Customer Reviews

Bride Enchanted

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

 

 

Ok, but not great. You knew he was going to come to the decision that happened by the middle of the book and it just kind of fizzled out. Boring...I had to force myself to complete it.
Try something else, this one was NOT a keeper.

Eve Faraday spies the mysterious Aubrey Ashford at a ball and believes him to be the most beautiful man she has ever seen. When he asks her for a dance, she is amazed this very eligible nobleman would dance with her. She is neither beautiful nor exceedingly rich.

Aubrey courts Eve and they marry quickly; Aubrey pushes her into a union rather fast. They go to his country manor and Aubrey has a little surprise for his bride. He is not what he seems. There are magical forces that surround him and Eve is not sure if she can believe his wild tales or if her husband is simply mad.

This book had so much potential. The plot was original yet the characters were dull. There was no chemistry, no spark, no grand passion. There's very little character development. I never even noticed them falling in love with each other. They kind of talked themselves into marrying, and then talked themselves into falling in love. Their relationship felt clinical and too rational. When is love ever rational? It is supposed to be passionate. Even with enchantment all around them, this couple was boring.

I was completely enchanted by this book. At last, someone successfully marries fantasy and romance, and it is a match made in heaven. Layton's facility with language continues to thrill me. Her sense of humor and originality in plot and character make this book a real treat! I can't wait to read more about the world of these characters.

I've been reading Edith Layton's novels for several years, and have been gradually coming to the conclusion - confirmed by this book - that she reached her peak with the C series and has been in decline ever since. I have no idea how this book made it to print; with the plot alone, I can't see why any editor worth their pay wouldn't have said no within two seconds of starting to read the outline.

The characters are wooden and inspire no interest. The secret Aubrey is hiding is apparent even to the most casual reader within 2-3 chapters, and I wasn't remotely surprised when it all came out. Though, since this book is flagged as a straight romance, not a paranormal romance, I wasn't expecting it from the outset and, quite honestly, wouldn't have bought the book had I known.

Neither Eve nor Aubrey, nor the minor characters, earned my attention or or sympathy at all. Eve can't make up her mind - how many times does she leave Aubrey, or think about leaving him? Aubrey is far too detached, and is too much of a user. There's no romance at all: we don't see the two of them falling in love. We're told that each doesn't love the other but is determined to get what they want out of the marriage, and then suddenly we're told that they've fallen in love - but we don't see it.

Absolutely tedious, uninteresting book with a yawn-inducing 'conflict' and a resolution that was rushed and also far too obvious. Avoid.

I've been an Edith Layton fan for years, but I'm sad to say that this book really misses the mark. The premise was interesting enough, but the characters are insipid, bland, and boring, boring, boring. There is no chemistry between them, nor does the plot provide any kind of believable jeopardy. The book begins poorly and never picks up any steam at all.

If you've never read Layton before, don't let this misstep dissuade you from reading any of her other books, which are excellent. full of sparkling dialog, fascinating characters, and intriguing plots.

This was my first book by Edith Layton... I won't review the story since it's been done and besides I really didn't care for it. I must have missed something others have read. I was terribly disillusioned with this book.

The only good point was it's romantic cover.

Personally, I felt it a boring story. There was so much promise at the begining and then, I don't know what happened, it just petered out. What a disappointment!
There was no chemistry between the H/H at all. I didn't feel connected to the characters, they felt like cardboard cut-outs. The heroine came across as oblivious, not questioning her husband's disappearance every night. Whats with that? (Wouldn't you question your husband as to where he went every night?)
And as for his secret, I read past it, only to later realise THAT was his big secret. It just fell flat when it was revealed. I thought the author raced through the writing.
There were parts that felt disconnected from the story. Really didn't care for this novel.

I do not usually write reviews for Amazon although I really enjoy reading them. But in the case of this book, I felt I had to add my opinion (for what it's worth!)I have been a fan of Edith Layton's work but feel she's really missed the mark with this book. I won't go into the plot because other reviewers have done that. Suffice to say, I found this book to be out right boring. The only reason I finished it is because I had just spent a lot of money importing it from the USA. The story was really slow. There was no chemistry, suspense or attraction between the characters. I felt absolutely no interest in either Eve or Aubrey: there was very little to warm to. I would very definitely give this book a miss and try Layton's earlier efforts such as 'To tempt a bride'.

When the most mysterious, eligible bachelor in London starts paying attention to her, Eve Faraday takes a logical look at the situation. She decides to find out what he really wants. It can't be her can it? His kisses make her think that maybe, just maybe he does.

After a lifetime of secrets, Aubrey has found Eve; someone he never thought he would find. Is it love? Love is not something he thought he would ever find. Does he even know what it is? Only time will tell. He does know she is the most unique woman he has met in a long time.

Are they together forever? Can they survive the complete truth, or will Aubrey's secrets lose him the most exceptional woman he has ever met?

Enchanted Bride is a delightful tale set in historical England. Edith is a charming woman who is confident in herself, but is still vulnerable to self-doubt. Aubrey is a dark, angst filled hero. Neither is sure about what the future brings, and their relationship is strengthened by the situations they find themselves in. Edith Layton writes with an entertaining style that kept me engrossed in the Enchanted Bride.

Barb
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

There's a lot of potential for a good (or even great) story here, but somehow, it just fails on most counts. The reason why this even rated three stars was due to the potential of the book.

I went into this one not knowing there was anything more than just a run-of-the-mill romance to be had, and not too far into the story, I guessed at what Eve couldn't (aka the paranormal/fantasy aspect). So much of the book was dedicated to uncovering The Secret (though it wasn't that hard to guess) that there just wasn't enough to convince me that the hero and heroine loved each other (though I do choose to believe they will past the events of this book). To be sure, Aubrey had some good lines toward the end, and Eve was a strong enough heroine without being shrewish that I was bound to like this book at least a little. And it didn't hurt that the book was little hampered by the fantasy aspect despite it being such a crucial part of the plot.

Really, the book was just okay. Eve was a good heroine whose sense of self-worth wasn't bogged down by her rather pragmatic life view, and Aubrey is dauntingly charming. I just wish that I had more scenes of them falling in love instead of what we did get.

Get this as a library book like I did. You won't regret it as you might if you bought it.

I get tired of reading about virginal young women falling in love with rakes twice their age. This one went way beyond that. He's several hundred years older than her! I'm sorry, but the story didn't do much for me. I'd been happier if she had escaped him.