Rose Red Bride [Mass Market Paperback]

THE ROSE RED BRIDE by Claire Delacroix

January 22, 2006

This is the 2nd book in the trilogy that began with THE BEAUTY BRIDE. Set in Scotland in the 1400's, each book focuses on a different person in a family that had lost their parents a few years previous and brother Alexander is now Laird of Kinfairlie. The first book had the oldest sister, Madeleine, married off via an auction. This second book has Alexander asking "Nicholas" to take the next oldest sister, Vivienne, to bed, and then supposedly having them marry the following morn. What happens instead is that Nicholas is really not who he says he is, but is really the brother, Erik. Nicholas had been a suitor that Vivienne had spurned before, and Erik came for Vivienne, knowing of this fact. Instead of marrying Vivienne, he steals her away and finally tells her his story, of how he was left for dead and his wife had gone missing. He had two young children living with Nicholas, and Erik needed to save them from whatever fate Nicholas had in mind for them. As Vivienne has already fallen in love with Erik, she is willing to trust him and decides she will help him regain his rightful place at Blackleith, save his children, and hopes that Erik will fall in love with her and eventually marry her.

I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one. I think these books are enjoyable when read in the right frame of mind. They are historical romances, and I think period pieces are not for everyone. I do find that Delacroix does a great job writing these historical romances and I hope to read her third book in this series (The Snow White Bride).

Setting - Kinfairlie, coast of Scotland, 1421 --- In the second installment of the Jewels of Kinfairlie, Alexander, laird and brother of five sisters, is continuing his quest to marry off the two oldest sisters while pondering the fate of Kinfairlie's ability to manage over the winter. Having successfully married Madeline the eldest, Vivienne the second eldest was proving to be a more difficult challenge. Now as luck would have it a man claiming to be Nicholas Sinclair, a former suitor of Vivienne's, came to Kinfairlie not only requesting the hand of Vivienne but offering a pouch full of silver along with a condition that Alexander was finding totally objectionable. Nicholas wanted to BED THE BRIDE before the marriage took place! With severe misgivings and the fate of Kinfairlie weighing in the balance, Alexander agreed believing the man's word of honor that the wedding would take place the very next day. Alexander was convinced of the man's honorable intentions and believing Vivienne would be pleased with what he believed was her former suitor, he came up with a plan to meet the suitors demands. Unfortunately, this would be the second time Alexander's best intentions for wedding his sisters would fail miserably.

Knowing his sister Vivienne's predilection for adventure, Alexander that evening told a tale that was designed specifically to entice Vivienne into innocently sealing her own fate. Thinking that she would be meeting the man of her dreams Vivienne crept to the tower room that night ready to meet her destiny, a mystical `fairy' lover. Into the darkness a hooded lover crept thru the tower window and commenced to making slow sweet love to Vivienne. Unfortunately the morning light revelations would shatter her dreams. The dream lover turned out to be Erik Sinclair, older brother of Nicholas and his intentions did not include marriage, unless Vivienne could deliver him a son!

-- In a wonderfully ORIGINAL sequel to THE BEAUTY BRIDE, Claire Delacroix has fashioned an exciting action packed sensual romance. Our heroine, Vivienne was absolutely marvelous having every right to throw a HUGE hissy fit the next day when she discovered her `fairy lover' was no fairy and had taken her maidenhead with no immediate plans of marrying her! Instead, she was ready to go along with a hand-fast, believing deeply that the sweet loving person she laid with was truly the person that was hidden beneath the tortured and scarred warrior she discovered in the morning. Jam-packed with lively characters (such as Darg the impish spriggan and Elizabeth the youngest sister who was the only one to see and hear the naughty fairy), the author delivers non-stop action, amusing scenarios, and some poignantly loving reunions. This is Delacroix at her very magical best penning in the medieval / fantasy genre where in my opinion she simply shines! I am eagerly looking forward to the last of this trilogy when the two sisters team up to give their brother, Laird Alexander his well-earned comeuppance! [Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com]

I enjoyed this series tremendously and would buy any of her books. Great writer, great setting and loved the chivalry.