Customer Reviews

The Bridal Quest (Thorndike Core)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While I adore steamy sex scenes, I find that I don't miss them in Camp's books because her plots and subplots are intricate and plausible, and the sexual tension is certainly there. The Bridal Quest is the second book in Camp's four-book Matchmaker series, and I will certainly buy the next two books when they are released.

Candance Camp is a new discovery for me, and a welcome one. Although the books in this Matchmaker series certainly don't have the same sexual heat as Lisa Kleypas' Wallflowers series (Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1), It Happened One Autumn (The Wallflowers, Book 2), The Devil in Winter (The Wallflowers, Book 3), Scandal in Spring (The Wallflowers, Book 4) and Elizabeth Hoyt's wonderful Prince series (The Raven Prince; The Serpent Prince' and The Leopard Prince, they do share with those series (at least thus far) a depth of plotline and character which keeps the reader interested and the pages turning. And there is one sexy scene near the end of the novel which is well worth waiting for.

The plot concerns the return to the family fold of our hero, Gideon, who was ostensibly kidnapped at the age of four, along with his mother. When he is miraculously discovered as a grown man running a gaming club in London, he has done well for himself financially, but he is rather lacking in the social graces which would go along with being the new Earl of Radbourne. Enter our heroine, Irene Wyngate, the independent-minded daughter of a now-dead drunken womanizer and bully who made her childhood miserable. Seeing how unhappy and timid marriage has made her gentle mother, Irene is determined never to marry. She is recruited by an acquaintance, Francesca Haughston (a continuing character in the series, who is a kind of high-class matchmaker) to help with Gideon's transformation to gentlemanly behavior so that he may marry an upper-class lady and produce the requisite heir.

Some reviewers have said that they find the heroine, Irene, to be a tad abrasive but I found her refreshing. Her stated reasons for staying single are very real concerns for women of her era -- they were legally nothing but property and their children belonged to the fathers. Of course, as the book progresses and she finds herself ever more attracted to the rough-edged handsome hero, Gideon, it becomes a case of "methinks the lady doth protest overmuch," but I found that realistic rather than irritating. Because her father was such a tyrant, Irene has some very natural concerns about trusting her future to a man.

The subplots concerning Irene's overbearing sister-in-law, Maura, and Gideon's equally overbearing great aunt, Odelia, are absorbing and fun. Irene gets in some great caustic lines in response to other characters' observations on her spinster status. The mystery of what really happened to Gideon and his mother twenty-seven years earlier is handled deftly, woven neatly into a plot of intensifying sexual tension between the H/H.

I like these series romances when they are done as well as this. The author has done herself proud with the Matchmaker series.

The second installment in the Matchmaker series, I really wanted to be be able to say that I had enjoyed reading "The Bridal Quest" as much as I had enjoyed "The Marriage Wager." Unfortunately, while "The Bridal Quest" proved to be quite a decent read, it didn't turn out to be a stellar one and suffered from comparison to Georgette Heyer's "The Unknown Ajax."

Lady Odelia Pencully finds herself in a quandary: after more than 20 years, the missing heir to the Radbourne title has been found. Unfortunately, Gideon (the missing heir) grew up on the London streets amongst thieves and murderers; and while Gideon has managed to amass a fortune through various business enterprises, he also has, Lady Odelia claims, rather common manners. Which is why she has come to Lady Francesca Haughston for help. It is a rather well known "secret" that Lady Francesca has successfully and discretely matchmaked for others before, and Lady Odelia rather hopes that Lady Francesca can find a wife of accepted lineage to help smooth-out her grandnephew's rough edges. And while Lady Francesca is perfectly willing to help Gideon find the "right" wife, she quickly realises that Lady Odelia's idea of the prefect candidate and Gideon's might not be the same. For the lady that Gideon is interested in marrying is Lady Irene Wyngate -- a beautiful but caustic-tongued young lady who has vowed never to marry. Can Lady Francesca achieve a miracle and bring Gideon and Lady Irene together?

Unfortunately, "The Bridal Quest" bore some similarity to Heyer's "The Unknown Ajax" and I spent a lot of time comparing the two, to the former's detriment. Not a very fair, of course, and yet that's what happened. The thing is, aside from the shared storyline, there were in my opinion, a few other problems as well. Like the fact that I thought that the romance bewteen Gideon and Irene could have done with more depth, after all this was a romance novel. Both characters were well "fleshed-out" but I did think that having Irene state so stridently to her reasons why she would never marry over and over again, was a tad irritating, even if I did think that the authour did wonders with showing us the confusion that Irene felt about her feelings for Gideon. On the other hand, what Gideon felt for Irene was a bit of a mystery for much of the book -- that he desired and admired her was obvious, but love? I didn't think that that came through at all.

What worked? The entire subplot dealing with the subplot Gideon's kidnapping and the fate of his missing mother all those years ago. It was a good plot device -- a bit of mystery that enlivened the story and while also serving as an interesting way of throwing Gideon and Irene together. All in all, "The Bridal Quest" was a rather decent read -- the pacing may have been a little choppy and I did spend far too much time thinking about "The Unknown Ajax," nevertheless, "The Bridal Quest" had its moments, and really was a decent 3 star read.

This book is the second in Candace Camp's Matchmaker Series and follows The Marriage Wager. My main complaint with the first book of the series still holds true here, but it wasn't as bothersome. I don't know if this is Camp's normal writing style, but in neither book does she show the hero's POV (except for once for a total of 4 lines in this one) and I find it very disconcerting. The story is told exclusively from the heroine's narrative, with small exception - the aforementioned 4 lines and we do see Francesca's (the matchmaker of the series) POV occasionally. In all of the other historical romances I've read, the story is told in third person from **both** of the main characters' - and sometimes secondary characters' - POV (for good reason!).

Camp doesn't do this; in The Marriage Wager it really bothered me because we didn't see enough of the hero in other ways so that at the end of the book I felt I still didn't really know him. She does a much better job of this in The Bridal Quest and I would happily have given the book 5 stars if it weren't for the fact that the hero's perspective is still needed. Other than that, this book is a charm and I will undoubtedly reread it.

SUMMARY:
Lady Irene Wyngate (25) is a sharp-tongued witty young woman (known by the ton as a shrew) who is very unusual for a lady of her class - she has absolutely no interest in *ever* getting married. Watching her drunk lout of a father wreak havoc in everyone's life with his whoring, gambling, and frightful rages and tempers convinced her long ago that she wanted to be under no man's rule and would remain as independent as possible for the rest of her life. She has never questioned her decision until she meets Gideon, Earl of Radbourne, for although she tries to cling to logic and remember what a boorish, arrogant, and rude man he is ... every interaction with Gideon excites her, her body comes alive when he's around, and she can't help but want to see more of his rare smiles and almost-never-heard laughs.

Gideon, Earl of Radbourne (31) was kidnapped at the age of four and grew up in the tough East End of London instead of living in comfort among the English aristocracy. He was recently restored to his family and they are anxious for him to get married; though Gideon is determined to decide on the lady himself, he is amenable to the idea and so agrees. His family asks for Lady Francesca Haughston's help, however, for they fear that it will be difficult to find a proper, young lady who is willing to marry Gideon, since despite his wealth, title, and handsome looks, he's rough around the edges, his hair is too long, he continues his involvement in his business affairs (a tradesman ::gasp::), he is far too direct, he doesn't dance well, and the list goes on. A country house party is organized and although Irene insists that she is attending in order to get her and her mother away from her horrible sister-in-law for awhile and NOT to be one of Gideon's prospective brides, Gideon is determined to change her mind ...

COMMENTS:
The relationship between Irene and Gideon is wonderful - a clash between two opinionated and strong-minded people. It's highly entertaining watching their attraction develop, despite both of their attempts to fight the undeniable chemistry between them (her caustic remarks are priceless and it's so funny when despite his anger he can't bring himself to write her off). There were several laugh-out-loud moments for me and I love the scenes when Irene finds herself defending Gideon against rude criticism despite herself and that she slaps him - not once, but twice!! This book was wonderful and the hero and heroine were perfect for each other - they're both strong, honest, intelligent, loyal, kind, and straight-forward and blunt to the point of rudeness.

Candace Camp combines a completely lovable hero and heroine (with wonderfully antagonistic - but humorous - interactions and great chemistry and dialogue), both friendly and horrible relatives, a family mystery (was Gideon really kidnapped? what happened all those years ago?), and the continually entertaining and curious relationship between Francesca and the Duke of Rochford (which will finally be resolved in the fourth and final book of the Matchmaker Series, The Courtship Dance, out February 1, 2009!!) to create a delightful historical romance.

Gideon Bankes, son and heir to the Earl of Radbourne, was kidnapped from his country estate twenty-seven years ago. Four years old at the time, he was not heard from again until a few months ago when his cousin began to search for him following the Earl's death. Miraculously, he found Gideon alive and well and living in London, but with no memory of his lofty origins. He is now a wealthy businessman, but his youth was one of desperation and poverty in the slums.

Gideon has now been made Earl, and his newfound family is eager for him to marry. They hope an aristocratic bride will refine his rough edges and smooth his entry into society. Lady Francesca, a family friend with a knack for matchmaking, is asked to help Gideon find a wife. He surprises her by already having someone in mind: Lady Irene Wyngate. Irene's lineage, breeding and looks are all exceptional, but at twenty-five years of age she is almost a spinster, and her severe dress and sharp tongue scare away most men. However, Gideon is undeterred and presses forward in his suit. He once met Irene years ago and has never forgotten her. She has not forgotten Gideon, either, and time has only improved his raw appeal. But Irene flatly refuses to marry him - or any man - lest she winds up like her mother in an abusive and loveless marriage. Fortunately, Gideon is not a man to give up easily...

I really like this book. It is the second entry in Ms. Camp's `Matchmaker' series (following "The Marriage Wager") and is even better than the first. The story is charming, the couple incredibly sweet, and their attraction believable right from the start. Irene is obviously crazy for Gideon, and it is touching and funny to see her deny her feelings while her actions give her away. There is a real emotional connection between these two, and their smart and often impassioned discourse is one of the highlights of the book. There is also a first rate mystery involving Gideon's abduction as a boy, helped along by an appealingly quirky cast. And the weeklong house party at Gideon's imposing country mansion - with its close quarters and drama and intrigue - is the perfect setting. My one quibble is that Irene's mother, who is attending the house party with Irene, inexplicably disappears for most of the story...even when one would expect Irene or Gideon to seek her out. This is a small point, however, and overall this is an immensely satisfying read.

I love this quaint unorthadox romance match between the main characters Irene and Gideon. Irene was a person who was determine to remain a spinster for valid reasons. Gideon who was kidnapped at 4 years old and grew up as a poor urchin later to gain his own personal wealth using the hard knock methods of survival and thrived. Gideon did not wish marriage but knew he must provide and heir to his estate. Both Gideon and Irene were fascinating and I love there romance but the characters that fascinated me the most were the supporting ones of Lady Odelia Pencully, Francesca Haughtson, the matchmaker, and my favorite Lord Rochford. This story is worth the read if only to get to know the supporting cast. I cannot wait for Lord Rochford to have his story told. I have instantly feel in love/lust with him. I only wished that there would have been more chapters that were told from Gideon's point of view. He is such the mystery man in this book and I was very interested in why he was so attracted to Irene. Giving some chapters told from Gideon's point of view would have added more depth to the storyline all together. The mystery behind the bringing together of Gideon and Irene will have you at the edge of your seat and has a surprising twist at the end that will leave your mouth hanging wide open.

I found myself really liking The Bridal Quest. I had read the first book in the series and was anxious to read this one. It didn't disappoint. I liked our hero, Gideon, from the get go. And, the first meeting between Gideon and Irene was a doozy. I enjoyed all the little snippets about Francesca and the duke and have to say that I am most anxious to read their story.
The Bridal Quest had very likable characters. I was afraid Irene might be a little too strident, but she never veered into unlikable territory. I felt she had a right to be so wary of marriage. Gideon, of course, was excellent. Most romance novel heroes are. They must be easier to write than women. I find myself liking the men in the books more than I do the women. Too often, the woman turns me off and ruins the book. But, happily, in this book that wasn't the case. I liked it all--the characters, the story, the little mystery thrown in.
I will be eagerly awaiting the next 2 books in this series. The Bridal Quest was a delight.

In 1816 Lady Irene Wyngate is a confirmed bachelorette after watching the destruction of her late odious father, who left behind debts for his heir and nothing for his wife and daughter. At the same time she rejoices in spinsterhood, her brother's new wife, Maura, a country bumpkin trying to prove she is the equal of Londoners, has made life in his home tedious for Irene.

Almost ten years ago, the earl of Radbourne, Gideon was abducted and forced to grow up as Gideon Cooper in the worst slums, but he still made a fortune the old fashion way by earning it. Although he feels inferior and not good marital material, his persistent grandmother Lady Odelia demands he marry someone suitable. Gideon understands he must, but needs a wife who accepts his unassuming manner. So far the eligible female Ton is driving him crazy. That is until he meets Irene especially since he recognizes her as the spirited female he once encountered during an incident he had with her father.

The key to this delightful Matchmaker Regency romance is the support cast who bring so much to the tale of love between Gideon and Irene. The story line is fast-paced and has a bit of a mystery re the hero's parentage that enhances the plot. Sub-genre fans will enjoy this fine historical and Candace Camp's previous entry (see THE MARRIAGE WAGER) while the climax implies Francesca the matchmaker is next on the block

Harriet Klausner

I was actually scared to read this book. I had picked it up around the same time I had purchased the Wedding Challenge, but wound up reading that book first (I don't worry too much about order). You can read my review of that book under my profile.

The Bridal Quest was a fun-enough book. It wasn't great, but it wasn't awful. It was average, hence the 3 star rating.

Part of what effected the book negatively was that Lady Irene really was pretty obnoxious. Understandably so, in some instances, but for the most part just plain rude. One of my personal pet peeves is when the woman won't admit that she's "afraid" of marriage -- she instead calls it "logical" or being educated about it. Given the time period and her personal experiences, it's not unreasonable to assume that marriage holds dangers and risks, but since Irene was so insistent on her belief that she was holding such an enlightened view, she should have been more honest with herself.

I was disappointed with the ending, although I can't get into that without revealing too much. The ending just seemed predictable and trite. I wish that the author had put a bit more effort into creating some suspense and mystery that wasn't quite so easy to figure out.

There were no horrifyingly bad lines in this book, although I truly wish Ms. Camps would avoid the term "loins". It wouldn't be awful once or twice (despite the fact that I dislike its use), but 5 or six is pushing my limits of tolerance. It's possible that the sex scenes in this book are some of the best that Ms. Camps has ever written, although that's not saying too terribly much, unfortunately.

I'm sure I will read more of this author's work, but I DO hope that she takes into account that a thesaurus has words to use instead of "loins". It's a wide world out there, and the english language has come a long way!

Candace Camp delivers again!! This was a nice follow-up to the Marriage Wager and the love story was a departure from the usual. The author has a gift for making her characters come alive on the page. Keep it coming, Candace!!

This was the first book of Candace Camp's that I read, and I was immediately hooked on her style of writing and character development. I am not normally a fan of Victorian era books, but she makes it fun and interesting and her characters are genuine and human and very real. She also brings alot of humor and adventure to her stories, which brings that usually dry time in history very down to earth and enjoyable. I've since read several of her other books, and look forward to the remaining books in the Matchmaker series.