Review: Fell short of my expectations.....
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 3, 2014
Having read one other novella by Aileen Fish (A BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS) and finding it enchanting, I fully expected to adore this one every bit as much.  To my disappointment, I found HIS IMPASSIONED PROPOSAL lacking.  The book description (blurb) deserves an A+ for capturing the essence of the novella so perfectly.  In brief--Jane and Stephen were childhood friends who loved each other with the kind of purity only young love has.  She was still a child when he left for war, to defend King and country and ensure England's safety for his one-day wife and children.  Honorable reasons.  Stephen was completely loveable, honorable, and facing the worst possible life experiences, responds in believable ways.  This novella neatly fits in the "sweet" category....free of coarse language and free of sexual content.  A very sweet, exquisitely timed kiss.  =)MY EVALUATIONS AS TO WHY THIS NOVELLA FELL FLAT for me, a single reader:* Stephen and Jane spent so much time apart...too many scenes were about each separately, rather than the two of them together.  This made it hard to believe Jane's ongoing hesitancy.  I would've preferred to see them interact more, and have something happen that fed her insecurities to strengthen her motivation to resist Stephen.* Regencies are a perfect setting for pining (love that can't be expressed, even verbally, hesitations, etc.)....and the lack of pining in this one fed the lack of romance.  It's so darn sweet when we see the strictures of Society contributing to reasons why our hero and heroine can't simply declare themselves.* The story thread begins where Stephen, a broken and scarred war veteran doubts his own value, his own ability to support a wife, yet we never really see him heal from this self-doubt.  Yes, the rebuilding happens, the limp fades, but we never see in Stephen's POV the awareness that he's whole and worthy of this cherished woman's love.COMPLIMENTS:* Nearly perfect formatting, nearly error free (I found only one 'breath' that should've been 'breathe')--I'm impressed!* I LOVED the Impassioned Proposal when it came about!  And the 'Impassioned Response'.  Fiercely romantic.* Adequate time passes from the opening scene to closing scene.  I liked that the novella wasn't rushed time-wise.  Very appropriate given the baggage our hero was dealing with...not only the war, but the devastation he discovers the moment he arrives home.* Era-appropriate dialogue, concerns, conversation between family members.I liked this novella well enough, and LOVED the Christmas one (mentioned above) that I still intend to seek out more of Aileen Fish's writing.  Recommended (with minor reservations) to fan of Regency Romance.