Deanne Gist, A Bride Most Begrudging

A Bride Most Begrudging

Deanne Gist

Bethany House, Jul 2005, $12.99

ISBN: 0764200720

In 1643, Lady Constance Morrow says goodbye to her beloved Uncle Skelly, a prisoner on board the Randolph. Skelly failed to bow to the king so he will spend the next seven years as an indentured prisoner in the Virginia Colonies. Before Constance can leave the vessel, the captain and his crew abduct her and toss her in with the other female detainees.

Two months later Constance is for sale in Virginia while Skelly died on board. To the spirited lass' chagrin odious tobacco farmer Emmett wins the booty. However, Drew O'Connor collects the prize having won Constance in a card game. He takes her to his tobacco farm where he only wants her to serve as a maid and companion to his younger sister. He definitely does not want marriage still mourning the death of his beloved Leah. Drew rejects Constance's babble that she is the kidnapped daughter of an earl until he realizes she can't cook or clean or do anything domestic, but he desires her. She falls in love with her employer.

A BRIDE MOST BEGRUDGING is a fantastic colonial romance that highlights the plight of women and incarcerated indentured servants. The gist of the storyline provides a vivid look at the mid seventeenth century Virginia Colony, especially life on a tobacco farm. The lead couple is a delightful pairing as he begins to believe her only after he sees how domestically pathetic except for their kisses she is. The support cast is a bit extreme either being real nice folks or loathsome soulless thugs. Still Virginia and the prime lovers make for a wonderful historical tale.

Harriet Klausner