kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
Indecent Proposal is the much anticipated fourth installment in Molly O'Keefe's captivating Boys of Bishop series. Tantalizing glimpses of Harrison Montgomery in Never Been Kissed (book two in the series) piqued my curiosity about him and his sudden marriage to Ryan Kaminski, so I have been eagerly impatiently waiting for his story. I can honestly (and happily) say it was sooooo worth the wait!!!
Although Indecent Proposal is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Harrison was instrumental in his securing his sister Ashley's release from Somali pirates in Never Been Kissed and the storylines from both novels run concurrently. Unlike the previous three novels in the series, Indecent Proposal does not take place in Bishop, but Ashley and her love interest Brody do make a brief, but important, guest appearance.
Ryan has no idea who Harrison when he comes into the bar where she works as a bartender. All she knows is he is obviously hurting, and she impulsively spends one incredibly passionate night with him. Ryan really does not expect their paths to cross again, but one unplanned pregnancy + one big mouthed (but well-intentioned) brother = a marriage of convenience for Ryan and Harrison. Strictly a business arrangement, they quickly marry and Ryan is thrust into the limelight while Harrison campaigns for the upcoming election. Their relationship becomes a confusing mess as they present a loving and united front in public but privately, they keep an emotional and physical distance.
Ryan has had a very difficult life and she is not exactly welcomed into Harrison's family with open arms. She had brief career as a model when she was younger, but after her early marriage crashed and burned, she lost pretty much everything. Most of her family turned their backs on her and she has been living a fairly bleak and lonely for the past several years. She is honest and upfront about her past mistakes and she is genuinely sorry for the pain she has caused. Ryan readily admits she falls in love with ease, but when it comes to Harrison, she is determined not to fall into old habits.
Harrison fiercely loyal to Ashley, but when it comes to his parents, he tries to keep as far away from them as possible. He deeply resents his parents for using him and Ashley as props to advance his father's political career. However, he believes in the political system and he is committed to fixing the wrongs his father committed while in office. Harrison is sometimes cold and calculating, but with Ryan, his barriers begin to come down. But his fears are difficult to leave behind, and Harrison continually pushes Ryan away.
Harrison and Ryan's relationship is a rollercoaster of strong emotions and their history of family dysfunction is a huge obstacle they have to overcome. Both of them are trying to protect themselves from further hurt and every time they get close to one another, they immediately begin to shut down.
Since Harrison and Ryan are trying to maintain a physical and emotional distance from one another, there are fewer sex scenes in Indecent Proposal. Their encounters are intense and while they do bring them closer, more often than not, their intimacy is tenuous and unable to withstand the myriad issues they are facing.
Indecent Proposal is wonderful novel of healing for both Harrison and Ryan and watching them overcome their troubled pasts is incredibly heartwarming. The use of the marriage of convenience plot device is absolutely brilliant and Molly O'Keefe does an outstanding job keeping the storyline fresh and unique.
Indecent Proposal is a heartfelt, poignant and sexy addition to the Boys of Bishop series that old and new fans are going to love.
Indecent Proposal is the much anticipated fourth installment in Molly O'Keefe's captivating Boys of Bishop series. Tantalizing glimpses of Harrison Montgomery in Never Been Kissed (book two in the series) piqued my curiosity about him and his sudden marriage to Ryan Kaminski, so I have been eagerly impatiently waiting for his story. I can honestly (and happily) say it was sooooo worth the wait!!!
Although Indecent Proposal is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. Harrison was instrumental in his securing his sister Ashley's release from Somali pirates in Never Been Kissed and the storylines from both novels run concurrently. Unlike the previous three novels in the series, Indecent Proposal does not take place in Bishop, but Ashley and her love interest Brody do make a brief, but important, guest appearance.
Ryan has no idea who Harrison when he comes into the bar where she works as a bartender. All she knows is he is obviously hurting, and she impulsively spends one incredibly passionate night with him. Ryan really does not expect their paths to cross again, but one unplanned pregnancy + one big mouthed (but well-intentioned) brother = a marriage of convenience for Ryan and Harrison. Strictly a business arrangement, they quickly marry and Ryan is thrust into the limelight while Harrison campaigns for the upcoming election. Their relationship becomes a confusing mess as they present a loving and united front in public but privately, they keep an emotional and physical distance.
Ryan has had a very difficult life and she is not exactly welcomed into Harrison's family with open arms. She had brief career as a model when she was younger, but after her early marriage crashed and burned, she lost pretty much everything. Most of her family turned their backs on her and she has been living a fairly bleak and lonely for the past several years. She is honest and upfront about her past mistakes and she is genuinely sorry for the pain she has caused. Ryan readily admits she falls in love with ease, but when it comes to Harrison, she is determined not to fall into old habits.
Harrison fiercely loyal to Ashley, but when it comes to his parents, he tries to keep as far away from them as possible. He deeply resents his parents for using him and Ashley as props to advance his father's political career. However, he believes in the political system and he is committed to fixing the wrongs his father committed while in office. Harrison is sometimes cold and calculating, but with Ryan, his barriers begin to come down. But his fears are difficult to leave behind, and Harrison continually pushes Ryan away.
Harrison and Ryan's relationship is a rollercoaster of strong emotions and their history of family dysfunction is a huge obstacle they have to overcome. Both of them are trying to protect themselves from further hurt and every time they get close to one another, they immediately begin to shut down.
Since Harrison and Ryan are trying to maintain a physical and emotional distance from one another, there are fewer sex scenes in Indecent Proposal. Their encounters are intense and while they do bring them closer, more often than not, their intimacy is tenuous and unable to withstand the myriad issues they are facing.
Indecent Proposal is wonderful novel of healing for both Harrison and Ryan and watching them overcome their troubled pasts is incredibly heartwarming. The use of the marriage of convenience plot device is absolutely brilliant and Molly O'Keefe does an outstanding job keeping the storyline fresh and unique.
Indecent Proposal is a heartfelt, poignant and sexy addition to the Boys of Bishop series that old and new fans are going to love.
katleap's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
This started out so well. The idea was good and I liked the characters but about 2/3's of the way through it kinda fell apart. And the end was strange and I didn't really like it. I also really wanted the epilogue to be set some years in the future.
This started out so well. The idea was good and I liked the characters but about 2/3's of the way through it kinda fell apart. And the end was strange and I didn't really like it. I also really wanted the epilogue to be set some years in the future.
hoots222's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads Giveaways.
Really enjoyed this book. The writing and story line kept me interested and the characters were well fleshed out. I liked reading the dialog between Harrison and Ryan, loved how Ryan was spunky and kept Harrison on his toes and how she handled Harrison Mother. It was nice seeing the evolution Harrison went through from old and distant to warm and loving. Absolutely love Wallace and the humor he brings to situations. Glad there was a HEA, it was well deserved. This is my first Molly O'Keefe book and I look forward to reading more from her.
Really enjoyed this book. The writing and story line kept me interested and the characters were well fleshed out. I liked reading the dialog between Harrison and Ryan, loved how Ryan was spunky and kept Harrison on his toes and how she handled Harrison Mother. It was nice seeing the evolution Harrison went through from old and distant to warm and loving. Absolutely love Wallace and the humor he brings to situations. Glad there was a HEA, it was well deserved. This is my first Molly O'Keefe book and I look forward to reading more from her.
sandlynn's review against another edition
3.0
March 5, 2015
Molly O’Keefe’s Indecent Proposal was published in 2014. What drew me to it more than anything was its political setting. I studied political science in college and follow politics in my job so it’s familiar territory that isn’t always portrayed in a realistic manner in romance novels.
The story involves a 30-something NYC bartender/model who has a one night stand with a handsome fellow who seems to be drinking his troubles away at the bar in which she works. Our heroine, Ryan, has been down on her luck for a while and is estranged from her working class family, so she has enormous sympathy for a man who appears equally troubled.
Of course, the one night stand results in a pregnancy and Ryan soon finds out that the handsome stranger is none other than congressional candidate, Harrison Montgomery, who is the scion of an "illustrious" political family from Georgia. In the middle of his campaign, Harrison can’t afford scandal, especially since his father – the governor of the state – has had his own bouts with indiscretions and even brushes with the law that have dragged the Montgomery name through the mud.
To try and not give his opponent and the press ammunition and keep his campaign from nose-diving, Harrison proposes a marriage of convenience to Ryan. They’ll get married, stay out of each other’s beds and, if he wins the election, remain married for at least two years, thereby giving the appearance of a real marriage, with the side benefit of bestowing some gravitas to the young candidate via a wife and child. As for Ryan, she gets the financial support she desperately needs and a father for her baby-to-be.
This book does a good job getting the campaign strategizing, the media, and the politics right. We see the couple campaigning together but get much less of their interpersonal communication outside of those events, which drags out the angst between them. In fact, this story reminds me a great deal of older contemporaries in the mold of Judith McNaught where we are introduced to both the hero and heroine’s families/careers and see them within that context, which is good and layered. But, that leaves less time for the couple to really focus on the problems within their relationship rather than those outside of it, delaying any resolution. As such, we end up with an almost “tacked on” ending that was a little too contrived and unconnected to the first three-quarters of the book. If only some of the events, in the last part of the book could’ve been interspersed a bit, it wouldn’t have felt like it was part of a separate story.
In any event, I did enjoy a huge chunk of the book, so I’ll give it a “B.” Looking forward to reading more of the author's work.
Molly O’Keefe’s Indecent Proposal was published in 2014. What drew me to it more than anything was its political setting. I studied political science in college and follow politics in my job so it’s familiar territory that isn’t always portrayed in a realistic manner in romance novels.
The story involves a 30-something NYC bartender/model who has a one night stand with a handsome fellow who seems to be drinking his troubles away at the bar in which she works. Our heroine, Ryan, has been down on her luck for a while and is estranged from her working class family, so she has enormous sympathy for a man who appears equally troubled.
Of course, the one night stand results in a pregnancy and Ryan soon finds out that the handsome stranger is none other than congressional candidate, Harrison Montgomery, who is the scion of an "illustrious" political family from Georgia. In the middle of his campaign, Harrison can’t afford scandal, especially since his father – the governor of the state – has had his own bouts with indiscretions and even brushes with the law that have dragged the Montgomery name through the mud.
To try and not give his opponent and the press ammunition and keep his campaign from nose-diving, Harrison proposes a marriage of convenience to Ryan. They’ll get married, stay out of each other’s beds and, if he wins the election, remain married for at least two years, thereby giving the appearance of a real marriage, with the side benefit of bestowing some gravitas to the young candidate via a wife and child. As for Ryan, she gets the financial support she desperately needs and a father for her baby-to-be.
This book does a good job getting the campaign strategizing, the media, and the politics right. We see the couple campaigning together but get much less of their interpersonal communication outside of those events, which drags out the angst between them. In fact, this story reminds me a great deal of older contemporaries in the mold of Judith McNaught where we are introduced to both the hero and heroine’s families/careers and see them within that context, which is good and layered. But, that leaves less time for the couple to really focus on the problems within their relationship rather than those outside of it, delaying any resolution. As such, we end up with an almost “tacked on” ending that was a little too contrived and unconnected to the first three-quarters of the book. If only some of the events, in the last part of the book could’ve been interspersed a bit, it wouldn’t have felt like it was part of a separate story.
In any event, I did enjoy a huge chunk of the book, so I’ll give it a “B.” Looking forward to reading more of the author's work.
jenc5309's review against another edition
3.0
I loved how strong the heroine was, and how she stood up for herself.
ezichinny's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This one had Harrison Montgomery needed a break from the circus of his life and he went to a bar to drown his sorrows. Ryan Komanski was the bartender who decided to throw caution to the wind and spend the night with a guy she met at a bar.
They didn't exchange their real names as they both just intended their encounter to be a one-time thing.
A few months later, Ryan got the shock of her life when she tested positive for pregnancy. What was she to do, since she had no clue as to how to locate the baby's father? She didn't even know his name. Imagine her shock when she saw senatorial candidate Harrison Montgomery, and she realized who her one-night stand was.
That set up a very uncomfortable situation for both parties, but there was a baby involved.
This story was definitely predictable, but it was still enjoyable. I would hope Ryan understood why Harrison and his family viewed her a gold digging trollop and why they were highly suspicious of her. Her actions seemed calculated and not innocent. Of course, Harrison had a hard time accepting responsibility for his own actions and he was cruel. His family was pretty self centered and self absorbed so of course everyone's actions was an attempt to take down the Montgomery family.
I liked this story but I have to be in the mood to suspend belief to read these types of novels. I did like it but I don't think I will continue with the series.
This one had Harrison Montgomery needed a break from the circus of his life and he went to a bar to drown his sorrows. Ryan Komanski was the bartender who decided to throw caution to the wind and spend the night with a guy she met at a bar.
They didn't exchange their real names as they both just intended their encounter to be a one-time thing.
A few months later, Ryan got the shock of her life when she tested positive for pregnancy. What was she to do, since she had no clue as to how to locate the baby's father? She didn't even know his name. Imagine her shock when she saw senatorial candidate Harrison Montgomery, and she realized who her one-night stand was.
That set up a very uncomfortable situation for both parties, but there was a baby involved.
This story was definitely predictable, but it was still enjoyable. I would hope Ryan understood why Harrison and his family viewed her a gold digging trollop and why they were highly suspicious of her. Her actions seemed calculated and not innocent. Of course, Harrison had a hard time accepting responsibility for his own actions and he was cruel. His family was pretty self centered and self absorbed so of course everyone's actions was an attempt to take down the Montgomery family.
I liked this story but I have to be in the mood to suspend belief to read these types of novels. I did like it but I don't think I will continue with the series.
cdb393's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars
I adored this book. Ryan was such a strong, atypical heroine. Harrison was equally great, a nice guy dealing with so the pressure of high expectations coming from his family, the public, and himself. I thought both the internal and external conflict was dealt with excellently until the very end were it was dragged out a bit.
I adored this book. Ryan was such a strong, atypical heroine. Harrison was equally great, a nice guy dealing with so the pressure of high expectations coming from his family, the public, and himself. I thought both the internal and external conflict was dealt with excellently until the very end were it was dragged out a bit.
jonetta's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted on The Book Nympho
Quick summary
Harrison Montgomery has worked his entire adult life for this moment in his political career, running for a Georgia congressional seat. He's running the race of his life, trying to outdistance himself from his father's sordid political record, only to create his own scandal because of a weak moment. That moment involved Ryan Komanski who didn't even know who he was.
The heart of the story
Ryan only intended to provide a moment of solace to Harrison that night they spent together. She didn't even know his last name so even if she'd wanted him to be part of her pregnancy it wasn't a possibility. Harrison's jaded experiences with women dashed all his good memories from his night with Ryan and the indecent proposal was formed.
What I loved
Harrison and Ryan. I had mixed emotions about him before this story (good guy who got his sister saved but seriously flawed when he pushed her to help his campaign). His story is pretty incredible...one moment I loathed him and the next I wanted to give him a hug. Who knew this guy was so interesting and complex? And Ryan. She might seem tragic at first but then you get to see her wonder. This story had me off balance from beginning to end and my emotions were soaring the entire time.
The bottom line
I hate to see this series end because of stories like this! Yes, we've all read storylines involving surprise pregnancies resulting in tepid marriages but this one stands apart from the rest. It's gut-wrenching, funny, thought provoking and romantic. Harrison and Ryan are so finely crafted you'll walk away feeling as if you'd always know their hearts. *sigh* What's next Ms. O'Keefe?
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Quick summary
Harrison Montgomery has worked his entire adult life for this moment in his political career, running for a Georgia congressional seat. He's running the race of his life, trying to outdistance himself from his father's sordid political record, only to create his own scandal because of a weak moment. That moment involved Ryan Komanski who didn't even know who he was.
The heart of the story
Ryan only intended to provide a moment of solace to Harrison that night they spent together. She didn't even know his last name so even if she'd wanted him to be part of her pregnancy it wasn't a possibility. Harrison's jaded experiences with women dashed all his good memories from his night with Ryan and the indecent proposal was formed.
What I loved
Harrison and Ryan. I had mixed emotions about him before this story (good guy who got his sister saved but seriously flawed when he pushed her to help his campaign). His story is pretty incredible...one moment I loathed him and the next I wanted to give him a hug. Who knew this guy was so interesting and complex? And Ryan. She might seem tragic at first but then you get to see her wonder. This story had me off balance from beginning to end and my emotions were soaring the entire time.
The bottom line
I hate to see this series end because of stories like this! Yes, we've all read storylines involving surprise pregnancies resulting in tepid marriages but this one stands apart from the rest. It's gut-wrenching, funny, thought provoking and romantic. Harrison and Ryan are so finely crafted you'll walk away feeling as if you'd always know their hearts. *sigh* What's next Ms. O'Keefe?
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)