The Wayward Bride

Besotted Scots Series, Book 1

By: Anna Bradley

Narrated by: Antony Ferguson

In only six weeks, Isla Ramsey is due to marry Henry Northrup, the sixth Earl of Sydney. But she remains haunted by memories of the dashing Hugh Courtney, the Marquess Pierce. The handsome aristocrat had hinted at forever and then tossed her aside, leaving Isla with few viable options. Now, as she awaits her new fiance's arrival from London, she rides her horse past Hugh's estate at Hazelwood every day, pining for a man who was never truly hers.

Hugh Courtney may have left Isla's life, but he can't erase her from his thoughts. When he rescues her from a sudden snowstorm, they are forced to take shelter together at his private estate. In such close quarters there is no escaping each other. Yet no man wants a reckless wife - or a woman promised to another. As fate draws Isla further into his world, Hugh vows to keep her out of his bedchamber. However, some vows are meant to be broken...

©2019 Anna Bradley (P)2019 Tantor

My favorite Anna Bradley's

I loved this book because it was hopelessly romantic AND made sense. So many of the Regency genre plots are convoluted, but this one was real and is very well explained and paced. WONDERFUL characters!!

Fantastic narration, too!

Love

When Sydney left Luke for Isla, I was literally bawling my eyes out. Very good story and better ending. Not very historically accurate. Unfortunately, gay men, even the aristocracy, could not be so open about their relationships without significant hardships and sometimes prison. But I liked that the story allowed them to be together even if it was at a time when it was impossible to be gay without risking your life (not that it isn’t dangerous to be gay even today but obviously in the 1800s, they couldn’t even be openly in love). Anyway; I cried so hard. That’s all.

Read Reviews, Not what you think.

The book starts out with wonderful and gripping scenes! One problem is that this book was not just about the main characters love story, which I was looking forward to. It includes Lord Sydney’s love story with another man, which took up a great deal of the book. If the author wanted to write his love story it should have been a separate book, as every other love story previously had their own book. Also, that was not what I thought would be included given the summary. I was expecting a strong sassy heroine with witty dialogue and that just wasn’t consistent throughout the book. Really no playful banter at all. Finally while I like the narrator, this one pronounced some of the Scottish names and words differently than in previous books and it just took me out of the story sometimes. I wished I would have skipped this one entirely.

the narrative was pleasant to listen to. the voice was smoothly switched between characters.

This was a good story about two different best friends falling in love and a blending of their story line. the S3X was well written and not vulgar, and that's important for me, I love a good steamy love scene, but cannot stand Vulgarity.

I enjoyed the characters and honesty

I thought the narrator did an excellent job bringing each of the characters to life. I really enjoy this narrator.