McKenna's Bride [Paperback]

Judith French (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1995

Caitlin McKenna defied her family to marry her sweetheart, Shane, on the eve of his departure for America. But years passed, with no word from Shane for Caitlin to join him. Now, after eight years, a letter comes. But the man who greets Caitlin in Missouri is a stranger. And, as Caitlin soon discovers, he is a man with a past that includes a son by another woman. A son Shane expects Caitlin to raise. But Caitlin has a few surprises of her own, as the desire that once bound them ignites anew.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Caitlin McKenna had waited years to hear from her husband. She waited patiently for him to send for her from America. Now, when she comes face to face with a man she can only see as a stranger, her heart pounds with fear and reservations. With her sister's small daughter in tow and countless trunks from her beloved Ireland, she has come to take her rightful place next to Shane McKenna at his Missouri ranch. All of the painful memories of losing her mother and father, seeing her homeland overrun with beggars and thieves -- it is all she can do to keep from pummeling the man who now treats her indifferently and calls her a liar to her face. Living a hard life in Missouri teaches a man to look with caution on nearly every face he meets, and that is the way Shane McKenna confronts his unfortunate bride. He greets his Caity with an adopted half-breed son and a soul full of sorry and guilt. Shane refuses to believe the child Cait brings with her is not her own. He thinks she ignored his letters from years before and used the money he sent for herself and her family. His cold heart will have to do a great deal of melting before he can defeat his demons and accept hers. He will also have to explain why he calls out another woman's name in the night. This historical western would not be complete without its mix of Indian haters, cattle rustlers, and bad blood between neighbors. Judith French's characters are lively and compelling, but the romance between Caitlin and Shane barely simmers for nearly half the book. There is a great deal of hurting done, both physical and emotional, between family members and neighbors. However, the slow start of this story is well made up for in the aggressive attack of the ending chapters. A romance that faces all the challenges of the old west with both barrels loaded! Vibrant characters and an emotional plot make McKenna's Bride a handful! Judith French pushes the edge with her new attack on western romance! McKenna's Bride simmers to a boiling point!Karen Ellington -- Copyright © 1998 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Judith French is an award-winning author, who has written ten or more historical romances for Avon. This is her first book for Ballantine, and I think it's a wonderful debut for us. What I like best about Judith's books is the wealth of emotion in her characters and stories. "McKenna's Bride" is a great example of that because the hero and heroine are married, but have been separated for seven years. Needless to say, they have a lot of issues to work out! It's a favorite premise of mine, and Judith executes it beautifully. And you'll love the secondary characters--especially Rachel Thompson.
Shauna Summers, Senior Editor --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345472748
• ISBN-13: 978-0345472748
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,600,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Good plot - bad writing, March 4, 2006

By 

M.H. (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McKenna's Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought this book based on the 5 star majority this book got in reviews. I tried not to have high hopes having read so many "great!", "awesome!" comments, but frankly, I was HUGELY disappointed.

Don't get me wrong, the plot is excellent. There's plenty of material to create a great book out of this idea. What I absolutely couldn't get over were the shallow, one dimensional portrayal of ALL the characters.

First there's Shane who doesn't believe that his wife Caitlin didn't know about the money he sent her, nor does he believe that the baby she brings with her is indeed her niece rather than her child. Ok, I'll go along with that in the beginning, but the fact that he doesn't believe her after she finally gets around to telling him (the author drags out the time to when Caitlin explains what happened in Ireland, when common sense would say that she should have told him immediately to defend herself. Instead she just takes her husband's sullen looks and meanness. Silly!) is absurd. He has no reason to doubt her, he loved her in Ireland and married her, and obviously a middle person was involved causing the trouble. The fact that he can't figure this out immediatley, either of them, made me question their basic common sense.

Next there is Caitlin who is strong and stubborn. Fine. But she borders on the edge of shrew-like that stopped me from liking her completely. I also couldn't find any strong connection to showing her Irish roots. Yes, she talked about Ireland but she didn't "sound" Irish. Have you ever read Nora Roberts' "Born" trilogy? Now that's Irish... At some point another smaller character referred to Caitlin as "a city girl" and then I was really confused. When would country person ever refer to a person with an Irish accent as "a city girl"?

Here's my last complaint: Is it just me or is there anyone else out there who gets annoyed when authors throw in cutsie children characters to try to add another dimention to the story? The baby niece is just about as annoying as you could possibly get, particularly when you add the fake baby-talk. How about this: '"Ba-ad moo cow" She said. "Chasey my duck." ' or "I wove her". It get's old, real fast.

Over all, by the fourth chapter I had to force my self to continue on, telling myself that it would get better. It just had to... . By the eighth chapter it didn't get better and I decided not to further waste my time with it.

I can't recommend that you not read it, particularly when there are other rave reviews here. But I would say think twice before you look for it. Unless you get it for free, save your money for something else. I wish I would have.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing woman!, April 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: McKenna's Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

Caitlin defied her family to marry Shane McKenna. He left for America to begin a home and was to send for Caitlin. Shane was not heard from for eight years. Caitlin finally received the letter to join him in America. There was nothing left for her in Ireland so she went, taking with her Derry, her sister's child.

The man who meets Caitlin in Missouri is nothing like the Shane she had married. He has a son from another woman, a feud with his neighbors, and accuses Caitlin of abandoning him! To top it off, Shane believes Caitlin has had lovers and that Derry is really her daughter.

Trust does not come easy, but both were willing to try to make the marriage work. But that is hard to do while someone is trying to kill Shane.

***Caitlin had more fight in her than I thought possible. I admired her all through the book. Great book with adventure between the pages.***

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, July 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: McKenna's Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

Ms. French uses words like an artist uses a brush and paints. She creates intricate plots and complex characters, setting them all among the beautiful Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake. She's an extremely tallented writer! You won't be disappointed.