A Perfect Bride (Mass Market Paperback)

by Samantha James (Author) "Devon St. James was in a dreadful fix..." (more)
Key Phrases: smile ebbed, tiny shake, gaze roved, Crow's Nest, Thurston Hall, Miss Devon (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"No one can write a book quite like Samantha James."
-- Catherine Anderson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
The incomparable USA Today bestseller Samanth James cordially invites you to Regency England for a Sterling affair ...

Perfectly Marvelous Devon St. James must surely be dreaming! She closes her eyes in London's poorest slum, and awakens wrapped in fine linens ... staring into the eyes of the most gorgeous man she has ever seen! Sebastian Sterling, marquess of Thurston, is clearly shocked to have a girl from the streets in his bed, though the heat of the desire burning in his gaze is unmistakable. But if he believes Devon will easily submit, he is quite mistaken!

What the devil has he done? It's bad enough their family is already mired in scandal, now Sebastian has to deal with the exquisite young beauty in rags he had impetuously carried into his home! Worse still, the lady is driving the serious, responsible marquess to distraction with her fiery spirit and breathtaking sensuality. But perhaps, just perhaps, with some of Sebastian's private schooling, this low-born enchantress can learn refinement and manners -- and be miraculously transformed from merely his passionate obsession into ...

A Perfect Bride

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon; 3rd Revised edition edition (July 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060006617
• ISBN-13: 978-0060006617
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #138,016 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WELCOME BACK Samantha!!!, August 22, 2004

By	Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Positively and Perfectly Charming Romance, September 17, 2004

By	M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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 ---

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to fall in love!, September 20, 2005

By	D. Lane "Book lover" (austin, tx United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.