Gwen’s review of The Bride Price by Anne Mallory
Historical romance released by Avon 28 Oct 08

I read romances for the whole relationship.  I find it fascinating to read about how two people manage to come together, find something about the other that they like, and then I love to read about how they make it work.  I guess because I’ve not managed to successfully string all those events together in the same relationship that I find it interesting to read how authors think it would happen between their characters.  The books that do it believably well, I love.  The books that skip a part, or skimp on a piece, I’m lukewarm on.  I was red-hot on this book.  Mallory takes me all the way there.

When I read the last page of this book, my first reaction was “HOLY COW! What a good book!” I loved it.  I had that “good book glow” for at least a day afterwards.  I found the hero and heroine completely engaging and wholly believable.  I love the setting, the dialogue, the book’s pacing, and the story arc.  It was all engrossing and unique.  The villains were sufficiently nasty and the good guys were flawed but still honorable.  All the stuff I love in a good story. Have I gushed enough? Seriously – there wasn’t a thing that I didn’t like in this book.

I loved that the hero, Sebastien Deville, secretly damaged or outright ruined the belongings of those people or places he didn’t respect.  Not that I’d do that kind of thing myself, but I sure as hell have thought of it.  Case in point: the book’s premise is a contest amongst eligible, but un- (or under-) titled young men and one of the prizes is an earl’s daughter for wife.  Sebastien finds this mildly repulsive, even as he’s vying for the prize, so while playing cards with said earl, he quietly grinds his still-lit cheroot into the earl’s Aubusson rug under the card table – smelling the slight char the whole time.  Every time Sebastien did one of these well-deserved little rebellions, I cheered him on.  It was his way of getting some satisfaction over being born into the world he was born into – the bastard son of a rich and titled man.  Mallory peppers the novel with a few scenes of this petit crime and it brings a sense of realism to the hero.

I loved that the heroine, Caroline, the “cousin” of the bride-to-be, is independent and a smart cookie.  She remains smart throughout – no TSTL moments even as she’s sabotaging many of the contests that the “grooms” must win to win the prize.  Caroline has learned from the School of Hard Knocks that life can slap you up side the head in the worst way, but she still has a weakness for bad boys (huzzah, sister!).  Caroline never does something easy or out of character.  I adored that these two people – Sebastien and Caroline – manage to come together and craft something lovely from all the ugliness in their lives.

And OH MY GOODNESS! Can you say smokin’ hawt love scenes?  I knew you could.  I’m pretty jaded when it comes to love scenes.  I’ve read enough “insert tab A in slot B” to fill a library – erotica, erotic romance, not-so-erotic romance, etc.  There’s a certain art to writing a love scene and have it be truly passionate and wonderful to read – an art that not every author masters.  Mallory’s love scenes aren’t even all that explicit but they are H-O-T HOT!  Like fan yourself in more than one part of your body hot!   Passionate x10.  In fact, I may have to re-read them (ask Sybil – that’s something I never do), they were that good.

Mallory has written a real keeper of a romance with The Bride Price.  The ending is a corker – Caroline and Sebastien gain some family after all, just not the way they thought they would. I won’t say any more because I’d give too much away, but I loved it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who can read.  If you’re a fan of reading, you’ll like this book.  Okay, okay, seriously, if you have developed a certain ennui for historical romances, please don’t let it keep you from reading this book.  If you read only the really good historicals, then this is the book for you.  If you’re a fan of Mallory’s writing, you’ve already read it and loved it. So all of you other readers out there, go get it and read it.  You’ll love it, too.

Grade: A+ (because I want to be friends with this hero and heroine)

Summary:
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Winner take all…
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Sebastien Deville, the debauched, dangerously handsome illegitimate son of the Duke of Grandien, has waited his whole life for revenge – and suddenly it is there for the taking. A competition sponsored by the King has all the ton talking. The winner will receive an immense fortune, a newly created title, sponsorship, and a well-born bride – everything Sebastien needs to reclaim his mother’s stolen lands and to wield the colossal power itching beneath his fingertips. His victory is all but assured…until he meets Caroline.
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Caroline Martin knows all about Sebastien, the legendary heartbreaker who leaves women weeping in his wake, and she is determined not to see him win the competition in which he would claim her friend as his bride. Yet sabotage is so very hard to concentrate on when the target’s searing glances promise incredible pleasure and his skillful hands vow unimaginable desire. She knows the danger he presents…the temptation he offers, yet she is willing to risk everything for all she holds dear.
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But Sebastien Deville will do anything to win…and Caroline’s heart may become the ultimate prize.
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Read an excerpt (too small an excerpt, but it’s a good book – get it anyway).