Rating: 
Summary: A Dream of a Read!
Review: Setting - England 1810 --- The opening in this first installment of the 'Free Fellows League' introduces us to three young titled adolescent boys who while away at school formed a secret brotherhood to become England's hero against the impending war with France. Furthermore, they would swear off the leg-shackling institution of marriage at least until the age of 30 or, unless it became absolutely necessary and never, ever, under any condition, fall in love. Years later, Viscount 'Griffin' Abernathy, follows his dream and buys a commission in the cavalry to go and fight the French. His father found out just in time before he left and more or less blackmailed him to find, marry, and beget an heir before leaving for the continent. Luckily, while attending Almacks, he did notice a young woman whom he thought just might suit him and gained an introduction. Unfortunately, she was one of the season's incomparables and her ambitious mother felt that no less than a duke would do for her youngest daughter.
Lady Alyssa Carrollton, had formulated her own plans for her life and becoming a duchess just wasn't one of them. Finding herself eavesdropping on a private conversation between three young men discussing something called the 'free fellows league' she was curious to discover just who they were. Later as she realized that the handsomest of the lot was one of the gentlemen she had eavesdropped upon, she was more than interested in finding out who he was. Later introduced, and allowed a waltz then a private conversation she realized that Griffin would be more than an acceptable husband, especially when he offered her the one thing she 'thought' she wanted most - her very own garden to design. I say 'thought' because once she had been kissed by the very handsome young viscount, her thoughts on marriage to the young man became decidedly different. Now the biggest obstacle would be in gaining her fathers approval.
I have to say that I loved everything about this book and smiled almost, from the first to the last page! Alyssa was the sweetest and most darling of heroines, Griffin who approached the whole marriage concept as a means to an end turned into a surprisingly wonderful hero! He was so sweet and caring, that you really wanted to hug and squeeze them both for being so perfectly matched up together! I laughed out loud over Griffins interview with Alyssa's father as he bargained for her hand in marriage - her father - what a hoot he was! With splendid secondary characters, wonderfully witty dialogs, hot and sensual seduction scenes, and with the heart wrenching emotions that had me sobbing - this was for me a most perfect read! Bottom line - This is a non-stop can't put it down kind of read that kept me reading way into the wee small hours! --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromacewriters.com ----
Rating: 
Summary: a charming & heart-warming romance novel
Review: The first in a new series that revolves around a few titled gentlemen (the Free Fellows League) who have all taken an oath to put off marrying as long as possible, not fall in love and to never, ever be at the beck and call of any woman, "Barely a Bride" proved to be a surprisingly enjoyable read. I cannot tell you why -- the storyline was a rather plain one with few frills (no jealous ex-mistresses vowing revenge, no murder/spy subplot, no secondary romantic subplot) and with no unexpected twists -- but I found myself being rather charmed with this simple little romance novel and have no problem with recommending it as a worthwhile read.Griffin Abernathy (the seventeenth Viscount Abernathy) needs to find a wife as soon as possible: he's about to the posted to the Peninsula, however when his father (the Earl of Weymouth) discovers that his only son and heir is about to risk life and limb (and the family name), he issues an ultimatum -- get married at once and try to beget an heir or give up the commission. And so Griffin has taken to haunting London's drawing rooms in hope of finding a lady he can tolerate being married to. And he thinks he's found just the lady when he spies the Season's reigning Incomparable, Lady Alyssa Carrollton. Fortunately for Griffin, in Lady Allysa he's struck gold. Lady Alyssa is a clever and serious-minded young lady who wants nothing to do with husband-hunting; she'd rather garden. But Lady Alyssa's mother has other plans -- she wants Alyssa to make THE MATCH of the Season. So that when Griffin tracks Alyssa down and proposes that they marry each other so that they each may achieve what they desire, Alyssa agrees to his scheme. But neither counted on the passion (and love) that would spring between them during their brief time together. Will these tender emotions survive their inevitable separation when Griffin rides off to join his regiment? Alyssa knows how she feels about Griffin, but she's not so sure about her husband... "Barely a Bride" may not be to everyone's taste. The authour has chosen to tell her story in as straightforward a manner as possible. And while I do like this novel, I have to own that the book could have been a little more evenly paced. More than half the novel is taken up how Griffin manages to win Alyssa's heart and approval, their wedding and their very brief and passionate honeymoon; a healthy segment is also spent on how the pair copes with their separation. The last quarter of the novel deals with how a battle weary and emotionally scarred Griffin returns home, his attempts to cope and his realization of his true feelings for Alyssa. The trouble with "Barely a Bride" was that the last bit had a rather rushed feeling to it -- suddenly all is resolved. Given the somewhat sedate pace at which the novel was unfolding until then, this sudden picking up of pace gave things a rather unbalanced feel. On the plus side however, "Barely a Bride" proved to be a rather intelligent and sweet love story about two likable people (Griffin, unlike most run-of-the-mill romance heroes, was NOT a quick to judge woman-hating jerk; and Alyssa was intelligent, compassionate and really, really nice), who marry for convenience but who discover something rather precious in their union. I'm still at a loss to explain why I liked it so very, very much ... perhaps I was just in the right mood to appreciate this gem of a romance novel.
Rating:
Summary: Just shy of 5 stars
Review: This was my first book by Rebecca Hagan Lee, but it won't be my last. Barely a Bride is a delightful read, almost impossible to put down. Griff is a wonderful romantic lead--so sweet & charming & thoughtful. Alyssa is a strong, capable woman who knows her own mind. Their journals & letters add insight to their thoughts and their developing relationship. Their brief honeymoon is incredibly romantic. Griff's time at war is heartbreaking, as is his return home (and his emotional scars). My only real gripe about the book is that Griff's war-induced emotional trauma is dealt with too quickly. Up until that point, the book was practically perfect. Thankfully, the next book (Merely a Groom) indicates that he's still dealing with it, though he continually improves. Both Christina Dodd and Teresa Medeiros recommended this book; they were right. It's utterly delightful.
Rating:
Summary: Just shy of 5 stars
Review: This was my first book by Rebecca Hagan Lee, but it won't be my last. Barely a Bride is a delightful read, almost impossible to put down. Griff is a wonderful romantic lead--so sweet & charming & thoughtful. Alyssa is a strong, capable woman who knows her own mind. Their journals & letters add insight to their thoughts and their developing relationship. Their brief honeymoon is incredibly romantic. Griff's time at war is heartbreaking, as is his return home (and his emotional scars). My only real gripe about the book is that Griff's war-induced emotional trauma is dealt with too quickly. Up until that point, the book was practically perfect. Thankfully, the next book (Merely a Groom) indicates that he's still dealing with it, though he continually improves. Both Christina Dodd and Teresa Medeiros recommended this book; they were right. It's utterly delightful.
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