The Bartered Bride
This novel, joining The Wild Child and The China Bride as the final installment in the Bride Trilogy, combines passion with suspense as we follow Alexandra Warren’s descent into slavery in the East Indies and her rescue by the surprising Gavin Elliott. Gavin’s bravery and dexterity allow him to win her freedom from her captures, but finding the additional skills to break her emotional chains provides an additional challenge. Conflict arises when Gavin is plagued by enemies who begrudge his new position as the Earl of Seabourne and his marriage to Alexandra.
Putney begins the novel in England with Gavin imprisoned for the death of Alex. Then we return to the fictional island of Maduri, where Gavin and Alexandra first meet, to watch their developing relationship and Gavin’s own personal quest for acceptance in England. Alexandra’s fear of intimacy provides the conduit for bedroom innovation, as the two discover each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Historical details run secondary to the romance, but are still true to nineteenth century England. Cleanly plotted and well-written, The Bartered Bride is recommended for those who enjoy historical romance novels.
