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The Bride Trilogy #2
Mireasa din China
După ani întregi petrecuți aproape ca o sclavă, Troth Montgomery nu-și imaginează că o să plece într-o bună zi din China, țara în care locuiește de copil, pentru a ajung în Anglia, pe proprietatea unui străin: fratele geamăn al bărbatului cu care a fost căsătorită pentru doar o zi. Kyle Renbourne, vicontele Maxwell, s-a însurat cu Troth în ziua anterioară celei în care urma să fie executat pentru că îndrăznise să se furișeze până la templul Hoshan, un loc interzis străinilor.
Însă, ca prin minune, Kyle se întoarce din morți. Cu toate că a supraviețuit malariei și groaznicelor zile petrecute în temniță, trupul și sufletul îi sunt grav rănite. Conștientă de faptul că nu va fi niciodată o adevărată soție englezoaică, Troth face apel la tradițiile orientale, și împreună, cei doi pornesc într-o călătorie miraculoasă a dorinței și-a credinței, pe măsură ce Kyle devine tot mai fascinat de intimitatea liniștitoare pe care o împărtășește cu fermecătoarea Troth. Dar, înainte de a recuceri inima frumoasei lui chinezoaice, Kyle trebuie să scape mai întâi de amenințarea mortală a celui care a străbătut jumătate de lume pentru a da de urma lor.
Însă, ca prin minune, Kyle se întoarce din morți. Cu toate că a supraviețuit malariei și groaznicelor zile petrecute în temniță, trupul și sufletul îi sunt grav rănite. Conștientă de faptul că nu va fi niciodată o adevărată soție englezoaică, Troth face apel la tradițiile orientale, și împreună, cei doi pornesc într-o călătorie miraculoasă a dorinței și-a credinței, pe măsură ce Kyle devine tot mai fascinat de intimitatea liniștitoare pe care o împărtășește cu fermecătoarea Troth. Dar, înainte de a recuceri inima frumoasei lui chinezoaice, Kyle trebuie să scape mai întâi de amenințarea mortală a celui care a străbătut jumătate de lume pentru a da de urma lor.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
218 people are currently reading
1052 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jo Putney
167 books2,261 followersShe writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
September 8, 2022
Read: 8/19/22
A fantastic book in diversity! This is the 2nd book in the series and the best one!
Viscount Kyle took off for an adventure that has lasted 6 years. China is his last stop before returning home. He and his partner have started a tea trading post. While there he meets Troth, a bilingual secretary. Little does he expect the truth!
Troth is half Chinese and half Scottish. When she was 8 her world changed when her father died. A Chinese businessman apoted her. Because she is tall with red hair she's too ugly to belong with the other beautiful Chinese women. She has to pretend to be a man and is treated that way. Her master uses her as a spy.
Troth finds herself attracted to Kyle and tries to keep him safe. When he's attacked by several man, Troth saves his life. Apparently, Juda ass kicking is another skill Troth has developed. Kyle discovers she's a female and makes a deal with her. If she takes him to the forbidden temple than he'll help her get to Scotland. I should stress heavily that foreigners are not allowed into China.
Apparently, both are stupid and she agrees to take him. I'll admit some of her tactics were quite clever. Evidently, the two become sexually involved. This is the first time Troth feels like a woman. I'll admit these two form a very close bond.
On the way back, the pair are discovered (shocking!). Troth gets away but comes back to save him. Instead, Kyle marries her and tells her to go home. Heartbroken after his execution she makes her way to England. Surprisingly, she is accepted by his family. It doesn't hurt that her SIL (1st book) is esscentric too.
Then **surprise **surprise Kyle returns from the dead. Turns out the Chinese ruler enjoyed torturing Kyle with mock executions. Luckily, alerted by Troth, her boss saved him. Now we have too very emotionally sacred people. Worse, where does Troth belong.....
What I loved about this book was Troth! The author did an excellent job of creating two worlds where she belonged to neither. I felt her pain to desperately belong to someone. It'd been awhile since I read such a complexing character.
The author did a great job showing the spiritual beliefs of both countries so beautifully. The settings were incredibly descriptive. This book was just so well written, interesting, and has a wonderful romance. I can't compliment the writing enough!
I highly recommend it and it could be read as a standalone.
A fantastic book in diversity! This is the 2nd book in the series and the best one!
Viscount Kyle took off for an adventure that has lasted 6 years. China is his last stop before returning home. He and his partner have started a tea trading post. While there he meets Troth, a bilingual secretary. Little does he expect the truth!
Troth is half Chinese and half Scottish. When she was 8 her world changed when her father died. A Chinese businessman apoted her. Because she is tall with red hair she's too ugly to belong with the other beautiful Chinese women. She has to pretend to be a man and is treated that way. Her master uses her as a spy.
Troth finds herself attracted to Kyle and tries to keep him safe. When he's attacked by several man, Troth saves his life. Apparently, Juda ass kicking is another skill Troth has developed. Kyle discovers she's a female and makes a deal with her. If she takes him to the forbidden temple than he'll help her get to Scotland. I should stress heavily that foreigners are not allowed into China.
Apparently, both are stupid and she agrees to take him. I'll admit some of her tactics were quite clever. Evidently, the two become sexually involved. This is the first time Troth feels like a woman. I'll admit these two form a very close bond.
On the way back, the pair are discovered (shocking!). Troth gets away but comes back to save him. Instead, Kyle marries her and tells her to go home. Heartbroken after his execution she makes her way to England. Surprisingly, she is accepted by his family. It doesn't hurt that her SIL (1st book) is esscentric too.
Then **surprise **surprise Kyle returns from the dead. Turns out the Chinese ruler enjoyed torturing Kyle with mock executions. Luckily, alerted by Troth, her boss saved him. Now we have too very emotionally sacred people. Worse, where does Troth belong.....
What I loved about this book was Troth! The author did an excellent job of creating two worlds where she belonged to neither. I felt her pain to desperately belong to someone. It'd been awhile since I read such a complexing character.
The author did a great job showing the spiritual beliefs of both countries so beautifully. The settings were incredibly descriptive. This book was just so well written, interesting, and has a wonderful romance. I can't compliment the writing enough!
I highly recommend it and it could be read as a standalone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2017
Very enchanting wonderful story filled with suspense, adventure and emotional angst-filled trials. Surprised the hell out of me how much I enjoyed it. This was a 5 star read from the beginning. If it wasn't for the 2nd half of the book I would have given this a 5 star without hesitation. I thought both the hero and heroine were unique fully fleshed out real original characters who I really loved and enjoyed reading about. Troth is a half-Scottish half-Chinese woman who's been forced to live her life as a man (Jin Kang) in order to be 'accepted' in the Chinese society she was brought into. Lord Maxwell, Kyle crosses paths with Troth during his trip across seas. It was really interesting and quite enthralling to see these two interact. Kyle is suspicious and weary of his mysterious draw and attraction to the quiet unassuming laborer assistant 'Jin Kang'. I loved seeing these two slowly be drawn to each other and spend time together on their treck to Canton to sneak into the Hoshan temple.
And this may be only my second book I've read by Putney but I have to say her depth and skill of writing such vivid scenery, setting, descriptive detail to every single thing was a complete draw in for me. I could not put this book down because of it. She paid so much attention to the history, culture, time setting and way of life for all the characters in this book that I got completely lost in it. I loved it. Everything felt so real. The characters completely stood out from the pages they were so real and I felt so intuned with them. I was really impressed with how Putney handled writing the characters and setting up the story with such vivid detail. Kudos to her! I found myself learning so much right along with Klyle about the Chinese culture and their traditions. There was nothing fake or contrived about this story. When you get so completely sucked into a story you know it's a good one.
The sexual tension and playful interaction between Klyle and Troth was really addictive to read about. The chemistry and sexual tension between the two was enthralling and explosive to read about. The was nothing forced about it. The scenes in the jail cell in particular just melted me. Troth having to say goodbye to Kyle like that had me on the verge of tears & broke my heart. It just made me want to read the book faster to see what happens next. Those were some major stand out scenes from the entire book for me. The story actually begins in the 'middle' where we see a heartbroken Troth arriving at Kyle's family's residence about to tell them about his death. The story jumps from present to past in the first half where we see the story unfold and how the characters end up where they are in the beginning of the book. The 2nd half of the story picks up from present day where we see the couple 'reunite' and deal with their circumstance.
The thing I struggled with a little and made the story wain a little was the second half once Kyle returns from his release in prison. I was expecting a lot of angst, tension and misunderstandings like any typical romance drama. But here....I think Putney let it drag out a little too long . It just made the conclusion not as wonderful as I was hoping it would be. It didn't have the emotional impact I was hoping for. I think the fact that it took the couple forever to realize they loved each other and to voice their feelings just got drawn out too long. I just hated that the final ‘climactic’ HEA ending wasn’t as climactic as I wanted it to be, it was underwhelming when it finally came to a conclusion.
Also the much anticipated reunion between Kyle and Troth when he returns from jail I was anxiously waiting for through the entire story was underwhelming and disappointing. We see them drift apart and Troth's continuous resentment towards him and brittle anger and rebellious attitude against him and his English family I think was a little unfair and unfounded considering everything he did for her and way he treated her through most of the book. I thought she was lashing out at the wrong people for her understandable misgivings and frustrations. Her shift in personality and frame of mind was little bit out of character too. Troth always was in the mindset and grew up thinking she didn't belong anywhere, was ugly and not worthy of marriage to someone like Kyle. I understood her hesitant regard towards being a permanent fixture in his life and thinking of herself as just an obligation. But the constant misunderstandings, miscommunication, misconstruing each other's words got to a point of redundant and really tiresome. They had a whole bunch of unspoken feelings and miscommunication going on between them thinking the other was just an obligation who didn't want to be married. Good grief. Cut it out! I really think the back and forth game and dragging it out till eternity just watered down the story. It started to muddle everything wonderful that happened previously. It went from beautiful heartbreaking story about two people discovering each other and finding love to a silly 'yes, no' tired old misgivings game we see play out dozens of times in HR books. I understood the tension and the whys in the first half but in the second half it was dragged out and milked for all it's worth that it became silly and tiresome and really unnecessary. I lost count how many times those two repeated the same start/stop conversation of ‘do you want to continue to be married to me?’. Just come out and SAY what you feel and stop with the cat and mouse game.
Also I didn't much care for Kyle's first love Constancia that he kept comparing his time and what he felt for her with how he feels for Troth. The man was clearly confused and unsure but the constant questioning and talking in circles about 'should they?' or 'shouldn't they?' give their marriage a real shot drove me up the wall. Constancia was his only other love in his life before meeting Troth, so it was understandable why she had such a significance in his life. But seeing as how he met the much older courtesan when he was 18 and made her his mistress for the next ten years I wasn't a big fan of. But that's more of personal taste so *shrugs*....
Another thing I didn't really care for and thought was completely out of character for Troth was that silly 'suicide' attempt she pulled after hearing the scathing things Kyle's father said about her being unfit as his wife. Total WTF? jumped the shark moment for me. She came off so desperate and manipulative in that scene considering she pulled the stunt only to 'get a reaction' out of him. I really didn't like that. It was so out of character for someone like her to do. Troth is a very level-headed honest forthright person. She doesn't do sneaky desperate stunts like that. No matter how shattered.
Overall great story, great first half.... that alone was 5 star. The second half: 3.5/4 star.
March 14, 2017
A diferencia del libro de su hermano gemelo, Dominic; y anterior a éste, debo decir que no me ha calado tanto la pareja protagonista.
De nuevo tenemos una Mary Jo Putney con una ambientación impecable; la primera parte del libro que trata sobre cuando nuestros protagonistas se encuentran en China en una época bastante difícil para la ciudad y donde no se permitían extranjeros ni siquiera para el comercio me ha dejado impactada y casi como si yo misma estuviera conviviendo con Kyle, Gavin y Throt a lo largo de sus periplos.
Y en esta primera parte debo reconocer que, aunque me costó, logré meterme de lleno en la historia y disfrutar de la química de ambos.
Throt es una mujer que está a caballo entre dos culturas; la Occidental por parte de padre y la Oriental por parte de madre. Y se nota en la forma de oensar y de actuar en la mayor parte del libro.
Kyle, a quien ya conocí en el libro anterior, es un hombre que tras varios años viajando, a madurado de manera espiritual y emocional y sólo busca en China el poder acceder a esa paz interior que tanta falta le hace.
El camino de ambos se cruza y durante semanas estarán ellos solos ante un viaje incierto y una química que dará lugar a un romance.
La autora ha sabido jugar bastante bien es esta primera parte con el presente y el pasado. Ya que durante el viaje ocurren cosas que repercuten en el presente y que la autora nos va mostrando a través de pequeños "flashbacks" que hacen que nos situemos mejor en el cómo y por qué.
El pero se le pongo a raíz de la segunda parte; es como si tanto Kyle como Throt cambiaran de ideales de un momento a otro. En parte entiendo que lo hicieran, porque él llega bastante tocado física y emocionalmente y ella vuelve a ser de nuevo una mestiza, pero esa química y esa confianza entre ellos es que como si se hubiera desvanecido en el aire.
Así como también un suceso concreto con el malvado de la historia, que acaba en menos de un capítulo para directamente pasar a la reconciliación de los personajes sin regalarnos ni siquiera un epílogo donde se viera algo más.
En definitiva, me ha gustado, me ha parecido interesante y la ambientación ha hecho que disfrutara mucho más; los personajes no tanto a medida que avanzaba la lectura.
De momento me sigo quedando con el de Dominic, el hermano gemelo.
De nuevo tenemos una Mary Jo Putney con una ambientación impecable; la primera parte del libro que trata sobre cuando nuestros protagonistas se encuentran en China en una época bastante difícil para la ciudad y donde no se permitían extranjeros ni siquiera para el comercio me ha dejado impactada y casi como si yo misma estuviera conviviendo con Kyle, Gavin y Throt a lo largo de sus periplos.
Y en esta primera parte debo reconocer que, aunque me costó, logré meterme de lleno en la historia y disfrutar de la química de ambos.
Throt es una mujer que está a caballo entre dos culturas; la Occidental por parte de padre y la Oriental por parte de madre. Y se nota en la forma de oensar y de actuar en la mayor parte del libro.
Kyle, a quien ya conocí en el libro anterior, es un hombre que tras varios años viajando, a madurado de manera espiritual y emocional y sólo busca en China el poder acceder a esa paz interior que tanta falta le hace.
El camino de ambos se cruza y durante semanas estarán ellos solos ante un viaje incierto y una química que dará lugar a un romance.
La autora ha sabido jugar bastante bien es esta primera parte con el presente y el pasado. Ya que durante el viaje ocurren cosas que repercuten en el presente y que la autora nos va mostrando a través de pequeños "flashbacks" que hacen que nos situemos mejor en el cómo y por qué.
El pero se le pongo a raíz de la segunda parte; es como si tanto Kyle como Throt cambiaran de ideales de un momento a otro. En parte entiendo que lo hicieran, porque él llega bastante tocado física y emocionalmente y ella vuelve a ser de nuevo una mestiza, pero esa química y esa confianza entre ellos es que como si se hubiera desvanecido en el aire.
Así como también un suceso concreto con el malvado de la historia, que acaba en menos de un capítulo para directamente pasar a la reconciliación de los personajes sin regalarnos ni siquiera un epílogo donde se viera algo más.
En definitiva, me ha gustado, me ha parecido interesante y la ambientación ha hecho que disfrutara mucho más; los personajes no tanto a medida que avanzaba la lectura.
De momento me sigo quedando con el de Dominic, el hermano gemelo.
May 7, 2021
reseña completa: https://masromance.blogspot.com/2021/...
3 ★ Ha empezado muy bien, pero se desinfla (las tres son por la primera mitad)
1.- el inicio es impactante… me da la sensación de que ya lo había leído (es posible)
2.- Empieza muy bien, con el tema de China que resulta de lo más interesante, un buen ritmo, una protagonista que mantiene la curiosidad: me gusta mucho que sea fuerte y determinada, resolutiva dentro de un mundo de hombres y machista como lo es el chino (aunque sea con trampa). De él diré poco pues un prototipo con poco carisma
3.- Hasta la mitad de la novela, buen ritmo, un viaje interesante en el que la autora demuestra lo mucho que se ha documentado, la relación entre ellos me gusta, buen compañerismo y buena amistad.
4.- Pasado y presente se entremezcla de forma interesante para mantener el interés del lector
5.- Llega la segunda parte y todo se ralentiza: ella cambia de personalidad, de forma brusca y, como todo lo sabíamos ya de la sinopsis, poca sorpresa nos depara
6.- La autora ya empieza a cansar con tanta documentación que aporta poco (escenas de cambio y reposición de muebles aburrida y soporífera)
7.- empieza a parecerme todo muy cansino: falta amor, falta química y la relación entre ellos me ha parecido fría y demasiado racional
8.- Con ganas de terminar ya, mala cosa
9.- Una escena final estupenda
Resumiendo: una lectura entretenida que empieza muy bien, pero me ha terminado aburriendo. Sigue el esquema de la autora, muy de aventuras, pero con un romance que flojea y falta mucha química. Demasiada.
Con esta autora es algo que me pasa mucho, en realidad, solo hay dos o tres novelas que realmente me han gustado. El resto empiezan genial pero al final me terminan cansando.
3 ★ Ha empezado muy bien, pero se desinfla (las tres son por la primera mitad)
1.- el inicio es impactante… me da la sensación de que ya lo había leído (es posible)
2.- Empieza muy bien, con el tema de China que resulta de lo más interesante, un buen ritmo, una protagonista que mantiene la curiosidad: me gusta mucho que sea fuerte y determinada, resolutiva dentro de un mundo de hombres y machista como lo es el chino (aunque sea con trampa). De él diré poco pues un prototipo con poco carisma
3.- Hasta la mitad de la novela, buen ritmo, un viaje interesante en el que la autora demuestra lo mucho que se ha documentado, la relación entre ellos me gusta, buen compañerismo y buena amistad.
4.- Pasado y presente se entremezcla de forma interesante para mantener el interés del lector
5.- Llega la segunda parte y todo se ralentiza: ella cambia de personalidad, de forma brusca y, como todo lo sabíamos ya de la sinopsis, poca sorpresa nos depara
6.- La autora ya empieza a cansar con tanta documentación que aporta poco (escenas de cambio y reposición de muebles aburrida y soporífera)
7.- empieza a parecerme todo muy cansino: falta amor, falta química y la relación entre ellos me ha parecido fría y demasiado racional
8.- Con ganas de terminar ya, mala cosa
9.- Una escena final estupenda
Resumiendo: una lectura entretenida que empieza muy bien, pero me ha terminado aburriendo. Sigue el esquema de la autora, muy de aventuras, pero con un romance que flojea y falta mucha química. Demasiada.
Con esta autora es algo que me pasa mucho, en realidad, solo hay dos o tres novelas que realmente me han gustado. El resto empiezan genial pero al final me terminan cansando.
September 23, 2022
Novela de la vieja escuela que aún se lee con placer. La cuidada reconstrucción histórica se come un poco la historia de amor.
Troth Montgomery vive en Cantón, disfrazada de muchacho. El aventurero Kyle Renbourne enseguida se da cuenta de que su «traductor» es, en realidad, una atractiva chica. Marcharán de viaje al prohibido interior de China lo que hace que, por un lado, desarrollen una fuerte atracción física y, por otro, que a él le condenen a muerte.
Reseña algo más larga, en mi blog, esta vez en inglés, porque fue una review para el último TBR Challenge en que participé. En español, aquí.
Troth Montgomery vive en Cantón, disfrazada de muchacho. El aventurero Kyle Renbourne enseguida se da cuenta de que su «traductor» es, en realidad, una atractiva chica. Marcharán de viaje al prohibido interior de China lo que hace que, por un lado, desarrollen una fuerte atracción física y, por otro, que a él le condenen a muerte.
Reseña algo más larga, en mi blog, esta vez en inglés, porque fue una review para el último TBR Challenge en que participé. En español, aquí.
December 9, 2023
Who doesn’t love a romantic tale with a mysterious and forbidden setting. China! Where no foreigner was allowed beyond the trading enclave. Danger, romance and betrayal move from here back to England. Finally the broken twin Kyle has his HEA
March 16, 2020
4 Estrellitas. Aunque me ha gustado mucho, no ha llegado a la altura del primero. El planteamiento de ésta novela, como muchas de las de Mary Jo Putney, es bastante original, sobre todo por buscar ambientes y personajes salidos de la norma, como ha sido el caso de Troth.
Y digo original, porque para ser una novela de principios del siglo XIX, la mitad de la historia ocurre en China. No es un tema que me atraiga pero me ha encantado cómo la autora ha intentado mostrar de un modo lo más fidedigno posible el hermético mundo chino de ésta época y tan desconocido, al menos para mí.
En el primer libro conocimos a Kyle Renbourne, el gemelo mayor de Dominic y su triste historia con su adorada Constancia. "La novia de China" ocurre siete años después del primer libro. En estos siete años, Kyle se ha dedicado a recorrer mundo, su gran pasión, para descubrir su yo interior y la paz que necesita. Para culminar sus aspiraciones y poder regresar a casa para asumir sus responsabilidades como heredero del condando, solo le queda un propósito; visitar el ancestral templo de Hoshan. Pero hay un problema, ningún extranjero puede adentrarse en el interior de China, solo permanecer en Macao para el comercio.
Será a su llegada a Macao, donde Kyle conocerá al joven Jin Kang, un extraño y dócil intérprete chino, que resultará ser Troth Montgomery, una mestiza mitad china y mitad escocesa, que a la muerte de sus padres la protegió y enseñó un amigo de su padre, para quien trabaja ahora en el gremio de los comerciantes, bajo el aspecto de un hombre.
Aunque Troth adora su ascendencia china, no quiere vivir en el engaño de ser un hombre. Quiere amor y pasión, y China, con sus duras y restrictivas normas contra las mujeres, no puede ofrecérselo, de modo que cuando Kyle descubra su identidad, ella le abrirá su corazón, y él hará todo lo posible para conseguirle un pasaje a Gran Bretaña. A cambio, Troth deberá ayudar a Kyle a disfrazarse como un anciano chino y adentrarse en el continente para visitar el templo de Hoshan.
Será en ése viaje donde los protagonistas se irán conociendo como hombre y mujer, y cómo en el mejor momento estallará la tragedia. Las cosas no salen como esperaban y ambos se casan para darle a Troth la respetabilidad que merece, y su viaje a Inglaterra.
No quiero contar más, porque la sinopsis del libro ya se encarga de destripar varias cosas de éste. Solo diré que he quedado más satisfecha con la primera parte de la novela, la que ocurre en China, que con la segunda parte, ya en Inglaterra. La primera parte fue bonita, emocionante, un gran descubrimiento, y eso que las culturas asiáticas no me atraen nada. Pero la segunda ya se me ha hecho algo más densa y me aburría un poco, ésta ha resultado más de lo mismo y algo cliché para la pareja, bonito, pero poco más.
Aún así he disfrutado mucho de éste libro, no tanto como con el primero, y visto lo visto no tardaré en ponerme con el tercer libro para terminar la trilogía. Como siempre, un placer leer a Mary Jo Putney.
Y digo original, porque para ser una novela de principios del siglo XIX, la mitad de la historia ocurre en China. No es un tema que me atraiga pero me ha encantado cómo la autora ha intentado mostrar de un modo lo más fidedigno posible el hermético mundo chino de ésta época y tan desconocido, al menos para mí.
En el primer libro conocimos a Kyle Renbourne, el gemelo mayor de Dominic y su triste historia con su adorada Constancia. "La novia de China" ocurre siete años después del primer libro. En estos siete años, Kyle se ha dedicado a recorrer mundo, su gran pasión, para descubrir su yo interior y la paz que necesita. Para culminar sus aspiraciones y poder regresar a casa para asumir sus responsabilidades como heredero del condando, solo le queda un propósito; visitar el ancestral templo de Hoshan. Pero hay un problema, ningún extranjero puede adentrarse en el interior de China, solo permanecer en Macao para el comercio.
Será a su llegada a Macao, donde Kyle conocerá al joven Jin Kang, un extraño y dócil intérprete chino, que resultará ser Troth Montgomery, una mestiza mitad china y mitad escocesa, que a la muerte de sus padres la protegió y enseñó un amigo de su padre, para quien trabaja ahora en el gremio de los comerciantes, bajo el aspecto de un hombre.
Aunque Troth adora su ascendencia china, no quiere vivir en el engaño de ser un hombre. Quiere amor y pasión, y China, con sus duras y restrictivas normas contra las mujeres, no puede ofrecérselo, de modo que cuando Kyle descubra su identidad, ella le abrirá su corazón, y él hará todo lo posible para conseguirle un pasaje a Gran Bretaña. A cambio, Troth deberá ayudar a Kyle a disfrazarse como un anciano chino y adentrarse en el continente para visitar el templo de Hoshan.
Será en ése viaje donde los protagonistas se irán conociendo como hombre y mujer, y cómo en el mejor momento estallará la tragedia. Las cosas no salen como esperaban y ambos se casan para darle a Troth la respetabilidad que merece, y su viaje a Inglaterra.
No quiero contar más, porque la sinopsis del libro ya se encarga de destripar varias cosas de éste. Solo diré que he quedado más satisfecha con la primera parte de la novela, la que ocurre en China, que con la segunda parte, ya en Inglaterra. La primera parte fue bonita, emocionante, un gran descubrimiento, y eso que las culturas asiáticas no me atraen nada. Pero la segunda ya se me ha hecho algo más densa y me aburría un poco, ésta ha resultado más de lo mismo y algo cliché para la pareja, bonito, pero poco más.
Aún así he disfrutado mucho de éste libro, no tanto como con el primero, y visto lo visto no tardaré en ponerme con el tercer libro para terminar la trilogía. Como siempre, un placer leer a Mary Jo Putney.
December 24, 2010
I'm hovering between a 3 and a 4 stars on this one. I may have read too many MJP books recently, however I think this one only rates a 3 star. I liked it but didn't love it. Loved the location though- fascinating look at China where the author has some links. The heroine was an extremely appealing character forced to live as a boy following the death of her parents. I liked her martial arts skills- I always prefer the type of heroine who saves the hero from the bad guys to the type that weeps in a corner whilst the fight goes on.
The "baddy" in the plot was very cardboard cutout and I felt that parts of the story were not properly resolved- was her Chinese guardian involved with the baddy's plots for instance? I also struggled with the hero's character. Whilst I could sort of see his point of view and understand his actions I found that he was too much the prevaricator to really carry the plot forward. I will happily rate a book highly when I don't like the main characters but understand their actions and if I felt that the story worked well. Unfortunately in this case I found that this booked dragged a little and the final section felt bolted on.
So 4 stars for the female character and the location writing but 2 stars for the clunky plot and irritating male character.
However- don't stop here because the final book in the trilogy made up for all the lacks in this one and was absolutely wonderful!
The "baddy" in the plot was very cardboard cutout and I felt that parts of the story were not properly resolved- was her Chinese guardian involved with the baddy's plots for instance? I also struggled with the hero's character. Whilst I could sort of see his point of view and understand his actions I found that he was too much the prevaricator to really carry the plot forward. I will happily rate a book highly when I don't like the main characters but understand their actions and if I felt that the story worked well. Unfortunately in this case I found that this booked dragged a little and the final section felt bolted on.
So 4 stars for the female character and the location writing but 2 stars for the clunky plot and irritating male character.
However- don't stop here because the final book in the trilogy made up for all the lacks in this one and was absolutely wonderful!
March 16, 2020
Le iba a dar 3 Estrellas pero me arrepentí porque calla verdad es que no me gustó casi nada y no puedo rescatar demasiado.
La primera parte es aburrida, muy pero muy aburrida y sentía que no había nada de química entre los protagonistas. La segunda parte me gustó mucho más pero tampoco es que me encantara.
2.5 porque ando mala ondita... jajaja
La primera parte es aburrida, muy pero muy aburrida y sentía que no había nada de química entre los protagonistas. La segunda parte me gustó mucho más pero tampoco es que me encantara.
2.5 porque ando mala ondita... jajaja
March 14, 2020
Una magnifica historia. Colmada de detalles, es un libro que nos conecta con China, sus costumbres, sus diferencias con occidente. Una historia de amor, si, pero no una historia típica romántica. Una historia de distintos tipos de amores, de pasión, de tristeza, de miedo y de reencuentro.
Una historia que luego nos lleva a las tierras de Escocia, con todo lo que ello significa. Sus tierras altas, sus bailes y gaitas.
Le puse 5 estrellas porque no me he podido despegar del mismo. Ha sido un viaje hermoso. Y vale la pena leerlo.
Una historia que luego nos lleva a las tierras de Escocia, con todo lo que ello significa. Sus tierras altas, sus bailes y gaitas.
Le puse 5 estrellas porque no me he podido despegar del mismo. Ha sido un viaje hermoso. Y vale la pena leerlo.
August 26, 2024
I really very much liked this despite of the beta H. 4,5 stars.
November 18, 2018
Mejor que el anterior en el sentido de que la pareja es un poco más creíble. Ella no es tan extravagante y ( por momentos) fría como Meriel. Bien Troth. Kyle es más flojo que Dominic pero pasa. El final se estiró un poco para mí gusto pero bueh ! Tres estrellas para Troth y Kyle
October 18, 2024
Muy agradable sorpresa encontrar otra vez una historia tan bien contada y q explota muy sabiamente los elementos históricos-románticos de este tipo de generos.
A Kyle lo conocimos en la novela anterior como el hermano gemelo del protagonista. De hecho, en mi opinión tuvo un rol estelar xq - siempre en mi opinión - el libro anterior no iba solo del romance Dominic&Meriel, sino del vínculo entre hermanos Dominic&Kyle, q estaba básicamente roto cuando inicia la historia y se arregla en el camino. Gracias a eso, Kyle puede cumplir un sueño al q venía renunciando desde siempre, q es viajar x el mundo. Aquí en su trama nos enteramos q su objetivo siempre fue llegar a China y visitar un templo budista en concreto. El problema q se plantea es q el templo en cuestión está en Cantón, una ciudad prohibida para los fan-qui (extranjeros) así q Kyle no tiene mejor idea q contratar los servicios de un intérprete y entrar a la ciudad disfrazado. El intérprete designado no es otro q Troth Montgomery "aka" Mai-Ling, una joven mestiza de padre escoces y madre china, q al quedar huérfana fue a parar al cuidado de un comerciante chino q la disfraza de muchacho para poder usarla justamente como intérprete para los fan-qui locos q quieren emprender aventuras suicidas. Así vemos a Kyle&Troth - por cierto me ha parecido bastante raro el nombrecito - en el camino a la ciudad prohibida y obviamente pasan cosas y terminan convertidos en amantes primero y en matrimonio después.
Al principio la trama va un poco lenta, pero luego va ganando intensidad y ya no pude soltar la historia. Kyle&Troth al principio me han parecido una pareja un tanto forzada, pero luego vas descubriendo la verdadera naturaleza y sobre todo las inseguridades de Troth y entiendes todas las dudas q ha tenido a lo largo del trayecto, tanto del viaje con Kyle como el que emprende sola rumbo a Europa, cuando ha dado x muerto a Kyle. En ese sentido, me ha parecido mucho más logrado el personaje principal femenino, el cual tiene mucha más carga emocional q explotar, xq Troth es una joven q ha vivido toda su vida entre dos mundos, sin ser aceptada del todo en ninguno e incluso sin querer pertenecer del todo solo a uno, sino encontar la forma de armonizar su mitad escocesa y su mitad china. Kyle x su parte sigue siendo el mismo buenorro con el corazon partío q conocimos en el libro anterior, y no es q su personaje no este bien logrado, pero su problemática resulta mucho más fácil de llevar y de resolver q la de Troth xq se trata simplemente de descubrir si puede volver a amar después de haber perdido a Constancia...lo q se dice un paseo de domingo en la playa.
Los personajes secundarios convergen a lo suyo, complementando la narrativa, cada uno a lo suyo y hay de lo más variado, pero a diferencia del libro anterior, aparecen lo justo y necesario, sin narrativas paralelas, así q todo el interés se centra en nuestros protagonistas, con saltos espacio-temporales entre lo q ocurrió en China y lo q viene ocurriendo en Inglaterra, hasta el momento en q Kyle&Troth se vuelven a encontrar y deben resolver su situación marital; pero sin confundir y logrando q la lectura tenga mucha más dinámica.
La única pega q le encuentro a la trama es q se concentra tanto en los dos personajes principales q no explota el suspense, q existe, pero totalmente segmentado, un poco al principio y otro poquito al final y el desenlace y el final me lo han dejado un poco insípido.
Pero es una buena historia y vale la pena el tiempo invertido.
A Kyle lo conocimos en la novela anterior como el hermano gemelo del protagonista. De hecho, en mi opinión tuvo un rol estelar xq - siempre en mi opinión - el libro anterior no iba solo del romance Dominic&Meriel, sino del vínculo entre hermanos Dominic&Kyle, q estaba básicamente roto cuando inicia la historia y se arregla en el camino. Gracias a eso, Kyle puede cumplir un sueño al q venía renunciando desde siempre, q es viajar x el mundo. Aquí en su trama nos enteramos q su objetivo siempre fue llegar a China y visitar un templo budista en concreto. El problema q se plantea es q el templo en cuestión está en Cantón, una ciudad prohibida para los fan-qui (extranjeros) así q Kyle no tiene mejor idea q contratar los servicios de un intérprete y entrar a la ciudad disfrazado. El intérprete designado no es otro q Troth Montgomery "aka" Mai-Ling, una joven mestiza de padre escoces y madre china, q al quedar huérfana fue a parar al cuidado de un comerciante chino q la disfraza de muchacho para poder usarla justamente como intérprete para los fan-qui locos q quieren emprender aventuras suicidas. Así vemos a Kyle&Troth - por cierto me ha parecido bastante raro el nombrecito - en el camino a la ciudad prohibida y obviamente pasan cosas y terminan convertidos en amantes primero y en matrimonio después.
Al principio la trama va un poco lenta, pero luego va ganando intensidad y ya no pude soltar la historia. Kyle&Troth al principio me han parecido una pareja un tanto forzada, pero luego vas descubriendo la verdadera naturaleza y sobre todo las inseguridades de Troth y entiendes todas las dudas q ha tenido a lo largo del trayecto, tanto del viaje con Kyle como el que emprende sola rumbo a Europa, cuando ha dado x muerto a Kyle. En ese sentido, me ha parecido mucho más logrado el personaje principal femenino, el cual tiene mucha más carga emocional q explotar, xq Troth es una joven q ha vivido toda su vida entre dos mundos, sin ser aceptada del todo en ninguno e incluso sin querer pertenecer del todo solo a uno, sino encontar la forma de armonizar su mitad escocesa y su mitad china. Kyle x su parte sigue siendo el mismo buenorro con el corazon partío q conocimos en el libro anterior, y no es q su personaje no este bien logrado, pero su problemática resulta mucho más fácil de llevar y de resolver q la de Troth xq se trata simplemente de descubrir si puede volver a amar después de haber perdido a Constancia...lo q se dice un paseo de domingo en la playa.
Los personajes secundarios convergen a lo suyo, complementando la narrativa, cada uno a lo suyo y hay de lo más variado, pero a diferencia del libro anterior, aparecen lo justo y necesario, sin narrativas paralelas, así q todo el interés se centra en nuestros protagonistas, con saltos espacio-temporales entre lo q ocurrió en China y lo q viene ocurriendo en Inglaterra, hasta el momento en q Kyle&Troth se vuelven a encontrar y deben resolver su situación marital; pero sin confundir y logrando q la lectura tenga mucha más dinámica.
La única pega q le encuentro a la trama es q se concentra tanto en los dos personajes principales q no explota el suspense, q existe, pero totalmente segmentado, un poco al principio y otro poquito al final y el desenlace y el final me lo han dejado un poco insípido.
Pero es una buena historia y vale la pena el tiempo invertido.
May 25, 2019
La historia está aceptable pero sigue cojeando con respecto a la relación de pareja entre Kyle y Troth, le faltó química.
Lee la reseña en: https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
Lee la reseña en: https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
December 27, 2021
"I know now why I was so compelled to roam the world. It was to find you, my China bride."
November 28, 2012
This is the second book in the "Bride " trilogy by Mary Jo Putney. The story picks up six years after Dominic's marriage. Kyle is still "unsettled ". He has traveled extensively and is now visiting China with his business partner. Here he meets a beautiful girl that is half Scottish, half Chinese. Kyle is attracted to her, and she to him. However, Kyle believes he was given one true love and he could never feel the same way about anyone else. So, they became "friends with benefits ".
When Kyle is captured, accused if being a spy, he marries Troth .The ceremony wasn't really legal, but now Troth could return to her home and be well taken care of. The marriage was supposed to last a few hours only. It was presumed Kyle had been executed.
His wife goes to Kyle's family to inform them personally of Kyle's death. Then Kyle seemingly returns from the grave.
The first half of the book explores the politics, traditions, religions, and laws of China. This period of time opium was a huge source of income and trade. The relationship between Troth and Kyle that starts out as friendship then develops into something more, until tragedy struck.
The second half addresses the predjudices of people toward other races, especially Kyle's father. Troth wants to belong somewhere, to fit in. But, after being insulted, she decides to embrace her Chinese heritage. Kyle looks for a way to dissolve his marriage without causing a scandal, always denying his feelings for his "wife".
The first half was interesting if you enjoy reading about other cultures. I was interested, but I thought the story moved too slowly at times.
The second half was more traditional romance novel angst. I enjoyed the second part more. I'm just more of a dialogue person. I felt sorry for Troth .She lost her confidence in this new country, her husband didn't appear to share her feelings, her father in law disapproved of her.
Kyle was stubborn and clueless! I just wanted to shake him!
I did love the intrigue at the end. This story didn't appeal to me as much as the first book, but it was still good to see Kyle finally have his HEA. It was also nice to get sn update on the characters from the first book. Overall B -
When Kyle is captured, accused if being a spy, he marries Troth .The ceremony wasn't really legal, but now Troth could return to her home and be well taken care of. The marriage was supposed to last a few hours only. It was presumed Kyle had been executed.
His wife goes to Kyle's family to inform them personally of Kyle's death. Then Kyle seemingly returns from the grave.
The first half of the book explores the politics, traditions, religions, and laws of China. This period of time opium was a huge source of income and trade. The relationship between Troth and Kyle that starts out as friendship then develops into something more, until tragedy struck.
The second half addresses the predjudices of people toward other races, especially Kyle's father. Troth wants to belong somewhere, to fit in. But, after being insulted, she decides to embrace her Chinese heritage. Kyle looks for a way to dissolve his marriage without causing a scandal, always denying his feelings for his "wife".
The first half was interesting if you enjoy reading about other cultures. I was interested, but I thought the story moved too slowly at times.
The second half was more traditional romance novel angst. I enjoyed the second part more. I'm just more of a dialogue person. I felt sorry for Troth .She lost her confidence in this new country, her husband didn't appear to share her feelings, her father in law disapproved of her.
Kyle was stubborn and clueless! I just wanted to shake him!
I did love the intrigue at the end. This story didn't appeal to me as much as the first book, but it was still good to see Kyle finally have his HEA. It was also nice to get sn update on the characters from the first book. Overall B -
February 11, 2022
Audio Version
Narrator: Davina Porter
1832-1833
borrowed from Hoopla
4.5 *
1st half: 5 stars
2nd half 4 stars
Narration: 5 stars
Even though there were some disappointments during the second half of the book (nothing monumental), I would still say this is one of the best romance novels I have read in a while. Unique setting and story line, sensual, intelligent writing...all in all an enjoyable book.
Narrator: Davina Porter
1832-1833
borrowed from Hoopla
4.5 *
1st half: 5 stars
2nd half 4 stars
Narration: 5 stars
Even though there were some disappointments during the second half of the book (nothing monumental), I would still say this is one of the best romance novels I have read in a while. Unique setting and story line, sensual, intelligent writing...all in all an enjoyable book.
December 11, 2019
Read this pre-goodreads days.. Here's what I wrote at the time:
After over a year of trading by post, I met Oriana78 when I was in Paris and we did a trade over the table in a cafe.... with a lovely nice long chat about books, life etc!
Actually read this a while ago and forgot to journal it. I really enjoyed it and it's more or less a keeper, although almost all of my keepers are available for rings or loans (hence the available setting).
Just thought I'd add the book description from Amazon. I guess I liked it more than the reviewer did.
Nineteenth-century China, England and Scotland are the settings for Putney's continuing saga of the Renbourne twins, Dominic and Kyle, begun in The Wild Child. There, Kyle handed over his unwanted betrothed, Meriel (a match arranged at birth), to his twin brother, Dominic, and escaped to Spain with his terminally ill mistress, Constancia. Ever since his true love's death, Kyle has been exploring the world. In 1832, he is in Macao. His father's health is failing, however, and Kyle plans to fulfill his lifelong dream of seeing the Temple of Hoshan, "an image of peace and unearthly beauty," then return to England to resume his duties as Lord Maxwell. Unfortunately, China is closed to all Fan-qui (foreigners) and Kyle must stay within the confines of the Canton Settlement, a narrow strip of warehouses serving as shipping point for all European and American trade companies. In order to sneak into the Chinese countryside, Kyle enlists the aid of Jin Kang, who he thinks is a young male Chinese interpreter. Jin is actually Troth Mei-Lian Montgomery, feisty daughter of a Scottish trader and Chinese concubine, who is forced to make her living by spying on "foreign devils." Kyle's rash escapade is predictably unsuccessful, as he is discovered and sentenced to death. He marries Troth (symbolically) and dispatches her to England to tell his family of his fateAwhich, of course, turns out to be different from what she imagines. In chapters alternating between Troth's experiences in England and flashbacks to her adventures with Kyle in China, Putney contrives an awkward tale, dependant for its drama on Kyle's belief that he can never love again, and on Troth's fear of rejection by Kyle's family. Though the conflict rarely grips, the sex scenes are adequately steamy, and Putney provides plenty of atmospheric details. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
December 2019 update: As I am about to send off The Wild Child to a moocher, I decided to reread it and then I thought I would reread the whole trilogy. As I usually leave time between books by authors I particularly enjoy, it's a rare treat to read a series in one fell swoop, when I remember who everyone is and what has happened before. I enjoyed this one again, and do have a preference for the first. Putney remains an author I generally greatly appreciate.
After over a year of trading by post, I met Oriana78 when I was in Paris and we did a trade over the table in a cafe.... with a lovely nice long chat about books, life etc!
Actually read this a while ago and forgot to journal it. I really enjoyed it and it's more or less a keeper, although almost all of my keepers are available for rings or loans (hence the available setting).
Just thought I'd add the book description from Amazon. I guess I liked it more than the reviewer did.
Nineteenth-century China, England and Scotland are the settings for Putney's continuing saga of the Renbourne twins, Dominic and Kyle, begun in The Wild Child. There, Kyle handed over his unwanted betrothed, Meriel (a match arranged at birth), to his twin brother, Dominic, and escaped to Spain with his terminally ill mistress, Constancia. Ever since his true love's death, Kyle has been exploring the world. In 1832, he is in Macao. His father's health is failing, however, and Kyle plans to fulfill his lifelong dream of seeing the Temple of Hoshan, "an image of peace and unearthly beauty," then return to England to resume his duties as Lord Maxwell. Unfortunately, China is closed to all Fan-qui (foreigners) and Kyle must stay within the confines of the Canton Settlement, a narrow strip of warehouses serving as shipping point for all European and American trade companies. In order to sneak into the Chinese countryside, Kyle enlists the aid of Jin Kang, who he thinks is a young male Chinese interpreter. Jin is actually Troth Mei-Lian Montgomery, feisty daughter of a Scottish trader and Chinese concubine, who is forced to make her living by spying on "foreign devils." Kyle's rash escapade is predictably unsuccessful, as he is discovered and sentenced to death. He marries Troth (symbolically) and dispatches her to England to tell his family of his fateAwhich, of course, turns out to be different from what she imagines. In chapters alternating between Troth's experiences in England and flashbacks to her adventures with Kyle in China, Putney contrives an awkward tale, dependant for its drama on Kyle's belief that he can never love again, and on Troth's fear of rejection by Kyle's family. Though the conflict rarely grips, the sex scenes are adequately steamy, and Putney provides plenty of atmospheric details. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
December 2019 update: As I am about to send off The Wild Child to a moocher, I decided to reread it and then I thought I would reread the whole trilogy. As I usually leave time between books by authors I particularly enjoy, it's a rare treat to read a series in one fell swoop, when I remember who everyone is and what has happened before. I enjoyed this one again, and do have a preference for the first. Putney remains an author I generally greatly appreciate.
September 22, 2014
Mary Jo Putney este tot timpul pe radarul meu,si rar se intampla ca cartile scrise de ea sa ma dezamageasca.
Pe langa povestile de dragoste furtunoase pe care le regasim in cartile ei,tot timpul povestile sunt pline de suspans si actiune.
The China Bride ,este o calatorie palpitanta prin tinuturile Chinei.A fost interesant sa aflu toate detaliile despre cultura chineza,si cum era privita aceasta tara la nivel mondial.Inca de prin 1800 era o adevarata putere culturala ,dar si comerciala.
Protagonisti sunt Kyle Renbourne si Troth Montgomery,si in ciuda faptului ca au trait in lumi si culturi diferite,atractia dintre ei este instantanee.
Pe Kyle l-am cunoscut in primul volum al seriei(schimbul de identitati dintre gemeni,daca mai tineti minte).Indurerat de pierderea iubitei lui,se hotareste sa faca o calatorie in tinuturile Asiei,si astfel ajunge in China.
Troth este pe jumatate scotianca si pe jumatate chinezoaica,dar in urma unei tragedii ,ramane orfana si-si traierte viata in minciuna sub numele de Jin Kang.Traieste in casa unui comerciant chinez ,spionand pentru acesta comerciantii straini.
Aventura lor este interesanta,drumul spre templul Hoshan are un final tragic,pentru ca el este intemnitat si condamnat la moarte,dar totodata semnifica si inceputul unei minunate povesti de dragoste.
Poate ca a-si fi acordat un punctaj mai mare,dar nu ar fi fost corect,pentru ca autoarea a scris carti si mai bune decat cea in cauza.
Cartea merita citita,este plina de actiune si suspans,si mi-a placut .
Pe langa povestile de dragoste furtunoase pe care le regasim in cartile ei,tot timpul povestile sunt pline de suspans si actiune.
The China Bride ,este o calatorie palpitanta prin tinuturile Chinei.A fost interesant sa aflu toate detaliile despre cultura chineza,si cum era privita aceasta tara la nivel mondial.Inca de prin 1800 era o adevarata putere culturala ,dar si comerciala.
Protagonisti sunt Kyle Renbourne si Troth Montgomery,si in ciuda faptului ca au trait in lumi si culturi diferite,atractia dintre ei este instantanee.
Pe Kyle l-am cunoscut in primul volum al seriei(schimbul de identitati dintre gemeni,daca mai tineti minte).Indurerat de pierderea iubitei lui,se hotareste sa faca o calatorie in tinuturile Asiei,si astfel ajunge in China.
Troth este pe jumatate scotianca si pe jumatate chinezoaica,dar in urma unei tragedii ,ramane orfana si-si traierte viata in minciuna sub numele de Jin Kang.Traieste in casa unui comerciant chinez ,spionand pentru acesta comerciantii straini.
Aventura lor este interesanta,drumul spre templul Hoshan are un final tragic,pentru ca el este intemnitat si condamnat la moarte,dar totodata semnifica si inceputul unei minunate povesti de dragoste.
Poate ca a-si fi acordat un punctaj mai mare,dar nu ar fi fost corect,pentru ca autoarea a scris carti si mai bune decat cea in cauza.
Cartea merita citita,este plina de actiune si suspans,si mi-a placut .
December 3, 2017
Mary Jo really knows how to blend in history, romance and enough drama to make your head spin. Her heroines are fierce, the heroes wonderfully male, and it all makes for a splendid tale that takes you on a roller coaster ride all over!
The China Bride was elegantly written, full of tidbits - both real and fictional - of China. I thoroughly enjoyed the explanations of tai chi and feng chui, and the intricacies of wing shun. Wonderful blend of information and storytelling.
The love story 😍😍😍 Kyle and Troth had me guessing up to the last minute, as to whether they would truly end up together or not. Having read The Wild Child, I really expected to see parts of Dominic in Kyle since they're twins, but they truly are 100% different. That difference made the storyline even better, with Kyle acting in ways that more often than not made me want to smack him - or hug him.
With Troth being Eurasian, I found the entire story took on a deeper tone that is still very resonant with our today world where interracial relationships - and the people in them - struggle for acceptance. Troth's journey and eventual devil-may-care attitude had me rooting for her all along!
Wonderfully adorable characters, a love story that touches you, all told in a spellbinding narrative. What more can you wish for?
The China Bride was elegantly written, full of tidbits - both real and fictional - of China. I thoroughly enjoyed the explanations of tai chi and feng chui, and the intricacies of wing shun. Wonderful blend of information and storytelling.
The love story 😍😍😍 Kyle and Troth had me guessing up to the last minute, as to whether they would truly end up together or not. Having read The Wild Child, I really expected to see parts of Dominic in Kyle since they're twins, but they truly are 100% different. That difference made the storyline even better, with Kyle acting in ways that more often than not made me want to smack him - or hug him.
With Troth being Eurasian, I found the entire story took on a deeper tone that is still very resonant with our today world where interracial relationships - and the people in them - struggle for acceptance. Troth's journey and eventual devil-may-care attitude had me rooting for her all along!
Wonderfully adorable characters, a love story that touches you, all told in a spellbinding narrative. What more can you wish for?
October 2, 2011
As always, an entertaining read from Mary Jo Putney. This book was so informative! I learned so much about Chinese culture from the 1830s that corresponded with what I knew already. I've never read a book that explained the core of tai chi so well, and I loved that the heroine, because of her dual upbringing in both Chinese tradition and Scottish, had no problem with pre-marital sex so I didn't have to slog through the usual "Oh no, I shouldn't be doing this, but it feels so good!" that we usually get in romance novels.
I felt the hero/heroine were a great match. I loved that they got to know each other via traveling together. Rather than falling for the typical hero and heroine hating each other and then growing to love each other, they were two people brought together by circumstance and finding a connection.
Read this book if you're looking for a story that is entertaining, informative, exciting, and yes, even a little thrilling in bed.
I felt the hero/heroine were a great match. I loved that they got to know each other via traveling together. Rather than falling for the typical hero and heroine hating each other and then growing to love each other, they were two people brought together by circumstance and finding a connection.
Read this book if you're looking for a story that is entertaining, informative, exciting, and yes, even a little thrilling in bed.
May 26, 2014
My first 5 star waiting for a book on goodreads belongs to the China Bride. I've been working my way through Ms. Putney's back catalog after devouring her Lost Lords series. This book had all the parts of romance that I love a will they or won't they, an almost thwarted HEA, jumping around with the timeline. I loved the China setting and wish more historicals could leave Britain and head elsewhere. The characters were fully developed and even though I'm reading in the middle of a series, I was not lost. This a wonderful stand alone book that I devoured on a single rainy morning. This book was beautiful, sweet and tender. Happy reading!
November 6, 2013
I loved this book. Not like the first book of The Bride Trilogy, the China Bride open a whole new world of knowledge for me... There were a lot of things that I learn reading this book.
When I think about the characters it makes me happy to think they found each other, love, and the freedom they need it. Kyle lost he's first love and he never thought the he will ever love again. Until he meet Throth, and each other they found the love and peace that they both need...
When I think about the characters it makes me happy to think they found each other, love, and the freedom they need it. Kyle lost he's first love and he never thought the he will ever love again. Until he meet Throth, and each other they found the love and peace that they both need...
March 15, 2013
4 stars
Loved the exotic location. She really gave a sense of how profoundly different Chinese and European cultures were at that time, as well as how adamant China was in remaining separate from the west.
Loved the exotic location. She really gave a sense of how profoundly different Chinese and European cultures were at that time, as well as how adamant China was in remaining separate from the west.
November 1, 2016
review to come...
July 7, 2021
Toooooo loooooong.
February 24, 2017
Romanul binecunoscutei scriitoare de romance Mary Jo Putney a fost tradus în limba română cu titlul " Mireasa din China" și a apărut la editura Litera în colecția " Cărți romantice" în anul 2014. Traducerea a fost făcută de către Nicoleta Mitrofan / Graal Soft. Mi-a plăcut foarte mult romanul pe care îl consider unul dintre cele mai reușite ale acestei autoare care de altfel scrie foarte bine. Părerea mea este puțin subiectivă poate și pentru că îmi place foarte mult tot ce ține de istoria și cultura extremului orient.
Personajul principal este Troth Mei-Lian Montgomery o tânără pe jumătate chinezoaică. Tatăl ei era negustorul scoțian Hugh Montgomery iar mama frumoasa chinezoaică Li-Yin. Se căsătoriseră în Canton, zonă rezervată negustorilor străini de statul chinez care practica politica porților închise. În Canton se adunaseră negustori europeni și americani care se îmbogățeau din coemrțul cu ceai dar și cu opiu cu toate că acest din urmă era interzis. Suntem ca timp înainte de războiul opiumului, într-o perioadă în care toți se gândeau doar la sumele uriașe de bani care puteau fi câștigate și mai puțin la consecințele pe termen lung. Prezența străinilor dincolo de zona clar delimitată era strict interzisă și pedepsită cu moartea. Troth Mei-Lan rămâne orfană de ambii părinți la numai 12 ani după ce tatăl ei moare într-un naufragiu provocat de un taifun. Averea adunată este luată de creditori iar Troth este luată în grijă d emarele negustor chinez Chenqua care își dă repede seama că o poate folosi în interesul lui, punând-o să spioneze negustorii străini pentru că tia la perfecție și engelza și chineza. O îmbracă în haine bărbătești și Mei-Lian poate merge împreună cu protectorul ei în toate locurile în care se întâlnesc cu negustorii stăini.Toți o știu drept trducătorul lui Chenqua, Jin-Kang. Era prea înaltă pentru o femeie chineză, prea deosebită cu trăsăturile ei amestecate așa că acest aranjament a funcționat fără probleme ani buni și Mei- Lian se trezește că are deja 27 de ani.Dar iată că chenqua îi cere să spioneze un elngelz nou venit, tovarășul negustorului american Gavin Elliot. Este vorba de Kyle Renbourne, al zecelea viconte Maxwell care investește și el de mult în comerțul cu ceai și este împotriva comerțului cu droguri. Acest nobil engelz dorește să cunoască bine Cantonul dar ar vrea să ajungă și în zona interzisă pentru a-și împlini un vis din copilărie și anume să vadă templul budist Hoshan afat la 160 km de Canton. Între Mei-Lian și Kyle Renbourne se leagă repede o prietenie specială datorată mai ales faptului că Troth i-a salvat viața lui Kyle când acesta fusese atacat de șase asasini plătiți. Așa află Kyle că tânărul și eficientul Jin Kang era de fapt o fată pe jumătate scoțiană. Se decid să plece împeună în marea aventură să ajungă la twmplul Hoshun. Recompensa pentru Troth era plata călătoriei până în Anglia. De-a lungul periculoasei călătorii cei doi nu numai că se cunosc mai bine dar se și îndrăgostesc unul de altul și așa începe de fapt marea și adevărata lor aventură pentru că după aventurile din China vor urma cele din Anglia și din Scoția și tot acest drum sinuos este de fapt un drum al iubirii.
Personajul principal este Troth Mei-Lian Montgomery o tânără pe jumătate chinezoaică. Tatăl ei era negustorul scoțian Hugh Montgomery iar mama frumoasa chinezoaică Li-Yin. Se căsătoriseră în Canton, zonă rezervată negustorilor străini de statul chinez care practica politica porților închise. În Canton se adunaseră negustori europeni și americani care se îmbogățeau din coemrțul cu ceai dar și cu opiu cu toate că acest din urmă era interzis. Suntem ca timp înainte de războiul opiumului, într-o perioadă în care toți se gândeau doar la sumele uriașe de bani care puteau fi câștigate și mai puțin la consecințele pe termen lung. Prezența străinilor dincolo de zona clar delimitată era strict interzisă și pedepsită cu moartea. Troth Mei-Lan rămâne orfană de ambii părinți la numai 12 ani după ce tatăl ei moare într-un naufragiu provocat de un taifun. Averea adunată este luată de creditori iar Troth este luată în grijă d emarele negustor chinez Chenqua care își dă repede seama că o poate folosi în interesul lui, punând-o să spioneze negustorii străini pentru că tia la perfecție și engelza și chineza. O îmbracă în haine bărbătești și Mei-Lian poate merge împreună cu protectorul ei în toate locurile în care se întâlnesc cu negustorii stăini.Toți o știu drept trducătorul lui Chenqua, Jin-Kang. Era prea înaltă pentru o femeie chineză, prea deosebită cu trăsăturile ei amestecate așa că acest aranjament a funcționat fără probleme ani buni și Mei- Lian se trezește că are deja 27 de ani.Dar iată că chenqua îi cere să spioneze un elngelz nou venit, tovarășul negustorului american Gavin Elliot. Este vorba de Kyle Renbourne, al zecelea viconte Maxwell care investește și el de mult în comerțul cu ceai și este împotriva comerțului cu droguri. Acest nobil engelz dorește să cunoască bine Cantonul dar ar vrea să ajungă și în zona interzisă pentru a-și împlini un vis din copilărie și anume să vadă templul budist Hoshan afat la 160 km de Canton. Între Mei-Lian și Kyle Renbourne se leagă repede o prietenie specială datorată mai ales faptului că Troth i-a salvat viața lui Kyle când acesta fusese atacat de șase asasini plătiți. Așa află Kyle că tânărul și eficientul Jin Kang era de fapt o fată pe jumătate scoțiană. Se decid să plece împeună în marea aventură să ajungă la twmplul Hoshun. Recompensa pentru Troth era plata călătoriei până în Anglia. De-a lungul periculoasei călătorii cei doi nu numai că se cunosc mai bine dar se și îndrăgostesc unul de altul și așa începe de fapt marea și adevărata lor aventură pentru că după aventurile din China vor urma cele din Anglia și din Scoția și tot acest drum sinuos este de fapt un drum al iubirii.
July 25, 2025
This book started off so good. I read the first of this series, don’t remember much of it now, but loved it per my review. This series is very original, with some very interesting themes. This book had me questioning a lot, in a good way, for much of the book. That being said, the last 1/3 or so of this book was just torture for me. Redundant, boring, stupid. Will probably still read the other in the series, but hope it goes better than this one did.
November 2, 2022
Interesante obiceiurile culturale. O carte draguta.
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