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The Bride Trilogy #3
The Bartered Bride
After building a fortune in the exotic East, American adventurer and merchant prince Gavin Elliott sets his sails for London to begin a new life. Then fate intervenes on an infamous island in the East Indies where a European woman faces degradation and peril. Though saving her may cost Gavin his life, he cannot refuse to help the fierce beauty who touches his heart and soul with her indomitable spirit.Alexandra Warren is returning home from Australia as a widow and mother when a pirate attack condemns her to a life of servitude. A miracle arrives in the form of a steely-eyed Yankee captain, whose reckless courage wins them freedom and a safe passage home to London. Intimate strangers joined by too many secrets, they slowly begin to heal the past with attraction and tenderness—until an old enemy reaches out to threaten the passionate love Gavin has found with his irresistible bartered bride.From the Paperback edition.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2002
254 people are currently reading
885 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jo Putney
169 books2,263 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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May 28, 2021
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Una novela entretendia, iba para las 4, pero el final me ha parecido totalmente innecesario y muy peliculero se alarga demasiado
para mí lo mejor es el personaje de Alex, una mujer cuyas vivencias prácticamente consiguen anularla y, gracias a Gavin, cual caballero andante salvándola del dragón, consigue construir una relación basada en el respeto y confianza
Creo que Mary Jo Putney hace un buen trabajo con ella y critica un poco, de forma muy indirecta, la naturalidad y poca veracidad de unos hechos que durante muchos años supusieron un recurso demasiado recurrente, sobre todo en las novelas de los años ochenta-noventa.
Algunos pasajes buscan tan solo dar exotismo a la novela, como se hacía antes, muchas aventuras y, por supuesto, tiempo en barcos.
En general, un buen broche para la trilogía
Una novela entretendia, iba para las 4, pero el final me ha parecido totalmente innecesario y muy peliculero se alarga demasiado
para mí lo mejor es el personaje de Alex, una mujer cuyas vivencias prácticamente consiguen anularla y, gracias a Gavin, cual caballero andante salvándola del dragón, consigue construir una relación basada en el respeto y confianza
Creo que Mary Jo Putney hace un buen trabajo con ella y critica un poco, de forma muy indirecta, la naturalidad y poca veracidad de unos hechos que durante muchos años supusieron un recurso demasiado recurrente, sobre todo en las novelas de los años ochenta-noventa.
Algunos pasajes buscan tan solo dar exotismo a la novela, como se hacía antes, muchas aventuras y, por supuesto, tiempo en barcos.
En general, un buen broche para la trilogía
May 3, 2013
Opening Line: “The stones of the tower radiated anguish and despair.”
I’m a little surprised at the bad to mediocre reviews for The Bartered Bride because I absolutely loved it, getting completely drawn into the sweeping adventure. Although in saying that I’m brand new to author Mary Jo Putney and don’t generally read a lot of historical romances so I can’t make any real comparisons either. What I can say is that I couldn’t put this book down; I loved MJP’s style of writing, the depth of her characters, the original story ideas, the suspense, the exotic locations and the absence of any TSTL moments.
This was a couple that actually talked to each other, so that the conflict here wasn’t based on silly secrets or misunderstandings. Gavin and Alex are both adults carrying scars and they dealt with things sensibly. (i.e. they don’t jump each others bones and fall in love within a matter of days) They get to know each other, they disagree, and they have issues that need time and patience to work through.
And speaking of patience what a superb hero we get in in Gavin, he’s just, well… such a nice guy. I fell a little bit in love with him even though I prefer my heroes more on the alpha side. And without going into detail I also have to give credit to the research into the time, it felt very authentic. I even learned me a thing or two.
Alexandra Warren and her young daughter are returning from Australia after the death of her husband when their ship is attacked by pirates. Captured, separated and sold into slavery its going to be 6 months before Alex gets her first glimpse at rescue in that of Captain Elliot.
American shipping merchant Gavin Elliot has built a fortune in the Far East but his adventures are coming to en end. En route to England he has one last anchor drop before he starts a new life. Whilst being shown around the (make believe) Indonesian island of Maduri by the ruling Sultan, Gavin is appalled to see a European woman being auctioned off in a slave market. Before he can buy her freedom the sultan acquires the woman for himself, (to use against Gavin as a means of blackmail and to acquire his shipping fleet.) The Sultan then offers a wager; if Gavin can beat him in “the lion’s game” -a series of tests decided on by the role of the dice, the woman is his; if Gavin loses he gives up his fleet and ten years of his life in servitude.
The first half of this book is just awesome, I never knew what contest the role of the dice would bring next, I definitely didn’t expect “worshipping the goddess” however. And while this enters into bodice ripper territory its handled here with… can I get away with sensitivity? Yeah it’s still rape no matter how you look at it but remember Gavin is a nice guy and kinda forced into it.
Okay anyways, the second half of the book takes place in England and while very different its no less enthralling. We have a marriage of convenience, two strangers getting to know and trust each other, a forced lordship, a kidnapping, some surprising sex scenes and charges of murder.
While others have complained about the predictability of the plot here it didn’t bother me. Yeah the villains were a bit cartoonish but I found it clever how the story opens with Gavin awaiting trial in the tower of London and then makes its way back to how he got there (big surprise who he “murdered”) Towards the end of the story I had forgotten all about his fate and was then on absolute pins as he walks to the hangman’s noose, assured of certain death. His inner thoughts here were real and heart wrenching. I’m just so happy to have found a new author with such a huge backlist for me to discover. Adventure and romance await. Cheers.
293jb5
I’m a little surprised at the bad to mediocre reviews for The Bartered Bride because I absolutely loved it, getting completely drawn into the sweeping adventure. Although in saying that I’m brand new to author Mary Jo Putney and don’t generally read a lot of historical romances so I can’t make any real comparisons either. What I can say is that I couldn’t put this book down; I loved MJP’s style of writing, the depth of her characters, the original story ideas, the suspense, the exotic locations and the absence of any TSTL moments.
This was a couple that actually talked to each other, so that the conflict here wasn’t based on silly secrets or misunderstandings. Gavin and Alex are both adults carrying scars and they dealt with things sensibly. (i.e. they don’t jump each others bones and fall in love within a matter of days) They get to know each other, they disagree, and they have issues that need time and patience to work through.
And speaking of patience what a superb hero we get in in Gavin, he’s just, well… such a nice guy. I fell a little bit in love with him even though I prefer my heroes more on the alpha side. And without going into detail I also have to give credit to the research into the time, it felt very authentic. I even learned me a thing or two.
Alexandra Warren and her young daughter are returning from Australia after the death of her husband when their ship is attacked by pirates. Captured, separated and sold into slavery its going to be 6 months before Alex gets her first glimpse at rescue in that of Captain Elliot.
American shipping merchant Gavin Elliot has built a fortune in the Far East but his adventures are coming to en end. En route to England he has one last anchor drop before he starts a new life. Whilst being shown around the (make believe) Indonesian island of Maduri by the ruling Sultan, Gavin is appalled to see a European woman being auctioned off in a slave market. Before he can buy her freedom the sultan acquires the woman for himself, (to use against Gavin as a means of blackmail and to acquire his shipping fleet.) The Sultan then offers a wager; if Gavin can beat him in “the lion’s game” -a series of tests decided on by the role of the dice, the woman is his; if Gavin loses he gives up his fleet and ten years of his life in servitude.
The first half of this book is just awesome, I never knew what contest the role of the dice would bring next, I definitely didn’t expect “worshipping the goddess” however. And while this enters into bodice ripper territory its handled here with… can I get away with sensitivity? Yeah it’s still rape no matter how you look at it but remember Gavin is a nice guy and kinda forced into it.
Okay anyways, the second half of the book takes place in England and while very different its no less enthralling. We have a marriage of convenience, two strangers getting to know and trust each other, a forced lordship, a kidnapping, some surprising sex scenes and charges of murder.
While others have complained about the predictability of the plot here it didn’t bother me. Yeah the villains were a bit cartoonish but I found it clever how the story opens with Gavin awaiting trial in the tower of London and then makes its way back to how he got there (big surprise who he “murdered”) Towards the end of the story I had forgotten all about his fate and was then on absolute pins as he walks to the hangman’s noose, assured of certain death. His inner thoughts here were real and heart wrenching. I’m just so happy to have found a new author with such a huge backlist for me to discover. Adventure and romance await. Cheers.
293jb5
March 25, 2020
En realidad 4'5 Estrellas, pero lo he disfrutado y me ha gustado tanto que no he podido resistirme a darle las 5.
Empecé la serie de las "Novias" dispuesta a pasar un rato agradable leyendo ésta trilogía, y mi sorpresa ha sido mayúscula al ver que es de las mejores series que ha ofrecido la novela romántica. Son bastantes las novelas que he leído de Mary Jo Putney, ninguna me ha decepcionado en ningún sentido, aunque ha podido haber algunas aburridillas, pero sus novelas que son buenas, son buenísimas. Y ése ha sido el caso del inicio y fin de ésta trilogía.
Admito que la sinopsis no me atraía especialmente, tenemos mujer viuda que viaja desde Australia a Inglaterra con su hija pequeña. El barco en que navegan es abordado por piratas, y ellas son separadas y vendidas como esclavas en las islas de Indonesia. Por casualidad, nuestro protagonista, Gavin Elliott es comerciante, pasaba por allí y descubre a una mujer europea en el mercado para esclavos. En ése instante, Gavin hará lo imposible por liberar a ésa mujer, a la que no conoce de nada, y devolverla a Inglaterra con su familia.
Esto es más o menos el inicio del libro, pero hay mucho más. Y ése más es que Alexandra, es la niña Amy que aparece en "Arcoíris roto" el 5° libro de la serie Ángeles Caídos, es la hija de Catherine. Y como tal, la pequeña Amy necesitaba su historia como mujer.
En principio podría parecer que la historia de Alex repite a la de su madre, ambas viudas de militares y con una hija pequeña. Ésa fue la vida de Alex y la pequeña Katie en Australia, pero Alex ha enviudado y vuelve a Inglaterra con su familia, y su destino queda trastocado al ser capturada y vendida como esclava.
A su vez, Gavin Elliott, el comerciante amigo de Kyle, a quien conocimos en "La novia de China", hace escala en la isla de Maduri en Indonesia para aprovisionarse y volver a Inglaterra, con la esperanza de asentarse allí definitivamente. Cuando descubre a Alexandra, Gavin se someterá a una serie de duras pruebas dispuestas por el sultán de Maduri para poder rescatar a Alexandra. El siguiente paso será descubrir el destino de la pequeña Katie, y volver con ambas a Inglaterra.
El romance me ha gustado mucho, Gavin no tiene nada que envidiarle a Dominic, nuestro prota del primer libro. Es un hombre bueno y honorable, capaz y dispuesto a hacer lo correcto en un mundo injusto. Las circunstancias vividas en Indonesia harán que Alex y Gavin se unan en matrimonio y pasen por una serie de avatares hasta que puedan confiar y conocerse el uno al otro y así afianzar su amor.
Serán muchas las dificultades que Alex y Gavin tendrán que pasar, por si fuera poco el prólogo del libro ya nos da una serie de pistas, pero la llegada a Inglaterra estará llena de sorpresas, sobre todo el ver de nuevo a los Ángeles Caídos en plena madurez y felicidad conyugal, pero también una conspiración que penderá sobre nuestros protagonistas y un reconocido enemigo y rival de Gavin.
Como libro, ha estado muy completo, y ha tenido un equilibrio perfecto. Empezando por ese primer tercio de la novela que ha estado muy muy interesante y original, y no diré menos de los capítulos finales, que te dejan al borde del infarto. Me ha sorprendido que una historia tan aparentemente simple, haya sido más compleja de lo esperado, y me haya enganchado tanto.
Diría que me ha gustado prácticamente todo del libro, la historia, sus personajes, su desarrollo. Ha sido maravilloso, y me ha parecido un excelente broche para cerrar la serie de las Novias. Desde ya, considero ésta como una de las series imprescindibles de la novela romántica histórica, y Mary Jo Putney escala puestos entre mi listón de escritoras favoritas.
Empecé la serie de las "Novias" dispuesta a pasar un rato agradable leyendo ésta trilogía, y mi sorpresa ha sido mayúscula al ver que es de las mejores series que ha ofrecido la novela romántica. Son bastantes las novelas que he leído de Mary Jo Putney, ninguna me ha decepcionado en ningún sentido, aunque ha podido haber algunas aburridillas, pero sus novelas que son buenas, son buenísimas. Y ése ha sido el caso del inicio y fin de ésta trilogía.
Admito que la sinopsis no me atraía especialmente, tenemos mujer viuda que viaja desde Australia a Inglaterra con su hija pequeña. El barco en que navegan es abordado por piratas, y ellas son separadas y vendidas como esclavas en las islas de Indonesia. Por casualidad, nuestro protagonista, Gavin Elliott es comerciante, pasaba por allí y descubre a una mujer europea en el mercado para esclavos. En ése instante, Gavin hará lo imposible por liberar a ésa mujer, a la que no conoce de nada, y devolverla a Inglaterra con su familia.
Esto es más o menos el inicio del libro, pero hay mucho más. Y ése más es que Alexandra, es la niña Amy que aparece en "Arcoíris roto" el 5° libro de la serie Ángeles Caídos, es la hija de Catherine. Y como tal, la pequeña Amy necesitaba su historia como mujer.
En principio podría parecer que la historia de Alex repite a la de su madre, ambas viudas de militares y con una hija pequeña. Ésa fue la vida de Alex y la pequeña Katie en Australia, pero Alex ha enviudado y vuelve a Inglaterra con su familia, y su destino queda trastocado al ser capturada y vendida como esclava.
A su vez, Gavin Elliott, el comerciante amigo de Kyle, a quien conocimos en "La novia de China", hace escala en la isla de Maduri en Indonesia para aprovisionarse y volver a Inglaterra, con la esperanza de asentarse allí definitivamente. Cuando descubre a Alexandra, Gavin se someterá a una serie de duras pruebas dispuestas por el sultán de Maduri para poder rescatar a Alexandra. El siguiente paso será descubrir el destino de la pequeña Katie, y volver con ambas a Inglaterra.
El romance me ha gustado mucho, Gavin no tiene nada que envidiarle a Dominic, nuestro prota del primer libro. Es un hombre bueno y honorable, capaz y dispuesto a hacer lo correcto en un mundo injusto. Las circunstancias vividas en Indonesia harán que Alex y Gavin se unan en matrimonio y pasen por una serie de avatares hasta que puedan confiar y conocerse el uno al otro y así afianzar su amor.
Serán muchas las dificultades que Alex y Gavin tendrán que pasar, por si fuera poco el prólogo del libro ya nos da una serie de pistas, pero la llegada a Inglaterra estará llena de sorpresas, sobre todo el ver de nuevo a los Ángeles Caídos en plena madurez y felicidad conyugal, pero también una conspiración que penderá sobre nuestros protagonistas y un reconocido enemigo y rival de Gavin.
Como libro, ha estado muy completo, y ha tenido un equilibrio perfecto. Empezando por ese primer tercio de la novela que ha estado muy muy interesante y original, y no diré menos de los capítulos finales, que te dejan al borde del infarto. Me ha sorprendido que una historia tan aparentemente simple, haya sido más compleja de lo esperado, y me haya enganchado tanto.
Diría que me ha gustado prácticamente todo del libro, la historia, sus personajes, su desarrollo. Ha sido maravilloso, y me ha parecido un excelente broche para cerrar la serie de las Novias. Desde ya, considero ésta como una de las series imprescindibles de la novela romántica histórica, y Mary Jo Putney escala puestos entre mi listón de escritoras favoritas.
October 3, 2010
Oh, what's wrong with me? I should be really liking this book and I just don't.
Here's the premise: book opens with hero in the Tower of London, on his way to his trial for the murder of his wife. Hmmm. Good start, I think.
Flashback one year -- heroine is on a Dutch trading ship on her way back to England from Australia when their ship is taken by Indonesian pirates. She and her daughter are separated and they are sold as slaves. Oooh, I think. This is different!
Hero is in the East Indies, on his last trading run before returning to England. On a royal visit he spies a European woman being sold at a slave auction and his Quaker sensabilities are outraged (Bing! first inkling I ain't gonna like it - I like my heroes with little to no morals) so he finagles a deal in which he can barter for her freedom. He is challenged by the sultan to an ancient game - roll the ivory dice 5 times and win all five challenges, one per day. The challenges are varied and most are life-or-death. A unique bond is forged between Gavin and Alexandra during the course of the 5 days and nights - she is brought to his room in a gilded cage and all of their interaction is through the bars.
The final challenge is the deal-breaker, and I won't go into it here. Intriguing (and titillating, and potentially sexy) as it is, this is where the book started to lose me. The hero hasn't been with a woman since his wife died in childbirth almost ten years before. He just doesn't believe in that stuff outside the confines of marriage and the only woman he had even been with was his wife. (Bing! Bing! Strike 2 - my heroes need to be experienced). All very admirable, of course, but where does that leave me, the reader!?!? It leaves me with no love scenes, that's where it leaves me!
In the hands of an author like Anne Stuart (my latest obession), Eloisa James, or any of many current writers, this would be no problem. There would be tension, there would be angst, there would be steam. There ain't none here. Maybe that's my problem - the writing. There's nothing grabbing me, pulling me in to the story and making me care about the two main characters. Gavin and Alexandra both seem to be very nice people who had a romantic adventure, but very nice only works for me in real life. Milquetoast, pleasant people don't make for compelling reading, imo. I'm not even really sure what they look like! The author hasn't really given me a whole lot to work with.
I've left the book at page 139. They are on their way back to England - Alex is worried about how she and her daughter will be received by society after being abducted, and Gavin has thrown out a proposal of marriage to Alex -- they have to, he says, because of what they did and his moral beliefs (again with these PRINCIPLES!).
I'm thinking there's lots of intrigue to come (the book opens with him on trial for Alex's murder) but I just can't stay interested. Dammit. I think I'll put it aside for a day when I'm not so picky.
Here's the premise: book opens with hero in the Tower of London, on his way to his trial for the murder of his wife. Hmmm. Good start, I think.
Flashback one year -- heroine is on a Dutch trading ship on her way back to England from Australia when their ship is taken by Indonesian pirates. She and her daughter are separated and they are sold as slaves. Oooh, I think. This is different!
Hero is in the East Indies, on his last trading run before returning to England. On a royal visit he spies a European woman being sold at a slave auction and his Quaker sensabilities are outraged (Bing! first inkling I ain't gonna like it - I like my heroes with little to no morals) so he finagles a deal in which he can barter for her freedom. He is challenged by the sultan to an ancient game - roll the ivory dice 5 times and win all five challenges, one per day. The challenges are varied and most are life-or-death. A unique bond is forged between Gavin and Alexandra during the course of the 5 days and nights - she is brought to his room in a gilded cage and all of their interaction is through the bars.
The final challenge is the deal-breaker, and I won't go into it here. Intriguing (and titillating, and potentially sexy) as it is, this is where the book started to lose me. The hero hasn't been with a woman since his wife died in childbirth almost ten years before. He just doesn't believe in that stuff outside the confines of marriage and the only woman he had even been with was his wife. (Bing! Bing! Strike 2 - my heroes need to be experienced). All very admirable, of course, but where does that leave me, the reader!?!? It leaves me with no love scenes, that's where it leaves me!
In the hands of an author like Anne Stuart (my latest obession), Eloisa James, or any of many current writers, this would be no problem. There would be tension, there would be angst, there would be steam. There ain't none here. Maybe that's my problem - the writing. There's nothing grabbing me, pulling me in to the story and making me care about the two main characters. Gavin and Alexandra both seem to be very nice people who had a romantic adventure, but very nice only works for me in real life. Milquetoast, pleasant people don't make for compelling reading, imo. I'm not even really sure what they look like! The author hasn't really given me a whole lot to work with.
I've left the book at page 139. They are on their way back to England - Alex is worried about how she and her daughter will be received by society after being abducted, and Gavin has thrown out a proposal of marriage to Alex -- they have to, he says, because of what they did and his moral beliefs (again with these PRINCIPLES!).
I'm thinking there's lots of intrigue to come (the book opens with him on trial for Alex's murder) but I just can't stay interested. Dammit. I think I'll put it aside for a day when I'm not so picky.
September 3, 2017
Un muy bien cierre de serie.
Si algo está claro, es que Mary Jo Putney sabe crear historias muy bien ambientadas y con personajes con una personalidad bastante fuerte y clara.
Alexandra y Gavin, los protagonistas de esta historia no van a ser menos, y a lo largo de la novela vamos a ir viendo poco a poco ese carácter y forma de pensar que tiene cada uno y que les llevará a tomar determinadas decisiones que serán clave para la historia.
Este libro se puede dividir en dos partes bien diferenciadas; una primera en la que vemos cómo es que el romance de Alexandra y Gavin tiene lugar y una segunda, en la que la autora nos cuenta cómo es que Gavin ha llegado hasta donde está ahora mismo.
Sí, el libro empieza ya con un "misterio" que no hace más que darte ganas de saber el por qué, el cómo y el dónde. No digo más para no spoilear.
Los secundarios también han sido parte importante de la trama y destaco sobre todo a los antagonistas, cuyo final me habría gustado explorarlo más porque se merecían todo lo peor.
Ha sido una verdadera delicia poder ver a los gemelos de los libros anteriores con sus esposas, sobre todo a Throt.
Si queréis un libro en el que viajar a través del imperio de Oriente en el siglo XIX y ver a unos personajes muy interesantes con una historia que habla de superaciones, este es un libro que merece mucho la pena leer a pesar de algún que otro pero que puede tener. (Y sí, resulta que de nuevo tenemos un personaje que en principio se ha hecho a sí mismo por sus propios medios y de la noche a al mañana tiene más rango y abolengo que cualquiera con el que se ha cruzado)
Si algo está claro, es que Mary Jo Putney sabe crear historias muy bien ambientadas y con personajes con una personalidad bastante fuerte y clara.
Alexandra y Gavin, los protagonistas de esta historia no van a ser menos, y a lo largo de la novela vamos a ir viendo poco a poco ese carácter y forma de pensar que tiene cada uno y que les llevará a tomar determinadas decisiones que serán clave para la historia.
Este libro se puede dividir en dos partes bien diferenciadas; una primera en la que vemos cómo es que el romance de Alexandra y Gavin tiene lugar y una segunda, en la que la autora nos cuenta cómo es que Gavin ha llegado hasta donde está ahora mismo.
Sí, el libro empieza ya con un "misterio" que no hace más que darte ganas de saber el por qué, el cómo y el dónde. No digo más para no spoilear.
Los secundarios también han sido parte importante de la trama y destaco sobre todo a los antagonistas, cuyo final me habría gustado explorarlo más porque se merecían todo lo peor.
Ha sido una verdadera delicia poder ver a los gemelos de los libros anteriores con sus esposas, sobre todo a Throt.
Si queréis un libro en el que viajar a través del imperio de Oriente en el siglo XIX y ver a unos personajes muy interesantes con una historia que habla de superaciones, este es un libro que merece mucho la pena leer a pesar de algún que otro pero que puede tener. (Y sí, resulta que de nuevo tenemos un personaje que en principio se ha hecho a sí mismo por sus propios medios y de la noche a al mañana tiene más rango y abolengo que cualquiera con el que se ha cruzado)
December 12, 2023
Another reasonably enjoyable tale in the Bartered Bride trilogy. I didn’t like this quite as much as the other two titles.
February 13, 2017
Reread from many years ago. In my memory this book got mixed up with Shattered Rainbow a lot because Michael and Katherine from that book appeared in this book, too. I remember 2 things about this book: 1. Michael and Katherine and how I wasn't thrilled about it because I didn't like them much 2. The final "challenge" in the rescue. One does not forget a "challenge" like that. I don't know what MJP was thinking when she wrote that scene. It was a wild card and I cannot say that I had enjoyed that particular scene.
For MJP's style, I give the book 3 stars.
For MJP's style, I give the book 3 stars.
January 9, 2013
The Bartered Bride is the last of the "Bride" trilogy written by Mary Jo Putney. This book was published in 2002.
In this last installment we catch up with Kyle's business partner, Gavin. Gavin and Kyle are in the tea/ cargo business. Gavin travels to exotic and often dangerous areas in his business. This time he has landed in Marduri, located in the East Indies. Gavin is called upon by a ruler of the island to conduct a possible business deal. At this time Gavin notices a woman on the slave block that is obviously not a local. When he inquires about her, he inadvertently causes the woman to become a pawn in the business proposition the ruler would like to make with Gavin.
Alex was from England, had married, moved to Australia, had a child, then was widowed. After her husband died, Alex couldn't wait to return home. In her haste she took the first ship available. The ship was hijacked by pirates. All the men on board were either killed or abandoned ship, leaving Alex with her daughter to be captured. Alex and her daughter were separated. Alex was sold into slavery. Not knowing her daughter's fate was nearly as bad and the brutal punishments she endured as a slave.
When Gavin arrives on the island, Alex finds out that he has tried to buy her back but is refused. In order to win Alex's freedom, Gavin must participate in a series of games or challenges. The last challenge however is almost more than he can bear. But, with the fate of an eight year old girl hanging in the balance, and the freedom of Alex and Gavin at stake, they swallow their distaste and manage to get through it.
But once they are free, the challenge of recovery for Alex is an ongoing struggle. Now that she has been a slave herself, Alex becomes interested in trying to stop the illegal slave trade running through Europe. But, this may put her back into danger. Just when she and Gavin have begun to live a relatively normal life, forces beyond their control take over their lives and neither of them may make it back out alive.
Mary Jo Putney is an author that I had heard of, but had never read until this past year. She is a prolific author. She writes with great imagination and detail about far off exotic locales, and obviously does a great deal of research. This last installment in the "Bride" trilogy though was the weakest. The story was just not all that interesting. Most readers will be put off at least a little by the lengths that Alex and Gavin had to go to to obtain their freedom.
Calling attention to the underground slave trade in Europe was interesting to a point. The brutality was not overly graphic, but one got the idea just the same.
Once the couple made it back to England the story got rather dull. There were some risque parts where Alex tried to overcome her fear of intimacy by trying some unconventional methods. But, for the modern romance novel this was fairly tame stuff. The story picked up though toward the end of the book as Alex begins to explore the underground slave trade.
Not a terrible book, but not my favorite either. I do intend to explore more of Mary Jo Putney's work in the future. Overall a C-
In this last installment we catch up with Kyle's business partner, Gavin. Gavin and Kyle are in the tea/ cargo business. Gavin travels to exotic and often dangerous areas in his business. This time he has landed in Marduri, located in the East Indies. Gavin is called upon by a ruler of the island to conduct a possible business deal. At this time Gavin notices a woman on the slave block that is obviously not a local. When he inquires about her, he inadvertently causes the woman to become a pawn in the business proposition the ruler would like to make with Gavin.
Alex was from England, had married, moved to Australia, had a child, then was widowed. After her husband died, Alex couldn't wait to return home. In her haste she took the first ship available. The ship was hijacked by pirates. All the men on board were either killed or abandoned ship, leaving Alex with her daughter to be captured. Alex and her daughter were separated. Alex was sold into slavery. Not knowing her daughter's fate was nearly as bad and the brutal punishments she endured as a slave.
When Gavin arrives on the island, Alex finds out that he has tried to buy her back but is refused. In order to win Alex's freedom, Gavin must participate in a series of games or challenges. The last challenge however is almost more than he can bear. But, with the fate of an eight year old girl hanging in the balance, and the freedom of Alex and Gavin at stake, they swallow their distaste and manage to get through it.
But once they are free, the challenge of recovery for Alex is an ongoing struggle. Now that she has been a slave herself, Alex becomes interested in trying to stop the illegal slave trade running through Europe. But, this may put her back into danger. Just when she and Gavin have begun to live a relatively normal life, forces beyond their control take over their lives and neither of them may make it back out alive.
Mary Jo Putney is an author that I had heard of, but had never read until this past year. She is a prolific author. She writes with great imagination and detail about far off exotic locales, and obviously does a great deal of research. This last installment in the "Bride" trilogy though was the weakest. The story was just not all that interesting. Most readers will be put off at least a little by the lengths that Alex and Gavin had to go to to obtain their freedom.
Calling attention to the underground slave trade in Europe was interesting to a point. The brutality was not overly graphic, but one got the idea just the same.
Once the couple made it back to England the story got rather dull. There were some risque parts where Alex tried to overcome her fear of intimacy by trying some unconventional methods. But, for the modern romance novel this was fairly tame stuff. The story picked up though toward the end of the book as Alex begins to explore the underground slave trade.
Not a terrible book, but not my favorite either. I do intend to explore more of Mary Jo Putney's work in the future. Overall a C-
October 25, 2014
Mi-a placut foarte mult aceasta carte.
Cred ca este prima carte scrisa de Putney unde este atins subiestul sclaviei.
Aceasta serie este diferita de tot ceea ce a scris ea pana acum.
Suntem obijnuiti ca personajele principale sa fie din societatea Londoneza,dar este prima serie a ei,in care actiunea se pertece in afara Europei(mai mult de 50%).
Este interesant modul in care autoarea reuseste sa descrie lumea asiatica.De aceasta data peripetiile protagonistilor se desfasoara in Indiile de Est.
Gavin Eliott este un aventurier si un instarit negustor.
Ajuns pe insula Maduri, in interes comercial, este martor unei licitatii de sclavi.Aici o cunoaste pe Alex,o femeie europeanca -sclava.Onorea si compasuinea-l obliga sa o rescumpere,iar curand este prins intr-o competitei pe viata si pe moarte. Premiul este libertatea Alexandrei Warren.
Mi-au placut pasajele in care ne sunt descrise traditiile acelei lumi barbare.Toata competitia a fost incitanta ,si m-a tinut cu sufletul la gura,in ciuda rezultatului previzibil.
Intre Alex si Gavin se leaga o prietenie trainica,dar reintoarecerea pe meleagurile Londoneze-i obliga sa se casatoreasca.Societatea ar fi stigmatizat o vaduva insarcinata,iar singura solutie pentru a-i apara onoarea este o casatorie.
In ciuda faptului ca sunt prinsi intr-o casnicie de convenienta,si a faptului ca Alex se reface dupa o perioada de sclavie in care a fost umilita si violata in repetate randuri,cei doi protagonisti se indragostes.Cam greu dupa gustul meu,dar avand in vedre prin cate a trecut ea,este de inteles faptul totul decurge foarte lent.
Mi-au placut foarte mult personajele.Sensibilitatea si rabdarea lui Gavin,dar si taria de caracter a Alexandrei.
Un alt lucru interesant a fost faptul ca am intalnit multe personaje din seria Fallen Angels.De astfel Alex este fica Catherinei si a lui Michael Kenyon (personajele principale ale cartii Shattered Rainbows).Este placut sa reantalnesti fosti protagonisti,si sa afli cam care le-a fost viata.
Cartea eate minunata,scrisa in stilul caracteristic Putney,cu un final plin de suspan si de actiune.
Cred ca este prima carte scrisa de Putney unde este atins subiestul sclaviei.
Aceasta serie este diferita de tot ceea ce a scris ea pana acum.
Suntem obijnuiti ca personajele principale sa fie din societatea Londoneza,dar este prima serie a ei,in care actiunea se pertece in afara Europei(mai mult de 50%).
Este interesant modul in care autoarea reuseste sa descrie lumea asiatica.De aceasta data peripetiile protagonistilor se desfasoara in Indiile de Est.
Gavin Eliott este un aventurier si un instarit negustor.
Ajuns pe insula Maduri, in interes comercial, este martor unei licitatii de sclavi.Aici o cunoaste pe Alex,o femeie europeanca -sclava.Onorea si compasuinea-l obliga sa o rescumpere,iar curand este prins intr-o competitei pe viata si pe moarte. Premiul este libertatea Alexandrei Warren.
Mi-au placut pasajele in care ne sunt descrise traditiile acelei lumi barbare.Toata competitia a fost incitanta ,si m-a tinut cu sufletul la gura,in ciuda rezultatului previzibil.
Intre Alex si Gavin se leaga o prietenie trainica,dar reintoarecerea pe meleagurile Londoneze-i obliga sa se casatoreasca.Societatea ar fi stigmatizat o vaduva insarcinata,iar singura solutie pentru a-i apara onoarea este o casatorie.
In ciuda faptului ca sunt prinsi intr-o casnicie de convenienta,si a faptului ca Alex se reface dupa o perioada de sclavie in care a fost umilita si violata in repetate randuri,cei doi protagonisti se indragostes.Cam greu dupa gustul meu,dar avand in vedre prin cate a trecut ea,este de inteles faptul totul decurge foarte lent.
Mi-au placut foarte mult personajele.Sensibilitatea si rabdarea lui Gavin,dar si taria de caracter a Alexandrei.
Un alt lucru interesant a fost faptul ca am intalnit multe personaje din seria Fallen Angels.De astfel Alex este fica Catherinei si a lui Michael Kenyon (personajele principale ale cartii Shattered Rainbows).Este placut sa reantalnesti fosti protagonisti,si sa afli cam care le-a fost viata.
Cartea eate minunata,scrisa in stilul caracteristic Putney,cu un final plin de suspan si de actiune.
December 28, 2021
"If you will not sell, shall you barter?"
Surprised, then intrigued, the sultan asked, "What would you trade for her? "
October 29, 2024
Tengo q reconocer q no me esperaba todo lo q pasó en la novela. Una historia compleja pero realmente emocionante.
Conocimos a Gavin Elliot como el socio comercial de Kyle en el libro anterior, pero ni entonces ni ahora se me ocurrió q sería el personaje q resultó: un héroe de novela en el sentido más literal. Hombre de mar, con principios, con honor, de esos q, con los tiempos q corren sabes q solo encuentras en las películas y novelas románticas. Gavin ha sufrido la perdida de su amor pero nunca permitió q eso nublara su visión de la vida, y cuando tuvo la oportunidad de salvar a una mujer en apuros, no dudó en arriesgar la vida. Como héroe de novela romántica Gavin encarna todo lo q durante décadas nos ha hecho suspirar y no tengo absolutamente ninguna objeción a su personaje.
Alex también gana mucho en la historia, pero es q vivimos mucho más de cerca las tragedias q le tocaron a ella; y si bien hay momentos en q pude haberle perdido la paciencia, lo cierto es q entiendo perfectamente el calvario q ha debido sufrir este personaje luego de tantas experiencias traumáticas. Solo una mujer con los ovarios bien puestos puede dejar atrás ese tipo de dolor y mirar adelante de la mano de un hombre merecedor.
El viaje de Gavin&Alex empezó en circunstancias trágicas y peligrosas, pero la forma en q tuvieron de lidiar con todo lo q les pasó es un camino bien andando de superviviencia y resilencia; sobre todo xq cada uno, a su turno, salva al otro, en sentido literal y figurado.
Una historia de las q ya no se escriben, con mucho sentimiento y mucha aventura y personajes q te hacen replantearte la vida y querer dejar todo para navegar hacia lejanas tierras a conquistar lo desconcido; para poder volver al hogar y valorar lo q se dejó atrás.
Una única pega: el final. Muy corto y demasiado sencillo para una historia de estas proporciones. Simplemente no terminas una gran historia de amor un pikito. Después de semajante salvamento, lo q tocaba era un buen beso apasionado, con lengua en la sacrosanta Cámara de los Lores...lol!!!
Conocimos a Gavin Elliot como el socio comercial de Kyle en el libro anterior, pero ni entonces ni ahora se me ocurrió q sería el personaje q resultó: un héroe de novela en el sentido más literal. Hombre de mar, con principios, con honor, de esos q, con los tiempos q corren sabes q solo encuentras en las películas y novelas románticas. Gavin ha sufrido la perdida de su amor pero nunca permitió q eso nublara su visión de la vida, y cuando tuvo la oportunidad de salvar a una mujer en apuros, no dudó en arriesgar la vida. Como héroe de novela romántica Gavin encarna todo lo q durante décadas nos ha hecho suspirar y no tengo absolutamente ninguna objeción a su personaje.
Alex también gana mucho en la historia, pero es q vivimos mucho más de cerca las tragedias q le tocaron a ella; y si bien hay momentos en q pude haberle perdido la paciencia, lo cierto es q entiendo perfectamente el calvario q ha debido sufrir este personaje luego de tantas experiencias traumáticas. Solo una mujer con los ovarios bien puestos puede dejar atrás ese tipo de dolor y mirar adelante de la mano de un hombre merecedor.
El viaje de Gavin&Alex empezó en circunstancias trágicas y peligrosas, pero la forma en q tuvieron de lidiar con todo lo q les pasó es un camino bien andando de superviviencia y resilencia; sobre todo xq cada uno, a su turno, salva al otro, en sentido literal y figurado.
Una historia de las q ya no se escriben, con mucho sentimiento y mucha aventura y personajes q te hacen replantearte la vida y querer dejar todo para navegar hacia lejanas tierras a conquistar lo desconcido; para poder volver al hogar y valorar lo q se dejó atrás.
Una única pega: el final. Muy corto y demasiado sencillo para una historia de estas proporciones. Simplemente no terminas una gran historia de amor un pikito. Después de semajante salvamento, lo q tocaba era un buen beso apasionado, con lengua en la sacrosanta Cámara de los Lores...lol!!!
December 17, 2015
This I struggled to get into which surprised me. I think the second book in this trilogy was the strongest among the 3 books. I was hoping to get a lot of drama, adventure and tortured characters in this but the plot and set up left me wanting more. I found it lacking in areas. I thought the plot and timeline of this story was a little too similar to how The China Bride was set up. That made it a little disappointing and underwhelming. I felt it would have made for a more original story and less predictable if Putney changed things up a bit.
The story starts off with Captain Elliot, Gavin held in a prison after being convicted of murdering his wife Alex. The story flashes back to a year before where the protagonists meet and the story goes from there. Naturally the beginning for me was a little underwhelming, I would have preferred a new set up seeing as how The China Bride started out the same way. And while I love reading stories filled with adventures and travels to foreign lands I struggled to truly get into this story until half way in. I liked both characters I just wasn't as enthralled or convinced of their chemistry considering what Alex was put through and the awful position both of them are put in during the Lion Games trials. There is one scene in particular that is hard to get through and I felt was a little contrived and pushing it. It definitely caused great tension and anxiety between the two after wards.
The heroine Alex, was a very tormented character. She was captured and sold into slavery and lives through abuse and rape for 6 months in a East Indies country. She is put through a lot in this book and I appreciate the fact that Putney writes heroines who are brave, compassionate, courageous and have so much will and perseverance. They are unique in their own right. As Alex is described here, they are female warriors. I can't say I've read heroines like the ones featured in this trilogy, each having witnessed and lived through unimaginable tragedy and personal struggle. They really stood out to me. There was nothing I didn't like about Alex, she was incredibly brave selfless and has a big compassionate understanding heart. She's endlessly described as indomitable and should have been born a male because of her resilience and I can see why. But I found myself a little frustrated on Gavin's behalf (who is a complete patient understanding gentleman in this and never complained) with the distance Alex kept putting between her and Gavin. And it's not intentional, and completely understandable but still.... I found it unfair. And I hate using that word considering what Alex is put through and again, she has such a selfless heart and is a very tormented character but I felt myself getting restless while reading this with the slow movement we got between her and Gavin. I found the romance side of this story tepid because of it. I wasn't swept away by it. Alex tries her best to be a true wife to him and they grow close and confide in each other but I struggled to believe them falling in love. What I liked was their complete honesty and vulnerability with each other, this is the most selfless marriage I have read about. They both give as much as they took and tried to be fair and understanding of the other completely. I found that very honest and raw and refreshing which I liked. Unfortunately as far as the love story, I didn't feel it as much as I wanted to. Alex struggles throughout the book with putting her brutal experiences as a slave behind her. It effects her and Gavin's marriage and intimate relationship greatly. Gavin was a complete saint and wonderful friend, husband and lover. There really isn't much if any 'love scenes' in this given the circumstances of the couple's marriage. While I understood it and sympathized with Alex's struggle to move on, it tended to drag the story out.
Alex's daughter Katie was sweet but I was wishing to see actual bonding moments between her and Gavin. We are told that he adores her and is enchanted by her and happy to have a family of is own but minus a few moments on his ship together I really didn't see much interaction/dialogue between the Captain and his new step daughter. I was disappointed in that. Gavin has such a big loving patient heart, I really wanted to see more moments with him and Katie.
As for the 'twist' and villain(s) in this, I can't say I didn't see it coming. The female villain in this is truly terrifying and maddening how deranged she is but it did come off cliche. The plot to get 'revenge' was contrived and a little cartoonish for me but the wife did make me want to strangle her so I guess I was sold on the evil part. It was frustrating and difficult to read those scenes of the villain going on and on about ruining Alex and Gavin, gleeful to talk about deranged things like watching him die and wanting to describe it to Alex. Bleh.
All in all, it was interesting story and full of angst and tension. I really did enjoy and love the main characters Alex and Gavin. For me, this wasn't Putney's best but I will keep reading her other books after this trilogy for sure.
The story starts off with Captain Elliot, Gavin held in a prison after being convicted of murdering his wife Alex. The story flashes back to a year before where the protagonists meet and the story goes from there. Naturally the beginning for me was a little underwhelming, I would have preferred a new set up seeing as how The China Bride started out the same way. And while I love reading stories filled with adventures and travels to foreign lands I struggled to truly get into this story until half way in. I liked both characters I just wasn't as enthralled or convinced of their chemistry considering what Alex was put through and the awful position both of them are put in during the Lion Games trials. There is one scene in particular that is hard to get through and I felt was a little contrived and pushing it. It definitely caused great tension and anxiety between the two after wards.
The heroine Alex, was a very tormented character. She was captured and sold into slavery and lives through abuse and rape for 6 months in a East Indies country. She is put through a lot in this book and I appreciate the fact that Putney writes heroines who are brave, compassionate, courageous and have so much will and perseverance. They are unique in their own right. As Alex is described here, they are female warriors. I can't say I've read heroines like the ones featured in this trilogy, each having witnessed and lived through unimaginable tragedy and personal struggle. They really stood out to me. There was nothing I didn't like about Alex, she was incredibly brave selfless and has a big compassionate understanding heart. She's endlessly described as indomitable and should have been born a male because of her resilience and I can see why. But I found myself a little frustrated on Gavin's behalf (who is a complete patient understanding gentleman in this and never complained) with the distance Alex kept putting between her and Gavin. And it's not intentional, and completely understandable but still.... I found it unfair. And I hate using that word considering what Alex is put through and again, she has such a selfless heart and is a very tormented character but I felt myself getting restless while reading this with the slow movement we got between her and Gavin. I found the romance side of this story tepid because of it. I wasn't swept away by it. Alex tries her best to be a true wife to him and they grow close and confide in each other but I struggled to believe them falling in love. What I liked was their complete honesty and vulnerability with each other, this is the most selfless marriage I have read about. They both give as much as they took and tried to be fair and understanding of the other completely. I found that very honest and raw and refreshing which I liked. Unfortunately as far as the love story, I didn't feel it as much as I wanted to. Alex struggles throughout the book with putting her brutal experiences as a slave behind her. It effects her and Gavin's marriage and intimate relationship greatly. Gavin was a complete saint and wonderful friend, husband and lover. There really isn't much if any 'love scenes' in this given the circumstances of the couple's marriage. While I understood it and sympathized with Alex's struggle to move on, it tended to drag the story out.
Alex's daughter Katie was sweet but I was wishing to see actual bonding moments between her and Gavin. We are told that he adores her and is enchanted by her and happy to have a family of is own but minus a few moments on his ship together I really didn't see much interaction/dialogue between the Captain and his new step daughter. I was disappointed in that. Gavin has such a big loving patient heart, I really wanted to see more moments with him and Katie.
As for the 'twist' and villain(s) in this, I can't say I didn't see it coming. The female villain in this is truly terrifying and maddening how deranged she is but it did come off cliche. The plot to get 'revenge' was contrived and a little cartoonish for me but the wife did make me want to strangle her so I guess I was sold on the evil part. It was frustrating and difficult to read those scenes of the villain going on and on about ruining Alex and Gavin, gleeful to talk about deranged things like watching him die and wanting to describe it to Alex. Bleh.
All in all, it was interesting story and full of angst and tension. I really did enjoy and love the main characters Alex and Gavin. For me, this wasn't Putney's best but I will keep reading her other books after this trilogy for sure.
February 8, 2018
Preposterous plot, bland characters, and some serious Orientalism all rolled into one! I couldn't even finish it. I hated the fictional island Putney created (Maduri) and the way she portrays "the East" as some kind of exotic, other world that is dangerous to Europeans. The Lion Game was stupid, and the fact that Gavin was so disturbed to find Alex in slavery...because "one of his own kind" was enslaved was so offensive, the implication being that brown or black people who are enslaved are somehow in a more natural situation. I made myself keep chugging along, though, hoping something good would come from this book. When they get to London, though, the Orientalism intensified as Alex felt much better now that she was "with her own people." I wanted to gag when Troth teaches her kung fu! I finally gave up when Gavin accidentally becomes an earl.
The entire story was so stupid and, despite the many adventures, boring. I kept forgetting the lovers' names; that's how interesting they weren't. I felt no passion there, only a lifeless, boring, forced intimacy from the author, not the circumstances. I do think the basic plot had some potential, but this book was absolutely terrible--even the writing! I have never read Mary Jo Putney before, and this was a bad introduction. Her basic style and sentence structure were strong, but I hated how she kept interrupting the characters' dialogue to summarize what the character just said. There was a whole lot of telling and almost no showing.
In short, I found nothing to admire about this book and no reason to continue. I gave it about 220 pages before giving up. I cannot recommend this one at all.
The entire story was so stupid and, despite the many adventures, boring. I kept forgetting the lovers' names; that's how interesting they weren't. I felt no passion there, only a lifeless, boring, forced intimacy from the author, not the circumstances. I do think the basic plot had some potential, but this book was absolutely terrible--even the writing! I have never read Mary Jo Putney before, and this was a bad introduction. Her basic style and sentence structure were strong, but I hated how she kept interrupting the characters' dialogue to summarize what the character just said. There was a whole lot of telling and almost no showing.
In short, I found nothing to admire about this book and no reason to continue. I gave it about 220 pages before giving up. I cannot recommend this one at all.
March 31, 2015
Historic Romance I have mixed feelings about this one. The first part, set in the East Indies, is action filled and hard to put down, there is so much at stake. But throughout the novel, I struggled with the characters, primarily because their motivations didn't make sense to me.
Gavin is clearly portrayed as an honorable man, living by the "Presbyterian" values his religious family instilled in him. Trying to reconcile the Gavin from the first half of the book with the Gavin from the second half of the book bogged me down.
Adult only, there are a number of descriptive intimate scenes.
Gavin is clearly portrayed as an honorable man, living by the "Presbyterian" values his religious family instilled in him. Trying to reconcile the Gavin from the first half of the book with the Gavin from the second half of the book bogged me down.
Adult only, there are a number of descriptive intimate scenes.
February 17, 2016
Another really enjoyable book from MJPutney
I really enjoyed how the relationship, trust and love slowly built up and strengthened between both lead characters. Both of them were adults, with previous experience and acknowledged inner scars. No stupid long-lasting misunderstanding due to a lack of communication here.
The overall plot was really good, the villains a bit too much but it didn't deter from my enjoyment.
I really enjoyed how the relationship, trust and love slowly built up and strengthened between both lead characters. Both of them were adults, with previous experience and acknowledged inner scars. No stupid long-lasting misunderstanding due to a lack of communication here.
The overall plot was really good, the villains a bit too much but it didn't deter from my enjoyment.
July 21, 2020
Talán ez a leggyengébb rész a három közül. Nagyon nem tetszett a Megtört szivárványban megismert Catherine és Amy lánya közti viszony megváltozása, mármint az, hogy Amy/Alex a házasságba menekült, mert… A Sárkányviadal jó. Kicsit irigylem MJP hőseit, nem is értem az angol hon hogy bír el ennyi lordot, 'iszen eddig mindenik kapiatányból, festőből, ikertestvérből, hajósból az lett. :) Igazából a könyv vége tetszett, azt mindig többször elolvasom, hogy menekül meg Gavin az akasztófától.
May 13, 2018
Library Kindle e-book
January 16, 2018
Book 3 of the Bride Trilogy. Gavin Elliott, a merchant prince rescues Alexandra Warren and her child from a life of slavery after a pirate attack condemns them. Saving her, unfortunately may cost him his life for a women who has captured his hear and soul. Although their journey leads them to London, they gradually begin a life of healing and passionate love until their world is again threatened by their past. Gavin, the last of the three (Kyle and Dominic) found true love with his bartered bride. It was a story where I enjoyed the relationship between the H/h and the trust and love they had for one another.
Although it was not as interesting or my favorite of the other two books, I am still a fan of MJP. Overall, it was a satisfying read for me and the series combined was very nice for MJP. I was kept intrigued and comfortable with the endings.
Although it was not as interesting or my favorite of the other two books, I am still a fan of MJP. Overall, it was a satisfying read for me and the series combined was very nice for MJP. I was kept intrigued and comfortable with the endings.
May 15, 2020
This book got me out of my reading slump.
I loved the fact that the female lead was not a push over, but still very much a female, and not some super woman. Maybe I have read to much YA lately ;-)
While for some it might seem unrealistic how she coped with her past as slave, I liked that it took her quite a bit of time to get over it, even with as much as a perfect husband as you could wish for. She was strong, but did not treat it like a mind over matter situation, and actually had quite a tough time separating her past with the present. All in all, the story was good, and the romance was in my eyes great. I also liked that the daughter was involved through the story, and would not have minded to see her more.
I loved the fact that the female lead was not a push over, but still very much a female, and not some super woman. Maybe I have read to much YA lately ;-)
While for some it might seem unrealistic how she coped with her past as slave, I liked that it took her quite a bit of time to get over it, even with as much as a perfect husband as you could wish for. She was strong, but did not treat it like a mind over matter situation, and actually had quite a tough time separating her past with the present. All in all, the story was good, and the romance was in my eyes great. I also liked that the daughter was involved through the story, and would not have minded to see her more.
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March 1, 2020DNF
The characters suffer too much from the beginning. They are in too much danger. It feels more like a thriller than a romance. I don't want to read it.
The characters suffer too much from the beginning. They are in too much danger. It feels more like a thriller than a romance. I don't want to read it.
May 25, 2024
Exotic locales, white/black/brown slavery in the East Indies, undying love and friendship, Indiana Jones adventure, gender equality of sorts, passion, last-minute rescues, FUN STORY!!!
August 19, 2010
After I started reading The Bartered Bride I discovered that this is part of a trilogy and that I had already read book 1. We have some information about the couple in book 2 in this story so you might prefer to read them in order. This is the story of Alexandra Warren and Gavin Elliott. When they meet Gavin is a guest of the Sultan of Maduri who is interested in doing business with him and Alexandra is a slave about to be sold at a public auction. She was traveling with her daughter from Australia when their ship is attacked by pirates and they are separated.
Gavin feels surprised and shocked to see a European woman like that and does his best to save her. Unfortunately when the Sultan discovers that Alexandra may be the key to Gavin's compliance to his wishes he is forced to perform a series of tasks to win her freedom. He succeeds, but to some cost for him and Alexandra. Afterwards, when she and her daughter are both free, he feels honour bound to offer for her, especially because she might be pregnant, but maybe also because he has started developing some feelings for her. They return to London and while Gavin is surprised to find that Alexandra's family is very well connected socially he is also surprised to find that he has inherited a title. But they also find some enemies in London who plot to ruin them.
The story has two very different settings, the East Indies and London. I must confess that I much preferred the first one, the story was more focused on Alexandra and Gavin, the setting was more exotic and the Sultan was an ambivalent bad guy who kept things interesting. When they arrive in London there are more distractions, the villains are less interesting and their subplot detracts a bit from the main story that was Alexandra and Gavin getting to know each other. There's one theme that runs through both parts of the story which is slavery. Having been a slave Alexandra is naturally revolted that anyone else may suffer the same and becomes a dedicated anti-slavery fighter. She also rebuilds her lost confidence and it felt odd when an intelligent woman like her fell into a trap that we could see was coming.
Overall I did enjoy it this story but I found the first half a lot more interesting than the second one and so I was left a bit disappointed. And although the characters of the second book seemed like interesting people, from what I got to know about them here, I'm not sure I'll be picking up their story soon.
Grade: 4/5
Gavin feels surprised and shocked to see a European woman like that and does his best to save her. Unfortunately when the Sultan discovers that Alexandra may be the key to Gavin's compliance to his wishes he is forced to perform a series of tasks to win her freedom. He succeeds, but to some cost for him and Alexandra. Afterwards, when she and her daughter are both free, he feels honour bound to offer for her, especially because she might be pregnant, but maybe also because he has started developing some feelings for her. They return to London and while Gavin is surprised to find that Alexandra's family is very well connected socially he is also surprised to find that he has inherited a title. But they also find some enemies in London who plot to ruin them.
The story has two very different settings, the East Indies and London. I must confess that I much preferred the first one, the story was more focused on Alexandra and Gavin, the setting was more exotic and the Sultan was an ambivalent bad guy who kept things interesting. When they arrive in London there are more distractions, the villains are less interesting and their subplot detracts a bit from the main story that was Alexandra and Gavin getting to know each other. There's one theme that runs through both parts of the story which is slavery. Having been a slave Alexandra is naturally revolted that anyone else may suffer the same and becomes a dedicated anti-slavery fighter. She also rebuilds her lost confidence and it felt odd when an intelligent woman like her fell into a trap that we could see was coming.
Overall I did enjoy it this story but I found the first half a lot more interesting than the second one and so I was left a bit disappointed. And although the characters of the second book seemed like interesting people, from what I got to know about them here, I'm not sure I'll be picking up their story soon.
Grade: 4/5
July 14, 2009
I'm not sure if it's because I read this when I wasn't feeling 100%, or because I devoured it like a starving person, or because it's the third in the series, but while I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I couldn't begin to decipher the whys and wherefores.
Suffice it to say, I love Putney's characters, and her use of politics in her writing, and the fact that she doesn't shy away from tough issues like rape and slavery. Unlike some books I've read involving rape victims, Alex takes a long time to heal, but the reward at the end is satisfying for the reader. I remember in Simply Love, I wasn't pleased with the heroine's healing process. Alex's journey was long, tough, and took small steps along the way. SL's heroine took a long time, but there weren't many small signs of progress, so I was left feeling very strangely unsatisfied when it finally occurred.
Gavin is also a fabulous hero. Although he does eventually gain a title, and Alex is related to nobility, these two met and fell in love as members of the merchant/soldier classes. Gavin is a self-made man with a strong sense of justice and a smattering of well-placed anger.
I could have been more satisfied with the villains, as usual, but I felt they were more developed, and had better reasons, than the villain in China Bride.
Overall, a satisfying read, and one I will read again. This whole series was enough to make me completely fall in love with Putney's writing. She kept me intrigued and eager to read forward, but sated enough that I had no need to go delving off into the next one immediately. Each book left me with a sense of fulfillment and peace.
Suffice it to say, I love Putney's characters, and her use of politics in her writing, and the fact that she doesn't shy away from tough issues like rape and slavery. Unlike some books I've read involving rape victims, Alex takes a long time to heal, but the reward at the end is satisfying for the reader. I remember in Simply Love, I wasn't pleased with the heroine's healing process. Alex's journey was long, tough, and took small steps along the way. SL's heroine took a long time, but there weren't many small signs of progress, so I was left feeling very strangely unsatisfied when it finally occurred.
Gavin is also a fabulous hero. Although he does eventually gain a title, and Alex is related to nobility, these two met and fell in love as members of the merchant/soldier classes. Gavin is a self-made man with a strong sense of justice and a smattering of well-placed anger.
I could have been more satisfied with the villains, as usual, but I felt they were more developed, and had better reasons, than the villain in China Bride.
Overall, a satisfying read, and one I will read again. This whole series was enough to make me completely fall in love with Putney's writing. She kept me intrigued and eager to read forward, but sated enough that I had no need to go delving off into the next one immediately. Each book left me with a sense of fulfillment and peace.
November 3, 2020
Exciting adventure and romance. Also, rather a lot of darkness. Slavery, PTSD, rape, loss of a child, miscarriage, murder, victimization, and suffering and consequences from all of those.
I liked both of the main characters and the way they worked together and respected each other. It did feel a bit like the author was out to get them with all the crazy stuff they went through.
Violence, sex, swearing, for trigger warnings see list above.
I liked both of the main characters and the way they worked together and respected each other. It did feel a bit like the author was out to get them with all the crazy stuff they went through.
Violence, sex, swearing, for trigger warnings see list above.
December 8, 2019
Drăguță carte, dar pe mine nu ma prea atrage stilul narativ al autoarei. Mi se pare mult prea descriptiv si ma plicitiseste. Tot timpul am impresia ca se pierde in detalii inutile. Povestile ei sunt simpatice, dar mi-ar placea sa fie scrise mai cu un dram de umor si un pic mai alert... 4 stele.
July 29, 2019
More like 3.5 stars.
I am glad I kept reading this, even though I wanted to DNF it twice. But I was on a trip, this book already started on my kindle so I persevered and hoped the best is yet to come. I wanted to DNF because for almost 100 pages I could not connect with the story, the setting was somewhere in Asia and I am not really into the Asian stuff and culture, I have never been fascinated with it. Still, I started the series and wanted to see how it end. But reading about the culture, customs, the Lion Game which I found cheesy and stupid, was tiresome for me. It just did not seemed a romance at all and could not connect with the characters.
It also did not helped that the opening was so similar the The China Bride and so we know from the beginning the main woman character is obviously not dead. This may also be a reason why I found the first part boring and tiresome, because I knew some englishman cannot be convicted and imprisoned in the Tower of London for something he would have done in an island not even under the English jurisdiction. So the supposed murder must have been in England or at least somewhere in the British dominion.
Then, the things started to move for me as they left Manduri and the characters could interract freely. I liked Alexandra and I liked Gavin, although I think he was too good to be true. What I really appreciated at this book was the growing of the characters and the attachment between them, the way they worked on their relationship. Not a simple story about lust and desire and passionate love. I liked the realism, the heroine was a traumatized woman and she defeats her demons slowly, in a realistical way, not only after a couple of days or after some intercourse with the hero, as is the case in many other books. And there were many demons, she had been through a lot.
Still, I would have preferred a larger ending, it seemed too rushed and the author did not tell us what happened with the villains.
I am glad I kept reading this, even though I wanted to DNF it twice. But I was on a trip, this book already started on my kindle so I persevered and hoped the best is yet to come. I wanted to DNF because for almost 100 pages I could not connect with the story, the setting was somewhere in Asia and I am not really into the Asian stuff and culture, I have never been fascinated with it. Still, I started the series and wanted to see how it end. But reading about the culture, customs, the Lion Game which I found cheesy and stupid, was tiresome for me. It just did not seemed a romance at all and could not connect with the characters.
It also did not helped that the opening was so similar the The China Bride and so we know from the beginning the main woman character is obviously not dead. This may also be a reason why I found the first part boring and tiresome, because I knew some englishman cannot be convicted and imprisoned in the Tower of London for something he would have done in an island not even under the English jurisdiction. So the supposed murder must have been in England or at least somewhere in the British dominion.
Then, the things started to move for me as they left Manduri and the characters could interract freely. I liked Alexandra and I liked Gavin, although I think he was too good to be true. What I really appreciated at this book was the growing of the characters and the attachment between them, the way they worked on their relationship. Not a simple story about lust and desire and passionate love. I liked the realism, the heroine was a traumatized woman and she defeats her demons slowly, in a realistical way, not only after a couple of days or after some intercourse with the hero, as is the case in many other books. And there were many demons, she had been through a lot.
Still, I would have preferred a larger ending, it seemed too rushed and the author did not tell us what happened with the villains.
November 1, 2018
Slavery..kidnapping...
Alexandra is taken from a merchant vessel along with her daughter Katie. She is taken as a slave in an Indies Island.
Gavin Elliott is a merchant traveling through the Indies and delivering a cargo to an East Indian magnate.
What he finds is a man who believes he can get anything he wants and he wants Gavin to work for him.
When he and Gavin are traveling around his island, they come upon a slave auction and Gavin finds himself drawn to an European woman, Alex, being auctioned.
The magnate uses Gavin’s attraction to Alex as a lure to get his cooperation.
When Gavin outlasts the magnate, Alexandra, Gavin and Katie are released and travel back to England.
Alexandra is shattered by what had happened to her and although she and Gavin have married, she can not bear to be touched.
How they work through all the issues and another kidnapping, a murder charge and an earlship make exciting reading.
Alexandra is taken from a merchant vessel along with her daughter Katie. She is taken as a slave in an Indies Island.
Gavin Elliott is a merchant traveling through the Indies and delivering a cargo to an East Indian magnate.
What he finds is a man who believes he can get anything he wants and he wants Gavin to work for him.
When he and Gavin are traveling around his island, they come upon a slave auction and Gavin finds himself drawn to an European woman, Alex, being auctioned.
The magnate uses Gavin’s attraction to Alex as a lure to get his cooperation.
When Gavin outlasts the magnate, Alexandra, Gavin and Katie are released and travel back to England.
Alexandra is shattered by what had happened to her and although she and Gavin have married, she can not bear to be touched.
How they work through all the issues and another kidnapping, a murder charge and an earlship make exciting reading.
September 5, 2019
Gavin Elliott is on his way to London to finally settle down after spending the last years as a trader in the Far East. He plans to expand his shipping empire but a stop on an island causes a delay as he bargains to free an Englishwoman enslaved by pirates.
I enjoyed this series quite a bit. This book is a fine finish to the trilogy with adventure and romance creating an exciting story. I really liked the first part as Gavin and Alexandra go through their trials and get to know each other. Gavin was first introduced in The China Bride and is a wonderful hero here, gentle and kind to both Alexandra and her daughter. Alex is brave, enduring a lot during her enslavement, but I had to take one star off for her boneheaded behavior once she's home. She's too smart to walk into a trap in the way she does here in my opinion.
The Bride Trilogy been a good historical series, incorporating the Far East with Regency London in a unique manner. I've really enjoyed it and recommend it.
I enjoyed this series quite a bit. This book is a fine finish to the trilogy with adventure and romance creating an exciting story. I really liked the first part as Gavin and Alexandra go through their trials and get to know each other. Gavin was first introduced in The China Bride and is a wonderful hero here, gentle and kind to both Alexandra and her daughter. Alex is brave, enduring a lot during her enslavement, but I had to take one star off for her boneheaded behavior once she's home. She's too smart to walk into a trap in the way she does here in my opinion.
The Bride Trilogy been a good historical series, incorporating the Far East with Regency London in a unique manner. I've really enjoyed it and recommend it.
August 9, 2020
Me ha parecido un poco aburrido. Es una historia interesante, de aventuras y países exóticos. A los protagonistas les pasa de todo. Ella la capturan unos piratas y la venden como esclava, pasa muchas penurias hasta que conoce a un comerciante que la quiere salvar a pesar de no conocerla. El protagonista es un hombre aventurero, honesto, fiel y leal a sus convicciones. Y no puede permitirse dejarla atrás. Juntos pasan muchas aventuras, desde que la rescata hasta que llegan a Inglaterra y luego allí más. A pesar de toda esta acción a mi me ha aburrido bastante, he ido pasando páginas sin llegar a engancharme ni a los protagonistas ni a la historia. El final es un poco más intenso y me ha conseguido meter un poco más en la historia, pero en general ha digo un poco flojo. Lastima porque los libros de capitanes, barcos, oasis es lejanos me encantan, pero no he conseguido emocionarme con esta historia.
May 7, 2020
I have to admit that this one was my favorite of the Bride Trilogy. The English Lord that wants to travel and have adventure is finally returning home. Before he can leave, the local ruler offers him a business proposition. He doesn't want it, but while trying to politely find a way to turn down the offer an English woman is spotted in the local slave market. The ruler won't let him buy her freedom, so he offers to win her freedom in a contest.
You know how the contest has to end. The imaginary country and ruler customs are interesting, but really dated. Mary Jo Putney was one of the early writers to detail strong women characters in foreign settings.
The only jarring note in the book is the reaction of the English ton to the bride when they return to England. It doesn't feel real for the time period.
You know how the contest has to end. The imaginary country and ruler customs are interesting, but really dated. Mary Jo Putney was one of the early writers to detail strong women characters in foreign settings.
The only jarring note in the book is the reaction of the English ton to the bride when they return to England. It doesn't feel real for the time period.
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