The Bachelor's Bargain

By Catherine Palmer

For fans of Regency romance in the vein of Sanditon or Bridgerton comes a marriage of convenience story that will keep you smiling long after the last page.

Housemaid Anne Webster will stop at nothing to save her family from their dire circumstances. Even if it means accepting the proposal of the roguish Marquess of Blackthorne, who just returned to England from the Americas under a veil of mystery. Both have their own agenda—she to use his riches and he to use her lace-making skills—but neither could have dreamed what they would discover on the other side of their scheming.

As always, society tattler Miss Pickworth has a thing or two to say about this scandalous union. Unless they want their plans aired in her column, Ruel and Anne must keep their banter to a minimum and play the role of the happy couple.

He’s handsome and arrogant; she’s smart and obstinate. But can Anne and Ruel put their differences aside to fend off an unexpected foe?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
• Release date: May 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781414329239

Catherine Palmer

Catherine Palmer is a bestselling author and winner of the Christy Award for her outstanding Christian romance. She also received the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Fiction from RT Book Reviews. Raised in Kenya, she lives in Atlanta with her husband. They have two grown sons. A graduate of Southwest Baptist University, she also holds a master’s degree from Baylor University.

Reviews for The Bachelor's Bargain

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is book two in this series and could be read as a stand alone very easily, although there are characters in this book that you would know much better if you read book one first. The year is 1815 in Devon, England, a time when there were royalty, nobility, merchants, and laborers and each person remianed in their class distinction in society. So when lowly Ann Webster accepts a marriage proposal made in jest by Ruel, the Marquess of Blackthorne, everyone is appalled and in shock. Ruel is a man who has "found his education boring, most of his pers simpering, and his propsects for the future deadly dull. Travel, adventure, and gambling - whether at cards or in speculative exploits - were the only things that interested him." For many reasons Anne goes through with the marriage, even though she knows Ruel is incapable of loving her. Can a lowborn lady who is headstrong, stubborn and impatient heal a man's heart and hope to transform him and help him see what love really looks like? This was a story that dealt with history and the making of lace, but more than that it dealt with breaking through the boundaries of the class system at that time. There was alot of battles of the wills between these two characters, along with some mystery as to who was really in danger and why. A little bit of everything all wrapped up in a story I very much enjoyed. Looking forward to moving on to book 3 next!

[Dan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I couldn’t put it down!!!! It was a little slow in the beginning, but the suspense kept me reading!! This romance novel is interwoven with a suspense that will will make you sweat! When I reached the climax, I couldn’t help but but she’s a few tears. It is a must read for anyone who enjoys historic romance along with a tad of suspense.

[Manga Mango · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Why is the son of a duke called ‘sir’ here instead of ‘Lord’?
I am just curious.

[benn9314 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How wonderful to read an historical novel that is Christ centered

[Kate Barre · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So many things going on. Lots of history, intrigue , prayer and lace making wrapped around a Christian romance.