Bev(QB)’s review of Bride for a Knight by Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Historical romance published 01 Sept 2007 by Forever
Blurb:Â
“She vowed to satisfy his every desire…
On the eve of his return to Baldreagan castle, Highlander Jamie Macpherson can not believe his eyes: a golden-haired beauty haloed in the moonlight of St. Bride’s own glade, so delicate and fair she can only be a faery. The knight’s desire rises like a wave, and then crashes. For despite the treachery that has just made him the new Macpherson heir, he’s still betrothed to a noblewoman he’s never met…
Yet there’s magic—and passion—in this union. Fiery Aveline Matheson may look like a sprite, but she’s a flesh-and-blood bride eager to discover the pleasures of marriage. And woe to those who would stop their lovemaking! Avenging his slain kinsmen is only second to Jamie’s protecting his beloved…and keeping her in his arms forever.”
Read an excerpt.
Here in Romancelandia we don’t REALLY expect authentic dialogue in our historical romances. In fact, most of us probably couldn’t understand much of anything that was said in the Scotland of 1347. But we DO expect consistency. Here’s an example of the language inconsistencies that occurred throughout Bride for a Knight: “Och, I wasna going anywhere” and “Och, nay, she didn’t mind“. Wasna and didna/din’na would be consistent (and preferred). I would even have rolled along with wasn’t and didn’t. But please pick one dialogue style and stick with it. And, OCH! Enough with the “OCH, NAYs” and “OCH, AYEs”… PLEASE!
Welfonder’s bibliography is jam packed with Scottish romances and it appears that at least some of them are connected. Bride for a Knight definitely worked as a standalone, except for a magical fox and a wise woman who appear late in the story. I suspect that the two are recurring characters in her books, but in this one, they seemed to be suddenly inserted into the story as a completely random plot device. Got a hero that needs saving? I know! Let’s throw in some Highland magic and have a magical fox team up with a wise woman and save the day! My reaction? “*blink blink* HUH?!” If they were introduced sooner and weaved in throughout the story it might have worked better.
Despite those problems, however, Bride for a Knight was compelling enough that I didn’t want to put it down. Jamie’s mother died giving birth to him (the TENTH son- OUCH!) and his father blamed Jamie for the loss of his beloved wife. Consequently, Jamie was sent away at a young age but, when all 9 of his brothers die at once in what appears to be a tragic accident, he returns home hoping to build a relationship with his estranged father.
One of the conditions of Jamie’s return home is that he accept a marriage contract with the youngest daughter of a neighboring laird. It was love at first sight for Jamie and Aveline, who were a bit clichéd but lusty and likeable.
But it’s the mystery surrounding the brothers’ deaths that kept me engrossed in this story. Plenty of twists and turns and a couple of surprises at the end that I didn’t see coming.
Grade: C
Drop by my personal blog, Cubie’s Confections. It’s the often bawdy, and not always work safe, musings of a pervy old broad with opinions about books, chocolate, and eye candy (you know– the important stuff), and who is convinced that hot flashes burn away brain cells.
OCH! Great review. 🙂
(the TENTH son- OUCH!)
That’s the Tenth Son, Och!
but, when all 9 of his brothers die at once in what appears to be a tragic accident
The great sporran fire of 1300.
Och, aye! Ye both be needin’ to feel the bite o’ Sybil’s black licorice whip!
You know I still remember REALLY liking Devil in a Kilt? err Devil something. Maybe I just have a thing for devils?
The last book I read by her I didn’t like at all. The review should be linked here, one of my few at AAR.
Devil In A Kilt was the book I was reading when 9/11 happened. Seriously, I had the Today Show on mute and was reading that book when they showed smoke pouring out of the first tower.
Sybil: I liked it too. I didn’t love it, and I had some issues with it, but I found it highly readable. Haven’t been tempted to try another of her books though because the reviews I’ve seen haven’t been the greatest, and honestly? Scottish historicals aren’t my favorite. I’ll read ’em, but I don’t go out of my way looking for ’em…..
Now see – I think that would push my buttons. A father who blames his son for his wife’s death after 10 children??? I’d be throwing that book right about then.
You know, I could have sworn I had read Devil in a Kilt, but the blurb on her site doesn’t sound familiar. I have a feeling I bought it and it is languishing in the deep dark depths of my TBR mountain. Since I DO luvs me a good kilt story, I can only assume I started it and lost interest with the intention of going back to it someday.
Kristie, it got even more bizarre when, after treating the kid like crap and kicking him out to make his own way in the world, he proves he really did love him along. How? He saved the letters that people wrote to him telling him how his son was doing. Och, Da, you DO care after all!
Teddy said:
Och, I dinnae see a spew warning!
Also, why is every Scottish romance hero named Jamie? I mean, besides the fact that a lot of romance authors and readers have crushes on Jamie Fraser?
Shannon:
For the same reason the last name McCloud is inexplicably popular with authors. Am I the only one who thinks Highlander is some of the worst dreck over put on film?
Ever, not over. That’s what happens when I blog hop BEFORE my caffeine…
When I think of McCloud I think of the movie Highlander and the series. OCH OCH OCH such beautiful men.
9 brothers??? OCH poor mom.
As you can see I will beat the word “OCH” into the ground 🙂
Och, aye, Highland stories be gettin’ a wee snicker outta me whence tis a feast at MacDonald’s.
(that sounds pirate-y instead of Scottish, doesn’t it?)