The Sherbrooke Bride (Bride Trilogy (Audio))

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't Put It Down
Review: Catherine Coulter is fabulous with the written word. She makes her stories seem like they could have been real in another time. Her characters are wonderful and very entertaining. I loved this book and would recomend it to everyone who likes reading historical romance with some suspense thrown in.

Rating:
Summary: Funny Love Story...
Review: Douglas Sherbrooke, Earl of Northcliffe, must marry and provide the prerequisite heir. His choice is Melissande, daughter of the Duke of Beresford. One look at the beautiful but shallow girl turns grown men into quivering fools. The responsible Alexandra Chambers, Melissande's sister, has loved Douglas since she was fifteen. When Douglas sends his best friend to marry him to Melissande by proxy, he ends up wedded to the wrong sister. Now the always-in-control Douglas must deal with a wife he didn't want, and the Virgin Bride ghost which makes regular appearances in the countess' bedchamber.

This was my first read by Catherine Coulter and it certainly won't be my last. This is also the first installment in the Bride Trilogy which I plan to finish. My favorite type of story is a romance with a good dose of humor. A little intrigue added in doesn't hurt either. While this story has all three of those elements, the intrigue portion was my least favorite here. The rescue of the french woman at the beginning, and especially the kidnapping with subsequent rescue toward the end, seemed rather hokey. Plus, it only served to distract from the main focus of this story which was the relationship betwen Douglas and Alexandra, thrown in with all the wonderful supporting characters. The events and humor that take place while these normally level-headed people learn to deal with each other is priceless!

To sum it all up- I deducted one star for the silly intrigue subplot which would've been better left out. But even at four stars, I still very much recommend this book for it's other great qualities.

Rating:
Summary: A lovely book!
Review: I read the "Sherbrooke Bride" and I'm looking forward to read more books from Catherine Coulter. I agree with a reviewer that wrote that this isn't earth-shattering literature, but it's a trully enjoyable read, fast-pacing, funny and with witty dialogues. Of course Douglas may sound as a beast at the beginning, but he's so outrageous that the whole affair seems hilarious. It is a fun read after all and not Dickens.
Alexandra is a great heroine, loving him since a child and willing to forgive his mistreating her since she realizes that he feels trapped in their marriage. I like it when one of the heroes can see thgrough the other's point of view and not stick to their own beliefs and sentiments.
The book is a most enjoyable read, one you never want to end and one I'm certainly going to read again!!! If you are not looking for serious historical romance try it. Else check mrs McNaught books.

Rating:
Summary: The first and best book of the "Bride" Series
Review: While "The Sherbrooke Bride" may not be a classic work of literature, I found it to be filled with rich characters and engaging right until the last page - it was one of those stories you don't want to end. Alexandra Chambers, a woman of quick senses and determination, has always been overshadowed by her older, and stunningly beautiful sister Melissande. But when Douglas Sherbrooke, the man whom Alex has loved since childhood, needed to marry, instead of ending up with Melissande as planned, he finds himself wed to the wrong sister. Alex and Douglas go through pitfalls, fights, and nearly lose one another before they finally find the true love that is meant to last a lifetime.

This was the first Catherine Coulter book I ever read and I was pleasantly surprised to find a mixture of humor, adventure, and romance. Alex came off as such a stong person, never losing faith and always trying to be brave even as she wants to break down. She wasn't your typical weak female waiting to be rescued like so many other superficial romances portrayed. And even though Douglas is often stubborn and cruel, it makes his eventual realizations of love for his wife that much sweeter.

I've read several Catherine Coulter books and my respect for her just keeps growing. I highly recommend reading the "Bride Series" (including the recent addition of the "Scottish Bride") -each follows the adventures of the Sherbrooke clan and their wives with updates of past characters (including Alex and Douglas). All four books are enjoyable page-turners with believeable, three-dimensional characters and lively plots, although the first is still the best in my eyes.