The Wedding Night [Mass Market Paperback]

Using several well known plot devices and gambits, authour Barbara Dawson Smith finishes her Kenyon brothers/Rosebud series with "The Wedding Night." And whether or not readers think that the novel is a worthwhile buy/read is going to be strictly a matter of personal taste and inclination.

In a bid to start his own socially powerful dynasty (so that he can compete with his legitimately born Kenyon half brothers), rich Samuel Firth marries fifteen year old Lady Cynthia Grey. The only daughter of a gambling mad duke, Cynthia's father agrees to marry off his young daughter in return for money in order to pay off his gambling debts. A shy and scholarly girl, Lady Cynthia approaches her marriage with the notion that she's marrying some kind of romantic hero. Except that Samuel is no romantic hero: he's cold and forbidding and when he tries to consummate his marriage, his young wife breaks down into hysterical tears. Disgusted, Samuel leaves his wife and departs in order to make a trip around the world.

Four years pass, and Cynthia has grown into a lovely and intelligent young woman, used to leading a life without a husband. Desiring her independence, Cynthia hits on the notion of asking for a legal separation from Samuel. And when Samuel gets wind of this, he rushes home to confront his errant wife. A legal separation would not help him in his plan to throw his social success in Kenyons faces. But instead of finding a meek and biddable wife, he finds an independent and determined young lady -- a young lady that he would very much like to bed. And so Samuel comes up with a plan: if Cynthia will live with him for a while, and help him establish himself with the ton, he will sign her separation. Of course Samuel has every intention of seducing his wife into seeing things his way. But he has a lot to contend with: a wife who (apparently) has close ties to his despised Kenyon relatives and who is determined not to share a life with him; someone who is trying to kill him; and a horde of suitors who seem to be in love with his wife! Can Samuel pull off his scheme?

Unfortunately, there is really nothing new (plot-wise) or fresh about "The Wedding Night" -- yet another older man who marries a teenager, and who takes off for 4 years because she's unable to contemplate being bedded by him, but who returns when she demands a legal separation from him -- even the characters are the same stock characters we see in most romance novels: a remote and much misunderstood hero who hides a heart of gold, a heroine who is clever and beautiful and who is still in love with her undeserving spouse, etc. So that whether or not you will glean any satisfaction from reading this novel will depend on whether or not you are a fan of the series. Even there, however, you might be a little disappointed: in earlier novels, the eldest Kenyon brother (Michael) has always expressed reservations about Samuel's character, yet here, every Kenyon is eager to embrace Samuel, thus making his reluctance to have anything to do with them (while understandable) seem churlish. Whatever reservations the Kenyon brothers may have had about Samuel seems to have evaporated somewhere along the way! Even the stalking/attempted murder subplots failed to lift the book from it's average read status.

I found "The Wedding Night" to be a well written novel that rehashed several overused plot devices, and as such was a middling ok-ish read -- but there really was no compelling reason to urge anyone to rush out and buy/borrow this book.

What happens when a marriage has been arranged to pay off a debt? Filled with naive romantic notions, fifteen-year-old Lady Cassandra Grey thinks that her wedding night will only be a kiss good night. Samuel Firth was obliged to tell his virgin bride otherwise. After witnessing the fear from this mere child, Samuel decides the only thing left to do is leave. He departs for a trip around the world, leaving his bride still a virgin.

THE WEDDING NIGHT is set in 1820 in London, England, some four years since Cassandra last saw her husband. She's all grown up, very beautiful and intelligent, an author on the verge of releasing her first book and ready to gain her independence. She knows Samuel provided for her generously during the last four years while he lived a very colorful life moving from one city to another. She still harbors deep resentments about her wedding night and the humiliation she faced. Her only thought is to gain her freedom and maintain an air of respectability, but she must first have permission from Samuel for a separation. He, on the other hand, has other intentions and a separation was not a part of it. His original plan was to wait until she grew up before consummating the marriage and then take his rightful place in society. After a chance meeting between them in the theatre, a separation is out of the question. In fact, he comes up with a scheme to appear agreeable to her proposal while at the same time deviously plotting to seduce her.

As Samuel puts his plan in motion, he discovers that much has gone astray in his absence. Someone has been stealing from him, there are those that have designs on his wife, and the family that he felt deserted him has been meddling in his affairs. To complicate things further, Samuel finds himself completely entranced with Cassandra and very protective of her. Will Cassandra gain her independence? Has Samuel bitten off more than he can chew?

In her fifth book of the Rosebuds series, Barbara Dawson Smith has written an action-packed historical romantic tale that continues the story of the three matchmaking grandmothers. She weaves in a lesson on the strength of family love and respect around a believable love story and a couple of whodunit subplots to keep readers on the edge of their seats. I felt the character development was awesome in this near flawless stand-alone compilation. Ms. Dawson Smith is indeed a great storyteller, and I, for one, will be looking to read more from this author.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

There are times when I feel the need to read the literary equivalent of macaroni and cheese--something comforting and warm, but perhaps not of the highest "gourmet" standards. The Wedding Night answered that need. It is an enjoyable Regency romance. Predictable, but also compelling reading. Young Cassandra marries the much older Samuel when she is just fifteen. Nothing happens on their wedding night, young Cassandra is too frightened and confused. Samuel leaves the country, returning four years later to a woman he hardly knows, but very much desires. Intrigue, romance, suspicion and betrayal follow. A perfect, fun, quick read.