Stealing the Bride

Rating:
Summary: Kept me from getting any work done for two days!
Review: England 1809 - At twenty-nine years old Lady Diana Fordham is known by the ton as an eccentric spinster with no chance of marrying - a bit long in the tooth in spite of a very ample dowry. Beautiful, intelligent, and patient, Diana knows what she wants and has waited long enough! The man who broke her heart ten years ago had just run out of time and now Diana was ready to launch an elaborate plan to storm his defenses and bring him to task! She devises a plan to make it appear that she has been kidnapped by the worst sort of rake she could find - knowing in her heart that Temple would come to rescue her. Her father, Lord Fordham, raises the alarm that she has been abducted and announces that whoever rescues her will be the man Diana will marry her - and so the race was on!

The Marquis of Templeton, known as the "Temple", appears as an `idiot fop' to most observers. He has used this ruse to disguise his true identity as a very courageous and effective spy. The Foreign Office assigns him the task of rescuing the chit and see her married to one of two suitors that have asked for her hand in marriage. Temple would rather not have to do this as the less time spent in Diana's company the better. He has always secretly been in love with Diana but through some very convoluted logic (it's a guy thing), born of stubbornness and rebellion, has distanced himself from her - convinced that he would place her in danger. Unfortunately, danger has caught up with Diana, in the form of, and from a source that no one would have suspected as Temple and the `heiress bride stealers' race on to Gretna Green.

STEALING THE BRIDE should steal the hearts of most Regency romance readers. The last ditch effort of the strong and resourceful lead heroine, Lady Diana, to bring Temple up to snuff was for me a lovely plot that I truly enjoyed. The supporting characters were delightful and charmingly amusing and the re-introduction of characters from her previous novels has me now scurrying around looking for the earlier related publications. I have not been disappointed by this author as she brings originality, sparkling dialog and feeling to her characters that make you a part of the `family' and looking for more. This was a truly enjoyable read that I can heartily recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Very Enjoyable Regency
Review: England 1809 - At twenty-nine years old Lady Diana Fordham is known by the ton as an eccentric spinster with no chance of marrying - a bit long in the tooth in spite of a very ample dowry. Beautiful, intelligent, and patient, Diana knows what she wants and has waited long enough! The man who broke her heart ten years ago had just run out of time and now Diana was ready to launch an elaborate plan to storm his defenses and bring him to task! She devises a plan to make it appear that she has been kidnapped by the worst sort of rake she could find - knowing in her heart that Temple would come to rescue her. Her father, Lord Fordham, raises the alarm that she has been abducted and announces that whoever rescues her will be the man Diana will marry her - and so the race was on!

The Marquis of Templeton, known as the "Temple", appears as an 'idiot fop' to most observers. He has used this ruse to disguise his true identity as a very courageous and effective spy. The Foreign Office assigns him the task of rescuing the chit and see her married to one of two suitors that have asked for her hand in marriage. Temple would rather not have to do this as the less time spent in Diana's company the better. He has always secretly been in love with Diana but through some very convoluted logic (it's a guy thing), born of stubbornness and rebellion, has distanced himself from her - convinced that he would place her in danger. Unfortunately, danger has caught up with Diana, in the form of, and from a source that no one would have suspected as Temple and the 'heiress bride stealers' race on to Gretna Green.

STEALING THE BRIDE should steal the hearts of most Regency romance readers. The last ditch effort of the strong and resourceful lead heroine, Lady Diana, to bring Temple up to snuff was for me a lovely plot that I truly enjoyed. The supporting characters were delightful and charmingly amusing and the re-introduction of characters from her previous novels has me now scurrying around looking for the earlier related publications. I have not been disappointed by this author as she brings originality, sparkling dialog and feeling to her characters that make you a part of the 'family' and looking for more. This was a truly enjoyable read that I can heartily recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Another romantically wonderful romp from Elizabeth Boyle!
Review: I adored the charming, scene-stealing Marquis of Templeton (Temple) from Elizabeth Boyle's previous book, ONE NIGHT OF PASSION, and couldn't wait to see who would be the lady to win his heart. Little did I know that lady would be Diana Fordham, a 29-year old hellion who had once been engaged to Temple's cousin, Colin.

In STEALING THE BRIDE, we find out that Temple and Diana are star-crossed lovers who might have had their own happy-ever-after years ago if not for the manipulations of Temple's rigid grandfather. Now Temple is a man with a secret--no mere society fop whose greatest skill is tying an elegant cravat, the outwardly affable Temple is actually a skilled spy for the Crown. When Lady Diana is reported kidnapped and suspected to be on her way to Gretna Green to wed, Temple is assigned to see her brought home . . . and married at once to the first available man he can find. Temple is certain that man will not be him, but Diana has other plans.

A delightful battle of wills and desires ensues, made all the more enjoyable by an ongoing chase by Napoleon's cronies that sends the pair into hiding and on the run across England. A wonderful romance with many surprising twists and turns, STEALING THE BRIDE is a 5-star keeper!

Rating:
Summary: But, did you have to make Diana wait soooo long?
Review: I enjoyed the story and really liked Diana and Temple, both- but EB was wrong in making the time line soooo long - why not 3 or 5 years instead of 9 to 10?

This was the first EB for me to read and I definitely enjoyed her talent. I am sorry that I didn't know to read One Night of Passion first, though - but didn't find it a stumbling block for me. I was able to follow the story and get into the characters well enough. Lady Diana Fordham lost her heart to Marquis of Templeton (Temple for short) a long time ago. She had hope he would notice but he never seemed to come around. At one time she decided to move on and marry his cousin only to withdraw her agreement for engagment. Her heart wasn't in it. Now ten years later Diana sets up her own elopement with a scandrel of the Ton and everyone is shocked. Her father offers her hand in marriage to the first man that is able to bring her back. Temple has no design to go get her until his secret employer orders him to go get her and see that she is married as soon as possible. He leaves with no plans on being the one that she marries. Boy, is he fooled! Things get to hopping! Temple discovers that the French are after Diana with plans of their own, Diana's fiance is murdered, and Temple is accused of doing it. Oh... the story gets even better. In the middle of all that is going on, Diana forces Temple to admit his love for her. I think my favorite part is when Diana shows up at a Masquarade Ball dressed as a greek goddess only wearing the sheer curtains from Temple's rented room drapped over her naked body and a face mask. Boy, that caused a stir! ha, ha!!! A good read with romance and excitment to keep the story going.



Rating:
Summary: Kept me from getting any work done for two days!
Review: I just finished Stealing the Bride and loved it!! What a fun book! I absolutely loved Temple and Diana and thought they were the best characters I've read in a long time. The plot line was humorous and kept the reader guessing page after page. This book gave me a really enjoyable few days, when I didn't get any work done, because I wanted to keep reading! :-)

Rating:
Summary: Save Your Money
Review: In 1809 England most of the Ton considers twenty-nine years old Lady Diana Fordham as a spinster with no chance of marrying. Her peers have shelved her, but her enormous dowry makes Diana still a fine catch for anyone short in the pockets. However, Diana does not want a spouse, as her heart was broken years ago by a man she still loves.

All hell breaks loose when her father frantically announces that a rogue has kidnapped his daughter taking her to Gretna Green. Most of the aristocracy cannot believe an old maid like Diana can be abducted so they ignore Lord Fordham's rant. However, some reconsider when he announces the man who saves Diana will marry her.

The Marquis of Templeton, known as the "Temple" of foppish good fashion, is upset because secretly he loves Diana. However he rationalizes that he must not act on his feelings because of the danger of his profession as a spy that might place his beloved in danger. The Foreign Office orders a reluctant and irate Temple to insure that Diana is rescued and safely married. When he catches up to her he finds an incredibly brilliant counter move by a strategist who makes Napoleon look like a bonehead as the clever ploy shakes his heart to the core.

STEALING THE BRIDE will steal the hearts of Regency romance readers due to the final desperate fling of the heroine. Diana is a strong individual who knows what she wants. The audience will feel some frustration over Temple allowing his childhood demons to interfere with a relationship with Diana. Still this is a fun historical that fans will appreciate.

Harriet Klausner