Customer Reviews

His Unexpected Bride

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This story started off great and had good promise, but the story slowed quickly. There wasn't much to the plot. Finally, I called it quits with about 40 pages left to go. By that point I found myself absolutely hating the heroine. The author did not keep control of her heroine's character. She behaved erratically, and at times became so whiney I couldn't take it anymore. I skimmed the final pages, but found nothing more of interest. As a love story it was a let down, as Bethany's poor behavior killed every good romance scene. The plot circled around Bethany, and whom she is courting. The entire book focuses on only a few people going to balls, dinners, picnics and rides in Hyde park. That's it. Lord Rutledge made up a finance, which turned out to be a real person. This naïve woman believes she actually once met him but doesn't recall the introduction. Soon she becomes the bell of the ball (don't all heroines?), despite being clumsy and plain. And only two men show any real interest in her. Lord Rutledge wants more than anything to avoid marriage, and uses Bethany to keep the marriage minded moms and gels away from him. But he quickly finds himself enamored by Bethany. He gets some competition in some boring secondary character, and Bethany plays the two men against each other. When she finds out she was being used, she becomes horrible. I didn't like where the story went. It was not romantic, just two people fighting and struggling.

I am the first to admit that much as everyone else I make a mistake or other in grammar and punctuation, but lately it has become increasingly difficult to take seriously the reviews of certain people. Pray, how do people who call the female protagonist a chime, affirm the hero pretends to own a word which does not exist in the English language as a noun, and pair prepositions with verbs resulting in sentences that do not make any sense, have the gall to critique anyone's work?
Poor dominion of the language is not an excuse, as free on line spell-checker tools exist in abundance. It is a sad state of things indeed when one cannot pay attention to the content of the review itself, due to the criminal acts perpetrated against the language.

In an attempt to thwart his mother's efforts at marrying him off, Damien, Marquis of Rutledge does the only sensible thing he can think to do. He makes up the most horrid name he can think of and informs his mother that he's betrothed. The only problem with this plan is there is a young woman who indeed does carry the name "Miss Hinglebottom."

Bethany Hinglebottom had been humiliated by the ton when she'd first been introduced into society. Her tendency to attract all sorts of mischief made her the belle of the ball for all the wrong reasons. She'd promptly become the joke of London and was relieved to return to Northampton.

Marcus's attempt at escaping the marriage mart and his mother's meddling are met with failure as the asinine name he thought he'd made up actually belongs to a woman, and not just any woman but apparently an accident prone woman. Hoping that the ton will quiet down and forget his supposed upcoming nuptial isn't working. Matters only become worse when his mother decides it is time to collect Marcus's bride-to-be. Bethany is under the assumption that somehow she'd met Damien but she's embarrassed that she can't remember him. Chalk it up to yet another disaster in her life. She's not thrilled with the whole idea of returning to London either. Both Marcus and her own mother insist that she must go, so she's bundled up and carted off to the scene of her very public humiliation. More than anything Bethany wants for Damien's interest in her to be a reality. How is she going to handle learning that he's made her up? As if being played for a fool isn't bad enough, someone keeps writing the most unflattering articles for each and every one of her mishaps.

Jodici Belle's HIS UNEXPECTED BRIDE will touch a cord in every reader's heart. From Damien's bumbling attempts at escaping marriage, to Bethany's consistent mishaps this is a book you'll smile through while cheering for this mismatched couple to get their act together and admit they are perfect for each other. I'm dying to know what happens between Damien's sister, Violet, and his friend, Brighten. We get a hint of a romance brewing there but not enough to positively figure out if they end up together or not. This story is wonderfully fast paced, with animated characters that make you feel like you've taken a step back in time and are watching this couple's faltering attempts at falling in love without it ending up in the society column.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

When the Marquis of Rutledge is pressured by his mother to join the marriage mart, he decides he must do something quick to stop the parade of young debutantes his mother is forcing on him at social events. He suddenly thinks of a name, Miss Hinglebottom; a name sounding so ridiculous to him that no one would think it is made up. As soon as he is approached by matchmaking mamas with daughters in tow and announces his betrothed's name, Lady Witherspoon erupts with "Not Miss Bethany Hinglebottom?" Damien realizes he is in trouble. So off to the country he and his mother go to pick up his betrothed and bring her back to London. Bethany, not realizing a thing, is happily living her country life after her disasterous past London seasons. Clumsiness is and has been her biggest problem with one mishap after another happening to and around her, from ripped hems to downright trips and falls. When the handsome Damien shows up at her home, she is taken with the handsome Marquis and delighted that he has supposedly seen her in the past, remembered her, and wants her. Before she knows it she is in a coach to London to live with Damien's family. Damien sees that Bethany is a nice girl, feels guilty about the deception and tries to think of a way he can tell her the truth. When Damien finally admits the lie to his family, they decide they must provide her with a season and real fiance. Damien's sister Violet gets involved and assists Bethany with her wardrobe, as well as some tips on how to gain Damien's attention. When Damien sees Bethany's transformation and that other gentlemen are pursuing her, he realizes he desires her. Fooled previously by his lies and advances, Bethany tries to resist Damien. Eventually desire and passion build and she gives into his advances and is compromised. Damien feels he must marry her, but Bethany wants to marry for love. Damien continues his sensual pursuit and Bethany once again succumbs, but this time to love. When Damien's ex-mistress shows up, wanting him back, Bethany feels she has truly made a mistake. It is then up to Damien to convince Bethany that he truly loves his unexpected bride. The story is fun and sensual with twists and turns in the plot that make the reader laugh and cry. A truly delightful fairy tale romance about a clumsy duckling and libertine that turns the duckling into a beautiful swan and finds true love in the process.