In Bed With A Stranger [Paperback]

Anne Copper is the[...]daughter of the Earl of Warwick. The earl's wife, Countess Philipa, hates Anne, her siblings, and their mother Ivy who is the earl's longtime leman. When the earl demands that Mary, his and Philipa's legitimate daughter, marry Brodick McJames, Philipa hatches a plan to keep her daughter by her side while ridding herself of Anne once and for all. No one, least of all Anne, anticipated that she would fall in love with the burly Scotsman. Anne sees no way out of her plight, but vows to protect her family. However, her deception may cost her the love of her life.

To live in a time where your future and daily life is dictated solely by those around you, must have been difficult, to say the least. Anne is forced to marry a stranger. But what a great man Brodick turns out to be. Brodick is honest, fair, and a strong capable leader. He elicits authority and instills faith from his people. He is a passionate lover and a handsome man. Anne's feelings of angst over her betrayal as she falls in love with Brodick are tangible. She is virtuous and kind- hearted. In Bed With a Stranger is an erotic tale of love, lies, and deception.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Brodick McJames needs an English wife. Living in Scotland on land that borders the Earl of Warwickshire's property, Brodick secures the Earl's daughter as his bride and they are married by proxy. Arriving to retrieve his wife and take her to his home, Brodick is surprised by her lack of English airs and the fact that she isn't complaining. He is further surprised by her passionate responses to him. Maybe this marriage won't be so bad after all.

Anne Copper is the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Warwickshire. Her sire is not around very often due to courtly business so when he is gone, Anne's status is relegated to that of a servant in her own home. Her father's wife is vindictive and abusive, and the fact that Anne resembles her half sister infuriates her to the point of madness.

It is during one such episode when her father is gone that the news of his contracting a marriage for his legitimate daughter is announced. Anne's half sister is distraught, and so is her mother - that's when the cruel woman comes up with a plan to save her daughter and sacrifice her husband's by-blow. Anne is to travel as Brodick's wife and become pregnant. If she doesn't, her father's wife will turn her mother out of the castle with nothing but the clothes on her back. Anne refuses to allow her mother to be cast aside and so agrees to this plan. After all, how hard will it be to play at being a wife in a marriage of convenience, right?

IN BED WITH A STRANGER is the epitome of why historical romances are my favorite genre to read. Mary Wine has thoroughly captured the Scottish way of life in such a way that I can picture the scenes in my mind. Scottish warriors abound, and Brodick McJames should have been nicknamed, "Brodick McDreamy." His treatment of Anne was honest and, while not timid, he definitely took his time to make her feel every single facet of their love making. He treated her as if he cherished her, even knowing that something was not the way it should be. He showed her unconditional respect and love. Anne never expected to be treated so honorably by her `husband' and fought her feelings for him as hard as she could. Brodick was just too enticing and Anne adored him. The situation with her deception weighed heavily on Anne's mind, not because she was deceiving her husband but because she was lying to the man she loved more than anything.

Scottish highlands, kilts, rugged and virile warriors - there is nothing about IN BED WITH A STRANGER that I didn't like. Just to be sure, I went back and read it a second time. Mary Wine's first Brava release is sure to be a hit - I highly recommend IN BED WITH A STRANGER. It is simply extraordinary.

Natalie S.

I'm a picky romance reader and I really really loved this book!! The cover is totally off with the characters (just some random picture??). Hot Scots in kilts with nothing but tumbling in the hay on their minds - hey sounds good to me!! The chemistry between the two main characters is splendid. A Cinderella feel book with perks! I loved Anne's character - noble and selfless - but hey while I am doing all this I might as well enjoy myself!! I did not like the "quick ending" it seemed as if the author was like "Ok time to wrap this up!!" - Other than that - LOVED IT!

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