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Millworth Manor #3
The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride
The bride and groom cordially request the presence of...
The bride's sister, Delilah, the very proper widowed Lady Hargate, and Samuel Russell, the groom's friend, a very eligible, slightly improper bachelor, at their upcoming wedding.
Lady Hargate and Mr. Russell, previously acquainted during one unforgettable night in New York City when caution--and clothing--were thrown to the wind will choose to pretend they have never met before.
The lady plans to avoid love and its complications at all costs.The gentleman intends to change her mind.
Guests are invited to enjoy the many diversions of Millworth Manor--delightful grounds, lavish drawing rooms, secluded corners--and the chance to discover that one night may have been only the beginning. . .
The bride's sister, Delilah, the very proper widowed Lady Hargate, and Samuel Russell, the groom's friend, a very eligible, slightly improper bachelor, at their upcoming wedding.
Lady Hargate and Mr. Russell, previously acquainted during one unforgettable night in New York City when caution--and clothing--were thrown to the wind will choose to pretend they have never met before.
The lady plans to avoid love and its complications at all costs.The gentleman intends to change her mind.
Guests are invited to enjoy the many diversions of Millworth Manor--delightful grounds, lavish drawing rooms, secluded corners--and the chance to discover that one night may have been only the beginning. . .
372 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2014
116 people are currently reading
1272 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Alexander
64 books1,323 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander was an award winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. She turned to writing full time and is still shocked it worked out.
Since the publication of her first book in 1995, she has written thirty-one full length novels and six novellas. The Perfect Wife—originally published in 1996 and reissued in March 2008—hit #1 on the New York Times list. Sixteen of her books are bestsellers hitting the New York Times, USA Today and/or Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. With books translated into more than a dozen different languages she has readers around the world and has twice been nominated for Romance's Writers of America prestigious RITA award. In 2009 she was given a Career Achievement Award from RT Bookclub and was named Historical Storyteller of the year in 2003. In 2008 she was the keynote speaker for the Romance Writers of American annual conference in San Francisco. Victoria credits much of her writing success to her experiences as a reporter.
Her years as a broadcast journalist were spent in two radically different areas of the country: Nebraska and West Virginia. In West Virginia, she covered both natural and manmade disasters. She was on the scene when a power plant construction accident in a small town left 52 men dead. She once spent the night on a mountain waiting to learn of the fate of coal miners trapped in a mine collapse. Victoria was producing a newscast when her husband (who worked at the same television station) and several other journalists were held hostage by a disturbed Vietnam veteran. In Nebraska, she reported on the farm crisis and watched people lose land that had been in their families for generations. She covered the story that was the basis of the movie BOYS DON’T CRY and once acted as the link between police and a gunman who had barricaded himself in his home. Her investigative work exposed the trucking of New York City garbage to a small town dump in rural Nebraska.
During her journalism career, Victoria covered every president from Ford to Clinton. She knows firsthand what it feels like to be surrounded by rising floodwaters and inside a burning building. She’s interviewed movie stars including Kevin Costner, ridden an elephant and flown in a governor’s helicopter. She’s covered a national political convention and Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to Denver as well as small town festivals celebrating everything from walnuts to Glen Miller. Her work was honored by numerous organizations including the Associated Press who called a feature about a firefighter’s school "story telling genius". It was the encouragement she needed to turn from news to fiction. She’s never looked back.
Victoria claims her love of romance and journalism is to due to the influence of her favorite comic book character: Lois Lane, a terrific reporter and a great heroine who pursued Superman with an unwavering determination. And why not? He was extremely well drawn.
Victoria grew up traveling the world as an Air Force brat. Today, she lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband and her dogs. Victoria had two bearded collies, Sam and Louie (named from characters in one of her books). Sam (on the left), the best dog in the world for 13 ½ years, passed away in September 2010. Louie took on the position of loyal companion and did a fine job even though he doesn't understand that kitchen counter surfing is not allowed!
Now he's been joined by Reggie, also a faithful companion.
They all live happily ever after in a house under constant renovation and the accompanying parade of men in tool belts. And never ending chaos. Victoria laughs a great deal—she has to.
New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander was an award winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. She turned to writing full time and is still shocked it worked out.
Since the publication of her first book in 1995, she has written thirty-one full length novels and six novellas. The Perfect Wife—originally published in 1996 and reissued in March 2008—hit #1 on the New York Times list. Sixteen of her books are bestsellers hitting the New York Times, USA Today and/or Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. With books translated into more than a dozen different languages she has readers around the world and has twice been nominated for Romance's Writers of America prestigious RITA award. In 2009 she was given a Career Achievement Award from RT Bookclub and was named Historical Storyteller of the year in 2003. In 2008 she was the keynote speaker for the Romance Writers of American annual conference in San Francisco. Victoria credits much of her writing success to her experiences as a reporter.
Her years as a broadcast journalist were spent in two radically different areas of the country: Nebraska and West Virginia. In West Virginia, she covered both natural and manmade disasters. She was on the scene when a power plant construction accident in a small town left 52 men dead. She once spent the night on a mountain waiting to learn of the fate of coal miners trapped in a mine collapse. Victoria was producing a newscast when her husband (who worked at the same television station) and several other journalists were held hostage by a disturbed Vietnam veteran. In Nebraska, she reported on the farm crisis and watched people lose land that had been in their families for generations. She covered the story that was the basis of the movie BOYS DON’T CRY and once acted as the link between police and a gunman who had barricaded himself in his home. Her investigative work exposed the trucking of New York City garbage to a small town dump in rural Nebraska.
During her journalism career, Victoria covered every president from Ford to Clinton. She knows firsthand what it feels like to be surrounded by rising floodwaters and inside a burning building. She’s interviewed movie stars including Kevin Costner, ridden an elephant and flown in a governor’s helicopter. She’s covered a national political convention and Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to Denver as well as small town festivals celebrating everything from walnuts to Glen Miller. Her work was honored by numerous organizations including the Associated Press who called a feature about a firefighter’s school "story telling genius". It was the encouragement she needed to turn from news to fiction. She’s never looked back.
Victoria claims her love of romance and journalism is to due to the influence of her favorite comic book character: Lois Lane, a terrific reporter and a great heroine who pursued Superman with an unwavering determination. And why not? He was extremely well drawn.
Victoria grew up traveling the world as an Air Force brat. Today, she lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband and her dogs. Victoria had two bearded collies, Sam and Louie (named from characters in one of her books). Sam (on the left), the best dog in the world for 13 ½ years, passed away in September 2010. Louie took on the position of loyal companion and did a fine job even though he doesn't understand that kitchen counter surfing is not allowed!
Now he's been joined by Reggie, also a faithful companion.
They all live happily ever after in a house under constant renovation and the accompanying parade of men in tool belts. And never ending chaos. Victoria laughs a great deal—she has to.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 148 reviews
September 7, 2016
2-1/2 stars. Won this book via First Reads from Goodreads.
This was an ok book by Victoria Alexander. I would have liked it much better without Delilah, or if Delilah pulled her head out of her a#$ and her nose out of the air (don't ask me how she manages to do both of these things at once! I don't understand it, but she can do these anatomically impossible feats with ease and without ceasing).
Delilah has been married before. It was not a good marriage, in part due to reasons that are revealed over the course of the book. Delilah thought she loved her first husband. When she decides it is time to marry again, she determines that she must marry someone suitable, who is rich and prestigious, and she does not want love to be in the equation at all, because she doesn't trust it.
The author created a very artificial and stiff-seeming construct for why Delilah feel she cannot marry for love again. Indeed, Delilah is rejecting the love that she feels for Samuel as close as 10 pages to the end of the book! Delilah is so rigid and stubborn about her insistence that she and Samuel cannot marry for love, because they don't have anything in common, that she makes Delilah be almost completely unsympathetic. My notes about Delilah throughout the book consist of things like 'Samuel is right, Delilah IS a bitch' and 'omg, give it a rest, already!' I did not like Delilah even a little until close to the end of the book. And by then, even though she became slightly likeable, I had so much steam built up about how horrible and pig-headed she was that I didn't want her to have a HEA.
I do like Samuel. He was far nicer to Delilah than she warranted, which did make me a little frustrated with him. He was a good friend, and a pretty honorable man. If only he could have fallen in love with someone else! He wasn't a pure saint, though- I did enjoy him continually twigging snooty and unreasonable Delilah.
I did enjoy Ms. Alexander's writing style enough that I probably would have finished this book anywaydespite my dislike for the heroine, even if I didn't feel compelled to finish it because I won it as a GoodReads First Reads book.
This was an ok book by Victoria Alexander. I would have liked it much better without Delilah, or if Delilah pulled her head out of her a#$ and her nose out of the air (don't ask me how she manages to do both of these things at once! I don't understand it, but she can do these anatomically impossible feats with ease and without ceasing).
Delilah has been married before. It was not a good marriage, in part due to reasons that are revealed over the course of the book. Delilah thought she loved her first husband. When she decides it is time to marry again, she determines that she must marry someone suitable, who is rich and prestigious, and she does not want love to be in the equation at all, because she doesn't trust it.
The author created a very artificial and stiff-seeming construct for why Delilah feel she cannot marry for love again. Indeed, Delilah is rejecting the love that she feels for Samuel as close as 10 pages to the end of the book! Delilah is so rigid and stubborn about her insistence that she and Samuel cannot marry for love, because they don't have anything in common, that she makes Delilah be almost completely unsympathetic. My notes about Delilah throughout the book consist of things like 'Samuel is right, Delilah IS a bitch' and 'omg, give it a rest, already!' I did not like Delilah even a little until close to the end of the book. And by then, even though she became slightly likeable, I had so much steam built up about how horrible and pig-headed she was that I didn't want her to have a HEA.
I do like Samuel. He was far nicer to Delilah than she warranted, which did make me a little frustrated with him. He was a good friend, and a pretty honorable man. If only he could have fallen in love with someone else! He wasn't a pure saint, though- I did enjoy him continually twigging snooty and unreasonable Delilah.
I did enjoy Ms. Alexander's writing style enough that I probably would have finished this book anywaydespite my dislike for the heroine, even if I didn't feel compelled to finish it because I won it as a GoodReads First Reads book.
March 9, 2022
Ik heb de Nederlands talige uitgave gelezen : Oneindig avontuur - Candlelight Historische roman 1210 .
De keurige Engelse weduwe Lady Delilah Hargate beleeft een romantische en passionele nacht met de rijke Amerikaanse zakenman Samuel Russell . Ondanks dat het een onvergetelijke nacht was geeft ze hem te kennen dat het bij die ene nacht moet blijven .
Tot haar verrassing en schrik is hij uitgenodigd voor de bruiloft van haar zuster , hij is namelijk een vriend en zakenpartner van de bruidegom . Sam is al 2 weken voor de bruiloft aanwezig op het landgoed omdat hij en Grayson samen een automobiel hebben aangeschaft om in te gaan investeren .
Delilah en Sam hebben dus ruim de tijd om nader tot elkaar te komen .
Zoals gewoonlijk bij deze schrijfster zijn er weer heel wat amusante conversaties . Helaas gebeurt er te weinig om het verhaal vlot te laten verlopen , daarom 3 sterren .
De volgende delen zijn niet meer vertaald verschenen omdat de uitgever is gestopt met deze boeken .
De keurige Engelse weduwe Lady Delilah Hargate beleeft een romantische en passionele nacht met de rijke Amerikaanse zakenman Samuel Russell . Ondanks dat het een onvergetelijke nacht was geeft ze hem te kennen dat het bij die ene nacht moet blijven .
Tot haar verrassing en schrik is hij uitgenodigd voor de bruiloft van haar zuster , hij is namelijk een vriend en zakenpartner van de bruidegom . Sam is al 2 weken voor de bruiloft aanwezig op het landgoed omdat hij en Grayson samen een automobiel hebben aangeschaft om in te gaan investeren .
Delilah en Sam hebben dus ruim de tijd om nader tot elkaar te komen .
Zoals gewoonlijk bij deze schrijfster zijn er weer heel wat amusante conversaties . Helaas gebeurt er te weinig om het verhaal vlot te laten verlopen , daarom 3 sterren .
De volgende delen zijn niet meer vertaald verschenen omdat de uitgever is gestopt met deze boeken .
April 9, 2014
My Rating: 1.5/5
Unfortunately, I didn't like The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride. And, honestly, it was only because of one thing: Delilah. If it hadn't been for her, I could have easily liked this book but, as it turned out, I didn't.
Delilah was not nice. She was mean, snobbish, rude, and quite a shrew. She tended to get judgmental, insist on staying on her high horse, and scorn anything she didn't agree with. Let me just give a quick example. Sam was investing in cars (called motorwagons here) and Delilah didn't agree with it. She liked her traditions and preferred to stick her head in a hole rather than accept new inventions. Okay, I would have expected this more from a 70 year old, but I could go with it. However, then she went on to get rude and disparaging and somehow got personally offended every time someone praised the invention. In another area, she resented Sam, simply because he didn't do what she wanted him to do (disappear from her life so that she didn't have a reminder of her "mistake"). And, to build on that, she said to Sam's face several times that their time together was a mistake (and she honestly couldn't have said it in a more contemptuous way), when he was being nothing but sweet and honestly trying to court the woman. But he didn't fit her vision of a perfect husband, so that she adamantly refused to consider marraige (again, to his face) when he hadn't even brought it up and was, again, nothing but nice to her. In fact, more nice that she deserved. If you can't already tell, I really didn't like her. To the point that I didn't really care what happened because I didn't want her to get a happy ending. She, for sure, ruined the book for me.
Sam was truly the saving grace of the book. If he hadn't been so utterly adorable and charming and sweet, I might have hated this book. He was just wonderful, a true charmer of a gentleman. I just didn't understand why he put up with the crap Delilah kept throwing at him. But, for myself, I adored him.
The romance didn't really keep my interest, just because of Delilah. The only reason I stayed engaged was because I wanted to see Sam get a happy ending.
The plot was okay. Despite my issues with Delilah, I was engaged in the story for most of the way through, which is really saying something. I've loved books by this author before, so I know for a fact that the only reason I didn't like this book was Delilah. Everything else was lovely, but that one issue ruined everything else.
The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride just wasn't the book for me. I didn't enjoy it, for simply one reason, and I honestly can't recommend it. But, I still look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately, I didn't like The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride. And, honestly, it was only because of one thing: Delilah. If it hadn't been for her, I could have easily liked this book but, as it turned out, I didn't.
Delilah was not nice. She was mean, snobbish, rude, and quite a shrew. She tended to get judgmental, insist on staying on her high horse, and scorn anything she didn't agree with. Let me just give a quick example. Sam was investing in cars (called motorwagons here) and Delilah didn't agree with it. She liked her traditions and preferred to stick her head in a hole rather than accept new inventions. Okay, I would have expected this more from a 70 year old, but I could go with it. However, then she went on to get rude and disparaging and somehow got personally offended every time someone praised the invention. In another area, she resented Sam, simply because he didn't do what she wanted him to do (disappear from her life so that she didn't have a reminder of her "mistake"). And, to build on that, she said to Sam's face several times that their time together was a mistake (and she honestly couldn't have said it in a more contemptuous way), when he was being nothing but sweet and honestly trying to court the woman. But he didn't fit her vision of a perfect husband, so that she adamantly refused to consider marraige (again, to his face) when he hadn't even brought it up and was, again, nothing but nice to her. In fact, more nice that she deserved. If you can't already tell, I really didn't like her. To the point that I didn't really care what happened because I didn't want her to get a happy ending. She, for sure, ruined the book for me.
Sam was truly the saving grace of the book. If he hadn't been so utterly adorable and charming and sweet, I might have hated this book. He was just wonderful, a true charmer of a gentleman. I just didn't understand why he put up with the crap Delilah kept throwing at him. But, for myself, I adored him.
The romance didn't really keep my interest, just because of Delilah. The only reason I stayed engaged was because I wanted to see Sam get a happy ending.
The plot was okay. Despite my issues with Delilah, I was engaged in the story for most of the way through, which is really saying something. I've loved books by this author before, so I know for a fact that the only reason I didn't like this book was Delilah. Everything else was lovely, but that one issue ruined everything else.
The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride just wasn't the book for me. I didn't enjoy it, for simply one reason, and I honestly can't recommend it. But, I still look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
March 22, 2014
A pleasant read, but not much conflict other than 'Will they, won't they?" A lighter historical romance with plenty of dialogue and conversations. About a couple who knows they aren't right for each other, although they feel so right together. Samuel is a really sweet guy, the kind of hero you can't help but love.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine for the May 2014 issue. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine for the May 2014 issue. http://affairedecoeur.com.
September 12, 2019
3.5 - 3.75
March 2, 2021
Good story of opposites attracting. Delilah is a proper, though young, Victorian widow, who during a trip to New York indulges in one night of "adventure". She intends it to be a onetime thing, with no intention or expectation of seeing Sam again before she returns to England. Samuel is an American businessman who is quite taken with her, and rather miffed at the way she blows him off. However, he too doesn't expect to see her again.
Fast forward a few months and Delilah is at Millworth Manor, helping her sister Camille prepare for her wedding to Grayson Elliott (What Happens at Christmas). She is stunned to see her "adventure" walk into the room with Gray and dismayed to discover that he is one of Gray's best friends who has come for the wedding. Worried that he'll do or say something about their encounter, she waylays him and insists on secrecy. Sam, who hasn't been able to forget her, agrees, but only to keep the peace for now.
I have to say that, especially at the beginning, I didn't like Delilah at all. Except for that brief moment in New York, she came across as snobby, uptight, and occasionally just plain mean. As the book goes on, a little bit of why is revealed. Like her sisters, she was raised to do the proper and expected thing, so she married the man her mother chose for her and became the perfect wife. She even fell in love with her husband, only to find that he didn't feel the same about her, though the full details don't come out until later in the book. When Sam appears she is extremely rude to him, which made me like her even less. However, it quickly becomes obvious that she's reacting out of a sense of fear. That one night with him roused feelings in her that scared her, and now she's trying to protect her heart. She wants to marry again, but has definite ideas of what she wants, and a brash American isn't it.
On the other hand, I did like Sam. He's been burned in the past by a woman who was more interested in what he had than who he was. In spite of that, he still believes in love and marriage, and wants it for himself. He's not really happy with the way Delilah wants to hide what they had, but he's a gentleman and agrees.
I loved the development of their relationship. Delilah is determined to deny what is between them, and Sam is equally determined that she admit it. The sparks fly between them, as she continually tries to push him away and he refuses to be pushed. It was fun to see the tradition-loving Delilah and the progressive Sam butt heads over which one was right about such modern inventions as the "motorwagon" by Mr. Benz. I also liked seeing them move from adversaries to friends. Though she refuses to see it, they really do have a fair amount in common, which shows when they actually spend some time together. I loved the support that he gave her when she discovered some shocking news about her late husband. Sam wants to pursue the possibilities that he sees in front of them, but she insists that they are too different. Even after she admits to her sisters that she loves him, she still refuses to consider a life with him. I ached for Sam because he loved her so much and he couldn't get through to her. He's all set to give up on her when a blast from his past makes him realize that giving up is the wrong thing to do. The ending was pretty sweet with his "contract" and the way she had already come to her senses.
Throughout the book I also enjoyed the friendship that was there between Sam and Gray. They are good enough friends that Sam is able to ask for advice. There are some pretty amusing conversations between them, including one that takes place as the wedding gets closer and Camille is driving Gray nuts. I also liked seeing the advances in the relationship between Delilah and her sisters Camille and Beryl. There were still glimpses of the old issues, but their support for her was always there.
Fast forward a few months and Delilah is at Millworth Manor, helping her sister Camille prepare for her wedding to Grayson Elliott (What Happens at Christmas). She is stunned to see her "adventure" walk into the room with Gray and dismayed to discover that he is one of Gray's best friends who has come for the wedding. Worried that he'll do or say something about their encounter, she waylays him and insists on secrecy. Sam, who hasn't been able to forget her, agrees, but only to keep the peace for now.
I have to say that, especially at the beginning, I didn't like Delilah at all. Except for that brief moment in New York, she came across as snobby, uptight, and occasionally just plain mean. As the book goes on, a little bit of why is revealed. Like her sisters, she was raised to do the proper and expected thing, so she married the man her mother chose for her and became the perfect wife. She even fell in love with her husband, only to find that he didn't feel the same about her, though the full details don't come out until later in the book. When Sam appears she is extremely rude to him, which made me like her even less. However, it quickly becomes obvious that she's reacting out of a sense of fear. That one night with him roused feelings in her that scared her, and now she's trying to protect her heart. She wants to marry again, but has definite ideas of what she wants, and a brash American isn't it.
On the other hand, I did like Sam. He's been burned in the past by a woman who was more interested in what he had than who he was. In spite of that, he still believes in love and marriage, and wants it for himself. He's not really happy with the way Delilah wants to hide what they had, but he's a gentleman and agrees.
I loved the development of their relationship. Delilah is determined to deny what is between them, and Sam is equally determined that she admit it. The sparks fly between them, as she continually tries to push him away and he refuses to be pushed. It was fun to see the tradition-loving Delilah and the progressive Sam butt heads over which one was right about such modern inventions as the "motorwagon" by Mr. Benz. I also liked seeing them move from adversaries to friends. Though she refuses to see it, they really do have a fair amount in common, which shows when they actually spend some time together. I loved the support that he gave her when she discovered some shocking news about her late husband. Sam wants to pursue the possibilities that he sees in front of them, but she insists that they are too different. Even after she admits to her sisters that she loves him, she still refuses to consider a life with him. I ached for Sam because he loved her so much and he couldn't get through to her. He's all set to give up on her when a blast from his past makes him realize that giving up is the wrong thing to do. The ending was pretty sweet with his "contract" and the way she had already come to her senses.
Throughout the book I also enjoyed the friendship that was there between Sam and Gray. They are good enough friends that Sam is able to ask for advice. There are some pretty amusing conversations between them, including one that takes place as the wedding gets closer and Camille is driving Gray nuts. I also liked seeing the advances in the relationship between Delilah and her sisters Camille and Beryl. There were still glimpses of the old issues, but their support for her was always there.
December 10, 2016
Entertaining, straightforward novel. This one actually opened pretty daringly, with quite a unique ploy to grab the reader's attention. I like how innovative and full of the excitement of invention Alexander's books sometimes are. Sort of set on the cusp of modernity. It lends to a faster paced story with characters who have more flexibility in terms of their actions, while still being set in an interesting time period which the author has sufficiently researched (or at the least she gives a very good impression of having done so, lol).
While I've read that some people thought the heroine to be a tad cold, I liked her from the start. She seemed pretty typically British uppercrust, high in the instep, prejudiced against Americans and set in her ways.
We just are maybe used to more innocence and charm and egalitarian attitudes from heroines, but she was as she was raised to be, and seemed realistic to me. And at her age she was no longer a fluttery debutante but a mature widow who valued tradition and had recently been made aware once again of how precarious a woman's position could be. She was relateable enough, despite being wound a little tightly.
I found interesting too the take on sibling tensions in the book. Friendships were also quite well-conveyed.
Hero was of course funny, charming and patient with her, and all those other assorted good qualities. Nice to have a blond hero for a change, one gets tired of the tall dark and handsome schtick. Last few chapters dragged a bit and were a little cheesy, what with the ex fiancée guest appearance and the 'should I fight or give up' loop the characters were on. But overall it is a quick easy and enjoyable read. Perhaps not a favorite or a spectacular 'romance for the ages' but worthy of at least 4 stars because it was quite well executed.
Excerpt- “What is your favorite place in London?” It was the first thing that popped into his mind.
“My favorite?” She studied him cautiously. “Why do you want to know?”
“I thought you might like to show me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why would I want to do that?”
“My God, you’re a stubborn woman.” He shook his head. “I’m trying to be friends.”
“Oh, well.” She waved her hand at him. “Go on then."
While I've read that some people thought the heroine to be a tad cold, I liked her from the start. She seemed pretty typically British uppercrust, high in the instep, prejudiced against Americans and set in her ways.
We just are maybe used to more innocence and charm and egalitarian attitudes from heroines, but she was as she was raised to be, and seemed realistic to me. And at her age she was no longer a fluttery debutante but a mature widow who valued tradition and had recently been made aware once again of how precarious a woman's position could be. She was relateable enough, despite being wound a little tightly.
I found interesting too the take on sibling tensions in the book. Friendships were also quite well-conveyed.
Hero was of course funny, charming and patient with her, and all those other assorted good qualities. Nice to have a blond hero for a change, one gets tired of the tall dark and handsome schtick. Last few chapters dragged a bit and were a little cheesy, what with the ex fiancée guest appearance and the 'should I fight or give up' loop the characters were on. But overall it is a quick easy and enjoyable read. Perhaps not a favorite or a spectacular 'romance for the ages' but worthy of at least 4 stars because it was quite well executed.
Excerpt- “What is your favorite place in London?” It was the first thing that popped into his mind.
“My favorite?” She studied him cautiously. “Why do you want to know?”
“I thought you might like to show me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why would I want to do that?”
“My God, you’re a stubborn woman.” He shook his head. “I’m trying to be friends.”
“Oh, well.” She waved her hand at him. “Go on then."
April 8, 2014
Over a long time I read a wonderful historical romance book that did not include some mysterious "secret" that would end the life as we know it if it would come out. It was such a relief.
Victoria Alexander's book The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride (deem this title is a mouthful :)) is about two people, who shared an "adventure", who can't stop think about each other, but they have nothing else common with each other, than this not jet very sure love. He is from America and believes in love and fate, she is from England and considers all matters of heart not important, since she does not believe in love. But to the bystander - to a reader - they are a perfect match, they challenge each others intellect, their chemistry is off the chart, they fight and communicate with each other better that some couples who have lived all their lives together, she just dares not believe it could be for real and that it could last.
Those two characters are so well written, their dialogs are just delight to read, the family members around them are excellent example how an estranged family must come together again.
It was just an really pleasurable read.
Victoria Alexander's book The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride (deem this title is a mouthful :)) is about two people, who shared an "adventure", who can't stop think about each other, but they have nothing else common with each other, than this not jet very sure love. He is from America and believes in love and fate, she is from England and considers all matters of heart not important, since she does not believe in love. But to the bystander - to a reader - they are a perfect match, they challenge each others intellect, their chemistry is off the chart, they fight and communicate with each other better that some couples who have lived all their lives together, she just dares not believe it could be for real and that it could last.
Those two characters are so well written, their dialogs are just delight to read, the family members around them are excellent example how an estranged family must come together again.
It was just an really pleasurable read.
September 24, 2024
September Readathon
I spent the majority of the book wondering who I was supposed to be rooting for. Primarily, that was for the hero to make his escape.
I'm sure if you were a reader/fan of the previous books in this series that would go a long way to enjoying this one. Or even caring about it. As for me, given this was a book conference freebie pickup I then let languish forever before reading--and read without getting the books that came before it--I didn't know the large and jostling cast of characters and I didn't care about them.
So the pages and pages spent with sisters and their love matches and besties and their flirtations didn't have meaning for me. They were all fine, but nothing more.
Who wasn't fine was the heroine, who I never warmed to and, unfortunately, had me agreeing more than once with the hero's early, and angered, description of her as a bitch.
I get that she's supposed to be sheltered and naive, a bit behind the times with her ideas because of how she was taught to see the world and what expectations to have from it. I get that she also is supposed to feel forgotten and an afterthought. But none of those showed in a sympathetic way -- she was only brittle and intractable and mean-spirited. Even the times she gave into temptation to sleep with the hero, her heart wasn't obviously in it. More like someone married to a gay man awakening to there are actually carnal pleasures to be had with a man and wanting more of that, please.
(that gay husband died, she's a widow, and I clocked immediately he was gay; it was decently handled and no reason I shouldn't have figured it out immediately, it's not as if Alexander was trying to be coy about it.)
So now she's confused about her entire worldview, but she never gets a good, interesting, or nuanced confrontation of and transition from that. She's also super horny and has all these newfound needs that have gone unmet for way too long, and an attraction to a sweet and warm man who happens to be attracted to her back, and they mistake that for love.
I mean, they fall in love and run toward a HEA per the book, but I didn't buy in. Especially not built on a whirlwind dalliance she thought she could leave literally far behind and forget, and then three weeks of "omg i hate you / omg ravish me / omg you insufferable man / omg you hunk" would-be sparring (more like bickering and her being rude to him down to the wire, and him chasing after her anyway). When did they fall in love? and why?
She disliked him but couldn't stay away. He ... cared? felt sorry for? saw promise in her? and wouldn't stay away. I hope it goes better than that in their future, but I'm not sure it will.
I don't mind sparring couples or prickly characters. It's obviously a proven template for romance. But their sparring never progressed their story; the tenor of it didn't change until the very end when suddenly she decided she was in love and gave in. Their fighting didn't even reveal or relieve sexual frustration/tension. And her prickliness was one-note and mean, where his temperament was one-note and too decent.
Mostly I felt badly for the charming, sweet, and warm hero -- an AMERICAN (gasp! but also, a welcome inclusion in a Victorian-era story) -- and wanted better for him than this locked-in-tradition prissy young miss he had the hots for and, through his sense of decency and kindness, decided she could and would be so much more.
The device of ending almost every chapter on an interrogative and rejoinder got noticeable--and noticeable made it a bit annoying. "And all he really needed was a plan." It's not quite cliffhanger-make-them-turn-the-page writing, so it doesn't quite have that quality. It also means there's always the pursuit to set up a clever 'quip' to end every chapter, and that can get in the way of just addressing emotions and events.
Opening on the morning after isn't brand new, but it's different. And different for a historical of these mannered times. It didn't give the plot legs though, just top-heavy weight.
I did a fair bit of skimming. Interminable conversations with the cast of characters would, again, be great if you knew and cared about them. I didn't (my fault, not the author's).
I spent the majority of the book wondering who I was supposed to be rooting for. Primarily, that was for the hero to make his escape.
I'm sure if you were a reader/fan of the previous books in this series that would go a long way to enjoying this one. Or even caring about it. As for me, given this was a book conference freebie pickup I then let languish forever before reading--and read without getting the books that came before it--I didn't know the large and jostling cast of characters and I didn't care about them.
So the pages and pages spent with sisters and their love matches and besties and their flirtations didn't have meaning for me. They were all fine, but nothing more.
Who wasn't fine was the heroine, who I never warmed to and, unfortunately, had me agreeing more than once with the hero's early, and angered, description of her as a bitch.
I get that she's supposed to be sheltered and naive, a bit behind the times with her ideas because of how she was taught to see the world and what expectations to have from it. I get that she also is supposed to feel forgotten and an afterthought. But none of those showed in a sympathetic way -- she was only brittle and intractable and mean-spirited. Even the times she gave into temptation to sleep with the hero, her heart wasn't obviously in it. More like someone married to a gay man awakening to there are actually carnal pleasures to be had with a man and wanting more of that, please.
(that gay husband died, she's a widow, and I clocked immediately he was gay; it was decently handled and no reason I shouldn't have figured it out immediately, it's not as if Alexander was trying to be coy about it.)
So now she's confused about her entire worldview, but she never gets a good, interesting, or nuanced confrontation of and transition from that. She's also super horny and has all these newfound needs that have gone unmet for way too long, and an attraction to a sweet and warm man who happens to be attracted to her back, and they mistake that for love.
I mean, they fall in love and run toward a HEA per the book, but I didn't buy in. Especially not built on a whirlwind dalliance she thought she could leave literally far behind and forget, and then three weeks of "omg i hate you / omg ravish me / omg you insufferable man / omg you hunk" would-be sparring (more like bickering and her being rude to him down to the wire, and him chasing after her anyway). When did they fall in love? and why?
She disliked him but couldn't stay away. He ... cared? felt sorry for? saw promise in her? and wouldn't stay away. I hope it goes better than that in their future, but I'm not sure it will.
I don't mind sparring couples or prickly characters. It's obviously a proven template for romance. But their sparring never progressed their story; the tenor of it didn't change until the very end when suddenly she decided she was in love and gave in. Their fighting didn't even reveal or relieve sexual frustration/tension. And her prickliness was one-note and mean, where his temperament was one-note and too decent.
Mostly I felt badly for the charming, sweet, and warm hero -- an AMERICAN (gasp! but also, a welcome inclusion in a Victorian-era story) -- and wanted better for him than this locked-in-tradition prissy young miss he had the hots for and, through his sense of decency and kindness, decided she could and would be so much more.
The device of ending almost every chapter on an interrogative and rejoinder got noticeable--and noticeable made it a bit annoying. "And all he really needed was a plan." It's not quite cliffhanger-make-them-turn-the-page writing, so it doesn't quite have that quality. It also means there's always the pursuit to set up a clever 'quip' to end every chapter, and that can get in the way of just addressing emotions and events.
Opening on the morning after isn't brand new, but it's different. And different for a historical of these mannered times. It didn't give the plot legs though, just top-heavy weight.
I did a fair bit of skimming. Interminable conversations with the cast of characters would, again, be great if you knew and cared about them. I didn't (my fault, not the author's).
July 28, 2020
Novel ini dibuka dgn adegan Delilah yg menyelinap keluar dari kamar hotel Samuel Russell dan Delilah buru-buru memutuskan hubungan singkat ini walau Sam keberatan. Yg tidak diketahui Delilah adalah Sam itu sahabat baik Grayson, calon kakak iparnya.
Samuel datang utk menghadiri pernikahan Grayson dan Camille, kakak Delilah. Mrk terkejut bhw mrk bertemu lagi. Tapi sialnya Delilah tetap bertekad tidak mau hubungannya dgn Sam berlanjut walaupun bibit-bibit ketertarikan mereka terus berkembang.
Tadinya saya kira sifat Delilah ini hanya jinak-jinak merpati, tapi saya terkejut krn hingga nyaris novel berakhir, sifat keras kepala dan mood swing Delilah tetap "permanen". Saya gak suka dgn sikap Delilah yg selalu berusaha menjauhkan Sam dari dirinya, bukan krn keburukan sifat/fisik Sam, tapi krn ketiadaan gelar. Delilah ini cupet, kaku tidak pd tempatnya. Sombong juga krn menganggap cinta itu gak penting.
Saya kasihan dgn Sam yg diremehkan sedemikian rupa oleh Delilah. Kalau saya jadi Sam, gak bakal gw kejar tipe janda spt Delilah. Yep, Delilah adalah wanita yg pernah menikah dan suaminya sudah mati yg mewariskan kebohongan dan kesusahan dlm hidupnya saat ini.
Yg menarik dari novel ini hanya pd saat itu setting novel ini mengetengahkan penemuan mobil pertama kali yg siap dipromosikan, betapa banyaknya pandangan skeptis ttg mesin baru ini. Diselipkan juga adanya penemuan telpon dan listrik juga, yg nantinya akan membawa perubahan dunia di awal abad 20.
Samuel datang utk menghadiri pernikahan Grayson dan Camille, kakak Delilah. Mrk terkejut bhw mrk bertemu lagi. Tapi sialnya Delilah tetap bertekad tidak mau hubungannya dgn Sam berlanjut walaupun bibit-bibit ketertarikan mereka terus berkembang.
Tadinya saya kira sifat Delilah ini hanya jinak-jinak merpati, tapi saya terkejut krn hingga nyaris novel berakhir, sifat keras kepala dan mood swing Delilah tetap "permanen". Saya gak suka dgn sikap Delilah yg selalu berusaha menjauhkan Sam dari dirinya, bukan krn keburukan sifat/fisik Sam, tapi krn ketiadaan gelar. Delilah ini cupet, kaku tidak pd tempatnya. Sombong juga krn menganggap cinta itu gak penting.
Saya kasihan dgn Sam yg diremehkan sedemikian rupa oleh Delilah. Kalau saya jadi Sam, gak bakal gw kejar tipe janda spt Delilah. Yep, Delilah adalah wanita yg pernah menikah dan suaminya sudah mati yg mewariskan kebohongan dan kesusahan dlm hidupnya saat ini.
Yg menarik dari novel ini hanya pd saat itu setting novel ini mengetengahkan penemuan mobil pertama kali yg siap dipromosikan, betapa banyaknya pandangan skeptis ttg mesin baru ini. Diselipkan juga adanya penemuan telpon dan listrik juga, yg nantinya akan membawa perubahan dunia di awal abad 20.
November 27, 2018
Delilah drove me nuts. And the ending was so disappointing.
April 8, 2025
The love scenes were good and hot, but I was not a fan of the heroine. She was too cantankerous argumentative. I don't know the hero put up with her. Made it to chapter 15.
April 12, 2014
Originally reviewed for Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
What a great book! The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride is book Three in Victoria Alexander's Millworth Manor Series and like all Ms. Alexander's work it's unique and fun.
The title alone grabs you doesn't it? And even more so when you realise that the Sister involved is the epitome of all that is proper. But sometimes all that proper is hiding something.
Delilah, the very proper widowed Lady Hargate, wanted an adventure. For once she wanted to slip the bounds that held her tied to propriety and experience life. A trip with her sister to New York seemed just the thing. And when she met the very dashing assistant to Mr Moore, she thought this was it. A chance to be wild. So "Mrs. Hargrove" and a clandestine evening with "Mr. Moore" and that was it.
Samuel Russell a self made and very respected businessman, met the "slightly impoverished, distant relative" of his best friend's fiance and was instantly attracted. "Mrs. Hargate" mistook him for his assistant and he was quirky enough to let it slide, if it made her feel more at ease, who would it hurt? Instant attraction turns into something more and while he wishes she wanted more he respects her wishes to not see each other again.
Fast forward four months to the wedding of the century...Sam shows up to his best friend's wedding only to discover that Mrs. Hargate is really Lady Hargate and she's not the impoverished anything, she's the bride's sister. Who really wants to keep him delegated to the past. If only she really believed that all that doth protesting too much.. But Sam understands her stance if not her feelings and tries to respect her wishes, he really does. Except dealing with her is just too much fun.
You have to feel for Delilah, she has spent her entire life as the unwanted sister (to her beautiful older twin sisters). So she has made herself into the practical, dutiful daughter. She even managed to fall in love with the "perfect" husband her mother found for her. And he too rejected the real Delilah and only wanted the "perfect" shell. So one can understand her feelings about love. It's painful and not to be trusted.
Ms. Alexander does a wonderful job of sharing the story of rock meeting hard place. Delightfully strong characters without being strident or overbearing. Just two people who belong together and have to figure it out for themselves.
Excellent job!
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on April 29, 2014
What a great book! The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride is book Three in Victoria Alexander's Millworth Manor Series and like all Ms. Alexander's work it's unique and fun.
The title alone grabs you doesn't it? And even more so when you realise that the Sister involved is the epitome of all that is proper. But sometimes all that proper is hiding something.
Delilah, the very proper widowed Lady Hargate, wanted an adventure. For once she wanted to slip the bounds that held her tied to propriety and experience life. A trip with her sister to New York seemed just the thing. And when she met the very dashing assistant to Mr Moore, she thought this was it. A chance to be wild. So "Mrs. Hargrove" and a clandestine evening with "Mr. Moore" and that was it.
Samuel Russell a self made and very respected businessman, met the "slightly impoverished, distant relative" of his best friend's fiance and was instantly attracted. "Mrs. Hargate" mistook him for his assistant and he was quirky enough to let it slide, if it made her feel more at ease, who would it hurt? Instant attraction turns into something more and while he wishes she wanted more he respects her wishes to not see each other again.
Fast forward four months to the wedding of the century...Sam shows up to his best friend's wedding only to discover that Mrs. Hargate is really Lady Hargate and she's not the impoverished anything, she's the bride's sister. Who really wants to keep him delegated to the past. If only she really believed that all that doth protesting too much.. But Sam understands her stance if not her feelings and tries to respect her wishes, he really does. Except dealing with her is just too much fun.
You have to feel for Delilah, she has spent her entire life as the unwanted sister (to her beautiful older twin sisters). So she has made herself into the practical, dutiful daughter. She even managed to fall in love with the "perfect" husband her mother found for her. And he too rejected the real Delilah and only wanted the "perfect" shell. So one can understand her feelings about love. It's painful and not to be trusted.
Ms. Alexander does a wonderful job of sharing the story of rock meeting hard place. Delightfully strong characters without being strident or overbearing. Just two people who belong together and have to figure it out for themselves.
Excellent job!
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on April 29, 2014
May 25, 2014
I'm sorry, but I didn't think much of this one, provided by the publisher through netgalley, at all. It wasn't so much the setting (over-the-top modern interpretation of a Victorian wedding), or that the book seemed to be more about 3 sisters and their relationship than about the hero-heroine romance, or that it seemed too long or even that the heroine was possibly the most irritating heroine I've read in a long time. No, my aversion was caused by all 4 issues in one book.
Pondering over it, this one was rather a disappointment. It was set in the late Victorian era, when technological innovations such as electricity and motor vehicles were filtering down to society. I mean, how cool is that as a setting? The interplay between the traditional and the modern, all in a Victorian package! Well, I think it's kinda cool in a romance..
And the hero is wonderful. A creative, innovative, wry, sexy American businessman hero. You don't get too many of those in Victorian romances (more's the pity..).
And I'm willing even to forgive that the heroine is insufferable (and she is dire), simply because if the reader is able to understand and empathize with why a heroine behaves the way she does, then really, it just makes it all the more interesting to read.
I guess what really killed it for me was that nothing seemed to really happen until the heroine had (under emotional duress) told each of her 2 sisters, her mother and her BFF the whole deal, and they'd stuck their oar into the story. I'm really not a fan of the best friend/sister/mother/whoever involvement in romances. I like my heroines and heroes to be emotionally mature enough and mentally independent enough to stagger through their own lives, making their own mistakes, finding their own way, without an irritating Greek chorus of friends and family telling them how it should be done. Maybe that's just me, but even setting aside my own preferences, this book IMO relied far too much on secondary characters to carry it through. I guess because without their interference, the story would have focused far too much on the heroine's apparent lack of any redeeming personality traits.
Anyway, 2 stars. It was OK. I bumped it up one star, because I really liked the hero, but ultimately ended up pitying him for ending up with such an unpleasant woman.
Pondering over it, this one was rather a disappointment. It was set in the late Victorian era, when technological innovations such as electricity and motor vehicles were filtering down to society. I mean, how cool is that as a setting? The interplay between the traditional and the modern, all in a Victorian package! Well, I think it's kinda cool in a romance..
And the hero is wonderful. A creative, innovative, wry, sexy American businessman hero. You don't get too many of those in Victorian romances (more's the pity..).
And I'm willing even to forgive that the heroine is insufferable (and she is dire), simply because if the reader is able to understand and empathize with why a heroine behaves the way she does, then really, it just makes it all the more interesting to read.
I guess what really killed it for me was that nothing seemed to really happen until the heroine had (under emotional duress) told each of her 2 sisters, her mother and her BFF the whole deal, and they'd stuck their oar into the story. I'm really not a fan of the best friend/sister/mother/whoever involvement in romances. I like my heroines and heroes to be emotionally mature enough and mentally independent enough to stagger through their own lives, making their own mistakes, finding their own way, without an irritating Greek chorus of friends and family telling them how it should be done. Maybe that's just me, but even setting aside my own preferences, this book IMO relied far too much on secondary characters to carry it through. I guess because without their interference, the story would have focused far too much on the heroine's apparent lack of any redeeming personality traits.
Anyway, 2 stars. It was OK. I bumped it up one star, because I really liked the hero, but ultimately ended up pitying him for ending up with such an unpleasant woman.
April 19, 2014
Victoria AlexanderWhat does an Arrogant American man and a proper English lady have in common? Absolutely nothing, but that is what makes this story so funny, special and heart warming!
Lady Delilah Hargate has always been the perfect and proper English lady and has never strayed off her path. When she chaperones her sister, Camille and her fiancé, Grayson to New York, she decides since no one knows her that she is going to have an Adventure. That adventure includes a sexy 'so-called' employee of Grayson's named Mr. Samuel Russell. When she realizes she bite off more than she could chew, she flees his hotel room and then insults Sam by saying, "It never happened!"
Sam Russell is a self-made wealthy man, and Grayson best friend. After Mrs. Hargate flees New York, he can't get her out of his mind or his dreams. He decides to go to the wedding early and find her. What he finds when they meet again face to face, is a very proper English Lady! What Delilah discovers is a man who could steal her heart.
This two characters are complete opposites. Delilah loves English tradition and Sam loves to embrace the changing world. She wants to marry for money and a title and he wants to marry for love. Delilah loves horses and he loves his new motorwagon.
Ms. Alexander writes great arguments between this two characters. I felt like I was watching a tennis match (there is one in the story), with all the bards going back and forth between them. She writes all this hilariousness at the Millworth Manor with a great cast of crazy characters. I really loved Lady Teddy and I hope she has her own story too. Ms. Alexander made me laugh, snort (SNAUGH) and even cry out in frustration and that what makes an absolutely fantastic book for me. I give this MISADVENTURE 4 fingers up and 8 toes!!
Reviewed from a NetGalley ARC.
May 2, 2014
The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride is such a handful to say when people asked me what book was I reading, yet for some reason, very easy to remember; so bravo Miss Alexander for the clever title. I love this book and was totally disappointed at the ending. Let me tell you why.
Visit my blog for the rest of my review at:
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Visit my blog for the rest of my review at:
http://swanangel15home.blogspot.com/2...
February 28, 2014
Victoria Alexander has a pen as sharp as her characters' wit! At last the awaited return of all who reside at Millworth Manor we await the upcoming wedding of Camille and Grayson at Millworth Manor! I enjoyed this story immensely!
April 2, 2014
I received this in exchange for an honest review on NetGalley. I actually really enjoyed it. The book was really funny and such a great read. I did not even realize that this was part of a series but I am looking forward to reading more for her.
April 26, 2014
4/5 (B)
March 31, 2014
Awesome book. It had a great storyline, wonderfully witty banter and overall it was a great read.
April 8, 2014
I, really, enjoyed this book. The main characters were quite funny throughout. It had a great story and love wins out in the end. A great read, indeed.
July 14, 2015
Hotness Rating 3 out of 5
Review to come...
Review to come...
September 4, 2016
this was so dramatique
January 18, 2022
First off, I understand that this is book 3 of series (didn't know that when I bought it), but, why do we start out at the hotel, after the 2 main characters have met, talked, went on a walk, and oh, yeah, had sex? So, we pick up (page 1) with her literally leaving the bed, some chatting, and then, months later, the two of them meet again, where she's rude, and he's nice. She's angry that she has to see him again (it was supposed to be a one night stand). Okay, sure, whatever. But, then, bam, they are admitting to themselves and then each other, that they love each other (it's only been 6 days, people) and they're engaged at the end of the book (something like 18 days later). Um, seriously? Where was the romance? If she didn't like him, they weren't talking, or he was off in London or something. And having sex and falling in love with someone in LESS THAN A WEEK, isn't romantic, it's rushed. The parts that dragged (did there really need to be 6 pages of her talking to her sisters and friend about the wedding?), well, they dragged the whole story down. And the romance, I just kept looking for it.
Second off; why is there a bride on the cover? Yes, the main girl is attending a wedding, but, it's not HER wedding, that's supposed to be her, right? She never gets into a wedding gown, and even if she did, she's a widow (they wouldn't have worn white, it's mentioned in the book, because her sister that is getting married is also a widow and is wearing BLUE! Can't wear white that's for virgins). So, why is there just a random bride picture? Sorry, with a cover like that, I thought the book would have been about her wedding, my bad.
Lastly, I felt cheated. When I started the book, all the good stuff had already happened. The first looks, the first kiss, the first blush of romance. It was like the author went "Nope, let's get to the real story, the...uh, the sister's wedding?" That big skip, made the whole thing feel as if I had started a book about half way through. Like I was reading the wrap up. If certain scenes had been left out (taking a page to tell me about a cousin, then another page to met said cousin, and again reminding me that that cousin is poor) there would have been enough pages left to at least briefly give me the first kiss or more. But, no, I walked in, a little late. Thanks.
Other than that, it wasn't a bad book. Probably is perfect with the other books in the series. This one just felt rushed, passed over, and an 'oh, yeah, I probably need to find a husband for the last sister' kind of thing. It was still cute and even had a few funny parts, but, for me, I wouldn't read it again.
Second off; why is there a bride on the cover? Yes, the main girl is attending a wedding, but, it's not HER wedding, that's supposed to be her, right? She never gets into a wedding gown, and even if she did, she's a widow (they wouldn't have worn white, it's mentioned in the book, because her sister that is getting married is also a widow and is wearing BLUE! Can't wear white that's for virgins). So, why is there just a random bride picture? Sorry, with a cover like that, I thought the book would have been about her wedding, my bad.
Lastly, I felt cheated. When I started the book, all the good stuff had already happened. The first looks, the first kiss, the first blush of romance. It was like the author went "Nope, let's get to the real story, the...uh, the sister's wedding?" That big skip, made the whole thing feel as if I had started a book about half way through. Like I was reading the wrap up. If certain scenes had been left out (taking a page to tell me about a cousin, then another page to met said cousin, and again reminding me that that cousin is poor) there would have been enough pages left to at least briefly give me the first kiss or more. But, no, I walked in, a little late. Thanks.
Other than that, it wasn't a bad book. Probably is perfect with the other books in the series. This one just felt rushed, passed over, and an 'oh, yeah, I probably need to find a husband for the last sister' kind of thing. It was still cute and even had a few funny parts, but, for me, I wouldn't read it again.
June 17, 2024
Ughh I think my opinion of this book echoed with what others had to say about Delilah. She was exasperating, idiotic and mean-spirited towards Samuel who was obviously such a sweetheart. He had been so smitten with her ever since their tryst together in New York but Delilah tried so hard to forget about it so that she won’t get her heart broken again. Samuel had another opportunity to see her again by attending his friend’s wedding in London (who also happened to be her future brother-in-law) so he travelled all the way to London and decided to spend a few weeks there until the wedding. Delilah, who was oblivious to his plans, was gobsmacked upon seeing him there. So she came up with ideas to thwart his plan on courting her so he’d leave for America for good. Honestly at this point, she was a lost cause. I honestly didn’t understand what the author was trying to achieve by writing a stiff neck character as her as I truly believe Samuel deserved someone a whole lot better, possibly someone with a bit more brain cells than all of them combined. Someone like Teddy. I was so close to DNF-ing the book but as I was only about 50 pages away till the final page, I might as well make it to the finishing line.
August 31, 2018
"The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride" was the first book I had read from Victoria Alexander. It semi-held my attention with the story of Delilah and Sam. They meet for the first time in New York and have what she called "adventure" (physical). After their first meeting, Sam thinks about her all the time. Surprising her by going to London for a wedding who happens to be her sister who is getting married. Of Course, Delilah is surprised, but also trying hard throughout the story to get rid of him. There were some moments in the story where I was surprised by certain outcomes of certain characters in the story (will not say much to give away part of the story). Overall, it was a good written story. I do recommend her book.
June 25, 2018
Le moins bon des 3. J'ai trouvé l'héroïne terriblement pénible. Elle s'améliore un peu pendant le deuxième tiers du livre, avant de redevenir désagréable. Je ne comprend vraiment pas ce que le héros lui trouve. Ce livre a le même défaut que le premier tome : les émotions sont trop lisses, elles manquent d'intensité et de passion. Quand les personnages ont soi-disant le coeur brisé, je n'ai absolument pas ressenti leur tristesse. Je n'ai pas non plus ressenti les émotions de Delilah lors du revirement final. Elle renonce pourtant a tous ses principes et affronte ses peurs. Et puis il y a moins d'humour que dans les 2 premiers tomes. Dommage.
August 27, 2018
The one thing that always drives me crazy when reading this particular genre is the amount of toadying expected when dealing with the wealthier class in this genre.
What drives me even crazier though is how women were supposed to be pure as the driven snow, both married and unmarried females, yet the males could be bed hoppers and still be considered gentlemen rather than bounders.
There are a few other peeves but that is a big one.
Delilah and Samuels will they or won't they relationship woes may have been overcome with an HEA but it almost was not worth waiting for at times.
What drives me even crazier though is how women were supposed to be pure as the driven snow, both married and unmarried females, yet the males could be bed hoppers and still be considered gentlemen rather than bounders.
There are a few other peeves but that is a big one.
Delilah and Samuels will they or won't they relationship woes may have been overcome with an HEA but it almost was not worth waiting for at times.
October 31, 2021
Although this book is part of a series and I never read any of the other novels I was able to follow the plot very easily. The writing style is eaay to read and I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. The only drawback for me was that there was a certain level of repetition on the part of the heroine, the back and forth of how she was to deal with her relationship with Sam got to be boring and I was hoping something would happen to break cycle. It's an OK novel and helped pass the time on a slow weekend but I don't feel inclined to look for the other books in the series or anything else written this author.
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