An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons #3) by Julia Quinn

 

Summary (from the publisher): 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 Beckett is the illegitimate daughter of an earl. Although raised in his household as his ward, she never knew love from anyone and was treated very cruelly by her stepmother and two stepsisters. After her father's death, she becomes an unpaid servant to her cruel stepmother. When she sneaks into Lady Bridgerton's masquerade ball, it is the most enchanting night of her life, not least of all because she meets the handsome Benedict Bridgerton. Although the two are deeply drawn to one another, Sophie knows it must remain a dream and flees. Until two years later, when their paths cross again. But this time, Benedict doesn't recognize the woman who has haunted his dreams since that ball years ago. 

I love that each book in this series follows the love story of a different Bridgerton sibling. Bendict is extremely likable. Friendly, handsome, artistic, and without the curt asides of his serious older brother. I also appreciated that his love interest isn't the typical upper crust lady that we've seen in other books but instead someone with a more questionable background. However, this book is very intentionally going for a Cinderella re-telling with the poor daughter of the home cruelly abused by her stepmother and rushing out of the ball at the stroke of midnight. Although it becomes more as the novel progresses, I didn't love the more formulaic fairy tale aspect of the tale in the first half of the book. Finally, the ending, where Lady Bridgerton must rush to the jail to rescue a certain someone seemed far fetched and just frankly preposterous. I know these aren't entirely historically accurate in many ways, but that was just a bridge too far for me to see an aristocratic widow daring to appear in a prison. 

While not my favorite of the series so far, this was still a highly enjoyable romp through the world of the Bridgertons. Sophie and Benedict were both likeable characters and I loved seeing their love story come to a happy conclusion after a very wild ride. 

Stars: 3

Related Titles: 

• The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1) by Julia Quinn
• The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2) by Julia Quinn