I Thee Wed [Mass Market Paperback]

Amanda Quick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

It isn't easy making a living as a lady's companion when one possesses a sharp tongue and an original mind. That's why Emma Greyson has gone through three such positions in six months. Her current post at a tiresome country house party has her bored to tears—until an extraordinary encounter with the legendary Edison Stokes leads to a secret position as his assistant.

Stokes is on a peculiar mission, searching for an anonymous thief who has stolen an ancient book of arcane potions. He suspects his quarry is among the party's guests—and that the villain is looking for an intuitive woman on whom to test a certain elixir. A woman just like Emma...

For Emma, the new post brings unexpected passion and chilling danger. But when murder strikes, she realizes the awful truth. Unless she and Edison devise a scheme to outwit a merciless killer, she could forever lose the man of her dreams—and even her very life....

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amanda Quick proves once again that opposites most definitely do attract in her new Regency romance, I Thee Wed. Sharp-witted lady's companion Emma Greyson has as much trouble holding a job as she does holding her tongue. But lack of references can't deter Emma; she just writes her own and finagles a new position. Her present employment brings Emma to a tedious house party in the country where she spends most of her time trying to dodge the lecherous groping of the gentlemen guests. In fact, to avoid just such an encounter Emma is forced to hide in a wardrobe. The only problem is that the space is already occupied--by mysterious financier Edison Stokes, no less! Stokes is on a quest to locate a volume of arcane potions that could prove deadly if it falls into the wrong hands, and he believes the text is in the possession of one of the partygoers. Emma soon finds herself the focus of another kind of attention, equally undesirable, when her highly developed intuition makes her susceptible to the powerful potions of the black arts. To protect her, Stokes hires Emma to be his assistant, but quickly realizes that keeping Emma out of danger is a full-time job. The only solution is to keep her close to him--very close to him. And neither Stokes nor Emma minds that at all! Bestselling author Amanda Quick keeps readers begging for more in this highly entertaining historical. --Alison Trinkle --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Strong-willed, and with a redhead's combustible temper, paid companion Emma Greyson finds herself embroiled in a dangerous adventure with the dashing Edison Stokes. A wealthy member of Regency England's "Polite World," Stokes follows the clue in a dying man's last words to arrive at Ware Castle, where he suspects a dark plot is underway. At the castle he encounters Emma, who stands out among the era's decadent and depraved society as a woman of sharp intelligence. From their awkward introduction?in a wardrobe where Emma has gone to seek refuge from the unwelcome attentions of a lecher and Edison is searching for clues?the two develop an alliance often made precarious by their smoldering attraction. When Emma's life is threatened by a thief at large among Ware Castle's guests, Edison's courage and his loyalty to Emma are put to the test. A veteran in the army of steamy historical amour, Quick (With This Ring; other novels as Jayne Ann Krentz) tosses off her 15th such romance with ease. Attractive protagonists, loose bodices, thwarted love and odds overcome prove themselves once again the ingredients for success in this genre.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553574108
• ISBN-13: 978-0553574104
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,001 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With a string of bestselling Regency and Victorian Era romantic-suspense novels under her quill, AMANDA QUICK (who also writes under the pen names JAYNE ANN KRENTZ and JAYNE CASTLE) entered the world of a highly secretive paranormal group, the ARCANE SOCIETY, with her novel SECOND SIGHT. The series moved into a contemporary setting when JAYNE ANN KRENTZ (Amanda's contemporary alter-ego) released the second book in the series, WHITE LIES.

This winter, the ARCANE SOCIETY continues with THE LOOKING GLASS TRILOGY. It begins with IN TOO DEEP by Jayne Ann Krentz this December. Amanda is working on QUICKSILVER, her Spring 2011 contribution is book 2 in the series. The trilogy will conclude when JAYNE CASTLE releases CANYONS OF NIGHT, the futuristic novel, in Summer 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I was happily surprised!, October 6, 2004

By 

Amanda Carrell "Erotic Romance Author" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: I Thee Wed (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading the hoards of flat reviews for Amanda Quick's _I Thee Wed_ I was expecting a horrendous book that had not even an inkling of Ms. Quick's obvious talent. I was certainly surprised to find that _I Thee Wed_ had the same flare that I've become accustomed to from Amanda Quick.

This book had me interested from the very first page! I don't usually become involved until at least two chapters have finished, but the very first page of this book started off with a bang. As always, Ms. Quick set forth a mystery that intrigued the mind and stirred the senses. Amid this mystery, Ms. Quick expertly tailored two characters that were both passionate, intricate and well developed.

Emma is delightful! She is self-reliant, resolute and determined. She also was not quite as flighty as some of Ms. Quick's other heroines. Don't get me wrong, I really love all of Ms. Quick's heroines, but Emma struck me as the most level-headed and capable of all.

Edison is a nice change from the usual brooding, dark heroes in Ms. Quick's books and seemed to have a devil-may-care twist to his personality. It was nice to see a man, who though haunted by his past, had overcome it and still held a love of life.

Their relationship, though not quite as passionate as some, has a fairy-tale-like quality that is sweet and endearing. I loved that Emma and Edison were able to conduct a deep relationship outside of the bedroom. All too often romance authors lead you to the misconception that sex is all there is to love. Ms. Quick has never used this device, she always has her characters communicate on other levels besides the carnal and Edison and Emma pull this off quite amiably. I thoroughly believed that they loved each other and I enjoyed their chemistry.

Once again, Ms. Quick alluded to a character from another of her books and I was elated! It's something she's only recently started and I hope she continues to do from now on.

All in all, I was more than satisfied with _I Thee Wed_. It held all the magic and mystery that has made me an Amanda Quick fan. Please, if you've read this book and didn't like it, try it again -- you must have missed something the first time. Also, if you're one of the readers out there discouraged by the bland reviews, give it a try with an open mind and you won't be disappointed.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Relatively fun read, July 5, 2004

By 

Trisha A. Howell "Howell Canyon Press author" (Los Angeles, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Thee Wed (Mass Market Paperback)

The independent and plain-speaking Emma Greyson is a great gal, but her refreshing personality makes her role as a professional companion problematic. She has lost at least one post in the past and fears losing her present one. She needs money badly to support her sister as they are both orphans.

Enter the iconoclastic and fabulously wealthy Edison Stokes, who is on the hunt for a psychic potion and missing book from a secret mystical society he used to belong to. Turns out one villain has big plans for Emma, plans that make her a valuable assistant for Edison.

Edison therefore secretly hires Emma, and the pleasing, often funny, banter between Emma and Edison begins. A shocking development soon pushes their relationship deeper than either had intended. I Thee Wed is at its best when it focuses on their developing rapport. Author Amanda Quick is very good at creating entertaining dialogue.

I Thee Wed has well-drawn characters, humor, an engaging plot, and a believable love story (though I would have liked for it to have been more passionate), which makes for a pretty good read.

The only thing that took away from my enjoyment was the secret society storyline. It was not developed in a believable way so often took me out of the story. Vanza came across as a childish and simplistic society, when I'm sure Quick intended for it to have more substance behind it. As it was, I couldn't imagine why our hero had ever been a member of it. Furthermore, he certainly didn't act like anyone who had ever been a member of a mystical society-he did not have a spiritual bone in his body or spiritual insight in his mind.

This lack of credibility in the suspense portion did mar my enjoyment. I hope that Quick develops this portion of her stories more fully in the future.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A real page-turner!, February 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: I Thee Wed (Mass Market Paperback)

Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. The conversaton kept you moving through it. The twist in the end was great. The only thing I didn't like was some of it was a bit predictable. Ohterwise a great read.