Customer Reviews

The Sherbrooke Bride (Bride Series, Book 1)

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As of today, THE SHERBROOKE BRIDE, is my favorite novel by Catherine Coulter. Honestly, after I read MAD JACK, I was thinking about giving up on her books. But I remembered that I enjoyed reading THE HELLION, as well recalled that THE SHERBROOKE BRIDE is the first book in the Bride trilogy, and decided to give it a try. And you know what? I enjoyed it tremendously!

Douglas Sherbrooke, Earl of Northcliffe is twenty-eight and believes it has come time for him to marry. He remembers the VERY beautiful Melissande Chambers, and believes her to be the perfect wife. However, when Douglas goes off to France and sends his cousin, Tony to marry him to Melissande by proxy, everything goes wrong from that point on. Tony decides to marry Melissande himself, and marry Douglas to Melissande's younger sister, Alexandra Chambers. Alexandra has loved Douglas for three years, since she was fifteen. When Douglas returns home to his estate, excited and hoping to see Melissande waiting for him in his bedchamber, he comes across Alexandra who is total stranger to him. He soon finds out the truth from Tony, and begins treating Alex horribly. Near the beginning of the story, Alexandra puts up with Douglas' mean insults, hoping in her heart that Douglas will come to accept her. But gearing near the middle of the story, she loses hope and tries (many times, for your information) to return home, but Douglas always manages to stop her. ;) Awwwwwww. Soon the plot thickens, when Douglas' enemies from France come to England to harass him. However that is not the main plot of the story, you only get a glimpse of that near the beginning and the end of the story. The focus of the novel is, 'How does Douglas eventually fall in love with his wife?' That is the mystery, and the only way to find out is: Read the book. =)

I loved this story because of the plot, the dialogue and the characters. Alexandra is very sweet, and I was kind of disappointed in Douglas at first, because he treated her so unkindly and kept comparing her to her TOO beautiful sister. But in the end, Douglas definitely makes up for his mistakes....

I tried reading a Catherine Coulter book a few years ago and didn't like her style or her characters. Then I read all these 5 star reviews about this book, Sherbrooke Bride, and thought I'd give her a second chance. Well- I'm really sorry I wasted my time. Her characters are hurtful and indescribably mean. The things Douglas says to Alex early in the book are unforgivable. But of course, she not only forgives him, she LOOOVES him. Alex is sweet, bouncy, hopeful and smiling. Douglas beats every bit of that joyful personality out of her. WITH WORDS of course, not physical beating. But still. That's a real form of abuse. And the consummation of their marriage? Disgusting. Rough, hurtful, full of tears - and when he had a chance to at least apologize - he walks away. Leaves the room. The other reviewers talk about the humour of the book. You want humour? Read Jennifer Crusie and Jacquie D'Alessandro. You want heartfelt emotion and tears? Read Mary Jo Putney and Penelope Williamson. You want steamy romance? Try Nicole Jordan and Jasmine Cresswell. Try anything but this.

I bought this book because of its rating at Amazon.com which is always reliable, unfortunately not with this one. I was actually attracted to the story line but after finishing the book, I just didn't have a good night sleep as I always do after reading romance. My disappointment could be listed as follows:

1) I hate sex scenes in this book very much. They just have no feelings at all, the way the hero makes love to the heroine. It is pure lust and it just can't convince me how the heroine is being attached to the hero's intimate [chest] most adorable and the author keeps repeating this times and times again and that really [upset me]. I also just couldn't find any reason why the hero finally falls for the heroine at the end, except for her breasts. Its lack of sensuality made me skip lots of sex scenes in this book. (it's probably because I read this book after finishing Stephanie Laurens' `Devil's Bride` and `A Secret Love`, which contain very sensual, intimate and beautiful love scenes).

2) I was actually enjoyed the first half of the book when the heroine tries very hard to make her point and make a stand with the hero. It really shows a great leap of development on the heroine's character, given the fact that she was so terribly soft and would give up everything (including her self-esteem) to please the hero at the start. We did actually see her development in that respect when she makes her way out of the hero's life (although unsuccessfully). HOWEVER, the latter half of the book is quite boring. It just couldn't get my attention anymore when the main point is all about the hero's insistence that what's happening between them is pure lust and not love.

3) Unlike other authors, Stephanie Laurens or Johanna Lindsey, for example, C.Coulter doesn't put so much effort in explaining the hero and heroine's inner feelings. What they think, what they hide, what they truly feel, what they wonder (about themselves and about the other) are not thoroughly presented in the book. That's why I think this book lacks all the important feelings because what you get is only from what they explicitly act. It's not quite charming to present the characters in such a monotonous way. In other romance books, in several occasions, we find that the hero and heroine do not act according to what they think but that gives us a lot of flavors because we know from their thinkings that there are some complexes and misunderstandings happening inside them. We get to know the characters along with their getting to know each other. I don't get such light in the Sherbrooke Bride. And I ended up with frustration because I don't think I understand the characters any better after finishing the book.

4) It's quite strange that at the end, I think the most sensible character is Tony. I understand why he does what he does, the way he treats his wife and the way he deals with everyone. I just wonder why the author couldn't do the same with the main characters.

My final word, I think the book is readable but it's not worth a buying because I don't think you would want to re-read it again within this cooming few years, after the first time reading. It would be much wiser to just borrow it from a library.

I'll say it loudly and proudly, I like this series. But I'll tell you what I don't like...

I don't like reviewers who give poor ratings to ALL the books in the series. For those who do, I ask this question: if you didn't like the first book, or the second, or the third, etc., etc., why do you keep reading the series? And for those that say "I'm gonna finish this book because I paid for it", well that I understand, because I've been in that boat myself. But you know what I didn't do? I didn't keep buying the books and complaining how much I didn't like them! I said, "Well, that sucked.", donated the book to the library, and moved on.
Also, although I understand a reviewer's right to voice their opinion (aren't I doing it myself?), let's not take potshots at the author. You don't like the book? Fine, give it a poor review and move on. But, while your undercutting Ms. Coulter (and I know not everyone is) consider this. Quite a few reviewers mentioned liking her FBI series. And Lyon's Gate includes characters from another series. Plus the Sherbrooke's, that's at least three series she's managed. She must be doing something right to have that sort of output.

Now, if you don't agree with me, fine, that's your choice, and I respect that. If I've violated some sort of Amazon rule with this review, or if you know of a better place for it, let me know. But please, let's do it like mature, resonable people. After all, we're all biblophiles here. And I hope we're all working together to put out smart, informed reviews to help the public, and each other, find the best books, and other products out there.

Thank you.

I read the "Sherbrooke Bride" and I'm looking forward to read more books from Catherine Coulter. I agree with a reviewer that wrote that this isn't earth-shattering literature, but it's a trully enjoyable read, fast-pacing, funny and with witty dialogues. Of course Douglas may sound as a beast at the beginning, but he's so outrageous that the whole affair seems hilarious. It is a fun read after all and not Dickens.
Alexandra is a great heroine, loving him since a child and willing to forgive his mistreating her since she realizes that he feels trapped in their marriage. I like it when one of the heroes can see thgrough the other's point of view and not stick to their own beliefs and sentiments.
The book is a most enjoyable read, one you never want to end and one I'm certainly going to read again!!! If you are not looking for serious historical romance try it. Else check mrs McNaught books.

This was by far the best Catherine Coulter book I have read to date. Thankfully, there were no rape sequences which I had begun to think was a Coulter staple. Alexandra was a delight to read. She deserved the title of heroine for simply dealing with all the idiots in her life, her husband included at first in my opinion. She was strong without coming across as a pain. She was funny, intelligent, and courageous.

What annoyed me throughout the book though was the incredible superficiality of so many of the characters. If one more person gushed over Melissande I was going to vomit. There is no human alive who could possibly be so attractive and shallow at the same time. I'm glad Tony brought her around but people's reaction to her irritated me, mostly Douglas'. And I hated how disparaging everyone was to Alex and some of the comments made to her - especially by Douglas - were horrid. They made her sound like a dishrag which she did not appear to be.

All in all, a pretty decent read. Even though I think Alex should have made Douglas suffer a little for his earlier treatment of her.

Coulter's best as well as the best of the Brides series, in my opinion.

Not exactly earth-shattering literature, but for what it's worth, "The Sherbrooke Bride" was surprisingly entertaining, and had a lot more depth than the badly-conceived "Hellion Bride" (If marital rape makes you swoon, then I highly suggest getting some therapy) and the rather annoying "Mad Jack." The plot *does* have an air of contrivance, but hey, it's a romance novel; who really reads them for the originality of the plot? Douglas as a hero is, well, more three-dimensional than most, and he meshes quite well with Alexandra, who as a heroine is fun and touching at the same time. At times sexy, funny, and (natch) romantic, their relationship was interesting enough that I read the book in one sitting. Oh, and did I mention that the sex is hot? Number one clue that you're reading a Coulter romance... ;-)

This was one of the first romance novels I ever read, was the first Catherine Coulter I read, and I still consider it her BEST!!! This is an EXCELLENT book!! I just had to add my recommendation to anyone wanting a fun read that had me, at times, laughing out loud. (By the way, it is the only one I liked of the bride series; I despise the marital rape in Hellion Bride, and Sinjin was disappointingly weak in Heiress Bride.)

Normally I love Catherine Coulter's stories, but this one infuriated me which surprised me. Douglas, The Earl of Northcliffe is the prototype crude, rude, arrogant, tyrannical, rutting bore who projects his own vile temperament onto his new wife Alexandra, in unceasing torrents of verbal abuse. He doesn't want her because he contracted to marry Melissande, who is sister to Alexandra. The story conflict revolves around the situation where the Earl cannot be in two places at once. He had been called upon to rescue a damsel in distress for a Frenchman named Caudoudel, at the same time as his wedding to Melissande, so he sends his cousin Tony as his proxy. Tony and Melissande fall in love at first sight, so Tony marries both sisters. He selects Alexandra for Douglas, and Melissande for himself.

Later, when faced with this deception and sabotage, the Earl goes around the bend and starts to rant and rave at Alexandra whom he targets as his scapegoat, and there is no cessation from his intransigent ire. I found my stomach clenching repeatedly while reading this book because the level of debasing vitriole was so immense.

Douglas' poor bride Alexandra is so superior to him yet she is reduced to a miserable, bloodless wife by his unremitting diatribes of utter rejection of her. Apart from the sexual part of their married life. In that area he is described as a dark haired man covered with black coarse thick hair all over his body who acts like a mindless rutting beast as he rapes Alexandra daily. There is no love in his repellant sexual congress, merely his interpretation of "lust".

Instead of whipping his cousin Tony, who deserves the pounding for his deception and sabotage, we see the good ole boy network is in full operation. It is heartbreaking. Yet, Alexandra thinks that she loves him regardless.

I have to say that the book is very well written despite the subject matter of an emotionally abusive husband.

Douglas Sherbrooke, Earl of Northcliffe, must marry and provide the prerequisite heir. His choice is Melissande, daughter of the Duke of Beresford. One look at the beautiful but shallow girl turns grown men into quivering fools. The responsible Alexandra Chambers, Melissande's sister, has loved Douglas since she was fifteen. When Douglas sends his best friend to marry him to Melissande by proxy, he ends up wedded to the wrong sister. Now the always-in-control Douglas must deal with a wife he didn't want, and the Virgin Bride ghost which makes regular appearances in the countess' bedchamber.

This was my first read by Catherine Coulter and it certainly won't be my last. This is also the first installment in the Bride Trilogy which I plan to finish. My favorite type of story is a romance with a good dose of humor. A little intrigue added in doesn't hurt either. While this story has all three of those elements, the intrigue portion was my least favorite here. The rescue of the french woman at the beginning, and especially the kidnapping with subsequent rescue toward the end, seemed rather hokey. Plus, it only served to distract from the main focus of this story which was the relationship betwen Douglas and Alexandra, thrown in with all the wonderful supporting characters. The events and humor that take place while these normally level-headed people learn to deal with each other is priceless!

To sum it all up- I deducted one star for the silly intrigue subplot which would've been better left out. But even at four stars, I still very much recommend this book for it's other great qualities.