A Belated Bride [Mass Market Paperback]

Karen Hawkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 2001

She'd Never Marry Him!
The last man Arabella Hadley ever wishes to see again is Lucien Deveraux, the handsome, dissolute Duke of Wexford -- who broke her innocent heart years ago and disappeared to London. So when she finds an unconscious man on her deserted country road and sees that it's Lucien, she's tempted to leave him there. But even more appalling than his presence is the brazen kiss he plants on her shocked lips and her response! So it would be totally insane to take him home to recover -- wouldn't it?

Except For One Small Thing...
Lucien dares not reveal why he's returned to his country estate -- or why he abandoned the strong-willed beauty years ago. Especially since Arabella clearly has secrets of her own. But when her scheming, marriage-minded aunts successfully compromise them, the two are forced to become man and wife. Which makes it ever harder for both to battle the passion that never disappeared...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Karen Hawkins knows how to keep a reader entranced from first page to last." -- -- Joan Johnston

About the Author

Karen Hawkins was raised in Tennessee, a member of a huge extended family that included her brother and sister, an adopted sister, numerous foster siblings and various exchange students. In order to escape the chaos (and whilst hiding when it was her turn to do the dishes), she would huddle under the comforter on her bed with a flashlight and a book, a habit she still embraces to this day. For more information about Karen, or pictures of her chasing a box of donuts while training for a road race, visit her at www.karenhawkins.com or write to her at Karen Hawkins, P.O. Box 5292, Kingsport, TN 37663-5292.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (January 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380815257
• ISBN-13: 978-0380815258
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #269,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Karen Hawkins is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of over 22 fun and lively historical romance novels and two humorous contemporary romances. When not stalking hot Australian actors, getting kicked out of West Virginia (thanks to the antics of her extended family), and adding to her considerable shoe collection, Karen spends her time warming her feet on her two rescue dogs while writing her next book. She lives in Florida and loves to hear from readers at Karen Hawkins, P.O. Box 149924, Orlando, FL 32814-9924

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Belated Bride----Absolutely wonderful!!!, November 28, 2000

By 

Carla (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Belated Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

A Belated Bride by Karen Hawkins is quite possibly the best book I have read this year. Karen is able to create such heartfelt, humorous, and absolutely believable stories. This is Karen's second book for Avon books, and I must say she does not disappoint. The hero, Lucien Deveraux, is a dashing Duke determined to win back the lady he lost years ago. Arabella Hadley is a strong, independent woman who will fight with everything she has to stop that from happening. Throw in a couple of matchmaking aunts and one humorous incident after another and you have perfection in the making! A Belated Bride is book that will climb to the top of your Keeper List! If you love a lighthearted, humorous Regency era Romance, you will LOVE this book!

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Karen Hawkins just keeps getting better & better! Triple A+, January 18, 2001

By 

Stacey Timmins-Newman - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Belated Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

Wow! I always thought Karen Hawkins had talent, I just didn't realize how much talent.

If you enjoyed One Lucky Lord (under her pseudonym Kim Bennet) and if you loved The Abduction of Julia, you will be blown away by A Belated Bride!

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint) Lucien Devereaux, the Duke of Wexford was rescued before he bled to death on that bleak, country road. Reality set in when he realized his beautiful savior owned the very heart he broke so many years ago!

Arabella Hadley loved Lucien forever, heart, mind and soul - not to mention body - and that is what caused all this trouble to begin with! Her traitorous body! If only she could control her reaction to this devilish man she could get on with her life just fine!

The sensuality sizzles, the intrigue will keep you turning the pages and humor will have you rolling on the floor, laughing out loud!

Come join the fun! Meet Arabella's aunts Emma and Jane and a whole host of secondary characters that you will remember forever!

If you only read one new release for the year 2001, let it be A Belated Bride... you won't be disappointed!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A funny, delicious book!, February 14, 2001

By 

Guppie - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Belated Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

Well, I must say that I have enjoyed reading this book! This book has it all! Laughter, adventure, treasures, a villain, great secondary characters and most of all romance!

Lucien Deveraux, The Duke of Wexford, is accidentally ran over by the carriage of Arabella Hadley a woman he has loved and lost ten years ago. Because of his wounds he was forced to stay and recover in the house of Arabella where she lives with her two aunts and brother. Arabella and Lucien fell in love with each other years ago but circumstances has taken Lucien away from Arabella and broke her innocent heart. Now ten years later they face each other again and Lucien must prove to this independent, stubborn, strong, beautiful woman that he has changed and and is there to stay with her forever. Even if this means to trick her into marriage.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot! After reading so many "serious" books lately, I found this refreshing, funny and well written. There were moments in this book that made me laugh out loud, sigh from exasperation, tense from what's to come next and curl my toes with pleasure because Lucien is such a wonderful hero. I could really empathize with Arabella's feelings and independence because of what she has had to endure. If a book can make me feel all these things then I know I've got myself another keeper. This book has everything and has the right dosage of humor, misunderstanding, love scenes, meddling of Arabella's delightful aunts and adventure. Karen Hawkins even threw in two extra romances. The secondary characters are well written and gave the book more depth and you will wish to see them return in Karen's future books.

Karen Hawkins is a writer that can certainly be compared to writers like Amanda Quick, Julia Quinn and Jacquie D'Alessandro. If you love their books you will certainly love A Belated Bride. Buy this book now for I assure you, you will not be disappointed, you will only clamor for more!! I, for one, certainly cannot wait for her next book, The Abduction of Sara, to be released in November 2001!