Review: An Offer From a Gentleman

Title: An Offer From a Gentleman
Author: Julia Quinn
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Avon
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 1, 2001
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sophie Beckett never dreamed she’d be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s famed masquerade ball—or that “Prince Charming” would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.

Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid’s garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers her his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?

Review:

Sophie is the illegitimate daughter of an Earl, who is left in the care of her stepmother when he dies suddenly. She disguises herself and goes to a masquerade ball at the Bridgerton home, where she meets Benedict Bridgerton, the second son. When Benedict sees the mysterious girl at the ball, he instantly falls in love with her. However, she leaves before he can find out who she is. Now, two years later, Sophie is working as a maid. She and Benedict meet again when he saves her from being attacked by a group of men. Benedict insists on helping Sophie find another job, though he doesn’t know that she’s the woman he fell for years ago. He needs to marry soon, and he likes Sophie, but his heart still belongs to the mysterious woman from the ball and Sophie is a much lower social status. They have to figure out if their love is strong enough to get past these differences.

This Bridgerton novel didn’t disappoint! The first couple of chapters were a Cinderella story. Sophie was left with her stepmother and stepsisters after her biological father died, though he never claimed her as his own so she didn’t benefit from being his daughter. She had the chance meeting with her Prince Charming at a masquerade ball, but then she had to flee before her stepmother returned home. I love it when fairytales are part of a story. This fairy tale part was only in the first couple of chapters but it was an entertaining entrance to the story.

The only thing I didn’t find believable was how much Benedict and Sophie loved each other at first sight. They didn’t know anything about each other and they couldn’t even see what they really looked like since they were wearing masks. This felt like a forced relationship at the beginning because they were head over heels in love without actually knowing the other person. By the end, I was rooting for them, but their love felt forced in the beginning.

An Offer From a Gentleman is a great Bridgerton romance!

What to read next:

Other books in the series:

• The Duke and I
• The Viscount Who Loved Me
• Romancing Mister Bridgerton
• To Sir Philip, With Love
• When He Was Wicked
• It’s in His Kiss
• On the Way to the Wedding

Have you read An Offer From a Gentleman? What did you think of it?