Thursday, March 16

Book Review: The China Bride by Mary Jo Putney

Author:  Mary Jo Putney
Title: The China Bride (The Bride Trilogy #2)
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 439
Published: 2000
Where I Got It: My Shelf (B&N)

Born to a Scottish father and now living in China, Troth Montgomery grew up speaking several languages and thinking of faraway England as home. Enduring life as a concubine, she never imagined that one day she would leave the Orient, arriving in bitter winter at the estate of a stranger--the brother of the man who had briefly been her husband. Kyle Renbourne, Viscount of Maxwell, had taken Troth as his bride shortly before his apparent execution in a Chinese prison. Now, as his widow, she is entitled to the home she always dreamed of but remains haunted by the memory of a dashing husband and the brief, forbidden love they shared.

Then Kyle seemingly returns from the dead. Though he has survived, his mind and body are badly wounded. He needs time to heal and retreats from the exotic wife he barely knows. Bitterly aware that she will never be a fitting English wife, Troth defiantly embraces her foreign traditions, hoping that the ancient arts of her ancestors will restore Kyle's spirit and her own battered heart. Together they embark on a miraculous journey of hope and faith as Kyle becomes enchanted with the intimate tranquility he shares with his bewitching Troth. But before he can win back his China bride, Kyle must first face a deadly menace that has followed them halfway across the world. . . .

This book two in the series. I read book one an eon ago and I enjoyed it. The first book followed Dominic and Meriel. This one follows Kyle, Dom's twin brother, and Troth who meet in China. Kyle is heartbroken from his old mistress dying and Troth is now orphaned and being forced to be white person escort and a spy on the side.

I liked the first book. I liked Kyle's side-story so I was excited to read forward...however...I was let down. Kyle was different than what I remembered in the first book. He was an idiot and annoying. Troth was interesting, but she bugged me too overall.

The beginning was really good but then it was downhill. I think the scene that marked my downfall with this book was the scene when Kyle discovers Troth is a woman. It was really forced and really kind of silly how Kyle went about it. He had no decorum or class. He was kind of offensive and overly blunt. Troth had an interesting complex about her but she was boring overall. 

I wasn't a huge fan of the jumping between time. It didn't flow well.

After the one scene, I started skimming. The ending got a hair better with all the drama, but I just didn't get into it like I did the first book.

The first book wasn't amazing, but it was good. This one? A super bummer. I couldn't connect with the characters and I couldn't stay on track with the story. Maybe if the story didn't time jump and I liked the characters even an ounce more could've made this better? Out of five stars, I'll give this one. 





5 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

Time jumping, ugh

Melliane said...

oh sorry. I tried a few books by the author a few years ago but it's beel a while

Carole Rae said...

B, rarely works.

Melliane, I've tried one of them.

Anachronist said...

The curse of second books. Shame.

Carole Rae said...

Alas, 'tis true.