Book Review: The Wedding


Title: The Wedding (Book Two of the Lairds' Fiancees Series)
Author: Julie Garwood

Synopsis:

1119 AD. Journeying from England to Scotland to wed a highlander, Lady Brenna had resigned herself to the arranged match. But when a band of fierce, painted warriors captured her en route, she fearlessly met their demand to marry their leader -- the quick-tempered laird Connor MacAlister.She couldn't know that her capture was merely the first act of vengeance against her betrothed, Connor's sworn enemy. Brenna harbored no illusionsthat her husband was in love with her; after a hasty forest wedding,MacAlister assured her she could return home once she had borne him a son.But she could not deny that she had once proposed to MacAlister -- ten yearsago, when she was just a child, and the visitor to her father's castlecharmed her with his dazzling, unexpected smile. Now, as she sets out to winthe brave chieftain whom she has come to adore, a legacy of revenge ensnares Brenna in a furious clan war -- and only her faith in her gallant hero cansave her....

Genre: Historical Romance

Thoughts on the Book

This is one of those books which can make you laugh out loud starting from the first chapter up to the end. It was very entertaining. I can't put it down and I stayed awake in the wee hours of the morning just to finish it. I love the characters. I love the plot though it's unlikely to happen. This is more thrilling than the first book. I don't know if Garwood wrote this book as a mockery to English people because it's as though the English were portrayed as weaklings. The story was a bit exxagerated but it was not annoying. It just made the book funnier and more appealing to the readers. I guess that was why readers loved it.

CONNOR MACALISTER. Though he was portrayed as a ruthless leader who lived to avenged his father's death, readers will see his personality transformation towards the end of this book. The real Connor resurfaced when he met Brenna. He began to care about other people's feelings and he began to know how to comfort Brenna when she's upset or sad. Brenna help him heal his wounds. She helped him let go of his past and accept what the future has layed for him. He began to love and believe in hope. He began to think less of war and think more of his family. I was happy that he finally found his home.

BRENNA HAYNESWORTH. She's probably one of the funniest female protagonist ever. I can't seem to stop laughing every time she does something foolish or when she's having a witty banter with Connor over some things she wants to do. When she was a kid and she saw Connor for the first time, she taught he was a God because he was really big. That was when she decided that she will marry him. So she proposed to him. Two of the proposals were rejected but Connor did not reply to the last proposal. The opportunity to use the proposal came when Connor came to know that she was to marry McNare. She's such a silly girl who wants too be accepted in Connor's world. She has a big appetite. She has this thing about thinking things through and subconsciously speaking what's on her mind without healing it. She also has this habit of misplacing her things. Plus, when she's angry she tends to say foul words and once she calms down, she forgets what she have already said. Her emotions changes easily and it should be annoying but it's difficult to get annoyed with her. I so love her!

QUINLAN. He's Connor's best friend. He voices his opinions confidently even though it's unsolicited. He's totally in it to amuse himself over Connor's distracted behavior towards Lady Brenna. The addition of Faith, Lady Brenna's youngest sibling, was brilliant. I hope there's a full length novel dedicated to them.

ALEC & JAMIE. I'm grateful that they are still included in this book. They're quite a pair and they set example to the newly weds. I like how Alec took Connor into his home and accepted and considered him as his brother. He gives pieces of advice to Connor and he keeps saying that he need not pretend to be not in love with his wife. It would be much easier if he just accepts that fact. Jamie is becoming more emotional and I'm glad that she became friends with Brenna. Their daughter Grace is quite an angel. She's like a cherub and she's very witty like her mom.

EUPHEMIA. I've always suspected that there is something fishy about this woman. But I never thought she would go that far. She's so ambitious. She's got the nerve to return after years of tormenting Connor. She has deeply wounded Connor's emotional state and she doesn't have the right to claim something which was not hers. I hated her more when she told Brenna to submit herself to Raen because he's Connor's brother and he deserves as much pleasure as him. Thanks to Lady Brenna, if not for her they might not have been able to protect their kingdom from their plot.

I know that this story is unrealistic and somehow inaccurate but I guess Garwood has a reason for this. It somehow gave the 'at home' feeling to me. It makes me feel relaxed and stressed free. I don't remember getting bored or tired because I can't put the book down. If The Bride made me laugh, this book made me laughed even more. It's imperfection made it perfect for me. It's one of these books written to give pleasure to its readers. The pleasure has been mine for reading your book. And I shall be happy to recommend it to all you readers. I love you Julie!

Quotes from the Book
Connor: I'll explain everything later. You told me I only had to open my heart. Do you remember?
Brenna: I remember.
Connor: You were asking me to love you, weren't you? I should have told you then.
Brenna: Tell me what?
Connor: That I love you.
Brenna: No, you only want...
Connor: I love you. I know you love me. Why didn't you tell me? Were you afraid?
Brenna: I didn't tell you how I felt because I knew you didn't love me. yes, I was afraid, but you weren't afraid, were you?
Connor: Yes, I was. Brenna, you scared the hell out of me. If I love you, I became vulnerable. What would happen to me if you died? And then it was too late. I couldn't protect myslef from you, but once I realized i loved you, I felt reborn inside. One of us will surely die before the other, but the memories will sustain the one left behind. You know what?
Brenna: What?
Connor: I'm never going to let you go. I know you deserve far more than I can ever give you. It doesn't matter, though. You're mine.
Rating: 5/5

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