≡ Libro The Legendary Lord Playful Brides Valerie Bowman 9781250072597 Books

The Legendary Lord Playful Brides Valerie Bowman 9781250072597 Books

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The Legendary Lord Playful Brides Valerie Bowman 9781250072597 Books

Since I read this book straight through (with only a small break for lunch), I think you can tell that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is book six in the Playful Brides series by Valerie Bowman. I have read some of the other books, but not all of them -- yet! You can easily read this as a stand alone book.

I think I can say that you'll have to look really, really, really hard to find a book with a hero/heroine who is any more stubborn than these two are. They take pig-headed to a whole new level!!!

The hero, Christian Bancroft, Viscount Berkeley and the heroine Lady Sarah Highgate have so much in common that you'd think they would be great friends rather than romantically involved. This, of course, has been the problem for Christian in the past. All of the ladies he's been interested in have ended up being his friend rather than a romantic interest.

I won't go through the whole plot -- the book blurb gives you a good idea of the storyline.

Lady Sarah has been raised to ALWAYS be obedient and do as her parents say. Since this is the standard for raising a daughter in the Regency period, it isn't unexpected. What IS unexpected is the stubbornness she has to 'do as she's told' when she plainly doesn't want to do so. I guess what always gets me is how little the parents of that time period seem to care about their daughters (some sons as well, but most daughters). I absolutely cannot imagine having a child and not loving it and wanting it to be happy. I absolutely love reading stories from this time period, but I'm so grateful I don't live in it. (OK -- enough of my rant).

I loved all of Christians friends meddling in the relationship. If it weren't for them, both the hero and heroine would be miserable. I especially love the zany Lucy.

I can say that I didn't expect the resolution to happen like it did simply because he had been so very protective of her reputation. I'm glad Sarah had Lucy to help her figure out how to handle all that happens during the resolution.

I recommend this book.

"I requested and received this book from the author at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."


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The Legendary Lord Playful Brides Valerie Bowman 9781250072597 Books Reviews

FINAL DECISION A man must take the risk to get what he wants and a woman who must upset expectations and disappoint others. THE LEGENDARY LORD starts with two people who are obviously meant for one another but have to fight their own natures to be together. Funny at moments but emotional as the two are seemingly destined to be apart. I loved the characters and the resolution. A winner!

THE STORY Christian Forester, Viscount Berkeley, has many women friends but no woman to call his own. Every woman he might be interested in becomes his dear friend instead. Retreating to his hunting lodge in Scotland, Christian doesn't know how to proceed. When he arrives, he is held at sword point by a beautiful young woman who turns out to be Sarah Highgate, a woman who has run from her arranged engagement to a marquess. Now Sarah is beginning to have regrets for her flight because she realizes that she will disappoint her parents and be ruined. Christian realizes that he can be a friend and help Sarah avoid scandal and return to London. In exchange, Sarah offers to give Christian advice on how to change his image and become a Legendary Lord -- the gentleman of the season -- in order to find a wife. The problem becomes that Christian soon realizes that the woman he really wants is the one that he truly can only be a friend to -- Sarah.

OPINION A hero who convinces the heroine to return to an arranged marriage and then regrets it. A heroine who wants to find love but is convinced to settle for the approval of her parents. These two are seriously mixed up. That is what makes them interesting because they are both struggling against convention and expectations.

Christian is a man who has made a habit of saving women and becoming friends with them. Unconcerned about town life, Christian is only serviceable in dress and he is more friendly than flirty. When he meets Sarah, she offers to help remake his image -- and she does. As with image, however, Christian remains who he truly is. As Sarah discovers, there are reasons that Christian remains single that has nothing to do with his clothes or image. I loved Christian because he is kind and supportive and he treats women well. I like that he has women friends (characters from the prior books in the series that he has helped) and he treats them as equals. They treat him as a beloved brother who they needle and care for.

Sarah was more difficult for me to immediately like because she starts out in such a great spot -- having taken a chance to run from her arranged marriage, but then experiences regret such that she is willing to return to her fiance to satisfy her parents (who I heartily disliked!) The question I had to ask was what other choices did Sarah really have. Sarah's opinions don't matter to her parents because society accepted that. To reject her parents' choice would mean that not only would Sarah lose the love of those she cared about but her physical and financial security as well. It's not easy being a rebel without support.

The story of Christian and Sarah is ultimately about commitment -- about putting yourself out for those you love -- about taking huge chances. These two people who mostly play it safe, but there can be nothing safe in love -- especially when you have to risk scandal to be together.

Christian and Sarah have different types of risks and challenges in their relationship. As much as Christian says he wants to marry, he is afraid of emotionally risking himself. As much as Sarah says she wants love, she is afraid of the approbation of her parents and society. Both claim to want to love, but neither wants to take the first scary step.

Balancing the mild angst in this book is humor from the heroines of the prior books in the series. As they scheme to push Sarah and Christian in the right direction, I laughed at their meddling ways and urged them on when it appeared that Sarah and Christian might miss their chance to be together.

I find it immensely satisfying to read about characters that I like and who I can identify with. Neither of these characters wants to be in the limelight. I can imagine them leading a happy and quiet life together after the pages of this book end and living happily ever after.

WORTH MENTIONING Keep an eye out for a romance that is certainly on the horizon with Sarah's brother.

CONNECTED BOOKS THE LEGENDARY LORD is the sixth book in the Playful Brides series. While there are appearances by continuing characters of the series, this book gives you everything you need to know and thus is a complete standalone as well.

STAR RATING I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
Since I read this book straight through (with only a small break for lunch), I think you can tell that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is book six in the Playful Brides series by Valerie Bowman. I have read some of the other books, but not all of them -- yet! You can easily read this as a stand alone book.

I think I can say that you'll have to look really, really, really hard to find a book with a hero/heroine who is any more stubborn than these two are. They take pig-headed to a whole new level!!!

The hero, Christian Bancroft, Viscount Berkeley and the heroine Lady Sarah Highgate have so much in common that you'd think they would be great friends rather than romantically involved. This, of course, has been the problem for Christian in the past. All of the ladies he's been interested in have ended up being his friend rather than a romantic interest.

I won't go through the whole plot -- the book blurb gives you a good idea of the storyline.

Lady Sarah has been raised to ALWAYS be obedient and do as her parents say. Since this is the standard for raising a daughter in the Regency period, it isn't unexpected. What IS unexpected is the stubbornness she has to 'do as she's told' when she plainly doesn't want to do so. I guess what always gets me is how little the parents of that time period seem to care about their daughters (some sons as well, but most daughters). I absolutely cannot imagine having a child and not loving it and wanting it to be happy. I absolutely love reading stories from this time period, but I'm so grateful I don't live in it. (OK -- enough of my rant).

I loved all of Christians friends meddling in the relationship. If it weren't for them, both the hero and heroine would be miserable. I especially love the zany Lucy.

I can say that I didn't expect the resolution to happen like it did simply because he had been so very protective of her reputation. I'm glad Sarah had Lucy to help her figure out how to handle all that happens during the resolution.

I recommend this book.

"I requested and received this book from the author at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."