Rating: 
Summary: A sizzling love...
Review: Anthea Bright came from Philadelphia to Haven, Kansas to become a school teacher. On her first week of school, Gabriel Jackson barges into the school and demands to know what the Hell she's teaching because his charge, Lily isn't learning how to read and write. From that moment on, they'll both be fighting a very captivating attraction. It doesn't make it easier that Gabriel has this bad boy reputation and that he's the pariah of the town. (It's one of those small towns where everyone gossips about everyone)The story takes place in the 1885 and it really is a wonderful read! My favorite parts were when Gabriel, Anthea and Lily act as a family. (Lily is like an orphan and Gabriel picked her up and decides to care for her) I like reading THE BAD MAN'S BRIDE because it's a historical romance (sort of) with a lot of spice in it. Usually in historical romances, the characters would be meek and kind of quiet but this romance has a lot of spice in it! I know there's another book that continues this one. It's called THE MOST WANTED BACHELOR and I'm thinking about reading it because THE MOST WANTED BACHELOR features Anthea's sister, Kathryn. ^_^ ~ Izzy
Rating: 
Summary: Quite boring
Review: Anthea Bright has been born into nobility, but the circumstances have left her and her two sisters in poverty. Therefore she takes a job as a teacher in a small town in Kansas, but she's having trouble adjusting to the new lifestyle. Being a city girl, her knowledge in dancing and good manners is not particularly useful when faced with snakes and snowstorms. But, the locals and their rigid opinions about Gabriel and Lily who both are born bastards cause the most difficulties. Especially since Anthea is beginning to grow strong feelings for them both. Unfortunately, since she cannot afford to loose her position, she has to be very careful in her conduct towards them. The book is a generally good read, and the relationship between Anthea and Gabriel is described both nicely and believable. I especially like the fact that they are actually talking to each other, thereby convincing me that they really have feelings for each other. Unfortunately, the story lacks highlights and at times the book is so terribly boring that it's tempting to put it away. It is also too easy to foresee the development way ahead, so what happens later never comes as any surprise.
Rating: 
Summary: He's not a bad man!
Review: Anthea Bright has relocated to Haven, Kansas from the east to take a position as the small town's schoolteacher. She has fine polish that states she has grown up with money and manners. Her ways are gentle and yet she must be strong and strict to handle this bunch of midwestern children. Gabriel Jackson comes to the school one day to confront this new teacher that is obviously not qualified as such and finds that she is a lot more resilient than he would have guessed. As Gabriel begins to complain to Anthea about what his daughter should be taught, he discovers she has a fierce passion for her teaching and her students and he best not second-guess her. The Bad Man's Bride was a satisfying read. It was a pleasing narrative and the leads are unique, likable and captivating characters. The story's pace faltered about halfway through the book and that is really the main reason for the four star rating rather than a five star. Although I enjoyed this story, I was not compelled to keep reading because it was a book that fascinated me. It didn't fall into that "couldn't put down" category. It was just a good, tame read. The hero, Gabriel, although supposedly this bad man (thus the title), brings a bastard child, a nine year old girl into his house to raise as his own, when her mother, a prostitute, dies. This child is not Gabriel's. He was raised as a bastard himself and wants to protect this little girl who has no one to take care of her. He lets everyone assume it is his child who he has neglected for years until the mother died. This child is very dear and fragile. She adds so much to this story. Children in a romance novel usually don't add much to the story but this one does. The sweet, proper heroine is not a virgin! She isn't the victim of some awful rape either. And it makes no difference to the hero. Their relationship does not fall into the same old romantic plot lines. Gabriel and Anthea get along very well and do not pick on each other or have disagreements. They both have some unspoken doubts concerning their relationship but these doubts were actually normal. They made sense under the circumstances. I guess I am saying that the book was actually believable all the way through! This book is about the romance between Gabriel and Anthea. It has a couple of side plots that take up few pages. I love it when a romance novel is about a romance. Gabriel and Anthea are the primary focus of this tale and they spend a lot of time together. If you have read many of my reviews, you know that this is a really important facet to me about a romance novel. I want to see the romance relationship mature. I want to read pages of Gabriel and Anthea interacting. I was certainly not disappointed on that point. The sensual scenes rate about a four out of five (see More About Me for rating guidelines). These scenes appear after the first half and really enhance the story line. You see genuine feelings developing between these two and there is depth to their relationship almost from the beginning. I do have to agree with one reviewer about the name of the book. The Bad Man's Bride is not really a representative title. The heroine could not be described as a bride for a good portion of the story. And, in my opinion, this man does not have the history to be considered a "bad man" by the town and doesn't behave like a "bad man" currently. This is my first book to read by Susan Kay Law. I certainly look forward to working my way through her backlist.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: For me, he best part of this book was the dialog. It was snappy, witty, and flowed along as smooth as warm honey. In a nutshell the story is about a young school teacher who leaves her home and sisters in Philadelphia and heads off to Haven Kansas for her first teaching position. There she meets the town's resident "Bad Man", and sparks immediately start to fly. The story has excellent character development, and a slew of entertaining secondary characters including the town gossips, the school bully, and strangely enough a pet snake. This book will put a smile on you face and give you a deep respect for Ms Law's writing ability. So why 4 stars and not 5 you may ask? Well my only complaint was that I found the plot a little thin. There could easily have been a lot more conflict and hanky grabbing emotion added to the story line; instead, it held strictly to a light-hearted humorous tone. There is nothing wrong with light-hearted and humorous, but for me it is always that strong emotion that turns a good book into a keeper. All in all it was an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: For me, he best part of this book was the dialog. It was snappy, witty, and flowed along as smooth as warm honey. In a nutshell the story is about a young school teacher who leaves her home and sisters in Philadelphia and heads off to Haven Kansas for her first teaching position. There she meets the town's resident "Bad Man", and sparks immediately start to fly. The story has excellent character development, and a slew of entertaining secondary characters including the town gossips, the school bully, and strangely enough a pet snake. This book will put a smile on you face and give you a deep respect for Ms Law's writing ability. So why 4 stars and not 5 you may ask? Well my only complaint was that I found the plot a little thin. There could easily have been a lot more conflict and hanky grabbing emotion added to the story line; instead, it held strictly to a light-hearted humorous tone. There is nothing wrong with light-hearted and humorous, but for me it is always that strong emotion that turns a good book into a keeper. All in all it was an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: Haven, Kansas is as far away from Anthea Bright's upper class Philadelphia upbringing as you can get. Miss Addington's finishing school gave her the basics of teaching but certainly never prepared her to live in a soddy, or to deal with an infuriating man like Gabriel Jackson. Gabriel Jackson returned to Haven to be with his Mother in her final days, and winds up taking on the responsibility of an orphaned little girl named Lilly. He knows how cruel the town can be to the town can be to kids like her, after all he's been there himself. But he's determined that Lilly will not suffer the same pain he did. She will learn the skills that she needs to get by, reading and writing, not the posture and manners garbage that the prissy new schoolmarm is teaching her. Anthea offers to tutor Lilly privately each night to help her catch up with the other children, but being in such close proximity with Gabriel is putting the most unladylike thoughts in her head. And when he kisses her, all of Miss Addington's efforts fly out the window. Susan Kay Law has crafted the world of Haven so well you feel you could move in and set up house. Not only are the lead characters vivid but she's created a host of three-dimensional supporting players with intrigues and quirks of their own. The Bad Man's Bride is an entertaining novel that grabs your attention and takes you on an emotional ride of pain, passion, and romance. Anthea, Gabriel and especially Lilly will jump off the page and into your heart. Curl up in your favorite chair, with your favorite beverage and settle in for a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: Haven, Kansas is as far away from Anthea Bright's upper class Philadelphia upbringing as you can get. Miss Addington's finishing school gave her the basics of teaching but certainly never prepared her to live in a soddy, or to deal with an infuriating man like Gabriel Jackson. Gabriel Jackson returned to Haven to be with his Mother in her final days, and winds up taking on the responsibility of an orphaned little girl named Lilly. He knows how cruel the town can be to the town can be to kids like her, after all he's been there himself. But he's determined that Lilly will not suffer the same pain he did. She will learn the skills that she needs to get by, reading and writing, not the posture and manners garbage that the prissy new schoolmarm is teaching her. Anthea offers to tutor Lilly privately each night to help her catch up with the other children, but being in such close proximity with Gabriel is putting the most unladylike thoughts in her head. And when he kisses her, all of Miss Addington's efforts fly out the window. Susan Kay Law has crafted the world of Haven so well you feel you could move in and set up house. Not only are the lead characters vivid but she's created a host of three-dimensional supporting players with intrigues and quirks of their own. The Bad Man's Bride is an entertaining novel that grabs your attention and takes you on an emotional ride of pain, passion, and romance. Anthea, Gabriel and especially Lilly will jump off the page and into your heart. Curl up in your favorite chair, with your favorite beverage and settle in for a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: I loved this book. It's the first I've read by Ms. Law, but certainly not the last! This book is about Anthea Bright, who goes to Kansas to be a school teacher. The parent of one of her children, Gabriel Jackson, comes in and complains about her curriculum, saying that it won't do his child Lily any good to learn manners and deportment instead of math, writing, and reading. Anthea agrees to help Lily after school and ends up also spending more time with Gabriel, much to the dissatisfaction of the townspeople. Gabriel has a bad rep around town and the people don't want him or Lily there. The attraction between him and Anthea grows until they find themselves in a compromising position and must marry. Will Anthea, Gabriel, and Lily learn to become a family, or will their temporary solution never become permanent? Both lead characters were wonderful. Gabriel is the town bad boy who is just trying to make things work for himself and provide for Lily. Anthea is determined and smart, as well as uncaring about Gabriel's sordid past. Secondary characters such as Philip Cox and his wife Cleo also add to the story, and I also enjoyed reading about how things turned out for them. All the children amused and made the story fun. I recommend this book highly to anyone who enjoys a good romance and I hope to read many more fabulous books by Ms. Law. If you enjoyed this book I recommend Lorraine Heath and Elizabeth Lowell as well. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: I loved this book. It's the first I've read by Ms. Law, but certainly not the last! This book is about Anthea Bright, who goes to Kansas to be a school teacher. The parent of one of her children, Gabriel Jackson, comes in and complains about her curriculum, saying that it won't do his child Lily any good to learn manners and deportment instead of math, writing, and reading. Anthea agrees to help Lily after school and ends up also spending more time with Gabriel, much to the dissatisfaction of the townspeople. Gabriel has a bad rep around town and the people don't want him or Lily there. The attraction between him and Anthea grows until they find themselves in a compromising position and must marry. Will Anthea, Gabriel, and Lily learn to become a family, or will their temporary solution never become permanent? Both lead characters were wonderful. Gabriel is the town bad boy who is just trying to make things work for himself and provide for Lily. Anthea is determined and smart, as well as uncaring about Gabriel's sordid past. Secondary characters such as Philip Cox and his wife Cleo also add to the story, and I also enjoyed reading about how things turned out for them. All the children amused and made the story fun. I recommend this book highly to anyone who enjoys a good romance and I hope to read many more fabulous books by Ms. Law. If you enjoyed this book I recommend Lorraine Heath and Elizabeth Lowell as well. Happy Reading!
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining Western Romance
Review: In post Civil War Kansas, Anthea Bright has taken the position of school teacher in order to support her sisters living back east in Philadelphia. Anthea never bargained to meet Gabriel Jackson,'father' of Lily, one of Anthea's students. Though he frustrates her, Anthea finds herself drawn to Gabriel, an attraction which she can ill-afford. For Gabriel is shunned by the more respectable members of the town of Haven given the fact that his mother was never married. Gabriel's gruff kindness astounds Anthea as she comes to know him better and begins to care for Lily. Unforseen circumstances force the pair to marry to save Anthea's reputation. Will their marriage last, or will they go their separate ways, never to see one another again? Readers looking for a witty and delightful read will be sure to enjoy this book. While the emotions between the hero and heroine are intense enough to satisfy many a reader, the elements of humor cleverly interspersed in this novel lend a feeling of reality to the protagonists. A truly entertaining read!
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