TLC Book Tour Book Review: The Bride Wore Pearls

Author:  Liz Carlyle
Title: The Bride Wore Pearls
Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: July 31, 2012
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By:  TLC Book Tours & the publisher

Book Blurb: 

Beneath the elegant faÇade of Victorian high society, the mysterious men of the St. James Society play only by rules of danger and desire. Rance Welham, the Earl of Lazonby, has survived scandal and disgrace, even evading the Queen’s justice at the end of a hangman’s rope. Now he’s about to gamble everything on something far more dangerous—desire. An exotic and elegant beauty, Lady Anisha Stafford fled her native India to seek refuge within London’s secretive St. James Society. But accepting protection from someone called a cold-hearted killer is a double-edged sword . . . especially when he’s the most intriguing man Anisha has ever laid eyes upon. In a world where treachery abounds, no one can be trusted—and no true passion can be denied. Together, these two tempestuous souls will risk their lives for a love that could redeem them . . . or destroy everything they hold dear.

Review: First things first, The Bride Wore Pearls is part of a series. Not a series that has to be read in order, so that's great. Just your typical historical "character" series. Why are there so many of these? The good thing is that this book can be read as a stand alone, unless you are an obsessive compulsive series reader.

This is the first historical romance that I've read in ages where the heroine is truly strong and independent. Anisha is definitely a refreshing character. She's not a simpering English miss that lets the men walk all over her, though her brother, who isn't really in the story, tries from afar.

What really surprised me was how long it took for Rance and Anisha to get it together. I mean, this is a historical romance, right? It felt a lot like an intrigue, because they were both working to clear Rance's name of a crime he didn't commit yet was exonerated for. Rance and Anisha didn't fall into bed until about halfway through the book. Wow! That was quite a wait considering the tension between the two.

The ending felt a little hurried and was a bit too formulated for a historical romance. If you read historicals you will know what I mean. Suffice to say a bad thing almost happens and then all is well and HEA.

I would have liked more romance and a lot less intrigue, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book.

Rating:  4 flowers