Customer Reviews

Bogus Bride (Harlequin Historical)

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

 

 

... here's the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this story is for you: "He married the wrong sister ... ten years after he left England, Sam Jardine wrote home for a bride, but instead of the angelic beauty he remember, the fiery Caitlin Parr had arrived on America's shores. A decade of silent infatuation had finally paid off. Caitlin knew she wasn't Sam's first choice, but she vowed the he would never regret making her his wife, and the fire that sparked between them only proved that her rightful place sas by his side."

I was a little disappointed in the book from the first chapter, because it immediately became obvious that the plot was lifted from Elizabeth Goudge's Green Dolphin Street, which was made into a movie in 1947. A man sends a letter home to England, asking for a girl's hand in marriage, but a mistake is made, as the two sisters have very similar names. The wrong sister travels across the sea to marry him, and when he realizes his mistake, he doesn't feel that he can turn her away. The other sister, whom he meant to marry, is grieved at first, but later finds solace in the convent.

Despite the fact that the plot was not original, I was willing to give the book a chance. Unfortunately, the lifted storyline is the best part of the book. It is rather awkward and difficult to follow, and the conversations often don't seem to flow, or even make sense. Much of the time, one is left with the feeling that things are happening in the story, but it's not easy to determine just what, or why. The characters are somewhat two-dimensional, and it is difficult to understand their motivations. I found that I was relieved when the book was finished. Historical romances are easily come by, and many are very entertaining, so I can't see any real reason to recommend this one.

I finally finished this book thank goodness it was the hardest book I have ever read.I read 4 books a week and I forced myself to finish this one.I enjoy books that are easy to read and don't want to put down.Thank goodness for authors like Catherine Anderson,Linda Lael Miller,Dorothy Garlock.If all authors were like this one I would never be a reader.

I always hate when I read reviews where the reviewer states that they couldn't read past the first chapter or so because what's to determine after just one chapter? Anyway, I have finally come to the point after all my years of reading where I had to close a book without finishing it. I made it to page 50 but I found that I kept reading the pages over & over again because nothing was making sense. Half of the time I couldn't figure out if what they were saying/thinking was in the present or past. I skimmed ahead reading several different parts to see if it looked like it would get better but it never did. I can't say that I will ever read another book from this author. The only reason I gave it a 2 rather then a 1 was because I didn't finish it & therefore don't know 100% if my feelings would have changed but I seriously doubt it. Pass on this book & you'll save yourself a headache.

The storyline is great, though I do not think the author developed it to its potential. I felt the main characters lacked the suspenseful sizzle one wants in a romance novel. The author could have developed more deeply the difficulty of living in a new land with an unintended spouse and the long road of understanding and mishaps it took to recognize they were right for each other after all.

This is a good, enjoyable easy read, but not a keeper.