Customer Reviews

Here Comes The Bride (Zebra Historical Romance)

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

 

 

I loved this charming western historical! Tess is an engaging heroine, the plot moves along quickly, the romance is compelling and rewarding, and I found the hero to be a realistic, satisfying alpha male. I'll be looking for more books by Laura Drewry!

this writer's first book shows a lot of promise. I particularly delighted in the heroine's inability to stop talking when she was upset. This was so 'real'.

I look forward to Drewy's next book. In a period where the Western seems to be overlooked it's good to see new fresh voice.

When her father arranges her marriage to a Boston lawyer, Tess Kinley flees. She believes in marrying for love and she'll never love the lawyer. She's also dreamed of living in the country so she runs away and heads west. By the time she ends up in Gabe Calloway's ranch, she's exhausted, filthy, and been won and lost in a poker game. She takes one look at Gabe (Gabriel), decides he's her angel, and falls in love.

Gabe has no idea what to do with this strange woman who drops into his life and disrupts it completely. One thing for sure, though, he's not going to lose his heart to her. He's already fallen for a woman who claimed to love the country but then decided that the city was the only way she could get what she really needs. Tess may claim to love the land, but she only knows about it from her books. Gabe is certain that no city-woman can ever endure the hardships of Montana territory. Since his own mother gave up her life trying to have a baby far from doctors and medical care, he wouldn't want Tess to stay even if she would. He's had too much loss in his life and Tess looks like another coming up.

Tess realizes that she cannot control Gabriel's love--but the longer she spends in Montana, the less she wants to return to the city. Even if she can't spend her life with Gabriel, she wants to spend it here.

Although Tess doesn't think of herself as beautiful, that doesn't mean she isn't sought after--by other men in Montana, but also by the man who was intended to be her husband back in Boston. Living a quiet life in Montana isn't going to be an easy option for her--and having a woman who sets his blood on fire isn't an easy option for Gabe. But only if he can overcome the wounds from his past can he save himself--and Tess.

Author Laura Drewry spins a warm-hearted romance. Gabe and Tess are perfect for each other--he serious and concerned with consequences, she good-hearted but with an inclination to run off at the mouth when nervous and impulsive (an amusing moment comes when she fantasizes about a child with Gabe's looks and her common sense). Strong secondary characters, including Gabe's brother Bart, the neighboring ranchers who despise Gabe, and Rosa, the housekeeper add to the story's texture.

I would have liked to see the adventure side of the story more fully integrated into the romance rather than coming largely after the romantic resolution, but HERE COMES THE BRIDE is an enjoyable and funny tale.

Tess has taken a long and arduous journey from Boston to Montana in the hopes of making a new life for herself. She arrives at Gabriel Calloway's ranch where she rests at the urging of Gabriel's housekeeper Rosa. When she awakens, she finds Gabriel in the room scowling at her. Gabriel demands she explain who she is and why she is in his home. So Tess tells Gabriel that she is there because his brother Bart actually won her in a poker game. As the rest of her story is explained Gabriel finds himself both annoyed and intrigued by the beautiful woman in his home.

Gabriel knows that a ranch is no place for a lady so he decides to allow Tess to work just until the stagecoach returns to town, then he will ship her back off. He did not expect Tess to handle the work willingly and eagerly. Now he is more attracted to Tess than ever, but his stubborn pride won't let him give into his desires.

Tess fell in love with Gabriel the moment she first saw him, but Gabriel refuses to acknowledge his feelings for her. After Bart gets hurt she feels responsible, so Tess heads to town to find a job and make her own way. Gabriel doesn't like it, but her lets her go.

The man responsible for Tess fleeing from Boston comes to town and her life is put in danger. Once she is safe, Gabriel finally realizes how much Tess means to him and that he needs to let her know. But soon after a second threat arrives, Tess lies to Gabriel and leaves, trying to protect him. Unless Gabriel can put his faith in Tess, he is going to lose her forever.

Here Comes The Bride is a romantic novel with moments of drama and action, but the story fell a bit flat for me. Gabriel's stubbornness gets tiresome, but Tess's commitment to him is endearing. The story has many interesting characters. However one is referred to as "stupid" and I felt the heroes should have been more compassionate. Here Comes The Bride has some very tender and loving moments, but overall it just didn't grab me.


Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A very good western romance novel. I love the way the hero finally comes around and realizes he loves the heroine. Great way to spend a rainy day!

SO GLAD AUTHOR DREWRY WAS OBVIOUSLY GIVEN SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM ZEBRA PUBLISHING. THIS REFLECTS HOW PROMISING HISTORICAL ROMANCE IS. ALTHOUGH I CAN FIND PLACES TO NITPICK, I CHOOSE NOT TO BECAUSE OVERALL, THE BOOK HAS IT ALL. THE CHARACTERS ARE WELL DEVELOPED......THE PLOT HAS SEVERAL ARMS OF INTEREST.....THE DIALOGUE IS NATURAL AND WITTY. THIS IS NOT A NOBEL PRIZE BOOKS BUT IT SURE IS AN ENJOYABLE AND DELIGHTFUL READ.......AND YOU CAN RECOMMEND IT WITHOUT EXCERPTING ANY EMBARRASSING MOMENTS....ENJOY........

Romance is very difficult to write and although HERE COMES THE BRIDE is fun, it is a book with problems. Nevertheless, Ms. Drewry's plot did make me turn the pages anticipating the next high-spirited event.

Tess Kinley is spunky and cute. When nervous she talks, she rattles, she rambles, she jumps from one subject to the next, her listeners: overwhelmed. Tess Kinley is spontaneous, candid, and bewitching. Tess Kinley is a great heroine.

Gabe Calloway is a rugged Montana rancher. Gabe Calloway has no time for highfalutin' gals from Boston. He has no time for alluring, sweet little ladies who drive him crazy. No time at all - well - maybe he can spare a moment. Is Gabe Calloway a great hero? No. Why? Drewry never shaped his "sturdy" character. He is supposed to be rugged, yet when our hero finds a heathen violently raping Tess, Gabe simply clubs the brute over the head! This is 1885 Montana, why not shoot the (b..tard)? Gabe claims he loves Tess, yet he looks the other way when she spends her nights in a run-down hotel with lecherous drunks prowling the halls! But the final miscarriage of hero construction? Tess' ex-fiancé coerces HER to return to Boston. Keep in mind, Tess is now married and pregnant with Gabe's child. And what does Gabe do? Well . . . FINALLY, FINALLY he goes after her! Their reunion scene? The "Boston Beast" is slapping Tess around, throwing her to the ground, and hog-tying her, yet when the "western smoke" clears, the only person dead is her father! Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a person who justifies killing, but this is 1885 Montana!

In the future, Laura Drewry will probably enjoy a successful career in romance writing, but HERE COMES THE BRIDE will NOT launch it. Leading romantic characters must bury themselves in a reader's heart, the romance must be felt. Romance is lust, desire, sensuality; elements not easily achieved without reader confidence in the lead characters.
Grade: C-

MaryGrace Meloche.