His Unexpected Bride

by Jo Ann Ferguson

Book by Ferguson, Jo Ann

Genres: Romance, Regency, Historical, Historical Romance, Traditional Regency

375 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2002

About the author

Please note, this author also writes under the name J.A. Ferguson, Jocelyn Kelley and Rebecca North.
"One of my favorite memories is lying on the grass on a knoll on a late summer day and telling my sister stories I was making up," says Jo Ann Ferguson, who also writes as J.A. Ferguson, Joanna Hampton, Jo Ann Brown, and Rebecca North."There's something magical about being able to spend time with people you enjoy in your imagination. As a writer, I get to go with my characters to their time and place so I can share their adventures and falling in love for the first time…all over again."

She has had a few adventures of her own, including a stint as an Army quartermaster officer where she was the first and only woman in her unit. She still enjoys traveling to the locations of her books and learning all about those places and people. Researching her novels is part of the fun. Whether it's ghosts, calling cards, how to fire an antique gun, or traveling to a world that exists only in her imagination, she pays a great deal of attention to the details that delight her reader. She's even learned a bit of Russian, Arabic, Welsh, and a lot of Regency slang.

Her work has been honored with award nominations from Pearl, ROMY, Romantic Times, Rom/Con, and Affaire de Coeur magazine. Amazon Books chose her novels to showcase. And Romance Writers of America bestowed the two ARTemis Awards for Jo Ann's Zebra Regencies: The Counterfeit Count and A Christmas Bride.

Nonfiction also appeals to her, because it's where she got her start, seeing her first byline when she was twelve years old. She contributed to an encyclopedia of the English Regency period published by Garland Press. For all three editions of the New England Chapter's Now That You've Sold Your Book…What Next?, she has served as co-editor.

Believing in giving back, Jo Ann has served Romance Writers of America on both the local and national levels. She has served on the national board as president as well as a director and at term as vice president. For her volunteer work, she was given RWA's highest honor, the Emma Merritt National Service Award. She is also a creative writing instructor. She was awarded a Massachusetts Art Grant to teach creative writing and then established several creative writing courses at Brown University. Many of her students have gone on to publishing careers of their own.

She lives in Massachusetts, where her favorite hero—her husband, Bill—and their children and two cats. She's not sure which is the most spoiled.

Reviews

[Janice Liedl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the love child of a Regency romance and a soap opera. No, seriously: I was often left, jaw agape, at the way in which the plot gallops far, far away from reality. At its heart, the story has some interesting characters with Tess and Cameron. I really liked them and their direct interactions, which are far too few given this is a romance! However, the wacky way they come together (wake up married!) is the least outlandish element in a book that appears entirely composed of strange plot points purchased at the soap opera writer's room rummage sale. Ferguson is also given to ladling on the cant, so you'll see the same quirkily obscure slang showing up again and again in the book.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tess Masterson wakes up in her bedchamber next to a strange man who claims to be her husband. It appears that he wed her in a drunken stupor the night before. Neither of them can remember exactly what happened. Tess’s father confirms the man’s statement. She is now wed to Lord Cameron Hawksmoor, second son of a Duke. As Cam vows to find a way out of their legal entanglement, he travels with her to London. There Tess falls for her husband while believing she’s an unwanted wife. Can they find their way to each other even though they got off to a challenging start? A charming Regency romance with a touch of mystery that will keep readers intrigued until the satisfying conclusion.

[Brittani Koepke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very typical Regency romance with a slight bit of mystery thrown in at the very beginning and then at the very end. To be honest, I didn't enjoy this one very much because it was too heavy on the physicality between the main characters. I guess I just like to see the characters fall for more than just good looks. It felt like 95% of their interactions were him being a jerk and her just wanting to kiss him.

[Gail · Rating 1 out of 5]

After many tries, I finally realized that Ferguson and I are simply not simpatico. I keep trying, every time I unearth one of her books I give it a shot, hoping the book will be "the one" that converts me, however it hasn't happened yet.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad!!!!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh.

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was okay. I had a hard time connecting to Tess and Cameron. I felt their relationship was a little flat. They both were attracted to each other one minute and then cold and distant the next. It was just an odd relationship and their initial reaction to their situation didn't seem realistic. I didn't like Cameron's relationship with his former mistress either. The ending seemed a bit abrupt and I think the villain and motives should have been worked into the story more. Overall, it was just okay for me.

Content: Clean, some mild innuendo. PG

[Heather T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Congratulations. Finally a book where the guy actually follows his promise not to jump the girl without her consent. I think this is a first.

[Bobbie]

An enjoyable read and many parts had me actually laughing out loud. I liked the story and the characters.