One thing about Sarah Strohmeyer’s books is that she gets better with each one. Her “Bubbles” series are hilarious, but her stand-alone novels have more depth while at the same time keep a similar level of humor throughout. In THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL, Genie Michaels ends up dating a very eligible bachelor named Hugh Spencer, a British up-and-coming literature professor at the university where she works. He’s good looking and clever and has just written a book. The two have been dating for four years now, and she's wondering when he'll pop the question. When Hugh's book takes off and he ends up on television for an interview, he proposes to his girlfriend in front of millions. Unfortunately, Genie soon realizes that the girlfriend is not she. As she watches Hugh call “her” up on live television, her phone fails to respond. He’s proposing to someone else! 

Since all of Genie's family and friends find out soon enough that she is supposedly engaged, Genie's best friend convinces her to go along with the act, and pretend that she IS indeed that girlfriend that Hugh proposed to. With Hugh back in England to promote the book, Genie manages to fake the engagement, down to a cheap imitation diamond ring.  

Genie had wanted to purchase a cute cottage that her brother is fixing up, and when she's told it's about to go on the market, she and best friend Patty show up to make a deal. While in the cottage they discuss how the whole engagement is a lie. What they aren't sure is whether the carpenter that was in the next room has overheard their conversation. Genie notices that Nick is one really gorgeous guy, and cannot stop thinking about him.  

Genie is angry over what Hugh has done to her, but she is beginning to want Nick, although she has to continue this farce of an engagement. There is chemistry between Genie and Nick, but Genie thinks he has a girlfriend waiting for him in Greece, and in the mean time, Genie has to do her best to please her family, in particular her mother, as they begin planning the engagement parties and the wedding. Genie gets deeper and deeper into trouble, while her attraction to Nick grows stronger. And then, she learns that Hugh is back in town!  

There are a lot of things to like about THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL.  First off, those who are fans of Sarah Strohmeyer will not be disappointed with her latest book.  As usual, she creates a likeable heroine with flaws like everyone else, but Genie is not one to let life pass her by no matter what. She takes control of the situation, with the help of best friend Patty, and does what she thinks is the right thing to do to getting back Hugh. She is so caught up in the idea of being with someone, that she does not even think about whether Hugh was really good for her or not. She has always thought that Hugh was the perfect man for her, and that is her biggest flaw, that she is blind to who Hugh really is, and that the perfect man might be around the corner.    

The story can be to some a stereotypical romance, with the introduction of man number two, Nick, who is not in the same league as Hugh in terms of career or income. Hugh works at the University and is a writer, while Nick is a carpenter, but as Genie gets to know Nick, she learns that there is a lot more to Nick than there was to Hugh. 

The story line takes a sharp turn when Genie discovers that Hugh is engaged to someone she actually knows, and it infuriates her to think all this was happening behind her back.  It’s a twist in the plot that will keep the reader interested, part of the reason why this book is a page-turner.  

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL was a funny story about a young woman who desperately wanted to find her prince charming, but discovers too late that maybe she had picked the wrong guy. One can certainly imagine this book as a movie, with Hugh Spencer played by Hugh Grant, and Genie played by Sandra Bullock. The premise is silly and one would think Genie really needed to get her act together, but it's a story where the reader is going to want to cheer Genie on and hope she does find her prince charming and live happily ever after.

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