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Regency Reimagined #0.5
Bound to Be a Bride: A Novella
An exciting erotic novella from acclaimed author Megan Mulry set in Napoleonic Spain. Featuring the sensual art of Japanese rope binding, this is a fresh and intriguing spin on BDSM.
Seventeen-year-old Isabella (Doña Isabella de Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba), daughter of the Duke of Feria, is preparing for her arranged marriage to the son of a wealthy aristocrat. On the morning of her wedding day, after weeks of planning, Isabella escapes from the palace, believing she is riding to freedom.
Unfortunately, after only a few hours on horseback, Isabella happens upon a small band of three gentlemen who restrain her and take her hostage. Ultimately, after they realize she is most likely a woman of privilege, they offer their assistance, as all of them are also headed to Aveiro, a port city in Portugal, to escape their familial obligations.
While they are travelling, Isabella and Javier, the leader, develop a tender affection. When Javi (Francisco Javier de la Mina) insists on binding Isabella's wrists and ankles each night—ostensibly to prevent her escape or theft of their goods-the ritual soon turns into a heated game of unspoken sexual promise that is ultimately consummated when they discover their true identities.
87 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
33 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Megan Mulry
14 books206 followersMegan Mulry writes sexy, stylish, romantic fiction. Her first book, A Royal Pain, was an NPR Best Book of 2012 and USA Today bestseller. Before discovering her passion for romance novels, she worked in publishing and finance in New York and London. She now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 8, 2013
Isabella has been locked away in a convent for years, following every rule and dictate from her father. Now that she is a woman her father has even chosen her husband. Desperate for freedom, Isabella hatches a plot to escape her arranged marriage and head to England.
Javi is an aristocrat and a revolutionist. He is also an expert in hojojutsu (the art of rope binding). He desires a woman who will appreciate his desires and skills and knows that a convent raised wife is not the woman for him. He plans to escape to Mexico and continue his revolutionary fight against Napoleon’s rule there.
Isabella and Javi end up in the same woods at the same time running from their marriage to each other.
What a great concept - Running from a marriage and ending up in each other’s company and discovering who they really are... The story was entertaining although I found some of the plot implausible. The sexual tension builds through out the entire book till the end and most of it included ropes.
Bound to Be a Bride was a quick, easy, entertaining read.
This ARC copy of Bound to Be A Bride was given to me by Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication on April 2, 2013.
Javi is an aristocrat and a revolutionist. He is also an expert in hojojutsu (the art of rope binding). He desires a woman who will appreciate his desires and skills and knows that a convent raised wife is not the woman for him. He plans to escape to Mexico and continue his revolutionary fight against Napoleon’s rule there.
Isabella and Javi end up in the same woods at the same time running from their marriage to each other.
What a great concept - Running from a marriage and ending up in each other’s company and discovering who they really are... The story was entertaining although I found some of the plot implausible. The sexual tension builds through out the entire book till the end and most of it included ropes.
Bound to Be a Bride was a quick, easy, entertaining read.
This ARC copy of Bound to Be A Bride was given to me by Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication on April 2, 2013.
December 19, 2017
I finished this book in one sitting because It was fast paced.
We meet a girl named Isabella who has spent all her life in a convent surrounded by all girls and no men around...her father let's her out of there, only to be betrothed to a very rich and sofisticado man which she does not know. So she does her only option she can think about, running away.
'Javi' has always followed his fathers orders...questioning but always grants his wishes. But once he is told he has to marry some girl named Isabella he runs away to go to Mexico to be free from his father. Soon the two find each other under different identities. There world will be connected like never before.
😒SPOILERS😒
I loved this story, I will say I wanted more of their after story, like how many kids they had and what happened to Luz, this story was good, I highly recommend it. I did think the ropes where a little too kinky but I was down for it
We meet a girl named Isabella who has spent all her life in a convent surrounded by all girls and no men around...her father let's her out of there, only to be betrothed to a very rich and sofisticado man which she does not know. So she does her only option she can think about, running away.
'Javi' has always followed his fathers orders...questioning but always grants his wishes. But once he is told he has to marry some girl named Isabella he runs away to go to Mexico to be free from his father. Soon the two find each other under different identities. There world will be connected like never before.
😒SPOILERS😒
I loved this story, I will say I wanted more of their after story, like how many kids they had and what happened to Luz, this story was good, I highly recommend it. I did think the ropes where a little too kinky but I was down for it
May 25, 2013
Grade: D+
This story was all over the place, especially the wildly inconsistent, nearly-TSTL heroine and her education at the Convent of Handy Outdoor Survival Techniques.
She had proved quite amenable, showing admirable equestrian and culinary skills and generally not making a nuisance of herself.
This story was all over the place, especially the wildly inconsistent, nearly-TSTL heroine and her education at the Convent of Handy Outdoor Survival Techniques.
January 5, 2020
There were aspects of this that were fun enough to keep me reading--Javi and Isabella's banter being the key one--but most of it was a little too rushed, a little too contrived, a little too inconsistent. Since I know absolutely nothing about this part of history, I can't comment on its accuracy, but I will say that Isabella's time at the convent teaching her hard work is believable, but the survival skills, not so much.
Good thing the runaway bride meets up with her runaway husband almost immediately so he and his companions can look after her.
This is interesting, in a way, though, as an example of a narrative style that keeps everything snappy and interesting even when the plot or the characters fall apart the second you examine them closely. Isabella is an inconsistent mess of wantonness and sudden shyness; Javi is hell-bent on being a revolutionary and not a husband, until he gets a sweet little thing who likes to be tied up, and then he's fine with staying in Spain and being himself again for a while. (Actually, now that I type that out, his character arc does make a fair bit of sense in context, it's just very rushed. Isabella's still a flip-floppy nightmare.) The entire point of the novella, two people running away from their own marriage only to find each other anyway, is ridiculous to the point where you can almost appreciate it just for its brazenness as a romance plot. So this is bad, yet somehow still really fun? Usually when I rate something this low by a new-to-me author, I'll ditch whatever other books of theirs I have on my TBR, but the first Regency Reimagined novel, which I also own, sounds a lot like this--kinky fun without being worried too much about making sense. I'm surprisingly okay with that.
Good thing the runaway bride meets up with her runaway husband almost immediately so he and his companions can look after her.
This is interesting, in a way, though, as an example of a narrative style that keeps everything snappy and interesting even when the plot or the characters fall apart the second you examine them closely. Isabella is an inconsistent mess of wantonness and sudden shyness; Javi is hell-bent on being a revolutionary and not a husband, until he gets a sweet little thing who likes to be tied up, and then he's fine with staying in Spain and being himself again for a while. (Actually, now that I type that out, his character arc does make a fair bit of sense in context, it's just very rushed. Isabella's still a flip-floppy nightmare.) The entire point of the novella, two people running away from their own marriage only to find each other anyway, is ridiculous to the point where you can almost appreciate it just for its brazenness as a romance plot. So this is bad, yet somehow still really fun? Usually when I rate something this low by a new-to-me author, I'll ditch whatever other books of theirs I have on my TBR, but the first Regency Reimagined novel, which I also own, sounds a lot like this--kinky fun without being worried too much about making sense. I'm surprisingly okay with that.
August 13, 2015
“Bound to be a Bride” by Megan Mulry is a rather short novella, under 100 pages. It’s my 2nd Megan Mulry book, a freebee from Amazon. Usually I don’t read anything that short but after “Bound with Honor” I wanted to give it a try.
Doña Isabella de Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba (yes, it is a rather long and complicated name but being a historian and European I am used to Spanish names) is the 17 year old daughter of a very influential Spanish Duke, the Duke of Feria. Up to the day she was living in a cloister to be educated by nuns about the chaste way of living. Isabella hated it.
But now her father arranged a marriage, like they always did, to a wealthy son of another aristocratic family. Isabella sees only one way – she has to run away, escape.
Francisco Javier de la Mina, the groom to be, has the same idea about marriage. He doesn’t want to be bond to a boring grey girl from a nunnery only because their parents think their connection is perfect. And he is also in contact with the revolutionaries.
Nevertheless she plans her escape and succeeds. In the woods she stumbles into three men who hold her because she isn’t revealing her real identity nor are they. Javier likes to tie her up at night so she has no possibility to escape or steal anything and he does it in a very passionate way without hurting her. At night he studies her and sees the pleasure all over her face.
To call this a BDSM novel with a bondage focus is a little bit much. Yes, Javier likes to use his Japanese rope binding techniques but there isn’t that much erotic involved to call it BDSM, maybe in the last 10% of the book.
Everybody knows that I am no fan of novellas and with this one I really have to say that she could have stretched it to 300 pages easily because she likes to work with details in some scenes and if she’d worked it all over the book it would have been fantastic.
The story itself is very predictable and well researched but nevertheless unrealistic but I don’t mind it if there is some romance, erotic or whatever in it. Aren’t most of the regency novels quite unrealistic? And we all love them.
Unfortunately the end is missed out. SPOILER: both families are searching for them and all the parents arrive at the port minutes before they step on the ship. I mean: Really? Shouldn’t they look separately for them because they do not really know that they have found each other? They only have found out about an hour before who they really were and so on. And of course all the parents excuse their escape….
Rating: 3***
Doña Isabella de Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba (yes, it is a rather long and complicated name but being a historian and European I am used to Spanish names) is the 17 year old daughter of a very influential Spanish Duke, the Duke of Feria. Up to the day she was living in a cloister to be educated by nuns about the chaste way of living. Isabella hated it.
But now her father arranged a marriage, like they always did, to a wealthy son of another aristocratic family. Isabella sees only one way – she has to run away, escape.
Francisco Javier de la Mina, the groom to be, has the same idea about marriage. He doesn’t want to be bond to a boring grey girl from a nunnery only because their parents think their connection is perfect. And he is also in contact with the revolutionaries.
Nevertheless she plans her escape and succeeds. In the woods she stumbles into three men who hold her because she isn’t revealing her real identity nor are they. Javier likes to tie her up at night so she has no possibility to escape or steal anything and he does it in a very passionate way without hurting her. At night he studies her and sees the pleasure all over her face.
To call this a BDSM novel with a bondage focus is a little bit much. Yes, Javier likes to use his Japanese rope binding techniques but there isn’t that much erotic involved to call it BDSM, maybe in the last 10% of the book.
Everybody knows that I am no fan of novellas and with this one I really have to say that she could have stretched it to 300 pages easily because she likes to work with details in some scenes and if she’d worked it all over the book it would have been fantastic.
The story itself is very predictable and well researched but nevertheless unrealistic but I don’t mind it if there is some romance, erotic or whatever in it. Aren’t most of the regency novels quite unrealistic? And we all love them.
Unfortunately the end is missed out. SPOILER: both families are searching for them and all the parents arrive at the port minutes before they step on the ship. I mean: Really? Shouldn’t they look separately for them because they do not really know that they have found each other? They only have found out about an hour before who they really were and so on. And of course all the parents excuse their escape….
Rating: 3***
April 4, 2013
Read full review at ReadingToTheStarsAndBack
** Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an eARC of this book. **
I really don’t understand why this has such low ratings on Goodreads. It’s a short read, full of sensual, sexy scenes and did I mention…a dashing Spaniard? **swoon**
Isabelle is getting married. It’s an arranged marriage, and she has never met the man in question. She has become tired of her father’s dictatorship and decides to ran away. On the road she meets the very man she was supposed to marry. But of course, she doesn’t know this yet.
Isabelle and Javier grow fond of each other in, what, two nights? Yes, it’s a bit insta-love but it works. This is only a short story. I read it in an evening with a glass of diet coke, most delicious!
I cannot explain why I love novels like this so much! (Is this classed as a novel? I’m not sure of the page count, or word count. It might be a novella.) They just give me a warm fuzzy feeling!
I’m such a girl! Somebody slap me.
I honestly would recommend you check this book out (if you don’t mind descriptive, sensual scenes.) !
April 24, 2013
For this review and more my blog
Bound to be a Bride sounded awesome I really liked the sound of the storyline and the historical setting. In the end I found this book to be readable but it was a little all over the place.
The characters were decent but seemed to fluctuate in their personalities constantly, especially Isabella. One minute she was rubbing against Javi and desperate to be with him intimately. The next moment she didn’t want him to touch her because it was wrong, even though they were married. The whole book had been building up to this moment and in the end he had to practically force himself upon her.
I was also hoping that the hojojutsu would be involved more. It was mentioned in the blurb and I thought it would be more central to the story but it wasn’t.
Bound to be a Bride is an ok romance but it failed to truly grip me and I wanted a little more.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Bound to be a Bride sounded awesome I really liked the sound of the storyline and the historical setting. In the end I found this book to be readable but it was a little all over the place.
The characters were decent but seemed to fluctuate in their personalities constantly, especially Isabella. One minute she was rubbing against Javi and desperate to be with him intimately. The next moment she didn’t want him to touch her because it was wrong, even though they were married. The whole book had been building up to this moment and in the end he had to practically force himself upon her.
I was also hoping that the hojojutsu would be involved more. It was mentioned in the blurb and I thought it would be more central to the story but it wasn’t.
Bound to be a Bride is an ok romance but it failed to truly grip me and I wanted a little more.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
July 15, 2018
Splendid story
Isabella and Javier’s story reads like a classic comedy of errors only to reveal the truth at the end. I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to reading more from this author.
Isabella and Javier’s story reads like a classic comedy of errors only to reveal the truth at the end. I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to reading more from this author.
June 8, 2025
As a historical European steamy romance, this novel is a niche intriguing read. Whisking you away to a different time and place with different rules for women, the "unlikable" characters and their own journeys become hard to disagree with.
December 29, 2017
WOW!
This was a very, very good story and for it to be short, it totally kept my interest throughout. I'm looking forward to reading other books by Megan.
This was a very, very good story and for it to be short, it totally kept my interest throughout. I'm looking forward to reading other books by Megan.
November 5, 2018
Not bad for a freebie.
Skipped through some of the more boring parts.
Skipped through some of the more boring parts.
February 26, 2024
It was ok. Not enough to Like/Love. Too quick, too soon but then again it is a novella...
March 8, 2017
Did not like. The historical setting didn't seem to gel. From the description, I expected more bondage than I got.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2013
Sometimes song titles pop into my head when I'm reading a book and this time it was "Band on the Run" -- Javi and his band of brothers (mini-band, three of them in all) -- are hell bent for leather to reach the Atlantic coast -- and freedom to pursue their revolutionary activities. Convent raised Isabella is a bride on the run, determined to embrace her inchoate yearnings for freedom and a life without rules. This being a delightful novella, short and sweet, it doesn't take long for a young lady dressed in peasant garb to encounter three young travellers, in the woods outside her father's estate.
Often in historical novellas the protagonists speak frankly about sex, explore all the possibilities tout suite and generally are 100% embarrassment free -- take one experienced rake, add one nubile and curious virgin, shake 'em up and let the good times roll. Bound to be a Bride is sensual and mesmerizing, marrying Javi's knowledge of and affection for Japanese rope binding with Isabella's increasingly fervid dreams of passion and love, after Javi ties her up each evening (so that she won't run away) but the passion between the pair unfolds believably and beautifully.
When I read the arc to Bound to be a Bride (please note, also, that I know the author, Megan Mulry) I enjoyed the story very much, even though I am not much of a camper and the tale in set in the woods of Spain. Where I really fell heads over heels was when the group reined in their horses and looked down on Aveiro:
"A few hours later, as the four riders pulled their horses to a halt, the city of Aveiro spread out before them. Isabella had never been anywhere in her life. She had been in her father's castle. She had been in the convent outside of Burgos. She had been in a closed carriage between the two.
Here, stretched out in front of her, was a teeming array of pale terracotta rooftops, glistening turquoise canals, and beyond, the beckoning infinite sapphire Atlantic with the city's famous piles of blindingly white salt drying in the bright sun along the shoreline.
Javier stared at the girl's profile as she admired the city. Her cheeks were ruddier than they'd been just a few days before. None of them had had the benefit of a proper bath for many days, and the earthiness suited her. She was flushed and captivated by the city's splendor."
One can only imagine the life that lay before this willful, adventurous aristocratic couple. Passion and courage, intellectual arguments and ingrained devotion to the land ... it's all there at their feet, waiting to be grasped and savoured. I loved it and hope that Mulry's imagination will tell me more about her convent friend Anna, and Javi's comrades, the noble Sebastian and well-educated peasant Marco.
An aside, was it something in the water? How is it that three solitary writers, in late 2012 and early 2013, all bound us up in the magic of sensual rope binding? Kudos to Kleypas and Calhoun and Mulry.
Often in historical novellas the protagonists speak frankly about sex, explore all the possibilities tout suite and generally are 100% embarrassment free -- take one experienced rake, add one nubile and curious virgin, shake 'em up and let the good times roll. Bound to be a Bride is sensual and mesmerizing, marrying Javi's knowledge of and affection for Japanese rope binding with Isabella's increasingly fervid dreams of passion and love, after Javi ties her up each evening (so that she won't run away) but the passion between the pair unfolds believably and beautifully.
When I read the arc to Bound to be a Bride (please note, also, that I know the author, Megan Mulry) I enjoyed the story very much, even though I am not much of a camper and the tale in set in the woods of Spain. Where I really fell heads over heels was when the group reined in their horses and looked down on Aveiro:
"A few hours later, as the four riders pulled their horses to a halt, the city of Aveiro spread out before them. Isabella had never been anywhere in her life. She had been in her father's castle. She had been in the convent outside of Burgos. She had been in a closed carriage between the two.
Here, stretched out in front of her, was a teeming array of pale terracotta rooftops, glistening turquoise canals, and beyond, the beckoning infinite sapphire Atlantic with the city's famous piles of blindingly white salt drying in the bright sun along the shoreline.
Javier stared at the girl's profile as she admired the city. Her cheeks were ruddier than they'd been just a few days before. None of them had had the benefit of a proper bath for many days, and the earthiness suited her. She was flushed and captivated by the city's splendor."
One can only imagine the life that lay before this willful, adventurous aristocratic couple. Passion and courage, intellectual arguments and ingrained devotion to the land ... it's all there at their feet, waiting to be grasped and savoured. I loved it and hope that Mulry's imagination will tell me more about her convent friend Anna, and Javi's comrades, the noble Sebastian and well-educated peasant Marco.
An aside, was it something in the water? How is it that three solitary writers, in late 2012 and early 2013, all bound us up in the magic of sensual rope binding? Kudos to Kleypas and Calhoun and Mulry.
August 21, 2013
Somehow I got it into my head that this book was labeled ���erotica.��� Because of this, my main thought when it came time to review it was ���huh��� for a book labeled erotica there���s sure not a whole lot of smexing going on.���
Wait, let me explain.
I actually read the blurb for this book on Netgalley and I might have actually snorted when I thought ���this is too much, even for me.��� You can imagine my shock when I actually got the book��� I think it was an Idle Hands situation.
So now I���ve got what I���m assuming is an utterly ridiculous piece of smut (not that there���s anything wrong with utterly ridiculous pieces of smut, it���s just that my husband prefers me not to review them���) and I���m morally obligated to read and review it.
Crapballs, I think to myself, no what?
I did what any sensible person would do and read it. (It should be noted that my idea of sensible may differ greatly from your own. Actually, I���ve been told that my idea of sensible is so unsensible that it���s actually its own kind of irony.)
If you remember, my theme for the week has been ���and then I read more than three pages������
This title was no different.
Isabella and Javi are actually pretty great characters. They���re strong, stubborn, proud and fiercely attracted to each other. Even though it couldn���t come at a worse time, since they���re both fleeing from an arraigned marriage to this horrible stereotype of nobility in their era.
Or so they think.
The story is short and quick, and you do pick up on that as your reading, but honestly I don���t think it detracts much from the story. In fact, while I���m sure you could���ve expanded on this narrative, I���m not sure to do so would have been wise, and I (I spent 15 minutes trying to remember the word I wanted to use here, and couldn���t��� you get my second choice) and I applaud the author for recognizing that fact.
Now back to my main thought. While the narrative involves a great deal of Isabella being tied up, there���s actually relatively little time spent engaging in illicit activities. Well, aside from all the running away and revolution��� Illicit NAUGHTY activities. There, that���s better��� So if you like your smexy books to be heavier on the smexy, you might be disappointed.
Luckily I just enjoy reading about couples falling and/or being in love��� so it was all good in my book.
3 stars
Wait, let me explain.
I actually read the blurb for this book on Netgalley and I might have actually snorted when I thought ���this is too much, even for me.��� You can imagine my shock when I actually got the book��� I think it was an Idle Hands situation.
So now I���ve got what I���m assuming is an utterly ridiculous piece of smut (not that there���s anything wrong with utterly ridiculous pieces of smut, it���s just that my husband prefers me not to review them���) and I���m morally obligated to read and review it.
Crapballs, I think to myself, no what?
I did what any sensible person would do and read it. (It should be noted that my idea of sensible may differ greatly from your own. Actually, I���ve been told that my idea of sensible is so unsensible that it���s actually its own kind of irony.)
If you remember, my theme for the week has been ���and then I read more than three pages������
This title was no different.
Isabella and Javi are actually pretty great characters. They���re strong, stubborn, proud and fiercely attracted to each other. Even though it couldn���t come at a worse time, since they���re both fleeing from an arraigned marriage to this horrible stereotype of nobility in their era.
Or so they think.
The story is short and quick, and you do pick up on that as your reading, but honestly I don���t think it detracts much from the story. In fact, while I���m sure you could���ve expanded on this narrative, I���m not sure to do so would have been wise, and I (I spent 15 minutes trying to remember the word I wanted to use here, and couldn���t��� you get my second choice) and I applaud the author for recognizing that fact.
Now back to my main thought. While the narrative involves a great deal of Isabella being tied up, there���s actually relatively little time spent engaging in illicit activities. Well, aside from all the running away and revolution��� Illicit NAUGHTY activities. There, that���s better��� So if you like your smexy books to be heavier on the smexy, you might be disappointed.
Luckily I just enjoy reading about couples falling and/or being in love��� so it was all good in my book.
3 stars
October 3, 2015
I was looking forward to reading this book, how could I not? I love historical romances, especially if there is some spice in them and for some reason (I don't know what), I'd thought this one would have lots of it. Well, it didn't.
It doesn't matter anyway, it is still a good story. I just wonder how good it would've been had it been a full length novel.
Isabella grew up in a convent, the sisters taught her all there was to being the perfect wife, little do they know becoming the perfect wife isn't even on her list. Running away as fast and as far as she can is the only thought on her mind. The one thing Isabelle never counts on is stumbling upon the man she is running away from.
Javi doesn't care for marriage, in fact, he's running just the opposite direction. He has more important matters at hand, such as: going to Mexico...than marrying his bethrothed. Someone he's never met! Then, along comes a woman in the middle of the woods whom tempts him with every little thing she does. To his surprise, the woman happens to be the one he left at the altar, except he didn't, because truth be told, neither one of them ever intended to show up.
Bound to be a Bride is a fast paced historical romance with a bit of humor and a dash of spice.
It doesn't matter anyway, it is still a good story. I just wonder how good it would've been had it been a full length novel.
Isabella grew up in a convent, the sisters taught her all there was to being the perfect wife, little do they know becoming the perfect wife isn't even on her list. Running away as fast and as far as she can is the only thought on her mind. The one thing Isabelle never counts on is stumbling upon the man she is running away from.
Javi doesn't care for marriage, in fact, he's running just the opposite direction. He has more important matters at hand, such as: going to Mexico...than marrying his bethrothed. Someone he's never met! Then, along comes a woman in the middle of the woods whom tempts him with every little thing she does. To his surprise, the woman happens to be the one he left at the altar, except he didn't, because truth be told, neither one of them ever intended to show up.
Bound to be a Bride is a fast paced historical romance with a bit of humor and a dash of spice.
April 6, 2013
A unique historical romance novella. Bound to be a Bride was a good read, though it didn't completely work out for me.
I liked the characters. Isabella was strong, determined to gain her independence, and likable.
Javi was incredibly attractive, both in looks and personality, sweet, and a wonderful hero.
I liked how the whole rope-binding thing added a different element to this book. And how it added some extra spice to the bedroom scene.
I liked the story and I loved how it ended.
But, I couldn't get into the novella completely. I didn't feel like I was able to connect with the characters or the story, despite liking all of that. There wasn't any emotional investment. That may be because it was a novella and, perhaps, too short for becoming invested in the story. But, I've read other novellas that I still felt emotionally invested, despite the length.
I still liked Bound to be a Bride. I just didn't love it. I would still recommend it to romance lovers, since it was a good read. It just wasn't amazing.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy!
I liked the characters. Isabella was strong, determined to gain her independence, and likable.
Javi was incredibly attractive, both in looks and personality, sweet, and a wonderful hero.
I liked how the whole rope-binding thing added a different element to this book. And how it added some extra spice to the bedroom scene.
I liked the story and I loved how it ended.
But, I couldn't get into the novella completely. I didn't feel like I was able to connect with the characters or the story, despite liking all of that. There wasn't any emotional investment. That may be because it was a novella and, perhaps, too short for becoming invested in the story. But, I've read other novellas that I still felt emotionally invested, despite the length.
I still liked Bound to be a Bride. I just didn't love it. I would still recommend it to romance lovers, since it was a good read. It just wasn't amazing.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy!
July 13, 2014
This saucy novella, by new-to-me author Megan Mulry, takes place in Napoleonic era Spain and features two kindred and independent spirits.
Isabella has been raised in a convent, as many privileged women of her class, where she has been educated and groomed to be a bride to a wealthy and titled family’s son. But that’s not the life she wants for herself. So she intricately plans a journey, hiding her belongings along the way. She plans to escape and live independently, free of the constraints of any man.
"…they would live in a new world of freedom, where abusive, calculating men and complicit authoritative women would no longer control their destinies."
“A husband wanted a beautiful, charming, delightful wife, the nuns had explained to Isabella on the day she departed the convent. All Isabella could think during the entire two-hour recitation of their womanly wisdom was, How would you know?! None of them had ever been a wife.”
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/W9V0M0
Isabella has been raised in a convent, as many privileged women of her class, where she has been educated and groomed to be a bride to a wealthy and titled family’s son. But that’s not the life she wants for herself. So she intricately plans a journey, hiding her belongings along the way. She plans to escape and live independently, free of the constraints of any man.
"…they would live in a new world of freedom, where abusive, calculating men and complicit authoritative women would no longer control their destinies."
“A husband wanted a beautiful, charming, delightful wife, the nuns had explained to Isabella on the day she departed the convent. All Isabella could think during the entire two-hour recitation of their womanly wisdom was, How would you know?! None of them had ever been a wife.”
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/W9V0M0
March 25, 2013
Megan Mulry gives us hot and historical, two of my favorite things in a book. The hero, Javi, is based on a real person and the political climate of the book is also based on fact.
I love a spunky heroine and Isabella has spunk in spades. Javi is more interested in what he can do for his country than the bride he is supposed to be marrying. When they both run away from marrying a stranger they run into each other and the chemistry explodes.
I loved the historical accuracy, I love characters from the 1800's getting their kink on, I love the feisty heroine and the suave Spaniard hero. This is a novella so it is a quick read however it doesn't feel rushed or like half the story was left out. I would look forward to more books my Ms. Mulry and hope that future full length novels will be out soon.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
I love a spunky heroine and Isabella has spunk in spades. Javi is more interested in what he can do for his country than the bride he is supposed to be marrying. When they both run away from marrying a stranger they run into each other and the chemistry explodes.
I loved the historical accuracy, I love characters from the 1800's getting their kink on, I love the feisty heroine and the suave Spaniard hero. This is a novella so it is a quick read however it doesn't feel rushed or like half the story was left out. I would look forward to more books my Ms. Mulry and hope that future full length novels will be out soon.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 18, 2013
BOUND TO BE A BRIDE by Megan Mulry is an exciting historical romance set in 1808 Napoleonic,Spain. This story is based on an actual historical figure,Dona Isabella de Suarez de Figueroa y Cordoba. Javier de la Mina,one of the first gerilla leaders in Napoleonic Spain and Isabella,his attended bride. Not wanting an arranged marriage,they escape,but run into each other in the countryside on their way to the coast. What they find is danger,passion and love. Fast paced and quick read! Passion filled nights,with a new spin on BDSM,you don't want to miss this intriguing story. Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD to HOT(due to the light BDSM)
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD to HOT(due to the light BDSM)
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
April 9, 2013
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Isabella has been locked away in a convent for years and now her father arranged a marriage for her. She decided to ran away- on the road she met a man.. the man she was supposed to marry. (of course she didn't know this)
The only down side for me is that I couldn't connect with the characters. There was something missing, it's probably because it was a short book, but despite everything- I still enjoyed it and the sexual tension was entertaining.
I recommend this book specially if you're in the mood for a quick read.
Isabella has been locked away in a convent for years and now her father arranged a marriage for her. She decided to ran away- on the road she met a man.. the man she was supposed to marry. (of course she didn't know this)
The only down side for me is that I couldn't connect with the characters. There was something missing, it's probably because it was a short book, but despite everything- I still enjoyed it and the sexual tension was entertaining.
I recommend this book specially if you're in the mood for a quick read.
March 11, 2013
This book was just okay to me. I am not sure why but I really did not connect with anyone of the characters to well. The writing was okay but the plot was just not what I thought it would be. It was a fast read and not a total bore, I honestly think I may have liked it better if I found the characters more likeable. I won't go into what I thought of Issabelle's Father, of course I am sure we are not supposed to like him and for the time period he was not that much of an oddity.
Well it would seem the slump continues.
Well it would seem the slump continues.
April 2, 2013
I just did not connect with the characters in this one. I'm not sure if it was the shorter format or just the odd from virgin to wanting to be bound and dominated in one short novella that threw me. I get that she didn't want to be controlled after being raised in a convent then being promised to someone in an arranged marriage but I just couldn't seem to completely connect to either main character.
Sorry this wasn't for me but it was interesting to see a story set in Spain….
Sorry this wasn't for me but it was interesting to see a story set in Spain….
January 15, 2015
This one was short, sweet and cute. Kind of predictable, but I still liked it. I picked up Bound to be a Bride after I finished Bound to be a Groom. They aren’t marked as a series, but there are some common characters, both actually introduced and at least one just referred to. It’s also worth mentioning that Bound to be a Bride isn’t nearly as risque as Bound to be a Groom. It’s also not a full length novel, so if you just want a taste of historical romance, this one should be just right. ;)
April 9, 2013
Sigh. I love Mulry's voice and I loved this sweet (yes, it's sweet!) and sexy romantic novella. There is just enough historical detail to make it plausible, but I enjoyed this as straight-up fantasy. Lovely writing, lovely couple, lovely fairy tale. I know it's not fair to complain that a novella is too short, but damn, I wanted more!
May 21, 2015
I one-clicked because of another author recommendation AND the subject of Japanese rope tying. I couldn't get interested in the setting or the characters at all. None of it seemed to fit together, and certainly not Japanese bondage which was really just more rope tying than the sexually charged artistic form I was expecting) for a 17 yr old convent-schooled girl.
June 27, 2016
I was very intrigued by the story, I was not expecting a bit of historical fiction and was pleasantly surprised as to how much I enjoyed the book. It is the first of Megan Multy's works that I have read and I am looking forward to reading more of her works.
Nancy
July 7, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well put together for a novella, I didn't feel like I was missing any vital info, and the story flowed well.
August 23, 2015
Short, I enjoyed reading.
September 21, 2015
This short love story was fated even when working against a arranged marriage. The writing flowed and the story was entertaining. It gives us just enough information to work.
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