The Maiden Bride [Mass Market Paperback]

Rexanne Becnel (Author)

Book Description

Series: Maiden Bride | Publication Date: September 15, 1996

Born in shame...

All her life the ravishing Linnea de Valcourt has been reviled as the "cursed" daughter of Maindenstone Castle.

Redeemed by deceit...

Now, to save her beloved twin sister from a terrible fate, she will sacrifice herself by impersonating her as the bride of conqueror Axton de la Manse. Yet how is it that she feels such fiery passion when she lies with this grim despoiler of her home?

A hostage to love...

Revenge for years of exile has driven the magnificent Axton to possess his archenemy's daughter-little knowing that, as he imprisons her in his arms and drowns in her stormy sea-green eyes, he is throwing away the key to his soul. But Linnea's family, gathering forces to reclaim Maidenstone, will soon reveal their trickery. How can she hide from him the truth about his imposter's bride?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Inspired by an intriguing bit of historical trivia, Becnel (Heart of the Storm) spins an absorbing, sexually charged tale of revenge and redemption in 12th-century England. Linnea de Valcourt is the youngest of identical twins, a status that nearly condemns her to death in infancy because of the belief that the second of a pair of twins is cursed. Reviled by all, she is befriended only by her "good" twin, Beatrix. When the family's castle falls to conqueror Axton de la Manse, he seeks to secure his claim by marrying the de Valcourts' eldest daughter: Beatrix. To prove her worth to her family, Linnea takes her sister's place, giving her scheming grandmother time to find a more acceptable suitor to claim both Beatrix and the castle. The tension between husband and surrogate wife is unrelenting as they torment and gradually come to love each other, with the heroine's deception powering an exciting climax.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Rexanne Becnel combines heartfelt emotions with a romance that touches readers with the magic and joy of falling in love." --Romantic Times

"A master medieval writer. Ms. Becnel writes emotional stories with a deft hand." --The Time Machine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 326 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (September 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312959788
• ISBN-13: 978-0312959784
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth picking up!, January 12, 1999

By 

Sarah Pearson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Maiden Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first book I've read by Ms. Becnel, and it certainly won't be the last! When Linnea, the second born of twin girls and supposedly cursed, finds out her sweet twin sister is to marry the man who takes over their castle, she makes a desperate switch and becomes the wife to the man who vowed revenge on their family. Because she is not Beatrix, the marriage is a farce and her family hopes to shame him. Although she sets out to hate him, her body betrays her and, finally, her heart. But when the truth of the deception is revealed, will she be able to hold up under her love's condemnation? Definitely a good romp, and a wonderful story. I'd recommend it to anyone who like medieval romance and strong heroines.

Sarah Pearson

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are we all reading the same book?, December 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Maiden Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading this book, I re-read all these low-rated reviews and I wonder...what book where these people reading? This is a good, page-turner. You will hate putting it down and love picking it up again. It's a romance novel! I almost didn't read this because of the comments. There is no rape in the book, the hero is heroic and the mean actions of some of the characters are not overwhelming. One of them is hateful, the others are just misguided due to ignorance. It's a good lesson from the "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger" school of character development. It's a good read, it's fun, it has a lot of good sex and it's not too long. What else do you want?

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE AT FIRST READ!!!, October 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Maiden Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved this book! Becnel wrote a fabulous story with great characters. You're won over by both Linnea and Axton. As a college student, I look for ways to escape stress and this certainly achieved that goal!!! I found myself wanting to be Linnea and to be wanted by Axton! One of the best romance novels EVER!