Customer Reviews

The Least Likely Bride

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

In 1648, negotiations between King Charles and Parliament seem to be going nowhere when the monarch fled to the Isle of Wight. The leading Parliamentarians are forced to follow and set up households on the isle. Among them is Lord Granville who relocated his family from Yorkshire to Wight to continue bargaining with the King.

His bookworm and scholarly daughter Olivia Granville slips while reading and walking near the edge of a cliff. She suddenly steps into nothingness. When she awakens Olivia is onboard a pirate's ship Wind Dancer. The captain Anthony is actually a royal supporter. As Olivia and Anthony begin to fall in love, his loyalty is tested by his need for her, especially since her father leads the opposition.

THE LEAST LIKELY BRIDE, The third tale in Jane Feather's "Bride" trilogy (see THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE and THE HOSTAGE BRIDE) is a wonderful conclusion to a warm series. The story line is filled with action as "noble," Drake-like pirates and "odious" land-based wreckers cause havoc on the nearby seas. However, as with the first two novels, the intriguing lead characters drive the strong story line even with the King and Parliament serving as a fabulous and authentic backdrop. Ms. Feather's seventeenth century historical romance is another winner that will send the audience seeking the first two books.

Harriet Klausner

I have read each of these books and was REALLY looking forward to this one based on what I read in The Accidental Bride. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to the releases.

While I liked the story between the hero and the heroine, I often found Olivia acting completely out of what has been her established character. I won't spoil the book by giving it away-but she goes WAAAYY far afield. Anthony was a totally wonderful hero, with dashing good looks and a pirate's sense of danger. But more often than not a felt I was reading a Regency novel that had simply been picked up and moved back a couple of centuries. Nothing about the still somewhat elaborate clothing of the Reformation era, or the highly Puritan overtones of the time. No Great Halls or large fireplaces; but a lot of "Exactly so"'s.

Personally, I like my Romance novels to end with a Happily Ever After scenario. This one definitely doesn't. Not even shakily so. And since as I mentioned above, it is the last book of the trilogy-the story is fini.

I'm sure it will be well read as the other two books were enjoyable and people will want to know how it ends. But be prepared for it not to end pleasantly.

I had such high hopes for Olivia! I read all three books in a span of about two weeks (this one being the last).

Olivia's character had such great possibility! Too bad it was wasted on quick fixes in the name of "enthrallment" (Olivia's excuse for all of her actions in this book). After swearing off men, Olivia's circumstances wind her up in the care of a pirate, Anthony. There is the immediate connection that generally takes place with all romance stories, but this one doesn't quite work for me.

Anthony, because of some psychic ability that they don't elaborate on or use to its fullest potential to develop the story, realizes (while Olivia is unconscious) that he is meant for this woman. No development of love or attraction, just that he "knows" she is the one. I guess I could live with that if that was the only problem with this book.

Olivia on the other hand, without this knowledge, gives up her entire way of life for a moment of satisfaction in the name of "enthrallment." For example, after only knowing Anthony for about 20 minutes, she decides she is also a pirate, jumps on board a ship he is robbing and helps him steal. Then she becomes obsessed with the guy, without any real reason. She lies to her family, betrays her father (Cato from the previous story) and abandons any dignity she might still have.

I was really disappointed in Olivia. The way she treated her father and abused his trust is sad. She never once gave information to her father about Anthony, but every chance she got she betrayed her father and his plans to Anthony. A father who believed he was speaking his opinion and thoughts to a daughter he could trust. She basically became a spy in her own household. Something the book never actually addresses.

The sad thing is, when she finally confronts her father on this, he is the one who has to give in. She accepts no responsibility for her betrayal, because she is "in love." And Cato just accepts this a little too easily for me. Especially since he was in the right and she in the wrong.

Jane Feather does an excellent job with writing descriptions and placing you in the time period. I just wish she gave more thought to developing her characters and their motivations.

After reading the first two books in this series (the hostage bride and the accidental bride) I could not wait to get my hands on this book. Though the story captivated me I was disappointed with the ending of this book. The hero and heroine referred several times to living a dream I felt their relationship had no real basis and no commitment!(more a nightmare than a dream) They refuse to get married and they make their living by stealing from others (piracy). The heroine breaks her fathers heart by running off at the end - I was truly disappointed when I closed this book, definetely not a keeper!

Lady Olivia Granville, a most avid scholar, is reading while walking along the cliff's edge, when her footing gives way and she falls down the side. She's rescued by Anthony, a handsome Royalist pirate, whose political agenda is in direct conflict with that of her noble father. She wakes on his pirate ship, The Wind Dancer, where Anthony has used his knowledge of healing to care for her wounds. As a child, Olivia and her two closest friends made a pact never to marry. Anthony and Olivia's relationship quickly turns intimate, but she still has no desire to marry, and Anthony doesn't live within the law. So how will these two ever get together?

The answer to that question is surprising, and one of the reasons I was less than thrilled with this book. The ending was not typical of a romance novel, and while original, it lacked the, "they're so much in love, and will live happily ever after feel" I like to end up with when I finish a book. This novel also seemed to be more about sex than romance and love. In the beginning of the story, she regained consciousness and realized she was naked in his bed, and he had no problem convincing her to have casual sex with him?! With a man she didn't even know? The writing is good, but I have definite issues with the content of the story. The author does incorporate some heavier issues with Olivia's suppressed memories of child sexual abuse. But I think that only added to the dysfunctional feel of their casual sex relationship, which was supposed to pass for love. And then of course, the dysfunction continues with the ending.

This is apparently the third book in a trilogy, but this was the first novel for me to read by this author. And since this, I haven't read anything else by her, for fear this book is typical of her work. I wouldn't recommend reading this, but if you're a Feather fan, you may feel differently.

This is a tale of revenge and retribution set against the backdrop of Charles the Stuart's imprisonment by Parliament in the year 1648. Anthony Caxton has no loyalty to king or country but because of his debt to his surrogate mother, he has become the only man with the means to spring King Charles from his enforced exile on the Isle of Wight. Anthony, artist, physician and pirate-extraordinaire, has become somewhat of a folk hero to the islanders, hiring most of their young sons as sailors.

Olivia Granville is only living on the island since her father's appointment as Parliament's watchdog. Olivia is a noted scholar and spends her time reading Greek philosophy and playing chess - not a very adventurous existence. With her nose literally in a book, she stumbles off a cliff and into the waiting arms of one of Anthony's men. She suffers a concussion and wakes up 3 days later in Anthony's cabin, naked. Once she has regained consciousness, Anthony allows her to participate in a pirate operation, treats her to a moonlit dinner on the deck of his ship and gives her one night of passion - this is heady stuff for an avowed bookworm! Unlike some other reviewers, I felt the author accurately captured this magical connection that Anthony and Olivia had from the moment of their first meeting.

Olivia was willing to throw caution to the wind and embark on an adventure knowing that once over, the memories would have to sustain her for the rest of her lonely life. She saw Anthony's goodness and the loyalty he engendered in his crew. He tenderly championed her cause against the ghost from her past, all the while making her feel cherished and loved.

I was little disappointed in the epilogue. I would like to think that Anthony would marry Olivia if children came, considering the circumstances of his own birth. It really isn't necessary to read the two earlier books in this trilogy. The author gives us enough background so that you can catch up.

I was pretty excited when I began the book. It started well. A handsome, intellectual hero and a smart, cloistered heroine whose personalties complement each other perfectly. Ms. Feather even adds some unusual elements that are not often discussed in historical romance books (for example, the heroine has been pyschologically scarred by childhood sexual molestation by a stepbrother). As the story progressed, however the book seemed to fall apart. The historical events taking place in the story are not that well-explained. Neither are the principle characters moral causes well-explained. The passion between the characters seems to fade instead of growing stronger. The ending was a let-down and didn't really seem to resolve much of anything. If you are looking for spell-binding, enthralling historical romantic fiction, look elsewhere.

A side-note that doesn't really affect the story. The cover of the paperback edition of this book depicts a woman in Victorian-era clothing. a mid-calf dress with lace overlay and ankle boots. The story is set in the mid-17th century. Even the upswept hairstyle is Victorian. One wonders if the artist had any clue about the book's setting and why the editor did not catch such a gross mistake.

I have been a huge fan of Jane Feather ever since I first picked up "Vice". After reading that book, I grabbed up all of her other "V" books and anything else with her name on it. I read the first two books in the trilogy and could not wait until "Least Likely" was published. First imagine my surprise when it was released in hardback (a first for Feather) and then imagine my disappointment in the story itself. I had more sympathy for Olivia in the first two novels than I did in this one. The ending left much to be desired and the book on the whole does not live up Feather's previous work. I guess I had a different idea as to how Olivia's story would unfold as opposed to Feather. For a person who is unfamiliar with Feather's work, then this book would probably appeal to them; but as a fan of hers for over 5 years, I've read better novels of hers.

Jane Feather has provided fans of the historical romance genre with an unconventional yet exciting new saga. Take a ship full of exciting, "honorable" pirates, add one dashing captain and of course, a very lovely maiden and what do you find? A very unexpected ending!

For the historical romance connoisseur looking for "something different," this is it.

The reviews of this book almost scared me off, but I'm glad I read it. I really liked the ending...I don't think it's nearly as "unhappily ever after" as other people have hinted. Not every romance novel needs to be a cookie-cutter copy. I enjoyed the relationship between Olivia and Anthony, although given Olivia's character from the first 2 books, I think the relationship moved too fast way too early in the book. And as serious as Olivia has always been, she gets to have the most fun! Also, I agree that Feather seems to have left it open for a posslble continuation. (A small hint to those who wonder what the controversial ending is: if you've read Feather's "Violet," you've seen something like Olivia and Anthony before.)