Could the wrong bride…
Be right for him after all!
For the sake of his family name, Lord Robert must marry to seal an alliance with an Irish clan. Only, the woman at the altar isn’t who he was promised! Instead, it’s her sister, Lady Mairenn! The sharp-tongued Irish beauty is as reluctant to wed as Robert, but as friction turns to fire between them, she’s further derailing Robert’s plans for this purely pragmatic arrangement…
Kindle Edition
258 pages
Published 23rd November 2023
(Mills & Boon/Harlequin Historical)
First Impression
The Knight’s Substitute Bride is set in the 3rd person with the alternate viewpoints of Lord Robert de Brunville and Lady Mairenn Ní Tiernan.
The reader is introduced to the action straight away by Robert on the outskirts of the River Suit, Ireland, 1177. Robert rubbed his lower back, glad that no one was around to witness him being tossed from his gifted horse. He had been hoping for some quiet moments of solitude away from his responsibilities…the mare had other plans though…irritated he goes in search of the horse in the woodland…
I am looking forward to reading The Knight’s Substitute Bride and can’t wait to find out what happens next!
I would suggest reading the Brothers and Rivals series in order starting with the first installment, Her Warrior’s Surprise Return to understand the settings and characters more…
The Knight’s Substitute Bride is a detailed fast paced story.
Oliver has looked at the customs, lifestyles and society of Anglo-Norman and Irish people in the medieval era. The writing style is easy to follow with a mixture of description and dialogue.
The character development of The Knight’s Substitute Bride gives the reader a brief background and a recap of the previous book, with some links.
Dutiful Robert is ensuring the success of his line by binding his Anglo-Norman roots to a noblewoman of Irish blood, when he weds his intended bride, Lady Clíodhna Ní Tiernan of Darach. By becoming the Lord of Clan Darach he would be acquiring the clan’s land and holdings, which would be under the control of the Anglo-Normans…when he finds the mare she is by the stream accompanied by a young woman, who is soothing her…
As the youngest, opinionated and wilful Mairenn nurses her ailing father, she shares her role in her sister’s newfound happiness…as the marriage date drew close she had noticed her becoming more withdrawn and wanted to help her sister in any way she could….Mairenn had helped her to be with the man she loves. In turn that leaves her with little option than to take her sister’s place in the betrothal…
When Robert first learns of the change in bride he is rightly furious. He would be meeting her for the first time, moments before he was to say his vows…left with little choice, he accepted the new conditions and terms of the contract. The small attraction between Robert and Mairenn slowly turns to heat and passion.
Overall I feel that The Knight’s Substitute Bride gives the reader an interesting plot. I found that the characters were charming and relatable…
I would suggest reading The Knight’s Substitute Bride to people who enjoy reading mills & boon/harlequin historicals and historical romance novels based around the medieval era, as it is a character driven story about loss, love and family.
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