Helpful Score: 8
Dark and delicious historical romance, filled with bits and pieces of gothic and fantasy. Very talented writer with a wonderful ability to describe the Cornwall countryside, the castle by the sea, the emotions of her characters. This book has two sequels, one of which I've read (The Night Drifter) and it was very good.
Helpful Score: 5
When I read the synopsis in the back of the book, I thought that this was going to be a good story - and it was better than that - it was great. The story is about Anatole St Leger and Madeline Breton who are arranged to be married by the Bride Finder (which is a tradition for the St. Leger family - that if your wife/husband is picked by the Bride Finder that ensures true love and a happy marriage). As with any good book, the happily ever after part has some bumps in the road with the hero and heroine learning each others' secrets (feelings, powers, etc). There is a plot with a mortal enemy of the St Legers, some supernatural powers, and a haunting vision that enhance the story. A great book, and I am looking forward to finding the sequels to this story.
The best of Susan Carroll's books I've read thus far.
Helpful Score: 2
Unique story, funny and tender. Great book if you like historical romances.
Helpful Score: 2
A magical tale of love, a handsome hero, a passionate heroine who risks all for the man she loves- along with a contentious family ghost, makes for a delightful tale.
Helpful Score: 2
I liked it!
Helpful Score: 2
Anatole St. Leger has a super natural power that runs in his family. This family has always used the Bride Finder to find their wives. St. Leger writes a list of what he wants and the Bride Finder seems to find a woman that has all the things St. Leger doesn't want. It is funny, suspenceful and romantic.
Soft-tempered Madeline Breton is sent to marry Anatole St. Leger, the proprietor of a brooding castle in the country. Madeline has heard rumors of the St. Leger link to the supernatural, but no rumor can prepare her for the activities she encounters at the castle.
Anatole lives on the steep crags of Cornwall, trapped in isolation by his legacy and powers. Surrounded by only a handful of servants and his dogs, he has never ventured far from the thick stone walls of his castle. Now, as part of timeless tradition, Anatole must turn to his former tutor and distant cousin, Septimus Fitzleger, also known as the Bride Finder, a man blessed with the power to find the one woman who is Anatole's destiny. Madeline Breton is that chosen bride and has come to Cornwall to meet her new husband. I know you are all Anatole St. Leger could ever want, Septimus had told her. And sensible Madeline had begun to dream. But, now that she has reached her strange destination, the dream is diffusing quickly in the shadow of the dark and ominous Castle Leger. Her husband is hardly the gentleman she had envisioned. He looks more like a fierce Celtic warrior, one whose wild, ebony hair and brusque manner hint of stranger, mysterious gifts. What unknown forces are at work at Castle Leger? Why do the servants and the villagers both respect and fear her husband? Anatole knows only too well the legacies that to him have been more curse than gift. But as Madeline embarks on an odyssey both otherworldly and undeniably real, she and her husband fall hopelessly in love - until she also sees the haunting vision of murder in the crystal of the St. Leger sword and vows never to let this dire portent come to pass. Then, into this hypnotic world, a sudden, terrifying enemy emerges to threaten both their lives.
Anatole lives on the steep crags of Cornwall, trapped in isolation by his legacy and powers. Surrounded by only a handful of servants and his dogs, he has never ventured far from the thick stone walls of his castle. Now, as part of timeless tradition, Anatole must turn to his former tutor and distant cousin, Septimus Fitzleger, also known as the Bride Finder, a man blessed with the power to find the one woman who is Anatole's destiny. Madeline Breton is that chosen bride and has come to Cornwall to meet her new husband. I know you are all Anatole St. Leger could ever want, Septimus had told her. And sensible Madeline had begun to dream. But, now that she has reached her strange destination, the dream is diffusing quickly in the shadow of the dark and ominous Castle Leger. Her husband is hardly the gentleman she had envisioned. He looks more like a fierce Celtic warrior, one whose wild, ebony hair and brusque manner hint of stranger, mysterious gifts. What unknown forces are at work at Castle Leger? Why do the servants and the villagers both respect and fear her husband? Anatole knows only too well the legacies that to him have been more curse than gift. But as Madeline embarks on an odyssey both otherworldly and undeniably real, she and her husband fall hopelessly in love - until she also sees the haunting vision of murder in the crystal of the St. Leger sword and vows never to let this dire portent come to pass. Then, into this hypnotic world, a sudden, terrifying enemy emerges to threaten both their lives.
Helpful Score: 1
What makes this book so different from most in the genre is the unique plot, original characters, some alive, others not quite.
The main characters are actually lovable. The relationship that builds between them, though over only a few days does not seem
rushed. The humor which permeates throughout. There are also threats of deadly violence, along with much magic and mystery.
The plot is entertaining throughout the entire book, never getting dull or boring. And finally the climax is suspensful and unexpected.
The author certainly knows how to spin a yarn!
"The Bride Finder" is a winner for all lovers of romance and/or paranormal romance novels. Recommended!
The main characters are actually lovable. The relationship that builds between them, though over only a few days does not seem
rushed. The humor which permeates throughout. There are also threats of deadly violence, along with much magic and mystery.
The plot is entertaining throughout the entire book, never getting dull or boring. And finally the climax is suspensful and unexpected.
The author certainly knows how to spin a yarn!
"The Bride Finder" is a winner for all lovers of romance and/or paranormal romance novels. Recommended!
Helpful Score: 1
Good book, i liked the heroine.
Helpful Score: 1
My first book by this author; fun - I'll look for some of her other books now.
Helpful Score: 1
Let's try to pull together the authors that actually have an original idea in period romance. The story of Madelaine and Anatole St. Leger meets that criteria. Susan Carroll really is a master at emotional writing with a darker edge. This borders on the ghost/fantasy side of this genre. I recommend it highly, particularly if you aren't into the latest vamp/shifter/alpha stuff. She can be flowery in her writing but the story moves along at a good pace. Bride Finder is different, it's original and very well written. If you like Kurland, Feehan, or Garwood, chances are you will enjoy this writer. Promise!
Predictable. A little too contrived. But, makes for a light summer or quiet winter's evening read.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Typical fairy-tale about Beauty who is "chosen" as the bride of the dark and tortured lord of a misty, dark castle. It however, has all the emotional sensations you could want: innocent awakenings, which grow into understanding and love on both sides, the family with as many peccadilloes as anyone's but which include "special" abilities to heal, see the future, talk to animals, etc. The usual misunderstandings occur between the hero and herione but are overcome. There are tender moments, terrifying moments, moments that make you want to scream "Tell her/him you love him/her!" It all is wound around the terrible abuse and neglect of the hero when he was a child which is the perfect opportunity for her to teach him about real love. The love scenes are sweet not overpowering in their sensuality and you could (almost) read this to a child as a bedtime story. Better yet, read it to yourself as a bedtime story!
Typical fairy-tale about Beauty who is "chosen" as the bride of the dark and tortured lord of a misty, dark castle. It however, has all the emotional sensations you could want: innocent awakenings, which grow into understanding and love on both sides, the family with as many peccadilloes as anyone's but which include "special" abilities to heal, see the future, talk to animals, etc. The usual misunderstandings occur between the hero and herione but are overcome. There are tender moments, terrifying moments, moments that make you want to scream "Tell her/him you love him/her!" It all is wound around the terrible abuse and neglect of the hero when he was a child which is the perfect opportunity for her to teach him about real love. The love scenes are sweet not overpowering in their sensuality and you could (almost) read this to a child as a bedtime story. Better yet, read it to yourself as a bedtime story!
Madeline Breton has come to Cornwell to meet her new husband chosen by the Bride Finder. Anatole St. Leger has legacies he tends to see as curses rather than gifts. Falling in love with each other is a gift until a dream of murder threatens their happiness with a very real emeny.
This was an excellent medieval paranormal about Anatole St. Leger and the very special powers that he possesses along with a magical sword. Madeline Breton is his chosen bride and she wonders at the fierce look of her new husband. Romance, suspense and magic combine in this book and makes it the best paranormal I've ever read.
An engaging read that kept my interest. Madeline is a heroine I sympathized with and cheered for--the magic in the book stems as much from her character as it does from the plotline.
Good read. Has mystery/romance/magic.
Loved it, read it in record time!
I have this book in hard back and I loved it. This is one of three books, but you can read it alone
