Customer Reviews

Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride (Harlequin Historical)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Elizabeth Rolls moved onto my keeper shelf some while ago and I have waited for this book to be released with great anticipation. As a lover of the trad Regency, it is increasingly difficult to find new authors who can give me a satisfying read that ticks all of my boxes. Elizabeth Rolls has matured into a terrific writer of Regencies that nod to the older style yet contain sexual scenes that are moving, poignant and genuinely part of the story.

Briefly, without wishing to reveal too many spoilers, this is a novel with a hero who appeared in two of her previous books, Viscount Braybrook, and Christy Daventry, the daughter of a scandalous relationship between a gently-bred woman and a duke. Braybrook's own background contains some real surprises as we learn about him and he has four half-siblings, some of whom are young enough to be his own children. He is surprisingly believable and admirable as a father figure to them and his love and care for them is truly touching. His step-mother, Serena, is a pivotal character and I really liked her.

The author writes with a wonderful feel for the period, her dialogue is smooth and flowing and she creates characters of great dimension. You truly care about what happens to them and want to cheer them on as they make mistakes, misjudgments and misinterpretations but eventually come togther in love and harmony. Rolls uses illigitamacy, class divides, moral standards and forgiving and all-encompassing love to create a story with a dark undertone that takes into account the less forgivable attitudes of the past but lets her characters rise above it all in a totally believable way.

I truly enjoyed this book and sometimes wish that my keeper authors were like machines and could bash out their books on a monthly basis. Sadly, I will have to wait a bit longer than that for Elizabeth Roll's next book but I am already looking forward to it most eagerly. Highly recommended to all lovers of the Regency genre. Enjoy!

I have fallen in love with Elizabeth Rolls, I first caught on to her fabulous writing with a free kindle book and have been hopelessly hooked ever since. After reading this book I'm dying for some more! Well written with very ingenious situations. Sucked me in and kept me reading until the very end. I even shed a tear!

Definitely for those who love romantic novels, a keeper for sure!

In my opinion, this is the best effort by Rolls to date. Enjoyable, believable characters with a unique plot. I always think a book's especially good when I with there was an epilogue to read.

I was very pleased with this book. "Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride" was a little gem of a book. I hadn't read Elizabeth Rolls before, but am searching out her backlist. Julian, Viscount Braybrook, was a riveting character. He could have been the typical rake of the peerage, but he had depths to him that were brought out by Christi Daventry. She had been engaged by Julian to show his younger sister the life she might lead were she to run off with Christi's brother. It would be a life without money and all the luxuries Alicia had grown up with. It was rather eye-opening for her. Naturally, sparks flew between Christi and Julian. I won't say more about the plot only that we read all the time about rakes of this period. This book dealt rather frankly with what can result from a rake's behavior and how those involved must deal with the situation. Very very charming little book. Really can tug on your heartstrings.

I am becoming a fan of Elizabeth Rolls. I have just finished this book and enjoyed it as much as another one I have just read "A compromised lady". The strength in Roll's stories is that they are not the usual sweet, bland nonsense that so often is found in this genre. Yes, I agree that some areas of the story were a little hard to swallow, but I loved the developing romance and happy ending. Recommended.

Everytime I re-read this book I linger over every word as I am again so drawn into the passages of this well-written story. Such a change from superficial romances - this book includes supporting characters that are as completely developed as the hero and heroine. This book has become a standard against which I measure other romance books.

I have read several of Ms. Rolls books lately and this has been by far my favorite one! Christy is a strong, believable character whose forth-right manner is quite a revelation. I really liked that she did not keep her past from Julian throughout the book and the misunderstandings between these two characters were not long, drawn out affairs. The other characters in the book played great supporting roles, including the children. Seeing a warm, loving regency era family was a nice change of pace!
A great weekend read!

This is not great literature, but then I usually find what is called great literature depressing and boring. This was an enjoyable story, likable characters, nasty self centered villians. The two main characters had baggage like all of us but they learned to live and overcome challenges while coming to grips with their pasts. You will like this book if you like regency romances...and I do.

The best historical romance I read in years. Touching, romantic, steamy. I liked the new twist on the old governess storyline. Both the characterisation and dialogue make this book one that I will remember.

Enjoyed this book and others in the series (His Lady Mistress & A Compromised Lady). This one might have been my favorite of the 3. Think the series is a little harsh sometimes on the treatment of the heroines -- but I also think that's what makes you feel so much more for both her and her love