Never a Bride

The best thing I can say about this book was that it was very readable – I got through it fairly quickly. However, it was definitely not the book for me, for several reasons.

One of those reasons was Mirabella. I hated Mirabella. I hated her for not thinking things through, for not seeing all the possible consequences of her actions, and for abusing the power she had over her maid. She didn't care what happened to her reputation, but she worried that it would affect her father's health if he heard what she had been doing. And yet she kept on kissing men anyway, and didn't stop until after Camden came back. Even after Camden came back, she continued to do things that could have ruined her reputation and would have upset her father. Who show more made sure things didn't go hideously wrong? Camden. He got her out of the club before anyone realized there was a woman dressed as a man among them, and he hushed up anyone he found out had kissed her.

Was that reason enough to confide to Camden why she did what she did? No. Did starting to fall in love with him lead to a greater feeling of trust in him? No, or at least that was the impression I got based on her actions. Had Mirabella worried about telling Camden about Sarah's suicide because suicide is a sin (we're talking about a Regency romance here, after all), then I might have been a bit more sympathetic, but the thought never even crossed her mind. The one reason she used, over and over, to justify not telling Camden was that he would make her stop looking for the man.

I'd have thought that a man worth falling in love with would be worth trusting a bit more, but apparently that's not the case. At the very least, I'd have thought it would have occurred to Mirabella that a man would have an easier time getting to see another man's bare neck. When the thought did finally occur to her, she didn't approach Camden, an actual man, for help, but rather dressed herself up as a man. I found myself wishing someone would catch her, since I seriously doubted she could pretend to be a man so well, so easily.

And, by the way, she didn't dress herself as a man on her own. No, she got her maid Lily to help her, even going to far as to convince Lily to sneak some of her father's clothes into her room. Mirabella also got Lily to help her dress as a maid, implying that she might dismiss Lily if she didn't help. When Lily brought up the perfectly understandable worry that Mirabella's father might dismiss her if he found out what she'd helped his daughter do, Mirabella assured her that her father would never do such a thing and that she'd see to it nothing happened to her. Yeah, right. Mirabella's complete lack of knowledge about the realities of Lily's life was probably realistic (although it made Mirabella's ability to convincingly pretend to be a maid, even just for a few hours, even harder to believe), but that didn't make me hate her any less. Besides, why worry about realism in a book where the hero and heroine spend quite a bit of time alone and unchaperoned?

I shouldn't limit my complaints to just Mirabella, however – Camden inspired a few himself. After what he went through with his first fiancee, I could understand why he didn't want to marry Mirabella after catching her kissing another man. It's not like Mirabella and Camden even knew each other all that well to begin with, so there wasn't much of an emotional attachment to break off. Okay, so I ground my teeth a little at the idea that Camden could kiss a few women while he was engaged to Mirabella and Mirabella was expected not to do the same, but, hey, it's a Regency romance. What really got to me was Camden's reaction when Mirabella started musing that she might make a good mistress.

Camden had basically said that he couldn't marry Mirabella because he couldn't trust that she'd be faithful to him, and that their renewed engagement was a sham. However, even though he didn't think she was good enough for him to marry, he didn't think she was so soiled that she should become someone's mistress. She should find a nice man to marry. Just not him. Maybe someone who didn't know she'd kissed other men and wouldn't worry that she wasn't being faithful to him? But, oh, wait, Camden still had to get a few kisses in, because he found Mirabella so sexy. But not pure enough to marry.

Oh, barf.

So, I hated Mirabella, I was very, very annoyed by Camden, and I figured out who Sarah's former lover was within the first 50 pages, due to some ever-so-slightly icky behavior on that character's part and the very obvious “he's short” clue. Like I said, this book is readable, and the pace is fairly good, but it definitely didn't fit my tastes. Had I not disliked Mirabella and Camden so much, I probably would have enjoyed their conversations, so I'm not going to completely cross this author off my personal list. That said, I'd have to spot one of her books at a used bookstore, because I'm not buying DRM-protected e-books and Grey hasn't impressed me enough to make me want to shell out the money for a new book.

(Original review, with read-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.) show less

I liked this one, I can't say what it was, perhaps the dry humour of it all, but this was my to date favourite Amelia Grey book.

Mirabella is the heroine who has been kissing gentlemen in the garden and touching their necks. The buzz is out, but she doesn't care of her reputation suffers because she wants to find the man who ruined her cousin. But sadly her plans fall apart when her fiancé shows up again. He has been gone for 6 years, and by now she had kind of thought that he would never return to marry her. It doesn't get better that since they never met back then they now can't recognize each other.

I must say, her going around kissing men was great fun. And at that time one little kiss was one big scandal. Just because the viscount show more is back doesn't men she stops, now she makes new plan, and her plans, yes they are great fun to read about.

Mirabella is one forward heroine, I like that she loves so deeply that she cares more for her cousin than herself. Camden, our hero is quite taken by her, but he is also shocked and not sure what to do. So of course I wanted her to just tell him! But then where would the drama be then. Now let things unfold on their own because it did make me want to know what would happen. And if Mirabella ever would find that man who disgraced her cousin.

This was one sweet historical romance with a couple who liked each other, but those kisses kept them apart. There is also the mystery surrounding her cousin, and her putting herself into situations that would be rather reckless considering.

What is left to say, except that this is my kind of historical romance. It suits me well.

Final thoughts: Fun, cute, and kept me reading. show less

Mirabella is on a quest to discover who seduced and abandoned her cousin Sarah, which led to Sarah's suicide. Unfortunately, all Mirabella knows is that the man in question was a member of Society, and that he has a scar on his neck. This is the Regency era, however, and gentlemen don't go around with their necks bared. So she's been allowing them to kiss her, and using that excuse to feel their necks.

This being the Regency era, she's risking ruin, but Mirabella expects to remain unwed anyway, so it's not a big loss. She's betrothed--that is, a betrothal was arranged--but her prospective bridegroom has been... gone... for six years, and even should she be released from the agreement, her prospects would be poor after such a show more rejection.

Then, of course, who should show up but her betrothed, Camden Brackley, Viscount Stonehurst, and puts a monkey wrench in her plans.

Since they are the hero and heroine, and this is a romance, they fall in love. What complicates that is that Camden's had his heart broken before--by a woman who cheated on him. And here Mirabella is, with a reputation for kissing anyone who asks.

My only complaint is that Mirabella took too long to explain to Camden why she was doing what she was doing. Otherwise, I loved her schemes, and her determination to right a wrong, even at the expense of her own happiness, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Camden battle his knee-jerk response and learn that all women aren't alike. show less

NEVER A BRIDE by Amelia Grey is an enchanting wonderful Regency Romance. It is a re-released. It is set during the 1800's England. It is well written with details and depth. The characters are charming, free spirited, and full of life. The heroine, Mirabella, is intelligent, courageous, smart, full of life, beautiful and out to avenge the death of her cousin. She has been engaged for six years to our hero who has been in America all this time. She begins to believe he isn't coming to claim her hand in marriage, therefore, she sets out on her mission to kiss as many gentlemen as possible to find and avenge her cousin's seducer (she has her cousin's diary with some details about her seducer). Mirabella is aware of the consequences of her show more action but feels she must avenge her cousin. The hero, Camden, is handsome, strong, been betrayed before, been in America for six years. Comes home to find Mirabella, his fiance, in the arms of another man. Although, their engagement was arranged by their fathers , they have never meet each other before. They find they are intrigued with other and must continue their engagement for a few months to settle some things. During this time they actually realize they are falling in love with each other. This is an amazing, beautifully written story of avenge, romance, passion, sensuality, intrigue, compromise, betrayal, suspense and sacrifice.This is a fast paced, page turner and a keeper. This book was received for review from Sourcebooks and details can be found at My Book Addiction and More. show less

3 stars for the duo of Camden and Mirabella. They are lovely, passionate, honest, fun to see fall in love. The problem is that their setting Regency London is not credible with them in it. They are too free, too modern for lack of a better word. I would have enjoyed this duo even more in a more modern setting like the suffragette period or post WW1 or WW2. Mirabella is a wonderful female character that I wish I would see more of. Camden started out a bit too straigth and uptight but soon became more three dimensional and human. Both are not paper thin characters. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.

3 stars for the duo of Camden and Mirabella. They are lovely, passionate, honest, fun to see fall in love. The problem is that their setting Regency London is not credible with them in it. They are too free, too modern for lack of a better word. I would have enjoyed this duo even more in a more modern setting like the suffragette period or post WW1 or WW2. Mirabella is a wonderful female character that I wish I would see more of. Camden started out a bit too straigth and uptight but soon became more three dimensional and human. Both are not paper thin characters. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.

I had gotten this freebie quite a while ago and wasn't expecting much. But I was really surprised at how engaging the story was. Mirabella has been left of the shelf when her intended left the country six years before. She has given up and decides she will never be a bride. In the mean time she on the trail of the man she feels is responsible for the suicide of her best friend. The problems start when she meets a mystery man who really makes her feel special and then gets caught with a man in the garden by her fiancee who has returned. The story of how she can help her friend and not lose the man was full of humor and heart warming moments. Very much worth the time to read.