Customer Reviews

The Bride Sale

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is most definitely not romantic. The author gets so involved with her 'noble heroine' and the worthy peasants clches that she and the hero barely exchange words. There is no witty dialogue or reparteee, any of the 'getting to know you' one would hope for before they actually do the business.

When they finally do 'it' at about page 200, it is little better than a near rape as she 'comforts' him when he is having one of his flashbacks as to the awful things that happened to him in the war. Then he is furious that she is a virgin and didn't mention it (not that she ever got a chance!) and tells her to get out and he will never touch her again. We get gory descriptions of the blood all over her and what a 'bloody mess' she looks, as if she is some thing, not even a person.

Only when her ex shows up and wants her back does James bestir himself to admit to her he likes her (big deal) and needs her. (selfish brute who wants to forget the war)

He is not a bad man, but if the book was not so seriously skewed to her playing Lady Bountiful we might get to like him more. The whole Lord Heartless image really starts to be unconvincing after the first couple of pages, but he does seem that way as we never learn anything about his former love, or his son--he even says he had only ever loved two people in his life-his first wife and Verity. Parents? Son? The depth of character is just not there.

The entire book was predictable, and the only real star was her depiction of Cornwall, which reads like something straight out of the wonderful Poldark series.

A highly derivative romance, with no sizzle and some very distrubing undertones, and inconsistent characters I never get to feel I care enough about.

I ploughed to the end of nearly 400 pages just waiting for something to heat up, but it left me (and the lovers I shouldn't wonder) cold.

Interesting story line that I had not read much about before. The hero (James) has gone off to the war in Spain and when he comes home he obviously has posttraumatic stress syndrome, which of course no one including him understands. At the same time, the heroine (Verity) is being sold, by her husband at an auction in a little town square. One thing leads to another and James ends up buying Verity from her husband. It is interesting to see how things progress. Verity is not made into his mistress instead she is introduced as his cousin, though many know differently.

The story progresses as you find out what happened to his previous wife and see how Verity comes to care for the town and those around her. Including the bad tempered James.

I enjoyed this story and recommend it to others as not the normal romance.

Ok I have to admit I was very curious about this book when I read the title. "The Bride Sale" could mean all sorts of things. I was very pleased to see that this was a very sweet story of a young woman, Verity, who has been put up for sale by her idiot husband,Gilbert. She stand proud and doesn't show any emotions even though she is scared to death. The hero of the story Lord James Harkness, or as he is better known, Lord Heartless, comes upon the auction by accident and can't believe his eyes. when he sees who may be the winner he imediately bids 200 pounds before he even really thinks it through. He has no idea what to do with her but he can't let her be hurt.

James is feared by the villagers. They have heard tales that he killed his wife and child and rather than let them know he is a coward he lets them think he is a murderer. Verity is very uneasy at first. She doesn't know what to expect from James. Verity soon realizes tht James is not evil but a gentle man who has suffered greatly over the deaths of his family and still sufers today after 6 years. She is known for her herbal healing and sets out to try and heal James's soul.

Jmaes and Verity are attracted to each other as friends and as lovers but so many obsticals stand in there way. When they finally do over come them you feel like cheering. This story was easy to read and very enjoyable. I plan on reading more from this author in the future.

Lord James Harkness is stunned when he hears a young woman being auctioned off to the highest bidder in the gloomy town square. When he sees the crude man who places the highest bid, he bids five times more and wins.

Verity Osborne is so dejected when her "husband" auctions her off to the highest bidder. Lord Harkness is a dark, mysterious man who now "owns" Verity, but what will he do with her? After she hears Lord Harkness called "Lord Heartless" and is told he murdered his wife and child, Verity is frightened beyond measure.

But beneath the troubled, tortured James, lies a man that needs to believe he is not the monster that people think. Verity helps him conquer his past and together make a future together.

If you liked To Love a Dark Lord by Anne Stuart, you will definitely like this book!

In 1818 Gunnisloe, Baron James Harkness, who rarely comes to the Cornish village from his Pendurgan home, hears a nearby auction whose bidding and commentary seem strange to him. He wanders over to take a look when he is stunned to see a woman on the block instead of cattle. Unable to sit idly by while the "wife sale" continues, James overbids and wins the prize. Gilbert Russell sells his wife Verity to "Lord Heartless" as the locals call James in order to pay off his debts.

Though she starts with doubts about her savior due to the rumors that he killed his wife and child, Verity quickly notices his compassion towards people even those not deserving of it. She begins to fall in love with her benefactor and he feels the same attraction, but the secrets he keeps from everyone including her leaves no hope for a real relationship.

Candice Hern places a classic style gothic romance inside a Regency tale so that the audience receives the best of both sub-genres. The story line engages the audience due to the lead characters, the dark brooding but caring James and the innocent bewildered Verity. Though James overdoes his secrets better than the CIA, the audience will want this charming duo to find happiness. His demons and to a lesser degree her first marriage makes for a rocky path that provides delighted readers with much pleasure.

Harriet Klausner

The way that the two lead characters meet is unusual and promised an interesting story, but unfortunately the author couldn't hold it together. The bad reputation of the Earl is unconvincing, given that the people around him knew him his whole life. The eventual villain is too convincing as a friend of the Earl to turn out to want him dead. Considering how good some Ms. Hern's other books are (The Best Intentions being one), this one was a real disappointment.

Verity is a heroine who discovers her inner strength, stops being a doormat, gives generously of herself to those around her, and discovers that she's okay after all.

James is a tormented hero who acts like a "monster" because of an overabundance of shame & guilt. But beneath all that, he is so honorable & noble, that Verity stays in his home for 8 months with only 1 incident, one that dumps another boatload of guilt on James & more esteem issues on Verity. Along the way, however, they become real friends, which is the best basis for any relationship. The romantic feelings are buried because of their situations. When they finally come to light, their strength has healed not only James & Verity, but the entire community.

Although I had a good idea who the villain was, there were enough red herrings to keep it interesting. My only complaint is that there should have been surviving witnesses to the villain's admission of guilt and to James' situation.

This story is not primarily about lust or seduction, nor does it heavily rely on such elements. Instead, it's about two hurting people who grow, and heal, and find abiding friendship and true love. The attraction is there; it just doesn't dominate the story or the characters.

The Cornish dialect was sometimes hard to decipher, but it added greatly to the setting and tone. Enjoy!

If the very genteel Verity Osborne thought that having a halter placed around her throat and put up for auction by her husband was horrendous, then the person who actually won her for 200 pounds could have turned out to be her worst nightmare.

Lord James Harkness, aka Lord Heartless by the folks in the small English village in Cornwall, was appalled that a seemingly lady of quality was being auctioned off like an animal. As he watched the proceedings and saw that she might end up with the very huge, filthy and coarse village smithy, he without thinking, outbid him and rescued her.

Verity was taken to his home and waited thinking he would assert certain rights over her as his `property'. As time went on she realized that this dark, tortured soul was not evil as the villagers seemed to think, she begins a campaign to try to help him. She endears herself to the villagers by her compassionate and gentle ways and her helpful herbal cures.

Verity can help James' tortured nightmares with a herbal remedy to sleep, but her biggest challenge is to cure his tortured soul and prove that he is not the murderer and as evil as everyone thinks. In the process she must also keep herself from falling in love and fighting the attraction that seems to grow stronger everyday.

This is a wonderful story and has a great twist in the end that ties the whole story together. Excellent compassionate and heartwarming feelings really make the story work and make you feel good.

Oh, you'll flip through the pages alright! To skip over 3/4 of the book! Great idea, that's what made me buy the book. But the weakest writing I've ever read!

Setting: Cornwall - 1818
THE BRIDE SALE is a marvelous tale that is sometimes mysterious and fraught with angst about a woman whose husband sells her for 200 pounds and then she is rescued by a dark enigmatic man who is known as Lord Heartless by most who know him. Is it possible that she has been taken in by a murderer?

Verity Osborne soon finds herself helping the people of Lord Harkness with herbal remedies for colds and such and soon wins their confidence. The more she hears about James the more she wonders about him and if the rumors about him are true. She doesn't want to believe the evil tales about him and is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. She wants to leave but some passionate kisses leave her wanting more so she decides to stay and see what she can find out about this dark lord who is hiding a painful secret. Can someone who takes such good care of his people be all bad? Don't miss finding out what really happened. No, I'm not telling you any more ... I'm leaving that up to you. <Grin>

James Harkness has survived tragedy but it's left him a lonely man who is afraid to sleep less he is plagued with horrific dreams. When he purchases Verity Osborne he may have questioned his sanity as well but inadvertently he's given himself a second chance at love but will he realize it before it is too late?

I was up half the night burning the midnight oil being royally entertained by fantastic storyteller Candice Hern. She knows how to hook you but good!