“A well written plot with a thread of amour.”
New / Old Flames are our favorite books – the ones we really think you should read too.
Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter
Reviewed by Vickie
I want to confess a secret that some might think is embarrassing. I read romance novels. I read all types of romance novels: contemporary, Regency, Medieval, heck even an occasional paranormal, I have read most types of romance novels. I love nothing better than a well written plot with a story of amour that runs throughout. There, I said it. Whew, it feels great to get that off my chest.
And, since February is the month of St.Valentine’s holiday, that day when couples share tokens of their romance, it seems fitting that I share an old flame of mine: The Sherbrooke Bride by Catherine Coulter. This was the first book I read by this author, and it cemented my love for Regency romance and historical novels. This story follows the trials and tribulations of Douglas Sherbrooke, the Earl of Northcliff as he attempts to get himself a bride, and thus an heir, without muss or fuss. This seems like a done deal when he decides to wed the daughter of an impoverished duke, Melissande, by basically buying himself a bride.
Unfortunately, the date of his marriage coincides with a mission for the government, and he is unable to attend the wedding. However this does not stop him in his goal, and he arranges with his cousin Tony to marry Melissande by proxy, thus achieving his goal of getting a bride without even having to stand at the altar! But Douglas’s plans go awry when Tony steals Melissande away and marries her himself, nixing Douglas’s proxy marriage. However, Tony feels bad about this and comes up with a solution: he has married a different bride by proxy for Douglas, Melissande’s plainer sister Alexandra who has loved Douglas since she was 15. When Douglas discovers the switch and realizes he is well and truly caught in marriage to the wrong sister, does the relationship between Alexandra and Douglas stand a chance?
This is a Marmite story that people either enjoy or find themselves really hating the characters. For me, I enjoyed the humor and heart that was written into the story. This tale also is the beginning of the Sherbrooke Brides series, and introduces the reader to a host of other characters that are explored in other novels in the series. It remains one of my favorite stories, and I would love to hear if you loved it or if you hated it.
Vickie is the manager at Columbia Pike
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