historical Romance
Language: none – low
Romance: kisses
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a spouse (recounted), attempted sexual assault (one brief incident)

I loved this! This was a perfect follow-up in the series and I could not get enough of it. This was absolute delight to read about more of Eleanor and Thalias adventures in Regency London. I loved this!! Hopefully there will be more!
I just reviewed An Unlikely Proposition by Rosalyn Eves. #NetGalley
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Absolutely delightful period romance—the characters were dynamic and relatable—I wanted to go back in time and hang out with them.
The story follows two women, one who enters into a fake engagement with a man the other is falling for. That disaster is fueled by a greedy relative trying to get the fortune of the first woman, and the second woman’s brother’s shenanigans. So much going on—a masque ball that’s not what it seems, a heist-like plot to save a woman from a rake, mathematics research that is more of an excuse to be close to someone, poet salons, servant spies! It’s entertaining, engaging, and satisfying. I read it all in one sitting (on an airplane) and absolutely loved it!
Thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.