Customer Reviews

The Bartered Heart (Signet Regency Romance)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a switch from the usual since Gates has over-come so much in her unhappy life. She sees magic in the little everyday things, like a spider building a web, dragon fly wings, etc. While the hero has been undone by his miserable parents and life in general. All the main characters are so great. I loved Griffin's younger brothers, Cort and Scotty. Sir Thomas, Lady Min, Aunt Delphie are wonderful added characters to the story, even Gaspar his abused, lovable horse. The story is original and in so many ways very different from the norm. I loved the surprise ending. Definitely recommend this book. Now to try to find "Lord Monteith's Gift and more of her wonderful books.

Butler somehow managed to stay true to the Regency genre while creating a fresh, original story. This is on my keeper shelf.

Suspension of disbelief is necessary for so much of the plot of this book. While the romance between Griffin and Gates is certainly well-written, the circumstances of their meeting are pretty unlikely in the first place, as is Griffin's failure to make her his mistress once he realises his attraction to her. If he genuinely believes she's an uneducated farm girl, there is no way he would treat her as a valued guest in his home, or that his aunt would welcome her as if she was a social equal. The sexual tension is certainly well drawn, but I found it very hard to believe that - even with Lady Min's ultimatum in his mind - Griffin would have waited so long before consummating the relationship.

So... has its moments, but certainly by no means Butler's best. I'd recommend The Rake's Retreat or Lord Monteith's Gift in preference.

Griffin Darrowby is in Desperate need of money but can't let anybody know about it until he is married to the weathy widow, Lady Minerva Stargrove. Otherwise there is no way she would marry him! However Lady Min says that she will only marry Griff if he loves her like her last husband did. But Griff is unable to love, he was badly abused as a child by his heartless father and vowed against it forever.

Enter in Miss Gates Underhill. Poor Gates has lived a bad life too. Her mother was a lady who married under her station so when she died, while Gates was still so young, her noble family wouldn't even respond to the letter Gates had sent informing them of her mothers death. Her father started getting visions after her mother died about the bible and then created his own "Book"; and then started dragging Gates around the countryside preaching to whoever would listen. Then he remarried to another widow with two evil sons.

When both Griff and Gates there is an attraction there that neither of them understand. But Gates always finds a way to raise Griff's hackles.

When I started this review I really wasn't sure what to give this book. The characters were well thoughtout and you could feel Griff's pain about his family. Gates seemed to act more like a school room miss who knows nothing about the outside world, but that makes sense seeing as how when her father remarried he just left her on the farm while he continued his traveling. The problem I had with this book was that the excitment wasn't even throughout the book. The first half of the book was very boring with very little excitment. I felt that when Griff was kidnapped by Gates' stepbrothers it wasn't drawn out as well as it could've been. But the second half was loaded with action and love. I would've given this more stars if the excitment was more even throughout the book.

Characterization in this lovely story is superb! The story transcends the cliche of "love conquers all" to be a compelling one of redemptive love. But what makes this book outstanding is the characterization of Gates and Griffin. Don't miss this book if you love the Regency genre.

Like other books by Nancy Butler, this was well written with sympathetic characters. But the plot itself is just a little incredible; despite Gates' birth (about which Griffin knew nothing until the end of the book) there is no way she would have been invited into his home and treated as a member of the family. He'd have made her his mistress at the very most, if he hadn't just seduced her and left her behind in the country. So although I quite enjoyed it, I had to suspend my disbelief more than I would have wanted.

What a beautiful Regency! I read this book in one sitting and it is one that will tug on the heart strings. Gates and Griffin are such believable and noble characters who made this book a pleasure to read. Nancy Butler is a consistently wonderful author.

This is regency romance at its best. The characters are very endearing and the plot is unique and very well written.