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A Scarlet Bride
Wrongfully disgraced and driven from her Charleston home by a man she was once married to, Alexandra Thurston has vowed never to trust another man again, but when she returns to South Carolina to reclaim her good name, she will find love again in the arms of a local plantation owner. Original.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Sylvia McDaniel
243 books653 followersUSA Today bestselling author Sylvia McDaniel has published more than forty western historical romance, contemporary romance and even a few sci-fi novels. Known for her sweet, funny, family-oriented romances, Sylvia is the author of The Burnett Brides a historical western series, The Cuvier Widows, a Louisiana historical series, Lipstick and Lead, a western historical series and several short contemporary romances.
Former President of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, a member of the Romance Writers of America®, and a member of Novelists Inc, her novel, A Hero’s Heart was a 1996 Golden Heart Finalist. Several other books have placed or won in the San Antonio Romance Authors Contest, LERA Contest, and she was a Golden Network Finalist.
Married for over twenty years to her best friend, they have two spoilt dachshunds that reign supreme over the house. She loves gardening, hiking, shopping, knitting and football (Cowboys and Bronco’s fan), but not necessarily in that order.
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Former President of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, a member of the Romance Writers of America®, and a member of Novelists Inc, her novel, A Hero’s Heart was a 1996 Golden Heart Finalist. Several other books have placed or won in the San Antonio Romance Authors Contest, LERA Contest, and she was a Golden Network Finalist.
Married for over twenty years to her best friend, they have two spoilt dachshunds that reign supreme over the house. She loves gardening, hiking, shopping, knitting and football (Cowboys and Bronco’s fan), but not necessarily in that order.
Sign up for Sylvia’s newsletter
Visit Sylvia at www.SylviaMcDaniel.com
Follow Sylvia on twitter
Join Sylvia on Facebook
Goodreads
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 10, 2012
Married off at a young age to a wealthy banker, who subsequently divorced her on false accusations of adultery, Alexandra Thurston is a woman bent on revenge. After five years abroad, she's come to Charleston to stay with her favorite aunt, but since she's branded as an adulteress she's shunned by polite society. That doesn't stop plantation owner and notorious womanizer Connor Manning from admiring her beauty, and he makes a bet that he'll be able to charm Alexandra into his bed. Alexandra is focused on revenge against her ex-husband, but Connor's charms eventually start breaking down those barriers, and things get even more complicated when Alexandra's wealthy father pays a visit and decides it's time get his daughter wedded, bedded and pregnant with an heir and he thinks Connor just might be the man for the job.
"For a woman of easy virtue, he had met more resistance from her than a spinster Sunday school teacher."
Now how to rate this book - I liked it, liked the main characters and they did have a good spark of chemistry going and really had a hard time putting it down. That said, despite a good story there were enough issues with the reading experience that I really can't rate it higher. There were more steamy kisses than sex scenes, but when the sex was there (twice, I think), it was a wee bit on the cheesy side, and a bit OTT for my tastes (YMMV). There was also a bit of repetition/redundancy in some of the prose that wore thin by the end, I got a bit weary of hearing all about the Louis XV furniture at Connor's plantation, plus Alexandra's breasts were crushed against Connor's chest one too many times. The Kindle edition I purchased had a lot of formatting errors, no breaks between paragraphs and a lot of run on words,
"his seventeenyearold sister", "twostory", "Qnly"
This book was originally published in 2000, so I'm guessing these typos are conversion errors. I obtained my copy as a freebie, but if I had paid full price I'd be a bit miffed. I noticed a comment from the author on another review that the formatting is being addressed, but I'd recommend taking a free same prior to buying to make sure you are getting your money's worth.
ETA: I was notified that an updated version was available for download to correct editing errors. I have downloaded it and reviewed it briefly. The paragraph breaks are now there, but I clicked onto several highlighted passages and those typos are still there.
"For a woman of easy virtue, he had met more resistance from her than a spinster Sunday school teacher."
Now how to rate this book - I liked it, liked the main characters and they did have a good spark of chemistry going and really had a hard time putting it down. That said, despite a good story there were enough issues with the reading experience that I really can't rate it higher. There were more steamy kisses than sex scenes, but when the sex was there (twice, I think), it was a wee bit on the cheesy side, and a bit OTT for my tastes (YMMV). There was also a bit of repetition/redundancy in some of the prose that wore thin by the end, I got a bit weary of hearing all about the Louis XV furniture at Connor's plantation, plus Alexandra's breasts were crushed against Connor's chest one too many times. The Kindle edition I purchased had a lot of formatting errors, no breaks between paragraphs and a lot of run on words,
"his seventeenyearold sister", "twostory", "Qnly"
This book was originally published in 2000, so I'm guessing these typos are conversion errors. I obtained my copy as a freebie, but if I had paid full price I'd be a bit miffed. I noticed a comment from the author on another review that the formatting is being addressed, but I'd recommend taking a free same prior to buying to make sure you are getting your money's worth.
ETA: I was notified that an updated version was available for download to correct editing errors. I have downloaded it and reviewed it briefly. The paragraph breaks are now there, but I clicked onto several highlighted passages and those typos are still there.
April 7, 2023
The poor h gets deceived and used by one and all.
That's all I remember about the book.
The H is quite as bad as the rest.
That's all I remember about the book.
The H is quite as bad as the rest.
October 26, 2011
Ok - it's a romance novel which sometimes is a nice diversion from the heavy socially responsible books I tend to read, but for all its fluff, it actually has a story line with mystery and intrigue. The romance was mostly part of that storyline, and fit well. I enjoyed it mostly because it was a great balance of a good yarn with a nice serving of a love story on the side. :)
October 8, 2013
Let me start out by saying that historical romance is one of my favorite genres. I am not much of a history buff, but I love a good romance and this book delivers. The main characters made stupid mistakes that any one could see would end badly for them, but the chemistry between the two was HOT!!!! The more she fought, the harder he pushed. And just when things were really heating up between them, they go and get in their own way. I really liked this book and I will probably read it again.
April 21, 2012
Sappy little love story that was actually a really good read! The woman was scorned and swears to never fall in love ever again and the man just swears not to fall in love, then they get together and..... well, I can't tell you the story!!! Well, okay, they fall in love..... :)
September 26, 2019
Well done
Alexandra. I love that name. Could be one of the reasons I chose to read this book. I also liked the premise of the story. A divorce in the 1800s. How scandalous! It wasn't until I really got into the story that I realized how truly scandalous it was. The twists and turns. The surprises. It was a couldn't-put-it-down story. I was beginning to despair that brave Alexandra would ever find her happy-ever-after. But find it she did in a most satisfying way. Well done.
Alexandra. I love that name. Could be one of the reasons I chose to read this book. I also liked the premise of the story. A divorce in the 1800s. How scandalous! It wasn't until I really got into the story that I realized how truly scandalous it was. The twists and turns. The surprises. It was a couldn't-put-it-down story. I was beginning to despair that brave Alexandra would ever find her happy-ever-after. But find it she did in a most satisfying way. Well done.
June 19, 2021
Good Story about love and betrayal
This story is about a woman who is divorced by her husband, betrayed, lied about and left destitute. She is then married through another betrayal. She seeks revenge against her first husband and finds love with her second husband.
This story is about a woman who is divorced by her husband, betrayed, lied about and left destitute. She is then married through another betrayal. She seeks revenge against her first husband and finds love with her second husband.
July 16, 2021
'mGood
Really thought the story line different and interesting. It was a little predictable but enjoyable. The passionate story was good but "apex of her thighs" was sort of out of step.
Really thought the story line different and interesting. It was a little predictable but enjoyable. The passionate story was good but "apex of her thighs" was sort of out of step.
October 9, 2022
Hester's revenge!
Connor and Alexandra marry after Connor compromised her at a ball. Alexandra is the victim of her ex husband and her fathers betrayal. How she deals with all this makes for a great read.
Connor and Alexandra marry after Connor compromised her at a ball. Alexandra is the victim of her ex husband and her fathers betrayal. How she deals with all this makes for a great read.
October 1, 2021
I very much enjoyed this book. It’s not often I give 5 stars to a book before I’ve read it twice but I did with this one.
April 10, 2022
Divorce did not stop her
This was a very interesting story about a divorced woman in the 1800's. She writes a book to tell her side.
This was a very interesting story about a divorced woman in the 1800's. She writes a book to tell her side.
February 11, 2016
Loved it. Such a good story, kept me not wanting to lay it down.
I Loved the book. It's great writing, a wonderful love story, full of secrets. I liked stories with happy endings.
I Loved the book. It's great writing, a wonderful love story, full of secrets. I liked stories with happy endings.
March 14, 2012
I really like this book and stayed up all night finishing it. I just wish the ending hadn't felt so rushed, and that the author had developed some side characters more, like his sister.
April 2, 2012
I lived this historical romance. Great characters guided me through an entertaining plot.
April 9, 2012
Amazon free ebook offer. Quick read, ok storyline. Overall a good romance read.
April 18, 2012
Free kindle download. Quick romance read; I enjoyed the story line.
July 12, 2012
It was like-able enough, but the hero was a bit of a wimp !!
November 20, 2012
Very good book! Loved the turmoil over giving love a second chance, the characters were great, story was a page turner. would love to see more of their story.
December 17, 2012
A wonderfully written romance. I truly couldn't put this book down.
December 29, 2012
This was a very cute book. It had me interested the whole time I was reading it. I could put it down. Another job well done by Sylvia McDaniel!
July 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It had a great story line and the author was able to move you through the book with emotions both good and bad.
April 18, 2012
Thought this was a cute read that looked outside of the norm of society of that time
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews