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Author Reviews
The Marriage Bargain
Diane Perkins
ISBN# 0446614386
Warner, Oct 2005, 336 pp
Historical Romance-Regency
$6.50 (US) $9.50 (CDN)
Reviewed by Laurel
September 2005
Earl Spencer Kennon, called a cheater in playing cards, is pacing the field waiting for the duel to take place. He is escorted with his two friends Wolfe and Blake. They have been together since their Eton days and have named themselves the Ternion. When the duel goes horribly wrong and Spencer is shot and declared dead by the surgeon. They do the honourable thing and return him to his wife for burial in the crypts. Wolfe and Blake knew that Spencer had a wife, what they did not know was the level of squalor that the lady was enduring. Just as he is about to be sealed into the family mausoleum, his wife Emma demands that they open the coffin. She always felt that if Spencer were truly gone, she would feel it. Against the rector’s judgement the coffin is opened and Spencer gasps for air begging for water.
Emma is in shock that these men have brought her husband home to her dead. For three years he abandoned her cutting the funds from running his families estate Kellworth. When they married they made a bargain, he would protect her and make sure she lacks for nothing, in return she lets him roam at random remaining faithful to her. After the funds were cut off, Emma tried to get in touch with him through correspondence through his manager and uncle. No correspondence was ever returned or was help granted. Emma’s had to scrimp and save and sell off items through the most trying of circumstances. But she knows something is not right regarding her husband’s death. When she discovers her husband is still alive, she nurses him back to health. After all he does have a lot to atone for, amends to make and most of all he has to give his wife a baby.
This is my first novel by Diane Perkins and I found THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN a touching and endearing novel. Emma was a heroine that was very strong willed and I particularly enjoyed when she took a stand about her pig. Even though it was a trivial matter in the book it was also a turning point that showed she had grown up becoming independent and a force to be reckoned with. Spencer had his valid reasons to stay away from Kellworth that haunt him and eat at his conscious. He is baffled as to why he did not receive any correspondence and knows it is no excuse for the neglect his wife holds him responsible for. There is a mystery element to this story, it was interesting and intriguing with its twists and turns as you read along. Without overpowering the love story it only enhanced it and added the right amount of suspense, as the story moved along.
THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN was a love story of two people learning to trust each other after hurtful and terrible betrayals. The two friends of Spencer’s were a great addition to the novel. I am intrigued with Wolfe, his character was just a cynical person but it paid off near the end of the novel. While Blake was the antagonist and Spencer being the adventure, they had a close bond and they really rounded each other out. I am hoping that the author will continue on with their stories. THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN is a wonderful novel and one I encourage you read.