A Valentine Wedding: A Novel - Softcover

Feather, Jane

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0553578936 ISBN 13: 9780553578935

Publisher: Bantam, 1999

Synopsis

Dear Reader,

In celebration of true love, here's a Valentine's Day treat--the tale of two star-crossed lovers who can't see that they're perfect for each other....

Lady Emma Beaumont and Lord Alasdair Chase were once inseparable childhood friends, then betrothed lovers.  But something went dreadfully awry, and Emma left Alasdair practically at the altar.

Now, two years later, Emma has inherited a substantial fortune...but there's one small string attached: until the day she weds, Emma cannot spend a farthing without Alasdair's consent.

The thought of having to go to Alasdair, with his mocking smile and derisive eyes, every time she needs money is not to be borne.  Emma swears to Alasdair that she'll have both a husband--and a lover--by St. Valentine's Day.

Alasdair vows she won't--unless he himself becomes both her lover and her husband.  In fact, he's looking forward to employing every form of sensual persuasion he dares to convince his passionate, headstrong Emma that she'd rather have him than any other man.

Will he succeed?...or will Emma get her way?

Warmest wishes,

Jane Feather

P.S.  In summer '99, look for The Accidental Bride, the next volume in my Brides trilogy, which began with The Hostage Bride.  Three unconventional young women vow never to marry, only to be overtaken by destiny.... In The Accidental Bride, Phoebe, the "awkward" one, stumbles into romance, adventure, and passion....

About this title

Review:

Lady Emma Beaumont has never taken well to being controlled by men. so When her late brother Ned names Lord Alasdair Chase as the trustee of her fortune until she marries, she is less than thrilled. Not only is Alasdair a deceiving, if charming, rogue, he is also her ex-lover, and the man she has tried her best to forget for the last three years.

Though once her childhood friend and even her fiancé, Alasdair plans to keep his relationship with Emma as formal as possible. After the pain and humiliation of her flight from their wedding years ago, Alasdair doubts he could ever feel deeply for her again. When Emma declares that she will have a husband and a lover by St. Valentine's Day in order to free herself from his control as quickly as possible, Alasdair wishes her the best, and sits back to enjoy the show.

But when Emma sets her sights on the sinister and unknown French émigré Paul Denis, Alasdair cannot contain his disapproval. Determined to win Emma back, or at least keep her from the clutches of Paul Denis, Alasdair turns on the full power of his charms. Unable to deny their long-buried feelings, Emma and Alasdair try to sort through their conflicting suspicions and attractions. Undaunted by Emma's rejection of him, Paul's malicious interests pose a greater threat to Emma and Alasdair than their own insecurities.

While this book's finely detailed setting and liberal scattering of barouches, pelisses, and postilions satisfy the basic requirements for a tasty historical romance, Valentine for Emma lacks the sparkling creativity usually found in Jane Feather's work. The dialogue drags a bit in early scenes, and minor characters such as the snippy aunt and the villainous Paul remain shallow and unengaging. However, Alasdair and Emma are both compelling characters, and their passionate love scenes will certainly keep any reader's attention. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien

About the Author:

Jane Feather is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of Almost a Bride, The Wedding Game, The Bride Hunt, The Bachelor List, Kissed by Shadows, To Kiss a Spy, The Widow’s Kiss, The Least Likely Bride, The Accidental Bride, The Hostage Bride, A Valentine Wedding, The Emerald Swan, and many other historical romances. She was born in Cairo, Egypt, and grew up in the New Forest, in the South of England. She began her writing career after she and her family moved to Washington, D.C., in 1981. She now has more than ten million copies of her books in print.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0553578936
• ISBN 13: 9780553578935
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352