The Bride Sale

by Candice Hern

Book Overview

A Bartered Lady

Lord James Harkness is shocked to discover a "bride sale" taking place in his small English village -- and surprised by the depth of his feelings for the unfortunate gentlewoman being auctioned off by a disreputable husband. But is it honor and nobility that compel James to outbid the townfolk for the proud, beautiful lady -- or is it something more akin to...desire?

A Mysterious Lord

Verity Osborne is not sure whether good...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 038080901X
• ISBN13: 9780380809011
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Engrossing, with a real subplot

Verity is a heroine who discovers her inner strength, stops being a doormat, gives generously of herself to those around her, and discovers that she's okay after all.James is a tormented hero who acts like a "monster" because of an overabundance of shame & guilt. But beneath all that, he is so honorable & noble, that Verity stays in his home for 8 months with only 1 incident, one that dumps another boatload of guilt on James & more esteem issues on Verity. Along the way, however, they become real friends, which is the best basis for any relationship. The romantic feelings are buried because of their situations. When they finally come to light, their strength has healed not only James & Verity, but the entire community.Although I had a good idea who the villain was, there were enough red herrings to keep it interesting. My only complaint is that there should have been surviving witnesses to the villain's admission of guilt and to James' situation.This story is not primarily about lust or seduction, nor does it heavily rely on such elements. Instead, it's about two hurting people who grow, and heal, and find abiding friendship and true love. The attraction is there; it just doesn't dominate the story or the characters.The Cornish dialect was sometimes hard to decipher, but it added greatly to the setting and tone. Enjoy!

`The Bride Sale

I thought Candice Hern was at the top of her form with "Miss Lacey's Last Fling" but she just keeps getting better! Lord James Harkness is the most tortured hero since Heathcliff and the lovely Verity Osborne is earthy, vivid, and completely charming. This book is historically accurate, complex, and beautifully written with unforgettable characters - the kind that makes you sigh with contentment after the last page and then reach for the next Candice Hern book.

If you like a dark hero, this book is for you!

Lord James Harkness is stunned when he hears a young woman being auctioned off to the highest bidder in the gloomy town square. When he sees the crude man who places the highest bid, he bids five times more and wins.Verity Osborne is so dejected when her "husband" auctions her off to the highest bidder. Lord Harkness is a dark, mysterious man who now "owns" Verity, but what will he do with her? After she hears Lord Harkness called "Lord Heartless" and is told he murdered his wife and child, Verity is frightened beyond measure.But beneath the troubled, tortured James, lies a man that needs to believe he is not the monster that people think. Verity helps him conquer his past and together make a future together. If you liked To Love a Dark Lord by Anne Stuart, you will definitely like this book!

The Bride Sale

Setting: Cornwall - 1818THE BRIDE SALE is a marvelous tale that is sometimes mysterious and fraught with angst about a woman whose husband sells her for 200 pounds and then she is rescued by a dark enigmatic man who is known as Lord Heartless by most who know him. Is it possible that she has been taken in by a murderer?Verity Osborne soon finds herself helping the people of Lord Harkness with herbal remedies for colds and such and soon wins their confidence. The more she hears about James the more she wonders about him and if the rumors about him are true. She doesn't want to believe the evil tales about him and is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. She wants to leave but some passionate kisses leave her wanting more so she decides to stay and see what she can find out about this dark lord who is hiding a painful secret. Can someone who takes such good care of his people be all bad? Don't miss finding out what really happened. No, I'm not telling you any more ... I'm leaving that up to you. James Harkness has survived tragedy but it's left him a lonely man who is afraid to sleep less he is plagued with horrific dreams. When he purchases Verity Osborne he may have questioned his sanity as well but inadvertently he's given himself a second chance at love but will he realize it before it is too late? I was up half the night burning the midnight oil being royally entertained by fantastic storyteller Candice Hern. She knows how to hook you but good!

A Compelling Story of Love and Redemption

This gothic tale of love set against the dramatic backdrop of Cornwall features a hard-hearted hero who buys a woman at a bride sale who will change his life forever. I'm buying this book about the healing power of love for all my friends for Valentine's Day. What a wonderful book!