REVIEW: The Tycoon’s Scandalous Proposition by Miranda Lee

The Tycoon’s Scandalous Proposition by Miranda Lee is a romance set in the world of movie stars and film moguls, with an aspiring actress finding herself on the receiving end of attentions from a wealthy movie producer.

Kate Holiday never thought that the actor she went to school with and had a crush on would end up with her sister, but here she is, playing bridesmaid for their nuptials and trying not to let on that she has a broken heart. Best man Blake Randall can see that she is holding some emotion in check though she doesn’t let on the real reason to him right away. At the reception when he finds out she’s also an actress, he offers to give her a part in his latest project, a way to make her smile. And, being the playboy he is, he’s definitely interested in spending some alone time with her, if she’s willing. Kate knows that recognition in a film of Blake’s could go a long way to further her career. But is a fling going to be in her best interests in the long run or will she end up with a broken heart at the expense of getting her name out in the public eye?

The author of this story seems to be unaware of society’s current take on sexual harassment in the workplace with Blake’s desire to bed Kate not clearly separated from her getting a role in his film, though at least he’s decent enough not to want to sleep with their heroine while she’s drunk despite her advances. To top it off, he’s fully aware that the groom in the story, Lachlan, has been cheating on the bride-to-be, Maddie, throughout the engagement and still agreed to be his best man. Not to worry though, the bride isn’t exactly stellar material either. She’s in it for the money and the fame and not expecting her husband to be faithful, or in love with him either so they seem to be a matched pair. It’s rare to find secondary characters that you dislike, but sadly that’s what I got here.

So what about Kate? Well, she definitely could use a backbone. She’s constantly being denigrated by her sister or her mother, who make derogatory comments about her appearance. She may be a good actress but even she knows that there will be talk about her sleeping with the producer and that it could negatively affect her career but does it anyway. Moving to L.A. to live with him and falling in love in a week makes for an insta-love romance, and they do get a happy ending but it feels forced. The epilogue presumably is to make up for that but by that point I wasn’t invested in them as a couple.

There is some other disturbing language in this story. There is fat shaming (calling the housekeeper ‘attractive, though plump’) and constant sex shaming too, making Kate out as the ‘good girl’ unlike her sister Maddie who slept around. At one point the chauffeur says ‘the Indians are circling’ as a reference to the paparazzi, and Blake is described as looking like a gypsy. I’m surprised at what made it past the editing stage. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this romance as a result. It may be that the couple gets their happy ending, but there is too much time spent on the relationship of her sister and new husband and other issues above that take away from what could have been a good story.
 

Book Info:

Publication: May 22, 2018 | Harlequin Presents | Marrying a Tycoon #3

He’s known for getting what he wants… …and she’s his biggest prize!Actress Kate Holiday is used to the spotlight, yet is happy melting into the background at a society party. Until the scorching gaze of charismatic Blake Randall rests on her… No acting is required for their sizzling night together! So when he offers Kate a starring role on a billionaire’s arm–and in his bed!–dare she say yes?