A Midsummer Bride (Marriage Mart #2) by Amanda Forester-a review
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 5, 2013
Love is one experiment this scientist hasn’t tested…
Miss Harriet Burton, a horrendously rich American heiress, laughs too loud, states her opinion directly, and even conducts science experiments. Her uncle is desperate to get her off his hands and is offering a king’s ransom to anyone able to arrange a suitable marriage that comes with a title.
To avoid marriage, Harriet swears off all men, until she meets Duncan Maclachlan, Earl of Thornton. But when Thornton is falsely accused of being a traitor, Harriet must use her knowledge of chemistry to find the real culprit and spark true romance.
REVIEW
4.5 out of 5 for this reader folks!
An enjoyable historical romance, with a side of mystery and a wack of enjoyable characters, A Midsummer Bride by Amanda Forrester is the second book in her Marriage Mart series. While this book wasn’t as exciting as her first book, it by no means left me feeling unsatisfied. Amanda Forrester uses a real historical background (Napoleon’s War), adds a good mix of characters that keep me chuckling (sometimes cringing) and to top it off, adds a mystery that needs to be solved before our leading characters get their happily ever after.
Our leading lady, Miss Harriet Burton is a force to be reckoned with. She is an outspoken, American woman, who has an obsession with chemistry and experimentation, refuses to be cowed by any man, and really doesn’t care what people think. She is the epitome of an what could be referred to as anti-English. When she finds herself in a position where she is forced to go to England and meet her estranged grandfather (her mama was a bad girl and disinherited), she also meets a Scottish Earl who has left a wee impression on her.
Duncan Maclachlan is this Scottish Earl and he is quite taken with Harriet as well. Who is this strange American woman who breaks all the rules polite society rely upon, and why does she intrigue him so much? What kind of woman plays with chemicals, blows up rooms, barges in on secret meetings of high ranking English gentleman to ensure her opinion is heard? What kind of woman is up at the crack of dawn, knows how to appreciate the land he treasures and seems to be placed in his path at a time when she is needed the most?
Both Harriet and Duncan push and pull throughout this story. They are both set upon living to certain rules, but when those lines become blurred, they find themselves in unfamiliar territory, fighting what is right and wrong and trying to decipher the difference. Add a nasty pompous family who relishes in making Harriet uncomfortable, mothers who are uncontrollable, a matchmaker who sees the larger picture, attraction and love brewing and a spy who is weaving one heck of a tangled web, well you then get a great book!
Like her first book in this series, Amanda Forrester has a true knack for introducing a pile of secondary characters (some with side stories) and not taking anything away from the lead story. As you get further into the story, you start to anticipate all these stories blending and when they do and questions are answered, you feel quite content. The only reason I knocked of .5 on my rating as I found it not as exciting as the first one. I will say though, I am eager for her next book, as she has set it up perfectly and I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds!
Love a good ole fashioned historical romance with some mystery, humour and a beautiful couple finding their way to each other? Check this series out. You most certainly will find a bit of this and that!
HAPPY READING! 🙂
Copy supplied by Netgalley
Reviewed by Rachel T.
