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Summary: Gothic Fairy Tale...
Review: This is by far, one of the best romances I've read all year! At first, I was doubtful about forking over for a hardcover (with an ugly cover), but I'm glad I did. This story has got it all, spooky castles, ancient ruins, superstitious villagers, ghosts, magic and a strong hero/heroine combo.
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Summary: Like a wonderfully romantic fairytale.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. With a 'Beauty and the Beast' type of enchantment, it lends itself to be a good bedtime story for adults. Don't miss it!
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Summary: A very special and beautiful romantic fantasy
Review: Anatole St. Leger, the current master of remote Castle Leger, loathes the magical abilities that he has inherited from his father. To the unhappy Anatole, magic is a curse. A negative sidebar to his talent is he instinctually knows that he must marry now. He informs Reverend Fitzleger, an elderly relative who is THE BRIDE FINDER, that it is time to locate his bride. Anatole informs the holy man that he requires a brave, strong woman, who will not run in fear of this godforsaken part of Cornwell. The Reverend selects Madeline Breton, who looks exactly the opposite of what Anatole demanded from the Bride Finder. Madeline married Anatole by proxy because her family desperately needs money. From the start, Anatole and Madeline are extremely displeased with each other. She feels that he is an uncouth beast and he believes that she is a fragile doll. To both their utter amazement, Anatole and Madeline soon fall in love. However, both have seen the dire prophesy of murder in the St. Leger crystal sword but neither were prepared for the enemy whose plot is see that the deadly forecast occurs. THE BRIDE FINDER is that rare novel that transcends two genres in a smooth, seamless manner. Readers who enjoy otherworldy romances and fans of a sound fantasy tale will devour this book in one sitting. The magical story line is a spellbinder from the start and keeps the audience hypnotized until the novel is finished. The characters are wonderful and believable, a rarity when otherworldly creatures and magical traits are an intricate part of the story. Simply put, Susan Carroll has scribed a fantastic romantic fantasy. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but there needs to be a bit more care in the details
Review: The story was good. Some romance these days seem to be more erotica than romance. This is definately romance. But there were a few things that don't gel, that disturb the involvement of the story. For instance, Anatole does not know what to do in the bedroom. But wey-hey! suddenly third time lucky, and he has just magically gained skills overnight (because he realises he loves her). This doesn't gel with me. The other really annoying thing was the pages-long attempt to gain sympathy on part of the reader. I have no problem with this usually, except I felt that this attempt went overboard. We already had sympathy for Anatole, I didn't feel it was necessary to try to get us to cry over it(similar to a news program attempt over a terminally ill cancer patient). I'm not saying the situation isn't sad. It definately is. But just don't belabor the point! Now that I really think about it, I can also come up with other things that just don't sit right (eg. suddenly it's as if Madeline's family is not important, even though Anatole is now a member of it). BUT it's still a great romance! Just ignore the lack of precision with details.
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Summary: A dark gothic romance
Review: Anatole St Leger lives a solitary life in Castle Leger, Cornwall. He comes from a long line of St Legers who are blessed with special paranormal powers. In Anatole's case he can see the future and sense the presence of a person who is close by. He can also move objects with his mind. His calling has come and he must surrender to his fate and choose his mate. He sends for the Bride Finder to choose his future wife. Anatole makes a list for the Bride Finder and sends him off to find his wife.
Madeline Breton agrees to marry Anatole St Leger by proxy, after meeting the Bride Finder in London. She is given a small miniature of the man she is to marry and falls in love with the picture. Her marriage settlement will also help relieve the debts her family have gained. Madeline arrives at Castle Leger, only to be rejected at first glance by her husband. For Madeline is not what Anatole envisaged his wife to be. She has turned out to be a fragile china doll and not the strapping lass that he expected. And Anatole is not what Madeline expected in her husband either. Far from being the poet like romantic the picture depicted, Anatole is a tall, strong, dark haired giant of a man.
With encouragment of the Bride Finder, Anatole agrees to take Madeline as his wife. But he is afraid that she will find out about his heritage, of his paranormal powers and of the ghost that haunts Castle Leger. He decides to keep all these secrets from her, for he is afraid that she will reject him. As time passes, Anatole finds himself falling in love with his fragile china doll but will she love him in return. Will he be brave enough to reveal to her his dark secrets.
This was a dark and gothic like read. A most marvellous read indeed. The book is full of mystery, suspense, romance and a wee smattering of comedy. A most delicious read to devour in one sitting. Anatole and Madeline made a formidable match. A dark and tortured soul with the bright spark in his life. A very highly recommended read. I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel The Night Drifter.
Lea Ling Tsang
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Summary: Perfection!!
Review: How does one describe perfection...The Bride Finder...would be one way. I sensed by reading some of Ms. Carroll's earlier novels that hers was a rare talent for combining deeply emotional writing with some uplifting sparks of wonderfully humorous dialog. Anatole St. Leger is a very private and lonely man whose childhood left him with more scars than the visible one on his forehead. As head of the St. Leger family, he knows that he must marry and because any St. Leger man whose bride is not chosen by the Bride Finder is cursed he sends for the Bride Finder - a distant relation the Reverend Septimus Fitzleger. Anatole also gives him a list requesting a tall, large-bosomed, horse-loving wife. Well, the resident ghost Prospero - switches the list so that what Fitzleger does find is a tiny petite fairy-like creature that basically scares the hell out of our fearsome hero - the Lady Madeline Breton. The description and dialog of their initial meeting is pricelessly funny! Anatole definitely desires her but having never experienced any gentleness in his young life it was difficult for him to understand what exactly he should do or how to act with this woman who was now his wife. The legends state that the brides found by the Bride Finder would be the `soul mates' of the St. Leger men - passionate and all-loving. Anatole is at a loss and feels a complete failure that he cannot seem to elicit this passionate response from Madeline. Madeline, something of a blue-stocking - possessed of a very sensible nature - had been the one that had kept her family from ultimate ruin so when approached by Fitzleger and offered a huge marriage settlement that would help her family from impending doom, she agreed to this proxy marriage. She had consoled herself with the locket that portrayed an image of a handsome and gentle faced man whom she had halfway fallen in love though she had never met him. The reality of meeting the very fierce warrior-like Anatole was at once shocking and mystifying. Had her family not spent the generous marriage settlement beforehand - she might just have turned and ran as far away as she could. The rest of the novel is spent with Anatole trying desperately to keep his special powers hidden as well as the resident ghosts, from his bride, Madeline. His tiny but very sensible, forthright, and honest wife who does not believe in ghosts or things that have no logical basis in fact. The secondary plot here is the very real danger from St. Legers' archenemies, the Mortmains - whom it is believed all perished years ago. This is the kind of book and story that remains with you long after you turn the last page. I am so happy that I have the next two sequels to this book just waiting for me to dive into. I highly recommend this book to be placed on most everyone's keeper shelf and enjoyed over and over again.
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