Catherine Keaton

The saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover and this story shows you that looks aren’t everything. Elinor may not have the looks instead she has the kindest heart. She ends up without a dowry and having to work for a living. She becomes a governess to a young girl and ends up having a bad trick played on her and several proposals. This was a good story and this is the first time I am reading a book by this author. I would like to read more of her books. I received a free book and the views and opinions are my own.… (mais)

“The ideal proposal Elinor longed to receive had finally been made. It only required that she suffer through a series of unfortunate ones all in a row to arrive there...”
This is my first book by Catherine Keaton and I look forward to reading more. Let me start by saying this is not the typical Regency romance. It was a little bit of Sense and Sensibility & Ugly Duckling combined to create a unique story that completely pulled me in. It dashed all my preconceived notions and really made for a compelling, emotional rollercoaster, romantic read.
Elinor has resigned herself to never marrying after being told all her life she’s not pretty enough, overlooked at parties, and compared to her beautiful little sister. Though she longs for a family of her own, she’s content with being the doting relative. When her father leaves her and her sister in dire straits with no fortune or prospects, Elinor seeks out a governess position. Her cousin’s wife recommends her to Sir. Reginald of Carlisle Hall who is in need of a governess for a sweet seven year old girl. There she meets the handsome future baronet Capt. Valentine Hewlett.
Valentine is jaded when it comes to women. Blinded in the Napoleonic Wars, he has determined not to marry. When Elinor comes into their lives, she brings with her a contagiously positive demeanor that’s irresistible. When Valentine’s younger identical twin brother arrives, things become a lot more complicated. Will Elinor find the happiness she’s always dreamed of or will the old criticisms she’s endured ruin her future?
I loved Valentine and Elinor! Both carry a lot of painful hurts. Valentine suffers from PTSD and feels guilty for surviving when his crew did not. Elinor struggles with feelings of self worth after being put down most of her life. I loved watching them both change & grow. They bring out the best in each other and I enjoyed all their interactions. Vincent was the fly in the ointment who threatens everything. Despite all he does, I’d love to know what happens to him next. I also enjoyed Sir Reginald and his generous nature.
Filled with twists & turns, this clean, Regency romance will keep you guessing until the end. I received a complimentary copy from the author but also purchased a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given.… (mais)

I have been on a bit of a Regency romance kick lately and, though many of them have been decent, there hasn’t been anything special to make any of them really stand out. After awhile they all start to blur together, which is why I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed A Series of Unfortunate Proposals. It’s so refreshing to read something different in the Regency troupe.

Typically in a Regency romance the heroine is a sight to behold, but in this novel we have Elinor, a very plain and unassuming woman that is well past her prime, a fact that is brought up constantly by those around her. The cruelty that Elinor endures just because she isn’t beautiful was infuriating to read, and something I can relate to more than I care to admit. Being overlooked for my breathtaking sister is something I’ve dealt with for years, so this fact alone bonded me to Elinor.

This is a woman that has a heart of gold, which is something that can’t help but shine through despite her circumstances. Elinor shines so brightly, in fact, that an entire estate can’t help but see its glimmer, despite her just being a governess. I loved seeing her interactions with the entire Hewlett household and how Elinor was able to rise about such an unfortunate situation and come out on top, while also elevating those around her.

The “unfortunate proposals” were quite entertaining in and of themselves, and the plot twists near the end of the story came out of nowhere! I loved this!! I also can’t write a review without commenting about how gorgeous this cover is. I adore this color palette and feel like it set the tone for this novel perfectly, a gorgeous cover that envelops a even more stunning story.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.… (mais)