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Season's Brides #1
Winter's Bride
Tristan of Brackenmoore Was Desperate
If a bouquet of forget-me-nots could but make the Lady Lily Gray remember what they'd once shared, Tristan would have gathered the flowers from beneath the winter snows. But his one true love had no memory of their time together, nor the babe she'd borne.
Though Lily's past seemed locked behind an unbreachable door, Lord Tristan claimed to hold the key. And though she could not remember him, something drew her to him with a strength she could not deny. Yet could she trust him enough to help her face whatever terrors had stolen her memories?
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1999
5 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Archer
36 books21 followersCatherine J. Archibald was born on 17 August, and grew up in Oregon, USA. She has always loved books and reading. Even as little girl, she enjoyed making up further adventures about the characters in the books she read as well as writing stories about her own characters. But it wasn’t until she read Jane Eyre at around the age of 12 that she realized she wanted to write... romance novels. Completing a novel, however, turned out to be much more difficult than making up stories in her head!
In the years between deciding to become an author, marrying her Canadian husband, Steve, having three children, enrolling in nursing school twice, she began but never finished many novels. It wasn’t until her youngest child was two that she sat down and told herself that she would complete her book or go to her grave trying. That novel, written on an old typewriter that a friend gave her after finding out that she was working on a book, took two years to finish. Her husband, Steve, seeing how determined she was to become a published author, sold his 1965 Mustang to buy her first computer. He remained a constant and devoted supporter through the seven years of rejections. It was her third completed historical romance, Rose Among Thorns, that Catherine sold to Harlequin Historicals in 1992. It was the culmination of her all her dreams and hard work. She still approaches each book with the same excitement of that first one. Bringing the characters and their story to life are some of her greatest challenges and joys. Each time she helps the hero and heroine discover that being able to truly love and trust in another person only makes you stronger, she renews her own belief in the power of love. With the 2003 release of her thirteenth and last book for Harlequin, Dragon's Daughter, Catherine has lost none of her sense of awe at seeing the names of her characters in print.
After a rich and unforgettable stay of 15 years in Alberta, Catherine now lives with her husband of more than 25 years and her three children in Troutdale, Oregon, near her family again. She loves meeting and hearing from readers and may be reached at the following address: Catherine Archer, P.O. Box 1216, Fairview, OR 97024-1216.
In the years between deciding to become an author, marrying her Canadian husband, Steve, having three children, enrolling in nursing school twice, she began but never finished many novels. It wasn’t until her youngest child was two that she sat down and told herself that she would complete her book or go to her grave trying. That novel, written on an old typewriter that a friend gave her after finding out that she was working on a book, took two years to finish. Her husband, Steve, seeing how determined she was to become a published author, sold his 1965 Mustang to buy her first computer. He remained a constant and devoted supporter through the seven years of rejections. It was her third completed historical romance, Rose Among Thorns, that Catherine sold to Harlequin Historicals in 1992. It was the culmination of her all her dreams and hard work. She still approaches each book with the same excitement of that first one. Bringing the characters and their story to life are some of her greatest challenges and joys. Each time she helps the hero and heroine discover that being able to truly love and trust in another person only makes you stronger, she renews her own belief in the power of love. With the 2003 release of her thirteenth and last book for Harlequin, Dragon's Daughter, Catherine has lost none of her sense of awe at seeing the names of her characters in print.
After a rich and unforgettable stay of 15 years in Alberta, Catherine now lives with her husband of more than 25 years and her three children in Troutdale, Oregon, near her family again. She loves meeting and hearing from readers and may be reached at the following address: Catherine Archer, P.O. Box 1216, Fairview, OR 97024-1216.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 17, 2011
It took me so long to read this book, and my frame of mind was an issue, in part. But also, the fact that the heroine started to get on my nerves fairly early into the book really hurt this book in my estimation. I could understand her situation, not knowing who she was or remembering her past. However, her instincts told her the truth about her relationship with Tristan and her daughter, Sabina. She was stubbornly persistent on supporting her parents, even to the point of throwing her life and happiness away. I definitely understand loving your parents and wanting to support and take care of them, but that didn’t mean she had to marry a man who was clearly bad.
I really did like Tristan. He was a good man, loving, understanding, supportive. He was so good with Sabina, and he cared about people. Lily was lucky to have him. I also ended up falling in love with Benedict, Tristan’s older brother. I liked how he supported Tristan and wanted him to be happy, even if it was with a woman whose parents were allied with their family’s enemies.
I am intrigued with Tristan's brothers and Genevieve, the woman he was betrothed to, who practically grew up with he and his brothers, so I have already made notes to get the other books in this series. Although I wasn’t that impressed with this book, I would like to continue to read this series. I think I will like the other books more, especially if the heroines aren’t as illogical and frustrating as Lily.
Overall rating: 2.75/5.0 stars.
I really did like Tristan. He was a good man, loving, understanding, supportive. He was so good with Sabina, and he cared about people. Lily was lucky to have him. I also ended up falling in love with Benedict, Tristan’s older brother. I liked how he supported Tristan and wanted him to be happy, even if it was with a woman whose parents were allied with their family’s enemies.
I am intrigued with Tristan's brothers and Genevieve, the woman he was betrothed to, who practically grew up with he and his brothers, so I have already made notes to get the other books in this series. Although I wasn’t that impressed with this book, I would like to continue to read this series. I think I will like the other books more, especially if the heroines aren’t as illogical and frustrating as Lily.
Overall rating: 2.75/5.0 stars.
March 1, 2010
England 1461 - Tristan Ainsworth and Lily Gray were running away together because her parents had forbidden their union. The race to get away ended in a tragic accident. The eldest of the Ainsworth brothers had been the first one to come upon the overturned carriage, after checking for any survivors, Benedict spirited Tristan and his baby daughter away leaving Lily presumed dead in the carriage. Seeing his Lily in a road side inn and her having no idea who he was, left Tristan with and intense need to find out how she could forget him and their child. Only having known what her parents had told her since her illness, the assurances of Tristan meant nothing to her, even after she had discovered how her body responded to him. Uncertain of his motives and his interest in her, she gave him the benefit of doubt for only so long and then she started having memories, would it be to little to late?
Book 1 ….. Good introduction into this family, the Ainsworth brothers are all strong men. I don’t typically like a relationship that has already been. I like to ‘see’ it from the beginning. With this, Lily’s amnesia kind of allows that to happen. Both characters have to learn to love each other again, so it is kind of from the beginning. This is also the first book of a series of four, so it has lots of introductions to characters and lots of information that will (I can feel) be important in subsequent books. I liked Tristan and Lily, even the hints of Marcel and Genevieve, but the book that I will be looking forward to the most is the one for the oldest of the brothers, Benedict’s story should be a good one, which I believe is also the next one (The Bride of Spring).
Book 1 ….. Good introduction into this family, the Ainsworth brothers are all strong men. I don’t typically like a relationship that has already been. I like to ‘see’ it from the beginning. With this, Lily’s amnesia kind of allows that to happen. Both characters have to learn to love each other again, so it is kind of from the beginning. This is also the first book of a series of four, so it has lots of introductions to characters and lots of information that will (I can feel) be important in subsequent books. I liked Tristan and Lily, even the hints of Marcel and Genevieve, but the book that I will be looking forward to the most is the one for the oldest of the brothers, Benedict’s story should be a good one, which I believe is also the next one (The Bride of Spring).
June 11, 2020
Clunky.
Lily has nice hair, but her every action is lubricated by the grease of being far too stupid to live.
There's a memorably awkward moment where the book references the Luckless Fiancee walking in on the two main characters in a dub-con compromising moment. It's memorably awkward-- like, to the point where I went back to re-read-- because that isn't actually what happened. In the actual book, they kiss and get in a fight. There's no mention of the Luckless Fiancee at all.
It's like the editor told her to tone down the scene, and then didn't bother to point out all the other scenes that only made sense if that scene was in there.
So... really clunky.
Another cardinal sin-- using later books in the series as filler. You know, when the main pair has run out of steam and book gets padded with teasers for All the Other Books In the Series? At least 20K of this 70Kish book is devoted to set-up for later books in the series.
I read this in college, when I went on a trashy romance bender that I felt guilty about. It seems pretty tame compared to what's out there now.
Odds of Staying Together if They Were Real: 5/10.
Tristan seems like an all-around good guy, and he's as devoted to his memory of his infatuation with Lily as he is to Lily herself, which works in his favor since not even her relentless stupidity can shake his interest in her. I like that we are told (didactically) that there is a connection that goes beyond physical. Lily is fantastically wrong-headed, but some of that might be due to her traumatic brain injury in the NOT CAR CRASH she suffered in the late 1400s.
Lily has nice hair, but her every action is lubricated by the grease of being far too stupid to live.
There's a memorably awkward moment where the book references the Luckless Fiancee walking in on the two main characters in a dub-con compromising moment. It's memorably awkward-- like, to the point where I went back to re-read-- because that isn't actually what happened. In the actual book, they kiss and get in a fight. There's no mention of the Luckless Fiancee at all.
It's like the editor told her to tone down the scene, and then didn't bother to point out all the other scenes that only made sense if that scene was in there.
So... really clunky.
Another cardinal sin-- using later books in the series as filler. You know, when the main pair has run out of steam and book gets padded with teasers for All the Other Books In the Series? At least 20K of this 70Kish book is devoted to set-up for later books in the series.
I read this in college, when I went on a trashy romance bender that I felt guilty about. It seems pretty tame compared to what's out there now.
Odds of Staying Together if They Were Real: 5/10.
Tristan seems like an all-around good guy, and he's as devoted to his memory of his infatuation with Lily as he is to Lily herself, which works in his favor since not even her relentless stupidity can shake his interest in her. I like that we are told (didactically) that there is a connection that goes beyond physical. Lily is fantastically wrong-headed, but some of that might be due to her traumatic brain injury in the NOT CAR CRASH she suffered in the late 1400s.
July 30, 2013
I really love the story of this book, I just wish the battle scene was a little bit longer at the end, it just makes the enemy seem to not be as strong and fierce as he is being let out to be. Its a bit rushed on the authors part.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews