Ebook285 pages4 hours
The Substitute Bridegroom: Regency Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this ebook
Elizabeth Goldsborough was enjoying a London season that promised marriage to that handsome gentleman, Simon Bellgrave. But an accident involving arrogant Captain Darius St. John stole her happiness. She was forced to accept St. John’s honorable offer of marriage, though she knew he had no interest in her. How was she to bear being married in name only, when she found herself falling in love with her bridegroom? Regency Romance by Charlotte Louise Dolan
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Reviews for The Substitute Bridegroom
Rating: 3.760869565217391 out of 5 stars
4/5
23 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5While it's no standout for innovation in traditional regencies, it's absolutely perfect as what it is - a light, fun marriage of convenience story with enough wit and drama to stay entertaining from start to finish.
Army Captain Darius St. John is just about to pull even in a carriage race down a narrow country lane when he has to suddenly swerve at the last second to avoid a child in the road. As he does so, a woman dashes in front of him and yanks the boy clear of the road. Everyone survives the accident, although the woman is injured by flying debris in the ensuing collision between the curricles and is left with a jagged scar down her face.
Elizabeth Gainsborough was the shining belle of the London Season and set to marry an equally sought after gentleman at the end of the summer. When she notices how he can no longer bear to look at her marred face, she calls off the engagement, unwilling to marry a man who's disturbed by her appearance. Though she's content to retire to her family's country estate and be a doting aunt, her brother thinks otherwise, and sets off to demand Darius substitute himself for the dismissed fiance.
So, like I said, this book wins no awards for innovation. It's your standard marriage of convenience plot. There's the awkward wedding night (though this book is fade-to-black in the bedroom), the surprising appearance of mutual affection, the misunderstanding that sets them back and the climactic event that brings them back together. Even in 1991, this was old hat.
But, I mean, so what? The characters are all a satisfying mix of motives, quirks and other traits that it's still a fun trip. The flirtatious banter between Beth and Darius sparkles as much as their mixed signals rankles. They both make mistakes, but they do it in ways that are true to their characters, so it's suspenseful rather than exasperating. You know they'll work it out, but you want to stick around and see how, if only to see them giggle to each other about how wrong they'd been.
The only complaints I have for this fun story would be with the uncomplicated supporting characters. The antagonists in particular were too clearly written as bad people. The dismissed suitor, selfish cousin and slutty dowager duchess were almost cartoonish in their actions. They'd have been much more satisfying and effective characters if there had been more ambiguity in their behavior and motivations.
For a fun, light regency, this is a joy to read. So long as you're not expecting a groundbreaking sort of experience, there's a lot to like here. - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This has to be one of the most distant relationship romances I have ever read! The marriage of convenience, turns to love romance theme doesn't work for me in the way we get it here. The husband is never around!
Basically what happens it Elizabeth is hurt by captain Darius' lack of caution. This cases her to lose her fiance, and social status. So Darius is pressured to marry her as compensation. For the first 3/2 of the book I did not like his character at all! He never tires to honestly make things up to her. not even a simple "sorry." Then he doesn't trust her, then ignores her! Great start to their marriage, right? Over time, the couple does apparently get to know each other, but with how it plays out if just never feels real.
Elizabeth's character, however, I liked. For all she goes through, she stands strong. The other characters in the book were interesting but I cannot say I cared much for them(some of them are more horrible than her husband!). but I was shocked how much they were involved. I am used to these romance books so focused on just the couple but this does not. It is a wider world which was interesting. the time period is well described which made the book more real.
The writing style is far from my favorite. It all seems a bit scattered to me, making it less enjoyable to try and follow what is happening, and when. Timeframes get a bit blurred. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Old book. Liked this one well enough that it was a keeper for a while.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The story is old as the hills and pleasant. Nith the H and h are likeable. I do have an issue with the speed of the book. Its very tedious. I truly wanted to skip pages to get to the real action.And i did. I didn't miss much at all.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Distrust lasted way too long based on weakest of evidence.
Book preview
The Substitute Bridegroom - Charlotte Louise Dolan
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