Bartered Bride [Paperback]

 

 

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May I add one comment? review of 2000 is of a different book -- not this one.

Well 2 comments -- other two reviewers have definitely no knowledge of the German reticience of showing any emotion although they do feel deeply. And Romance is NOT all about sex.

Ah, Bartered? Frederich bartered his freedom for the love of his daughters even at the expense of his need for revenge.
Caroline Holt bartered her freedom and excepted her humiliation for the sake of her unborn child.

Her misplaced love for a refined, educated man caused her surrender to his seduction. The Blackguard!
Frederich was not going to allow his brother, Eli to step in when he wanted to revoke his offer of marriage to Caroline's brother, Avery. Another arrogant man in Caroline's life.
And in the German Church in front of the whole congregation. [Just a note: Caroline did not understand the German language]
Loved her brother, William's comment that even though he could not speak German, he could catch the drift of what was being said.

Caroline felt she had to endure most anything for her dead sisters' sake and for her nieces, Lise and Mary Louise that she loved very much.

She had a hard time understanding why her brother-in-law was not at his wife, Ann's side when she died. Comes of not knowing the truth.

She was taken aback when she saw the tender, loving way Frederich had with his daughters. His mistake was in believing his sister, Beata would get along with his wives. Beata shows what jealosy and discontent will do to warp a person's character.

Frederich had a man's view in assuming Caroline would know what he expected of her. Such lack of communication. And because of his lack of trust and sense of betrayal he could not express his feelings as they grew stronger for Caroline. Until the war started leveling everyone's concept of life.

Frederich would no allow Caroline to die and he helped her to grieve, she in turn would not allow him to die of his wounds.

What a wonderful story of how the human spirit keeps on striving against all odds and sometimes finds it place in the scheme of things.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- will definitely be keeping all of her books. There is much depth to her historical stories.

Whatever you expect this story to be about, you'll be wrong. However, having said that, I am glad I read it. It is not a keeper for me but it was so totally different from anything I have ever read, I almost gave it a 4 *.........The book mostly takes place in a north carolina farming community of german immigrants during the american civil war. They are a people who do not express or communicate their feelings well causing all kinds of missteps. However their loyalty to family and pledge is everything. The best part of the book are Lise and Mary Louise the 2 and 4 yr old daughters of our main character, Frederich. They are precious, precocious and delightful.Their mother, Ann, died giving birth to her 3rd child and her husband shows no compassion at her passing to her sister carolines distress. (We later find out that the baby was not his). Caroline is a blunt, un-biddable woman who loves her nieces dearly bit isn't overly fond of her "german" neighbors. Fredrick "offers' for Caroline for his motherless children and marries her although sheis pregnant by someone else who she will not name.Of course Frederick thinks she is a "ho" like her sister Ann. Enter Frederick's sister Beata. The original witch on a broom. She makes life so hard for Caroline and for everyone with her gossip and lies. As Caroline and Fredrick are trying to cope with this loveless, sexless marriage, they become bonded through several events. But the civil war intervenes and more hardships effect them all. Frederick finally admits, to himself, that he cares for Caroline and goes home to tell her..(and they have their wedding night)...but he is captured as a "deserter" and leaves after more angry words and sarcasm. Fredrick's biggest problem throughout the story is that he didn't shoot his sister Beata!!!! Caroline goes to Richmond to find her injured/dead husband and vows to bring him home in any condition...The fault of the book lies in its lack of expressed "emotion" but although I missed that too, it actually was in keeping with the story of this culture. The emotion was there but it was for the reader to discern between the lines. It also taught me so much about the traditions of the german culture for courting, death, etc......Very interesting actually. And while I had heard of "conscription"....the draft of men for the war, I never knew it could be, as it was here, at gunpoint. That gives new meaning to the word draft. The war references were tasteful and poignant. I have such mixed emotions about this book. I am not a cheryl reavis fan but she did a good job with these characters.

The heroine Cassie was not appealing at the beginning of the book. She was too shy to speak up for herself when being accursed of stealing at a shop. Then came her 'knight in shining armour' who defended her. It was love at first sight - on her part only. He married her for money and kept remembering his lost love. As the story progressed, Cassie revealed her strength underneath her 'mousy little wife' exterior. She winned over his best friend and his sister. The most touching part was the love letters she wrote impersonating his lost love, in order to give him something to hold on when he had lost all his dreams. When they finally understood each other and found their love, I wondered how much of his love was out of gratitude ?

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