The Rose Red Bride

I really enjoyed this book, but I thought his daugthers and brother should have had bigger part in the book. The fairy is the best part of this series.

THE ROSE RED BRIDE by Claire Delacroix January 22, 2006 This is the 2nd book in the trilogy that began with THE BEAUTY BRIDE. Set in Scotland in the 1400's, each book focuses on a different person in a family that had lost their parents a few years previous and brother Alexander is now Laird of Kinfairlie. The first book had the oldest sister, Madeleine, married off via an auction. This second book has Alexander asking "Nicholas" to take the next oldest sister, Vivienne, to bed, and then supposedly having them marry the following morn. What happens instead is that Nicholas is really not who he says he is, but is really the brother, Erik. Nicholas had been a suitor that Vivienne had spurned before, and Erik came for Vivienne, knowing of this fact. Instead of marrying Vivienne, he steals her away and finally tells her his story, of how he was left for dead and his wife had gone missing. He had two young children living with Nicholas, and Erik needed to save them from whatever fate Nicholas had in mind for them. As Vivienne has already fallen in love with Erik, she is willing to trust him and decides she will help him regain his rightful place at Blackleith, save his children, and hopes that Erik will fall in love with her and eventually marry her. I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one. I think these books are enjoyable when read in the right frame of mind. They are historical romances, and I think period pieces are not for everyone. I do find that Delacroix does a great job writing these historical romances and I hope to read her third book in this series (The Snow White Bride).

Once again Claire Delacroix has ceated another 'can't put it down till I'm done book'. I won't repeat the story line as others have done so beautifully and I do think the book is a five but I must mention a couple of things. It seemed the story was cruising along and suddenly it just wrapped right up without much ado. Things could have been a little more graphic or 'something'? Also I was quite disappointed with Tynan and Roseamunds story line towards the end of the book. Not to despoil it but what the heck happened there? Does anyone else out there think they will return somehow in book 3 or is that just wishful thinking on my part? I did so adore them as a couple and I have to know what became of them and that dratted "Darg". I guess that's what keeps us waiting for the next instalment.

Setting - Kinfairlie, coast of Scotland, 1421 --- In the second installment of the Jewels of Kinfairlie, Alexander, laird and brother of five sisters, is continuing his quest to marry off the two oldest sisters while pondering the fate of Kinfairlie's ability to manage over the winter. Having successfully married Madeline the eldest, Vivienne the second eldest was proving to be a more difficult challenge. Now as luck would have it a man claiming to be Nicholas Sinclair, a former suitor of Vivienne's, came to Kinfairlie not only requesting the hand of Vivienne but offering a pouch full of silver along with a condition that Alexander was finding totally objectionable. Nicholas wanted to BED THE BRIDE before the marriage took place! With severe misgivings and the fate of Kinfairlie weighing in the balance, Alexander agreed believing the man's word of honor that the wedding would take place the very next day. Alexander was convinced of the man's honorable intentions and believing Vivienne would be pleased with what he believed was her former suitor, he came up with a plan to meet the suitors demands. Unfortunately, this would be the second time Alexander's best intentions for wedding his sisters would fail miserably. Knowing his sister Vivienne's predilection for adventure, Alexander that evening told a tale that was designed specifically to entice Vivienne into innocently sealing her own fate. Thinking that she would be meeting the man of her dreams Vivienne crept to the tower room that night ready to meet her destiny, a mystical `fairy' lover. Into the darkness a hooded lover crept thru the tower window and commenced to making slow sweet love to Vivienne. Unfortunately the morning light revelations would shatter her dreams. The dream lover turned out to be Erik Sinclair, older brother of Nicholas and his intentions did not include marriage, unless Vivienne could deliver him a son! -- In a wonderfully ORIGINAL sequel to THE BEAUTY BRIDE, Claire Delacroix has fashioned an exciting action packed sensual romance. Our heroine, Vivienne was absolutely marvelous having every right to throw a HUGE hissy fit the next day when she discovered her `fairy lover' was no fairy and had taken her maidenhead with no immediate plans of marrying her! Instead, she was ready to go along with a hand-fast, believing deeply that the sweet loving person she laid with was truly the person that was hidden beneath the tortured and scarred warrior she discovered in the morning. Jam-packed with lively characters (such as Darg the impish spriggan and Elizabeth the youngest sister who was the only one to see and hear the naughty fairy), the author delivers non-stop action, amusing scenarios, and some poignantly loving reunions. This is Delacroix at her very magical best penning in the medieval / fantasy genre where in my opinion she simply shines! I am eagerly looking forward to the last of this trilogy when the two sisters team up to give their brother, Laird Alexan

In 1421 Scotland, Alexander, Laird of Kinfairlie, feels euphoric about his marriage auction that worked so well in spite of the objection of the bride, Madeline the oldest of his sisters. Alexander blithely ignores all that went wrong as he keeps thinking all's well that ends well as Madeline, who previously refused to marry, is happily wedded to Rhys Fitzhenry. The successful brotherly matchmaker turns to Vivienne though Alexander plans to improve the process since the Madeline caper (see THE BEAUTY BRIDE). He thinks he found the solution when Nicholas Sinclair, the man who broke Vivienne's heart years ago, arrives to court his beloved as he can offer a home since his older brother Erik has been disowned. Nicholas insists he bed her in her tower where she awaits his return so that she has no choice but to marry as he needs a bride and heir rather quickly to deflect any estate challenges. Rationalizing he needs the coins for the other sisters, Alexander agrees. Vivienne and her beau enjoy the night together until morning light reveals cynical Erik as her mate and he insists she will begat him a legitimate heir. Though similar in design to the first Kinfairlie medieval romance, THE ROSE RED BRIDE has a flavor of its own because Vivienne and Madeline have different personalities. The story line is fun due to Erik's denials that he loves her while vivacious Vivienne believes they were destined together, but rejects his cold insistence that she is an heir breeder. Fans will enjoy Alexander's latest matrimonial fiasco and look forward to the next jewel Snow White in the fall. Harriet Klausner