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The Accidental Bride
Elyza has manipulated her sister Emily into secretly exchanging costumes with her for the masked soiree. To her delight, Emily dances several times with the incredibly handsome Charles Trevor. When he, then, asks for her hand in marriage and later learns of his mistake, he plans to break off the engagement. But ensuing events lead him to reconsider. A delightful Regency romp.
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 7, 2014
I don't think I would have re-read this book if it hadn't literally fallen on my head...as books stored on high precarious perches are wont to do. Back in the early days of my romance reading life I read Zebra and Signet Regency novels as if they were the air I breathed. My locker at school was crammed full of them so I could grab a new one every time I finished one (in class), my backpack had a couple, my closet was overflowing. They were some of the few I could afford at the used book store as well.
I remember reading this one--I'm a sucker for "switcheroo" romances in any form--and sighing over how romantic it was all was.
Look I was a henwitted and sheltered child so forgive my transgresses.
Reading this now I'm simply APPALLED that I ever found it romantic. Until page 188 (out of 221pages) our romantic male lead Charles Trevor is UNCERTAIN if he still loved the female lead's sister (Elyza) still. Elyza being the beautiful sister he had been admiring from afar for ever so long and whom he thought he was proposing to after spending an evening at the masquerade conversing with.
I can't help but wonder how he enjoyed himself so greatly with Emily (disguised as Elyza). Did he never SPEAK to Elyza? Did it not occur to him that Emily's brand of humor, which largely consists of clever quips and commentary about social foibles, was entirely DIFFERENT from Elyza's more...shall we say narcissistic humor? He claims to have loved Elyza from afar for "all of the season", yet it must have REALLY been from afar to not notice the differences between the two girls even with masks on.
I mean the differences were ENDLESSLY pointed out by Emily or Elyza or others. Starting with how Emily had dark brown eyes and darker blond hair while Elyza had cornflower blue eyes and almost WHITE blonde hair. Maybe the hair could be excused--she could have been wearing a wig--but they didn't have colored contacts back in Regency England so how then did he not notice the eye color when ALL he spoke about was how lovely Elyza's eyes were when compared to the sky?
Let's put that aside for his behavior post-proposal to Emily, aka the "wrong" sister. He legitimately spends 90% of the book saying what a good girl Emily is and how understanding she is to be letting him out of the engagement (at some point or other in the nearish future), but gosh won't it be great to be able to marry her sister? Meaning he's going to be tossed over by Emily (because they "don't suit") and immediately engage himself to Elyza. I'm certain the ton would never be so crass as to gossip that the reason they didn't suit was because he preferred Elyza to Emily (and that's assuming they're nice about it). In all honesty if that came to pass Emily would be looked on with far more favor then Elyza or Charles because the ton would instantly surmise (rightfully or otherwise) that Charles preferred Elyza because she was the beauty.
The only real bright spot in this entire book is Emily. While I couldn't quite get past her constantly sighing over being a martyr (even if she never said as much) I greatly enjoyed her otherwise. To be perfectly honest I wish Lord Beddington (a "rakehell" and ruiner of gently bred women's reputations :eyeroll: more on this in a moment) had swept Emily away. Once her got past the nonsense over Elyza he was far more intriguing, upfront and honest then Charles ever was. He stated quite plainly that Elyza was pretty, but pretty wasn't enough for him anymore. He was bored of it and Emily, with her quick wit and tongue, was perfectly suited to him.
Truthfully Rabe does a terrible job of making him seem unsuitable for Emily. Yes he tried to lure her sister into scandalous things, but really I could well see Elyza chasing him first. Girl had as much sense in her head as a peagoose. He acted no worse for his behavior then most formerly rakehell heroes...but then I suppose that's the rub. Around when this was originally published (1994) I don't think it was quite the thing to have the romantic male lead be a "rakehell" or "have a reputation". From the books I read published around that time and earlier, insofar as Regencies went, leading men tended to have perhaps a reputation as a heart breaker or as having mistresses, but that's as grey as they got. Men rumored to have ruined gently bred young ladies were not likely.
Where was I before I started my love of Beddington. Oh yes. Charles' other sin was to blatantly flirt with Elyza in front of Emily (in front of other guests!), then redden when he realized what he was doing and as an after thought offer Emily some compliments of a less passionate nature. To Elyza it often was "You look stunning!" and to Emily "You aren't hard on the eyes at all". Rousing romantic that he was.
So really I can't help but think the me of 15 was an incurable IDIOT. But I suppose that's bound to happen when your only brush with romance was through the pages of a book.
I remember reading this one--I'm a sucker for "switcheroo" romances in any form--and sighing over how romantic it was all was.
Look I was a henwitted and sheltered child so forgive my transgresses.
Reading this now I'm simply APPALLED that I ever found it romantic. Until page 188 (out of 221pages) our romantic male lead Charles Trevor is UNCERTAIN if he still loved the female lead's sister (Elyza) still. Elyza being the beautiful sister he had been admiring from afar for ever so long and whom he thought he was proposing to after spending an evening at the masquerade conversing with.
I can't help but wonder how he enjoyed himself so greatly with Emily (disguised as Elyza). Did he never SPEAK to Elyza? Did it not occur to him that Emily's brand of humor, which largely consists of clever quips and commentary about social foibles, was entirely DIFFERENT from Elyza's more...shall we say narcissistic humor? He claims to have loved Elyza from afar for "all of the season", yet it must have REALLY been from afar to not notice the differences between the two girls even with masks on.
I mean the differences were ENDLESSLY pointed out by Emily or Elyza or others. Starting with how Emily had dark brown eyes and darker blond hair while Elyza had cornflower blue eyes and almost WHITE blonde hair. Maybe the hair could be excused--she could have been wearing a wig--but they didn't have colored contacts back in Regency England so how then did he not notice the eye color when ALL he spoke about was how lovely Elyza's eyes were when compared to the sky?
Let's put that aside for his behavior post-proposal to Emily, aka the "wrong" sister. He legitimately spends 90% of the book saying what a good girl Emily is and how understanding she is to be letting him out of the engagement (at some point or other in the nearish future), but gosh won't it be great to be able to marry her sister? Meaning he's going to be tossed over by Emily (because they "don't suit") and immediately engage himself to Elyza. I'm certain the ton would never be so crass as to gossip that the reason they didn't suit was because he preferred Elyza to Emily (and that's assuming they're nice about it). In all honesty if that came to pass Emily would be looked on with far more favor then Elyza or Charles because the ton would instantly surmise (rightfully or otherwise) that Charles preferred Elyza because she was the beauty.
The only real bright spot in this entire book is Emily. While I couldn't quite get past her constantly sighing over being a martyr (even if she never said as much) I greatly enjoyed her otherwise. To be perfectly honest I wish Lord Beddington (a "rakehell" and ruiner of gently bred women's reputations :eyeroll: more on this in a moment) had swept Emily away. Once her got past the nonsense over Elyza he was far more intriguing, upfront and honest then Charles ever was. He stated quite plainly that Elyza was pretty, but pretty wasn't enough for him anymore. He was bored of it and Emily, with her quick wit and tongue, was perfectly suited to him.
Truthfully Rabe does a terrible job of making him seem unsuitable for Emily. Yes he tried to lure her sister into scandalous things, but really I could well see Elyza chasing him first. Girl had as much sense in her head as a peagoose. He acted no worse for his behavior then most formerly rakehell heroes...but then I suppose that's the rub. Around when this was originally published (1994) I don't think it was quite the thing to have the romantic male lead be a "rakehell" or "have a reputation". From the books I read published around that time and earlier, insofar as Regencies went, leading men tended to have perhaps a reputation as a heart breaker or as having mistresses, but that's as grey as they got. Men rumored to have ruined gently bred young ladies were not likely.
Where was I before I started my love of Beddington. Oh yes. Charles' other sin was to blatantly flirt with Elyza in front of Emily (in front of other guests!), then redden when he realized what he was doing and as an after thought offer Emily some compliments of a less passionate nature. To Elyza it often was "You look stunning!" and to Emily "You aren't hard on the eyes at all". Rousing romantic that he was.
So really I can't help but think the me of 15 was an incurable IDIOT. But I suppose that's bound to happen when your only brush with romance was through the pages of a book.
August 7, 2011
Honestly, I debated whether to use the 'heroine is plain looking' shelf. Ms. Rabe mentioned this fact throughout the story way too much. Yes, it is a regency romance and readers of this genre know that in about 75% of the stories by any author the heroine is beautiful. I actually felt sorry for this character a third of the way in because everyone seemed to remind her of this. I rated the story 'OK' because the author never made me think she was.
Emily Vane (no pun intended) is the older step-sister of Elyza Vane, who is a beauty on the outside but shallow and conceited on the inside. Too bad it takes the majority of the story for Charles Trevor, Emily's 'accidental' fiancee, to figure this out about Elyza.
I couldn't figure out why Emily still wanted Charles who was portrayed as both superficial and dim-witted for the majority of the story. This nobleman couldn't figure out why he thought it was OK to continually pursue Elyza but didn't care for another man looking at Emily. I just finished reading "A Memorable Christmas" by Ms. Rabe in A CHRISTMAS TREASURE anthology and liked that story even less. THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE is the fourth book and probably last one that I have read by this author, that I have not cared for.
This book had potential. Perhaps if the chemistry was better. Maybe if there were some humorous moments. Regency romances can be very dry if you are not used to the type of writing most stories encompass. I am sorry this one was not better-written.
Emily Vane (no pun intended) is the older step-sister of Elyza Vane, who is a beauty on the outside but shallow and conceited on the inside. Too bad it takes the majority of the story for Charles Trevor, Emily's 'accidental' fiancee, to figure this out about Elyza.
I couldn't figure out why Emily still wanted Charles who was portrayed as both superficial and dim-witted for the majority of the story. This nobleman couldn't figure out why he thought it was OK to continually pursue Elyza but didn't care for another man looking at Emily. I just finished reading "A Memorable Christmas" by Ms. Rabe in A CHRISTMAS TREASURE anthology and liked that story even less. THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE is the fourth book and probably last one that I have read by this author, that I have not cared for.
This book had potential. Perhaps if the chemistry was better. Maybe if there were some humorous moments. Regency romances can be very dry if you are not used to the type of writing most stories encompass. I am sorry this one was not better-written.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews