The Proposition by Judith Ivory

A Month of Romance Audio Favorites Selection

Narrated by Steven Crossley

There’s something extremely comforting about returning to a favorite book. Even though I know the plot, I feel like I’m revisiting old friends, laughing at old jokes, grieving long-remembered sorrows. Relistening to Judith Ivory’s The Proposition was just such an experience.

Lady Edwina Bollash lives alone in London. She teaches deportment to young women who are about to make their societal debuts. Once, Edwina was part of the aristocracy but, when her parents died, an elderly cousin inherited the wealth and the titles, leaving Edwina practically penniless. Luckily, Edwina is resourceful and, over the years has made quite a name for herself as a teacher. She lives comfortably, only sometimes mourning the fact that no one has ever really loved her.

Mick Tremore is a rat catcher from Cornwall. He has come to London to work and send money back to his large family. He’s content with his lot in life. He sees a lot of fancy houses and has been known to take a few grand ladies to bed. He definitely has a way with the ladies. Never does he imagine falling for someone like Edwina.

As part of a bet, steeped in a great deal of secrecy, Edwina agrees to turn Mick into the consummate English gentleman in just six weeks. He’ll attend an annual ball, given by Edwina’s cousin. She is very pleased by the idea of a rat catcher dancing among those who snubbed her so many years ago. Mick is eager for a way to better himself once he realizes the great things this could mean for those he loves. Both are ready and willing to work hard. As they begin to have feelings for one another, this work gets more and more complicated. Both begin to wish for things they believe they can never have.

There couldn’t be a better narrator for this book than Steven Crossley. He has a deep, rich, and very soothing way of speaking. He was able to transport me back in time to Victorian London. Rarely can a narrator bring me that much out of my own life and into the lives of the characters being read about. When someone does manage to do this, I’m a fan for life.

Crossley’s depiction of Mick’s character is nothing short of masterful. When we first meet Mick, he speaks with a very heavy Cornish accent. Crossley is able to pull this off without it coming across as forced or fake. As the story continues, Mick slowly learns to speak as the upper class does, and Crossley’s depiction of him changes just as it should. He was always believable.

I was also quite pleased with his depiction of Edwina. She’s very intelligent and prim, sometimes to a fault. She’s afraid to give into the things she wants. She’s perpetually nervous and on-edge. Crossley allows us to see all of these characteristics. As she becomes more comfortable with Mick, she loosens up a bit, and the listener can tell exactly when that happens.

Crossley makes the relationship between Mick and Edwina a pleasure to behold. His pacing is wonderful, allowing the listener to cherish the story just as these two are cherishing each other. Mick teases Edwina quite often, and the laughter in Crossley’s voice as he reads these scenes, made me smile. I always like a narrator seems to be enjoying the story as much as I am.

I never had any trouble telling the characters apart. Each was distinctly voiced. Crossley superbly performs a wide range of characters of all classes and ages. Normally, I prefer female narrators when listening to romances, but Steven Crossley is a definite exception to this rule.

There is something enchanting about the story of these very different people and how they come together. I would say The Proposition has a bit of a fairytale element about it. In places, I found myself laughing out loud. In other places, I felt myself moved to tears. Ivory definitely knows how to write a good story with likable characters and a compelling plot. I enjoyed this listen just as much, if not more than, the first time I listened to it, some ten years ago.

Shannon

Narration:  A

Book Content:  A-

Steam Factor:  For your burning ears only (it doesn’t get super intense until about halfway through the book)

Violence:  Fighting

Genre:  Historical Romance

Publisher:  Recorded Books