Review: Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride by Christi Caldwell

Official Blurb: Hopeless romantic, Lady Emmaline Fitzhugh, is tired of sitting with the wallflowers, waiting for her betrothed to come to his senses and marry her. When Emmaline reads one too many reports of his scandalous liaisons in the gossip rags, she takes matters into her own hands.

War-torn veteran, Lord Drake devotes himself to forgetting his days on the Peninsula through an endless round of meaningless associations. He no longer wants to feel anything, but Lady Emmaline is making it hard to maintain a state of numbness. With her zest for life, she awakens his passion and desire for love.

The one woman Drake has spent the better part of his life avoiding is now the only woman he needs, but he is no longer a man worthy of his Emmaline. It is up to her to show him the healing power of love.

My Thoughts: My first initial thoughts after I finished were; Enthralled, Entranced, Completely Overwhelmed (happily). I loved this story. I read it within 24 hours of starting. I devoured this book like a little kid eating Halloween candy after trick or treating.

This book is about a young woman who has been betrothed to her guy for 15 years and she takes step to bring him up to scratch. From the first page you are brought into Emmaline’s world and she is no meek and mild miss. This young lady is a force of nature and when she wants something she makes a plan and goes for it. I would say she has gumption! Emmaline is the daughter of a duke, now sister to a duke and engaged to marquess who will one day be a duke. You can see the theme here, she is surrounded by dukes. However, she does not let her ducal life get in the way of what she wants. She comes up with a plan of her own to snatch her prince charming, Lord Drake. What she doesn’t know is how the road to snatching him will change her life.

Lord Drake is a hero, well, everyone in England sees him as one but he cannot even make it through a 24 hour period without the scary memories of war. He is everything a dark man harboring painful secrets would be. Of course, to the outside world he is mysterious rogue that no one can tame but not a solider emotionally wounded from the scenes of the battlefield. Talk about breaking your heart! When Emmaline starts to put herself in the same place’s as Drake he will learn that maybe this fierce, intelligent, kind-hearted woman will be his salvation but will his realization be too late? I’m just sayin’ maybe he should have put a ring on it. <—- You know you all were thinking it too! 🙂

Ms. Caldwell writes beautifully and has a flow for description like a master poet. “Kensington Garden never ceased to stun her with its vital beauty. With the pale pink of the spotted orchid, the effervescent hue of the violet bluebells interspersed with the lilac-white of the cuckoo-flower; it was like its own kaleidoscope of nature’s beauty.”  It was a fun emotional love story that has you giggling in one chapter and your heart weeping in the next. Watch out for Emmaline’s bff Sophie, as she is a scene stealer (I read she is getting her own book!!). There are many wonderful things happening in this book that will keep you hooked. I loved every bit of it. This was simply a great read and I would recommend it for anyone that enjoys a romance with laughter and heartbreaking moments and a happy ending.

Purchase Forever Betrothed, Never the Bride on Amazon and B&N.

Connect with Christi Caldwell via her website, Facebook and Twitter.

-Romance Reader Girl

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