Lawson’s review of At the Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker
Historical romance released by Avon 27 May 08

This book is by a debut author at Avon. It also has an interesting and possibly eye-rolling premise. A Duke who, for personal reasons, has refused to marry, but is not above making his younger brother marry. He hosts a house party at the family castle of seven of the seasons most eligible ladies for his brother to pick from and make his bride. If you think this sounds like the plot of a reality TV show, you’d be on the nose.

[Ed.: doesn’t this cover just SCREAM “I’m a 1980’s recycled cover!”?]

Now this reality TV show premise also has the usual reality show suspects. The Duke of Wolverest, Gabriel Devine, is the show runner of the farce of a house party. He gets his sister, Rosalind and his Aunt Eugenia to go through the debutantes of the season to pick the ones best suited for his brother. His brother, Tristan, is a spoiled, selfish, shallow and callow youth that shouldn’t be getting married to anyone.

Invited to the ball as the prospective brides are the forgettable twin Fairbourne sisters, a Scottish heiress, a diamond of the first water, an earthy brunette (the heroine’s cousin), the heronine, Madelyn Haywood and her good friend Charlotte Greene. Most of the brides-to-be decide the Duke would be a better catch, and a few get shipped off early. Charlotte has been in love with Tristan for awhile, and works hard to get his attention. Madelyn just wants to get her stepmother off her back and so tries to give the idea that she’s somewhat pursuing the Duke while pining for her childhood home.

There are some clichéd aspects of the story. The Duke’s hardened heart softening and him laughing more because of the heroine. The heroine being clumsy and accident prone as well as a bluestocking and thus breaks through the hero’s shields. The heroine being ragged on by the matronly secondary characters such as her stepmother, her aunt (the earthy brunette’s mother) and the Duke’s Aunt Eugenia. She’s also chastised for having an American mother as the cause for all her societal imperfections. The hardened rake after Madelyn, Lord Rothbury, doesn’t follow his cliche, though, which was a nice surprise.

Though there are these clichés, and chemistry but no sparks, between the leads (and there’s so much promise too), Madelyn is generally likable except when she lets the criticisms get to her. Gabriel grew on me throughout the story going from overly arrogant and bossy to… ok so he doesn’t change much. But the fact that he realizes that Madelyn makes him laugh more and brings light to his life makes him decent.

For a debut, it’s not half bad. Parker shows promise as a lighthearted romance writer since she’s taken a wild premise and some stereotypical characters and makes some likable characters. I’d be interested to see where this author goes after this story. Maybe Charlotte will find that hero that deserves her and Rosalind will get trapped with Lord Rothbury.

Grade: B-

     Blurb:

     To Snare a Bride . . .

     To Gabriel Devine, Duke of Wolverest, the bonds of marriage are nothing more than shackles. But if he’s to remain a lifelong bachelor, that leaves only his younger brother to carry on the family name. Inviting the ton’s most eligible ladies to an elegant ball, Gabriel is certain any one of them would be all too eager to become the next duchess and provide an heir—leaving Gabriel to continue his ecstatic pursuit of pleasure.

     To Catch a Rogue . . .

     Her social-climbing stepmother would give anything to have Madelyn Haywood betrothed to a future duke. But Madelyn believes the brothers Devine to be nothing more than heartless rogues—especially Gabriel, whose rakish reputation precedes him. He is nothing more than a slave to passion, and she will not be conquered by his caresses­—and yet his wicked ways tempt her so . . .

     Read an excerpt.