The de Burgh Bride

The troubles between Dunston and his neighbor are over, but the king wanting it to stay that way has ordered that Fitzhugh's daughter marry one of the de Burgh boys. Faced with this they draw lots and the one with the short straw is the most educated of Champion's son Geoffrey, and he's going to need all the help he can get considering that Fitzhugh's daughter Ellen is renowned for her Karen like attitude, ugliness, and that when Dunston's traitorous friend forced her to marry her she killed him in their marriage bed. Geoffrey is left to try to make Fitzhugh's dilapidated estate running again, and with a wife that is trying to say the least. Ellen is angry at the world and life in general because it seems to her that she has little to no choice, that no one cares about her since her mother died. But as time goes on things with them begin to change, from the estate getting back up and running on up to Ellen starting to find her new husband very much desirable and enigmatic. Geoffrey also changes from relying on his wife's counsel to finding her a beautiful and intelligent woman. Deborah Simmons makes a very good book that makes you root for the two tossed together man and wife.

I got this book from an old stack when we were cleaning out my grandmothers house and have been searching for the rest of the books online ever since. I have not been dissapointed! Everyone is as good as the last. These are books I read over and over again and still feel the anticipation and tension between the characters every time. This is still my favorite of all the de burgh stories...I am not sure if that's because it was my first de burgh story or if it is really the best. The sad part is that without a current publisher Simmons will never be able to publish Reynold & Nicolas' stories. I hold out hope that someday the right person will want these published and will have the power to do something about it.

I read this in a day, could not put it down - I think I said this about some of Ms. Simmons other books too! Geoffrey de Burgh, from the earlier novel in the series, was my favorite brother and my heart went out to him when he was the one chosen to be the de Burgh to marry the FITZHUGH!The rumours of Elene FitzHugh were rife with what a hellion she was - murdress of her husband on their wedding night, etc. so upon meeting her the brothers deBurgh were not disappointed. She was most foul in appearance, manner and mouth! But Geoffrey, following the edict from the king and the request of his father, would wed her and somehow - live through the night?This was not your run of the mill historical romance with the hero and the heroine quickly falling in love...this was gut wrenching and painful for no matter how hard Geoffrey (God you have to love him) tried you thought he would never pull down the barriers that Elene had put up around her. She would trust no man - never! I was even beginning to doubt that there would any kind of compromise here. I think that is why the tears were brought to my eyes with the outcome. This was a MOST enjoyable and poignant love story! Definitely a must read for the Deborah Simmons fan!

First of all, let me start off by warning you that this is the second book of a sequel, the first book being Taming The Lion. This book was one I definately had a hard time putting down. The characters were fresh and orginal and I could have easily fallen in love with Geoffrey had I been in Elene's position. Elene has some different problems than you usually see in the typical heroine and acted quite differently, but this was all a part of the uniqueness of this book. I was intrigued with the whole de Burgh family and can't wait to read the other books in the series. The only problem I had with this one, was that I was getting impatient for Elene to start comming around and falling in love with Geoffrey. I was almost to the point where I was going to start skipping pages when Elene finally started giving in to him...Whew! Hope this helps you...

Elene Fitzhugh is a hellion who murdered her first husband, and the last thing she intends to do is wed again, no matter what the Kind decrees. She'll do everything in her power to see to it the marriage never takes place. She's ready to fight a warrior, and finds herself confronted with something even more dangerous -- a man who feels, and forces her to face her own feelings. Geoffrey de Burgh is a quiet, learned man who looks at the wild woman he must wed in a mixture of horror and pity. It's obvious she doesn't want him anymore than he wants her. Yet marry they must. Honor and loyalty demands it. Slowly, the marriage that a King decrees turns into a love decreed by destiny. Amidst a turbulent time of traitors and intrigue, two souls meant to be together must find their way through lies and half-truthes and find each other.Deborah Simmons pens a love story that will leave you longing for the rest of the de Burgh brother stories.

I love this book! Geoffrey is exactly the kind of man I could see myself living with forever. I love how he treats Elene and defends her against his brothers when he himself hardly knows her. When I found out this was a sequel I couldn't wait to read the first book. Now I'm looking forward to Robber Bride and finding out even more about the de Burghs. I hope you love this book as much as I did!