Customer Reviews

Perfect Bride

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Finally she's back! I have been a long time fan of this very talented author and had to resort to re-reading her older books while she was away from writing. Once I found out she was back I quickly picked up this book and inhaled it in one day!

The characters are wonderful and I can hardly wait for the rest of the books in this series. Our heroine is tough and tender all at the same time. Our hero is just how a hero should be. Dark, handsome, with just a touch of insecurity which makes him real.

Devon St. James lives in a rough part of London but she doesn't let that stop her from being a dreamer and working hard at holding her head high. One night on her way home from her job at the tavern her life changes in a way she never expected. Someone tries to rob her of her mothers necklace, an item that holds great personal meaning. It came from her father that she never knew, and she fights for it. She manages to hang on to it, but is stabbed in the side and is left for dead. Dying in the gutter of St. Giles is not how she imagined her end.

Sebastian Sterling, Marquess of Thurston has had is own battles to fight in his life. He has had to live down the whispers and scandal that his mother brought down on their heads when she ran away with her lover only to die while crossing the channel. He has just announced to society that he is now looking for a bride. This of course has brought out all of the matchmaking mama's out of the woodwork. His needs are simple, she must be refined, of good character, and she must want to have and love her childen. Little does he know that he's about to learn a lot about what he thought he wanted and how you may just find what your looking for in the most unlikely of places. Namely St. Giles on a rain drenched night looking for his brother Justin!

This was a wonderful romance. Each and every character brings something to the story. The storyline although not new (girl from wrong side of the tracks meets a prince...okay lord) is told in such a way that it will stand out in your memory. This was a sweet romance and one that I highly recommend! Thank you Ms. James for finally returning and offering a read that was truly worth waiting for!

Offical reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

Setting - London 1815 --- Devon St. James, lived in St. Giles working in an ale house for meager earnings. She had survived the dangerous streets by playing it smart and taking precautions by disguising herself as a heavily pregnant woman when walking home in the dark. This particular evening she carried not only her desperately needed wages but her most precious possession, her mothers necklace. She was set upon by thugs and fought like a wild cat to get back her necklace by defending herself then being stabbed and left to die in the gutter. When she opened her eyes, it was to see herself being rescued by the biggest, handsomest man she'd ever seen and thought she'd died and gone to heaven.

Sebastian Sterling, Marquess of Thurston had grown up serious, letting duty chart his life. Since the age of 10 he'd assumed the responsibility of taking care of his two younger siblings and did his best to shield them from their father's cold and unrelenting displeasure. That night searching for his younger wild brother Justin, he was directed to a gaming hell in the dangerous part of London known as St. Giles. He was on his way there when he came upon a body lying in the street. Upon closer examination, he found the bundle to be a female, alive but severely wounded and rather than try to find a doctor in the wee hours of the morning, he brought her home to his town house. In the light and removing her filthy clothing, he discovered a young woman who nearly took his breath away. Perhaps it was kismet, or the fates laughing at him that he chanced upon this street urchin, particularly when he had all but announced his intention of finding a `perfect bride'.

This was the first time I've read this author's work and I can tell you that I will be looking forward to researching her back booklists and pre-ordering the proposed sequels to this `Perfect' new trilogy. This was a `perfect' read of an absolutely divine romance filled with wit, charm and beautifully drawn and endearing characters. Several times I found myself chuckling out loud by the lively interplay between the very proper Sebastian and street wise and irascible Devon, as he became entirely captivated by her forthright manner. Bottom Line - You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll sigh over this perfectly wonderful regency era love story! -- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.historicromancewriters.com ---

Delightful! Both characters felt "real" and made me believe they were in love with one another deeply. Both had great senses of humor too, which is always a plus. Samantha James is such a master at weaving a fairy tale and this book is just that. Sebastian and Devon are such dynamic characters in their own right that it's only a matter of time before the sparks fly. If you long to be swept into the lives of two enchanting people, I highly recommend this one. This book had everything you need to create a good romance: a dashing hero, a beautiful heroine, a person who always seems to interfere with the hero and heroine, and, most of all...PASSION! Samantha James has the ability to break down her characters souls and feed their emotional struggles onto the pages. Samantha James has found a perfect match for the dashing Sebastian with feisty Devon. They are well matched in temperament, intelligence and in their loyalty to their families. It was an interesting. There is enough conflict to make the story line interesting and not so much that your left wondering why they ever got together. The reader will feel the despair, the heartbreak, passion and the joy of Sebastian and Devon in this very excellent character driven romance. A Perfect Bride is a very easy reads. I read this book in half a day and enjoyed it to the end. I love this series.

I really don't agree with the reviewer who says she thought Devon's dismissal of his marriage proposal extreme and unlikely. I think it was realistic. Devon didn't trust Sebastian at that point and she had her grandmother to be able to take care of her. Sebastian needed to prove he love her no matter what. Devon felt used by Sebastian. I likes seeing Sebastian romance Devon.

I'm reading this book for the 3rd time and I still love it.

Welcome back Samantha James, after a three-year hiatus, it is a joy to have you writing romance again! This is one author that is on my automatic purchase list, so what about THE PERFECT BRIDE? I liked it! This is light easy reading, this is page turner material, this is "make you feel good" entertainment. And that is the joy of reading -- entertainment.

Devon St. James is a victim of circumstance; Devon St. James lives in a London slum. Sebastian Sterling is a marquess; Sebastian Sterling lives his life above reproach. Devon and Sebastian are destined to share a life together. Ms. James manages to surround her romantic couple employing small doses of humor, light distress, and desire. The author even winds an air of poignancy into the story as Devon emerges from society's sidelines.

Yet, there are problems with the story. A contemporary feeling prevails. Questions surround the lack of a female maid to help with Devon's introductory care. Questions surround the long hours Sebastian donates to Devon's refinement - after all this man is a marquess -- why not hire staff? And finally Harry's corny return. However, look past these MINOR concerns and just imagine the stuff of fairytales. Grade: B+

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

I loved One Moonlite Night which was the first Samantha James book that I had read. The Perfect Bride did not measure up to my expectations. I was a basic rags to riches story. Poor girl is saved by rich man. Rich man is attracted to poor girl. He educates her and they fall into lust/love. He breaks her heart and has to work hard to regain her trust.

I really didn't enjoy this book too much. I was really predictable. It took me a few days to finsih it. I usually read a good story in 1-2 days.

The story wasn't poorly written but it lacked that magic that One Moonlite Night had. The characters were not that compelling and I didn't have that I can't wait to see what happens next feeling.

Sensuality rating 3 out of 5

There was just something about this book that I enjoyed so much. Sebastian & Devon were such a compelling couple. I loved Devon - for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks she was as elegant and lovely as any girl of the ton. Sebastian was so very taken with her - he just could not help but falling in love with her!! Their romance was so believeable! Something else that was very important for me was the fact that Sebastian had already decided that duty and honor be damned he was going to have Devon as his wife!! It was so very important for me a true romantic to not have it just be Devon's high birth but love that motivated Sebastian. This is just a great love story!!

I am not as impressed as some other reviewers. I thought that the entire begining of the novel was a little slow and then there was little time to wrap up so the end was a little rushed and forced. It took me a week to read this book and I usually read them in a day or two. I just kind of had to force myself to continue. There were very few characters involved with the actual novel. More specifucally - I was glad that their relationship took time to develop, but it just seemed like it was stagnent for much of the book. Part of that is because I knew this was a romance novel and we had to get from poverty to educated to wife material, so when it took most of the novel for that first step to occur I had lost interest. It was all just too neat and tidy for me. I understand that this is the first in James' new series that involves this family, but they talked about Sebastian's sister Juliana throughout much of the novel and we barely hear a sentance from her in the book. I get that she was being introducted to us for the future, but I had expected more. I felt like I spent a great portion of the novel waiting for the necklace to mean something and waiting for James to introduce another character of any kind. So when the only person who is a secondary character enters the picture and it was she who reckognized the necklace it was just too much for me.
I am interested to hear Justin's sotry, however. I liked his character.

I've been reading romance novels for years, good and bad. While this is definately NOT the worst, I still couldn't get the characters to pop out of the book. The characters felt hollow and it didn't leave the warm-fuzzy feeling I love as I finish a novel. I've read alot of positive remarks here and I believe that you should give this book a chance. You may have a whole different opinion as I do. And if the author's job was to "touch" people with the storyline, then she definately succeeded. :)

I started this book several months ago, but put it down after the first 50 pages. Recently, I came across it on my TBR shelf and decided to give it another go and boy am I glad I did.

A Perfect Bride has been summarized already so I will add my two pennies instead.

I loved the well-written chemistry and sexual tension. My stomach was in knots through the whole novel. These two people were star-crossed lovers that belonged together. How can they overcome the complications of coming from different stations in society?
My favorite part:
*SPOILER ALERT*
When the hero had to find the heroine a husband, his jealousy and agony over his decision was palpable.

I have read the other two in the trilogy: A Perfect Husband and A Perfect Hero, and this one is by far the best.

This is a review coming from someone who for years didn't like reading all that much so... I didn't. I especially didn't ever indulge in romance books either. However in the past few months, because my job allows me some free time during the day, I have began to read much more and many many have been historical romance books and many more will be because I really enjoy them. I have read almost all of Lisa Kleypas' books and I love her and her books and a few other authors. I had ordered this book, along with "The Perfect Groom", in my bookclub, but, did not read it for several weeks. One day I decided to read it and, like never before, I was totally captivated from the very beginning. I almost couldn't put it down. It grabbed me from the very beginning and I was never ever bored. I couldn't wait to pick it back up again the next day and read it. Devon St. James is just an adorable, strong-willed, wonderful,beautiful and delightful character and her story is one of much suffering but she always rises above it and with so much humor too. I laughed so many times throughout and the humor of situations especially the ones between her and Sebastion Sterling, her rescuer so to speak...and rescue her he did. You will fall in love with him as well. As their friendship/relationship grew I was just enchanted and entertained with every conversation and encounter and as their romance started to surface...you just felt it too. It was a lovely and beautiful and delightful story and out of all the romances I have read thus far this remains my very favorite. I adore and treasure it and I have read a lot of books lately to compare it too and so far there just is no comparison for me. It is still my favorite and I am sure I will eventually read it again. I don't think anyone could be disappointed in this story. I would love to see it go to the big screen but I doubt that will happen and quite possibly noone could do it justice anyway. Brave Ms. James. I loved and adored it!!