Publication Date: 08/06/2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Casablanca
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 140228375X
ISBN-13: 978-1402283758
(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Casablanca)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Jade Lee on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Books in the series:
Wedded in Scandal (2012), Wedded in Sin (2012), What the Bride Wore (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from What the Bride Wore, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
When All is Lost
All Grant Benton, Earl of Crowle, can think of is restoring his family's fortune so he can go back to being a gentleman of leisure. But when he meets beautiful, purposeful Lady Irene Knopp, he begins to question whether there might not be a better way to live life after all...
What's Left is Desire
Lady Irene will never give up her fulfilling work dressing the most beautiful brides in England. She'd rather risk losing love forever than sacrifice her own life's purpose. Yet she has never met a more magnetic, attractive man than Grant. Trapped between the fleeting chance at love and passion for her work, is it possible she can have it all?
Thoughts:
Author Jade Lee brings readers the third book in the Bridal Favors series, What the Bride Wore. A sizzling romance develops between a young widow determined to support herself and an Earl who is trying to regain his fortune and family. Lee has a knack for writing in a very seamless way. Her scenes ebb and flow, drawing the reader in and creating a smooth and effortless read. With a tortured hero, a strong heroine and a touch of mystery, What the Bride Wore will become an instant favorite of Regency fans!
What the Bride Wore is the third full length novel in the Bridal Favors series, but there are several novellas that accompany the series that readers will also find enjoyable. "Winning the Bride," is a novella in which we first find our hero, Grant Benton. His history is explored as well as his relationship with his brother, William, the hero from another one of the books in the series. Though, What the Bride Wore can be read easily as a stand alone novel, I believe the reader will get a better experience from reading the series all together.
Grant was a tortured hero. He had some issues from his past that he needed to sort through. He was responsible in part for the loss of his family lands and his relationship with his family is strained to the breaking point. Even though he has been able to better himself and perhaps get possession of the things he has lost, his communication with his family is anything but amicable. He spends a great deal of time living in the past and wallowing in how things have turned out. I appreciated the author's ability to make me dislike the lead character and then to change my mind. In the beginning I didn't like Grant too much. He was very self-absorbed and almost took on the air of feeling sorry for himself most of the time. Lee was able to change his tune for the better once he meets our heroine, Irene. I liked the fact that I both disliked and liked him all in the same book, not an easy feat.
Irene was a wonderful heroine. She was strong and determined and she knew what she wanted out of life. Unfortunately, the Ton is not always as farsighted. I loved the way that Lee was able to weave in the customs and the traditions of the Ton and what was expected from women in Irene's position. I felt like she was standing against the tide or going against the grain in some ways. She held her own with a society that does not often indulge in ideas outside the box. I thought he really brought the best in Grant. She made him want to be a better man.
Together Grant and Irene absolutely exude sensuality. Their romance is fiery and full of passion. The love scenes are many and well written. Lee writes her romantic scenes with a fervor, a sense of urgency and all the angst that goes into a true romantic encounter. I loved the passion between these two characters. Not only was it a part of their romantic life, but it spilled over into how they approached life. I like characters who believe in something and aren't afraid to fight for it whether that's in the bedroom or out.
The mystery and suspense aspect of the book was also written with a deft hand. It was important to the book and the outcome of the story, but it did not overtake the romantic themes of love and family. Lee was able to use this plot technique without overshadowing the love between the main characters, which often happens in this kind of writing. It definitely added suspense and thrills to the novel and gave readers another reason to root for the hero and heroine to succeed.
Jade Lee has written an excellent addition to this series and Regency romance fans will fall in love with it from the first paragraph.
What the Bride Wore is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!
Check out my sidebar for a chance to win a copy!
About the Author:
A USA Today Bestseller, Jade has been scripting love stories since she first picked up a set of paper dolls. Ball gowns and rakish lords caught her attention early (thank you Georgette Heyer), and her fascination with the Regency began. Now an author of more than 30 romance novels, she finally gets to play in the best girl-heaven place of all: a Bridal Salon! In her new series, four women find love as they dress the most beautiful brides in England. Check out Jade's website for details on the series and most especially Wedded in Sin.
And don't forget KATHY LYONS! She's Jade's lighter, contemporary half. Kathy writes sexy stories of love in today's twisted world! She loves the faster pace of category books and that her humor can really let fly. She leaves the dark, tortured love stories to Jade.
If you're wondering where Katherine Greyle comes in, she's Jade's first persona. Sweet, funny, and with a love of all things regency, Katherine started publishing back in the 1900s. (She won't say how long ago!) But never fear, the romantic soul is the same whether it's Jade, Katherine, or Kathy!
So if you love that special feeling when two people just fit, then email her through her website www.JadeLeeAuthor.com or www.KathyLyons.com She's also on social media at Facebook - JadeLeeBooks and Twitter - JadeLeeAuthor.
2 comments:
I don't really have a funny comment or anything as I had a very small wedding but it was nice. I have seen some crazy things though on the wedding shows I watch on tv. Thank you for the giveaway
When my cousin was married, as she and her groom knelt before the priest for a blessing, for all the guests to see, was "HELP" written on his left shoe sole and "ME" written on his right shoe sole. Found out at the reception that the bride's two older brothers had done this. I first saw this through the lens of my camera. I laughed so hard that I could not keep my camera steady.
Post a Comment