Pink Heart Reviews
The Dumont Bride
Terri Brisbin
ISBN # 0373292341
Harlequin Historical Medieval 2002, 299 pages
England circa 1194
$5.25 US $6.25 Canada
Reviewed by Teresa
November 2005
Lady Emalie Montgomerie is facing a situation that many women before and after her will face. Marrying a man that she has never met, and having everything she holds dear belongs to her husband. Since the untimely death of her father she has been taking care of every task and running her estates with fairness and efficiency. A political agenda from a twisted royal has Emalie in need of protection for her, her lands, and her people.
Christian Dumont has spent months in a hellish prison paying the price for the sins of his father. He is not far from death and his young brother is even closer, when salvation comes to him in the form of a request from the Queen. Stripped of his honor, he has the chance to reclaim it by marrying the Countess Emalie Montgomerie.
Christian and Emalie are immediately drawn to one another, and yet are suspicious of each other. Emalie is carrying the burden of a secret that she knows she will have to reveal to her husband. While Christian is trying to build up his strength from his recent imprisonment and wondering why a beautiful and landed woman like Emalie is offered to him.
The beginnings of their relationship are strained as Christian takes over all of the duties that Emalie has been doing with such aplomb, and she is wounded by being exiled from her duties. Christian is pleasantly surprised by all of the abilities and accomplishments of his wife, but is wary of her and the part she might be playing in marrying him.
There is a very strong attraction that grows between them, but there are inner and outer forces that threaten to destroy any happiness that may come from their union. Christian must overcome his anger and distrust of Emalie when her actions show him that she cannot be what he thinks her to be. Their relationship began as pawns in a political game, and ends up becoming so much more.
THE DUMONT BRIDE is a splendid novel filled with intrigue and passion. I was struck by Emalie’s resilience. She was a terrific heroine, never giving in to the hardships that life threw at her. She remained kind, caring, and considerate throughout the whole novel, and I as a reader appreciated such a stoic and intelligent heroine. Christian had some demons to fight, but he quickly conquered them and was an honorable and completely heroic hero.
This was my first novel by Terri Brisbin and it will not be my last. I
thoroughly enjoyed the plot, and secondary characters. The writing kept
me hooked, and the love scenes had marvellous steam. The story moved quickly
and the protagonists never once irritated me with irrational behavior, they
were just to wonderfully written for such antics. THE DUMONT BRIDE
is a must read for lovers of medieval romance, or just a plain good story.
