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The Wayward Bride
The Wayward Bride by Daphne Clair released on Apr 24, 1990 is available now for purchase.
187 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1989
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153 people want to read
About the author
Daphne Clair
122 books63 followersDahpne Clair is one of many pseudonyms of Daphne de Jong, a New Zealand writer who also uses the names Laurie Bright, Claire Lorel and Clarissa Garland. She is the winner of the Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award and has been a finalist for the Romance Writers of America Rita Award more than once.
Daphne Clair de Jong decided to be a writer when she was eight years old and won her first literary prize for a school essay. Her first short story was published when she was sixteen and she's been writing and publishing ever since. Nowadays she earns her living from writing, something her well-meaning teachers and guidance counsellors warned her she would never achieve in New Zealand. Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and a collection of them was presented in Crossing the Bar, published by David Ling, where they garnered wide praise.
In 1976, Daphne's first full-length romantic novel was published by Mills & Boon as Return to Love. Since then she has produced a steady output of romance set in New Zealand, occasionally Australia or on imaginary Pacific islands. As Laurey Bright she also writes for Silhouette Books. Her romances often appear on American stores' romance best-seller lists and she has been a Rita contest finalist, as well as winning and being placed in several other romance writing contests. Her other writing includes non-fiction, poetry and long historical fiction, She also is an active defender of the ideology of Feminists for Life, and she has written articles about it.
Since then she has won other literary prizes both in her native New Zealand and other countries. These include the prestigious Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award, with Dying Light, a story about Alzheimer's Disease, which was filmed by Robyn Murphy Productions and shown at film festivals in several countries. (Starring Sara McLeod, Sam's wife in Lord of the Rings).
Daphne is often asked to tutor courses in creative writing, and with Robyn Donald she teachs romance writing weekend courses in her home in the "winterless north" of in New Zealand. Daphne lives with her Netherlands-born husband in a farmlet, grazing livestock, growing their own fruit and vegetables and making their large home available to other writers as a centre for writers' workshops and retreats. Their five children, one of them an orphan from Hong Kong, have left home but drift back at irregular intervals. She enjoys cooking special meals but her cake-making is limited to three never-fail recipes. Her children maintain they have no memory of her baking for them except on birthdays, when she would produce, on request, cakes shaped into trains, clowns, fairytale houses and, once, even a windmill, in deference to their Dutch heritage from their father.
Daphne frequently makes and breaks resolutions to indulge in some hearty outdoor activity, and loves to sniff strong black coffee but never drinks it. After a day at her desk she will happily watch re-runs of favourite TV shows. Usually she goes to bed early with a book which may be anything from a paperback romance or suspense novel to history, sociology or literary theory.
Daphne Clair de Jong decided to be a writer when she was eight years old and won her first literary prize for a school essay. Her first short story was published when she was sixteen and she's been writing and publishing ever since. Nowadays she earns her living from writing, something her well-meaning teachers and guidance counsellors warned her she would never achieve in New Zealand. Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and a collection of them was presented in Crossing the Bar, published by David Ling, where they garnered wide praise.
In 1976, Daphne's first full-length romantic novel was published by Mills & Boon as Return to Love. Since then she has produced a steady output of romance set in New Zealand, occasionally Australia or on imaginary Pacific islands. As Laurey Bright she also writes for Silhouette Books. Her romances often appear on American stores' romance best-seller lists and she has been a Rita contest finalist, as well as winning and being placed in several other romance writing contests. Her other writing includes non-fiction, poetry and long historical fiction, She also is an active defender of the ideology of Feminists for Life, and she has written articles about it.
Since then she has won other literary prizes both in her native New Zealand and other countries. These include the prestigious Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award, with Dying Light, a story about Alzheimer's Disease, which was filmed by Robyn Murphy Productions and shown at film festivals in several countries. (Starring Sara McLeod, Sam's wife in Lord of the Rings).
Daphne is often asked to tutor courses in creative writing, and with Robyn Donald she teachs romance writing weekend courses in her home in the "winterless north" of in New Zealand. Daphne lives with her Netherlands-born husband in a farmlet, grazing livestock, growing their own fruit and vegetables and making their large home available to other writers as a centre for writers' workshops and retreats. Their five children, one of them an orphan from Hong Kong, have left home but drift back at irregular intervals. She enjoys cooking special meals but her cake-making is limited to three never-fail recipes. Her children maintain they have no memory of her baking for them except on birthdays, when she would produce, on request, cakes shaped into trains, clowns, fairytale houses and, once, even a windmill, in deference to their Dutch heritage from their father.
Daphne frequently makes and breaks resolutions to indulge in some hearty outdoor activity, and loves to sniff strong black coffee but never drinks it. After a day at her desk she will happily watch re-runs of favourite TV shows. Usually she goes to bed early with a book which may be anything from a paperback romance or suspense novel to history, sociology or literary theory.
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April 26, 2020
Re-read April 2020. I had to bump it down to four stars because the first half is really slow. The ending is still five stars, though. It's rare to read an HP and be convinced how much the hero really loves the heroine.
What a sweet, angsty story with a surprising twist I did not see coming. The heroine is 21, the only daughter of an indulgent father. Hero is in the same law firm as the father and knows that his career will be enhanced if he takes out the daughter.
Heroine is a flirt and comes across as heartless and spoiled, but eventually they do marry. Minor spoiler:
The hero doesn't know what to do for her until she snaps at her father about (Major spoiler)
I do love misunderstood little rich girl stories and this was a good one. Hero was a good person. The heroine was, too. This is not high drama. It is a slow unveiling of the characters, what they're made of and how they fit together. My favorite kind of romance.
What a sweet, angsty story with a surprising twist I did not see coming. The heroine is 21, the only daughter of an indulgent father. Hero is in the same law firm as the father and knows that his career will be enhanced if he takes out the daughter.
Heroine is a flirt and comes across as heartless and spoiled, but eventually they do marry. Minor spoiler:
The hero doesn't know what to do for her until she snaps at her father about (Major spoiler)
I do love misunderstood little rich girl stories and this was a good one. Hero was a good person. The heroine was, too. This is not high drama. It is a slow unveiling of the characters, what they're made of and how they fit together. My favorite kind of romance.
April 2, 2017
Re The Wayward Bride - Daphne Clair brings us a brilliant character study of a supposedly spoilt rich girl and an up-and-coming young lawyer who wants the h's father's goodwill to advance his career.
This one has mostly H pov of view in it and so we mainly get to know the h from the H's perspective interspersed with secondary character's comments. What the H initially sees is a very beautiful woman who likes to play push and pull games with men. The h's father is all too eager to reinforce the impression that the h is a silly little flirt and how much he would like the H to take her in hand. The H has no intention of being served up on her platter, so even tho the h's father is pushing the h quite forcefully on him, he refuses to react to her challenges and keeps his distance.
They do start dating tho and we as readers get the first hint of something being off when the h meets his friend's children for the first time. The H makes a comment about how unlikely the h is to be around children and to his surprise she takes great offence at his remarks. The h is upset that he is inferring she wouldn't be a good parent, but not enough to dump him. We see more of the h's life as her father continues to try and force her into what he wants her to be and the h realizes that since she doesn't have a job, she doesn't have the means to be self supporting. She takes the initiative again and asks her father to pay for her to go back to school to get more training in computers, which should boost her employablity.
In the meanwhile, she is still dating the H and getting to know his family. There are lots of children about and while his older sister is dubious about the h's maturity level, his younger sister thinks the h is great and used to using her looks and a sparkling personality to hide a lot of pain and vulnerability. Eventually the h proposes to the H. It is hinted that she has several reasons, she likes the H and wants to do some boudoir bouncing with him, she wants to get out of her father's house and she really wants to have a baby. The H accepts, ostensibly because he would like some boudoir bouncing too, but mainly cause the h's father can do his career a powerful amount of good.
They marry and the h surprisingly is very good at housekeeping and domestic engineering. She even does a great job watching the H's friend's children when their parents go off for a few days. Soon the h is pregnant and things seem to be great on the domestic front, but there is tensions when the H doesn't discuss his work with her. The h sees him with a young attractive lady partner from his law firm and has some understandable concerns, mainly because the H never says he sees her as anything more than a pretty face. The H is a lot like the h's father, as she is finding out now that they are married.
Then the h suffers a miscarriage, and she sinks into the pits of depression. The H gets increasingly desperate to get the party girl h persona back and invites her father over. The h's father proves to be an insensitive cad who tells the h to pull herself together, he can get over the loss of his first grandchild and she needs to too.
Those words provoke a powerful attack by the h. It seems the lost baby was not the father's first grandchild, the h had a baby a 17 that she really wanted and the father made her give up in a closed adoption. Years of resentment and rage come out when the h succinctly explains that her father only ever wanted for her what he wanted her to have, she was never allowed to have her own life or her own independence and she quite rightly hates her father for his limiting, controlling ways. The h tells him she can't forgive him for refusing to help her keep her baby and that she has hated him ever since.
The H is shocked and makes the father leave. Then he asks the h about the guy she was with when she got preggers and the h believes that he took her father's payoff and left to go backpack around the world while the father was browbeating the h until she gave her baby up for adoption.
The H gets a different story from the h's father, he lied and told the h's boyfriend, (who wanted to marry her or do whatever the h wanted, cause they were very much in love,) that he had the h get a termination. The H is livid at the h's fathers insensitivity and arrogance, and tho the h had since apologized to her father, the father remarks how he never sees the h, the H remarks he can understand and how he doesn't want to see the h's father either.
Then the H decides that he needs to give the h back to her lost love and so he finds the young man, now five years older and establishing himself, and tells him about how the h's father lied to him and invites him to meet the h. The h's former lover does show up and the H leaves them for a bit. When he comes back both the young man and the h are gone and the H believes that the h left him to be with her first love. He gets a postcard from the h postmarked from the town where the former lover lives and so the assumes they are lurving it up together.
He eventually discovers that the h never left with the OM when he calls up to chat about the demise of their marriage. In fact the h and the OM only chatted together for a bit about the past and then never contacted each other again, too much time had passed and they weren't the same people.
This discovery panics the H and he starts an all out search for the h, for some reason he still persists in seeing her as a wayward child who can't look after herself. He eventually finds her, taking care of herself with a job and a flat and after establishing that he isn't only her babymaking stud service, he convinces her he loves her and wants her to come back for the big HEA.
A lot of people really love this book. Especially the part where the H lets the h go because he thinks she is happier with her first love. While I think the character of the h is exquisitely done, I pretty much despise this H. Throughout the book he and other characters, except his younger sister, are patronizing, judgmental gits and I finally ran out of patience for the lot of them.
Just because a woman is beautiful and flirty, they judge her as being an immature man eater. But every single male, except for the h's first love and a man from Canada she dates a bit early on in the book, sees the h as a empty headed sex toy and treats her like one, and that includes the H. I don't feel he ever once sees who the h really is and while DC did an excellent job of revealing the h's character to us, she never shows that the other character's in the book see it too. (Except for the H's younger sister - who winds up being a patsy to push the H and h back together.)
Even the subsequent revelations about the h's life don't stop this H from arrogantly assuming the h is some kind of helpless, doormatty parcel he can manage and pass around. The continual subtle demeaning of the h's character by the H was enough to pretty much make me ill.
It never stops, he never thinks she is an independent person who can manage her own life, even at the culmination of the book. The h's father was just atrocious and unfortunately I never really see the H as anything different. This H never, not once, just sits down and expresses his sorrow for the h over the loss of her children and then simply asks her how he can help her be happy again. Instead he makes this asinine decision to hand her over to her first love, without even consulting the h. So in my eyes, he should have been left permanently, cause he was a self-centered louse and refused to see the h has a mind and a brain and a will of her own.
I don't think DC spent enough time after the big secret reveal to rehabilitate the H's attitude. The H is still more focused on the h's first love than he is about the fact that she has lost her children, and she is so obviously grieving and feeling guilty and it is NEVER addressed. This h needed help, not a love clubbing and I can't quite forgive the H or DC for not seeing it.
(Really the only great time I had with this book was figuring out the perfume, that was selected by his younger sister, the H gives the h at her birthday party at the start of the book. I have determined based on the description of it being a new for 1990 carnation scented oriental with a delicate tone that it must have been Rocha's Byzance - even tho DC never names it in the book, it fits the description and it's scent kinda characterizes the h perfectly. She is nice, but sassy and has a lot of undiscovered depths that only show up as we become accustomed to her. )
Still the first part of this book is beautifully done and the h is really well portrayed, for all that we get very little of her POV. A lot of readers will find the H highly romantic, so while I did not buy the HEA or like the H, because I wanted to see the h get her own life and be happy with pretty much anyone else, most people find this an excellent story and a great outing to HPlandia.
This one has mostly H pov of view in it and so we mainly get to know the h from the H's perspective interspersed with secondary character's comments. What the H initially sees is a very beautiful woman who likes to play push and pull games with men. The h's father is all too eager to reinforce the impression that the h is a silly little flirt and how much he would like the H to take her in hand. The H has no intention of being served up on her platter, so even tho the h's father is pushing the h quite forcefully on him, he refuses to react to her challenges and keeps his distance.
They do start dating tho and we as readers get the first hint of something being off when the h meets his friend's children for the first time. The H makes a comment about how unlikely the h is to be around children and to his surprise she takes great offence at his remarks. The h is upset that he is inferring she wouldn't be a good parent, but not enough to dump him. We see more of the h's life as her father continues to try and force her into what he wants her to be and the h realizes that since she doesn't have a job, she doesn't have the means to be self supporting. She takes the initiative again and asks her father to pay for her to go back to school to get more training in computers, which should boost her employablity.
In the meanwhile, she is still dating the H and getting to know his family. There are lots of children about and while his older sister is dubious about the h's maturity level, his younger sister thinks the h is great and used to using her looks and a sparkling personality to hide a lot of pain and vulnerability. Eventually the h proposes to the H. It is hinted that she has several reasons, she likes the H and wants to do some boudoir bouncing with him, she wants to get out of her father's house and she really wants to have a baby. The H accepts, ostensibly because he would like some boudoir bouncing too, but mainly cause the h's father can do his career a powerful amount of good.
They marry and the h surprisingly is very good at housekeeping and domestic engineering. She even does a great job watching the H's friend's children when their parents go off for a few days. Soon the h is pregnant and things seem to be great on the domestic front, but there is tensions when the H doesn't discuss his work with her. The h sees him with a young attractive lady partner from his law firm and has some understandable concerns, mainly because the H never says he sees her as anything more than a pretty face. The H is a lot like the h's father, as she is finding out now that they are married.
Then the h suffers a miscarriage, and she sinks into the pits of depression. The H gets increasingly desperate to get the party girl h persona back and invites her father over. The h's father proves to be an insensitive cad who tells the h to pull herself together, he can get over the loss of his first grandchild and she needs to too.
Those words provoke a powerful attack by the h. It seems the lost baby was not the father's first grandchild, the h had a baby a 17 that she really wanted and the father made her give up in a closed adoption. Years of resentment and rage come out when the h succinctly explains that her father only ever wanted for her what he wanted her to have, she was never allowed to have her own life or her own independence and she quite rightly hates her father for his limiting, controlling ways. The h tells him she can't forgive him for refusing to help her keep her baby and that she has hated him ever since.
The H is shocked and makes the father leave. Then he asks the h about the guy she was with when she got preggers and the h believes that he took her father's payoff and left to go backpack around the world while the father was browbeating the h until she gave her baby up for adoption.
The H gets a different story from the h's father, he lied and told the h's boyfriend, (who wanted to marry her or do whatever the h wanted, cause they were very much in love,) that he had the h get a termination. The H is livid at the h's fathers insensitivity and arrogance, and tho the h had since apologized to her father, the father remarks how he never sees the h, the H remarks he can understand and how he doesn't want to see the h's father either.
Then the H decides that he needs to give the h back to her lost love and so he finds the young man, now five years older and establishing himself, and tells him about how the h's father lied to him and invites him to meet the h. The h's former lover does show up and the H leaves them for a bit. When he comes back both the young man and the h are gone and the H believes that the h left him to be with her first love. He gets a postcard from the h postmarked from the town where the former lover lives and so the assumes they are lurving it up together.
He eventually discovers that the h never left with the OM when he calls up to chat about the demise of their marriage. In fact the h and the OM only chatted together for a bit about the past and then never contacted each other again, too much time had passed and they weren't the same people.
This discovery panics the H and he starts an all out search for the h, for some reason he still persists in seeing her as a wayward child who can't look after herself. He eventually finds her, taking care of herself with a job and a flat and after establishing that he isn't only her babymaking stud service, he convinces her he loves her and wants her to come back for the big HEA.
A lot of people really love this book. Especially the part where the H lets the h go because he thinks she is happier with her first love. While I think the character of the h is exquisitely done, I pretty much despise this H. Throughout the book he and other characters, except his younger sister, are patronizing, judgmental gits and I finally ran out of patience for the lot of them.
Just because a woman is beautiful and flirty, they judge her as being an immature man eater. But every single male, except for the h's first love and a man from Canada she dates a bit early on in the book, sees the h as a empty headed sex toy and treats her like one, and that includes the H. I don't feel he ever once sees who the h really is and while DC did an excellent job of revealing the h's character to us, she never shows that the other character's in the book see it too. (Except for the H's younger sister - who winds up being a patsy to push the H and h back together.)
Even the subsequent revelations about the h's life don't stop this H from arrogantly assuming the h is some kind of helpless, doormatty parcel he can manage and pass around. The continual subtle demeaning of the h's character by the H was enough to pretty much make me ill.
It never stops, he never thinks she is an independent person who can manage her own life, even at the culmination of the book. The h's father was just atrocious and unfortunately I never really see the H as anything different. This H never, not once, just sits down and expresses his sorrow for the h over the loss of her children and then simply asks her how he can help her be happy again. Instead he makes this asinine decision to hand her over to her first love, without even consulting the h. So in my eyes, he should have been left permanently, cause he was a self-centered louse and refused to see the h has a mind and a brain and a will of her own.
I don't think DC spent enough time after the big secret reveal to rehabilitate the H's attitude. The H is still more focused on the h's first love than he is about the fact that she has lost her children, and she is so obviously grieving and feeling guilty and it is NEVER addressed. This h needed help, not a love clubbing and I can't quite forgive the H or DC for not seeing it.
(Really the only great time I had with this book was figuring out the perfume, that was selected by his younger sister, the H gives the h at her birthday party at the start of the book. I have determined based on the description of it being a new for 1990 carnation scented oriental with a delicate tone that it must have been Rocha's Byzance - even tho DC never names it in the book, it fits the description and it's scent kinda characterizes the h perfectly. She is nice, but sassy and has a lot of undiscovered depths that only show up as we become accustomed to her. )
Still the first part of this book is beautifully done and the h is really well portrayed, for all that we get very little of her POV. A lot of readers will find the H highly romantic, so while I did not buy the HEA or like the H, because I wanted to see the h get her own life and be happy with pretty much anyone else, most people find this an excellent story and a great outing to HPlandia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2014
This was a surprisingly poignant vintage Harlequin Presents. I didn't expect the depths of anguish that Trista was hiding. I think that it's a good lesson about how people are judged because of what people assume about them. People had pegged Trista as a spoiled rich girl who refused to grow up. Who toyed with men out of boredom. But her actions were the result of deep, unresolved hurt.
Pierce is a good hero. While he attempted to maintain a distance from Trista, he couldn't help falling in love with her. He plays some emotional games to an extent to protect himself from being ripped to shreds like Trista's other suitors. But when the cards fall, he shows her the love and understanding that she truly needed.
I can't say what Trista's issues were without spoiling this book. And truly it's worth delving in to explore her character for the reader. Pierce is a more betaish hero, which is great. I like beta heroes a lot, and he's the best kind of hero for a wounded soul like Trista.
While Harlequin Presents can be dramatic and intense, sometimes the depth isn't there. In this case, there is not a lot of drama but a lot of emotional depth. For a short novel, Clair does a lot of character exploration and with very complex characterization, and delivers a very satisfying book that was also in its own way thought-provoking. I'd recommend seeking this one out to Vintage Harlequin Presents fans and collectors.
Pierce is a good hero. While he attempted to maintain a distance from Trista, he couldn't help falling in love with her. He plays some emotional games to an extent to protect himself from being ripped to shreds like Trista's other suitors. But when the cards fall, he shows her the love and understanding that she truly needed.
I can't say what Trista's issues were without spoiling this book. And truly it's worth delving in to explore her character for the reader. Pierce is a more betaish hero, which is great. I like beta heroes a lot, and he's the best kind of hero for a wounded soul like Trista.
While Harlequin Presents can be dramatic and intense, sometimes the depth isn't there. In this case, there is not a lot of drama but a lot of emotional depth. For a short novel, Clair does a lot of character exploration and with very complex characterization, and delivers a very satisfying book that was also in its own way thought-provoking. I'd recommend seeking this one out to Vintage Harlequin Presents fans and collectors.
April 29, 2018
I'm not as crazy about this one as everyone else. It definitely has more depth than your traditional HP, but both the H/h left a lot to be desired. Her reckless and callous ways left me cold. Many readers tend to cut her slack because of a devastating blow from the past. However, it didn't work for me. I would have much preferred a woman who became strong based on her past, versus one who became a frivolous man-eater.
The hero was also a real piece of work. He was one cold fish. I still believe he married her to accelerate his career. He can deny it all he wants, but I'm not buying it. Every step that man took was a calculated move in his best interests.
On a brighter note, at least they won't destroy anyone else. They'll get to torment each other from now to eternity. If you want a more quality read, I would suggest Mary Burchell's Such is Love.
The hero was also a real piece of work. He was one cold fish. I still believe he married her to accelerate his career. He can deny it all he wants, but I'm not buying it. Every step that man took was a calculated move in his best interests.
On a brighter note, at least they won't destroy anyone else. They'll get to torment each other from now to eternity. If you want a more quality read, I would suggest Mary Burchell's Such is Love.
July 23, 2012
This was a reread for me but it's been awhile. I liked it the first time and liked even more on the second read. I truly appreciate DC's character development. She takes a familiar theme and does so much more than most HP authors do.
The heroine is presented as being spoiled, immature, bratty, fickle and shallow. However, DC very quickly invites the reader to understand that this behavior is just a protective defensive shell. It's the personna this h developed to survive the emotional pain and grief she has experienced.
We get the H's pov so we know that he sees her behavior as a deliberate ploy that he senses that she's been hurt but inevitably he still sees her as immature and maybe too young for him. The H is determined to not be one of the h's victims. He's seen her lead men on then push them away so he remains somewhat aloof. He pursues her but on his terms and lets her know he won't play her games.
She eventually asks him to marry her and he agrees. He thinks she wants him because he hasn't fallen at her feet like all her young boyfriends and she thinks he agrees because of her father's ability to help his career. Eventually everything comes to a head when her secret pain comes to light. He thinks he understands her pain and needs and thinks he should set her free to be happy and she thinks he wants to be free of her so she leaves so he can be happy. There's a very emotional point when he recieves a postcard from her that says "I'm ok, Don't worry" and he holds the post card and says "Be happy".
The happy ever after eventually comes to be and is sweet, emotional and believable.
The heroine is presented as being spoiled, immature, bratty, fickle and shallow. However, DC very quickly invites the reader to understand that this behavior is just a protective defensive shell. It's the personna this h developed to survive the emotional pain and grief she has experienced.
We get the H's pov so we know that he sees her behavior as a deliberate ploy that he senses that she's been hurt but inevitably he still sees her as immature and maybe too young for him. The H is determined to not be one of the h's victims. He's seen her lead men on then push them away so he remains somewhat aloof. He pursues her but on his terms and lets her know he won't play her games.
She eventually asks him to marry her and he agrees. He thinks she wants him because he hasn't fallen at her feet like all her young boyfriends and she thinks he agrees because of her father's ability to help his career. Eventually everything comes to a head when her secret pain comes to light. He thinks he understands her pain and needs and thinks he should set her free to be happy and she thinks he wants to be free of her so she leaves so he can be happy. There's a very emotional point when he recieves a postcard from her that says "I'm ok, Don't worry" and he holds the post card and says "Be happy".
The happy ever after eventually comes to be and is sweet, emotional and believable.
February 19, 2010
I reread this recently since I was in a mood for a dark read. This is more of a psychological drama than a romance. The heroine is very damaged, perhaps too damaged for the HEA to be very believable.
The book starts and ends with the hero's POV. He is an up-and-coming lawyer and meets the boss's 21 year old daughter with no unsubtle push from the boss. The heroine comes across as a pampered, heartless maneater and the hero is determined not to be one of her victims like so many of the young men around her. He takes an aloof, slightly condescending attitude towards her but is drawn to her all the same because he also senses that she has been hurt.
They start dating and eventually marry. A terrible event happens and her past comes out. The hero realizes the heroine is not the empty-headed party girl that he sometimes treat her as. He does what he can to help her heal, even if it means that she leaves him. I always tear up at the scene where he thinks she has left him for another man and receives a postcard from her. He holds the postcard in his hands and tells her "be happy".
I'm a longtime Daphne Clair fan. A lot of her books from this period have a moodiness that I like. Last year, she returned to the Presents line after a five year absence and I find her more recent books a lot more bland in comparison.
The book starts and ends with the hero's POV. He is an up-and-coming lawyer and meets the boss's 21 year old daughter with no unsubtle push from the boss. The heroine comes across as a pampered, heartless maneater and the hero is determined not to be one of her victims like so many of the young men around her. He takes an aloof, slightly condescending attitude towards her but is drawn to her all the same because he also senses that she has been hurt.
They start dating and eventually marry. A terrible event happens and her past comes out. The hero realizes the heroine is not the empty-headed party girl that he sometimes treat her as. He does what he can to help her heal, even if it means that she leaves him. I always tear up at the scene where he thinks she has left him for another man and receives a postcard from her. He holds the postcard in his hands and tells her "be happy".
I'm a longtime Daphne Clair fan. A lot of her books from this period have a moodiness that I like. Last year, she returned to the Presents line after a five year absence and I find her more recent books a lot more bland in comparison.
August 5, 2020
"The Wayward Bride" is the story of Trista and Pierce.
Well, this was different.
Our hero is a cut-throat lawyer, whose boss invites him to his daughter's 21st birthday party. He meets the heroine, this flirty, frivolous, social butterfly, who plays games with men and takes pleasure in rejecting them. He thinks she is immature and unlikable, yet cannot help but be fascinated by the social butterfly. As he starts courting her, revelations are made, deep buried secrets are unearthed and in the second half of the book, everything starts making sense..
Angst filled romance with characters in shades of grey. The MCs were unlikable at certain parts of the book, until we explored their behavior, the traumatic past is exposed and things definitely became clear towards the end of the book. I didn't expect the story to go where it did- but it was SO different and shocking- I could NOT stop reading! This definitely needed an epilogue, but atleast they had their happy ending.
SWE
3/5
Well, this was different.
Our hero is a cut-throat lawyer, whose boss invites him to his daughter's 21st birthday party. He meets the heroine, this flirty, frivolous, social butterfly, who plays games with men and takes pleasure in rejecting them. He thinks she is immature and unlikable, yet cannot help but be fascinated by the social butterfly. As he starts courting her, revelations are made, deep buried secrets are unearthed and in the second half of the book, everything starts making sense..
Angst filled romance with characters in shades of grey. The MCs were unlikable at certain parts of the book, until we explored their behavior, the traumatic past is exposed and things definitely became clear towards the end of the book. I didn't expect the story to go where it did- but it was SO different and shocking- I could NOT stop reading! This definitely needed an epilogue, but atleast they had their happy ending.
SWE
3/5
April 2, 2017
The hero had his chauvinistic moments but he was a decent human being. He caught up fast and once he realised his fault, he didn't brood, sulk or deny. He didn't shift blames. She didn't shift blames. They apologised and the hero started working on his redemption. That's what they do, they want to make their loved ones happy, and they care.
And he was one of those martyr kind I desperately wanted to slap silly!
As I was telling Margaret earlier, the poor heroes just can't seem to win with me! If they try to fight for the heroine, I'm like "you Neanderthal brute". If the are the sacrificial type I'm shouting "you stupid coward of a p****, we love to be wooed and pursued!
They just can't seem to catch a break! LMFAO!
But altogether it was nicely wrapped up.
I just didn't get the full 5 stars vibe, that's just it.
There are triggers, but I don't have issues with it, so it was fine, no stars deducted for that. It's just the vibe :)
And he was one of those martyr kind I desperately wanted to slap silly!
As I was telling Margaret earlier, the poor heroes just can't seem to win with me! If they try to fight for the heroine, I'm like "you Neanderthal brute". If the are the sacrificial type I'm shouting "you stupid coward of a p****, we love to be wooed and pursued!
They just can't seem to catch a break! LMFAO!
But altogether it was nicely wrapped up.
I just didn't get the full 5 stars vibe, that's just it.
There are triggers, but I don't have issues with it, so it was fine, no stars deducted for that. It's just the vibe :)
July 2, 2022
The h is a poor little rich party girl. The H is a highly intelligent, successful lawyer.
It is the h who asks the H to marry her. The H hesitates at first and then he says yes. I’m old-fashioned, I hate it when the h pursues or takes first steps in the relationship.
She isn’t a virgin. He is perfectly okay with not having sex with her in many, many months. There’s no pursuit, no great passion, no great love from him. In my opinion he was just not that into her.
The annoying h had already turned this story into a ruin. And his indifference towards her ruined the ruin. So 1 star.
It is the h who asks the H to marry her. The H hesitates at first and then he says yes. I’m old-fashioned, I hate it when the h pursues or takes first steps in the relationship.
She isn’t a virgin. He is perfectly okay with not having sex with her in many, many months. There’s no pursuit, no great passion, no great love from him. In my opinion he was just not that into her.
The annoying h had already turned this story into a ruin. And his indifference towards her ruined the ruin. So 1 star.
May 1, 2013
A wonderful story, full of emotion. With a real good man for a Hero and that makes a positive change. Not the usual cruel tycoon only bent on making more money or/and having as many beautiful and shallow mistresses as possible. Here we have a lawyer, an honest man. A man whose main fault is never saying to heroine that he loves her and when all explodes… He must accept that heroine has the right to have a second chance at mending her tragic past. And that means to set her free and loose her, because it’s possible she doesn’t love him, she was only following the course marked to her by others.
And after telling you all this, I’ll leave you to discover for yourself the book’s strong points.
And after telling you all this, I’ll leave you to discover for yourself the book’s strong points.
July 2, 2022
Oh, this one! Came across on Open Library (sadly pp 8-15 - I think quite a key scene, curses! - missing) and was drawn in by a barrister H. She seems initially a typical too wayward childish 21 year old to his 29. But. This is far more sophisticated than your average. I won't spoilerize but it definitely pays off. He is wry, reserved and seems in control. She is no idiot. This was a good read.
November 17, 2012
i would recommend this book to everyone. it had one of the best scenes in all harlequins i ever read. the hero received a postcard from the heroine after she had left him. he looked at the card and said "be happy" even when he thought she had left him for another man. a true lesson in love. i would have given it a 5 star but the sex scenes were not described being an old harlequin
February 17, 2015
This is on several "best" and "favorite" Harlequin lists.
It was good, but not anything special. I expected more from the reviews I'd read.
It was good, but not anything special. I expected more from the reviews I'd read.
March 3, 2019
I like reading Anna's books. This book was felt as a long read. I did read all the way. Isla followed her sister. Then Lady Entwhistle is arguing in the Ball. Then she gets in the forest in freezing! Lord Pierce finds Isla and keeps with her until it stops . Isla is afraid of a friend. Lord Sydney has crashes with his carriage and is almost dead! Lucas finds him and bringing him . He has a huge dog, Brute! Here is when where the Story turns with everyone . This is a long book to read! There a lot of people for you to try to remember! Some are happy yet most are down. You will need to keep tissues right beside your side. Check this book for yourself! I really liked this book from Anna!
March 30, 2021
I read very enthusiastic reviews, especially praising the angst delivered by the heroine of this book. Yes, there was angst, unfortunately I found this book rather boring for a good chunk of it. Only the promise of a good denouement kept mw reading. At the end, I was not disappointed. Trista's secret is definitely compelling and extremely well delivered. I love when at the end of a novel you are handed a piece of the puzzle that makes you want to go back and start the book again just to look at the story through that new light.
For that reason, I give 3 stars, one more than I would have given if I had rated it after reading only 2/3 of the story.
For that reason, I give 3 stars, one more than I would have given if I had rated it after reading only 2/3 of the story.
February 10, 2018
boring.
April 15, 2022
3.5 stars ⭐️ This really picked up in the middle and hooked me! It drags and has a strange feeling at the beginning. Then later all the weirdness makes sense.
March 4, 2023
Yeah, I guarantee the dress was not THAT pink.
May 27, 2023
"Μυστηριώδης Νύφη" - Δάφνη Κλαίρ, Σειρά Χρυσό (καφέ), νούμερο 461, έτος έκδοσης στην Ελλάδα: 1990
"Η Τρίσα Βάντελερ είναι ένα ανώριμο κορίτσι, που έχει την κακή συνήθεια να μασάει τους νεαρούς και να τους φτύνει σαν τους βαρεθεί. Ε, λοιπόν, εγώ δεν έχω καμιά όρεξη να είμαι το επόμενο... μενού". Παρά τις κατηγορηματικές του δηλώσεις, ωστόσο, ο Πίρς βρέθηκε πιασμένος στα δίχτυα του έρωτά της και ντύθηκε γαμπρός για χάρη της. Μα τι είδους γυναίκα ήταν η Τρίστα; Και γιατί ακριβώς τον είχε παντρευτεί; Δεν ήταν όμως ο μόνος που είχε απορίες. Και η Τρίστα χρειαζόταν κάποιες απαντήσεις...
ΜΙΑ ΠΟΛΥ ΚΑΛΗ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ!!!!
"Η Τρίσα Βάντελερ είναι ένα ανώριμο κορίτσι, που έχει την κακή συνήθεια να μασάει τους νεαρούς και να τους φτύνει σαν τους βαρεθεί. Ε, λοιπόν, εγώ δεν έχω καμιά όρεξη να είμαι το επόμενο... μενού". Παρά τις κατηγορηματικές του δηλώσεις, ωστόσο, ο Πίρς βρέθηκε πιασμένος στα δίχτυα του έρωτά της και ντύθηκε γαμπρός για χάρη της. Μα τι είδους γυναίκα ήταν η Τρίστα; Και γιατί ακριβώς τον είχε παντρευτεί; Δεν ήταν όμως ο μόνος που είχε απορίες. Και η Τρίστα χρειαζόταν κάποιες απαντήσεις...
ΜΙΑ ΠΟΛΥ ΚΑΛΗ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ!!!!
February 12, 2014
Clair's writing can sometimes be too all over the place and the heroines too tiresome, but this book stood out because of the 'guy'. Super crush on Pierce.
April 22, 2017
I read this a long time ago but didn't do a review. This is the book that made me put Daphne Clair on auto buy. It was an excellent romance with believable characters and a totally unexpected twist at the end. It's very very emotional.
Before reading my review, I give fair warning that it has a lot of spoilers and in fairness to the story, it should be read without having everything revealed. The climax is true turning point and to know it in advance would diminish the power of the story. It really is that good.
Surprisingly, especially for its time, a lot of it is told in the Hero's POV. The couple meet when the H is invited to the 21st birthday party of the heroine. Her father is his boss and as an up and coming junior partner at the firm, he feels obligated to go. The father makes no bones about doing a bit of match-making but the couple resists at first. They form pre-conceived notions about each other, and try on a kind of power struggle. The H thinks the heroine is a baby femme fatale and wants to teach her a lesson, while the heroine wants to try and see if her wiles will work on an older man.
They continue this way for a bit but they are actually attracted to each other and progress to a more conventional dating relationship, however neither one is sure of the feelings of the other. They get married and have a surprisingly good marriage. The heroine is an efficient housewife and perfect hostess for her ambitious husband. And, While the readers know that the heroine has fallen in love with her husband, it's still a bit ambiguous how he feels about her. A few incidents show that she is still unsure of her husband despite his seeming devotion.
SPOILERS
The heroine gets pregnant and is just so ecstatically happy, she is blooming. All goes swimmingly until she has a miscarriage. She then falls into a very deep depression that no one can seem to get her out off, including her husband. Her father, fed up with her moping ways, tries to force her out of her mood and a flaming row ensures. It's revealed that the heroine had teenage pregnancy and her father forced her to give the child away. The hero is shocked but tries to understand and support his wife. This is the cathartic scene, so raw and heartbreaking.
Pierce suspects that Trista is depressed since she was forced to give away the child of her childhood sweetheart, her true love. He tries to find the ex-boyfriend hoping he can resolve some issues with the wife so she can move on and get over her depression. He convinces the ex to come to their home and speak to his wife. The H drives away to give them some privacy. When he returns the ex and his wife are both gone. It's the first time the reader sees how affected the H is by his wife's desertion. However he thinks he is doing the right thing for her and that this is what she really wants so he does not pursue her. Some months pass and Pierce just has to know how Trista is so he calls the ex, only to find out that she never left with him. The ex admits that they spoke a bit then he left. He also has no idea where she could have gone.
Pierce then desperately tries to find her. When he does, he finally confesses his love for her and they have their HEA.
Before reading my review, I give fair warning that it has a lot of spoilers and in fairness to the story, it should be read without having everything revealed. The climax is true turning point and to know it in advance would diminish the power of the story. It really is that good.
Surprisingly, especially for its time, a lot of it is told in the Hero's POV. The couple meet when the H is invited to the 21st birthday party of the heroine. Her father is his boss and as an up and coming junior partner at the firm, he feels obligated to go. The father makes no bones about doing a bit of match-making but the couple resists at first. They form pre-conceived notions about each other, and try on a kind of power struggle. The H thinks the heroine is a baby femme fatale and wants to teach her a lesson, while the heroine wants to try and see if her wiles will work on an older man.
They continue this way for a bit but they are actually attracted to each other and progress to a more conventional dating relationship, however neither one is sure of the feelings of the other. They get married and have a surprisingly good marriage. The heroine is an efficient housewife and perfect hostess for her ambitious husband. And, While the readers know that the heroine has fallen in love with her husband, it's still a bit ambiguous how he feels about her. A few incidents show that she is still unsure of her husband despite his seeming devotion.
SPOILERS
The heroine gets pregnant and is just so ecstatically happy, she is blooming. All goes swimmingly until she has a miscarriage. She then falls into a very deep depression that no one can seem to get her out off, including her husband. Her father, fed up with her moping ways, tries to force her out of her mood and a flaming row ensures. It's revealed that the heroine had teenage pregnancy and her father forced her to give the child away. The hero is shocked but tries to understand and support his wife. This is the cathartic scene, so raw and heartbreaking.
Pierce suspects that Trista is depressed since she was forced to give away the child of her childhood sweetheart, her true love. He tries to find the ex-boyfriend hoping he can resolve some issues with the wife so she can move on and get over her depression. He convinces the ex to come to their home and speak to his wife. The H drives away to give them some privacy. When he returns the ex and his wife are both gone. It's the first time the reader sees how affected the H is by his wife's desertion. However he thinks he is doing the right thing for her and that this is what she really wants so he does not pursue her. Some months pass and Pierce just has to know how Trista is so he calls the ex, only to find out that she never left with him. The ex admits that they spoke a bit then he left. He also has no idea where she could have gone.
Pierce then desperately tries to find her. When he does, he finally confesses his love for her and they have their HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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