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The Bride
She thought her fate was sealed…
Isabella Montgomery's future looked bleak.
Before her father died, he betrothed her to Juan Garcia, an old ranchero infamous for cruelty. Now, shut away in a convent, she dreaded the day he would come to claim her.
Until a dark horse revealed her true destiny…
Rafael McKenzie needed a bride before he came into his inheritance. The moment he laid eyes on Isabella, he knew she was the one. Breaking into the convent and capturing her was easy enough, but stealing her heart was another story.…
Isabella Montgomery's future looked bleak.
Before her father died, he betrothed her to Juan Garcia, an old ranchero infamous for cruelty. Now, shut away in a convent, she dreaded the day he would come to claim her.
Until a dark horse revealed her true destiny…
Rafael McKenzie needed a bride before he came into his inheritance. The moment he laid eyes on Isabella, he knew she was the one. Breaking into the convent and capturing her was easy enough, but stealing her heart was another story.…
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2008
15 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Davidson
69 books91 followersCarolyn Davidson began writing in 1986, knowing absolutely nothing about the craft. Her first three books were rejected by Harlequin.
She met Dixie Browning at a Harlequin dinner in Charleston, South Carolina, and told Dixie she was writing, but that she feared she was too old to begin such an undertaking. Dixie's response spurred Carolyn to pursue her dream. Dixie said, in her own inimitable fashion, "Well, honey, you can't start any younger!" And she was right.
Having spent her life as a wife, mother, grandmother, and working woman, she's privileged to have a career that makes her dreams possible. Writing historical romance gives her the opportunity to travel, to visit all those places where our forefathers staked their claim on this country of ours. And then she goes home and writes their stories, maybe not exactly as they lived them, but as her imagination portrays them.
Carolyn lives in the South, where romance thrives, and where the sun shines almost every day of the year. In fact, some days it is difficult to stay glued to her computer, especially when the birds are singing and the flowers are in full bloom.
She lives not far from the ocean, close to Charleston, South Carolina, one of the most romantic cities in the world. Moreover, time at the beach is easy to come by. Does she enjoy her life? You bet! Harlequin allows her to write the books she loves, and her editor is patient with her quirks and foibles. Her family, though scattered in various states, is supportive, and her husband is a constant source of inspiration.
She met Dixie Browning at a Harlequin dinner in Charleston, South Carolina, and told Dixie she was writing, but that she feared she was too old to begin such an undertaking. Dixie's response spurred Carolyn to pursue her dream. Dixie said, in her own inimitable fashion, "Well, honey, you can't start any younger!" And she was right.
Having spent her life as a wife, mother, grandmother, and working woman, she's privileged to have a career that makes her dreams possible. Writing historical romance gives her the opportunity to travel, to visit all those places where our forefathers staked their claim on this country of ours. And then she goes home and writes their stories, maybe not exactly as they lived them, but as her imagination portrays them.
Carolyn lives in the South, where romance thrives, and where the sun shines almost every day of the year. In fact, some days it is difficult to stay glued to her computer, especially when the birds are singing and the flowers are in full bloom.
She lives not far from the ocean, close to Charleston, South Carolina, one of the most romantic cities in the world. Moreover, time at the beach is easy to come by. Does she enjoy her life? You bet! Harlequin allows her to write the books she loves, and her editor is patient with her quirks and foibles. Her family, though scattered in various states, is supportive, and her husband is a constant source of inspiration.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 5, 2016
The story itself was a great idea but the execution was lacking. Very wordy. Author took several pages more than necessary to convey emotions that were unbelievable. Never connected with the characters. Painful to get through.
February 3, 2019
Worst Book Ever - I Can’t Believe Carolyn Davidson WROTE. If this were my first Carolyn Davidson book I would NEVER READ ANOTHER. The Book was so Monotonous & Repetitious I found myself BORED. There were no redeeming qualities about this Book. Total Waste of Time & Money.
April 7, 2018
I generally like Carolyn Davidson's books but this book dragged, the writing was stilted, the hero was obnoxiously high-handed and the heroine was a dolt.
November 7, 2018
It was so bad
June 16, 2019
Fourteen-year-old Isabella Montgomery refused to marry the man her father had chosen for her an evil man, Juan Garcia. Charles Montgomery had literally sold his daughter for power and position. Because her mother was dead, Montgomery sent Isabella to the Convent of the Sisters of Charity for training in the wifely arts. She has been there for 4 years and her father has died. Juan wants the contract completed immediately and says he will take her from the convent on or around her 18th birthday (the following week).
Juan was so proud of the woman he would soon possess that he bragged about her to people he met. One of those people was Rafael McKenzie. He has a problem; he needs a wife. He has promised his dying father that he would wed within the year; the year is nearly over. Rafe has looked over the local women of the New Mexico Territory and is not satisfied.
Rafe decides to go to the convent to see this paragon of beauty, grace and goodness. He falls in love with Isabella on sight. He and his men decide to rescue Isabella from the convent and make her his bride.
Isabella is anxious because she knows Juan will be at the convent soon. He is known for his rough treatment of women. Isabella is looking for a way to avoid marriage to Juan. When Rafael snatches Isabella, she's relieved it isn't Juan but is put off by Rafe's insistence that she marry him as soon as they get to the family's Diamond Ranch.
Unfortunately, there's a lovely woman taking care of Rafe's home, Lucia. She plans to marry Rafe and will do anything to get her wish. While Rafe is trying to convince Isabella to marry him; Lucia is plotting to get rid of her rival.
I had a problem with one of Isabella's actions; it was not in character with her fear and loathing of Juan Garcia. I thought the interactions between Rafe's father and Isabella were touching. Otherwise, the story seemed rather average.
Juan was so proud of the woman he would soon possess that he bragged about her to people he met. One of those people was Rafael McKenzie. He has a problem; he needs a wife. He has promised his dying father that he would wed within the year; the year is nearly over. Rafe has looked over the local women of the New Mexico Territory and is not satisfied.
Rafe decides to go to the convent to see this paragon of beauty, grace and goodness. He falls in love with Isabella on sight. He and his men decide to rescue Isabella from the convent and make her his bride.
Isabella is anxious because she knows Juan will be at the convent soon. He is known for his rough treatment of women. Isabella is looking for a way to avoid marriage to Juan. When Rafael snatches Isabella, she's relieved it isn't Juan but is put off by Rafe's insistence that she marry him as soon as they get to the family's Diamond Ranch.
Unfortunately, there's a lovely woman taking care of Rafe's home, Lucia. She plans to marry Rafe and will do anything to get her wish. While Rafe is trying to convince Isabella to marry him; Lucia is plotting to get rid of her rival.
I had a problem with one of Isabella's actions; it was not in character with her fear and loathing of Juan Garcia. I thought the interactions between Rafe's father and Isabella were touching. Otherwise, the story seemed rather average.
June 23, 2012
I wish Isabella had grown a backbone! And if rafael has talked to me that way I would have slapped him and put him in his place. I can't stand when the hero is so high handed and thinks everything he orders is to be obeyed, as if he's god! And I hated that it seemed as if neither of them could make up their minds they was so wishy-washy, for instance one second he's nice then the next he's mean and one minute she wants to be his wife and the next she wants to go back to the convent.
September 15, 2010
I love a story that depicts heart wrenching challenges ... this was a really good read.
April 21, 2011
Predictable and boring. I kept waiting for Isabella to develop a backbone.
February 16, 2015
The story seemed to drag along until about 2/3 of the way through.
July 11, 2012
The beginning was awful, but it got better.
June 8, 2017
I believe it was written well, however not usually the type i like. I prefer more happy
and less sad events.
mrf
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews