Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
Considered on the shelf by most of the Ton, Samantha Briggeham has no plans to marry unless somehow love enters the equation. However, at her advanced age (the mid-twenties) she knows that will never happen. However, the infamous BRIDE THIEF thinks that Sammie is being forced to wed in an arranged marriage. Unable to allow that to happen to her or other unwanted females, he abducts Sammie.
After being freed by him, Sammie cannot forget the BRIDE THIEF or the wonderful Eric Landsdowne, the Earl of Wesley, who she has just met. Eric also cannot ignore his feelings for Sammie, who he met when he "rescued" her as his alter ego the BRIDE THIEF. Instead of receiving the typical courting scenario from him, Sammie engages in a romantic liaison with Eric, but they are caught. He does the honorable thing and proposes, but Sammie fears for her independence. Then there is the Bride Thief, under siege by angry fathers seeking missing daughters, wanting to set free the woman he loves from an arranged marriage, ironically to him.
THE BRIDE THIEF is an entertaining, often humorous Regency romantic romp that also provides a lesson in sticking to ones values even if it hurts to do so. The story line retains its amusing posture throughout the tale though a couple of subplots seem like unnecessary detours. The characters are a delightful group, especially the bewildered Eric and the intrepid Sammie. which Jacquie D'Alessandro provides her readers with a hilarious historical romp.