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The Bride's Seduction
A Marriage of Convenience?
Miss Marina Winslow assumed she would never marry. Then the Earl of Mortenhoe proposed a practical, passionless match. Marina knew it was madness to accept when she was in love with him. But perhaps she could risk her heart…
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2006
28 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Louise Allen
424 books331 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
This author also writes under the name Francesca Shaw.
I have had my nose buried in a history book - fact or fiction - for as long as I can remember, but even more important to me are the places and the objects that conjure up the past. My first attempt at historical fiction at the age of eight was three pages of improbable medieval drama set in the local castle.
With a degree in geography and archaeology I love to try and 'read' the landscape and the buildings in it for clues about the past. Virtually any place can trigger ideas for plots, but I am particularly inspired by Venice, Burgundy, Mediterranean islands and the Hertfordshire and Norfolk countryside.
I live in England in a village in Bedfordshire with my long-suffering husband. He is not sure whether to be flattered or alarmed to be told he is the inspiration for all my romantic heroes! Whenever possible we escape to our cottage on the North Norfolk coast where Percy, the bossy pheasant, allows us to share the garden.
My resolution every time I start on a new plot is to plan it carefully, make copious notes first and write lots of drafts in a disciplined and orderly manner. What inevitably happens is that the story starts to write itself in my head until it gets completely out of control - meanwhile my study floor becomes a sea of open books, prints and maps and I am found sitting in the car at traffic lights, muttering dialogue. At that point I have to start writing, knowing full well that the hero and heroine are going to take over and sabotage all my attempts at discipline. It is, after all, their story.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 19, 2025
3.5 stars. Historical romance, 1800s, England (mostly besides a quick jaunt to Paris). I really liked the hero so much. He was kind and didn't expect his childhood friend to retain her childishness, while still not bending to her antics. Ther heroine was hard working, and exceptionally stubborn about things (which was a bit of a miss for me, but made sense why her family manipulated her a bit and kept things a secret--she literally showed how hard it was to change her mind about something, and she had decided to be a spinster). And, it also helped that from almost the beginning, the reader understands that it's a bonus for the hero to marry her and that he would have walked away from his life goal of regaining his family's home if he actully didn't want to marry her (a condition to get the home, plus money). They are both nice people surrounded by exceptionally flawed individuals while also having flaws themselves. He is too protective by wanting to keep her in the dark so she doesn't like she's less worthy, while she believes that she is already not worthy (stubborn) and keepa waiting to wake up from this dream. Ah, silly nice people. I did enjoy this one, and the art was alright. The artist made a choice to make the attractive blonde characters have curls, but the heroine have straight hair, which was a choice I questioned as the heroine's brother looked like a character from the French aristocracy. To end up in Paris was humorous to me. The main dude looked like a dark haired ken doll had a tryst with an old fashioned harlequin doll (which the later being the publisher division is also apt). I thought the artist did well, and may check out their work again. It's also 2 for 2 with recent Louise Allen manga adaptations.
August 19, 2021
A quick read without too complicated of a plot, which is sometimes just what an overworked brain needs!
October 14, 2024
A fine read - why have I never come across this author before? There’s a lot of sex in it, but it’s appropriate for the story and the characters.
Here’s the premise: Marina Winslow is the old maid of her family, at twenty-six, but when Justin Ransome, the Earl of Mortenhoe, calls on her brother to agree terms to buy his family’s old home from him, Marina finds herself unexpectedly on the receiving end of a very determined courtship. The reader is under no illusions about the reason for this. Marina’s brother, Charlie, wants to sell the house to Justin for as high a price as he can get, but he also wants to marry off the spinster of the family. So the deal is money and marriage, or no house. Marina can’t resist the charming, handsome Justin, so married they are and off to Knightshaye, gambled away by Justin’s father to Charlie’s father some twenty odd years ago, and now restored to its original owners.
But the house and the entire estate has been let go to rack and ruin, the tenants are surly and suspicious and the servants are new and unsure of themselves. It’s quite a challenge for the newlyweds, and Marina now knows the truth of her whirlwind courtship, let slip by her stupid brother. How can she ever trust Justin, knowing how easily and glibly he deceived her? The two tiptoe round each other, trying to find an accommodation, Justin hating the secret he’s promised not to reveal to Marina, and she coming to terms with what looks like betrayal, which includes a seeming lie regarding an old flame of Justin’s who married someone else. It’s made even harder for her by their rampantly enjoyable sex life, and the inconvenient fact that she’s fallen in love with her husband.
So there are rows and apologies and the usual, just like real life. Eventually, things come to a head, and the old flame’s machinations push Marina over the edge and she does something pretty stupid. Why not actually *talk* to your husband, dear, instead of assuming and ricocheting off the walls? Happily, Justin has realised belatedly that he’s in love with his wife and not only goes after her, but dares her to put their marriage on a different footing. The ending is pitch perfect and absolutely lovely. Sigh.
I do have a few quibbles. Firstly, in the marriage scene, there would be no veil and definitely no kiss, and they would sign the register before walking down the aisle (just as brides do today!). And no, you could not get an annulment for non-consummation, not in England, anyway. I was amused by Marina ordering service a la russe for their intimate dinner for two, as being less intrusive than service a la francaise. Service a la russe involves the butler and footmen serving each individual dish as a separate course, so they’re constantly in and out, whereas service a la francaise means plonking all the dishes on the table at once. With a single course and no removes, the servants aren’t needed at all, which is just like a normal family meal in most households. But that’s a trivial detail.
None of my quibbles stopped this being a terrific read. I loved Justin, and Marina is (mostly) sensible and likable. Five stars.
Here’s the premise: Marina Winslow is the old maid of her family, at twenty-six, but when Justin Ransome, the Earl of Mortenhoe, calls on her brother to agree terms to buy his family’s old home from him, Marina finds herself unexpectedly on the receiving end of a very determined courtship. The reader is under no illusions about the reason for this. Marina’s brother, Charlie, wants to sell the house to Justin for as high a price as he can get, but he also wants to marry off the spinster of the family. So the deal is money and marriage, or no house. Marina can’t resist the charming, handsome Justin, so married they are and off to Knightshaye, gambled away by Justin’s father to Charlie’s father some twenty odd years ago, and now restored to its original owners.
But the house and the entire estate has been let go to rack and ruin, the tenants are surly and suspicious and the servants are new and unsure of themselves. It’s quite a challenge for the newlyweds, and Marina now knows the truth of her whirlwind courtship, let slip by her stupid brother. How can she ever trust Justin, knowing how easily and glibly he deceived her? The two tiptoe round each other, trying to find an accommodation, Justin hating the secret he’s promised not to reveal to Marina, and she coming to terms with what looks like betrayal, which includes a seeming lie regarding an old flame of Justin’s who married someone else. It’s made even harder for her by their rampantly enjoyable sex life, and the inconvenient fact that she’s fallen in love with her husband.
So there are rows and apologies and the usual, just like real life. Eventually, things come to a head, and the old flame’s machinations push Marina over the edge and she does something pretty stupid. Why not actually *talk* to your husband, dear, instead of assuming and ricocheting off the walls? Happily, Justin has realised belatedly that he’s in love with his wife and not only goes after her, but dares her to put their marriage on a different footing. The ending is pitch perfect and absolutely lovely. Sigh.
I do have a few quibbles. Firstly, in the marriage scene, there would be no veil and definitely no kiss, and they would sign the register before walking down the aisle (just as brides do today!). And no, you could not get an annulment for non-consummation, not in England, anyway. I was amused by Marina ordering service a la russe for their intimate dinner for two, as being less intrusive than service a la francaise. Service a la russe involves the butler and footmen serving each individual dish as a separate course, so they’re constantly in and out, whereas service a la francaise means plonking all the dishes on the table at once. With a single course and no removes, the servants aren’t needed at all, which is just like a normal family meal in most households. But that’s a trivial detail.
None of my quibbles stopped this being a terrific read. I loved Justin, and Marina is (mostly) sensible and likable. Five stars.
February 19, 2016
Loved it the first time i read it.
The next time i thot it was rather cheap, for some reason. And so...tawdry sentimental.
, etc etc. She pokers up when he enters her cos he says "trust me", and that hurts her, physically. Why? Cos she already knows he married her for the property (bro wont sell his old mansion to him otherwise),and knows he's in love with serena (some marchioness,married richer guy pver H).
Uh...despite everything, she still loves him. Well, gee, guess what, in reality it's usually the other way around. Yes, yes, this is not reality. Still...tawdry. :(
But, i really, really liked it the first time i read it... so 3, maybe 4 stars.
Did not find it funny that ow mauled H and he was not participant in the kiss the h witnessed.
The next time i thot it was rather cheap, for some reason. And so...tawdry sentimental.
, etc etc. She pokers up when he enters her cos he says "trust me", and that hurts her, physically. Why? Cos she already knows he married her for the property (bro wont sell his old mansion to him otherwise),and knows he's in love with serena (some marchioness,married richer guy pver H).
Uh...despite everything, she still loves him. Well, gee, guess what, in reality it's usually the other way around. Yes, yes, this is not reality. Still...tawdry. :(
But, i really, really liked it the first time i read it... so 3, maybe 4 stars.
Did not find it funny that ow mauled H and he was not participant in the kiss the h witnessed.
June 18, 2024
A steamy story. I really enjoyed this. It was a straightforward story, but it kept me engaged. I liked Marina’s attitude towards the various scenarios she faced. Possibly she and Justin as they got on could have discussed their issues and avoid the challenges they faced. I would also liked to have seen whether the curate was falling for Marina. However, it was nice to see how the two of them interacted.
July 10, 2024
It was well written but suffers from the current tendency of these Regency and Victorian period authors to paint sex scenes which are too graphic.
May 5, 2023
I love their interactions in the beginning of the novel. But then she found out the truth.
I really hated how the author punish the H. I mean his only sin is lie by omission. And if that's so, she should blame her brother and mother too. I mean, their betrayal is greater. But no...her brother is all forgiven because the H is at fault because accepting the buying conditions
I can't blame the h for what she's feeling. And that was real tough of her I must say. But all this thing solely blame the H is pissing me off.
I mean, if anything else, I must commend the H. This unrecyclable trash of her father not only ruined his mother, he also ruined his family. But he still didn't put the blame on the trash's family and he even protected h's mother for not saying anything.
I really hated how the author punish the H. I mean his only sin is lie by omission. And if that's so, she should blame her brother and mother too. I mean, their betrayal is greater. But no...her brother is all forgiven because the H is at fault because accepting the buying conditions
I can't blame the h for what she's feeling. And that was real tough of her I must say. But all this thing solely blame the H is pissing me off.
I mean, if anything else, I must commend the H. This unrecyclable trash of her father not only ruined his mother, he also ruined his family. But he still didn't put the blame on the trash's family and he even protected h's mother for not saying anything.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2024
La storia è trita e ritrita: il matrimonio è frutto di una transazione commerciale, ma l'amore, alla fine, trionfa. Ma stavolta LA (una scrittrice i cui romanzi non avevo finora particolarmente apprezzato) riesce a dare plausibilità ai personaggi e alla vicenda, ambientandola con competenza all'inizio dell'età vittoriana, con sufficiente attenzione ai dettagli.
Ciò mi fa ben sperare per future letture
Ciò mi fa ben sperare per future letture
September 4, 2021
Light read, which was just what was needed. Better than many of the same genre.
December 7, 2025
h came off kinda bland.
February 13, 2013
Marina and Justin were wonderful characters. Their slowly growing love for each other was laid out against their frustration and feelings of mistrust and misunderstanding. He was an honourable man and tried so hard to be straight with her, while she took it upon herself to think the worst and imagine him in the least honourable light. I loved the ending, and I adored how willing she was to grit her teeth and do her duty. She really was the sensible heroine and I like that about my women. Well written.
April 20, 2011
Love it!
April 25, 2023
Haven’t added a HQ comic to my favs list in so long
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews