Requested Read-review: Kat Martin - Reese's Bride

Mass Market Paperback; 376 pages
Publisher: Mira Books, First edition (December 29, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0778327448
ISBN-13: 978-0778327448
Genre: Historical Romance
Book: Book Two in Bride Trilogy
Main Characters: Reese Dewar & Elizabeth Clemens
On sale at: The Book Depository Store

Summary:
Years ago, love-struck Reese departed his home at Briarwood with a promise from raven-haired Elizabeth Clemens: that she would make a life with him upon his return. But mere months later, she married the Earl of Aldridge, attaining wealth and status Reese could never match. Memories of that betrayal make his homecoming far more bitter than sweet.

Seeing Elizabeth on his doorstep dressed in widow's garb that twists the knife even deeper. But fear for her young son’s safety has overcome her pride: she begs Reese for protection from those would see the boy dead to possess his fortune. He agrees to an uneasy alliance, sensing Elizabeth still harbors some deep secrets—and Reese knows that he's placing himself in danger...of losing his heart all over again.

Pearl’s review: A leg injury prevents Reese Dewar from going back to the Army so he adheres to his father's last and dying wish and sets out to the country to make Briarwood, the Dewar family's country estate, his home. Underneath his harsh, bitter and controlled exterior lays a passionate, sensitive and honorable man. Reese's relentless pursuit of Elizabeth is driven by desire, need and a little bit of revenge for her having spurned him for another man.

Elizabeth Clemens is a courageous and loving widow of a cruel man. She has a past with Reese and when he returns to the village of Swansdowne she knows she won't be able to keep her secret for long. When her life and that of her son is in danger, she flees from her horrible in-laws to the one person who can help her, knowing he despises her, Reese. However, Reese's honor doesn't permit refusal and soon his hatred for her begins to thaw. After yet another attempt on Elizabeth's life, Reese decides the only way to keep both her and her son safe is to offer them marriage and adoption.

The supporting cast of characters was extensive, with some new and some old faces. I loved seeing Royal and Lily put in an appearance and finding out how they were doing after their own book. I hated Elizabeth's in-laws on the spot and I adored Jared, Elizabeth's shy son who is truly a darling boy. As in ROYAL'S BRIDE once again the help of "the Oarsmen", the group of friends from Royal's Oxford time, is needed and comes in handy in the suspense subplots.

REESE'S BRIDE is a story of reunited lovers that had quite a few storylines. These story lines were easily entwined to form a story that was a little predictable but this didn't prevent me from thoroughly enjoying this second installment of the Bride Trilogy. Again Kat Martin did not disappoint me. She delivered a wonderful book where suspense, well-rounded characters, deep emotions, romance and overcoming the past are mixed together against a historical setting.

All Kat Martin's historical romances I've read have been a joy to read from the first to the last page and REESE'S BRIDE is no exception. Even though REESE'S BRIDE had a lesser impact on me than ROYAL'S BRIDE did, and this mainly had to do with the different tropes, I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to RULE'S BRIDE, which was released April 27th.

I would highly recommend REESE’S BRIDE to any reader who doesn’t mind a plot that is a little predictable and enjoys a touching historical romance carried by characters that are strong and determined to overcome the past despite all the difficulties.