⋙ Read A Christmas Bride Regency Romance Signet Mary Balogh 9780451191441 Books

A Christmas Bride Regency Romance Signet Mary Balogh 9780451191441 Books

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A Christmas Bride Regency Romance Signet Mary Balogh 9780451191441 Books

Read A Precious Jewel before this to get a better understanding of Helena. It tells about her history with her stepson and is integral to this story. This is the story of Edgar Downes, brother to Cora Downes from the story The Famous Heroine where she marries Sir Francis Kneller. In this tale, Cora's brother finds a very rocky road to love with an emotionally injured but lovely woman, Lady Helena Stapleton. Cora, Francis and a host of other friends meet Edgar's Christmas bride at Mobley Abbey the home of the Downes. It is a bit awkward as this was not a planned event, but Christmas will be celebrated! Little does anyone realize the tempest and battle of wills going on between Edgar Downes and his new wife, the former Lady Helena Stapleton. He had gone to London to seek a bride from among the young debutantes who have titles with no substance - something Edgar has, but no real right to enter titled society. This in response to a promise made to his father to marry into a titled family. During the "Little Season" in London in the fall, they meet at a ball and have a completely lustful and all consuming passionate night. She was barren or so she thought until a pregnancy results. After a battle with bitter and hateful words flung about, Edgar, who doesn't understand himself why he insists on it, marries this "harridan" and begins a journey that will be the salvation of one and the making of the other. Although I find Helena unbelievably precocious in the bed for a woman who has only known one other man, her elderly first husband, I can overlook that as to me those scenes are not really an intricate part of the story. I was delighted to meet again this great group of characters. Edgar's preciosity regarding his wife's inner struggles is wonderful. That he will risk all to save her from herself is a true statement of the gift of love. Though it may not conquer all, love is always willing to put another above self. Thank you, Mary Balogh for writing so prolifically and finely of love, and humanity at it's best and worst, and the journey that is life (ideally here) with an everafter that is happy.


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A Christmas Bride Regency Romance Signet Mary Balogh 9780451191441 Books Reviews

Helena is not a likable character, she's not even very appealing, though she's beautiful, glamorous and well-traveled. She's not meant to be likable - that's the point of the book. She's a "tortured" heroine, like so many of the "tortured" heroes women seem to love to read about. When I read the critical reviews about Helena, it seems like the age old double standard to me (men are assertive, but women who act the same way are called bitchy). Helena is in a great deal of pain, and she masks it by being haughty, snarky and mocking.

Edgar is almost the perfect hero, and his perfection creates a significant contrast to Helena's imperfection. She might not seem so bad if he wasn't so heroic. Ultimately, they are brought together by an undeniable attraction to one another. They have a passionate, unforgettable one-night-stand which is out of character for both of them. Helena has never been with another man since the death of her husband over ten years previous.

After their one night of passion, Helena and Edgar are awkward with each other and not sure how to interact in public. He's looking for a bride, but he doesn't consider Helena as an eligible candidate because of her age and he doesn't really like her as a person. But both of them are still aware of their intense attraction.

The first half of the book takes place in London with about two months of attending balls and dinner parties. The second half of the book, Helena and Edgar get married and attend a house party at Edgar's father's estate. Edgar's father is wonderful! He's jovial, loving, welcoming and all the children call him grandpapa (even the ones who aren't related). The other house guests and numerous children participate in Christmas activities like skating, collecting evergreen and decorating.

Now that he's married, Edgar resolves to figure out the puzzle of his prickly wife. What happened to make her so bitter? He finally asks the right questions and the truth comes out. Being the hero that he is, he puts into motion the opportunity for Helena to gain forgiveness and let go of her past regrets so they can have a bright future together. For those reviewers who say Helena has no redeeming qualities, I wonder if they read near the end when she links arms with a guest who is a former-destitute-lady-turned-prostitute-now-married-to-a-baronet and escorts her into their drawing room to introduce her and ensure no one cuts her. This is not the act of an irredeemable person, it's the act of a thoughtful and caring person, even if she hides it under a prickly mask.
Another of Balogh's books that I really like. I have enjoyed reading this book and will get more of her books off my wish list.
This is not the usual Regency comedy of manners. The plot is original and thus very refreshing. The charaters are so alive that they breathe and have human emotions and desires which the writer is not afraid to explore.I think this is one reason her books are so popular.
This book has a dark side, but I enjoyed it very much. Helena is different then most of the women found in Regency novels. She believes she does not deserve love and respect. But somehow Edgar worms his way into her heart, even as she holds him an arms length away. He is determined to break through all her defenses.

But her dark secret is finally revealed and amends are begun. I found some of the revelations almost as painful to deal with as Helena did. But life is not always light hearted and occasionally it is good to read a more intense book.

Worth reading but do not expect a light hearted Christmas tale.
Read A Precious Jewel before this to get a better understanding of Helena. It tells about her history with her stepson and is integral to this story. This is the story of Edgar Downes, brother to Cora Downes from the story The Famous Heroine where she marries Sir Francis Kneller. In this tale, Cora's brother finds a very rocky road to love with an emotionally injured but lovely woman, Lady Helena Stapleton. Cora, Francis and a host of other friends meet Edgar's Christmas bride at Mobley Abbey the home of the Downes. It is a bit awkward as this was not a planned event, but Christmas will be celebrated! Little does anyone realize the tempest and battle of wills going on between Edgar Downes and his new wife, the former Lady Helena Stapleton. He had gone to London to seek a bride from among the young debutantes who have titles with no substance - something Edgar has, but no real right to enter titled society. This in response to a promise made to his father to marry into a titled family. During the "Little Season" in London in the fall, they meet at a ball and have a completely lustful and all consuming passionate night. She was barren or so she thought until a pregnancy results. After a battle with bitter and hateful words flung about, Edgar, who doesn't understand himself why he insists on it, marries this "harridan" and begins a journey that will be the salvation of one and the making of the other. Although I find Helena unbelievably precocious in the bed for a woman who has only known one other man, her elderly first husband, I can overlook that as to me those scenes are not really an intricate part of the story. I was delighted to meet again this great group of characters. Edgar's preciosity regarding his wife's inner struggles is wonderful. That he will risk all to save her from herself is a true statement of the gift of love. Though it may not conquer all, love is always willing to put another above self. Thank you, Mary Balogh for writing so prolifically and finely of love, and humanity at it's best and worst, and the journey that is life (ideally here) with an everafter that is happy.