Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Review: Rule's Bride by Kat Martin

This book falls into my New Author Reading Challenge.

Rule's Bride is the third book in Ms. Martin's Bride trilogy, I have not read the previous two books, Royal's Bride and Reese's Bride. When the book opens, Rule is employed in a weapons factory in Boston, and his boss calls him into his office and offers him a deal that could change his life. His boss, Howard Griffin, is dying, and he's concerned for the welfare of his 16-year-old daughter, Violet. Howard wants Rule to marry Violet, in name only until she turns 18, at which time he can exercise his husbandly rights. At that time he will also become half owner of Griffin Manufacturing, the company Violet will inherit at her father's death. Rule is hesitant at first but ends up accepting the arrangement.

Fast forward three years, and Rule is a year late coming to claim Violet. He's living back in England, got a well-earned reputation as something of a lady's man, and no one, not even his family, has any inkling that he's married. When Violet shows up on his doorstep he is shocked - not only did he not expect to see her, but he's noticing that she went from a gawky tomboy at age 16 to a knockout at age 19 and he likes what he sees. The problem is, Violet is in love with someone back in Boston, Jeffrey, and she's come to England to ask Rule for an annullment so she can marry Jeffrey. He doesn't want to disolve their marriage, he thinks she's beautiful and he wants her to stay. He convinces her to stay for one month, but she makes it clear she'll not be bedding him.

Things are moving along slowly, when Rule takes Violet to the theatre and a fire erupts. They barely escape with their lives and in the rush of adrenaline and thankfulness to be alive they consumate their marriage. Violet is devastated, she'll have to get a divorce now instead of an annullment, and she's not even sure Jeffrey will still want her after this. Little does she know Jeffrey has a secret: he's in cahoots with a gentleman who wants to buy Violet's company - and use it to arm the Southern States before war in the United States breaks out. Jeffrey knows Violet is anti-slavery but thinks he can change her mind after they're married. When Jeffrey arrives and Violet tells him she's consumated her marriage to Rule, he is disappointed but doesn't give up.

As Rule and Violet are trying to sell their company, there are a few buyers, but Violet makes it clear whomever buys the company may not use it to arm the Southern States. Then one of the buyers is killed and Rule is caught on the scene and thrown in jail. While trying to find the real killer, she discovers children working in horrible conditions and endeavors to save them while also trying to free her husband.

This book really didn't do it for me. The romance was flat and I found it difficult to work up any feelings for Violet or Rule. I was not impressed by the fact that Rule was supposed to go back for Violet after two years but by the time she came to him he was already year late. Then he decides he wants her? His reputation didn't bode well as far as a lasting relationship; he sounds like a serial seducer - he sticks with one lover for awhile and then moves on to the next when he's done. No wonder Violet was paranoid he'd eventually leave her.

I also thought the love triangle was weak - Jeffrey was such a wet noodle. He seemed to be such a pushover and he claimed he loved Violet while working with another man against her to get control of her company.

I did like the angle about the Southern states trying to buy the armament to outfit the Southern States with weapons on the eve of the Civil War, and the lengths some men would go to in order to preserve their way of life. As a whole, though, I found this book could not keep my interest and I give it 2 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

17 comments:

  1. Oh boo..I am reading this one in the near future. We will see how I like it. It doesn't sound too promising...but we shall see!

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  2. He is not really doing it for me, I am very unsure about thsi book

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  3. Mandi,I don't know if it would have made a difference had I read the other two...

    Blodeuedd - It was just okay.

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  4. OH Patti, I have one and two in paperback and three as an eread. I am sorry that it fell flat for you. But I can see from your review you gave it thought. And you had me giggling at the WET NOODLE comment, lmbo!!!!!
    I will keep your review in mind when I read.. Like Mandi... we shall see!
    Hope all is well my friend!! Hugs to ya!

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  5. Fantastic review Patti! Kat's covers have been catching my eye lately but I'm so happy that I read your review before making any purchases. This one definitely doesn't sound like my cuppa. A flat romance and a wet noodle for the third in a love triangle? No thanks.

    Hugs, VFG

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  6. Wet noodle?? LOL

    I have to read this one too in the near future, just like Mandi I will see if I like it or not, I usually enjoy Kat Martin books. But sometimes characters or a plotline just don't work, thanks for your honest opinion.

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  7. Aw, what a shame. And this book had such a promising cover too! That's just false advertising.

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  8. Cecile, I hope you enjoy them. Could be that it was just not a good story for me.

    VFG - I liked the cover. And yes, the third just couldn't seem to make up his mind!

    Marissa - I hope you enjoy it; I'm curious to see how other people like it.

    Danielle - I liked the cover and the blurb which is why I asked to read it.

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  9. WET...NOODLE...LOLOLOL!!!! I think ill stay away from this one! ;op

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  10. Monroe - LOL, that's the word that immediately popped into my mind while thinking of how to describe him.

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  11. I find that I'm very picky when it comes to historicals - I can't read about "wet noodle" characters.

    P.S. I also can't read historicals where the main hero is a rake. It pisses me off. I guess I'm more of a Darcy fan girl.

    PPS. I'm okay with gay rakes in male/male romance. Go figure.

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  12. I think this is what happens when an author is on book 15 or so..the romance just becomes flat. I think I'll skip this one.

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  13. SHB - I like historicals, I even like rakes, but this one just didn't do it for me.

    Buckeye Girl - I haven't read anything else by this author but in this case it was flat.

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  14. Hi Patti,

    I'm sorry you didn't enjoy this book! I've read the first book in the series "Royal's Bride" and really enjoyed it!

    I love the cover and I'm still going to check out the book to see for myself! LOL!

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  15. Razlover - I wondered if I needed to go back and read the rest, although it's not the same main characters. And yes, I do like the cover too.

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  16. i think you are wrong. I liked Rule's bride, as i did with the other two. I thought they were great and i would continue to read her novels.

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  17. Anonymous: Glad to hear you liked it better than I did. No author can please every reader. :)

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