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mastersal's review against another edition
4.0
A modern mail order bride romance ... feistier than I expected. Written in 1998 - so some of this is dated but Ms. Howard manages to put together a fun romance.
As with a lot of her books, I found her heroine more compelling in this book than the hero. Maddie is stubborn but sweet as well. She had more personality than some of the other Howard Heroines which I really liked. She was spunky without being annoying, which made the book a great read to me.
The hero in this once is also not too much of an ass. He is recovering from a bad marriage and does the usual foot-in-mouth kerfuffle - but that is par for a romance hero. Lot's of gumption and "business smarts" but the EQ of a squirrel. But since Maddie gave as good as she got, I thought their relationship worked.
Plotwise this follows most mail-order bride romances so not much there to comment on. Fans of the trope will enjoy this - and city slickers like me will love the fact that I don't have to deal with cows or chickens. So win-win there.
Fun read - worth checking out.
As with a lot of her books, I found her heroine more compelling in this book than the hero. Maddie is stubborn but sweet as well. She had more personality than some of the other Howard Heroines which I really liked. She was spunky without being annoying, which made the book a great read to me.
The hero in this once is also not too much of an ass. He is recovering from a bad marriage and does the usual foot-in-mouth kerfuffle - but that is par for a romance hero. Lot's of gumption and "business smarts" but the EQ of a squirrel. But since Maddie gave as good as she got, I thought their relationship worked.
Plotwise this follows most mail-order bride romances so not much there to comment on. Fans of the trope will enjoy this - and city slickers like me will love the fact that I don't have to deal with cows or chickens. So win-win there.
Fun read - worth checking out.
mvbookreviewer's review against another edition
5.0
WANTED: A WIFE for able-bodied rancher. Must be of steady character, want children, and be able to work on ranch. Age 25 to 35 preferable.
Duncan’s Bride by Linda Howard is a favorite of mine from long before. I don’t particularly remember why a review for this delightful book was never written by yours truly, but I aim to rectify it this time around having come upon that sad realization.
34 year old Gideon Reese Duncan (Duncan) is a rancher who lost everything to his ex-wife, having slowly built back his life from the ashes that were left behind in the wake of the departure of the woman who had felt entitled to take half of everything that he had owned. Having crawled his way back to a position from which he could start thinking about a future again, Duncan decides it is time to find himself a wife once again, but this time he is going to be smart about it. There would be no courting her, no seeking love – just a plain old arrangement of convenience where he would get what he wants out of the marriage without the emotional and financial entanglements.
28 year old Madelyn Sanger Patterson (Maddie) is restless with her lot in life and yearns for something that would take her out of the rut her life has become. When she stumbles across the ad placed for a wife, something in her urges her to act and respond to the call. Ultimately, even though Duncan believes that he might be making the wrong choice once again given how drawn to Maddie he is physically, there is no denying fate when something is written down to happen, and that is exactly how Duncan finds himself married to Maddie, a woman who is accustomed to all sorts of comforts in life, someone Duncan has misgivings about her suitability to the kind of life that is ranching.
However, Duncan soon finds out that his wife is not a shrinking violet he thought she would be and is more than capable of living up to the expectations of any rancher looking for a partner who is willing to give it their all. The sexual attraction between the two is something Duncan embraces wholeheartedly, a bonus under the circumstances when he had been resigned to a life of comfort and companionship when he had initially sought to get married.
For Maddie, Duncan is the man who makes everything within her come alive, the missing piece of her soul that perfectly aligns with her desires and needs. While Duncan is a hard man to reach emotionally, Maddie believes that she is making headway, slowly but surely, up till the point where Duncan’s stubborn pride gets in the way, putting her everything they have together on the line. But Maddie being who she is, is willing to give Duncan the kind of fight he would not win easily, and that is one of the many reasons why this book stands out in a big way.
Duncan’s Bride is a story that features a hero that can only be defined as alpha. Once bitten, twice as shy, Duncan guards his emotions closely and his checkbook even closer. Having learnt his lesson when it comes to preying women, Duncan is determined that no one else would get the best of him, not even the surprise that is his mail-ordered bride Maddie. Thwart her attempts he does, especially when it comes to considering her as an equal partner in their marriage, the fear of losing everything once again preying on his mind, when Duncan does not realize that going down that road he is sure to lose what is most precious to him above everything else.
While Duncan at times makes you want to give him a couple slaps (and hard) because of his stubborn nature and that formidable pride of his, that is also part of the reason why this story worms its way into your heart in a way that is undefinable. Maddie is the perfect antidote to the poison that Duncan has consumed even though he cannot see it for what it is, and when the inevitable happens, Duncan obviously thinks the worst, to be proven spectacularly wrong in a way that makes all the heartache worth it. The grovel game in this novel is strong, which gives it the perfect five stars the story so deserves.
Recommended for fans of marriage of convenience trope romances featuring strong, stubborn, and prideful alpha heroes and their equally stubborn and strong women who do not give up. Duncan and Maddie do not disappoint!
Final Verdict: Duncan’s Bride is a story that I will never tire of; the arrogant and virile hero being brought to his very knees makes the angst-ridden pages all worth it!
Rating = 5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
Duncan’s Bride by Linda Howard is a favorite of mine from long before. I don’t particularly remember why a review for this delightful book was never written by yours truly, but I aim to rectify it this time around having come upon that sad realization.
34 year old Gideon Reese Duncan (Duncan) is a rancher who lost everything to his ex-wife, having slowly built back his life from the ashes that were left behind in the wake of the departure of the woman who had felt entitled to take half of everything that he had owned. Having crawled his way back to a position from which he could start thinking about a future again, Duncan decides it is time to find himself a wife once again, but this time he is going to be smart about it. There would be no courting her, no seeking love – just a plain old arrangement of convenience where he would get what he wants out of the marriage without the emotional and financial entanglements.
28 year old Madelyn Sanger Patterson (Maddie) is restless with her lot in life and yearns for something that would take her out of the rut her life has become. When she stumbles across the ad placed for a wife, something in her urges her to act and respond to the call. Ultimately, even though Duncan believes that he might be making the wrong choice once again given how drawn to Maddie he is physically, there is no denying fate when something is written down to happen, and that is exactly how Duncan finds himself married to Maddie, a woman who is accustomed to all sorts of comforts in life, someone Duncan has misgivings about her suitability to the kind of life that is ranching.
However, Duncan soon finds out that his wife is not a shrinking violet he thought she would be and is more than capable of living up to the expectations of any rancher looking for a partner who is willing to give it their all. The sexual attraction between the two is something Duncan embraces wholeheartedly, a bonus under the circumstances when he had been resigned to a life of comfort and companionship when he had initially sought to get married.
For Maddie, Duncan is the man who makes everything within her come alive, the missing piece of her soul that perfectly aligns with her desires and needs. While Duncan is a hard man to reach emotionally, Maddie believes that she is making headway, slowly but surely, up till the point where Duncan’s stubborn pride gets in the way, putting her everything they have together on the line. But Maddie being who she is, is willing to give Duncan the kind of fight he would not win easily, and that is one of the many reasons why this book stands out in a big way.
Duncan’s Bride is a story that features a hero that can only be defined as alpha. Once bitten, twice as shy, Duncan guards his emotions closely and his checkbook even closer. Having learnt his lesson when it comes to preying women, Duncan is determined that no one else would get the best of him, not even the surprise that is his mail-ordered bride Maddie. Thwart her attempts he does, especially when it comes to considering her as an equal partner in their marriage, the fear of losing everything once again preying on his mind, when Duncan does not realize that going down that road he is sure to lose what is most precious to him above everything else.
While Duncan at times makes you want to give him a couple slaps (and hard) because of his stubborn nature and that formidable pride of his, that is also part of the reason why this story worms its way into your heart in a way that is undefinable. Maddie is the perfect antidote to the poison that Duncan has consumed even though he cannot see it for what it is, and when the inevitable happens, Duncan obviously thinks the worst, to be proven spectacularly wrong in a way that makes all the heartache worth it. The grovel game in this novel is strong, which gives it the perfect five stars the story so deserves.
Recommended for fans of marriage of convenience trope romances featuring strong, stubborn, and prideful alpha heroes and their equally stubborn and strong women who do not give up. Duncan and Maddie do not disappoint!
Final Verdict: Duncan’s Bride is a story that I will never tire of; the arrogant and virile hero being brought to his very knees makes the angst-ridden pages all worth it!
Rating = 5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
vikie_vi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Took me several tries to get thorough this book but glad I finally did. The guys an ass…maybe more than I’d like in my romance novels but I am glad he learns a lesson at the end
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism and Death
rellimreads's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. It’s an unusual mix of yes I finished, but there were some parts that didn’t work for me. I had really hoped that the Reese’s redemption from being a jerk was more convincing. Madeline deserved more than just an “I love you” as proof all was going to be OK. Or perhaps had more than an 5 minute epilogue after it. I wanted more to feel like there was a real HEA.
Lots of scenes that added some serious time to the story but didn’t push the story or relationship forward very well. Something just didn’t click for me or maybe it was because I wanted to feel Reese “soften” toward Maddie through these and he didn’t.
And is *every* one of Howard’s heroines a virgin? And in their late 20s? And they fall in love with the H without an ounce of reason (a few hours in this instance)? Spunky while simultaneously a pushover?
Narration:
I really enjoyed it. Lesa Lockford does Great voices, accents, emotions. I’m inclined to think she was responsible for me feeling as positive about the book as I did.
Lots of scenes that added some serious time to the story but didn’t push the story or relationship forward very well. Something just didn’t click for me or maybe it was because I wanted to feel Reese “soften” toward Maddie through these and he didn’t.
And is *every* one of Howard’s heroines a virgin? And in their late 20s? And they fall in love with the H without an ounce of reason (a few hours in this instance)? Spunky while simultaneously a pushover?
Narration:
I really enjoyed it. Lesa Lockford does Great voices, accents, emotions. I’m inclined to think she was responsible for me feeling as positive about the book as I did.
khadijareads's review against another edition
3.0
3.25 stars
This is the quintessential mail order bride story.
The mmc Reese is so insufferable and very high handed so if that's not your thing stay far faaar away
This is the quintessential mail order bride story.
The mmc Reese is so insufferable and very high handed so if that's not your thing stay far faaar away
loriley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sofyy1102's review against another edition
4.0
So very happy I decided to read this, even though I was in the mood for some historical-romance novel with the mail-order bride theme.
Although this book tells the story of a woman who decides to take her chances and become a mail-order bride, this novel is in the 90's - a time I'm not particularly interested in. However, this book was amazing enough to "distract" me from my historical romance book rush.
Duncan's Bride was simply an amazing read, I'm definitely looking forward to read more books by the same author.
Although this book tells the story of a woman who decides to take her chances and become a mail-order bride, this novel is in the 90's - a time I'm not particularly interested in. However, this book was amazing enough to "distract" me from my historical romance book rush.
Duncan's Bride was simply an amazing read, I'm definitely looking forward to read more books by the same author.
groovykathy's review against another edition
5.0
Love Me Some Linda Howard
In this story, she does what she does best. Gives the reader a sexy, alpha hero and an equally feisty heroine. Reese is scarred from his first marriage and has to learn to trust again. Maddie is sweet and giving but can stand toe to toe with him. Sexy, emotional read. Highly enjoyed it!
In this story, she does what she does best. Gives the reader a sexy, alpha hero and an equally feisty heroine. Reese is scarred from his first marriage and has to learn to trust again. Maddie is sweet and giving but can stand toe to toe with him. Sexy, emotional read. Highly enjoyed it!