|
|
| Plot Summary of The Bartered Bride |
"
Ballantine, May 2002, 22.95
ISBN: 0345437055
In 1834, American sea merchant Gavin Elliot sets sail from The East Indies for London after making his fortune in trade. He plans to reestablish his family name previously disgraced among the aristocracy.
On his journey to England, Gavin stops at the island of Maduri where Sultan Kasan surprisingly orders a personal visit from the sea captain. While there, Gavin learns that English widow Alexandra Warren is held in bondage after her ship was captured by pirates. Alexandra's eight-year-old daughter is either dead or incarcerated elsewhere. Though he knows not to intercede, the honorable Gavin challenges Kasan to play Lion's Game in which his loss means two decades of servitude, but a victory frees Alexandra. Of course, Gavin has never played before while his opponent is a pro in this deadly encounter.
THE BARTERED BRIDE is an exciting, action-packed historical romance that never slows down until the tale is completed. The story line is loaded with a taste of an exotic 1830's environment that provides a fresh outlook to the audience. The lead couple is a courageous duo though the odds of Gavin defeating Kasan in the Lion's Game seems greater than Douglas-Tyson and would have been kept off Vegas and White's books. Still Mary Jo Putney continues to provide a vast panorama of an intriguing bygone era by placing her romances in unique locals.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
|
"Gavin Elliot is in the Tower of London in 1835 accused of murder. Gavin, a Scottish American, became wealthy trading in the East Indies. One year earlier, on an island in the East Indies, Gavin saw Alexandra Warren being sold at a slave auction.
Alex, an English woman, was returning to England with her daughter after the death of her husband when her ship was attacked by pirates. She and her daughter, Katie, were separated and Alex was enslaved. Gavin tries to buy Alex in order to free her, but the sultan of the island sees Gavin's interest in the beautiful Alex and decides to use her to get Gavin to agree to work for him as part of his political plotting. Gavin must risk his life in an ancient Lion Game if he wants to barter for Alex. Through courage and wit, Gavin wins Alex's freedom but not before being forced to have sexual intercourse with the traumatized Alex. Out of honor, Gavin marries Alex, they find Katie and return to England.
Once in London, Gavin tries to regain his family's status in society and must also help Alex overcome the trauma of her enslavement before he can pursue the love he feels for his new wife. However, he has enemies plotting against him which result in a charge of murder."
L. Watson, Resident Scholar
|
|
| Review Analysis of The Bartered Bride |
|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
|
|
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story
- 19th century
Action/suspense subplot?
Yes
Action:
- chased by/chasing kidnapper/killer
- pirate attack!
Main Male Character
Profession/status:
- trader
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age/status:
- 20's-30's
How sexual is this person?
- very picky
How romantic is this person?
- very romantic
- somewhat romantic
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Female Character
Age/status:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
- homemaker
How sexual is this person?
- very picky
How romantic is this person?
- somewhat romantic
effect of sexing
- angry
- scared
Sex has bad effect on her
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Island?
Yes
Island:
- mean guy who wants to hunt/mutate
Misc setting
- Fancy Mansion
- prison
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related?
- 60%
- 70%
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
- touching of anatomy
- actual description of sex
- rape/molest (yeech!)
Part of a series?
Yes
Focus of story
- equally on him and her
How much dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
How much sexing?
- 3-4 sex acts
|
|
|
Click here for more information about this book
Mary Jo Putney Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
L. Watson 
SCHOLARS:
| |
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback
Most recent discussions:
General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
James Patterson
12:08:13 PM
George W. Bush
2:32:02 AM
Anonymous
2:03:39 AM
Erin Hunters
9:00:01 PM
Betty Mahmoody
6:00:22 PM
Judith McNaught
11:55:44 AM
Iris Johansen
9:03:43 PM
Norah Lofts
1:11:37 PM
Jane Rubino
9:32:45 AM
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twersky
11:28:51 PM
Faye Kellerman
12:37:41 AM
LaVyrle Spencer
7:25:23 PM
Robert James Waller
8:30:15 PM
Suzanne Weyn
12:50:03 AM
Deric Longden
2:54:11 PM
Wilma Counts
1:23:32 PM
Kin Platt
12:58:29 AM
Lilian Jackson Braun
10:05:52 PM
G.A. McKevett
10:03:31 PM
David Williams
10:03:01 PM
More message boards
|