Series:
Proposals in Paris (Book 1)
From first kiss
To husband and wife?
Dieudonné, the Comte de Montreau, steps in when he
catches a disreputable suitor trying to ruin his friend, heiress Evena. Only to
accidentally compromise her himself, forcing them to wed!
Dieudonné might be the man who occupies Evena's thoughts,
but he's not the well-connected nobleman she needs to help her ailing father.
And now, as they head to the altar, their friendship is in jeopardy, too! Could
her convenient husband ever see her as more than a burden…and could their bond
become something even more thrilling?
Good friends-to-lovers romance in an unusual setting. It
begins in Saint-Domingue (current-day Haiti) and moves to Paris in the 1770s, a
little-used era in the Harlequin Historical line. It was refreshing to step
outside the Regency period. I liked learning more about these two locations and
people. I do wonder about their fates in the coming years of unrest.
Dieudonné is the illegitimate son of a French nobleman,
raised by his aunt and uncle. Though illegitimate, he inherited his father's
title (we find out why eventually). Though raised primarily in France, his aunt
and uncle also own property in Saint-Domingue, where they frequently visit. Dieudonné
and the girl next door, Evena, have been best friends since childhood. The book
opens with a visit in 1769 when Dieudonné is twenty-one, and Evena is
seventeen. Suddenly, he sees her in a whole new light.
Evena is a beautiful and outgoing young woman who adores
her best friend. But something changed with this visit, and he stirs feelings she
doesn't understand. An impulsive kiss changes everything. Both try to forget,
but the memory is there between them.
Five years later, they meet again when Evena and her
family travel to Paris. Her father developed a mysterious illness, and they
hope to gain access to the King's doctor for his help. That access requires
Evena to marry a well-connected nobleman despite her attraction to Dieudonné. At
the same time, he wants to marry a well-connected Frenchwoman who can give him
the legitimacy he needs for respectability. His first attempt ended with him
being left at the altar.
The development of Evena and Dieudonné's relationship was
enjoyable and frustrating. Their connection and attraction remain strong, but
their goals create an insurmountable obstacle. Dieudonné has trouble
controlling his attraction to Evena and copes by avoiding her whenever possible,
which strains their friendship. However, Dieudonné is there when Evena's
"suitor" attempts to ruin her and rescues her, only to compromise her
himself. Marriage to each other is their only option.
Once they marry, each spends an inordinate amount of time
beating themselves up for ruining the other's plans. Frequent misunderstandings
prevent them from actually talking to each other about their situation and
feelings. Dieudonné frustrated me with his frequent response of "not
now" whenever Evena tried to speak to him about it. He wasted so much time
because he thought she would reject him. I liked Evena's strength of will in
taking charge of her life and doing what she thought would help him. I liked
how her support helped him see he was chasing the wrong thing. The ending
brought several surprises before they found their way to their desired future.
The epilogue was good.
Evena's twin sister, Sophiette, intrigues me. She is very
different from Evena in that she prefers to be alone. I liked how she clearly
sees Evena and Dieudonné and tries to help them through their issues. I look
forward to her story and the man who wins her heart.
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