Customer Reviews

The Runaway McBride (Berkley Sensation)

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

 

 

On her deathbed, James Burnett's clairvoyant Scottish grandmother foretells that his bride is in mortal danger. James must save her or she will die. The problem is, James is a widower living in London and does not have a bride. Soon, though, he begins to have nightmares about Faith McBride, his first love to whom he was once engaged, but who abandoned him before their wedding. James has not seen her in the eight years since and has no desire to see her now. But when he dreams that Faith is being stalked by a murderer - a dream that is all too real - he is compelled to find her and protect her. Faith remembers their break-up completely differently, namely, that James left her for another woman and broke her heart. Now she wants nothing to do with him, or so she keeps telling herself. Then she is attacked by unknown assailants, and James comes to her rescue. It seems their love may yet get a second chance...if only James can keep his `bride' alive.

By and large this is a worthy read: the writing is good, the cast likeable, and the story draws one in. I especially like the way everyone assumes Faith and James are engaged (when they are not), and how tellingly feeble are the couple's denials. And the who-done-it is exciting and keeps one guessing till the end. But the couple's relationship, which has so much potential, falls short. For instance, Faith and James learn that they can communicate telepathically with one another, yet oddly give it little importance. One would think they'd be thrilled with such a gift and try to perfect it - particularly when Faith's life is in danger - but instead they muddle along and hope for the best until it is almost too late. The love scenes are fine but, when the couple becomes intimate, their reaction to it is unbelievably - and disappointingly - casual and uncommunicative. A certain lack of communication is expected in order to prolong the sexual tension, but this seems overdone. It somewhat weakens the romance, although of course true love prevails.

I like this author and have read many of her books. This is the first in a new series involving James' family, all of whom appear in this story and are very appealing. On the whole, it's a good start. 3 ½ - 4 stars

On her deathbed, James Burnett's grandmother passed on her powers to one, or all, of her three grandsons. James is doubtful that his grandmother actually had any powers, until he begins to have some frightening dreams, and then some waking hallucinations. He soon realizes that he's inherited a gift he never wanted.

Faith McBride begins to haunt his dreams, both waking and sleeping, and soon James realizes that he must find Faith, or risk her death. None too happy to have to renew his aquaintance with a woman who dumped him, James does his duty and finds Faith anyway.

Faith is not thrilled to see James when he finally manages to find her, quickly escaping as soon as she is able, unwilling to dredge up old feelings of when her beloved had married another. James pursues her relentlessly, and it is only when she realizes that she is in real danger that she accepts his help.

THE RUNAWAY MCBRIDE is at times a bit tepid, with the characters having a hard time making up their minds, and the plot seeming to go off kilter a few times, but otherwise the book is a good read. Even though it wasn't quite the page turner that I had hoped for when I sat down to read it, THE RUNAWAY MCBRIDE does have a delightful historical flavor, populated with believable characters.

The story had so many holes - she thinks he deserted her, he thinks she deserted him, and they never thought to discuss when they meet again after all these years to clear each other??? So many times he alludes to her "running away" (hence the title) and she alludes to his leaving her and never writing, etc etc, yet they never pick up on this and defend themselves. Even when his brother calls her the runaway bride, she never asks why they call her that, if she did not run off at the alter like he said. I Left the story in the middle, it was just too unbelievable and I could not get into it. Did not like it at all.

In 1885 on her deathbed, his grandmother Lady Valeria pleads with James Burnett to find his ex fiancée Faith McBride to protect her as her life is in danger. He would do anything for his grandma the witch but not that; still he swears he will keep his former fiancée safe even as he wonders who will keep him safe from her. He also knows his grandma's last act of life is passing on her clairvoyance skills to him; either that or he is hallucinating.

Faith believes her beloved James dumped her to marry someone else. When she sees him, she knows she still loves him even if he is somewhat cold towards her. He offers to help her learn how her mother died. As they follow the clues their love remains strong but their trust remains at zero; love is not enough until she realizes James risks his life for his Faith.

This superb late Victorian romance is enhanced by a touch of the paranormal and by the whodunit amateur sleuth investigation. The story line is fast-paced, filled with humor and action, but it is the second chance at love between the wonderful lead pair who makes this a fine historical.

Harriet Klausner

It seems that lately my romance novel reading has resulted in hits and misses, with I fear, the misses outweighing the hits. The Runaway McBride was, happily, a hit for me. The leads, Faith McBride and her long ago love James Burnett were extremely likable. I liked the set up where the old Scots grandmother tried to talk some sense into her too English grandsons. I admit that I really like the loved and believed jilted storylines and this was a goodie. Elizabeth Thornton is a very smooth writer and she creates very interesting characters and situations. Faith's revelations about her mother were extremely heartwrenching. I saw several worthy candidates for future hero status. I hope Thornton's health permits her to continue writing and turning out these riveting novels.

Lady Valeria McEcheran is dying. The Scottish townsfolk think her a witch. Her three grandsons don't know what to make of her...talented but delusional storyteller or really one of the last of a long line of powerful seers? Before she passes, she has a message for each of her grandsons. James Burnett, the story's widowed hero, is told his future bride is in danger and he must find her before she dies.

Jump forward three months. James has inherited his grandmother's second sight, a particularly trying gift, but something he has so far ignored. After he catches a glimpse of his grandmother's disapproving face in the mirrored ceiling tiles while trying to have sex with a high-end prostitute, James gives up both whiskey and women. Setting his sights on finding the woman he's dreaming about - Faith McBride, his former fiancée-James uses his considerable railroad baron money to track her down.

The task isn't a difficult one. Not one of the privileged class, Faith McBride, doesn't have a lot of options available to her. Currently, she's a teacher at girls' school, teaching foreign history. When she stumbles upon a photo of a woman who looks like an older version of herself in her father's belongings, she begins to question everything her father told her about her mother and her genealogical background. Unfortunately, her snooping is going to lead her into the danger James has foreseen.

I'm not a diehard historical reader so I cannot tell you if Ms. Thornton's writing is historically accurate nor am I one of those readers who is jarred out of the story by a historical inaccuracy, unless it's a glaring one. What I can tell you is that the plot unspools at a leisurely pace, gently tugging the reader along like a leaf drifting downstream. It isn't one of those books I'd re-read or return to again and again, but nor is it something I wouldn't recommend. (And I am looking forward to reading about the second grandson, Alec, in his own book.) I am disappointed none of the Scottish gentlemen make an appearance in a kilt. What is a Scottish romance without a kilt-clad hero? (Though I could have lived without the Scottish burr making an appearance in the first chapter).

Kidding aside, one plot detail that did really bother me was how such a simple thing as a lack of communication estranged Faith and James in the first place. Engaged after three months of courting, the pair were separated when James has to return to Scotland to take care of some business problems. Faith gets word that James is engaged to his childhood sweetheart; she travels to Scotland to verify this and instead of meeting James, runs into the presumed fiancée. Faith actually believes the woman's lies and flees. James, who has a considerable amount of wealth, never pursues her. He just assumes that she ran off with another man. Whoa. One would think a little investigating would have been done, if Faith was really his one true love, the light of his life, yadda, yadda. But nope. James marries his conniving lady who dies shortly thereafter. And Faith, who never ran off with another man in the first place, becomes a teacher.

The mystery surrounding Faith's family did intrigue me. Everyone is a suspect. There's a nice handful of murders, villains disguised as cops, an eccentric group of people obsessed with Egyptian history, and a cast of mostly well-drawn and interesting secondary characters. Like chicken noodle soup on a bleak day, The Runaway McBride is a gentle, comfort read. No explicit sex, no horribly graphic murder details, an intelligent heroine, an alpha hero, and a detailed villain (though the amount of effort the villain invests doesn't seem quite on par with the actual secret, but to each his own). It's a novel I'd feel comfortable sharing with my grandmother, a co-worker, or a casual acquaintance.

Chris
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

James Burnett was given the gift to seeing the future on his grandmother's death bed. He was now has a mission to find Faith McBride who he once loved and save her from a killer. Faith and James were once in love but as the story moves along the reader find out why they broke-up and who is after Faith. I really enjoy this book - great characters and amazing mystery. Looking forward to her next book The Scot and I due out June 2009.

I have been an avid fan of Ms. Thornton. This was not up to her standards. With the proliferation of paranormal romances out there, perhaps her agent thought that she should join the crowd. The heroine is one of the dumbest I have ever read about. James is a non-hero. One thing I did love was the cover. Miss all those beautiful covers with stepbacks.