Customer Reviews

Ransomed Bride (Brides of Montclair, Book 2)

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

 

 

This is my first book by this author as well and I found little fault with the story or the characters. I thought Cameron was adorably cute and Lorabeth was sweet and loyal. True, there wasn't a whole lot of substance but I enjoyed the romance between this couple. It was refreshingly sweet.

Lorabeth fled from an arranged marriage in England, only to arrive at the Virginia home of a grandmother she had never met. She was a total stranger due to the scandalous elopement of her mother some 20 years prior. Hoping to become a member of a "real" family, instead she falls helplessly and hopelessly in love with her first cousin, Cameron Montrose whom she had never known. The entire book revolves primarily around their complicated, clandestine romance which continues even after both of them are betrothed to another person.

If there is one surprise that Peart is able to pull off, it is when Lorabeth's mother is invited to Virginia to attend her wedding to the son of a wealthy family, hence - two famous Virginia families united by a marriage. The results are a nice, surprising twist.

Since this was my first Jane Peart book, I started with a blank slate...and sincerely hope this is not her best work - it contained way too much romance, and way too little history and Christian influence. However, in fairness to Peart, I will definitely try another book or two before forming a lasting opinion.

The romance between Lorabeth and Cameron did develop rather quickly and without a lot of reasoning behind it, but still, I was happy with the story-line and captivated by this young couple. The author did a great job convincing me that these two loved each other. But...it wasn't hard to figure out the ending; what else could it be? There was too much warmth and love in Cameron's family to alter anything there.

Although I enjoyed this read and hearing the story of Lorabeth and Cameron's romance, the two characters didn't seem to have the same sense of depth as the main characters in Valiant Bride. In contrast, the two people seem to lack any self-control even though everyone believed they were cousins. I'm glad everything worked for them out in the end, but I wish the two characters had as much depth as Noramary and Duncan. I would have been able to sympathize with them more.

Different people live different lives and Lorabeth is no exception. She is accepted in the warm-loving home of the Cameron's after leaving England. Lorabeth is sweet while hiding a her secret arrival. While falling for her cousin, her grandmother is match-making with a suitable family. A little bright and cheery.

I am a big fan of Jane Peart, however, this book was not as good as her others. Attractive Lorabeth flees England to escape the clutches of her dominant mother. She believes in true love and is determined to avoid a hideous arranged marriage. She finds solace and comfort in her grandmother's home, however, I felt the romance between Lorabeth and her first cousin Cameron, to be forced and contrived. The romance didn't develop naturally as in most romance novels. However, I did think the author did well in describing the scenery.