Last of the Brides!

by Mary Jo

I've loved introducing new readers to my classic Bride trilogy, which had been languishing in obscurity for years. Now the last book, The Bartered Bride, is due to be released as an ebook tomorrow (February 8th).

All three books are marriage of convenience of one sort or another, and The Bartered Bride is no exception. The review from Publishers Weekly said, "(Gavin and Alex's) journey from strangers to spouses to true lovers is utterly authentic." And a long and challenging journey it is!

The story was partially inspired by requests I had for a story about Amy Melbourne, the intrepid young daughter of Catherine Melbourne, heroine of my Fallen Angels book, Shattered Rainbows. Catherine had married a cavalry officer and "followed the drum" through the Peninsular campaigns, caring for her husband, nursing the wounded, and raising her fearless young daughter. Amy played an important role in her mother's story, and readers wanted to see more of her.

So did I, but I had to wait till she grew up, which is why the Bride trilogy is set a little post-Regency. More than that, I knew that if Amy got into trouble anywhere in Britain, her warrior stepfather, Lord Michael Kenyon, would swoop in to save her from harm because that's the kind of man he was. But that would interfere with Amy's own romance. <G>

It took me time to work out her story. Not only did I decide I'd have to send her halfway around the world, but she informed me that "Amy" was too much a little girl's name and she much preferred to be called by her middle name, Alexandra. (Teenagers!) So she became Alex, and after being widowed in Australia, she heads for home with a young daughter of her own. Here's the blurb for the story:

After building a fortune in the exotic East, American adventurer and merchant prince Gavin Elliott sets his sails for London to begin a new life. Then fate intervenes on an infamous island in the East Indies where he discovers an Englishwoman facing degradation and peril. Though saving her may cost Gavin his life, he cannot refuse to help the fierce beauty who touches his heart and soul with her unconquerable spirit.

Alexandra Warren is returning home from Australia as a widow and mother when a pirate attack condemns her to a life of servitude. A miracle arrives in the form of a steely-eyed Yankee captain whose reckless courage wins them freedom and a safe passage home to London. Intimate strangers joined by too many secrets, they slowly begin to heal the past with attraction and tenderness--until an old enemy reaches out to threaten the passionate love Gavin has found with his irresistible bartered bride.

Alex and Gavin's story has lots of adventure, powerful romance, and of course a happy ending, though there were some serious black moments! There's also the opportunity to see Catherine and Michael and other Fallen Angels characters. Here's an excerpt:

Alex had finally dozed off in a corner of the cage, but she jerked upright at the sound of footsteps. Slavery had taught her that changes were seldom for the better, and she’d been frightened ever since guards brought her to the palace to confine her in this triple locked cage in a strange, luxurious chamber.

At first, the dim light of the single lamp showed only the arrival of a tall, intimidating male. Then she recognized the European who’d visited the slave market. She’d begun to wonder if he was a hallucination, but he was real enough—a tall, powerful man with an air of command. Those gray eyes and the fair hair sun-bleached to gold had to be European. Involuntarily she rose and crossed the cage, pressing against the bars as she studied him hungrily. The gaudy uniform wasn’t British—perhaps German or Scandinavian.

She clamped down on her longing by reminding herself that being European didn’t mean he’d help her. Though she had instinctively pleaded for his aid at the market, now that they were face to face she reminded herself that Westerners who frequented the far corners of the world were often adventurers and renegades. Perhaps this one had asked the sultan for the use of the European slave woman.

No matter. Even if his motives were vile, he was her best chance for freedom, and she’d do whatever necessary to ingratiate herself so he’d help her.

The man halted with shock when he saw her. Glad that he probably wasn’t responsible for her presence, she asked, “Do you speak English? Parlez vous Francais?”

“Both,” he replied in English. “How did you come to be in my rooms?”

“I have no idea.” Unable to repress her bitterness, she added, “Slaves aren’t usually told why things happen to them.”

His expression tightened. “I’m sorry—that was a foolish question.”

Though she’d repaired her battered cotton shirt as best she could, she was uncomfortably aware of how her breasts strained against the thin, worn fabric. She was larger than most Island women, and there had been no kebaya her size.

When his gaze reached her breasts, he looked away in embarrassment. She found that reassuring—a man with a sense of the decencies might be more likely to help her.

He stepped into the bedroom and returned with a neatly folded shirt. “Would you like this?”

“Oh, please!” He passed his shirt through the bars and she immediately pulled it over her head. The garment fell almost to her knees. Before rolling up the sleeves, she rubbed her face in the crisp white fabric. “This smells so good. So clean.”

He glanced around the cage, which contained nothing but her and a brass chamber pot. “Do you need anything else? Food or drink?”

She moistened her lips. Not having eaten or drunk since early that morning, she’d spent her first hour in the cage staring longingly across the room at a bowl of fruit on a low table. “Water, please. And then…could I have some fruit?”

“Of course.” He set the fruit bowl on the floor so she could reach through the bars to help herself.

While she peeled and ate a juicy local orange called a jeruk manis, the man collected pillows from a bench and pushed them through the bars. Gratefully she sank onto one. The last months had made her appreciate even the smallest of comforts.

“No water, only rice wine, I’m afraid.” He settled on another pillow outside the cage, holding a bottle and two glasses. “Drink with caution. This has quite a kick.”

“Thank you.” The rice wine went rather well with the banana that she chose, and she welcomed the spreading warmth that unknotted tight muscles. She closed her eyes for a moment, reveling in the company of her own kind. “I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten proper behavior. My name is Alexandra Warren, and I’m English.”

“I’m Gavin Elliott out of Boston, and master of a merchant ship.” He noted her gaze. “Ignore the uniform—it was designed only to dazzle.”

An American? Not quite as good as a fellow Briton, but close enough.

Actually, though Gavin considers himself American, he was born in Scotland, a fact which causes him trouble in this story.  Here are several reviewer quotes:

"a story you can't put down"—TheBestReviews.com

"a hero to-die-for" —Suzanne Coleburn

"a finely crafted tale by a mistress of the genre"—Romantic Times, Kathe Robin

Click here to buy The Bartered Bride.

Books 1 and 2 of the trilogy, The Wild Child and The China Bride, are also available as e-books. These are some of my most sweeping, adventurous stories, and if you read them, I hope you enjoy the characters and their adventures as much as I enjoyed writing them.

I'll be giving away a free copy of The Bartered Bride to one commentor between now and midnight Thursday. Have you read Gavin and Alex's story? Do you want to?

Mary Jo, ending with her tagline for the Bride Trilogy:

Three extraordinary women,
    Three powerful men,
         Three passionate, unlikely marriages.

 

 

Comments

[Ros Stillman]

I have just finished your first 2 of the series. What unusual stories. I found it hard to put them down especially The China Bride. I loved the unusual start which had me wanting to read the last page after reading the first, but I resisted. I would love to win the 3rd one.

[Mary Slack]

I'm glad this set of books has come back: I loved your bride trilogy, but my heart ached for Gavin and Alex when I first read this book. I remembered being surprised when I figured out she was Amy, but oh so pleased. This was as good on the re-read as it was the first time through

[Sue McCormick]

I am so glad these are available to others. I have treasured my "print and paper" copies for years, and also have them on my e-reader. Wonderful that new to the series can enjoy these.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Ros Stillman, I don't blame you for wanting to read the end of the book just to be sure all would be well! But I always will give a happy ending. Otherwise, I wouldn't be writing romance. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Mary, I'm glad it was good as a reread. Yes, Gavin and Alex had a particularly hard journey, but luckily they were up to it.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Sue, I was so glad to get the rights back to this series. Technically it was available, but it would have taken a real completist time to find them. Much better for me to put them out with new covers and a lower price.

[Annette Naish]

Congratulations upon retrieving the rights to these books. I know that must have been pleasing to you. In the description of this book and the excerpt, it is obvious both characters are strong people who will go to extremes to reach their goals. I like that. I am not a fan of heroines who go with the flow.

Thanks.

[Mary T]

This may be an old series, but it is new to me. And a good one it is too. I have read THE WILD CHILD, but have not read the second one yet.

[Karin]

These were great books, and I am really looking forward to a reread. It's been so many years it will seem like brand new to me!

[Dolores Feagin]

I have indeed read all three of the Bride stories. This one was darker than the others, I felt with Alex's treatment while a slave and the separation from her daughter, but Gavin was just the hero she needed. Hmm, a reread of the whole series is in my future, I think!

[Kareni]

I have indeed read Gavin and Alex's story as well as the other books in the trilogy. I read them years ago and enjoyed them all. (No need to enter me in the contest.)

[Mary Jo Putney]

Annette, I don't do wimpy heroines. *G* Alex is one of the strongest because she endures and overcomes so much.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Mary T, a nice thing about historicals is that they don't date like contemporaries! For someone who hasn't read this trilogy, they're effectively new books. The joys of self-publishing!

[Mary Jo Putney]

It's been the better part of 20 years, Karin! Heck, when I was proofing the new editions, I found things I'd forgotten, too. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Dolores, happy reread! Yes, this story is pretty hard on Alex, but as you say, Gavin was just the hero she needed, and they get the happy ending they have earned.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Kareni, I'm glad you enjoyed the stories--and don't need a copy now. (I enjoyed rereading them myself. *G*)

[Kathy K]

I read all these when they first came out and enjoyed them very much. I'm not willing to take a chance on winning the drawing, so I have purchased all for the e-reader. Got an email today saying it was ready for download. Guess what I'll be doing all day?

[Leslie Knowles]

The entire series has been in my keeper stack since they first came out(as are all your books). Your stories always impress me with their power and depth. So glad you now have the opportunity to make them available to people who missed the original "shelf life" cycle.

[Mary Jo Putney]

LOL! Happy reading, Kathy K.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Leslie, I was delighted to get these books back so I could re-issue them in a more visible (and less expensive) way. When I proofed the e-files, I felt that the stories have held up very well. And I do love the exotic settings; I think they suit our more global world society.

[Karen W]

The Wild Child is such a favorite of mine! So naturally I had to get The China Bride when I saw it! But this one I grabbed because it was one of your books. I say grab because I spotted your name on the spine and literally grabbed the book off the shelf! I had started reading it before I made the connections. So I was even more pleased when I realized how it connected with not only The Wild Child and The China Bride, but that it was Amy!!
Your series are always so satisfying - like a really long great read in many 'chapters'! ;-) So now when I do a "Mary Jo reread," I start with Thunder and Roses and get all the way through The Fallen Angels and slide right into The Brides!
Such great stories; all of them! :-) There's something new every time I read them and I always feel like I want to visit with all the people from your worlds!

[Mary Jo Putney]

What a lovely comment, Karen. Thank you. That's a lot of books to read through! Plus, my medieval, UNCOMMON VOWS, is sort of a prequel to the bride books--the protagonists are direct ancestors of Meriel in Wild Child, and their estate is her estate.