THE ROSE RED BRIDE

Author: Claire Delacroix ISBN: 0446614424 6/2005 HISTORICAL Publisher: WARNER BOOKS
Time Period: 1421

More cherished than gold are the jewels of Kinfairlie. And only the worthiest of men may fight for their love... The Laird of Kinfairlie has unmarried sisters, each a gem in her own right. And he has no choice but to see them all wed in haste. Like a heroine in an ancient tale, Vivienne waited in the highest chamber of Kinfairlie's tower for her fated lover. In the darkness he came for her, cloaked and hooded so that she would not see his face. He loved her sweetly, thoroughly...and Vivienne knew she had met her destiny. But in the morning light, her dream is shattered. Erik Sinclair of Blackleith is no romantic hero but a disinherited warrior who arranged her abduction to regain his own legacy. Outraged by Erik's insistence that he needs her solely to beget a son, yet ensnared by the passion he awakens, Vivienne realizes that there is more merit in her taciturn spouse than he would admit. Erik is skeptical of her growing faith in his honor and her desire to recapture his stolen birthright...little does he suspect that his rare gem of a bride intends to capture his barricaded heart as well.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Her tortured heroes are like no other—dark and brooding, with the ability to take your breath away. Her damsels-in-distress are exactly that, and yet, they are so lovely you cannot help but love them. THE ROSE RED BRIDE is exactly the kind of wonderful writing that I have come to expect from a Claire Delacroix book. I felt her love for her story and her characters in every word that I read.

For this latest wonderful offering, Ms. Delacroix gives us Erik and Vivienne. Erik has been terribly mistreated and physically scarred at the hands of his younger brother, Nicholas, who has effectively stolen his title and lands by claiming that Erik is dead, after having him beaten and left in the woods to die. When Erik is finally well enough to try to regain his life, he turns to the Earl of Sutherland for help. The Earl only agrees to help Erik if he fathers a son so that there is a direct heir to Erik’s title. This is where Vivienne comes in…

Vivienne Lammergeier is awaiting a fairy prince in her tower at Kinfairlie, when Erik comes to sweep her off her feet—literally and figuratively. She is beautiful, courageous and trusting, and makes a wonderful heroine for our strong, brave hero. Once Erik has taken Vivienne’s virginity, she is determined to stay with him at all costs, if for nothing more than to show him how much he loves her!

While reading, I was amazed by the depth of feeling that was poured into this book. Every page left me breathless and wishing for more. With THE ROSE RED BRIDE, Claire Delacroix went inside my heart like few authors can. It is a wonderful, sweeping saga of love that kept me completely enthralled from beginning to end.

Kristal Gorman