Rating: 
Summary: Am I reading the same book???
Review: I really can't believe some of the reviews I have been reading about My Favorite Bride. However, since I haven't seen "The Sound of Music" (I'm really not sure how that's possible, but true) or read any of Dodd's previous governess series, this book didn't seem unoriginal at all, to me. I thought it was quite a welcome reprieve from all of the dashing rakes and noble ladies, etc, etc. I enjoyed every character in this story. Samantha was intelligent and humorous and entirely likeable. Since I'm about sick of all of the dark, dangerous, and mysterious heroes, William was refreshing. I thought it made the love scenes all the more memorable (read: HOT) that William was a straight-laced fellow overcome with lust. While William did get rather despotic, Samantha held her own throughout the book. William's children were adorable, and there are several very touching and humorous exchanges between Samantha and her charges. In response to those who thought that Lady Marchant's character was not consistent: expand your horizons; consider complex characters for a change. Lady Marchant was also unique in the fact that the she was actually an intelligent and thoughtful nemesis to the heroine.
About the plot: I have to agree with other readers that most of the spies in the book would make quite horrible spies in reality. And the spy sub-plot is rather obvious and not all that suspenseful. But the rest of the book definitely makes up for it.
The love scenes are fantastic, also. One reviewer complained that the love scenes seemed almost to emphasize force, which is crazy because in every scene Samantha was completely willing. There definitely was a theme of dominance and submission (hey, it went both ways), but that was to be expected with characters as strong as William and Samantha.
And to cap it all off, the ending was just about the sweetest thing ever. To the reader who complained that William didn't suffer enough for his treatment of Samantha, that may be true, but his groveling in the end evened the balance in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Am I reading the same book???
Review: I really can't believe some of the reviews I have been reading about My Favorite Bride. However, since I haven't seen "The Sound of Music" (I'm really not sure how that's possible, but true) or read any of Dodd's previous governess series, this book didn't seem unoriginal at all, to me. I thought it was quite a welcome reprieve from all of the dashing rakes and noble ladies, etc, etc. I enjoyed every character in this story. Samantha was intelligent and humorous and entirely likeable. Since I'm about sick of all of the dark, dangerous, and mysterious heroes, William was refreshing. I thought it made the love scenes all the more memorable (read: HOT) that William was a straight-laced fellow overcome with lust. While William did get rather despotic, Samantha held her own throughout the book. William's children were adorable, and there are several very touching and humorous exchanges between Samantha and her charges. In response to those who thought that Lady Marchant's character was not consistent: expand your horizons; consider complex characters for a change. Lady Marchant was also unique in the fact that the she was actually an intelligent and thoughtful nemesis to the heroine.
About the plot: I have to agree with other readers that most of the spies in the book would make quite horrible spies in reality. And the spy sub-plot is rather obvious and not all that suspenseful. But the rest of the book definitely makes up for it.
The love scenes are fantastic, also. One reviewer complained that the love scenes seemed almost to emphasize force, which is crazy because in every scene Samantha was completely willing. There definitely was a theme of dominance and submission (hey, it went both ways), but that was to be expected with characters as strong as William and Samantha.
And to cap it all off, the ending was just about the sweetest thing ever. To the reader who complained that William didn't suffer enough for his treatment of Samantha, that may be true, but his groveling in the end evened the balance in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: A Light Hearted Read
Review: I really enjoyed this book, because there was a heavy emotional plot or overpowering mytery. It is a story of a widowed military man trying to raise his daughters and catch the spies that murdered his wife. Into his life comes Samantha Prendregast an outspoken ex-pickpocket who has her own opinions as to how the daughters should be taught and raised.Colonel William Gregory is the younger son whose father bought him a comission. He has loved the military more that his murdered wife. He has handled his family as he handled he men. With military discipline and honor. When Samantha enters his home, sparks fly. She stands up to him, speaks her mind and is a general trouble maker. But he can't keep from thinking about all the ways that he would like to make love to her. This book will make you laugh and cry and cheer the ending.
Rating:
Summary: A Light Hearted Read
Review: I really enjoyed this book, because there was a heavy emotional plot or overpowering mytery. It is a story of a widowed military man trying to raise his daughters and catch the spies that murdered his wife. Into his life comes Samantha Prendregast an outspoken ex-pickpocket who has her own opinions as to how the daughters should be taught and raised. Colonel William Gregory is the younger son whose father bought him a comission. He has loved the military more that his murdered wife. He has handled his family as he handled he men. With military discipline and honor. When Samantha enters his home, sparks fly. She stands up to him, speaks her mind and is a general trouble maker. But he can't keep from thinking about all the ways that he would like to make love to her. This book will make you laugh and cry and cheer the ending.
Rating: 
Summary: how about some original plots?
Review: I wish Ms. Dodd would try to get something a little more original out there. Its so dissapointing and off-putting to read something that's so ho-hum! Even though her writing is pretty good the Sound of Music plot put me off so much that I just scanned through the book without much enthusiasm.
Rating: 
Summary: Isn't this getting a bit cliche?
Review: If you're one of Dodd's old readers and have read her previous book, you'd know what i'm talking about. I mean, at first, the governess and lord plot was interesting and somewhat refreshing. But after basing her last 6 books on this governess-lord plot, don't you think that it is quite enough? I mean, the first 3, "Rules of Attraction", "Rules of Engagement" and "Rules of Surrender" were pretty good, but then I got kind of weary of this plot, and then it just all became a formula. I know Dodd is a very talented writer, but after 6 books, don't you think she should just take a break and start on something else? It's like the Cynster, after the first 6 books, the rest just seems like a formula.
Rating: 
Summary: Eliza Doolittle in the Sound of Music
Review: In 1837 Lady Adorna rescued Samantha Pendegrast from life on the streets of London. For three years the grateful Samantha tried to model her behavior after her mentor while becoming a self-sufficient employee of the Distinguished Academy of Governesses. However, within three years Samantha concludes you could take the gal off the street, but you can't take the street out of the gal. In 1843 Adorna censures Samantha for her latest incident though the latter championed the mistreated from their odious patriarch. Coupled with other incidents and Samantha's reputation as a pickpocket, Adorna exiles her charge to the Lake District countryside to serve as governess to Colonel William Gregory and his twelve and under six children. While struggling to adapt to the country, Samantha enjoys her wild bunch charges. However, she is attracted to William though he treats her and his daughters like they are in his regiment. The Colonel admires Samantha's courage to challenge his behavior towards his family and her fortitude to survive her rustic adventure. However, besides country vs. urban, their histories pop up when items are stolen leaving love doomed to fail. Place Eliza Doolittle after the Higgins' transformation in the middle of the Sound of Music and relocate to the English countryside to understand MY FAVORITE BRIDE. Readers will enjoy this Victorian romance due to the characters as the audience will adore Samantha and the six children and even feel for the soldierly William. Though a subplot involving espionage adds intrigue that sidebar also takes away from a strong tale in which the hills are alive with the sound of Christina Dodd. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: No Singing but Really a Great Read
Review: In this latest addition to the Governess Bride series, Ms. Dodd has given us one of her most spunkiest heroines, Samantha Pendregast - former pickpocket - now governess extraordinaire. Unfortunately, she is a fabulous governess with no really good recommendations because of her penchant for outspokeness that has her championing the unfortunate! But she is great with children! Having been released from her last position without a reference Lady Adorna has sent her out of London into the country to care for the six orphan daughters of Colonel William Gregory. (Yes, this does smack a little of the plot from Sound of Music but it does stand on its own - contrary to what other reviews have said) Colonel William Gregory was a widowed military man who was quite proper and cold and had no idea how to distinguish bringing up children from disciplining recruits. Enter Samantha! In her own way, she stands up to the Colonel and teaches him how to deal with his children! He is so honest and moral that she knows that if he ever found out about her previous life he would toss her out like old newspaper! In order to fight the attraction he feels for her he invites the Lady he deems would make a proper wife and mother to his children to hostess a party for him. Unfortunately, the Lady in no way cools his building ardor for Samantha. The witty dialog is a pure delight and the passionate sexual encounters are HOT! The addion of the precocious daughters turn this into a very delightful read. I loved every minute of it even if I did see Sound of Music - it was different enough to be truly enjoyable!
Rating:
Summary: The Sound of Music
Review: Miss Samantha Prendregast is a former pickpocket, rehabilitated by Adorna (from previous Governess books), and currently a competent governess herself. Unfortunately, Samantha is blessed with a kind heart that can't bear injustice, and when she manages to get herself in trouble in London, Adorna sends Samantha to the wilds of the Lake District to be a governess to Colonel William Gregory's six daughters. Sure she's going to be eaten by bears and wolves, she quickly finds out the kids are a lot more trouble than any wildlife, and their father is a handsome despot. Soon she's got the kids eating out of her hand, but William isn't so easy to manage. He demands disciple and respect. Instead, he gets an intelligent young woman with a witty tongue who is far too attractive. With spies on the loose and a gorgeous woman in his house, William quickly finds catching the spies are the easy part -- more important, he must earn Samantha's love. Dodd wraps up the connected spy stories from IN MY WILDEST DREAMS and LOST IN YOUR ARMS in this funny, satisfying addition to the Governess Brides series.
Rating: 
Summary: The Sound of Music?
Review: Ms. Dodd is one of my favorite writers, but I didn't enjoy this book at all. Although well written in her usual style, I found the obvious "borrowing" from the Von Trapp family in rather poor taste. These were *real* people. This wasn't a fairytale. I recently read "Lair of the Lion" from Christina Feehan and I wasn't at all bothered by her "Beauty and the Beast" story because it not the same thing. If Ms. Dodd wanted to use this story she darn well should have acknowledged it in the credits. I was absolutely *floored* to read her "Any resemblance to actual events is purely coincidental." How on earth do you put that on a book that is obviously is anything but? Unless you like *real people* fanfiction, or haven't had the pleasure of seeing "The Sound of Music," I don't suggest you waste your money on this.
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