Helpful Score: 3
Really quite exceptional in this genre. Fairly colorful & accurate Chinese cultural idiosyncracies make this a very different sort of read. The characters are much more finely drawn than in the usual shallow romance, IMO.
Basically about a half Scot/half Chinese girl...a young woman in the trading city Canton, she is made to pretend to be a young man by her uncle so that she can act as a liaison/translator with the "foreign devils" that come to trade. Her half-life as neither man or woman begins to chafe when she meets a handsome Scottish trader who is floundering in the midst of some murderous Chinese plots, making this a not-typical romance with a dash of intrigue, a sprig of martial arts action, and a healthy dose of historical flavor.
As the romance continues and they travel to Scotland together, they face the prejudice and censure of his family toward his mysterious slant-eyed bride...very interesting, as someone who has had to put up with that sort of thing - like the heroine, I am half-Chinese. Don't think that my identification with the character is the only reason I liked the book, it isn't - its basically very engaging and well written - my only criticism is that I felt that the end was a bit contrived and abrupt....it felt like the author's editor called and said something like, "oh, well, you've really got to wrap this one up then! We've got a deadline!" But still, a very enjoyable effort!
Basically about a half Scot/half Chinese girl...a young woman in the trading city Canton, she is made to pretend to be a young man by her uncle so that she can act as a liaison/translator with the "foreign devils" that come to trade. Her half-life as neither man or woman begins to chafe when she meets a handsome Scottish trader who is floundering in the midst of some murderous Chinese plots, making this a not-typical romance with a dash of intrigue, a sprig of martial arts action, and a healthy dose of historical flavor.
As the romance continues and they travel to Scotland together, they face the prejudice and censure of his family toward his mysterious slant-eyed bride...very interesting, as someone who has had to put up with that sort of thing - like the heroine, I am half-Chinese. Don't think that my identification with the character is the only reason I liked the book, it isn't - its basically very engaging and well written - my only criticism is that I felt that the end was a bit contrived and abrupt....it felt like the author's editor called and said something like, "oh, well, you've really got to wrap this one up then! We've got a deadline!" But still, a very enjoyable effort!
Diane P. (KentuckyReader) -
Helpful Score: 2
I had never read anything about the author before but I have already added her to my list of "great" writers.
Mary Jo Putney knows how to put a story together to create a plot that holds your interest. Her writing is crystal clear and flows like warm honey. A great book to curl up with and forget the world around you.
Mary Jo Putney knows how to put a story together to create a plot that holds your interest. Her writing is crystal clear and flows like warm honey. A great book to curl up with and forget the world around you.
Helpful Score: 1
Such a good read! A Scottish/Chinese girl child is reared in a Chinese household and then given an opportunity to go to the land of her father as a young woman. Well written and engaging.
Feng shui is used in the book, which showed me the way to make my own house better. A rare treasure is this book!
Feng shui is used in the book, which showed me the way to make my own house better. A rare treasure is this book!
A good story!!
This is a great book. I have one on my keeper shelf.
The 2nd book in the "Bride" trilogy; I enjoyed this book for its unique storyline and characters, especially.
This was a good story, but lacked details toward the end. A hundred or so more pages would have left it ending better.
An interesting story with an unusual plot and unique characters. I enjoyed it.
This book was good enough that I started it and couldn't put it down and read the entire night until I was done with it. Good Read!
Mary Jo Putney is really becoming one of my favorite romance authors....she has a way of actually creating a great plot and story line with the tension and relationship building with the main characters. I really rather enjoyed this story. It was also nice to not have a typical ingenue with blonde or red hair. Maybe me being half Asian is why I appreciated it so much. Ha!
Great twists and turns and intriguing world. I am thinking this one is a keeper.
Great twists and turns and intriguing world. I am thinking this one is a keeper.
Second book in the Bride Trilogy. First and third books are "The Wild Child" & "The Bartered Bride". Enjoyed the first two books.
Rich story with great character development and depth.
Confession time. I only read the part that took place in England. I did read enough of the China part to get the gist of the background. However, I really do not have an interest in reading about historical China culture. There was a lot of segues into Chinese traditions and Tai Chi and Fung Shui that seemed to be filler and didn't add a whole lot to the story. The part of the book in England was okay, but I even skimmed through part of that. Oh well...on to the third book in this series. I usually finish a series if I start one. I always am curious about the character whose story hasn't been told!
Born to a Scottish father and a Chinese mother, Troth grew up in Macao, fluent in the language and culture of both parents.She dreamed of someday traveling to Scotland,until the death of her father condemmed her to a shadowy life as a interpreter in Canton.
Wonderful, interesting story.
I enjoyed the Bride Trilogy
This book kept me coming back. I read at night before going to sleep and with this trilogy I was up reading late many nights in a row.
Born to a Scottish father and a Chinese mother, Troth Montgomery dreamed of someday traveling to Scotland, until the death of her father condemned her to a shadowy life as an interpreter in Canton. Then Kyle Renbourne, viscount and adventurer, discovers Troth's true identity and persuades her to be his guide on a dangerous journey into the heart of the Celestial Kingdom.
A meeting of the minds flares into searing passion, an idyll that ends when Kyle is captured and condemned to death. A reckless prison cell marriage the night before his execution sends Troth to England, where she arrives at the estate of Kyle's brother. Though accepted as bride and widow, she is haunted by the memory of her dashing husband. Then the past reaches out to Troth, bringing passion, despair, and danger. Now she must draw on her unique heritage to save all she holds dear--and become the woman she is destined to be. . . .
A meeting of the minds flares into searing passion, an idyll that ends when Kyle is captured and condemned to death. A reckless prison cell marriage the night before his execution sends Troth to England, where she arrives at the estate of Kyle's brother. Though accepted as bride and widow, she is haunted by the memory of her dashing husband. Then the past reaches out to Troth, bringing passion, despair, and danger. Now she must draw on her unique heritage to save all she holds dear--and become the woman she is destined to be. . . .
Born to a Scottish father and a Chinese mother,Troth Montgomery dreamed of someday traveling to Scotland,until the death of her father condemned her to a shadowy life as an interpreter in Canton.Then Kyle Renbourne,viscount and adventurer,discovers Troth's true identity and persuades her to be his guide on a dangerous jouney into the Celestial Kingdom.
A meeting of the minds frlare into searing passion,an idyll that ends when Kyle is captured and condemned to death.A reckless prison cell marriage the nigh before his executionsends Troth to England,where she arrives at the estate of Kyle's brother.Through accepted as bride and widow,she is haunted by the memory of her dashing husband.Then the past reaches out to Troth,bringing passion,despire and danger. Now she must draw on her unique heritage to save all she holds dear-and become the woman she is destined to be....
A meeting of the minds frlare into searing passion,an idyll that ends when Kyle is captured and condemned to death.A reckless prison cell marriage the nigh before his executionsends Troth to England,where she arrives at the estate of Kyle's brother.Through accepted as bride and widow,she is haunted by the memory of her dashing husband.Then the past reaches out to Troth,bringing passion,despire and danger. Now she must draw on her unique heritage to save all she holds dear-and become the woman she is destined to be....
