The Rose Red Bride

The Jewels of Kinfairlie, Book 2

De: Claire Delacroix, Deborah Cooke

Narrado por: Saskia Maarleveld

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.

Like a heroine in an ancient tale, Vivienne waited in the highest chamber of Kinfairlie's tower for her fated lover. In the darkness he came for her, cloaked and hooded so that she would not see his face. He loved her sweetly, thoroughly...and Vivienne knew she had met her destiny.

But in the morning light, her dream is shattered. Erik Sinclair of Blackleith is no romantic hero but a disinherited warrior who arranged her abduction to regain his own legacy. Outraged by Erik's insistence that he needs her solely to beget a son, yet ensnared by the passion he awakens, Vivienne realizes that there is more merit in her taciturn spouse than he would admit. Erik is skeptical of her growing faith in his honor and her desire to recapture his stolen birthright.

Little does he suspect that his rare gem of a bride intends to capture his barricaded heart as well.

©2005 Claire Delacroix, Inc. (P)2015 Deborah A. Cooke

a fun, uncomplicated listen

Any additional comments?

Alexander arranges for a suitor for his sister Vivienne. At dinner, Alexander spins a tale to his sister about Kinfairlie’s tower and fairy lovers. She believes him and decides to sleep in the tower and await her fairy lover. A man comes indeed, but it is Erik Sinclair of Blackleith. In the dark of night he woos her sweetly, and then whisks her away to bare his son. Annnd then the fun begins.

I adored Vivienne and her spunky, outspoken manners. Erik is at first flabbergasted at her reactions to him and the banter and dance was delightful. Of course, our hero is seriously flawed! Given his history one cannot help but fill sorry for the man even if at times we think Vivienne should give him a solid thrashing. Despite the intimacy, the romance developed slowly as we saw growth in our characters in mind and heart.

Madeline’s Aunt Rosamunde, adventures on the high sea and a spriggan named Darg added delightful side stories, mischief and many a laugh. Our hero and heroine face danger, and a few setbacks along the way but I truly enjoyed their adventures. Delacroix weaves laughter into these tales and I laughed, even if the characters did not.

For me, Kinfairlie series on audio is like chocolate and peanut butter. While the tale is not overly complicated, listening is such a treat. Saskia Maarleveld is amazing and I think I would buy audios she narrated for her voice alone. She wooed me, made me laugh and captured the characters souls bringing them to life.

Very enjoyable

Nice story. Good narrator. Enjoyable love story. Nice addidtion of the fierce firey naughty faery.

Vivian's determination...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Would I recommend this audio book to my friends...Oh Absolutely! Ilovely listening to the audible version of "The Rose Red Bride"! Saskia Maarleveld did an absolutely wonderful job narrating the story. Her talent for being able to change her voice and accent to suit the numerous characters is amazing.. I am in awe of her wonderous ability...

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Rose Red Bride?

Once again, Darg (the fairy) was one of my favorite characters. I loved the grotto scene where she was biting Rosamund and causing her to fall back into the water, knowing she could not swim... I also felt sad when the caverns of Ravensmuir began to be destroyed. It left me wondering if each character survived and what their future would bring.

Have you listened to any of Saskia Maarleveld’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I have always enjoyed her performances. It's often difficult to find a woman who can so well make the male characters seem real. She does an excellent job!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This author is a master storyteller and touches many emotions. You laugh and you cry or at least stress in wonder of what comes next.

Any additional comments?

I throughly enjoyed listening to this audio version since the narrator did such an excellent job of a wonderful book! She has me hooked... now I want ALL of the books as well as the audio books....LOL I do appreciate when the authors allow a discounted price for a while if you buy, or have bought before, the ebook copy.

Wonderful Medieval historical romance!

Any additional comments?

The Red Rose Bride is the second book in The Jewels of Kinfarlie Series and it is simply wonderful. I thought the first book, the Beauty Bride was one of the best historical romance stories I've read or listened to in many years and this one is not far behind.

The story centers around Vivienne, who believes that if she sleeps in Kinfairlie’s tower, she will be visited by a fairy lover who will steal her away for all time. Indeed Erik Sinclair of Blackleith comes for her, loves her sweetly, and steals her away so she can bare him a son. Although Erik is gruff and taciturn, Vivienne realizes that Erik is honorable and she quickly falls in love with him. The rest of the story is her attempt to convince him she is sincere and to make Erik realize how much he desires her too for more than her ability to bare children.

Saskia Maarleveld’s narration is enchanting. She gives each character their own distinct voice and has a rhythm to her reading that is melodic. She also has great voices for the children in the story without them sounding too babyish. Great job!

Fantastic

If you could sum up The Rose Red Bride in three words, what would they be?

Totally enjoyable experience

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

Erik because her empathy for his character rings true through her narration

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Erik realizes that Vivian loves him

Any additional comments?

It was such a pleasure to revisit the second generation of Claire Delacroix’s unparalleled Lammergeir family which I devoured when it was first published in 2005 and be swept away again by her epic medieval tale of adventure, romance, betrayal, redemption and retribution. No one sets a period perfect stage better than she does with dialogue and backdrops that draw readers right into the story and then be utterly beguiled by her fantastic characters human and fae, good and evil. And enchanted by the stars of her story Vivian and Erik. The Red Rose Bride is book two in the Jewels of Kinfarlie series, now available in all formats.

The audible edition was flawlessly rendered by the seductive, alluring, melodious voice of Saskia Maarleveld whose perfection rings through every voice intonation and she masters a wide range of vocalizations that gives listeners a multi-dimensional savoring of the story that’s not possible by reading alone. And so far this is my favorite in audible form of the series.

Erik Sinclair of Blackleith is determined to reclaim all that is rightfully his, which was deceitfully stolen from him by his younger brother. To do this he needs a son, fast and for that he has a certain maiden in mind, the only woman who ever spurned his blackguard of a brother.
Believing the false faiery tale told by her brother, impulsive, fanciful Vivian Lammergeir met and lost her innocence to a man in the tower room of Kinfairlie keep whom she believed to be a fae lover. But the light of day reveals he is but a mere mortal, one who is not her destined mate but who chose her only as a tool for his revenge.
Is there yet a chance for them to find forever love or is fate a fickle mistress indeed?