The Bartered Bride

Gavin Elliott is on his way to London to finally settle down after spending the last years as a trader in the Far East. He plans to expand his shipping empire but a stop on an island causes a delay as he bargains to free an Englishwoman enslaved by pirates.
I enjoyed this series quite a bit. This book is a fine finish to the trilogy with adventure and romance creating an exciting story. I really liked the first part as Gavin and Alexandra go through their trials and get to know each other. Gavin was first introduced in The China Bride and is a wonderful hero here, gentle and kind to both Alexandra and her daughter. Alex is brave, enduring a lot during her enslavement, but I had to take one star off for her boneheaded behavior once she's show more home. She's too smart to walk into a trap in the way she does here in my opinion.
The Bride Trilogy been a good historical series, incorporating the Far East with Regency London in a unique manner. I've really enjoyed it and recommend it. show less

Read the entire trilogy back to back.
The first book in the trilogy was by far the best.
The second one is one i wouldn't have minded skipping. Really it was too much of a drag.
This book was good. The characters were engaging. The development of the characters and the story-line was quite convincing.
Will definitely be exploring more by this author.

After building a fortune amid the splendor and dangers of the China seas, American adventurer and merchant prince Gavin Elliott is sailing for London, where he intends to establish himself in the society that forced his family to leave in disgrace when Gavin was only a child. But fate intervenes on an infamous island in the East Indies when he tries to save a European woman being sold at a slave auction. By the sultan's decree, the woman can only be freed if Gavin wins her by enduring an ancient tribal challenge that may cost him his life. Yet Gavin cannot refuse to help a woman who touches his heart and soul with her indomitable courage. Alexandra Warren ventured to Australia as a young bride eager for adventure. A dozen years later show more she is returning home as widow and mother when a pirate attack separates her from her beloved daughter and condemns Alex to a life of servitude. Then a miracle arrives in the form of a steely-eyed Yankee captain willing to risk everything to set her free. A shocking turn of events brings an unexpected alliance with her rescuer, and Gavin and Alex arrive in London as intimate strangers joined by too many painful secrets. Yet attraction and affection soon overcome the trial of their first meeting. Until the past reaches out to change Gavin's life - and threaten the passionate love he has found with his irresistible bartered bride. show less

While sailing from Australia to England following the death of her husband, Alexandra Warren and her 8-year-old daughter, Katie, are captured by pirates in the East Indies. Alex is sold into harems where she is also beaten for insubordination as she tries to escape to find Katie. The Scottish born American sailor Gavin Elliott rescues her after winning at the "Lion Game".

Later, Gavin's enemies frame him for Alexandra's murder. Alex shows up at the hanging right as the trapdoor falls and rescues him in return.

Haven't read a romantic novel in eons, but it was pretty good. I must preface this by saying that I listened to this book and the narrator was good.

One of the settings is on an island in the East Indies.

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