The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick – a Review

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Description:
Being Madame Ariadne, Psychic Dream Consultant, wasn’t Prudence Ryland’s ideal gig, but it paid well which was reason enough to do the work—until she realizes that her latest client intends to kill her. But Prudence, a master at reinvention, finds a new job and home as far away as possible and is finally able to relax—which turns out to be a big mistake. Letting her guard down means being kidnapped and drugged and waking up in a bloodstained wedding dress in the honeymoon suite next to a dead man. With the press outside the hotel, waiting with their cameras and police sirens in the distance, it’s obvious she’s being framed for the man’s murder. Prudence knows who is responsible, but will anyone believe her?

It doesn’t seem likely that rumored crime boss Luther Pell or his associate, Jack Wingate, believe her seemingly outrageous claims of being a target of a ruthless vendetta. In fact, Prudence is convinced that the mysterious Mr. Wingate believes her to be a fraud at best, and at worst: a murderer. And Jack Wingate does seem to be someone intimately familiar with violence, if going by his scarred face and grim expression. So no one is more shocked than Prudence when Jack says he’ll help her. Of course, his ideas for helping her involve using her as the bait for a killer, but Prudence feels oddly safe with Jack protecting her. But who will protect Prudence from her growing fascination with this enigma of a man?

Review:

The Bride Wore White by Amanda Quick is the 7^th book in her wonderful Burning Cove series. This series takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California.  Some of the recurring characters we have met in the previous books continue to have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove.

We meet Prudence Ryland (our heroine) at the start, when she worked as a Psychic Dream Consultant, Madame Ariadne. When a customer comes into her store, her psychic ability gives her the vibe that this customer plans to kill her; when he makes his attempt on her, she manages to fight him off with her own powers, which causes the person to have heart failure.  Madame Ariande calls for an ambulance, and Prudence Ryland decides to drop this kind of work, and takes a job at the college library.  One night she is kidnapped, and wakes up next to a dead man, with her wearing a wedding gown with blood all over.  Prudence manages to escape, and calls Luther Pell in Burning Cove for help.

Prudence explains to Luther and Jack Wingate, who is a criminal consultant, about her kidnapping and murder threats, as well as her psychic dream reader ability as Madame Ariande.  Prudence and Jack get off on the wrong foot, he looks at her like a fraud; but Luther convinces them that together both of them can work well together, and find the people involved in trying to kill her or frame her for something she did not do. Jack, whose face was scarred from a fire, is very much familiar with violence, especially since he is creating a book to help police have clues on solving crimes.  Jack and Prudence slowly begin to work closely together, as he sets things in place to bait the killer; as well as protect her.   Their respect for each other grows, and a slow burn romance begins. There were many multiple antagonists, especially almost all members of the Dover Family. 

What follows is an exciting, intriguing, intense and suspenseful story that has a number of surprises and twists. The last half of the book was enthralling, as Prudence’s life was constantly in danger, and Jack was always there to protect her.  Prudence’s ability to not only read dreams, but to get people to reveal secrets, allowing for more surprises and clues.  I do not want to give spoilers, saying anything more would ruin the book for you.

The Bride Wore White was a terrific addition to this series, with a bit of romance, great couple, and a paranormal element.  Despite their bad start, I loved Prudence and Jack together. Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything in this glamorous historical world of 1930’s.   I suggest you start this series from the beginning to enjoy the setting of this series, as well as meet some very good characters. However, each book does read very well as a standalone.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher