An Unsuitable Bride

Blackwater Brides #3

by Jane Feather

Pretjerano kreposna obitelj mladog vikonta Bradleya prije mnogo mu je godina zabranila da sklopi brak s voljenom ženom. Sad je ostarjeli lord osmislio suptilnu osvetu. Njegova će tri nećaka moći podijeliti njegovo bogatstvo, ali samo ako svaki od njih oženi osramoćenu, posrnulu ženu. Dvojica su našli žene koje odgovaraju uvjetima...i sve ovisi o najmlađemu Peregrineu Sullivanu...Gregorijanska trilogija autorice uspješnica Jane Feather završava seksi pričom koja će vas sigurno oduševiti. Samo bi očaj natjerao jednu damu da se preruši u nadi da će naći zaposlenje, ali dvadeset tisuća funti, što ih je njihov otac obećao prelijepoj Alexandri Douglas i njezinoj boležljivoj mlađoj sestri, nestalo je u šakama pohlepnog rođaka koji je naslijedio imanje. Alexandra se, u potrazi za pravdom, upustila u kompliciranu šaradu kako bi se uvukla u Combe Abbey, dom njezinih predaka, i potajno uzela novac natrag. Peregrinea, koji je u posjetu Abbeyju, zaintrigirala je žena čiji se um u svakom pogledu može nositi s njegovim. Tko je ta usidjelica srednjih godina s očima mlade žene i mladenačkim hodom što ga čak ni šepanje ne može prikriti? Sluteći nekakvu skandaloznu tajnu, Perry vjeruje da će dama objeručke prihvatiti njegovo spašavanje. No njegova su nastojanja odbijena; Alexandra će se sama pobrinuti za sebe i svoju sestru, hvala lijepa. Može li Perry udvarati smionoj i neovisnoj mladoj ženi, osvojiti njezino srce i biti posljednji brat koji stupa u brak?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Fiction, Regency, Historical Fiction, Adult

Hardcover

First published July 24, 2012

About the author

Jane Feather (born Jane Robotham) is a popular British–American writer of historical romance novels. In 1984 she wrote five contemporary romances under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop. She is a New York Times-bestselling, award–winning writer, and has more than ten million romance novels in print.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, no, NO.
I HATED this book and its so-called "hero." The author takes a brave, independent, intelligent woman and turns her into a lickspittle for a self-righteous and domineering busybody. The "hero" Perry is peremptory to a fault, always assuming he knows best for the heroine (no matter her own wishes or needs, or that he claims he thinks her intelligent). And there's no arguing with him; when she disagrees, he temporizes-- "we'll see" or "for the moment, we'll leave it at that" when he has not the SLIGHTEST intention of agreeing or even compromising with her. He's constantly reminding her of her wrongs and giving her backhanded compliments ("a consummate actress"-- meaning she's good at lying, or telling her that she'd be really good at passing for a whore (as he needs a "fallen woman" to get his uncle's money-- and he has no scruples at cheating at that, either). He constantly changes the rules of their relationship to suit himself, demanding and blackmailing assurances from her while promising her nothing (she hopes at one point that she might convince him to make her his mistress, because she has no idea about the terms of his uncle's inheritance, or that he ever intends marriage). Hell, Perry made up their entire RELATIONSHIP to suit himself-- following her everywhere even when she begs him to leave her alone, deciding he was "in love" with her before he barely knew her, demanding that she reciprocate only days after telling her that she didn't have to love him in return. He seduces her to his house and takes her virginity like the worst sort of rake. Really, his behavior is so creepy-stalkerish it's not even funny. In the end, Alex has to RUN AWAY FROM HIM to finish the task that she has FROM THE FIRST given her word she'd complete (and has strong, legitimate reasons for doing so, which Perry supposedly understood), and then she feels guilty for leaving him. And of course, the author suitably punishes her for rebelling against her Man's benevolent rule by tossing her into a horrible sort of demon-ex-machina ending from which the hero bizarrely manages to extract her. (Really, how many scholars do you know that would be good at jailbreaking?)

This ass isn't a romantic hero, he's an abuser waiting to happen. I'm amazed that this kind of boor issued from Jane Feather's pen. A shame this series had to end with this stirring tribute to the days of women as vapid chattel.

[Kristy Halseth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I normally like this author and I was waiting for this third book. I was very disappointed. I felt as if the author totally gave up on it by the end. It never felt resolved. It never felt like she got the justice for which she was looking. It reached a point where the author seemed to realize it would have to be longer than the others in order to finish the story so instead she decided to get it over with as quickly as she could. It was a major let down. I gave it two stars to start with, but as I typed this, I realized that was still too good and knocked it down to one star.

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finishing up this series of Blackwater Brides, this book was just not myof tea. I did not like this series by Ms. Feathers. Although the narration was done a bit better than the other two reads in this series I just could not get into this story. Will try other novels by this author later this year.

[Missy Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the trilogy and I was really enjoying it up until about midway when Peregrine kept harping on Alexandra about her deception. I completely understand his initial shock and continued concern, but he just kept on and on and on. It was no surprise when she left London without letting him know and his intense anger over it was what surprised me. I know it's supposed to be a sign of the times that he's a haughty, heavy-handed man trying to protect his woman but it got old quick. I was a little disappointed that Alex didn't think to go on the offensive when the signet ring and trousers were found in her luggage by Maude. Especially since she'd been so quick-witted throughout the book. But of course Perry needed a reason to rescue her and give her the 'I told you so' treatment.

Overall, this trilogy had good love stories but each book had something about at least one character that rubbed me the wrong way. Unfortunately, this one won't be going to my keeper shelves.

[Yellow Rose]

I really like the writers writing it is solid and well written. Her descriptions flow and it feels you are right there with the main characters. However, great writing is not the only thing that makes a book great. The premise of the story is fascinating. Three brothers must find wives that are "fallen women" in order so the brothers can inherit a fortune from their uncle. So our hero Peregrine is the last one so far to look for a bride, and he might just find her in our heroine Alexandra. Our heroine has been befallen by probably the most awful circumstances a rich woman could have befallen at that time period. She has been disinherited by her father, due to his divorce with her mother. Now Alexandra and her sister Sylvia are left penniless in a cruel world that offers no other security for women at that time. Therefore, they concoct a plan to get their money back from their cousin Stephen who now holds all their fortune. Alexandra converts herself into Miss Hathaway a hunchback ugly librarian so she can stay in her house and steal the funds necessary that were promised to her and her sister. A rightful cause, not many things a woman could do those days especially once she is left penniless by her own father.

Therefore, our basic stories are very fascinating the setting is interesting and overall the story is very solid and believable at least to me no matter how contrived it is. However, I had major problems with the book that is why I am giving the book three stars. First of all I felt, that there was not enough tension between the main characters it was dry. It seemed that the longing was only coming from our hero, but even that seemed only as a mild interest and pique (because after all she's a mysterious girl that pretends to be a hunchback librarian). There was not enough genuine tension or passion between them for me to really like the book and consider it romantic.

In addition, it was silly for the author to make our heroine and hero so uninteresting and boring. Our heroine although in the back on the book we are told she is smart and independent, does not at all act smart or independent. She acts childish all of her tries to be defiant from our hero completely fail and seem ridiculously contrived and silly. So this supposedly educated woman has no sense at all it seems. Our hero on the other hand is not much smarter either he seems to have no interests, no life, or business his whole life revolves around endless parties. Moreover, as the case in this book he just seems to spend his time obsessing over our main heroine, who was not interesting at all in my opinion. So he follows her and he tries to figure out the mystery of this Miss Hathaway so badly since he is so intrigued by her. Again, lack of chemistry and tension between the characters made it so unnerving it seemed neither of them were interested in each other at all.

Overall, this book has an interesting premise and interesting backgrounds of the characters. It was written well and it is a good read for a brief beach read. Nevertheless, will you find ultimate "Notebook" type of romance and tension here? No you will not. This is not an awful book by all means but it is not the greatest, and definitely worth the read. I did not like it however; I am not disappointed that I read it.

[Sunny☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexandra's mother left her father for an Italian peer. Her father in his rage had the first marriage annuled. Therefore his two daughters by that marriage became bastards. On his death the two daughters discover this change to their life and find themselves penniless and needing to work. One daughter is an invalid so the other daughter Alex, must support them both and a nurse. She is a well read educated woman familiar with her father's library which has not fallen to her self centered distant cousin. Alex dons a disguise and takes up the job of his librarian. A visiting guest, The Honorable Peregrine Sullivan , sees the beautiful woman under the humpbacked older woman disguise.
He too has his secret. He and his two brothers must marry a fallen woman before they can inherit rich uncle Bradleys funds. His brothers have done so and it is all down to him.
These two eventually discover the other's secret and of course fall in love after a passionate tumble or two.
The ending left a string or two unanswered. Did she ever get back her father's two lone possessions the distant cousin stole? Did her sister find happeness as well? Perhaps another book will follow but it is unlikely. The will has been met, the brothers are all married and one assumes life goes on happily ever after.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Feather is very good at what she does, which is creating a froth of a book in which much depends upon the reader's willing suspension of disbelief and the charm of her main characters. Plus of course those details of food and clothing that readers of Regencies always adore. Jane is also one of the sexier Regency writers (the sort that darling older ladies used to long for when I was but a girl working in a library; they would entreat me to get them something spicy, with a wink). Being now a darling older lady myself I understand the draw, but it is certainly not limited to women of a certain age.
In her erotic scenes...well it is nice to find that the hero has a penis, not a throbbing member or an engorged shaft or a, ahem, manliness. The heroine doesn't fare quite so well (she has a nub and a core and a center, and I think there is throbbing involved).

But the real pleasure of the book is not in the erotic scenes (though hey, yes, they are fun) but in the "how on earth will our heroine get out of her crisis with safety and live happily ever after?" stuff. Yeah, we have last minute rescues and complications.

My one deep distress with this book is...so much is made of the library, of the rare books, of the precious tomes. And WE DON'T FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM. (excuse, please, my raised voice amongst the stacks).

[AndreaH · Rating 2 out of 5]

A greedy cousin with a power-loving wife has inherited an estate, and has taken 20,000 pounds promised to the daughters of the house, one an invalid.
The eldest daughter disguises herself and moves back home to catalogue her father's library which the cousin wants to sell and offer investing (!) advice. She skimming some of the investment profits and reinvesting them, even as she lists the library's contents, except for a rare copy of "The Canterbury Tales."
Meanwhile Peregrine Sullivan must find an "unsuitable" bride if he wants himself and his two brothers wish to inherit any money.
Of course, Peregrine's best friend is related to the dastardly cousin, and being of a bookish bent falls for the bluestocking. He decides to rescue her but gets the cold shoulder.
Lots of earnest gnashing of teeth and angst over the secrets each keeps from the other, but mostly on Alexandra's part.
A lamentable closing to this trilogy as this was the weakest book. It was a little dry in the romance dept. although there plenty of anticipating the vows.

[Elis Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexandra Douglas and her invalid sister were left penniless and fatherless when their parents divorced. Their father meant to see to their futures but died before he could, and his penny-pinching heir, a distant cousin, has refused to support them. Alex and her sister cook up a scheme to make things right.

Peregrine Sullivan is one of three destitute brothers whose wealthy, debauched uncle has decided to avenge some grievances against his family by forcing his three heirs to marry unsuitable women or see their inheritance go elsewhere. The first two brothers have already found their soiled doves, but Peregrine is still looking.

At least until he sees the hump-backed, middle-aged spinster with the unfortunate birth mark, who is inventorying a library he's visiting. It would be fun to say it's love at first sight, but of course that's not quite true. Still, it's an entertaining read.

[Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really disliked this book and skipped many pages as the two main characters thought over the same tired dilemma over and over again. I liked the first two in the series but this one did not bring about the conclusions I feel an author should leave you with. You are left wondering about the sister in poor health (I thought she would hook up with Marcus ), about the reason her mother was back in London, and how her father died so suddenly. After all that, you are left with an epilogue that does not pull the trilogy all together.
If there is to be another book in the series, I will not read it.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know, I liked the first 2 of the 'Blackwater Brides' series... but in spite of an interesting premise i just could not get into this one. I didn't like how the heroine was thieving from her cousin, and being uppity and superior about it. Sure she had motivation, but it ended up lessening her in my romance fiction readin' eyes. I kept thinking, 'Austen would have never approved...' but then that means I myself am being uppity and superior in opposition. I ended up skipping 1/3 of the book and reading the last chapter just to be done with it. Sorry Ms. Feather, will always read your books even if i didn't enjoy one of them.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, overall well-written for the genre. Generally speaking, I like the book, but I really wanted to like it a lot more. It had all the elements there, but it didn't come together with the POW that a good smut book has. I finished it quickly because I was on a camping trip and it was a pleasant way to pass the time a the beach. If I had been at home, it probably would have been one of those books I pick up every night before bed and read a chapter or two. Definitely not one of those can't-put-it-down-until-I-finish-even-if-I-only-get-an-hour-of-sleep-before-work books.

[Lea S. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Malas ku ingaukan abiskan membaca buku ani. Separuh pun payah-payah. Dah la lelakinya penyibuk kan mati. Macam si banar tau semua pasal perempuan atu. Mun aku perempuan atu bah, bukan lagi ku tampar. Ku teriaki terajang tia kali eh. Kenapa tah ia kan sibuk-sibuk mau tau hal orang and made it his? Perempuan ani pun satu jua bodohnya. Luan desperate kali kan belaki, diterimanya saja tia lelaki gatal penyibuk. Atu kan kononnya ia ni have a mind of her own. Strong kononnya. My ass. More like lelaki atu yang dictate apa difikirkannya.

[Koki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Po ostatných dvoch častiach série o Blackwaterovských nevestách som si už začínala myslieť, že Jane nám chradne a na staré kolená stráca predstavivosť. Našťastie celú sériu zachraňuje posledná časť o Peregrinovi. Tu vidieť, že autorku fantázia neopustila, a dokazuje, že po toľkých románoch, čo má za sebou, ešte vie napísať pútavý kúsok.

Zvyšok recenzie nájdete tu: http://kokinakniznica.blogspot.sk/201...

[Karen Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the other two books as well. I agree that this series in general took strong women and "allowed" them to be "rescued" by the hero. Not in keeping with today's standards, but in keeping with the historical aspect? Perhaps thats OK. No real sense of urgency in the book and gee we never find out about the mother & sister. Questionable if I'll read others if the series expands.

[Luvmyfamily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars might be generous here. The story was rather predictable and drawn out. The professions of love came out of nowhere and weren't really earned. They were still getting to know each other. Not to mention, they didn't finish with the dowager lady Douglas. She definitely had an ending even if it wasn't written in this book.

[Chy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a vapid whore.

Now I need a palate-cleanser for my palate-cleanser.

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely ridiculous plot, with the hero not only sensing that the heroine's disguise is a disguise, but furthermore he's convinced that, if he could only see her without the disguise, she will be beautiful! Which she is, of course, being a Jane Feather heroine, but there is no logical reason for him to come to that conclusion.

The heroine has been toddling along just fine with her hair-brained scheme until the hero comes along. The heroine immediately loses her head and starts acting like an idiot whenever he's around -- and sometimes when he's not -- while the hero manages to create an enemy for her who is now determined to expose her. The hero of this book seems to have a "magic touch" where everyone around him turns stupid.

For example, in the big escape scene in the end, the heroine is in prison, and the hero and the heroine's step-brother come to rescue her. Hero and step-brother, although well known to the heroine's accuser, are not known in town and are hoping not to be recognized. But like complete morons, they throw their real names around: the hero naming the step-brother twice, the heroine naming her lover once:

“Marcus?”

“Here. Where you see the light,” came the answer, and the yellow flicker of a candle showed in the grating above one of the doors halfway along the passage. Perry heard the sounds, the whispers, the rising voices, as the inhabitants of those dark spaces began to realize that something different was happening in their prison.

He ignored them, concentrating on the glimmer of light. He reached it, his fingers fumbling with the key ring. “God damn it, I don’t know which one is the right one. Marcus? Is Alexandra all right?”

“I’m all right, Peregrine.”

There are numerous prisoners within hearing, and they're shouting their names everywhere. I dunno what the law was back then, but presumably the other prisoners would've been asked about the escape, and none of them have any reason to be loyal to the heroine, so a reward would likely get their names. The guy who put the heroine in prison knows both Marcus and Peregrine and knows they are buddies, although I suppose it's possible he would hesitate to pursue them for other reasons.

I forgive a lot for a heroine I like and I have a weakness for ridiculous plots. But for supposedly smart characters, wow these guys are dumb.

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

At first I thought I would enjoy this book as Alexandra's charade as an ancient librarian seemed interesting but then the charade became silly and lose its initial perspective and there were loopholes in every corner of the story

I am not comfortable with the Blackwaters' intent to inherit their uncle's wealth when they obviously despised him. Why can't three healthy young men work to gain their own wealth instead of relying on others? The way Jasper half-threatened Peregrine and Alexandra into hasty marriage was despicable.

It was mentioned that Peregrine visited Combe Abbey to read books but he only came to the library once for this purpose, and then decide to go with Alexandra when she went to London. The love he professed to Alexandra was not convincing and the end of Alexandra's revenge was not satisfying.

I truly enjoyed Ms. Feather's V series and several other works of hers but this series was not up to her usual standard and I dare to say that I am disappointed

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This final book was annoying because the rescue of the heroine didn't seem to be what Perry would do. And there were some loose ends that were quite unsatisfying. For example why bring her mother into it if that is never going to be addressed? And wouldn't Sir Stephen & Maude immediately known that the signet ring and diamond fob were the only items left to the bastard daughters and therefore not stolen from them? There was no other theft that was provable. They also would have realized that the daughters were somehow involved. And wouldn't Sir Stephen have balked at sending Alex off to prison when the lucrative sale of the library was not complete? Seems to me that Ms. Feather got bored or distracted or there was something else going on so she just ended it without much thought. Too bad.

[Özlem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Serinin 2. kitabı "A Wedding Wager" bizde çıkmasaydı 3. kitabı okumayı düşünmezdim. Hazır aklımda birazcık bir şey kalmışken bu seri de aradan çıksın dedim.

Çoğu okurun aksine son kitabı daha çok beğendim. En azından Peregrine, kardeşi Sebastian gibi yan rol olarak kalmamış.

Fakat yazar ana konusundan çok sapmış. Kitabın %95'i Peregrine'in Alex'in güvenini kazanma çabaları ve Alex'in inatlaşmasıyla geçti. Geri kalan %3 en baş kısımlar yani karakter tanıtımı, %2'si ise final, tabi final denilebilirse. Çünkü Alex'in durumu çözülmedi, aksine daha çok karıştı.

Benim açımdan güzel giden kitabın böyle bir sonla (daha doğrusu sonsuzlukla) bitmesi hayal kırıklığı oldu. Bu durumu göz ardı edemeyeceğim için üzgünüm 4/10 veriyorum.

[Lucimar · Rating 2 out of 5]

O início gostei do enredo, cujo herói se envolve com uma falsa bibliotecária. gostei do fato de que a mocinha estava disfarçada em alguém completamente diferente. Até o mais da metade eu apreciei, porém no final não me agradou muito o comportamento dela, a teimosia e o desfecho que terminou em sua prisão, mesmo reconhecendo que não poderia ser diferente. O herói foi coerente do começo a fim. Li até o fim para saber como terminava... Confesso que não sinto vontade de ler, sobre os irmãos dele... algumas peças soltas, como a da irmã dela e do tio maluco dele, com o qual não me senti solidária e nem atraída.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I absolutely love this book. Love the time era and truthfully anything where the FMC is in disguise and the MMC still falls in love with her and uncovers the truth in why she is in fact in disguise is a winner for me. Then there’s also the brothers that come to be in this last installment of “ The black water brides”. Which urges me to read the older brother Jasper story in the “ Rushed to the alter “ and the twin of our MC in this book Sebastian in a “ Wedding Wager” where each brother has to marry a woman under highly unusual circumstances.
Jane feathers is one of my top 10 authors to read. Anything she writes is good! Definitely recommend you guys check her out !

[Danielle Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea why this book took me HALF A YEAR to read. I finished so many books in the meantime, but for some reason every time I took this one up, I read a few lines and checked out. The story was interesting enough, but I kept thinking about how I wanted to learn more about Alex's sister, and her stepbrother, and wondered if there was any redemption for the cousin or retribution for the cousin's wife. It was absolutely fine, and I didn't hate the end though it left me with so many questions.

[Juliem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlikeable hero and heroine. Their so called witty banter was just snide mocking of other characters. The heroine, who is in disguise and undercover and in search of justice, lets her role slip continuously, every time someone ruffles her feathers or the hero flirts at her. Would she run outside at night, playing in the surf, when her life was in danger if she was found out? (and her sister's livelihood)

Also, stretched believability that no one at the estate where she grew up would recognize her. Just frustrating.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hero is supposed to marry a fallen woman, but the heroine is really not a fallen woman. It would have been far more interesting if she had been one.

It's long winded and the heroine who is supposed to be intelligent does the dumbest things. I know, fatal flaws are supposed to be the reasoning behind it. but it's just too stupid.

[Marcilla Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book. I liked both of the main characters. Perry was an persistent, honorable man who realized that he loved Alex (Alexandra) set about to earn her trust. Alexandra was smart, stubborn, and determined. I wish there was more in the epilogue about her sister and some type of resolution concerning her mother. That being said, I would recommend this book.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this series and this may have been my favorite of the three but frankly it was too long and I just wanted it to end. Sorry. I will definitely try other books by Jane Feather I just don't think this one was for me.

[Susan Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable conclusion

This was a very enjoyable conclusion to the Blackwater brides trilogy. I would have enjoyed a better epilogue outlining what happens with Alex and her sister but overall it was well done

[Ella Foisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only my opinion

Finished the last of the series. Kudos to the author. She had three different plots, three different men and three different women all well portrayed.