Rating: 
Summary: Fast, funny, and tender!
Review: Lucien Devereaux, the dashing Duke of Wexford, never knew what hit him. Knocked from his horse late one night while pursuing some smugglers intent on funding Napoleon's return to power, Lucien finds himself in the arms of Arabella Hadley, the woman he loved and left ten long years ago. Arabella is none too happy to see that Lucien had reentered her life, especially when her wacky aunts decide that he is the man for her. From the first page to the last, Lucien and Arabella struggle to ignore the tension that flares between them. Things get complicated when Lucien realizes that Arabella might be involced in the very smuggling operation he has come to expose. Filled with laugh out loud moments (like the "morning after" scene in the cottage), you'll be so glad you found this one! If you like Julia Quinn or Amanda Quick, you'll love Karen Hawkins in this hysterical romp! A BELATED BRIDE is a keeper!
Rating:
Summary: 4 & 1/2 stars; would have been 5 with an epilogue
Review: Not quite as good as The Adbuction of Julia, in my opinion, but still a wonderful story. Unlike tAoJ, A Belated Bride drags just a little in spots and needed a resolution to Robert & Liza's situation. Nevertheless, Hawkins delights with a story of second chances. Arabella is a strong heroine in the highly capable and responsible, but still heartbroken mold. Lucien is the hero who loved and left, thinking he was doing the right thing, but never able to really face up to his decisions...until he ends up back in her life. Arabella and Lucien's passion sizzles at every encounter, and the reader so wants them to get it right this time. A stable of interesting secondary characters helps keep the momentum and humor going. And there's plenty of humor with Arabella's aunts around. The plotting may not be quite as tight as tAoJ and the main charcters just slightly less heartfelt, but not enough to seriously diminish the book's appeal. As I said, I'd drop it only 1/2 a star. Therefore, since it certainly deserves better than 4 stars, I've stuck with the 5-star rating. It's a good follow-up to tAoJ, in which Lucien was introduced (and in which he is very appealing as well).
Rating:
Summary: 4 & 1/2 stars; would have been 5 with an epilogue
Review: Not quite as good as The Adbuction of Julia, in my opinion, but still a wonderful story. Unlike tAoJ, A Belated Bride drags just a little in spots and needed a resolution to Robert & Liza's situation. Nevertheless, Hawkins delights with a story of second chances. Arabella is a strong heroine in the highly capable and responsible, but still heartbroken mold. Lucien is the hero who loved and left, thinking he was doing the right thing, but never able to really face up to his decisions...until he ends up back in her life. Arabella and Lucien's passion sizzles at every encounter, and the reader so wants them to get it right this time. A stable of interesting secondary characters helps keep the momentum and humor going. And there's plenty of humor with Arabella's aunts around. The plotting may not be quite as tight as tAoJ and the main charcters just slightly less heartfelt, but not enough to seriously diminish the book's appeal. As I said, I'd drop it only 1/2 a star. Therefore, since it certainly deserves better than 4 stars, I've stuck with the 5-star rating. It's a good follow-up to tAoJ, in which Lucien was introduced (and in which he is very appealing as well).
Rating: 
Summary: DON'T BE LATE BUYING THIS BOOK!
Review: Okay! This is more like it! In my review of "The Abduction of Julia" I said "Been there, done that." However, this is an original plot and a very engaging book. A second chance at love for two star crossed lovers (I mean REALLY star crossed). Very tender love story but sassy at the same time. Funny. You'll love how the hero and heroine are reintroduced. A little treasure hunt, some smuggling, two interfering aunts who dabble in potions - gotta love it. A keeper.
Rating: 
Summary: Hit and miss... more miss than hit
Review: Standard plot fare here: two people fell in love as teenagers (and in this version were actually lovers) but were separated by events largely to do with their families, then they meet again and are forced into a situation of some intimacy, much to their mutual discomfort. Mary Balogh did this so much better in Unforgiven. Lucien left Arabella ten years ago, when he inherited his father's title, and married a rich heiress in order to save his family from ruin. Arabella, feeling that she was already ruined, stayed at home and never married; now her father's dead too, she's desperately trying to keep her family and home together and safe from various debt collectors. And then Lucien, now widowed and rich, stumbles across her path. Um. So why did Arabella never marry? Sulking at home? She was a beautiful young woman, and her father did have some money when she was younger. And why did Lucien stay on at Rosemount? Good manners dictated that he should have left once he was fit; his hostess made it clear he wasn't welcome, and the sole male occupant was an invalid - hardly adequate chaperonage, and not at all credible for the period. But then, much of this book is incredible for the period. Lucien wandering around shirtless? (and while we're on the subject, what a horrible cover for the book!) Arabella wearing breeches around her property? Robert - wheelchair-bound or not - letting her run the estate? And then the scheming and manipulating was beyond belief. I didn't find Arabella's aunts anything other than annoying. Then there is the fact that Hawkins hasn't even done the most basic research. If you're going to write about the British nobility, then make sure you know what you're talking about! Who on earth is 'Sir Laughton', a baron? If his title is 'Sir', he's a baronet, not a baron. And he is 'Sir David' - baronets' titles attach to the first name, not the surname. And how could Lucien have been a viscount when he'd known Arabella years earlier? He inherited the dukedom when his father died. The heir to a dukedom is a marquis. All these inaccuracies were very irritating, and suggest an author who hasn't done her homework. There were loose ends here, too - so who was the duke who was previously at Rosemount, as Sir David Laughton mentions to Lucien? We're never told. And just what happened to Lord Holdford, who was after Arabella and appeared to be up to no good, since he was seen many times with the bad guys? And surely Lucien has properties and a main residence of his own - why look on Rosemount as his home? It actually belongs to *Robert*, remember! Oh, and if anyone is thinking of reading the book, don't read the plot summary on the back first. There is a major plot spoiler there, referring to something which doesn't happen until 50 pages from the end of an almost-400 page book.
Rating:
Summary: "A Belated Bride"
Review: This is a delightful story, with a strong hero and heroine. It has a love revisted theme....second chance at forever kind of story and Ms Hawkins does a great job with the story line. Lucien and Arabella are made for each other...if only Arabella would realize...so there is the crux...He does...she doesn't...so along the way to her finding that she can have happy ever after with Lucien is a story filled with intrique, passion, wonderful humor, great plot and strong secondary characters......oh yes...did I mention passion... This is a great read...
Rating:
Summary: A heart-stopping...disappointment!
Review: This is NOT The Abduction of Julia, not by a long shot. I snapped it up, thinking I'd be getting the same quality book from this author as The Abduction, and finding her new effort to be draggy, long, boring, and uninspired. The heroine is a nitwit and the hero is unlikeable. The other characters are tired cliches. I cannot recommend this book to anyone, for any reason.
Rating:
Summary: A funny, delicious book!
Review: Well, I must say that I have enjoyed reading this book! This book has it all! Laughter, adventure, treasures, a villain, great secondary characters and most of all romance! Lucien Deveraux, The Duke of Wexford, is accidentally ran over by the carriage of Arabella Hadley a woman he has loved and lost ten years ago. Because of his wounds he was forced to stay and recover in the house of Arabella where she lives with her two aunts and brother. Arabella and Lucien fell in love with each other years ago but circumstances has taken Lucien away from Arabella and broke her innocent heart. Now ten years later they face each other again and Lucien must prove to this independent, stubborn, strong, beautiful woman that he has changed and and is there to stay with her forever. Even if this means to trick her into marriage. I enjoyed reading this book a lot! After reading so many "serious" books lately, I found this refreshing, funny and well written. There were moments in this book that made me laugh out loud, sigh from exasperation, tense from what's to come next and curl my toes with pleasure because Lucien is such a wonderful hero. I could really empathize with Arabella's feelings and independence because of what she has had to endure. If a book can make me feel all these things then I know I've got myself another keeper. This book has everything and has the right dosage of humor, misunderstanding, love scenes, meddling of Arabella's delightful aunts and adventure. Karen Hawkins even threw in two extra romances. The secondary characters are well written and gave the book more depth and you will wish to see them return in Karen's future books. Karen Hawkins is a writer that can certainly be compared to writers like Amanda Quick, Julia Quinn and Jacquie D'Alessandro. If you love their books you will certainly love A Belated Bride. Buy this book now for I assure you, you will not be disappointed, you will only clamor for more!! I, for one, certainly cannot wait for her next book, The Abduction of Sara, to be released in November 2001!
Rating:
Summary: Another Keeper
Review: When I first picked up A Belated Bride, I was not sure it would compare to The Abduction of Julia, but I was so wrong. I couldn't put it down. Arabella and Lucien were made for each other. The book has everything, laughter, intrigue, spys, treasure, lost and refound love and best of all sheep tonic (you have to read the book for that one). All the characters had depth and I espically loved the aunts. Buy this book and be pleasantly entertained.
Rating:
Summary: Karen Hawkins just keeps getting better & better! Triple A+
Review: Wow! I always thought Karen Hawkins had talent, I just didn't realize how much talent. If you enjoyed One Lucky Lord (under her pseudonym Kim Bennet) and if you loved The Abduction of Julia, you will be blown away by A Belated Bride! Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint) Lucien Devereaux, the Duke of Wexford was rescued before he bled to death on that bleak, country road. Reality set in when he realized his beautiful savior owned the very heart he broke so many years ago! Arabella Hadley loved Lucien forever, heart, mind and soul - not to mention body - and that is what caused all this trouble to begin with! Her traitorous body! If only she could control her reaction to this devilish man she could get on with her life just fine! The sensuality sizzles, the intrigue will keep you turning the pages and humor will have you rolling on the floor, laughing out loud! Come join the fun! Meet Arabella's aunts Emma and Jane and a whole host of secondary characters that you will remember forever! If you only read one new release for the year 2001, let it be A Belated Bride... you won't be disappointed!
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