The Unexpected Bride (Historical)

Rating:
Summary: Unexpectedly good!
Review: I like some Harlequin Historicals, but am careful about the authors I choose, because some are better than others...I did NOT like Ms. Rolls' "Dutiful Rake", and was pretty much prepared to give this one a miss, but, having read it, I can only say I'm glad I gave this author another chance. The book is well-plotted, with a mature & ingratiating heroine, and a damaged hero who is sometimes a little too cruel & manipulative with his wife, (but he does come around in the end so I'm prepared to forgive him that)...they had realistic issues & problems (hero was burnt romantically by his dead wife which made him distrust women; heroine has a physical problem that I won't reveal although I think another reviewer does) that needed to be resolved before they could learn to love each other. I especially liked the fact the hero & heroine actually have a long time alone together, at the hero's estate, and get to know each other (even just tentatively) before the action begins to pick up again. Their feelings weren't just about an "uncontrollable" physical attaction between them; they do actually fall in love by getting to know each other before they sleep together, and that's rare in these Harlequin novels. I hope Ms. Rolls' next novel is as good as this one.

Rating:
Summary: Switched at the altar!
Review: The last thing the Earl of Darleston, Peter Frobisher, is to remarry. His first wife, the beautiful but faithless Melissa, had cheated on him when he needed her the most, and had been killed while running away with one of her lovers. Believing all women to be somewhat like Melissa, Peter was content to be a widower until his young cousin and heir died unexpectedly. Since Peter does not want his title and lands to pass to his new heir, his despicable cousin Jack Frobisher, Peter knows he must remarry and produce his own heir! He proposes to Miss Phoebe Ffolliot, but unknowingly marries her twin sister, Penelope.

Penelope Ffolliot had met Peter twice, and thought he was likeable enough, but she had no plans to marry since she was blind and hated meeting new people and receiving their pity. But when her odious half-brother loses 30,000 pounds in a gambling debt to Peter, Peter offers to forgive the debt if Miss Ffolliot will marry him. Penny's brother tries to force Phoebe to marry Peter, but she is newly engaged to the man she loves and Penelope bravely takes her sister's place at the altar to save her sister from a loveless marriage. Peter is angry at the switch, but as he gets to know Penelope better he finds himself in danger of losing his heart to her, something he swears not to do.

The author's style of writing, although it took me a while to get used to, was engaging once I had gotten through the first couple of chapters, and I had a hard time putting this book down. I couldn't quite decide if I liked Peter or not for most of the book - on the one hand, he could be quite charming and compassionate towards Penny, but on the other hand, he could be downright cruel to her, as well. After learning that she is blind, for example, he cruelly tells her that he has apparently married into a family of cheats for he has no wish for his heir to be blind as well (although her blindness is due from an accident, not heredity). He also tells her later in the book that it is not her business who his mistresses were or are! And then he wondered why Penny was so distant from him, perhaps because she could never tell if he was going to be kind to her or treat her like she was a leper.

Still, I couldn't quite give up on Peter, since he reminded me of a wounded animal of sorts, and wounded animals can strike out at those who would even show them kindness. He had been deeply hurt by his first wife, so I could understand why he would want to keep Penny at arm's length, but he didn't seem to realize that by protecting his own feelings he was hurting her. Penny was a great heroine, independent despite her blindness, and strong despite the obstacles thrown her way.

The subplot of trying to decide who was attempting to kill Penny was extremely predictable and could have easily been excluded from the story. It is obvious who is at fault and why they are trying to harm the Countess of Darleston. Still, I found the book to be a good one, and wouldn't be surprised to read about George Carstares (Peter's best friend) and Sarah Ffolliot (Penny's younger sister)'s romance once Sarah is of age. I would read more from this author.