Customer Reviews

His Bride

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Though the story line is similar to some others I have read. I did enjoy this one. Written during Elizabethian times- the widower Sir Edmund Blackwell is having to accept an offer made by his ex-father-in-law to get the castle and lands back into shape and it will take a large sum of money. A bride and large dowry has been offered to Edmund with strings attached. It is made clear that the father-in-law is out to ruin Edmund. But Edmund is not one to turn down a challenge and accepts. He is to marry his deceased wife's cousin and if she is anything like Elizabeth was, Edmund is in for a miserable time. But she turns out to be just the opposite. Gwyneth Hall doesn't realize she is being used like a pawn and goes into this marriage to make it a success though she has never even met Edmund. With time Edmund lets his guard down to see Gwyneth as she really is and Gwyneth learns that there is a different person behind that face of Edmund's. Full of passion, some humorous bits, and over-all enjoyable.

Edmund begins as an exceedingly wary man; it takes the innocent and genuinely caring Gwyneth to eventually earn his hard-to-win trust. He's been so deceived and harmed by her extended family that she must be another means of twisting the knife. Gwyneth, however, knows nothing of her family's evil plans; all she wants is a loving husband and a family and a home of her own. Edmund seems rather dark after his earlier appearance in His Scandal, but his change began there and becomes clear as we learn what has happened to him.

Enough mystery in who's the traitor to maintain interest in the backplot. Humor, romance, sensuality, and emotional appeal. An excellent follow-up to His Scandal.

In 1591 England, the parents of his deceased wife summon Sir Edmund Blackwell to see them. Edmund's father-in-law Lord Langston offers to buy back Castle Wintering, the estate he gave as part of his daughter's dowry. Edmund refuses, but Lady Langston points out his lack of funds to run the estate. She offers a different deal. Edmund marries Langston cousin Gwyneth Hall and receive a large dowry too. The only clause in the marriage contract that gives Edmund pause is that if he dies without a male heir, Castle Wintering returns to Langston. Needing money badly after his spouse's excesses, Edmund accepts though he feels he deals with the devil.

Edmund does not trust his second Langston bride though Gwyneth works hard to quickly gain the support of his people. Edmund begins falling in love with his wife and wants to believe her behavior is genuine, but wonders what her role is in whatever nefarious scheme Langston has concocted. Still love blossoms between the Blackwell couple, but trust is a more difficult feeling to attain.

Though the overused theme of a marriage pawn is the underlying concept of HIS BRIDE, Gayle Callen keeps the story line moving through the wonderfully caring Gwyneth, albeit even if she acts too perfect while trying to prove to Edmund that she has no deceit. The Langstons are too avariciously villainous while the lead couple is a delight as Gwyneth wins over everyone but her skeptical husband. Fans of Ms. Callen's "His" tales will enjoy this novel made pleasant by the lead "Her".

Harriet Klausner

This is the 1st book by Gayle Callen that I read. Loving it, I read through all of her available books as fast as possible, and loved them all. She has two series, of which this book is the last of one. My advice is to read them in order (His Betrothed, His Scandal, then His Bride). Unfortunately, His Betrothed is the least enjoyable of all her books (but still decent). But her stories carry the characters forward, so it greatly adds to the enjoyment. I was careful to read her other series in order, and was glad of it. The best thing about this author is that she keeps the notion of "bad guys" and danger to the couple involved in the background. It's there, but not dwelled upon. I surely appreciate that, since I hate books like Kat Martin's, where the hero is in jail half the time. I surely hope another book comes out soon!

I read all three of the books by Callen in this series His Betrothed, His Scandal and now His Bride. For me the story of Edmund and Gwyn was bar far the best of the series. And I think for this series it is helpful to read them in order because the author does not exactly explain the relationship of the characters in the other books. Certainly after reading the second book about Alex it was clear how Edmund got into the situation with the Langster family. It also clearly made sense why Edmund was so untrusting of Gwyn at the beginning of their marriage. But Gwyn was a determined and engaging young lady and wanted to make this a real marriage. For me this was a beautiful love story and the most romantic of the three books. I would recommnend all of the series but think this one the best!!

SUMMARY (*includes spoilers*):
[1591, England] Sir Edmund Blackwell entered into a wager with his friend, Sir Alex Thornton (occurs at the beginning of His Scandal) and though all he had to get was a kiss, he ended up sleeping with the young woman and as a result offered to marry her. This book takes place a couple of years later, after Elizabeth (the woman) has died; their marriage was an unhappy one and although Edmund tried his best to make her happy and make the best out of unfortunate circumstances, his wife was a spoiled and selfish being (who didn't deserve him!). Her death is shrouded in suspicion and rumors abound that Edmund is the one responsible for killing her.

His in-laws, whom he dislikes and who return the feeling, offer him the opportunity to keep the property he received as part of Elizabeth's dowry if he marries Gwyneth Hall, a poor cousin of Elizabeth's. They admit they have ulterior motives but won't admit what they are. Although Edmund doesn't want to accept, the dowry they are offering along with Gwyneth tempts him, for Elizabeth drained the estate and though he went back to mercenary work to support them, since his injury this is no longer a possibility. What Elizabeth's parents don't know, however, is that Edmund doesn't plan on making the marriage a real one - he won't consummate it and once he has recouped the amount of the dowry through his land, he will pay it back, annul the marriage (for all he knows, this new wife of his is helping his in-laws), and finally be done with Elizabeth's family forever.

Gwyneth Hall is nervous about marrying a man she has never met, but has hopes that the marriage will help her poor (though happy and tight-knit) family. She meets her husband moments before marrying him and is then taken to a beautiful but crumbling castle in need of repair. Who is this stern man, whom many people seem to fear because of his large size and the rumors of murder, but whom she can't help but be drawn to? He causes a fluttering in the bottom of her stomach and she wants to make him smile or even laugh. Gwyneth is determined to make a real marriage of what circumstances have forced, for she sees in Edmund a good man whom she is growing to love - and whom she thinks badly needs that love.

This book combines a marriage of convenience; a hurt and suspicious hero who has decided not to have sex with his wife (but is drawn to her, both emotionally and physically); a sweet and loving heroine who is confused by her husband's attempts to separate himself from her and determined to not let him succeed (and seduce him as best she can); and a nefarious plot being directed by evil ex-in-laws and carried out by we-don't-know-who. The combination is definitely a hit so hat's off to Gayle Callen for another great read!

OPINION:
This is a wonderful book and a great follow-up to His Scandal (the second book in the "His" series - I have yet to read the first). I barely recognized Edmund, since in the preceding book he was a much more lighthearted man and openly charming/teasing character. When we meet him now, he has suffered through a horrible marriage, been widowed and smeared with rumors that he caused his wife's death, and he's been injured in such a way as to end his career as a mercenary/soldier - the only thing he's ever known and has always excelled at.

There are *many laugh-out-loud moments* and the hero and heroine are truly delightful - a great match for each other and Callen portrays them vividly and engagingly. It's a pleasure to watch their relationship develop: Edmund trying to stay away from and not get attached to Gwyneth and Gwyneth trying to seduce her husband and make him care for her as she has begun to for him (though of course he already does). Gwyneth is so sweet and loyal that Edmund can't help but fall in love with her and although he's at first frightened by his feelings and fights them, he eventually realizes that he could never give Gwyn up and can no longer carry out his initial plan for their marriage. The only thing I didn't like was Gwyneth's thought-process during the small secret/misunderstanding that Callen includes towards the end; thankfully it doesn't drag on and once Gwyn and Edmund deal with it, I think it makes their relationship stronger.

The secondary characters are entertaining, especially Geoffrey (Edmund's friend and lieutenant), and on the whole the mystery subplot is interesting and adds intrigue and suspense - though it is resolved somewhat anti-climactically. The last scene is too maudlin for me, but on the whole this is an excellent book and I *highly* recommend it!

"HIS" SERIES:
This book is part of Gayle Callen's Tudor romance "His" series, which goes in the following order: Book 1, His Betrothed (Spencer Thornton's story); Book 2, His Scandal (Alexander Thornton's story); and Book 3, His Bride (Edmund Blackwell's story). The books don't have to be read in order (Alex and Emmeline appear briefly in this one), though I think it helps to read Book 1 before Book 2.

HISTORICAL ROMANCE TAGS:
marriage of convenience - hero isn't of the nobility/aristocracy - military/ex-military hero - widower - scarred or handicapped hero (battle injury, has a limp) - heroine is from a poor family - heroine is the oldest of four siblings

i read this book in about three hours i liked it so much.the story moved along nicely, no page after page of dragging out story lines that make your head spin. the hero of the story was like a real person, flaws and all.he had been hurt and betrayed so it was not easy to put his trut in just any one.the heroine wanted what most of us want, love to last a lifetime and security. this is a great night read if youre like me and if you get into a book that is pretty good you dont want to put it down until youre done. iv read almost all of her books and seem to enjoy them all. i would definatly recomend for a decent love story.

I've always been a sucker for a Beauty and the Beast story, and Gayle Callen does the tale proud. Her lively prose and beautifully-rendered Elizabethan setting are the perfect foil to the tale of Edmund and his evolving love for HIS BRIDE. A joy to read. Well done indeed!

The plot was very promising and I really wanted to like this book, but the writing threw me off. It was very uneven and awkward. Bad writing effectively ruins it for me, no matter how good a plot. I hope this book isn't indicative of the rest of this author's work, because right now, she is definitely on my "to avoid" list. The reviewer below who said her writing is choppy and has no eloquence was spot-on.

The perfect read for a snowy night. Gayle Callen keeps getting better and better. Fully-developed characters and witty dialogue keep this delightful story moving. While the identical-twins-posing-as-each-other plot is a classic, Callen's unique twist adds a freshness that makes this book one to top a Victorian-romance fan's TBR pile.