Jove Historical Romance (Paperback), ISBN 0-515-13225-X
In the latest of "The Bride Novels" series (The Sherbrooke Bride, The Hellion Bride, The Heiress Bride, and The Scottish Bride), the Vicar's daughter, Meggie -- first of the next generation of Sherbrooke women -- comes of age.

Before she reached 14, the beautiful and bright Meggie Sherbrooke set her heart on marrying her handsome and eligible almost-cousin, Jeremy Stanton-Greville. Now 18 and ripe for marriage, Meggie thwarts all proposals while entertaining dreams of Jeremy. When no offer arrives, Meggie stages a meeting in the park where she reveals her true feelings. Unfortunately, there she finds that Jeremy's heart belongs solely to another.

Enter Thomas Malcombe, the earl of Lancaster. Immediately taken with Meggie's spirit and beauty, Thomas asks her to ride. Meggie declines but reconsiders the invitation when circumstances put him in her favor. Still spinning from the loss of her hopes and dreams with Jeremy, a reluctant Meggie agrees to marry Thomas -- a good man, but one she does not love.

Upon their marriage, Thomas whisks Meggie away to the southeastern coast of Ireland and Castle Pendragon. There, thrown into a tangled web of selfish motivations, Meggie cannot be sure who is friend or foe. An ill-tempered mother-in-law, a lustful lord, an irresponsible brother-in-law and mythological creatures called grakers keep Meggie on the edge of happiness. Meanwhile, Thomas deals with his own demons, mainly Meggie's unrequited love of Stanton-Greville. Can he ever prove his love and induce his wife to return it?

Bestselling romance author Catherine Coulter takes her sweet time before casting a spell of enchantment in Pendragon. Only in the second half, en route to Pendragon, when the story turns gothic and mystery lights the plot do the pages start turning quickly. Thankfully, the mystery eclipses the cookie-cutter characters and provides a satisfactory conclusion to this tale of romantic suspense. Certainly, not Coulter's best, but a worthwhile read -- if you don't count the tedious cat racing.

Lynne Remick

Lynne Marie Pisano is a freelance writer, poet, book reviewer, SCBWI Metro New York LI Critique Group Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Long Island Children's Writers and Illustrators. She lives in New York with her husband Michael, her son Kevin and a daughter named Kayla, and Dante, a Schipperke.

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