The Bride Tournament

Wars of the Roses Brides #3

by Ruth Kaufman

Librarian's Note: Alternate-cover edition for ASIN: B016YZEW0I

Who will win his hand in marriage...and his love?

Lady Eleanor de la Tour’s life turns upside down on her wedding day. She's ordered to wed the new earl, to whom the king has given her betrothed's title and lands. Though Richard Courtenay is handsome and intriguing, she wants the man she loves and chose. And Richard pursues alchemy, anathema to her because the obsession to turn base metals into gold is destroying her father.

Richard wants and needs to stay wed to Eleanor to uncover her father’s alchemy secrets. He vows to win her heart even as she arranges a bride tournament to find him a better and more willing wife.

The happier he seems with the potential brides, the more Eleanor regrets her choices. Only when danger threatens will they discover the meaning of love and attain what they most desire.

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2016

About the author

Ruth Kaufman is a Chicago author, on-camera and voiceover actor and storyteller with a J.D. and a Master’s in Radio/TV. She loves peanut butter and chocolate milkshakes, singing in a symphony chorus and going to the theatre.

Learn more at ruthkaufman.com (where you can sign up for her newsletter) and ruthtalks.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RuthKaufman or Facebook:Ruth Kaufman Author & Actress.

Reviews

[Ellen Klock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lady Eleanor de la Tour is a willful woman who refuses to be bossed around by any man. Destined to marry the Earl of Glasmere, she has prepared herself to wed Arthur, but on her wedding day she discovers King Edward has demoted her betrothed and replaced him with Richard Courtenay, a former knight. Even though the man she must now wed is handsome and chivalrous, she does everything in her power to resist the inevitable match. She wants to marry for love, not mated out of a sense of duty. Although her spouse is intelligent company and solicitous of her needs (he even agrees to defer the consummation of their union until she is ready), he freely admits he is incapable of love. Richard admires Eleanor and as he is overcome by the growing physical attraction between them, he attempts to seduce her into compliance, but she has other plans. Eleanor decides that if their marriage can be annulled, Richard will be free to find a new wife while she will be finally able to marry her beloved Arthur. To find a new partner for her husband, she devises a competition, A Bride Tournament, where the winner will be the Earl of Glasmere's new wife - a woman worthy of the honor. As the tournament approaches, Eleanor wonders whether the whole idea is a mistake, yet she can't bear to be married to a man who cannot love, let alone one who is obsessed by the secret of alchemy which ruined her parents' marriage. The King has charged Richard with discovering this very secret by ordering him to locate some missing scrolls which might provide the answer to their quest, and the Earl has a feeling that Eleanor just might be the key to solving this mystery.

While this is an interesting premise and the author has a pleasant writing style, the first two thirds of the The Bride Tournament (Book 3 of the War of the Roses Bride series) by Ruth Kaufman is filled with Eleanor's indecisions and Richard's yearnings. It isn't until the last third of the book where the plot gives us some much needed action. Eleanor seems childish - whining and complaining when she doesn't get her way, while Richard is indecisive and at times cruel, especially when he flaunts his attention towards his prospective brides-to-be and ignores his wife. In between he tries to satisfy his lust towards Eleanor by seducing her. The more she resists, the more he wants her. Even though he listens to her objections, he still makes it clear it is their duty to be together as the King commands. This does not endear him to her at all, yet she falls in love with him anyway. They both seem so shallow. The conversations between the two are repetitive and not very engaging. There was so much potential to this story, especially focusing on life at court, but we only got a small glimpse of the action. The secondary characters, such as Arthur, Eleanor's father (Lord Edmund) and sister (Alyce), and Richard's brother (Owen), as well as the two villains, could have been more fully developed. Perhaps this book would have made a better novella. Two and a half stars.

I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read.

[Linda Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

An emotional story. An unusual story, which is what got my attention. Two strong main characters. Pride goes before a fall and both have the wrong idea about love. Richard refusing to be lulled into the danger of loving or even trusting a woman again. Hadn't he already been betrayed by more than one woman, starting with his own mother? And Eleanor was tired of having men rule over her, leaving her no control over her own life and who she could love and marry She wanted to marry who she chose, someone she loved. Arthur was that one for her. And on the day of her marriage, her grooms were switched. She wasn't marrying Arthur who she was betrothed to for years. Instead a stranger, Richard stands in his place and she's just supposed to go mildly to the slaughter/altar. Not this bride, she was cunning, creative and determined. As she spends time with Richard, she has to fight her beginning attraction to him but fight she does. Both Richard and Eleanor were their own worst enemy. At one point I thought, how in the world is Eleanor going to get herself out of this mess? Of course that's not to say that they don't have other enemies as well. They do, especially Richard who they think holds the key to the alchemy secrets. Whoever does, holds the key to power, vast wealth and great favor with the King.

Richard's brother, Owen shows up in the story and is a good secondary character, as is Alyce (Eleanor's sister) . Eleanor's unpleasant father shows up from time to time being his self-serving self.
I have to admit although I liked both of the MC's it didn't stop me from wanting to clunk their pig-headed heads together more than once. And what about Aylce? What's her story going to be?

By the way- Great cover picture.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review. I was enticed to read this book because of the historical context of the story and the idea of a Bride Tournament. I was rather disappointed in the main female character because she seemed headstrong and willing to obtain her desires at the expense of others, including her husband and father. That said, it must have been quite frustrating for a woman living in that time of history, having so little control over central life events, and considering the rapidity with one's circumstances could change. The idea of a Bride Tournament is unique and would solve all of her problems. Unfortunately hindsight is 20/20. I will admit that I did enjoy it a bit when she gets her awakening. The main male character isn't quite as fickle but not totally blameless either. The continual cat-and-mouse game does become a bit predictable and redundant. However, the ever-present alchemy backdrop works well mixing both metals and emotions. Overall, an interesting way to spend an afternoon with a satisfying ending.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. It was very different, with the idea of a bride tournament, but the author executed it well. The main characters, Richard and Eleanor, were relatable. I preferred Richard, since his character seemed more stable. Eleanor seemed a bit ridiculous at times. How could she not know her plans would go awry? And Arthur...I have no idea why she thought she loved him. Would have liked to see more background with their relationship, since I saw no evidence of their love despite Eleanor's persistence.

Overall, it was a pleasant read and one I would recommend. I look forward to reading more of this author's books.

**I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

[Carrie Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. Not a bad book just to predictable for my taste. I stubborn woman who stupidly does everything to get rid of an unwanted husband because she doesn't love him until her plan works at least! If you enjoy the angst of bad choices up until the happy ending then you'll enjoy this book very much. It's well written and a entertaining quick read just not my cup of tea.

[Dawn Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unable To Put It Down!

Well developed characters that the reader can't help but fall in love with and historical concepts linked in, take the reader by an ethereal hand on a journey of love. At one point I even found myself feeling the same desperation and heart wrenching pain as the main female character.

I would love to see more into this wonderful story.

DISCLAIMER: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the about Lady Eleanor de la Tour she has been ordered by the king to marry Richard Courtenay , the man who was just given the land and title's that the man she loves held! She is not very happy so she decides to arrange a bride tournament to find him a better and more willing wife but the more women that comes the more Eleanor is unhappy has she fallen in love with Richard? How does it end? I was gifted a copy for an honest review barwatts@telus.net