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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Loopy Screwball Regency Romp (C+ Grade), August 30, 2009
This review is from: Devil In My Bed: The Runaway Brides (Mass Market Paperback)
Celeste Bradley has a new historical romance series called The Runaway Brides. The first book, Devil in My Bed is so unrealistic and loopy. There is that "big misunderstanding" plot device and a cute little toddler who takes up many of the scenes she is in that may annoy. If you like your villains, who remind you of those old fashioned ones that twirl their mustaches and tie the poor woman to the railroad tracks, give this one a go.
Aidan de Quincy has never gotten over the widow he had a passionate, all consuming love affair with. Madeleine Chandler leaves him when he expresses his desire to marry her. Because Madeleine just wanted him for sex and not his name, he becomes bitter and heartbroken. How dare the woman blow his mind and his body with wonderful bed play and run away from him because he wanted to marry her Now three years later he still cannot forget the one woman who he gave his heart to, or rather the woman he is obsessed with. But this is quite alright because Aidan is the hero. While he is at the Brown's Club for Distinguished Gentlemen, he notices a small child named Melody who is only three years old. Melody was left there by her mother who can't support her anymore. Aidan knows this poor child's father is not part of the club because most of the men are well past their prime to have a child. Aidan has no choice but to take care of this little girl until he can figure out who her father is.
Madeleine had to end her affair with Aidan because she is hiding from her husband who is an abusive psychopath. She pretends to be a widow and has kept hidden for three years. But the jig is up because a friend of her husband has spotted her. Aidan finds her once again and rescues her because he comes to the conclusion that she is Melody's mother. He hides Madeline in his rooms. For some reason Madeleine doesn't tell Aidan that he is mistaken, but he thinks she is a lying wench anyway, so what would be the point? Even though he thinks Madeleine is a lying, deceitful woman who broke his poor heart, he will get to the bottom of this so they can finally be together.
Madeleine's psycho husband figures out she is in London and will make her pay. All she wants is her freedom and a future with Aidan and little Melody, but her lies and deceit have become too much to keep under control.
Devil in My Bed has some moments of comedic relief that are bound to make you groan more than laugh. I will say that Aidan and Madeleine are crazy for each other and there is one scene where they are playing hide and seek with Melody and hide in the wardrobe. Aidan's hands go a wandering and Madeleine combusts into a puddle of mushy lust. Watching Aidan and Sir Colin Lambert, who also resides at the club, figure out how to take care of Melody is quite hilarious. These two reminded me of the movie, Three Men and a Baby.
I guess you could say this a screwball regency romp. The out of the blue scenes that are dark and full of tension come out of left field and just don't fit. And again, the situation Aidan places himself in with Madeleine and Melody is a bit unbelievable. You will have to suspend your belief because the majority of the story is a bit fantastical. Fans of Celeste Bradley know what they are getting and if you have enjoyed her past work, I think you will feel the same way with Devil in My Bed.
Katiebabs
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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic Bradley Regency, August 18, 2009
This review is from: Devil In My Bed: The Runaway Brides (Mass Market Paperback)
Over the past few weeks, I've read three new releases where the author did little more than provide an $8 prologue to books #2 and #3 in her new series. A total waste of the two main characters AND my money! Fast forward to this past weekend, where I had the complete opposite experience with Celeste Bradley's new novel, "Devil in my Bed." This book is truly a stand-alone. The two main characters, Madeline and Aidan, are well-formulated, believable and endearing, and while the secondary characters are strong, they did not overshadow the h/h.
The same elements that I found enjoyable in two of Bradley's earlier series (Liar's Club and Royal Four) are evident in this novel: humor, passion, honor and intellect. Bradley excels at bringing in a touch of realism and a hint of the less savory side of life in the early 18th Century; although some of the characters are of the upper class, this isn't one of those boring stories that revolve around balls at Almack's and rides in Hyde Park. Better still, the characters are believable and flawed, rather than freakishly gorgeous and spectacularly rich.
I will admit that I almost didn't read this book -- I dislike the "cute kid" plot device and generally steer clear of books and movies that rely on a precocious child to drive the story. But I decided to forge ahead with the book, and I'm glad I did. That little terror provided some of the best chuckles of the story, and if I'm reading the excerpt from the next book correctly, the search to find her father will serve as the thread that binds the series together.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read, one that reflects the quality of writing, character development and plotting of Bradley's earlier works.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
terrific Regency madcap romance, August 5, 2009
This review is from: Devil In My Bed: The Runaway Brides (Mass Market Paperback)
In 1812 Aidan de Quincy and Widow Madeleine Chandler shared a passionate affair that abruptly ended in an ugly manner leaving him angry and birrer. In 1815 when he arrives at the Brown's Club for Distinguished Gentlemen he is accosted by a small child who says she is three years old and named Melody. She explains to Aidan, his friend Jack and Sir Colin Lambert that she seeks her unknown father who is one of them; her mother is apparently Madeleine though the child implies she is a foundling.
Aidan goes off to confront Madeleine, who still loves him. She dumped him because she feared the scandal her past would cost her noble beloved. He is soon rescuing her and demanding the truth as he sees it in her eyes the wanting, but she still lies about her being Melody's mother.
This is a terrific Regency madcap romance with a great opening that sets in motion a comedy of errors filled with whimsy, money, and love. The lead couple is a delightful pairing while little Melody steals the hearts of the three men, Madeleine and readers form the onset. Fans will look forward to the next rogue Sir Colin's saga after appreciating this enjoyable screwball historical romantic comedy.
Harriet Klausner
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