Customer Reviews

The Bride Bed (Avon Romantic Treasure)

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

 

 

Honestly, how Harriet Klausner can give this book 4 stars is beyond me; but this seems to be her basic pattern, no matter how good or bad the book, she seems to rate them all well. Which doesn't help readers who want an unbiased, realistic review from someone we want to trust.

The hero, Alexander de Monteneau was perfect in my opinion, but his heroine wasn't. He deserved a better woman and a more interesting story. She wasn't happy with her lot in life, which was understandable, but Alex was pretty much on her side only she was too obnoxious to realize it.

Alex was the only interesting thing about this book, but even he wasn't enough to carry this dull tale to its conclusion. And Talia wasn't a very good heroine. She was smart enough, but so bratty in other ways; too childish for Alex.

I find it appalling that a man can gain ownership of a woman and her home at a king's command - but that being said, it was the way of things and based on that I will say that Talia should have been damned grateful to Alex for rescuing her from Rufus. Alex was hero material all the way and yet she was petulant at every turn. Didn't make for a happy story, but a dull one.

Courtesy of A Romance Review

The Bride Bed is set in the twelfth century where Stephen and Maude are fighting for the crown. Carrisford Castle and Lady Talia has been the prize to whomever's loyalty lay on Stephen ever since. The castle has gone through six invasions and Lady Talia's guardianship has been passed through six warlords. She has even been forced to marry either her guardian or one of their relatives a few times but every time before the wedding take place, another invader conquer the castle. She is tired of being the pawn and her castle doesn't have much left after all these invasions over the years.

Her seventh guardian, Alex de Monteneau, seems to be a nice man and capable of protecting both her family and her people. In order to prevent and avoid another guardianship and invasion, she has been planning for years to pull down the castle and has been stealing from her guardians and even from the King.

Talia vows that she will not marry Alex on the day he invades her castle but after some observations and time spent with him, she decides a marriage with Alex will bring peace to Carrisford. But Alex has his own plan. He wants a bigger castle and a wealthier heiress. Although he is attracted to this smart and intelligent beauty, he decides to marry her off to the highest bidder.

The Bride Bed is another page-turner from Linda Needham with simple plotting and lovely characters. With a clever heroine and a dark handsome warrior, this book provides much fun and excitement for readers who love medieval romance. Absolutely a good read!

I found the characters unsympathetic, the plot was difficult to get in to- all in all a great disappointment. I have read Needham's books before and expected a lot better.

Lady Talia is tired of waiting for a savior. The heiress of Carrisford Castle has managed to escape wedded bliss with six different warlords, each worse than the one before. Weary of lords pillaging her home and abusing her people, Talia has begun a course of action that will render her castle useless to the whims of men. However, after yet another siege -- this one surprisingly bloodfree -- she finds herself the ward of Alexander de Monteneau. Now, Talia must protect her secrets even as she fights her growing attraction to this new, very different guardian.

For Alexander de Monteneau, Carrisford Castle is a temporary responsibility. Eager to gain royal favor, he has sworn to secure and fortify Carrisford and find a husband for its heiress. His future plans involve getting himself a wealthier bride and a larger castle. However, sparks soon begin to fly between Alex and his tempestuous charge, and he will have to choose between duty and love.

Linda Needham has made a name for herself writing historical romances that leave readers cheering for the characters. THE BRIDE BED isn't one of them. While the hero is likable enough, the heroine comes across as increasingly abrasive during the course of the tale. The plot was interesting, but some of the dialogue seemed far too modern sounding for that period in history. THE BRIDE BED had all the ingredients for an exceptional story, but somehow lost its way.

TheSchemer

In the middle of the twelfth century, six times in the recent past, soldiers conquered her castle, followed by the leader trying to force Lady Talia into marriage. However, the last victor came a bit to close to the alter as she only escaped holy matrimony when Alexander de Monteneau interrupted the ceremony as the wannabe groom flees.

Alex needs to prove to King Stephen that he is not just a loyal supporter, but can also manage an estate by turning this rundown keep around before giving it to another lord to run along with marriage to Talia. Alex's ambition is much greater than this land and its dowry poor lady that is until he falls in love with his intelligent, but belligerent hostess. However, though Talia reciprocates Alex's feelings, her work on keeping her people permanently safe from the constant conquerors that seem to never stop coming is more important to her than her heart's yearning.

THE BRIDE BED is an exciting medieval romance that shows the impact of the constant back and forth state of war had on civilians, but could have been any era as the medieval period never focuses into view. Talia is a nasty individual, but her motives are solid and pure so it is difficult not to admire her courage. Alex feels like he belongs to a past century as a kind person who believes conquering is more than just his job, it is his right. Sub-genre fans will enjoy the relationship war that highlights Linda Needham's historical romance.

Harriet Klausner