A really enjoyable Historical Romance.

Emily slowly gets over her grief and comes to accept and love Agnus.

I think her change happens at a realist pace.

On a superficial note - the girl on the cover has brown hair, Emily is described as having black hair. ( )

How to describe this one? It was not one of those typical historical romances and therefor I would not want to call it that. It was the book in between H and HR. Also with a dose of mystery, spies and suspense.

The heroine, oh Emily, you were hard to like you ungrateful idiot. I get why she was like that, but she lived in a time where she had no rights so at least be civil to your husband and not a shrew. Yes I confess that at one time I wish Angus had throw that ungrateful strumpet out on the street to fend for herself. But I am not gonna be totally evil because she changes, there is romance there after all.

Angus, awww Angus, he was so kind, he waited, he hoped, aww my heart. A perfect man. Sure he too had made mistakes before, but how he adored her.

As you can see they really really have to work for the love to grow. It's not easy, it's hard, almost impossible. But slowly things fall into place and they find what they want.

As for the suspense. There are spies, secrets, and the ongoing conflict between France and England. The book gave me a few surprises.

A different sort of love story.

Emily's fiancé dies a week before the wedding. Unknown to her she is pregnant. His comrade-in- arms offers for her. She does not make it pleasant for him. Emily marries Angus McCartney who then becomes the replacement for her late fiancé in a plot to save England and restore the monarchy to France. I loved Angus from the moment he appeared. Emily was a lot harder to take. I wanted to put her over my knee and spank her. She was so bratty. I was halfway through the story before I could find her likeable. There are secrets all over the place here. Emily has hers but they involve her husband. Angus has them and slowly reveals them. Then there are other characters whose secrets affect Emily who do not reveal them but these must be solved so she and Angus can be comfortable together. I liked how well Beverley Eikli did the time period. She got the feel of it right. Most of the secondary characters were horrible people. I definitely knew who I was rooting for through the whole book. I also liked how the beginning of the story circled into the end of the story. ( )

After the death of her fiancé, Captain Jack Noble, Emily Micklen finds herself in the worst possible situation. Major Angus McCartney is the bearer of bad news when he informs Emily of Jack’s death. Angus has loved Emily since he saw her at the Regimental Ball. He despaired that she belonged to such an unworthy man as Jack. Fate lays Angus’ dearest wish at his feet when he’s provided the opportunity to save Emily from destitution. Will Emily ever see Jack for what he was and Angus for the man he is?
What about Emily’s French relations? How do they play into the secret missions Angus has been assigned?

Wishing you all the happiness for which you are prepared to strive towards in your new life.

This line struck such a chord with me because it sums up Emily’s situation so succinctly. When her mourning has eased off will she let go of the past? When will she discover that the only thing noble about Jack was his name? Emily is laboring under the misapprehension that Jack Noble was a good man, wallowing in grief for a faithless man while spurning the worthy Angus. The loyalty to a dead man Emily employs to distance herself from Angus is wasted effort and undeserved. However, Emily does acknowledge that she owes much to Angus as slowly she comes to value the worth of a real man, but has her realization come too late? One of Emily’s finest traits is the ability to admit when she’s wrong, once she recognizes it of course. This and the fact that she never came across as mean spirited or vindictive is why I was able to like her even when she wasn’t necessary likeable.

Angus, while being the embodiment of the qualities ascribed to a hero, isn’t totally blameless in Emily’s misconception. Unwilling to hurt the woman he fell in love with two years prior he lies to Emily regarding the circumstances surrounding Jack’s death. Some months after his last meeting with Emily, Angus allows his brother to persuade him to check on her. When he discovers Emily’s tenuous position he finds himself returning to offer her marriage. When Angus first saw Emily on the arm of Jack at the Regimental Ball he fell hard and fast. Never entertaining the thought he would ever have his heart’s desire he leaps at the opportunity to save her and possibly win her love. However, the lie he told her unfavorably colors her perception of him. It’s only one of the many barriers between them. These are two of my favorite quotes that reflect how deeply Angus feels for Emily.

'This won't always be where we live nor will this coarse woollen great coat be your only comfort. One day I will buy you silk and cashmere and you will know I love you and perhaps even be glad for it.'

'It's not as if you married for love.'
'My dear Emily, I married where I thought I might find it.’

Truly sigh worthy. Who wouldn’t love Angus?

When Major Woodhouse recruits Angus for spying missions against Napoleon his absences allow Emily to reflect and grow up. Angus’ absences also reveal skeletons that jeopardize not only any chance he and Emily may have at a happily ever after but England and her security as well.

In THE RELUCTANT BRIDE you won’t find detailed descriptions of clothing, glittering ballrooms, the thinly veneered elegance of the Ton, or witty bantering between the hero and heroine.
What you will find is a realistic, exciting, and deeply satisfying love story that effortlessly sweeps you back in time and holds you in its grip until the last page.

Reviewed by IvyD for Manic Readers & Miss Ivy's Book Nook ( )

THE RELUCTANT BRIDE by Beverley Eikli is an interesting Regency Historical Romance. Fast paced and filled with spies,traitors,danger,secrets,lost love,Napoleon's swathe through France,grief,treachery,and love. The story of Major Angus McCartney and Emily Micklen,their struggle to find love and happiness. Emily struggles with the lost of her fiancee,pregnant,disowned,abandoned and married to Major Angus a man she doesn't know,but who was in the Military with her beloved Jack. Emily will soon learn what she thought she knew was all a lie,her family,her lost love and her own life.
"The Reluctant Bride" has engaging characters, a unique storyline that involves English as well as French spies,traitors to both the English and French,finding love, healing,and finding forgiveness. While, Emily fills disloyal to Jack's memory, she finds herself attracted to her new husband, Angus. Angus in the meantime has loved Emily from afar for a few years,never thinking he would become her husband and trying to atone for his past,he finds no hardship in marrying Emily to protect her unborn child. "The Reluctant Bride" is filled with secrets,and spies. "The Reluctant Bride" may soon become a most cherished bride,with a most cherished husband. If you enjoy a good spy story,passion,a bit of romance,adventure,and a great read than this is the story for you to read. An engaging story from first to finish. Received for an honest review from the author.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More ( )