Counterfeit Bride [Import] [Hardcover]

Sara Craven (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon (October 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0263101398
• ISBN-13: 978-0263101393
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this Sara Craven novel, May 31, 2010

By 

Harlequin Presents Forever (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Counterfeit Bride (Harlequin Presents #561) (Paperback)

The previous reviewer summarized this novel well. I enjoyed this novel. The location (the ranch lands of Northern-Central Mexico) is beautifully captured and brought back memories to me of living near that area. Those who have not lived in that remote, rugged area of the world may enjoy the way that Sara Craven weaves the location into her novel. The landscape is as much a part of the book as the characters themselves.

The hero is, as the first reviewer pointed out, a caveman. He is autocratic and self-assured to the point of arrogance (typical for Presents heroes from this era). At a critical point in the novel, he does not take the heroine's "no" for an answer, and although this scene was common in Presents novels from this era, scenes such as this are disturbing. If this type of hero is not appealing to a reader, then she may want to avoid this novel and choose a more recent Presents novel. However, there are also moments when the hero is tender with the heroine and seems frustrated by his inability to make her love him. At these points, the hero is much more human than many other early Presents heroes and actually seems to be in love with the heroine and want to please her and make her happy.

For the most part, the heroine is appealing. She is unsure and insecure at times but is willing to take chances for the sake of her friends (for example, when she masquerades as the "counterfeit" bride). She is rather too willing to sacrifice everything in her life (career, home, etc.) for the hero, and also seems to give in to his crazy idea to marry a stranger too easily. But, this *is* a Presents novel, and the heroine is a fairly typical Presents heroine from this time.

On a side note: I first started reading Presents in the early 80s and have read them off and on ever since. I have just discovered the used Presents market available through Amazon, and I have been ordering the older Presents novels regularly. Part of the reason I order the novels is nostalgia. These were the first Presents that I read, and although I found these novels exotic and, ahem, educational, I was probably too young to read them and too naive to know that the love scenes in the novels are pure fantasy. Oh, well. Live and learn.

Also, to be honest, I find the earlier stories and characters more compelling than more recent Presents stories, which I also purchase through Amazon. (I prefer to order online since I find it very hard to buy a book at the drugstore that has a title such as The Greek/Spanish/Italian Mega-Billionaire's Submissive Virgin Secretary Mistress Trapped Bride or whatever the titles are now. Whose idea was that?!)

I believe that the more recent Presents authors and editors are every bit as talented as their predecessors, and I have read some wonderful Presents published in the last few years. However, I find that the conflicts in too many recent novels often hinge on silly misunderstandings that could be resolved with, I dunno, one phone call. You know: Ah! She is a gold digger! Ah! He is a callous brute who stole every penny from my family's business! Ah! I love him/her, but he/she does not care for me! These misconceptions are often based on no facts whatsoever, and the entire novel becomes a torturous exercise in resolving a situation that could be solved with one conversation.

The plots and characters in the older Presents seem more varied to me, and the motives deeper than simple misunderstanding. Yes, the conflicts may be crazy (who in their right mind marries a "counterfeit bride"?). However, I find characters like those in Counterfeit Bride and other, earlier Presents novels more interesting than characters whose entire perception of their lover is based on a shallow misconception.

If you also like earlier Presents novels, I recommend Counterfeit Bride. Good example of the Presents of that time. Also, the earlier titles are not so over the top. You can actually read these novels in public and not worry that others will see the title.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars guilty pleasure, July 26, 2009

By 

D. Blacker "the romance novel lover" (The Woods in CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Counterfeit Bride (Harlequin Presents #561) (Paperback)

To warn you first this is an older Harlequin presents novel which means most of the male characters are macho, sexist, and quite rapacious.

Nicola doesn't agree with arranged marriages, so when her friend (who is going to be in an arranged marriage) falls in love with another man, she goes in her place to hide her friend. Unfortunately the man that her friend was engaged to was not so forgiving. He decided that Nicola was going to be his wife due to her role in this deception.

Do not read this book if you don't like the men to be caveman like. I prefer the older harlequin books, so if you have read one of them and hated it you will probably hate this.