An Improper Proposal is a "brother's best friend" and an "I've loved you forever" book.
The first half of this book was so enjoyable, I thought it might end up being a 5 star read.
The story starts out with finding out that the heroine, an 18 year old hoyden raised on ships with her brothers, has a huge crush on their friend and captain, a 30 year old, who thinks of her as a child until she puts on a dress. He is going to marry the next day to someone the heroine dislikes. As implausible as some of the details were, it was interesting and fast paced. Then, a series of things happen that defy normal logic and the story just didn't hold up for me. There were too many love scenes in the second half that did not add to the story and events that didn't make sense. The second half of the story ended up being just ok. 3.5/5 stars ( )

A fun early Meg Cabot book, from back when she wrote historical romance. I had to dig around to find this book, and I was glad I did because her writing style really shows through. ( )

I think I may institute a new romance novel grading system, "alerts":SEXISM: low (adjusted for historical significance; the main conflict has to do with the main character rebelling against the sexism of the time).RACISM: low-moderate (some amount of description of 'savages,' appropriate to the historical time period and not endorsed by the narrator. one non-white character, 'Mei-Ling,' who never appears on camera but is portrayed as a wise mother figure for the protagonist. considering that most of the book takes place on the high seas and in 'exotic' places, though, remarkably good).RIDICULOUS LANGUAGE: moderate (refers to a penis as a "staff," a man's chest hair as "fur," etc., but not on a regular basis).TITLE HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONTENT OF THE BOOK: high (I don't think there's a single improper proposal in the damn thing - I was expecting it to be of the 'virginal girl blackmailed into liaison with dangerous man who turns out to have a heart of gold' vein, and it wasn't in the very least).PLOT INCOHERENCE: moderate (completely implausible, and Patricia Cabot really needed to do more research into nautical life, but if you accept its premises it all follows pretty well).RAPE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: moderate (no on-screen rapes, some on-screen domestic violence on the part of the villain, rape continually mentioned as a threat or possibility).All in all, this book was well on the side of "I can deal with it, as a romance novel," but it's not the level of amusement I expect from Patricia Cabot. Apparently it was one of her earlier books, and I think it shows. ( )

I think I may institute a new romance novel grading system, "alerts":SEXISM: low (adjusted for historical significance; the main conflict has to do with the main character rebelling against the sexism of the time).RACISM: low-moderate (some amount of description of 'savages,' appropriate to the historical time period and not endorsed by the narrator. one non-white character, 'Mei-Ling,' who never appears on camera but is portrayed as a wise mother figure for the protagonist. considering that most of the book takes place on the high seas and in 'exotic' places, though, remarkably good).RIDICULOUS LANGUAGE: moderate (refers to a penis as a "staff," a man's chest hair as "fur," etc., but not on a regular basis).TITLE HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONTENT OF THE BOOK: high (I don't think there's a single improper proposal in the damn thing - I was expecting it to be of the 'virginal girl blackmailed into liaison with dangerous man who turns out to have a heart of gold' vein, and it wasn't in the very least).PLOT INCOHERENCE: moderate (completely implausible, and Patricia Cabot really needed to do more research into nautical life, but if you accept its premises it all follows pretty well).RAPE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: moderate (no on-screen rapes, some on-screen domestic violence on the part of the villain, rape continually mentioned as a threat or possibility).All in all, this book was well on the side of "I can deal with it, as a romance novel," but it's not the level of amusement I expect from Patricia Cabot. Apparently it was one of her earlier books, and I think it shows. ( )

Payton Dixon grew up on ships with her three elder brothers and her father all encouraging her to climb, shoot, and sail as well as any boy. All her life she's wanted only two things: a clipper ship of her own to command and Captain Connor Drake.

Now, as both of her dreams are promised to others, she does all that is in her power to rescue both from the clutches of her own and her family's rivals.

Payton is thoroughly charming as a nautically-minded tomboy with her heart and head set to gain what she wants. Her frankness and lack of self-consciousness translate into a strong and capable femininity without losing her mischievous boyish ways.

I loved this book; it was sweet and funny, and the characters remained true to themselves throughout the novel (Payton wasn't turned 'girly' at the end). The interactions between the hero and heroine are alternately tender and hilarious.

An Improper Proposal is a lighthearted romantic comedy, and an exploration of unconventional gender roles and the appeal of an untraditional heroine perfectly capable of rescuing her own self as well as others. A wonderful read. ( )