The Bride by Julie Garwood

This was the very first romance I read. I remember being out at my grandparents during the summer with my sister and being very bored. So she gave this to me to read, because our mom had given it to her to read. Just so you know, even though this is an old book, I feel I should say that this has spoilers in this review.

So the book opens with Alec and his band of mighty warriors coming to Baron Jamison’s keep to claim a daughter as his wife. The Scottish king wants alliances with England, and the Kincaid Clan must do their duty. The Baron trots out his daughters for Alec to see, but he’s seen Jamie first. The Baron had wanted to hide Jamie since she’s wanting to please him and runs the house and manor for him. He doesn’t want his free labor to go away, but Alec is persuasive and sooo Alpha about getting what he wants. One of Alec’s warrior buddies gets to choose a bride as well, and marries one of Jamie’s sisters.

Jamie is, of course, not happy and decides to do what she can to rebel. She wears black to her wedding. She is all defiance and feistiness especially when the Scots make fun of her for having a man’s name. Which makes Alec amused that his wife is a strong woman and not afraid to defy him. But he still wants to make sure she knows her place and won’t defy him in front of his men. They trek off on the long trip back to Scotland, where Alec tricks Jamie into doing her wifely duty.

As a young middle schooler reading a romance for the first time, I’ve gotta say I remember the sex scene freaking me out a little. Why would she do that. . .why would he. . .OH MY GOD! followed by a little talk with my mother. It was a little embarrassing, but I got through it ok.

Back to the story. So Alec says he won’t touch Jamie until she wears his plaid, and he tricks her into doing it. Several times. By the time they get to Alec’s Highland keep, they’re both addicted to the sex and Jamie has decided to make the best of her situation and make herself invaluable to Alec and wants to run his house like she ran her father’s.

Except here’s the touching, growth part of the story. Jamie’s mother was Baron Jamison’s second wife. He’d already had other daughters, but he adopted Jamie. Jamie wanted to be accepted and loved like his daughter and so she started doing things around the house for attention to the point where she did everything. Alec lets her know that she doesn’t have to be indispensable to be needed.

Though I haven’t read this one in awhile, I remember Alec has plenty of loyal warriors, one of whom gets his own HEA in The Wedding, and they give the story some lively moments, especially when Jamie charms them. By the end of the book, Jamie is willingly wearing Alec’s plaid, swearing alligence to the king of Scotland, and letting everyone know that she may have a man’s name, but she’s the lady of the keep.

I miss Julie Garwood’s historicals. Though I wouldn’t say this one is a favorite, it’s such a great story. Garwood, to me, always had a talent for a historical and she wrote quite a few from Medievals to Victorians, and each had it’s own charm. If you haven’t yet, check out this one, Saving Grace and The Gift.