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The Beauty Bride  By  cover art

The Beauty Bride

By: Claire Delacroix,Deborah Cooke
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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Publisher's summary

More cherished than gold are the Jewels of Kinfairlie, and only the worthiest may fight for their love...The Laird of Kinfairlie has unmarried sisters, each a gem in her own right. And he has no choice but to see them all wed in haste.

Lady Madeline's heart is not for sale - especially not to a notorious outlaw like Rhys FitzHenry. Yet Madeline's hand has been sold, to none other than this battle-weary warrior with a price on his head. A more dutiful maiden might cede to the Laird's command and meekly accept her fate, but Madeline has never been obedient. She decides to run away, though she never dreams that Rhys will pursue her. She does not expect this taciturn man to woo her with fanciful stories, much less that each of his enthralling tales will reveal a scar upon his shielded soul. She never imagines that a man like Rhys could imperil her own heart while revealing so little of his own feelings. When Rhys's past threatens his future, Madeline takes a leap of faith. She dares to believe him innocent - and risks her own life to pursue a passion more priceless than the rarest gem.

©2005 Claire Delacroix, Inc. (P)2014 Deborah A. Cooke

What listeners say about The Beauty Bride

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A romance that will take your breath away!

Would you listen to The Beauty Bride again? Why?

The Beauty Bride is one of those rare novels that will stick with you long past the final chapters. The characters are exceptionally well done and I would listen to it again like one would visit a favorite friend. The tales told by Rhys, the hero in the story, are exceptional and I'd want to listen to those again to take away the touching lessons his tales told.

What other book might you compare The Beauty Bride to and why?

For readers who enjoy romance novels and authors like Sabrina Jeffries, Christina Dodd, and Heather Snow, Claire DelaCroix is sure to impress! Her writing is skillful, detailed, and writing in a manner that will capture the readers full attention and pull you into her magnificent tale of love, courage, and adventure.

What about Saskia Maarleveld’s performance did you like?

Saskia Maarleveld excelled throughout the entire novel. Her narration was even flowing, smooth, and easy to listen to. I was especially impressed by her range of voices and the way she captured the dialogue with the right mix of emotion. She added depth to the novel and I would listen to anything she narrates.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This was a book that was almost impossible to pause! The plot is intricately woven and captivating. The characters are so well done that I enjoyed every word, laughing out loud at some of the well written dialogue. I absolutely would have loved to have listened to this all in one sitting. I listen to audiobooks mostly while commuting, and I have to say for once I looked forward to Monday morning just so I could hear the end of this delightful tale.

Any additional comments?

The Beauty Bride is one of those rare novels that will stick with you long past the final chapters. The characters are exceptionally well done and I would listen to it again like one would visit a favorite friend. The tales told by Rhys, the hero in the story, are exceptional and I'd want to listen to those again to take away the touching lessons his tales told.

For readers who enjoy romance novels and authors like Sabrina Jeffries, Christina Dodd, and Heather Snow, Claire DelaCroix is sure to impress! Her writing is skillful, detailed, and writing in a manner that will capture the readers full attention and pull you into her magnificent tale of love, courage, and adventure.

This was a book that was almost impossible to pause! The plot is intricately woven and captivating. The characters are so well done that I enjoyed every word, laughing out loud at some of the well written dialogue. I absolutely would have loved to have listened to this all in one sitting. I listen to audiobooks mostly while commuting, and I have to say for once I looked forward to Monday morning just so I could hear the end of this delightful tale

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding Medieval historical romance!

Any additional comments?

The Beauty Bride is the first in The Jewels of Kinfarlie Series and it is simply one of the best historical romance stories I've read or listened to in many years (not an easy feat considering I average about 100 books a year!). It's an enchanting story set in Medieval Scotland and Wales.

The story centers around Madeline, who at 26 years old is yet unmarried with no intension of doing so anytime soon. The new Laird of Kinfarlie, her younger brother Alexander, is desperate to marry her off (and four other younger sisters) due to the estate's meager financial situation and disastrous harvest. Alexander and his uncle devise a scheme to auction off "The Jewel of Kinfarlie" to the highest bidder from among the Scottish noble without letting Madeline or her sisters know about it. At the auction, everyone is outbid by Rhys FitzHenry, a Welshman known for being a traitor of the king. Rather than be intimidated by Madeline's outspokenness, Rhys admires her feisty nature and indomitable spirit.

The rest of the story focuses on Rhys and Madeline's journey to their new home in Wales. They face many obstacles before arriving: a runaway bride who faces a would-be rapist, a greedy aunt who wants Madeline to join the abby, family hunting them down (Alexander regrets selling her and wants to give Rhys back the money), a former fiancé who wants to marry Madeline, and bandits who want to kill them and overtake Rhys's estate.

Saskia Maarleveld’s narration is magical. She gives each character their own distinct voice and has appropriate tones for differing emotions. My favorite was her characterization of Rhys, with his Welsh accent and rhythm for each of his enchanting stories. Outstanding!

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

strong characters, a little heat and danger

Any additional comments?

The Beauty Bride followed familiar tropes but mixed in strong characters and twists. I found myself swept up in the story. Saskia Maarleveld did a fine job with the narration, although I struggled at first getting use to Rhys’s voice. Her accent added to the story and I loved her interpretation of Madeline. Rhys is not a trusting soul and keeps his emotions in check. It is obvious he has a thing for Madeline despite his declarations that he needs her to secure his keep. The man is sexy but rough around the edges and lordy is he stubborn. His use of stories to communicate his feelings was sweet and I loved when he spoke in his native tongue. *swoon* Kidnapping, king’s guards, secrets and quibbles have me listening intently. Madeline is strong, independent and unafraid to speak her mind making for some wonderful moments, wicked banter and delightful spats. Delacroix created obstacles in pursuit of our HEA and I enjoyed the chase.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful!!!!

This novel surprised me. The writing is very good, making it easy to listen while the hours pass unnoticed. It has a sweet romance in the middle of intrigue and adventure.

The narrator did a wonderful job with all the characters. After enjoying the almost thirteen hours of the audiobook, I'm ready to listen to it again.

There are some sex scenes presented in a sweet and classy way. I highly recommend this audiobook.

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Engaging Story

The Beauty Bride is set in the 1400s and is the first in a trilogy about 3 siblings. This story features Madeline who is put up for auction by her brother, Alexander, when he is faced with a bad harvest and not enough money to feed those under his care. Rhys buys Madeline and they end up fleeing to his holding in Wales. I thought the narrator did a great job with Rhys's Welsh accent and also differentiated all the characters from one another. I'm hoping that the other two books in the series are released and use the same narrator. Time flew by while listening and I found myself looking for opportunities to listen.

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Very good Story and Great Narration

I really enjoyed this story. It was very good and entertaining. I liked Rhys a lot. He was handsome, strong and sexy. Madeline was a very strong heroine as well as beautiful. These two had some good chemistry together. There were a couple of very nicely written sex scenes so its not rated G but not erotica.

The story line and plot was good. Their traveling escapade was fun. There wasn't much mystery or surprises really. Just a fun story. There was lots of dialogue throughout the entire book which was great.

As for the narration, it was great. I really like Saska Maarleveld she does a great job with the male voices and everyone gets their own distinct voice.

This was a free book and the audible was 1.99 so it was totally worth the money.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Average romance novel

Any additional comments?

Just an average and okay romance novel. Not bad and not great. Typical plot of Scottish warrior takes on reluctant bride, fights against fantastic odds and .... you know the rest already.

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Good listen. Held my attention.

Just what I was in the mood for. Good romantic story. Plesant narrator. Enjoyed it.

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DelaCroxi Never Disappoints -- marvvelous writing!

Which character – as performed by Saskia Maarleveld – was your favorite?

I loved the way she handled Rhys FitzHenry dialog and characterization.

Any additional comments?

My Thoughts: Having sampled Claire Delacroix’s books many years ago when quite young and recently having come back to her work with the audiobook The Rogue, I understand why I remember her name and came back to enjoy more. She writes excellent stories with intriguing plots, mixed with suspense and passion in a historical setting with lovely happy ever after endings. She will keep you enchanted. She has me.

The Beauty Bride plucked my heart strings. This book was the story of the pairing of Madeleine Lammergeier and Rhys FitzHenry. It’s also about how far a man will go to save his family’s home, and what makes a man falter making honorable choices. Alexander, the brother of Madeleine, and Rhys both make decisions, both trying to save something precious to each of them.

The lone Welsh, Rhys FitzHenry (absolutely love the voice Saskia uses), with a price on his head from the king, secured the hand of the gem of Kinfairlie. In so doing he secured his inheritance claim to a Welsh estate. I didn’t see Rhys a very honorable man at this point. He could only admire this brave woman who held herself with poise and fiery anger reproaching her brother for his deed of virtually selling her to the highest bidder. He liked women with spirit and as he got to know her, his instincts had accessed her correctly.

Madeleine felt betrayed by her brother, who had become desperate to save his family’s home. Being auctioned wasn’t a prank in bad taste, although she had suffered many from Alexander. Madeleine had plans to escape her brother and her betrothed. Her escape plans go awry and Rhys saves her from certain peril. But who saves her from herself? Entertaining dialog and exciting scenes eventually bring Rhys and Madeleine to understanding one another.

Rhys was just so lovable, even being deceitful, he was lovable. He was a man used to being alone, of few words, and wanted to return to Wales with his bride with all speed. He was honorable even having deceived Madeleine. His brusqueness Madeleine did not understand or appreciate. One minute he was rude and the next he was telling her a tale that could melt all anger—and her heart. A bard he was with his tales and lovingly narrated with Saskia’s Welsh accent.

We experience the magic of the narrator, Saskia Maarleveld’s pleasant voice and easy story telling quality. Her mellow, cultured, soothing voice, characterized Madeline, showing the listener clearly the manner of woman she is. Saskia pours out Alexander’s frustration and vexation through a sarcastic and witty dialog between Alexander, Madeleine and her sisters. I think the loveliest dialog comes from Rhys FitzHenry with his Welsh accent when he speaks with Madeleine and tells his bard’s tales. I highly recommend this listen if you love historical romance audiobooks with a quality narration.

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Good

This was a good listen but I didn't like the narrator very much and wished it was someone else. I am looking forward to the other books in this series so I can see what happens with the other jewels and how their story turns out.

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