Tag: Laird’s Fiancees Series

Sunday Spotlight: The Wedding by Julie Garwood

Posted October 6, 2019 by Rowena in Features, Giveaways | 7 Comments

Sunday Spotlight is a feature we began in 2016. This year we’re spotlighting our favorite books, old and new. We’ll be raving about the books we love and being total fangirls. You’ve been warned. 🙂

I have fallen into the biggest of reading slumps this year and I seem to only be reading in spurts. In the last few weeks, I’ve only wanted to read old comfort reads and that means I’ve read a whole lot of old school Julie Garwood. One of my favorite books ever is The Wedding and I just recently re-read it for like the hundredth time and it still hits me right in my feels. I still love it to pieces and it still remains one of my favoritest books ever.

Sunday Spotlight: The Wedding by Julie GarwoodThe Wedding by Julie Garwood
Series: Laird's Fiancees #2
Also in this series: The Wedding
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publication Date: January 1, 2003
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Point-of-View: Third
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 384
Add It: Goodreads
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five-stars
Series Rating: five-stars

It's a classic plot: a marriage of convenience that lays the groundwork for true love.

1119. Journeying from England to Scotland to wed a highlander, Lady Brenna had resigned herself to the arranged match. But when a band of fierce, painted warriors captured her en route, she fearlessly met their demand to marry their leader -- the quick-tempered laird Connor MacAlister. She couldn't know that her capture was merely the first act of vengeance against her betrothed, Connor's sworn enemy.

Brenna harbored no illusions that her husband was in love with her; after a hasty forest wedding, MacAlister assured her she could return home once she had borne him a son. But she could not deny that she had once proposed to MacAlister -- ten years ago, when she was just a child, and the visitor to her father's castle charmed her with his dazzling, unexpected smile. Now, as she sets out to win the brave chieftain whom she has come to adore, a legacy of revenge ensnares Brenna in a furious clan war -- and only her faith in her gallant hero can save her....

Memorable Quotes

If you haven’t read this book yet, you should really fix that because Julie Garwood’s historicals are one of a kind of romances that I honestly believe will stand the test of time. Whether you’re a newbie to romance or an old veteran reader like us here at Book Binge, you’ll love Julie Garwood’s older romances. They’re just super good with colorful settings, memorable characters and romances that will warm your heart and stay on your mind for years and years to come. Connor and Brenna MacAllister’s romance is one of the best and you won’t be able to help yourself. You’re going to fall in love with them and with their love story.

Here are some of my favorite quotes and scenes from the book…

“What did you say to the messenger, mi’lady? Do you remember the exact words of your last proposal?”

She recognized Quinlan’s voice behind her.

How in thunder could she possibly remember? Hadn’t any of them been listening?

She couldn’t turn to face Quinlan because their leader still had hold of her, and he didn’t seem to be the least bit inclined to let go.

“I probably said, ‘Will you marry me?'”

Connor smiled. He pulled her toward him, lowered his head, and kissed her just long enough to stun her.

He lifted his head then, looked into her eyes, and finally spoke to her.

“Yes, Brenna. I will marry you.”

Connor was such a sneaky little bastard. He was always going around tricking Brenna into doing what he wanted her to do…but oh Brenna had the last laugh because after all was said and done, it was Brenna who had Connor wrapped around her little finger.

“He held her gaze steady while he summarized her promises. “She will honor me, protect me, obey me only when she believes I’m being reasonable—but I shouldn’t hold out hope that that day will ever come—try to love me before she’s an old woman, and I’d better get it straight in my mind that she will respect me until or unless I do something to prove I’m not worthy, and God save me then. Have I left anything out, Brenna?”

Brenna wasn’t the easiest going heroine but man was she a delightful one. She rambled, she was forgetful but she was one of the sweetest heroines from Julie Garwood’s books. I loved her so much. It is not a coincidence that my daughter’s name is Brenna. 🙂 And I loved that with all of Brenna’s quirks, Connor loved her and wouldn’t have had her any other way.

“Your trying to take them away from me, and I can’t let you do that.I’m not ready to let go.”

“Exactly what am I taking away?”

“My family.”

“Brenna…”

She wouldn’t let him continue. “You are trying to take them away, aren’t you? And if you succeed, what will I have left?”

“Me.”

Say it with me now….”Awwwww. Brenna may lose every single person in her life but she’ll never lose Connor.” 🙂

“She let him know how much she liked what he was doing by scoring his back with her nails and crying out with pleasure.

“Oh, God.”

“Nay, lass. Connor.”

This is definitely the first thing that I think of when The Wedding comes across my mind. I laughed out loud the first time I read that scene. Holy cow it’s such a funny one. One of the most memorable scenes from this book.

As you can see, I have so much love for this book. It’s one of the books that I read in the early days, when I first started reading romance novels and it remains one of my favorite books ever. I have such fond memories of the people that I met online years and years ago who shared a love of this author and of this book with me. Honestly, to read this book is to love it so if you’re curious about this one, enter our giveaway below for a chance to win this book for your own.

Laird’s Fiancees Series

Giveaway Alert

We’re giving one lucky winner their choice of one of our Sunday Spotlight books. Use the widget below to enter for one of this month’s features.

Sunday Spotlight: October 2019

Do you love Julie Garwood’s historicals as much as we do? Let us know how excited you are about all of the books coming out this month!

About Julie Garwood

It’s no surprise that Julie Garwood became a writer. Growing up in a large family of Irish heritage, she took to storytelling naturally. “The Irish relish getting all the details of every situation,” she explains. “Add in the fact that I was the sixth of seven children. Early in life I learned that self-expression had to be forceful, imaginative, and quick.”

Creating stories was always a passion for Julie, but she didn’t focus on making it a career until the youngest of her three children entered school. After the publications of two young adult books, she turned her interests to historical fiction. Her first novel, GENTLE WARRIOR, was published in 1985, and there has been a steady parade of bestsellers ever since. Today more than 40-million copies of her books are in print, and they are translated in dozens of languages around the world. One of her most popular novels, FOR THE ROSES, was adapted for a HALLMARK HALL OF FAME production on CBS.

Whether the setting be medieval Scotland, Regency England, frontier Montana, or modern-day Louisiana, her themes are consistent: family, loyalty, and honor. Readers claim that it’s the humor as well as poignancy of her novels that keep them coming back for more. Julie described her goals this way: “I want my readers to laugh and cry and fall in love. Basically, I want them to escape into another world for a little while and afterwards to feel as though they’ve been on a great adventure.”

Julie lives in Leawood, Kansas, and is currently working on her next novel.

five-stars


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Sunday Spotlight: The Bride by Julie Garwood

Posted October 29, 2017 by Casee in Features, Giveaways | 3 Comments

Sunday Spotlight is a feature we began in 2016. This year we’re spotlighting our favorite books, old and new. We’ll be raving about the books we love and being total fangirls. You’ve been warned. 🙂

Sunday Spotlight

Julie Garwood remains one of my all-time favorite authors. She was one of the authors that introduced me to historicals and I often revisit her when I’m in a slump or just need a pick me up. The Bride wasn’t the first book I read of Garwood’s, but it is one of my favorites. I adore Jamie and Alec.

The Bride by Julie Garwood
Series: Lairds’ Fiancées
Also in this Series: The Wedding
Genres: Historical Romance
Release Date: July 1989
Publisher: Atria Books

By the king’s edict, Alec Kincaid, mightiest of the Scottish lairds, must take an English bride. And Jamie the youngest daughter of Baron Jamison, is his choice. From his first glimpse of the proud and beautiful English lady, Alec felt a burning hunger stir within him. This was a woman worthy of his fearless warrior’s spirit. And he aches to touch her, tame her, possess her…forever.

But with the wedding vows, Jamie pledges her own secret oath: She will never surrender her love to this Highland barbarian. He was everything her heart warned her against — an arrogant, brooding scoundrel whose rough good looks and seductive embrace fire her blood. But when strange accidents begin to threaten Jamie’s life and an old rumor that Alec killed his first wife spreads anew, something far more dangerous than desire threatens to conquer her senses.

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Memorable Quotes

I love the interaction between Alec and Jamie. Jamie gets so disgruntled with Alec. And Alec knows it.

“I’m frowning because you told me your were feeling inferior. I never, ever want you to think suck ridiculous thoughts in the future, wife. Wher ein God;s name you ever came up with such an ignorant idea-”

“You called be inferior,” she reminded him, thoroughly puzzled now.

He had the audacity to look surprised. Jamie’s eyes widened in reaction. “You called me insignificant, too. Don’t you remember, Alec?”

He shrugged. He went to collected their mounts, but he was smiling now instead of scowling. His gentle wife had sounded so incensed.

“You can’t even keep track of your own opinions?”

“No opinions,” he called over his shoulder. “Insults, love.”

“You admit insulting me then?” she shouted, chasing after him.

“Of course.”

He let out a shout of laughter when her unladylike expletive filled the air.

She was horrified by her shameful blasphemy than he was. She apologized profusely.

He laughed right in her face.

Alec finally realizes that he’s coming to love Jamie and he will not have her jeopardize herself.

“What are you ranting about?” Jamie asking. “What chance did I take?”

He could tell from her expression she didn’t know why he was upset with her. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his control. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his control. When she’d stood up, his heart had stopped beating.

“You could have killed yourself.” he muttered between clenched teeth. “If anyone’s going to kill you, it’s going to me. Don’t ever stand on your mount’s back again. Not ever.”

I really laughed out loud here. Jamie gave her sister sanctuary and didn’t understand what she did.

“You dare refuse to do battle” Daniel bellowed. He was so angry the veins in his stood out on the sides of his neck.

“Damn right I do,” Alec bellowed back.

“You can’t.”

“I just did.”

Now it was Daniel’s turn to shake his head. “What game are you playing, Alec?” he demanded to know, though he no longer sounded as if he were spitting hot embers out of his mouth.

“I’ll not fight a war I don’t want to win,” Alec stated.

“You don’t want to win?”

“I don’t.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Daniel, do you honestly believe I want two Englishwomen in my household?”

The question took some of Daniel’s anger away. “But-”

“If I won’t, I’d have Mary living with Jamie for the rest of my days. You ask too much of me, friend.”

“You didn’t agree to give my wife sanctuary?” Daniel asked. A hint of a smile bellowed his expression.

“I did not, “Alex returned in exasperation.

This book is just fantastic. I loved it from beginning to end.

Lairds’ Fiancées

Giveaway: We’re giving one lucky winner their choice of one of our Sunday Spotlight books. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for one of this month’s features.

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Are you as excited for this release as we are? Let us know how excited you are and what other books you’re looking forward to this year!

About the Author

Julie Garwood

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST

It’s no surprise that Julie Garwood became a writer. Growing up in a large family of Irish heritage, she took to storytelling naturally. “The Irish relish getting all the details of every situation,” she explains. “Add in the fact that I was the sixth of seven children. Early in life I learned that self-expression had to be forceful, imaginative, and quick.”

Creating stories was always a passion for Julie, but she didn’t focus on making it a career until the youngest of her three children entered school. After the publications of two young adult books, she turned her interests to historical fiction. Her first novel, GENTLE WARRIOR, was published in 1985, and there has been a steady parade of bestsellers ever since. Today more than 40-million copies of her books are in print, and they are translated in dozens of languages around the world. One of her most popular novels, FOR THE ROSES, was adapted for a HALLMARK HALL OF FAME production on CBS.

Whether the setting be medieval Scotland, Regency England, frontier Montana, or modern-day Louisiana, her themes are consistent: family, loyalty, and honor. Readers claim that it’s the humor as well as poignancy of her novels that keep them coming back for more. Julie described her goals this way: “I want my readers to laugh and cry and fall in love. Basically, I want them to escape into another world for a little while and afterwards to feel as though they’ve been on a great adventure.”

Julie lives in Leawood, Kansas, and is currently working on her next novel.


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Author Spotlight Review: The Bride by Julie Garwood.

Posted December 11, 2009 by Rowena in Reviews | 3 Comments


Rowena’s review of The Bride by Julie Garwood.

Hero: Alec Kincaid
Heroine: Jamie Jamison

By edict of the king, the mighty Scottish laird Alec Kincaid must take an English bride. His choice was Jamie, youngest daughter of Baron Jamison…a feisty, violet-eyed beauty. Alec ached to touch her, to tame her, to possess her…forever. But Jamie vowed never to surrender to this highland barbarian. He was everything her heart warned against—an arrogant scoundrel whose rough good looks spoke of savage pleasures. And thought Kincaid’s scorching kisses fired her blood, she brazenly resisted him…until one rapturous moment quelled their clash of wills, and something far more dangerous than desire threatened to conquer her senses…

It’s been quite a long time since I’ve read this book and I’ll be honest in saying that I couldn’t for the life of me remember what the big deal about Alec was. I mean, he’s kicking everyone’s tail in the Last Hero Standing Challenge and I just had to find out why so I whipped this puppy out and all I can say is…now I remember.

I couldn’t remember much of this book because of the two books in this series, The Wedding was always my favorite. Connor was always my favorite brother. My friend Grace has always been in the Alec camp but everyone else? It’s always been Connor. Having said that, I now remember Alec’s appeal. The way he bumbled his way through taking a wife, an English bride at that and finding a spot for her in his life was just too frickin’ cute!

Alec was one of my favorite things about this book. His surly personality matched with Jamie’s personality made for such an entertaining read that had me giddy with anticipation for more. All of JG’s heroes are possessive and extra protective but the way that Alec wore his possessive nature had me drooling all over the place.

“By what name is she called Kincaid?”

He took a long time answering.

Alec slowly scanned the audience.

And then he answered at last.

“MINE.”

*swoon*

Love, love, love it! Alec is the bomb and I better read The Wedding quick or I’m going to forget that it is Connor that I love. Hehe.

Jamie on the other hand was a fantastic heroine. She was flawed and yet she was great. The way that her father treated her made me mad because she was no better than a maid. So when Alec comes to collect his bride and she’s not happy about it, seeing her come into her own was very engaging because Jamie was such an appealing character. She wasn’t perfect and that’s what I loved about her. She was great and she was flawed. She needed to learn that love should be freely given and I loved that Alec showed her that. Ugh and the way that Mary was with Jamie pissed me off to no end in this book, all over again. The way that she threw Jamie to the wolves each and every time to protect her pissed me off because she thought nothing of it. It was like it was Jamie’s job to do that but MARY WAS THE OLDER SISTER! Ugh, I couldn’t stand Jamie’s family and was so glad that Alec came into her life because for once, he showed her that she could lean on someone else other than herself.

There’s so much to love about this book. From the way that Alec told Jamie that he loved her the first time (it made me melt this time around cause I had forgotten) in Gaelic, to Jamie causing all the wars, to the scene at the end when Andrew comes and the entire clan repays him for Jamie. Alec’s explanation to Jamie about what everyone was doing melted my heart.

The mystery surrounding who was doing all of the crappity crap to Jamie was something that I saw a mile away but I remember reading this book for the first time and not having a clue but still, that bit of mystery lent the book more greatness. All in all, this book was a fantastic read and I’m sure I will be reading this book again and again in the future because it is a definite keeper. If you haven’t read this book or any book by Julie Garwood, I suggest you get checked because something is not right. This book’s got it all, the laughter, the sigh all over the place scenes and fabulous characters that will stay with you long after you put it down so really, READ THIS BOOK!

Grade: 4.75 out of 5

This book is available from Pocket Books. You can buy it here.


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