Sebastien Deville, the debauched, dangerously handsome illegitimate son of the Duke of Grandien, has waited his whole life for revenge—and suddenly it is there for the taking. A competition sponsored by the ing has all the ton talking. The winner will receive an immense fortune, a newly created title, sponsorship, and a well-born bride—everything Sebastien needs to reclaim his mother's stolen lands and to wield the colossal power itching beneath his fingertips. His victory is all but assured . . . until he meets Caroline.
Caroline Martin knows all about Sebastien, the legendary heartbreaker who leaves women weeping in his wake, and she is determined not to see him win the competition in which he would claim her friend as his bride. Yet sabotage is so very hard to concentrate on when the target's searing glances promise incredible pleasure and his skillful hands vow unimaginable desire. She knows the danger he presents, the temptation he offers, yet she is willing to risk everything for all she holds dear.
But Sebastien Deville will do anything to win . . . and Caroline's heart may become the ultimate prize.
Wouldn't disagree with majority of reviewersDecember 20, 2008 Anne Mallory is one of those authors who almost hits the mark but doesn't quite make it. Every book that I have read has had some great elements but there's issues that let's it down - this book is no different. The first half I found really improbable and cliched. But things started to hot up and I enjoyed the second half when I feel Sebastien became more human and Caroline grew up. I truly believe Mallory has the potential to be a great romance writer in this genre but she needs to get the balance right between melodrama and sex for the sake of sex, and people who totally captures your imagination and empathy.
Improbable romanceDecember 8, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
When reading a book it helps if the reader actually believes in the fundamental plot thread undergirding the action. In the case of 'The Bride Price' I found the competition between 15 illegitimate or third-or-fourth sons to win an aristocratic title, some land and property and a particular woman as a wife, to be laughably unlikely. As a tool for our hero Sebastien Deville, illegitimate son of the Duke of Grandien, it worked well enough; he had a chance to shine in the traditional noble pursuits of gambling, horse riding, fencing and the rest of it, but it also gave him an excuse to spend two months amongst other men (including his half brother) and a passel of women, including the heroine, Caroline Martin.
The competition also allowed Caroline to do some sabotaging as she doesn't want Sebastien to win as he would win the hand of her friend Lady Sarah as a bride and Caroline knows Sebastien and Lady Sarah won't suit. Sebastien doesn't seem interested in Sarah, however, but he is interested in Caroline - very much so - and although his pursuit might be put down to a bet, there might actually be much more to it. Caroline has thrown her life away on a worthless man once before, will she make the same mistake again?
So the competition is a useful device upon which to hang various events. But it's so incredibly unlikely, along with many of the events that take place in this novel, that I was unable to take the story seriously. There were some interesting vignettes into people's lives changing, people growing up and learning what's important, but it was all emeshed within the threads of the competition and so it lost its force for me. The author also made some errors of language where people speak American rather than English, including a reference to people behaving like 'chickadees', a word for a bird unused in England (we have the rather more amusing 'tits' instead). The behaviour amongst the houseparty guests seemed very unlikely too and the neatly-wrapped ending didn't convince. Overall this is a story with some good points but equally many points of annoyance and unbelievability.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book Helen Hancox 2008
Can't beat a Anne Mallory novel !December 1, 2008 2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have been reading some great contemporary novels in the past few weeks but reading a historical romance and Anne Mallory at that, it was like coming home. This is a story of Sebastian the bastard of a Duke and Caroline Martin. The Duke and his friends make up a contest for some men (who are either bastards or 3rd born children) with the prize being a title, a home/property, money and a wife (Sarah, Caroline's cousin). It's Sebastian mother's home that is on of the prizes, that Duke (his father) bought out from under him. So he want his home, revenge and power, after meeting Caroline he wants her too... - Enjoy! Looking forward to her next novel For the Earl's Pleasure(due out - Jun 30, 2009).
If you enjoy this genre I would also suggest; As Luck Would Have It (Leisure Historical Romance), At the Bride Hunt Ball (Avon Romance),Compromised (Berkley Sensation) and Good With His Hands (Zebra Debut).
Whiny Hero Leads to Unsatisfied Reading (D Grade)November 22, 2008 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The Bride Price, has an interesting set up with an amoral hero who is the illegitimate son of a Duke. Sebastian is so delusional and as anti-hero as you can get. He enjoys seducing the innocents and being as reckless as he can, which is the perfect way to give his father the middle finger. Sebastian joins the other bastard sons of the aristocrats, who don't have a chance of being accepted in polite society or having a name for themselves, in a competition where the winner will be able to marry a gentlewoman, known as the bosom of the ton. If Sebastian can win, he will have a title, a massive fortune and a piece of land that was his mother's that his father owns and holds over his head. Sebastian accepts because there is nothing more important that belonging even though he acts as if he doesn't care.
Caroline Martin is a widow who married the wrong man, so much so, she must be ever so respectful so she is not the topic of rumors. She is a friend and confidant to Sarah, the bosom of the ton. She is so disgusted by what Sarah's father, the Earl of Cheevers is doing. But Caroline can not be too vocal because she relies on the Earl for her livelihood. Caroline is also quite the artist and Sebastian comes upon her as she is drawing a cottage that is on the property Sebastian wants so badly. Out of the blue, one thing leads to another and before Caroline can find out his name, Sebastian as given her the best orgasm of her life on the garden bench. From that moment on Sebastian will find a way to seduce Caroline and even places a bet that he can do so.
I do love an amoral hero, but Sebastian was more of a whiny brat if anything. Caroline feels she must take the moral high road because of the way she eloped with her deceased husband, and because of that she must gain her respectability back. She acts like she can't stand Sebastian because of who he is and the way he treats people, but when it comes to sex, she opens her arms to him and let's Sebastian do all types of naughty unrespectable things to her. The chemistry between these two were so lacking and I wanted to tell Sebastian to grow up and get over his issues he has with his daddy.
Disappointing read all around.
Katiebabs
Interesting plot but... 3.5 starsNovember 18, 2008 3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This was interesting if farfetched plot for the period. The heroine comes off as too mature and then bounces between distrust and attraction toward the hero, not very mature. One would think she could see through his tricks. A bit too cliche at times. The female secondary character who is the prize of the tournament is too one dimensional until she finally gets a backbone and stands up for herself. Unfortunately, we don't see how it happened and learn about it in dialogue rather than her own action. Had this only been hinted it could have led to a spinoff book because her suitor was an interesting character who was sort of there but not really. To bad because this author's talent was in making interesting male characters: good or bad. In this book the hero stole the limelight: he was a blend of the bad boy we all love and yet right from the start he displays a sense of integrity born not of blood but of character. It is the hero that makes this book a better than average read.
There are a few surprises that explains things if the readers can hang on to the end. Though not one I would read again, I am glad that I hung in until the end. This author has the gift for creating yummy tortured heroes if only she could give them more interesting heroines and a believable plot.
