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An Improper Proposal
A stormy heart
Adventurous, outspoken, Payton Dixon has two passionate dreams...a clipper ship of her own and the love of Captain Connor Drake. But both seem impossibly out of reach, since her beloved captain is about to marry another, and worse, he's been given her ship as a wedding present from her traitorous father.
A thwarted love
Out to prove she has right on her side, Payton manages to unleash a scandal and ignite all sorts of trouble. As for Drake, he can't decide whether to throttle the girl he's grown up with, or make love to the beautiful woman she has become.
An Improper Proposal
Adventurous, outspoken, Payton Dixon has two passionate dreams...a clipper ship of her own and the love of Captain Connor Drake. But both seem impossibly out of reach, since her beloved captain is about to marry another, and worse, he's been given her ship as a wedding present from her traitorous father.
A thwarted love
Out to prove she has right on her side, Payton manages to unleash a scandal and ignite all sorts of trouble. As for Drake, he can't decide whether to throttle the girl he's grown up with, or make love to the beautiful woman she has become.
An Improper Proposal
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 15, 1999
59 people are currently reading
1132 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Cabot
10 books457 followersPseudonym of Meg Cabot
Meggin Patricia Cabot was born and and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, USA, daughter of Barbara and C. Victor Cabot, a college professor. She also lived in Grenoble, France and Carmel, California (the setting for her bestselling Mediator series) before moving to New York City after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Indiana University.
After working for ten years as an assistant residence hall director at New York University (an experience from which she occasionally draws inspiration for her Heather Wells mystery series), Meg wrote the Princess Diaries series, which was made into two hit movies by Disney, sold over 20 million copies, and has been translated into 38 languages.
Meg also wrote the 1-800-Where-R-You? series (which has been reprinted under the title Vanished and was made into the Lifetime series called Missing), as well as numerous other award-winning, best-selling stand-alone books and series, including All-American Girl and Avalon High (on which an original Disney Channel movie was based), and several books told entirely in emails and text messages (Boy Next Door/Boy Meets Girl/Every Boy’s Got One).
Meg’s newest series include the tween hit Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, the YA trilogy Airhead, and Abandon, the first book in a new paranormal series for young adult readers (the sequel, Underworld, will be in US stores in spring 2012). Insatiable, Meg’s first paranormal romance for adult readers, was followed by a sequel, Overbite, in July 2011.
Meg is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of books for both adults and tweens/teens. Meg married financial writer and poet Benjamin D. Egnatz on 1 April 1993, she currently lives in Key West with her husband and two cats.
Meggin Patricia Cabot was born and and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, USA, daughter of Barbara and C. Victor Cabot, a college professor. She also lived in Grenoble, France and Carmel, California (the setting for her bestselling Mediator series) before moving to New York City after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Indiana University.
After working for ten years as an assistant residence hall director at New York University (an experience from which she occasionally draws inspiration for her Heather Wells mystery series), Meg wrote the Princess Diaries series, which was made into two hit movies by Disney, sold over 20 million copies, and has been translated into 38 languages.
Meg also wrote the 1-800-Where-R-You? series (which has been reprinted under the title Vanished and was made into the Lifetime series called Missing), as well as numerous other award-winning, best-selling stand-alone books and series, including All-American Girl and Avalon High (on which an original Disney Channel movie was based), and several books told entirely in emails and text messages (Boy Next Door/Boy Meets Girl/Every Boy’s Got One).
Meg’s newest series include the tween hit Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls, the YA trilogy Airhead, and Abandon, the first book in a new paranormal series for young adult readers (the sequel, Underworld, will be in US stores in spring 2012). Insatiable, Meg’s first paranormal romance for adult readers, was followed by a sequel, Overbite, in July 2011.
Meg is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of books for both adults and tweens/teens. Meg married financial writer and poet Benjamin D. Egnatz on 1 April 1993, she currently lives in Key West with her husband and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
April 5, 2025
4.5 stars
This was such a fun romance that was full of action and the romance!?! So good. The heroine has always wanted to own one of her father's ships, and she's furious when he gives it to her brother's best friend as a wedding gift. The same best friend she's been in love with. The characters in here was so much fun and the plot was so adventurous and I was obsessed! The heroine even dresses up as a man on a ship in order to try and save the hero when he's kidnapped. The romance was great between these two and I just had so much fun reading this story!!
This was such a fun romance that was full of action and the romance!?! So good. The heroine has always wanted to own one of her father's ships, and she's furious when he gives it to her brother's best friend as a wedding gift. The same best friend she's been in love with. The characters in here was so much fun and the plot was so adventurous and I was obsessed! The heroine even dresses up as a man on a ship in order to try and save the hero when he's kidnapped. The romance was great between these two and I just had so much fun reading this story!!
March 3, 2025
This was a fun, older historical romance, very much over the top and bonkers times (but in the best way).
She’s the only daughter (but has 3 brothers) for a wealthy shipping man. She has grown up on the sea, on ships, along with her brothers and always treated the same as them. But now it’s almost her 19th birthday and she’s now being told she should become a lady and get married. Instead of her dream of becoming a captain for her own ship in her father’s fleet (as her brother’s all got gifted on their 19th birthdays). On top of that the man she’s in love with is due to get married to someone else! And her father just gifted him the ship she wanted for herself!
The first bit was slow and I think only 2 days passed within the first 40% of the story, then it picks up quickly. Adventurous, high sea adventures, pirating, a broken up wedding, family chaos!
She’s the only daughter (but has 3 brothers) for a wealthy shipping man. She has grown up on the sea, on ships, along with her brothers and always treated the same as them. But now it’s almost her 19th birthday and she’s now being told she should become a lady and get married. Instead of her dream of becoming a captain for her own ship in her father’s fleet (as her brother’s all got gifted on their 19th birthdays). On top of that the man she’s in love with is due to get married to someone else! And her father just gifted him the ship she wanted for herself!
The first bit was slow and I think only 2 days passed within the first 40% of the story, then it picks up quickly. Adventurous, high sea adventures, pirating, a broken up wedding, family chaos!
May 26, 2019
What an odd cover choice. There isn't anything here to suggest the cutthroat world of international shipping of the 18th century, or pirates, or the Caribbean, or an eccentric father, his three wild, tall, full-grown sons, or the little sister they're trying to turn into a proper English debutante. It's a fun, raucous, feminist, action-filled, swash-buckling tale: Pirates of the Caribbean with sex. This cover is too stereotypically "generic modern wedding" to hint at any of that to would-be readers and too girly to be an unembarrassing plain cover for readers in public. I'd've been inclined to go with something more like the cover to Master and Commander myself.
A perfect summer kick-off book
Personal copy
A perfect summer kick-off book
Personal copy
February 11, 2025
4.5 Stars ⭐️ An Improper Proposal was all adventure with pirates! Payton did not swoon or cry, and could captain a ship just as good if not better than her brothers. Connor Drake worked for her family’s shipping company, and was another son to Payton’s dad. Payton, however, has loved him since she was 14 years. He is a new baronet after his brother died suddenly. Connor was going marry another woman, but Payton saw her with a known enemy. Connor and his fiancee leaves for the Caribbean. Payton and her brothers go after them to protect Connor! Payton is a strong heroine who did whatever she could to save Connor from the villains. There were pirates who did piratey things! Kidnapping, deserted islands, and all of the swashbuckling goodness that I love in a historical pirate romance. The romance and action were fantastic. I loved the characters and setting. Not a five star, because of a decision the heroine made at the end. But I did read this within an afternoon. I couldn’t put it down!
December 25, 2025
The first few chapters were a pleasant, funny read, but after that, it was the same talk/thought over and over again. I could have forgiven the historical inadequacy if it weren't for those "artificially added" pages. If half the length were subtracted (i.e., writing about the same things over and over), it would be a pleasant (erotic) romance. Unfortunately, as it stands, I read the first 20%, skipped the next 30%, and practically skimmed the entire second half just long enough to understand the rest of the plot and the ending.
October 5, 2019
Um leve romance de época contemporâneo que explora a independência da mulher, neste caso a protagonista Pay, que os irmãos não aceitam que ele tenha o seu próprio navio. Connor Drake é um homem do amor que ve-se obrigada a casar com obrigação, quando na verdade queria casar com a protagonista. Segundo ele a esposa não seria uma mulher proteger, mas para compartilhar e amar-se verdadeiramente.
Pay e Connor são um casal nada convencional, se apenas se aceitam mais perto do fim do livro. Entre piratas; bailes; ilhas desertas e muitos acontecimentos intempestivos. Este foi um livro em que saboreei cada folha e desejei um destino maravilhoso para Payton e o seu amado Connor.
Pay e Connor são um casal nada convencional, se apenas se aceitam mais perto do fim do livro. Entre piratas; bailes; ilhas desertas e muitos acontecimentos intempestivos. Este foi um livro em que saboreei cada folha e desejei um destino maravilhoso para Payton e o seu amado Connor.
December 9, 2019
I so loved this book many years ago when I first read it. I picked this up again when I was moving books around on my shelf. I still love Connor and Payton, I just wish we hadn't spent quite so long in Payton's head.
March 31, 2017
(my love of meg cabot books is still standing strong)
Read
April 1, 2023You know that feeling when you are just so happy to be done with a book? Well, I am so happy to be done with this book.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by this story. This is the first book I've read by Meg Cabot, and I'm not entirely sure if I want to read anything else by this author; however, I always give authors a second chance, so hopefully her next book will be better.
This book was not for me. That's not to say that it might not be for someone else, but I honestly did not like this book at all. When I did not care if all the characters died or not, I think that was a sign that I should have DNF this book. Although I knew I should have DNFed it way before I felt that way.
I think my biggest issue with this book was the characters. At first, there were just way too many to keep up with. Then once I was able to keep up with who was who, I disliked all of them. Payton was too childlike for me. While she did have a great spirit, I don't feel like she should have been pinning after someone who was ten years older than her for so long. Now Drake. I wanted to like Drake. But then he kept going on and on about how women shouldn't do this or women shouldn't hear that. I mean, how long was this going to go on that he was putting Payton down. AND SHE JUST TOOK IT! Sure, she was thinking thoughts in her head about how he shouldn't be saying it, but she never once thought "hmmm....maybe this guy isn't so great after all." And don't even get me started on Payton's brothers. They could have been shot with a cannon and their ship sank and I would not have cared one bit because of how they treated her.
Okay. That was my rant for this book. Oh it's about pirates in case you were wondering. But since I always have to say something nice about a book, I will say, I liked the ending... because then I didn't have to read it anymore.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed by this story. This is the first book I've read by Meg Cabot, and I'm not entirely sure if I want to read anything else by this author; however, I always give authors a second chance, so hopefully her next book will be better.
This book was not for me. That's not to say that it might not be for someone else, but I honestly did not like this book at all. When I did not care if all the characters died or not, I think that was a sign that I should have DNF this book. Although I knew I should have DNFed it way before I felt that way.
I think my biggest issue with this book was the characters. At first, there were just way too many to keep up with. Then once I was able to keep up with who was who, I disliked all of them. Payton was too childlike for me. While she did have a great spirit, I don't feel like she should have been pinning after someone who was ten years older than her for so long. Now Drake. I wanted to like Drake. But then he kept going on and on about how women shouldn't do this or women shouldn't hear that. I mean, how long was this going to go on that he was putting Payton down. AND SHE JUST TOOK IT! Sure, she was thinking thoughts in her head about how he shouldn't be saying it, but she never once thought "hmmm....maybe this guy isn't so great after all." And don't even get me started on Payton's brothers. They could have been shot with a cannon and their ship sank and I would not have cared one bit because of how they treated her.
Okay. That was my rant for this book. Oh it's about pirates in case you were wondering. But since I always have to say something nice about a book, I will say, I liked the ending... because then I didn't have to read it anymore.
February 7, 2016
Comecei este livro hoje de manhã e acabei-o às 17h.
Isto não é normal em mim!
Devorar um livro desta maneira? Há quanto tempo não acontecia? Nem sei dizer.
A única maneira de descrever este livro é assim: um romance com alguns clichés mas muita garra feminina e no meio ainda levamos com momentos dignos de um filme de ação com piratas e espiões. Payton Dixon é tudo o que procuro numa personagem feminina - forte, corajosa, impulsiva, lutadora - e tudo com uns precoces 18 aninhos.
E aqueles irmãos dela? Só me faziam rir. Parecia que estava a ver um filme dos estarolas.
Este é o 2º livro da autora que leio e o 2º a dar a pontuação máxima. Estou fã.
Quero mais.
PS - Ainda bem que li este livro em casa, porque esta foi a minha figurinha ao longo das 354 páginas:
Isto não é normal em mim!
Devorar um livro desta maneira? Há quanto tempo não acontecia? Nem sei dizer.
A única maneira de descrever este livro é assim: um romance com alguns clichés mas muita garra feminina e no meio ainda levamos com momentos dignos de um filme de ação com piratas e espiões. Payton Dixon é tudo o que procuro numa personagem feminina - forte, corajosa, impulsiva, lutadora - e tudo com uns precoces 18 aninhos.
E aqueles irmãos dela? Só me faziam rir. Parecia que estava a ver um filme dos estarolas.
Este é o 2º livro da autora que leio e o 2º a dar a pontuação máxima. Estou fã.
Quero mais.
PS - Ainda bem que li este livro em casa, porque esta foi a minha figurinha ao longo das 354 páginas:
May 17, 2011
Such a fun read! I really enjoyed Payton and Connor. I loved that Connor was so shocked when he finally realized the woman of his dreams was in front of him - The day before marrying another!! Payton was a fun, if a little naive, heroine, who did everything to save Connor... I almost felt like she was the strongest character, but even though I usually like alpha heroes, I loved this book:-) Definitely worth it if you want a HEA without all the angst, and a fun book to boot!! 4.5* for me (just because of the implausible plot and the lacking angst, lol)
July 11, 2018
J'ai beaucoup aimé ce livre car les personnages sont sympathiques et j'ai beaucoup ri, mais je ne mets que 4 étoiles à cause de l'histoire déjà vue. En effet, elle me rappelle trop les deux livres de la saga Mallory de Johanna Lindsey : "Passagère clandestine" et "Magicienne de l'amour". Le premier pour l'héroïne : seule fille d'une famille de garçons qui la taquinent, la protègent, courent le jupon, se bagarrent et - oh coïncidence - possèdent une compagnie maritime. Sans oublier la tendance de l'héroïne à se faire passer pour un mousse. Le second livre pour le passage sur le bateau. Ce ne sont pas les seules ressemblances remarquées mais en dire plus gâcherait le suspense pour les futures lectrices... Donc en résumé, ne vous attendez pas à une histoire 100% inédite mais c'est un livre très agréable à lire, avec de très chouettes héros et personnages secondaires ainsi que des passages très drôles.
February 2, 2015
Primeiramente o que me chamou a atenção desse livro foi a capa. Comprei o livro só por que ele é lindoooo!
Quando peguei para ler, ai fui ler a sinpse: Uma menina que via seu grande amor se casar e depois perder o navio que queria ser capitã? Oi? Como assim capitã em um livro histórico? DESAMINEI, mas fui em frente!
Ah gente, me apaixonei! Amei!
Quem gosta de livros assim compre, por que o livro é fofo!
Payton é uma menina que cresceu no mar, dentro de um navio com a sua família que são 3 irmãos, pai, e capitão Drake, seu grande amor.
Mas ela não é nada feminina, aliás como poderia? Nunca teve sequer uma referência assim em sua vida. Usar roupas masculinas, como calça e camisa, era normal em sua vida. Não poderia usar saias e subir nos mastros dos navios!
Até que no casamento do capitão Drake com a nojenta e linda Srta. Whitby ela usa um espartilho e um vestido.
Claro que ninguém nunca ousou sonhar que Payton tivesse curvas, quem dirá seios! Mas Drake notou!
Ninguém imagina o porquê Drake tem que casar com a Srta. Whitby, e Payton descobre a tempo do casamento um segredo.
Mas em decorrência disso, Drake e sua noiva saem no navio Constant (o grande sonho de Payton) para Nassau, e nesse meio tempo, o navio foi interceptado pelo pirata Lucien e leva Drake como prisioneiro.
Payton não pensa duas vezes e se infiltra nesse navio para salvar seu grande amor!
O livro é tão bom, engraçado, com grandes partes picantes. A relação do capitão com Payton, vai se reformulando, e apesar de ser clichê, é lindo!
Eu super recomendo para fãs desse gênero!
Quando peguei para ler, ai fui ler a sinpse: Uma menina que via seu grande amor se casar e depois perder o navio que queria ser capitã? Oi? Como assim capitã em um livro histórico? DESAMINEI, mas fui em frente!
Ah gente, me apaixonei! Amei!
Quem gosta de livros assim compre, por que o livro é fofo!
Payton é uma menina que cresceu no mar, dentro de um navio com a sua família que são 3 irmãos, pai, e capitão Drake, seu grande amor.
Mas ela não é nada feminina, aliás como poderia? Nunca teve sequer uma referência assim em sua vida. Usar roupas masculinas, como calça e camisa, era normal em sua vida. Não poderia usar saias e subir nos mastros dos navios!
Até que no casamento do capitão Drake com a nojenta e linda Srta. Whitby ela usa um espartilho e um vestido.
Claro que ninguém nunca ousou sonhar que Payton tivesse curvas, quem dirá seios! Mas Drake notou!
Ninguém imagina o porquê Drake tem que casar com a Srta. Whitby, e Payton descobre a tempo do casamento um segredo.
Mas em decorrência disso, Drake e sua noiva saem no navio Constant (o grande sonho de Payton) para Nassau, e nesse meio tempo, o navio foi interceptado pelo pirata Lucien e leva Drake como prisioneiro.
Payton não pensa duas vezes e se infiltra nesse navio para salvar seu grande amor!
O livro é tão bom, engraçado, com grandes partes picantes. A relação do capitão com Payton, vai se reformulando, e apesar de ser clichê, é lindo!
Eu super recomendo para fãs desse gênero!
April 18, 2015
A autora tem um estilo que empata bastante e eu não aprecio isso. Também a relação de Payton com os irmãos me pareceu excessiva, demasiadp explorada ao onto de aborrecer pela sua continuidade. A partir do meio melhora bastante e a cotação justifica-se pelo casal protagonista e pelas gargalhadas que ainda fui dando.
Opinião completa em breve.
Opinião completa em breve.
May 14, 2010
Sexually explicit.
July 24, 2014
4.5 estrelas!
December 29, 2015
Faltou qualquer coisa no livro para que fosse um 4⭐️. Talvez por ter sido muito cansativo a dada altura.
April 15, 2017
Ganhei este livro num passatempo de um blog "Sinfonia dos Livros" (https://www.facebook.com/SinfoniaDosL... ou http://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.pt/).
Gostei em parte da história, não achei muito interessante a parte das intrigas dos piratas, talvez por não fazer muito o meu género. Não é que esteja bem escrita, mas quando chegava a essa parte, só me dava vontade de seguir em frente.
Os personagens também não achei que fossem excelentes! Encontramos 3 irmãos muito mesquinhas, que só sabem gozar com a irmã mais nova (Payton) que foi educada como se de um rapaz se tratasse e quando surgem questões femininas, estes impedem-na de ser aquilo que é - mulher. Depois encontramos a Payton, uma menina de 19 anos, que quase que lhe impõem ser um rapaz, mas ao mesmo tempo encontramos uma personagem pouco realista, pouco feminina e um pouco estranha; talvez pela convivência dos irmãos, por viver sempre em alto-mar; mas em alguns episódios é destemida e guerreira, q.b. (esta faceta não me inspirou muito) e que é perdidamente apaixonada pela capitão e melhor amigos dos seus irmãos - Drake. Uma paixão quase platónica que é correspondida quase no final da história, com poucas aproximações entre ambos e quando acontecem, parece algo forçado.
No entanto, no geral, gostei da história.
Gostei em parte da história, não achei muito interessante a parte das intrigas dos piratas, talvez por não fazer muito o meu género. Não é que esteja bem escrita, mas quando chegava a essa parte, só me dava vontade de seguir em frente.
Os personagens também não achei que fossem excelentes! Encontramos 3 irmãos muito mesquinhas, que só sabem gozar com a irmã mais nova (Payton) que foi educada como se de um rapaz se tratasse e quando surgem questões femininas, estes impedem-na de ser aquilo que é - mulher. Depois encontramos a Payton, uma menina de 19 anos, que quase que lhe impõem ser um rapaz, mas ao mesmo tempo encontramos uma personagem pouco realista, pouco feminina e um pouco estranha; talvez pela convivência dos irmãos, por viver sempre em alto-mar; mas em alguns episódios é destemida e guerreira, q.b. (esta faceta não me inspirou muito) e que é perdidamente apaixonada pela capitão e melhor amigos dos seus irmãos - Drake. Uma paixão quase platónica que é correspondida quase no final da história, com poucas aproximações entre ambos e quando acontecem, parece algo forçado.
No entanto, no geral, gostei da história.
September 3, 2017
An Improper Proposal is a "brother's best friend" and an "I've loved you forever" book.
The first half of this book was so enjoyable, I thought it might end up being a 5 star read. The second half of the story ended up being just ok. 3.5/5 stars
The first half of this book was so enjoyable, I thought it might end up being a 5 star read. The second half of the story ended up being just ok. 3.5/5 stars
April 13, 2025
2 1/2, really. It’s so bad it’s good, somehow. Connor Drake is the only reason to read this completely over the top melodrama calling itself an historical romance, which was clearly written before Survivor hit TV. That show has ruined the romance of being stuck on a deserted island, which is a big part of the plot, because now we know there’s nothing romantic about it. Payton is a spoiled, badly behaved, foul mouthed little harridan. She drove me nuts. Everything she did made me insane. But there are some really great sexy scenes in between all the nonsense. So if you like a good plot in your romance don’t read this. If you want to get carried away in a sexy fantasy ship world then read this right now. Either way you’ll need wine.
April 3, 2023
If it hadn't been for a book club, I probably would have DNFed this novel.
February 17, 2025
Very entertaining!
This book was so much fun! I thoroughly enjoyed the book right from the first Page to the end!
I just couldn't put it down
This book was so much fun! I thoroughly enjoyed the book right from the first Page to the end!
I just couldn't put it down
March 1, 2025
More like a 2.5
September 15, 2017
Que delíciaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Livro histórico com uma mistura de Piratas do Caribe e Lagoa Azul, não podia me deixar mais encantada. Achei um pouco estranho encontrar piratas, náuticos, em um livro histórico, mas esse foi muito bem desenvolvido e conduzido.
A Payton é uma mocinha totalmente determinada, vai atrás e não tem medo de nada. O Drake é uma graça, se deixando levar pela força de que é a Pay.
Adorei como o romance foi desenvolvido e melhor ainda, ela não foi uma mocinha que precisou ser salva.
Amei!
Gostaria de ler sobre os dois irmãos dela que sobraram, mesmo na loucura deles eu os adorei!
Livro histórico com uma mistura de Piratas do Caribe e Lagoa Azul, não podia me deixar mais encantada. Achei um pouco estranho encontrar piratas, náuticos, em um livro histórico, mas esse foi muito bem desenvolvido e conduzido.
A Payton é uma mocinha totalmente determinada, vai atrás e não tem medo de nada. O Drake é uma graça, se deixando levar pela força de que é a Pay.
Adorei como o romance foi desenvolvido e melhor ainda, ela não foi uma mocinha que precisou ser salva.
Amei!
Gostaria de ler sobre os dois irmãos dela que sobraram, mesmo na loucura deles eu os adorei!
May 31, 2016
If you like romances you'll probably love this book. And you have every right to. I'm not a big fan of romances though, so my enjoyment was limited.
Minor Spoilers if you care about tiny details.
Payton Dixon is 19, and has spent her whole life on a ship due to the fact that her father owns a shipping company. She basically acts like her brothers and hasn't worn a dress until her eldest brother marries and her sister-in-law starts making her act like a lady.
Payton is obsessed with Captain Connor Drake, one of her fathers employees who is actually a Lord now that his brother has died and doesn't need the money he's just in love with the sea, or something like that. He's never seen Payton as a romantic interest until he sees her in a dress the evening before his marriage to a girl hated by basically everyone. Drake starts to notice Payton and they have a thing, and everything is spectacular except that as a wedding present, her father has given Drake Payton's favourite ship. The ship she had hoped to be given on her birthday just like all her brothers were given a ship. Instead, she's to marry a Duke, or a Viscount.
So she's not too happy with her family or Drake. Except she still loves him, and his grandma tells her to stop the wedding in some.
Then there's this storyline with a pirate and an enemy shipping company that was bordering on unbelievable and it was so boring. Like, it dragged out so much. But basically, the whole book is about Payton and Drake trying to be together.
AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS. Payton does something so entirely stupid, that everyone hates her for it. Even Drake does a little bit. There's no explanation for it either. And it completely backfires.
I liked Payton. She was so sassy and she saved Drake about 7 times and he saved her 0. Which he's pretty mad about until he realised he couldn't be bothered having a wife who needs looking after anyway. Fair enough.
The romance is good. There's a little too many raunchy scenes at the end for my liking. It's like the author realised there'd only been one so far and therefore had to shove 3 in during 3 consecutive plot days.
The author is, of course, a the pseudonym for the wonderful Meg Cabot, who I will love for ever but think should stick to what she knows which is books about Mediators and good looking ghosts. xxxxxx
Minor Spoilers if you care about tiny details.
Payton Dixon is 19, and has spent her whole life on a ship due to the fact that her father owns a shipping company. She basically acts like her brothers and hasn't worn a dress until her eldest brother marries and her sister-in-law starts making her act like a lady.
Payton is obsessed with Captain Connor Drake, one of her fathers employees who is actually a Lord now that his brother has died and doesn't need the money he's just in love with the sea, or something like that. He's never seen Payton as a romantic interest until he sees her in a dress the evening before his marriage to a girl hated by basically everyone. Drake starts to notice Payton and they have a thing, and everything is spectacular except that as a wedding present, her father has given Drake Payton's favourite ship. The ship she had hoped to be given on her birthday just like all her brothers were given a ship. Instead, she's to marry a Duke, or a Viscount.
So she's not too happy with her family or Drake. Except she still loves him, and his grandma tells her to stop the wedding in some.
Then there's this storyline with a pirate and an enemy shipping company that was bordering on unbelievable and it was so boring. Like, it dragged out so much. But basically, the whole book is about Payton and Drake trying to be together.
AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS. Payton does something so entirely stupid, that everyone hates her for it. Even Drake does a little bit. There's no explanation for it either. And it completely backfires.
I liked Payton. She was so sassy and she saved Drake about 7 times and he saved her 0. Which he's pretty mad about until he realised he couldn't be bothered having a wife who needs looking after anyway. Fair enough.
The romance is good. There's a little too many raunchy scenes at the end for my liking. It's like the author realised there'd only been one so far and therefore had to shove 3 in during 3 consecutive plot days.
The author is, of course, a the pseudonym for the wonderful Meg Cabot, who I will love for ever but think should stick to what she knows which is books about Mediators and good looking ghosts. xxxxxx
dnf
March 21, 2017Pages read: 19, aka 1 chapter
This is exhibit number 8 million in why I shouldn't be allowed to purchase books I haven't already read. I mean, to be fair, I didn't have a whole lot of other options to check out Cabot's backlist, but lesson learned anyway.
I really thought these would be hilarious and shippy like Cabot's absurd and delightful little YA historical romances and basically all the rest of her catalog. I've read her first two novels already and was distinctly unimpressed. An Improper Proposal is, if anything, even worse.
Payton (what a historical name) is a firebrand of a heroine, and if you've read any romances from the 80s or 90s, you know exactly what that means. She's a bit extra daring, because she's from a family in shipping and she's a skilled navigator. You know she's a badass and fiery and a seaman because she uses the adjective "bleedin'" several times in the first scene.
There's a discussion between her brothers and herself about her new bosom and daring decolletage, a wrestling match betwixt her and one brother, and then the introduction to her love interest (12 years her senior, as she's just 18 and he's 30) and his fiancee. I already know he's going to be charmed by her fire, and that he's going to teach her to love being womanly and dear god I do not want it. The characterization is cringeworthy such as it is, and the historical elements are lol in the bad way not in the charming way of Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove.
With all the stress in the world, I'm not going to force myself through 31 chapters of tepid, likely problematic, poorly characterized romance just because I spent seven bucks on it.
This is exhibit number 8 million in why I shouldn't be allowed to purchase books I haven't already read. I mean, to be fair, I didn't have a whole lot of other options to check out Cabot's backlist, but lesson learned anyway.
I really thought these would be hilarious and shippy like Cabot's absurd and delightful little YA historical romances and basically all the rest of her catalog. I've read her first two novels already and was distinctly unimpressed. An Improper Proposal is, if anything, even worse.
Payton (what a historical name) is a firebrand of a heroine, and if you've read any romances from the 80s or 90s, you know exactly what that means. She's a bit extra daring, because she's from a family in shipping and she's a skilled navigator. You know she's a badass and fiery and a seaman because she uses the adjective "bleedin'" several times in the first scene.
There's a discussion between her brothers and herself about her new bosom and daring decolletage, a wrestling match betwixt her and one brother, and then the introduction to her love interest (12 years her senior, as she's just 18 and he's 30) and his fiancee. I already know he's going to be charmed by her fire, and that he's going to teach her to love being womanly and dear god I do not want it. The characterization is cringeworthy such as it is, and the historical elements are lol in the bad way not in the charming way of Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove.
With all the stress in the world, I'm not going to force myself through 31 chapters of tepid, likely problematic, poorly characterized romance just because I spent seven bucks on it.
May 22, 2019
Unterhaltsamer historischer Liebesroman mit vielen Schmunzel - Momenten…
Im Rahmen einer Leserunde auf Lovelybooks bin ich auf das Buch „Ein gewagtes Angebot“ aufmerksam geworden. Ich bin ein absoluter Fan historischer Liebesromane, gerade wenn sie auf hoher See spielen und es um Piraten geht.
Der Klappentext hat mich dann auch gleich gepackt und ich musste diesen Roman unbedingt lesen.
Das Cover passt aus meiner Sicht sehr gut zu dieser Geschichte und wird auch den Beschreibungen der Charaktere gerecht. Auch zum Genre ist es passend entworfen. Im Vordergrund sieht sich ein Paar leidenschaftlich in die Augen und im Hintergrund sieht man ein Schiff mit gehissten Segeln. Der Sonnenuntergang rundet das Bild ab und schafft die richtige Lesestimmung.
Der historische Liebesroman „Ein gewagtes Angebot“ von Patricia Cabot ist am 18. April 2019 im DIGITAL PUBLISHERS (dp) Verlag erschienen.
Payton Dixon wartet sehnsüchtig darauf, an ihrem 19. Geburtstag endlich ihr eigenes Schiff geschenkt zu bekommen, die „Constant“. Vorher muss sie aber erst noch der Hochzeit ihrer heimlichen Liebe Captain Connor Drake beiwohnen. Und als wäre es nicht schlimm genug, diesen Mann an Miss Becky Whitby zu verlieren, erhält Connor Drake als Hochzeitsgeschenk die Constant und die Teilhaberschaft an der Firma ihres Vaters und ihrer Brüder. Doch Payton vermutet einen Betrug an Connor und lässt nichts unversucht, ihn zu schützen und seine Liebe zu gewinnen. Vor Payton liegt eine aufregende Zeit, die geprägt ist von gefährlichen Abenteuern, vielen Emotionen und ihrem inneren Konflikt, ob sie gut genug für Connor Drake ist.
Nur wenige Stunden brauchte ich für dieses Buch, das mich glücklich schmunzelnd zurücklässt.
Die 18-jährige Payton ist eine mutige, junge Frau, die ihr Herz auf der Zunge trägt und sich von niemandem kleinkriegen lässt. Da sie mit 3 älteren Brüdern aufgewachsen ist und immer zur See fuhr, fehlen ihr vielleicht ein paar damenhafte Eigenschaften, aber genau das macht Payton Dixon in diesem Roman zu dieser Zeit so interessant. Ihre Brüder möchten sie gern bevormunden, aber Payton lässt es immer nur soweit zu, wie sie es selbst möchte. Ansonsten neigt zu „Trotzhandlungen“ und zeigt ihren Brüdern damit, was sie von deren Entscheidungen hält. Auch von Connor Drake lässt Payton nicht über sich bestimmen. Hat sie erst eine Entscheidung getroffen, ist sie nicht mehr zu stoppen, auch wenn sie sich dadurch selbst in Gefahr bringt. Mit diesem Verhalten löst Payton jede Menge Konflikte aus. In ihrer leicht naiven, ungestümen und vorlauten Art ist Payton Dixon einfach nur sympathisch und für mich eine totale Sympathieträgerin. Sie ist mit ihren Stärken und Schwächen so authentisch und macht eine wundervolle Entwicklung durch. Sie muss für ihr Glück im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes kämpfen, wodurch ich ihr ihre Motivation (Want/Need) absolut abnehme und sie in mein Herz geschlossen habe. Durch sie gibt es so viele schöne Schmunzel-Momente. Payton Dixon ist etwas ganz Besonderes.
Auch alle anderen Figuren gefallen mir ausgesprochen gut. Sie sind schlüssig entwickelt und einzigartig in ihrem Charakter. Auch wenn Paytons Brüder zum Teil ein wenig kindisch wirkten, kann ich mir so eine Familie aber bildhaft vorstellen. Da hat man sicherlich viel Spaß und viel zu lachen. Connor Drake ist ein Kapitän, wie ich ihn mir gewünscht habe. Groß, muskulös und er schreckt vor nichts zurück. Nur Payton schafft es, ihm mit seinen eigenen Gefühlen für sie, die ihn am Anfang selbst überrumpeln, ein mulmiges Gefühl zu verschaffen.
Ich konnte mich in alle Figuren gut hineinversetzen und das jeweilige Handeln und Denken verstehen und nachvollziehen.
Die Handlung des Buches hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Gleich am Anfang wird ein zum Genre passender, wunderbarer Konflikt aufgeworfen, der über das Buch wirklich gut entwickelt wurde. Damit einher geht eine prima Spannungskurve, die den Leser/die Leserin nur so durchs Buch fliegen lässt. Es gibt so viele spannende und romantische Momente, dass zu keiner Zeit Langeweile aufkommt. Und natürlich bleibt man am Ball, weil man ja wissen möchte, ob Payton ihr Ziel erreicht bzw. ihr Glück findet.
Die Handlung war insgesamt logisch und sehr abwechslungsreich aufgebaut. Besonders gefallen haben mir die Szenen, in denen sich Payton gegen die Männer behauptet hat, was mir so einige Male ein Schmunzeln ins Gesicht gezaubert hat.
Aber wie liest sich das Buch nun?
Es sind 31 längere Kapitel, die in der 3. Person Singular in der personalen Erzählform geschrieben sind. Das hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Damit konnte ich mich gut in die verschiedenen Figuren und deren Fühlen und Denken hineinversetzen.
Da ich bisher noch kein Buch von Patricia Cabot gelesen habe, war ich sehr gespannt auf ihren Schreibstil und ich muss sagen, da habe ich bisher echt was verpasst. Ich bin super in den Roman reingekommen und war sofort gebannt. Die Geschichte ist sehr flüssig und bildreich geschrieben. Auch die emotionale Ebene ist wirklich gelungen. Und die Dialoge mit dem „gezeigten“ Verhalten (also den Reaktionen der Figuren) sind unterhaltsam, zum Teil wirklich amüsant und überhaupt nicht gestelzt, trotz des Genres und der damit verbundenen „historischen“ Ausdrucksweise.
Besonders gelungen, fand ich neben den lebendigen Charakteren, die Beschreibung der Settings und der Atmosphäre. Es hat sich angefühlt, als wäre man dabei. Wirklich großartig!
Mein Fazit nach 401 Seiten:
„Ein gewagtes Angebot“ ist ein historischer Liebesroman, der zeigt, dass es sich lohnt, für die Liebe, das eigene Glück und das, woran man glaubt, zu kämpfen.
Wer also einen spannenden, historischen Liebesroman (auf hoher See) mit unterhaltsamen Schmunzel-Momenten sucht, der auch das Thema „Selbstwertgefühl“ verarbeitet, dürfte mit diesem Roman gut beraten sein.
Von mir erhält dieses Buch eine ganz klare Kaufempfehlung (5/5 Sternen), weil die Protagonistin einfach so liebenswürdig frisch und trotzdem mit der nötigen Tiefe dargestellt wurde und der Schreibstil so lebendig und fesselnd ist. Kritikpunkte habe ich keine.
Insgesamt ist es ein rundum gelungener Roman, den ich absolut weiterempfehlen kann.
Vielen Dank an Patricia Cabot für diese Geschichte.
Im Rahmen einer Leserunde auf Lovelybooks bin ich auf das Buch „Ein gewagtes Angebot“ aufmerksam geworden. Ich bin ein absoluter Fan historischer Liebesromane, gerade wenn sie auf hoher See spielen und es um Piraten geht.
Der Klappentext hat mich dann auch gleich gepackt und ich musste diesen Roman unbedingt lesen.
Das Cover passt aus meiner Sicht sehr gut zu dieser Geschichte und wird auch den Beschreibungen der Charaktere gerecht. Auch zum Genre ist es passend entworfen. Im Vordergrund sieht sich ein Paar leidenschaftlich in die Augen und im Hintergrund sieht man ein Schiff mit gehissten Segeln. Der Sonnenuntergang rundet das Bild ab und schafft die richtige Lesestimmung.
Der historische Liebesroman „Ein gewagtes Angebot“ von Patricia Cabot ist am 18. April 2019 im DIGITAL PUBLISHERS (dp) Verlag erschienen.
Payton Dixon wartet sehnsüchtig darauf, an ihrem 19. Geburtstag endlich ihr eigenes Schiff geschenkt zu bekommen, die „Constant“. Vorher muss sie aber erst noch der Hochzeit ihrer heimlichen Liebe Captain Connor Drake beiwohnen. Und als wäre es nicht schlimm genug, diesen Mann an Miss Becky Whitby zu verlieren, erhält Connor Drake als Hochzeitsgeschenk die Constant und die Teilhaberschaft an der Firma ihres Vaters und ihrer Brüder. Doch Payton vermutet einen Betrug an Connor und lässt nichts unversucht, ihn zu schützen und seine Liebe zu gewinnen. Vor Payton liegt eine aufregende Zeit, die geprägt ist von gefährlichen Abenteuern, vielen Emotionen und ihrem inneren Konflikt, ob sie gut genug für Connor Drake ist.
Nur wenige Stunden brauchte ich für dieses Buch, das mich glücklich schmunzelnd zurücklässt.
Die 18-jährige Payton ist eine mutige, junge Frau, die ihr Herz auf der Zunge trägt und sich von niemandem kleinkriegen lässt. Da sie mit 3 älteren Brüdern aufgewachsen ist und immer zur See fuhr, fehlen ihr vielleicht ein paar damenhafte Eigenschaften, aber genau das macht Payton Dixon in diesem Roman zu dieser Zeit so interessant. Ihre Brüder möchten sie gern bevormunden, aber Payton lässt es immer nur soweit zu, wie sie es selbst möchte. Ansonsten neigt zu „Trotzhandlungen“ und zeigt ihren Brüdern damit, was sie von deren Entscheidungen hält. Auch von Connor Drake lässt Payton nicht über sich bestimmen. Hat sie erst eine Entscheidung getroffen, ist sie nicht mehr zu stoppen, auch wenn sie sich dadurch selbst in Gefahr bringt. Mit diesem Verhalten löst Payton jede Menge Konflikte aus. In ihrer leicht naiven, ungestümen und vorlauten Art ist Payton Dixon einfach nur sympathisch und für mich eine totale Sympathieträgerin. Sie ist mit ihren Stärken und Schwächen so authentisch und macht eine wundervolle Entwicklung durch. Sie muss für ihr Glück im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes kämpfen, wodurch ich ihr ihre Motivation (Want/Need) absolut abnehme und sie in mein Herz geschlossen habe. Durch sie gibt es so viele schöne Schmunzel-Momente. Payton Dixon ist etwas ganz Besonderes.
Auch alle anderen Figuren gefallen mir ausgesprochen gut. Sie sind schlüssig entwickelt und einzigartig in ihrem Charakter. Auch wenn Paytons Brüder zum Teil ein wenig kindisch wirkten, kann ich mir so eine Familie aber bildhaft vorstellen. Da hat man sicherlich viel Spaß und viel zu lachen. Connor Drake ist ein Kapitän, wie ich ihn mir gewünscht habe. Groß, muskulös und er schreckt vor nichts zurück. Nur Payton schafft es, ihm mit seinen eigenen Gefühlen für sie, die ihn am Anfang selbst überrumpeln, ein mulmiges Gefühl zu verschaffen.
Ich konnte mich in alle Figuren gut hineinversetzen und das jeweilige Handeln und Denken verstehen und nachvollziehen.
Die Handlung des Buches hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Gleich am Anfang wird ein zum Genre passender, wunderbarer Konflikt aufgeworfen, der über das Buch wirklich gut entwickelt wurde. Damit einher geht eine prima Spannungskurve, die den Leser/die Leserin nur so durchs Buch fliegen lässt. Es gibt so viele spannende und romantische Momente, dass zu keiner Zeit Langeweile aufkommt. Und natürlich bleibt man am Ball, weil man ja wissen möchte, ob Payton ihr Ziel erreicht bzw. ihr Glück findet.
Die Handlung war insgesamt logisch und sehr abwechslungsreich aufgebaut. Besonders gefallen haben mir die Szenen, in denen sich Payton gegen die Männer behauptet hat, was mir so einige Male ein Schmunzeln ins Gesicht gezaubert hat.
Aber wie liest sich das Buch nun?
Es sind 31 längere Kapitel, die in der 3. Person Singular in der personalen Erzählform geschrieben sind. Das hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Damit konnte ich mich gut in die verschiedenen Figuren und deren Fühlen und Denken hineinversetzen.
Da ich bisher noch kein Buch von Patricia Cabot gelesen habe, war ich sehr gespannt auf ihren Schreibstil und ich muss sagen, da habe ich bisher echt was verpasst. Ich bin super in den Roman reingekommen und war sofort gebannt. Die Geschichte ist sehr flüssig und bildreich geschrieben. Auch die emotionale Ebene ist wirklich gelungen. Und die Dialoge mit dem „gezeigten“ Verhalten (also den Reaktionen der Figuren) sind unterhaltsam, zum Teil wirklich amüsant und überhaupt nicht gestelzt, trotz des Genres und der damit verbundenen „historischen“ Ausdrucksweise.
Besonders gelungen, fand ich neben den lebendigen Charakteren, die Beschreibung der Settings und der Atmosphäre. Es hat sich angefühlt, als wäre man dabei. Wirklich großartig!
Mein Fazit nach 401 Seiten:
„Ein gewagtes Angebot“ ist ein historischer Liebesroman, der zeigt, dass es sich lohnt, für die Liebe, das eigene Glück und das, woran man glaubt, zu kämpfen.
Wer also einen spannenden, historischen Liebesroman (auf hoher See) mit unterhaltsamen Schmunzel-Momenten sucht, der auch das Thema „Selbstwertgefühl“ verarbeitet, dürfte mit diesem Roman gut beraten sein.
Von mir erhält dieses Buch eine ganz klare Kaufempfehlung (5/5 Sternen), weil die Protagonistin einfach so liebenswürdig frisch und trotzdem mit der nötigen Tiefe dargestellt wurde und der Schreibstil so lebendig und fesselnd ist. Kritikpunkte habe ich keine.
Insgesamt ist es ein rundum gelungener Roman, den ich absolut weiterempfehlen kann.
Vielen Dank an Patricia Cabot für diese Geschichte.
May 26, 2013
J'ai adoré ce livre !
J'ai aimé que Payton soit déterminé, ayant beaucoup de volonté, passionnée, elle sait ce qu'elle veut...et notamment Connor Drake !
J'ai adoré les différentes péripéties, notamment au moment du mariage !
J'ai apprécié la belle soeur de Payton (la femme du frère ainé) qui essaie tant bien que mal de féminiser payton dès que possible, tout en reprochant à son mari et ses beau-frères le fait qu'ils sont responsables du côté garçon manqué de leur soeur !
Les frères sont très complices entre eux et avec leur soeur, on apprécie aussi leur humour.
J'ai aimé que Payton soit déterminé, ayant beaucoup de volonté, passionnée, elle sait ce qu'elle veut...et notamment Connor Drake !
J'ai adoré les différentes péripéties, notamment au moment du mariage !
J'ai apprécié la belle soeur de Payton (la femme du frère ainé) qui essaie tant bien que mal de féminiser payton dès que possible, tout en reprochant à son mari et ses beau-frères le fait qu'ils sont responsables du côté garçon manqué de leur soeur !
Les frères sont très complices entre eux et avec leur soeur, on apprécie aussi leur humour.
March 5, 2015
"Proposta Indecente" foi o primeiro livro que li da autora Patricia Cabot e depois de o ter comprado influenciada pela sinopse criei algumas expectativas quanto ao livro. Expectativas essas que não foram atingidas, muito pelo contrário.
Na minha opinião a história começa mal, a personagem principal é demasiado infantil e com comportamentos que apenas me irritavam, muito longe do que a sinopse prometia, ou pelo menos de como eu a interpretei. A história desenrola-se lentamente e nunca teve a capacidade de me prender e as personagens mostravam-se algo vazias. Esperava mais deste livro...
Na minha opinião a história começa mal, a personagem principal é demasiado infantil e com comportamentos que apenas me irritavam, muito longe do que a sinopse prometia, ou pelo menos de como eu a interpretei. A história desenrola-se lentamente e nunca teve a capacidade de me prender e as personagens mostravam-se algo vazias. Esperava mais deste livro...
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