Rating: 
Summary: This is a "Must Read"!
Review: Samantha Briggeham is independent and unconventional (she is often referred to as "eccentric" by those who know her) for any century, but she happens to be living in 1820 when young women often find themselves in arranged marriages and being "independent" is not something that is encouraged in a young woman. Samantha's father, Charles Briggeham, believes Major Wilshire is perfect for Samantha and has made the arrangements for her to marry. Samantha, who enjoys reading and carrying on scientific experiments with her younger brother, Hubert, has other ideas and they do not include being married off to the dour Major Wilshire, who she considers a "tiresome dolt". Although Samantha's three younger sisters are married and seem to be happy, Samantha has no desire for the married life especially to a man she does not love. Samantha decides that since she can't convince her father that she is not suitable marriage material, she will speak to Major Wilshire and convince him. Samantha's meeting with Major Wilshire is successful and he is quite sure he doesn't want to marry such a "strange" woman. When Samantha is returning home from her meeting with the Major, she is kidnapped by a masked man on horseback. The mysterious masked rider is the infamous "Bride Thief" who rescues ladies from arranged and unwanted marriages. Samantha is terrified, then intrigued, by the mysterious kidnapper and she explains to him that she is no longer in danger of being married off since she had just convinced Major Wilshire that she is completely unsuitable for marriage. The Bride Thief returns Samantha to her home and news of her adventure spreads rapidly through the social circles making Samantha a much sought after guest at numerous parties. At one of the parties Samantha attends she meets the Earl of Wesley, Eric Landsdowne. Samantha is very intrigued by the Earl and finds him to be somewhat familiar to her in his mannerisms and speech. The Earl of Wesley and the Bride Thief are one and the same person. Samantha is unaware of the earl's secret identify and finds herself inexplicably drawn and attracted to him. Sadly, she feels he is much too good looking and sought after by too many women to be interested in someone like her. Ms. D'Alessandro's books are always filled with witty scenarios and dialog as well as heart warming scenes and this book is no exception to that rule. The Bride Thief is one of the best of Ms. D'Alessandro's books, perhaps the best or at least it's a tie between The Bride Thief and Whirlwind Wedding. The Bride Thief won't disappoint Jacquie D'Alessandro fans it will only add weight to the conviction that Jacquie D'Alessandro is one of today's hot regency romance writers!
Rating:
Summary: Long live Jacquie D'Alessandro!
Review: Samantha Briggeham was nothing like other society women. Sammie was intelligent! While other women flirted, wed, and had children, Sammie preferred being with her younger brother, Hubert, in "the Chamber (his laboratory), working on their experiments. In fact, Samantha was on the verge of a breakthrough with her's. However, her mother decided to play matchmaker and force Sammie into a marriage she did not want. Eric Landsdowne, Earl of Wesley, was a confirmed bachelor. He never intended to marry. Yet he was also the notorious Bride Thief that everyone was after. The price on his head was constantly growing. Eric abducted women who were being forced into unwanted marriages and gave them money to begin life anew elsewhere. Samantha was the first woman who had not been happy when she was rescued. Samantha thought the Bride Thief was a blood pain in the arse! She did not need his help. She had already rescued herself! But she did admire what he did for the other poor women. The abduction made Sammie into the toast of the ton and she was overwhelmed by suitors. She did not want their attention! The only exception was for Lord Wesley, who paid much wanted attention to Hubert. As their attraction grew, Sammie decided that for just once in her life she would have an affair and know love! ***** Oh Readers, books get no better than this! Jacquie D'Alessandro has become one of my all time favorite authors! I read this book twice! My husband would come up to me and ask what had me chuckling. So I began sharing sections with him. I urge all romance lovers to purchase this book! I have absolutely no doubt that you will love it! Long live Jacquie D'Alessandro! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Rating:
Summary: Long live Jacquie D'Alessandro!
Review: Samantha Briggeham was nothing like other society women. Sammie was intelligent! While other women flirted, wed, and had children, Sammie preferred being with her younger brother, Hubert, in "the Chamber (his laboratory), working on their experiments. In fact, Samantha was on the verge of a breakthrough with her's. However, her mother decided to play matchmaker and force Sammie into a marriage she did not want. Eric Landsdowne, Earl of Wesley, was a confirmed bachelor. He never intended to marry. Yet he was also the notorious Bride Thief that everyone was after. The price on his head was constantly growing. Eric abducted women who were being forced into unwanted marriages and gave them money to begin life anew elsewhere. Samantha was the first woman who had not been happy when she was rescued. Samantha thought the Bride Thief was a blood pain in the arse! She did not need his help. She had already rescued herself! But she did admire what he did for the other poor women. The abduction made Sammie into the toast of the ton and she was overwhelmed by suitors. She did not want their attention! The only exception was for Lord Wesley, who paid much wanted attention to Hubert. As their attraction grew, Sammie decided that for just once in her life she would have an affair and know love! ***** Oh Readers, books get no better than this! Jacquie D'Alessandro has become one of my all time favorite authors! I read this book twice! My husband would come up to me and ask what had me chuckling. So I began sharing sections with him. I urge all romance lovers to purchase this book! I have absolutely no doubt that you will love it! Long live Jacquie D'Alessandro! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Rating: 
Summary: Very enjoyable
Review: The Bride Thief is a rousing good story with a delightful leading couple. Samantha is so ordinary (to a modern reader)-- average looks, wears glasses, is socially inept -- and so extraordinary (for a Regency heroine)-- intellectual, a scientist of sorts, a spinster who harbors secret dreams (in her journal) of love with a knight in shining armor. Eric is a handsome, wealthy nobleman who hides a secret life as a notrious kidnapper, one who sets women free from forced marriages to live their lives as they choose. When he wrongly rescues Samantha, Eric is immediately enchanted with this romantic bluestocking. Her relationship, and later Eric's, with her brother is sweet and wonderful. There's humor, passion, heartache, and longing in this well-written, well-paced novel. Flaws include an appalling inability to properly use pronouns (I groaned every time I read something like "for Samantha and I." No one with an exceptional formal education would repeatedly make such mistakes.) and an astounding number of closed doors hardly in keeping with the period. There were some inconsistencies as well, such as the glaring problem of Eric being concerned about Samantha's safety from the law, but not even considering the safety of his real accomplice, a man who was like a father to him. Also, Eric's sister's sadness was a bit overdone for the details we are made privy to. These problems are minor, however, compared to all the good things about this book. So read and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable romp
Review: THE BRIDE THIEF is an amusing and warm tale. Samantha Briggeham is a spinster with varying unusual interests. She enjoys science and astronomy to name a few of her very unconventional pursuits for a woman in the early 1800s England. Her family in attempt to end her marriage-less state, promise her to an old man who she does not want to marry. With spectacles in place, she goes to break of her engagement and succeeds. On her way home, however, the infamous Bride Thief rescues her! Having her of her predicament, Eric Landsdowne, the handsome and sensual thief, has once again saved the day...or so he thinks.
Finding himself in the strange situation of having saved a bride-to-be who has already saved herself, he returns the beguiling woman to her family. However, their paths continue to cross in interesting ways throughout this story. This is an enjoyable romp that is also quite sensual and romantic. Historical Romance Writers highly recommends Jacquie D'Alessandro's tale for those who enjoy humor and fun with this romance!
Rating:
Summary: Endearing and Delightful Romp
Review: The Bride Thief is an endearing and delightful romp that is impossible to put down. Samantha Briggeham is a contented and independent spinster, delighting in the fascinating scientific experiments she and her younger brother Hubert perform-until her parents absolutely insist that she marry a stodgy war hero who bores her (and everyone else) to tears. Fortunately, Samantha manages to use her charming eccentricities to extricate herself from the engagement-only to be kidnapped by the notorious Bride Thief, a powerful and highly honorable masked man who believes he must whisk her away to save her from an unhappy marriage. When he learns his mistake, the Bride Thief returns Samantha to her family-but not before he and Samantha have shared a heart-to-heart conversation that changes them both forever. Ugly duckling Samantha suddenly becomes the toast of the ton for escaping the notorious brigand, even as enraged fathers everywhere organize in an attempt to finally capture and hang the unknown man who has freed dozens of grateful brides-to-be from detestable marriages. Samantha, however, will not speak a word against the hero she admires and wishes to aid. In the meantime, Eric Landsdowne-the handsome, generous and sincere Earl of Wesley-takes an inexplicable interest in Samantha and in Hubert. Little do they realize that he is the Bride Thief. Eric is fascinated by the outspoken, intelligent and guilelessly charming Samantha and fools himself into believing he can be satisfied with only her friendship. But as he is unable to keep away from her-or to keep his hands off of her-he is presented with an acute dilemma. With his life overshadowed by danger and the threat of being hanged, Eric cannot risk marrying anyone or even having a mistress who could be hurt beyond repair if his identity were revealed.. Yet he cannot give up Samantha. As the heat between them intensifies, so does the hunt for the Bride Thief, until it seems that Eric and Samantha may both be destroyed. Jacquie D'Alessandro creates vibrant and fascinating characters in a riveting plot that compels the reader to race toward the conclusion. Eric and Samantha's repartee is highly enjoyable and with the right blend of humor and deep feeling. Supporting characters also shine in Jacquie's lively and masterful writing style. The Bride Thief is everything a reader searches for in romance-fascinating and endearing main characters, a highly engaging plot, a warm writing style as well as genuine and deeply felt emotion. Don't miss this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Standard Regency Fare
Review: this was a book with an interesting plot, but hte writing and characters are nothing to rave about. If you want a satisfying Regency read, then this is for you. However, for those who prefer better literature, this may not be the one.
Rating:
Summary: An independant miss meets her match
Review: When the Bride Thief rescues Samantha Briggeham from an unwanted marriage he finds himself in a situation he never would have expected. Sammie didn't need rescuing she had scared her fiancé off! So being the gentleman he was, he retuned her home. Wanting to make sure the consequences of the Bride Thief's actions weren't disastrous for Sammie, Eric Landsdowne, Earl of Wesley attends a soirée held in her honor where he suddenly discovers that Sammie is more than a Miss he can just forget. For Sammie having decided she never wanted to marry because no doubt her husband would demand she stop her scientific research, doesn't know what to do with the Earl. While physically attracted to him, how could she have a relationship with a man bent on capturing the Bride Thief? A happy story every reader of historical romance would enjoy; where the heroine refuses to bend to society and her match making mama. Although a very enjoyable read, you know the causes as to why our hero became the Bride Thief. This added humor to Sammies predicament as well as making Eric's story more poignant, but also made the story a little predictable. However Ms. D'alessandro has the wonderful ability to tell a story so I would recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: An independant miss meets her match
Review: When the Bride Thief rescues Samantha Briggeham from an unwanted marriage he finds himself in a situation he never would have expected. Sammie didn't need rescuing she had scared her fiancé off! So being the gentleman he was, he retuned her home. Wanting to make sure the consequences of the Bride Thief's actions weren't disastrous for Sammie, Eric Landsdowne, Earl of Wesley attends a soirée held in her honor where he suddenly discovers that Sammie is more than a Miss he can just forget. For Sammie having decided she never wanted to marry because no doubt her husband would demand she stop her scientific research, doesn't know what to do with the Earl. While physically attracted to him, how could she have a relationship with a man bent on capturing the Bride Thief? A happy story every reader of historical romance would enjoy; where the heroine refuses to bend to society and her match making mama. Although a very enjoyable read, you know the causes as to why our hero became the Bride Thief. This added humor to Sammies predicament as well as making Eric's story more poignant, but also made the story a little predictable. However Ms. D'alessandro has the wonderful ability to tell a story so I would recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: An independant miss meets her match
Review: When the Bride Thief rescues Samantha Briggeham from an unwanted marriage he finds himself in a situation he never would have expected. Sammie didn't need rescuing she had scared her fiancé off! So being the gentleman he was, he retuned her home. Wanting to make sure the consequences of the Bride Thief's actions weren't disastrous for Sammie, Eric Landsdowne, Earl of Wesley attends a soirée held in her honor where he suddenly discovers that Sammie is more than a Miss he can just forget. For Sammie having decided she never wanted to marry because no doubt her husband would demand she stop her scientific research, doesn't know what to do with the Earl. While physically attracted to him, how could she have a relationship with a man bent on capturing the Bride Thief? A happy story every reader of historical romance would enjoy; where the heroine refuses to bend to society and her match making mama. Although a very enjoyable read, you know the causes as to why our hero became the Bride Thief. This added humor to Sammies predicament as well as making Eric's story more poignant, but also made the story a little predictable. However Ms. D'alessandro has the wonderful ability to tell a story so I would recommend this book.
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