“It was strange, to find a woman who could make him happy just with her mere presence. He didn’t even have to see her, or hear her voice, or even smell her scent. He just had to know that she was there.”

― Julia Quinn, An Offer From a Gentleman

The third of Julia Quinn's popular Regency-era novels, which are currently being turned into a Netflix series by Shondaland and feature the charming, wealthy Bridgerton family, tells the Benedict Bridgerton narrative. Quinn is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling book in the market.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

 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 his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?

My reaction to this novel...

After reading the second book in the Bridgerton series, I couldn't get enough of Bridgerton and decided to read the third. Prior to reading it, I had the premonition that it would be about Benedict, and I was right; it was all about him and his encounter with his equal.

Throughout the first season of Bridgerton, Benedict was essentially invisible to me. In this book, I was right that I couldn't grasp his character since he felt the same way about himself. I was glad, though, that this third book was all about him.

I absolutely love fairy tales, and this one was inspired by the story of Cinderella. Since the female character in both had a cruel stepmother and two stepsisters, which I thought to be quite bothersome, there are actually a lot of parallels between the two. When I checked for reviews after reading the book, I saw some that were negative of it because of how closely it resembled the aforementioned fairy tale. I did, however, love the book. I could feel the chemistry between them and the mounting desire.

I used to dislike romance novels, but now I've come to enjoy them. It was great to see how true love can exist despite societal disparities and variations in status. I will definitely read the book that comes after this one. For me, it was a great deal of fun.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

“They say that a smart person learns from her mistakes, but a truly smart person learns from other people’s mistakes.”

When our experiences have taught us so much, we should really try to learn from them. We should also pick up tips from others, particularly if they have firsthand knowledge of the things we're trying to avoid or think may eventually happen.