The Bride

I am not usually into this genre of reading but this book is amazing. I read it once a year because it's so good.

bride IS THE BEST, BUT 3 OF THE FIVE highlander books make my top ten. This from a man who reads all genres. Pratchett is still top of the heap.

Despite this not being a background I typically choose, I am once more amazed by how much I am enjoying these books by Ms Garwood. Although her heroes and heroines in Secret, Ransom and this book are virtually interchangeable, they remain totally engaging. Her narrative is excellent and dialogue witty - another keeper from this writer and potentially more to follow.

Romantics will enjoy the intriguing emotional foreplay of the main characters and the comradery of the men.

Love this book Great story line . Great characters. Action and adventure. Conflicts and love. I love books with. Scottish Lords and English ladies.

This was a re-read for me but I loved it so much that I wanted to make sure I added my two cents worth in the review area!This is a wonderful scottish romance full of the characteristics that made Julie Garwood a well-loved author in Historical Romance before her move to the romantic suspense genre. In "The Bride" an English girl is wed to a Scotsman whom is rumored to have killed his first wife, or at least drove her to suicide. Alec is strong, handsome, but fierce in both looks and manners.Jamie is the youngest of the Baron's daughters and is the bride that Alec chooses per orders of King of Scotland, and King Henry of England. He does not plan on falling in love with Jamie but sometimes life does not go according to plan.Jamie on the other hand is not afraid of her new husband, in fact she is quite the opposite to the surprise of many. With her gentle ways and forth right nature she sways the opinion of the Scots and they all come to care for her including her stubborn husband. This book offers, laughter, tears, romance, and yes, suspense. Who killed Alec's first wife, and why does that person want Jamie dead? The character's are colorful and you find yourself liking all of them. If you want a taste of what Ms. Garwood has done in the past, this book is for you.

This is Garwood's best book in my opinion. Alec is a callous and hard Scotsman who has to learn how to love and cherish the fiesty and ever-surprising Jamie. Jamie is funny, tender, sensitive and she always manages to surprise you and Alec. She has to overcome her new clanspeople hostility towards their new English Mistress. She has to deal with a secret enemy who wishes to kill her. She has to deal with a man who was rumored to have killed his wife and she has to deal with her grwoing love for this man.The book will see you laughing out loud through many pages. The characters are so well-written, that you seem to know them for real by the end.

SEQUEL: THE WEDDINGI have read almost all of Julie Garwood's work and I've never been disappointed. She will always be my all time favorite author esp. in Historical Romance Genre. Upon observation, I do agree with most avid Julie Garwood readers that she tend to use the same characteristics and somewhat similar formulas in most of her works - Her heroes are mostly tall, large-brutish-warrior & intimading yet handsome who is gentle and patient to his Lady. Meanwhile, the heroines are usually petite, well educated, saucy and spunky. However, I confessed that these familiarities doesn't seem to bother me at all. In fact, I liked it. Every now and then, I do enjoy my books with such characteristics. I'm guessing, this is J.G's style, her mark/her signature traits and I respect that. Humor, heart warming scenes, heart pumping twist and lovable secondary characters are also just a few of Julie Garwood's usual ingredients in all her novels. THE BRIDE is definitely not an exception of Ms. Garwood's standard book qualities which I've mention above. Alec and Jamie's love story was captivating. Full of warmth and humor - I liked the idea that Jamie has no sense of direction, not to mention her ways of saving Alec's soul by buying an indulgence -chuckle! You have to read the book to appreciate this scene with a good laugh. My favorite part was the initial meeting (the conversation in the stable and the "choosing")... from there, the book gets funnier & even better! The arrival and adjustments in Highland are as always interesting. The suspense of finding out the murderer in this book was an add-on thrill. I have my doubts and guesses but the revelation was quite unexpected. I actually thought the murderer would be ----- yet I prayed and cross my fingers that it wouldn't be him because I liked him so much. So in a way, I was relieved it wasn't who I thought it was. The ending of this book was also one of my favorite in this book, another very unexpected and thoroughly heart warming conclusion to a supreme love story. Mary, Daniel, Gavin, Angus, Elizabeth, Father Murdock are just a few secondary character-favs of mine. What a joy! Read this book and chuckle with a glowing heart.

Julie Garwood is truly an amazing writer. She manages to enfuse, charm, humor, love, adventure, passion and so much more into her stories. The Bride was truely no exception. Jamie is such a charming character who maintains her head-strong personality throughout, even when she is first married to Alec and knows nothing of him. Her hilarious misadventures will have you laughing till you cry and her strength of will will make you proud to be a woman. Garwood portrays Alec wonderfully as a strongly passionate man and leader while showing his lovable side through his tolerance and amusement in Jamie's antics. He's the type of man every woman would feel safe with and yet not controlled. Jamie is constantly persuading him to let her have his way and he keeps telling himself that it is the last time he'll bend to her will, but he often obliges her wishes, finally realizing how much he loves her. But what will happen when her English betrothed comes to claim her?

I was so thrilled to have found Julie Garwood- in particular "The Bride." It is wonderful to not have one of those stories where the woman is treated less than kindly until the very end where the man vows undying love and all is forgiven. Give me Julie's strong yet gentle, voracious yet tender men anyday! Her imagery is rich, her dialog funny and charming! I've now read every book she has ever published. The Bride is a good place to start.