"Summer's Bride" is your standard romance novel. There is a conflict, and throughout the resolution of the conflict, you have the moments of passion and love. However, unlike several novels I've read, Archer is able to develop characters of whom you actually believe. The novel goes back and forth between first-person Genevieve and first-person Marcel, and it gives you some very intense insight into how the other's actions and words are interpreted and, often, misunderstood. It's an amusing exchange that keeps you guessing on how the two will ultimately respond to the passion they have for one another. I won't give away the ending, but I will say that once you pick the book up you won't want to put it down. It really is exciting and takes just enough turns to keep the reader interested and craving more, but it doesn't push the limits of believability.
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Novel Highlights:
Genevieve of Harwick is a ward of the Ainsworth family, and for several years, she has had her sights on Marcel Ainsworth (a brother of Lord Benedict, the specific family member to whom she is a ward). Marcel, however full of passion and lust for Genevieve, mistakes her advances to only be attempts to gain official access to the Ainsworth family name. The novel takes the reader through several major events - such as Genevieve becoming a stowaway on Marcel's ship and the kidnapping of a family member - that bring Marcel and Genevieve closer for a brief time. However, the timing always appears to be off for the two, and the frequent misinterpretation of each other's words and actions keeps the story amusing and suspenseful. Will Marcel give into Genevieve? Can Genevieve ever overcome her desire to simply be in the Ainsworth family? You've got to read the novel to find out!
