Rating: 
Summary: NOT that great...
Review: "The Hostage Bride" is the first book in Jane Feather's "Brides" trilogy. They are three girls who met when they were in their early teens and sweared that they would never get married and want to fulfil their own dreams in life."The Hostage Bride" tells the story of Portia and Rufus. They met when Rufus and his men ambushed Portia's party as they just were on their way to Cato's premise. Cato and Rufus had a family dispute since the times of their fathers. Portia was captured and released. Later she was mistakenly kipnapped by Rufus' men as they thought she was Cato's daughter. Their so-called romance began from there... I am sorry to say that this is not the kind of romance novel I would want to re-read. In half of the book, Portia was away from Rufus. I don't know when they had fallen in love with each other as the time when both of them were together was so little. The bond of the three girls were also very frail. All in all, I don't see much chemistry between the characters, much lesser the two main ones. The ending was a bit funny as in was in the midst of a battle when Rufus and Portia declared their love and made their confessions. It was like the battle stopped for them. I gave it three stars for the occasional humour. This is the kind of book that one can forgo. Diehard fans of Jane Feather can still read it.
Rating:
Summary: NOT that great...
Review: "The Hostage Bride" is the first book in Jane Feather's "Brides" trilogy. They are three girls who met when they were in their early teens and sweared that they would never get married and want to fulfil their own dreams in life. "The Hostage Bride" tells the story of Portia and Rufus. They met when Rufus and his men ambushed Portia's party as they just were on their way to Cato's premise. Cato and Rufus had a family dispute since the times of their fathers. Portia was captured and released. Later she was mistakenly kipnapped by Rufus' men as they thought she was Cato's daughter. Their so-called romance began from there... I am sorry to say that this is not the kind of romance novel I would want to re-read. In half of the book, Portia was away from Rufus. I don't know when they had fallen in love with each other as the time when both of them were together was so little. The bond of the three girls were also very frail. All in all, I don't see much chemistry between the characters, much lesser the two main ones. The ending was a bit funny as in was in the midst of a battle when Rufus and Portia declared their love and made their confessions. It was like the battle stopped for them. I gave it three stars for the occasional humour. This is the kind of book that one can forgo. Diehard fans of Jane Feather can still read it.
Rating:
Summary: NOT that great...
Review: "The Hostage Bride" is the first book in Jane Feather's "Brides" trilogy. They are three girls who met when they were in their early teens and sweared that they would never get married and want to fulfil their own dreams in life. "The Hostage Bride" tells the story of Portia and Rufus. They met when Rufus and his men ambushed Portia's party as they just were on their way to Cato's premise. Cato and Rufus had a family dispute since the times of their fathers. Portia was captured and released. Later she was mistakenly kipnapped by Rufus' men as they thought she was Cato's daughter. Their so-called romance began from there... I am sorry to say that this is not the kind of romance novel I would want to re-read. In half of the book, Portia was away from Rufus. I don't know when they had fallen in love with each other as the time when both of them were together was so little. The bond of the three girls were also very frail. All in all, I don't see much chemistry between the characters, much lesser the two main ones. The ending was a bit funny as in was in the midst of a battle when Rufus and Portia declared their love and made their confessions. It was like the battle stopped for them. I gave it three stars for the occasional humour. This is the kind of book that one can forgo. Diehard fans of Jane Feather can still read it.
Rating:
Summary: First of an English Civil War series - good one-time read
Review: At the beginning of this book we meet the three young girls who are the heroines of this series: Portia, Phoebe and Olivia. This introductory scene appears in all three books, just in case anyone's missed it. Portia is the bastard daughter of the Marquis of Granville's bastard brother. When her father dies, Granville offers her a home within his household, but he isn't that interested in her, and his wife, Diana, makes it clear that she is to be an extra servant, helping take care of the infant children. Olivia, Granville's daughter from an earlier marriage, befriends Portia, however. An old enemy of the Granville household, Rufus Decatur, former Earl of Rothbury, has sworn revenge on the family of the man who was responsible for his father's death and disgrace. Olivia is to be kidnapped and used as a bargaining tool. However, a mistake is made and Portia is kidnapped instead. Rufus isn't sure what to do with her, so he keeps her prisoner. However, Portia then decides that she wants to train and to join his militia as a soldier - even though she knows that Rufus intends to attack her uncle's household! That part was difficult to swallow; war is a serious business, and even if Portia isn't particularly loyal to either King or Parliament, the thought of striking against her uncle's home, and especially her cousin, should surely not have come so easily to her. Like another reviewer, I wasn't convinced by the 'falling in love' part of the book, and the resolution in particular was unconvincing. Finally, Rufus at one point used the term 'bourgeoisie'. Isn't early seventeenth-century England a little early for that term to be in common currency, since it's normally associated with the French revolution?
Rating: 
Summary: I liked Portia and Rufus
Review: Good Story much better than the second book in this series
Rating: 
Summary: I was really surprised!
Review: Having bought a few of her other books, I was really disappointed with them and swore never to buy another, but decided to give her another chance. I was pleasantly surprised with my enjoyment of the book and am looking forward to the next of the series. I am crossing my fingers that it will be as good as this one.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and fun to read!
Review: I am new to reading Jane Feather's novels. The newest novel "The Least Likely Bride" caught my attention in the store. As I was looking at the review, I discovered it was part of a trilogy. I ordered "The Hostage Bride" from amazon and I finished it over the weekend! It was great to read about the characters, Portia & Rufus. Portia was great and I understand her need to settle conflict. I was cheering for them throughout the book. I enjoyed reading from this time frame of the middle 1600's. It is so different than the modern day romance setting. I look forward to reading the sequel and the finally the third!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and fun to read!
Review: I am new to reading Jane Feather's novels. The newest novel "The Least Likely Bride" caught my attention in the store. As I was looking at the review, I discovered it was part of a trilogy. I ordered "The Hostage Bride" from amazon and I finished it over the weekend! It was great to read about the characters, Portia & Rufus. Portia was great and I understand her need to settle conflict. I was cheering for them throughout the book. I enjoyed reading from this time frame of the middle 1600's. It is so different than the modern day romance setting. I look forward to reading the sequel and the finally the third!
Rating:
Summary: loved it
Review: i loved this book it had alot of elements that make up my kind of book. i mean Portia was not classically beautiful but had fire in her which made for great dialogue between her and the mischievious Rufus, i think miss Feather did a good job on this one.
Rating:
Summary: A special work
Review: In 1641, while England is on the verge of a civil war between the king and parliament, three girls, ranging in age from eleven to fourteen, meet for the first time. The threesome swear on a blood oath, to help one another if needed and never to marry. Two years later, the oldest of the trio, Portia, an illegitimate child, joins the household of her uncle, Lord Granville when her father dies. Rufus Decatur watched as his father, the Earl of Rothbury, committed suicide rather than be jailed as a traitor to the throne by the then Lord Granville. Almost three decades later, he seeks vengeance against the Granvilles by abducting Olivia, the granddaughter of the man who ruined his family. However, Rufus grabs the wrong lass and ends up kidnapping the outspoken and outraged Portia instead. Before too long the dueling duo falls in love with each other. However, not only do they support opposite sides in the conflict raging across England, Portia is a Granville and he has vowed to destroy anything or anyone that has a taint of his enemy's blood. Unless love can help him surmount his thirst for revenge, this relationship is doomed to failure. THE HOSTAGE BRIDE is a brilliant historical romance from one of the leading writers of the sub-genre, Jane Feather. The story lien moves at a rapid pace and the lead protagonists are a charming pair who readers will want to see succeed. Ms. Feather once again demonstrates her ability to paint a vivid picture of a pivotal moment in history while providing her readers with an entertaining novel. Harriet Klausner
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