Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: You May Kiss the Bride
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://lisaberne.com/
CITY: Los Angeles
STATE: CA
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2017041521
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2017041521
HEADING: Berne, Lisa
000 00558nz a2200169n 450
001 10416998
005 20170404073544.0
008 170403n| azannaabn |n aaa c
010 __ |a no2017041521
035 __ |a (OCoLC)oca10754652
040 __ |a IArlh |b eng |e rda |c IArlh
100 1_ |a Berne, Lisa
370 __ |e Northwest, Pacific |2 naf
374 __ |a Authors |2 lcsh
375 __ |a female
377 __ |a eng
670 __ |a Berne, Lisa. You may kiss the bride, 2017: |b title page (Lisa Berne) page 3 of cover (Lisa Berne… lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest [includes photograph])
PERSONAL
Has children.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
AVOCATIONS:Traveling, going to museums, baking, reading.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Lisa Berne is a writer of romance novels. She is based in Los Angeles, CA.
You May Kiss the Bride
You May Kiss the Bride: The Penhallow Dynasty is the first book in a series by Berne. In it, she tells the story of Livia Stuart. As a child, Livia lived in India with her parents. They both died when Livia was six years old. Livia was sent to England to live with her aunt and uncle, Bella and Charles. Bella and Charles were not very affectionate toward Livia and made it known that they considered her a burden. Now that she has come of age, Livia is looking forward to leaving her aunt and uncle’s house, but she has few prospects on where to go. She and Gabriel Penhallow, a young man from an affluent family, become engaged after falling into a compromising position. Livia decides she must gain confidence, which saves her failing marriage. In an interview with Emily Walton, contributor to the RT Book Reviews website, Berne discussed her protagonist. She stated: “Livia sees herself as someone who’s fundamentally alone, and in a world that’s not particularly welcoming, either. This viewpoint is reinforced when she’s forcibly thrust into the Penhallow family, who initially don’t want her either … So it may seem that her luck has gone from bad to worse! It’s that very proximity, though, which permits love to blossom—love that will allow Livia to connect deeply with Gabriel Penhallow, and to finally feel that she’s a part of a family, living in a home where she truly belongs.”
In a lengthy assessment of the volume on the Romantic Historical Reviews website, a contributor opined: “Author Lisa Berne had a great idea creating a series revolving around a wealthy and influential family without a peer in the mix. Her debut, You May Kiss the Bride is a throwback to the classics where characters like Mr. Darcy were a catch without a title in front of their names. Unfortunately the author’s inexperience shines through more than her unique ideas, with poorly rendered characters and a rather juvenile storyline.” Other critics offered more favorable assessments. Reviewing You May Kiss the Bride in Booklist, John Charles suggested that it “will dazzle readers with its irresistible mix of graceful writing tempered with … crisp wit.” “Author Berne offers a masterful Regency debut that explores pride and prejudices with a tone that seems much less modern than that of many recent historical releases,” asserted a Kirkus Reviews critic. The same critic also described the novel as “a sheer delight.” A contributor to Publishers Weekly called the book “lively and well researched.” This contributor also commented: “Berne’s consistent, engaging writing and solid knowledge of the period make for a wonderful evening’s reading.” “The conclusion made the journey worth the slog through all the stubbornness,” remarked a writer on the All about Romance website. A critic on the Long and Short Reviews website asserted: “How the author weaves love in among all the manipulation, gossip, conflict, and intrigue makes page-turning reading.” The same critic continued: “Lisa Berne creates a compelling story with great pacing that is an early nineteenth century rollercoaster ride. Good entertainment!” A reviewer on the Historical Novel Society website commented: “The strength of the story … is the satirical perspective with which characters are presented.” The same reviewer stated that the book was “definitely recommended to Regency lovers.” “With the engaging cast of characters … this charmer heralds a bright new voice in the genre,” wrote Kathe Robin on the RT Book Reviews website.
The Laird Takes a Bride
In The Laird Takes a Bride: The Penhallow Dynasty, Fiona Douglass is an unwedded woman who is older than many eligible bachelorettes. She has refused to consider proposals because of a past heartbreak. However, Fiona is obliged to go to Castle Tadgh, where Alasdair Penhallow must choose a bride. Fiona is initially resistant, but she finds herself attracted to Alasdair.
A reviewer on the All about Romance website offered a critical assessment of The Laird Takes a Bride. The reviewer suggested: “The author’s research—if, indeed, she did any—isn’t well applied for most of the book; it feels like it could’ve taken place at any point at any time. The rest of the plot is painfully weak. Not much tension is milled out of the contest for Alasdair’s hand; indeed, though the book makes a big deal of it, it takes up much less of the story than one would presume from the blurb.” The reviewer concluded: “While Berne’s writing shows promise, The Laird Takes a Bride is riddled with weaknesses in terms of plot, characterisation, romance and overall construction.” A critic on the Kirkus Reviews website was more complimentary. The critic commented: “With her sophomore effort, Berne shows a special mastery for characters who hide their feelings, even from themselves.” The same critic described the book as “a bright, intelligent, heart-tugging romance.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 1, 2017, John Charles, review of You May Kiss the Bride: The Penhallow Dynasty, p. 30.
Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2017, review of You May Kiss the Bride.
Publishers Weekly, March 6, 2017, review of You May Kiss the Bride, p. 47.
ONLINE
All About Romance, https://allaboutromance.com/ (November 12, 2017), review of You May Kiss the Bride; (November 12, 2017), review of The Laird Takes a Bride: The Penhallow Dynasty.
Historical Novel Society, https://historicalnovelsociety.org/ (May 2017), review of You May Kiss the Bride.
Kirkus Reviews Online, https://www.kirkusreviews.com/ (October 1, 2017), review of The Laird Takes a Bride.
Lisa Berne Website, http://lisaberne.com/ (November 12, 2017).
Long and Short Reviews, http://www.longandshortreviews.com/ (March 23, 2017), review of You May Kiss the Bride.
Red Hot Books, http://redhotbooks.com/ (May 31, 2017), review of You May Kiss the Bride.
Romantic Historical Reviews, http://www.romantichistoricalreviews.com/ (April 14, 2017), review of You May Kiss the Bride.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (February 20, 2017), Emily Walton, author interview; (March 28, 2017), Kathe Robin, review of You May Kiss the Bride.*
QUOTED: "Livia sees herself as someone who’s fundamentally alone, and in a world that’s not particularly welcoming, either. This viewpoint is reinforced when she’s forcibly thrust into the Penhallow family, who initially don’t want her either ... So it may seem that her luck has gone from bad to worse! It’s that very proximity, though, which permits love to blossom — love that will allow Livia to connect deeply with Gabriel Penhallow, and to finally feel that she’s a part of a family, living in a home where she truly belongs."
LISA BERNE'S DEBUT HISTORICAL WILL SWEEP YOU AWAY
Mon, 02/20/2017 - 4:45pm — Emily Walton
reddit
MONTHLY EDITION: (#398) April 2017
This month Avon plans to steal hearts with their latest debut author! Lisa Berne arrives with the first book in her Penhallow Dynasty series, You May Kiss the Bride (Avon, Apr.), a historical romance that follows poor Livia Stuart, an orphan sent to relatives who don’t care for her. Without a dowry, Livia has little luck of finding a husband. But when Gabriel Penhallow comes to her village to court another young lady, a compromised position thrusts Livia into society — whether she wants to or not!
We had to touch base with Lisa to ask her about some of her own favorite historicals, her inspiration and what we can expect from the future.
Congratulations on your debut historical! Have you always been a fan of historical romance and the romance genre in general?
Thank you! Oh yes, I’ve loved romance novels for a long time. I can easily trace my path toward becoming a romance novelist back to when I was 14 and I read Georgette Heyer’s Lady of Quality, which my mom had gotten from her book club. I was hooked. I went on to become an English major and read voraciously in all kinds of genres, but historical romance has always held a special place in my heart.
Who are some authors who inspired your writing?
Along with Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen is also a big influence of mine. There’s so much to admire about her work, and as a writer I’m very inspired by how her heroines fight for personal happiness despite the heavy pressure of pragmatism — in an era during which most women had few opportunities for independent choice.
In Pride and Prejudice, for example, practically speaking Elizabeth Bennet really should accept Mr. Collins’ proposal for the sake of her family’s security, and as for Mansfield Park’s Fanny Price turning down Henry Crawford — how incredibly daring! So I too try to create strong female characters within the historically accurate context of their time.
We love a rags-to-riches story, and Livia is in terrible need of a bit of luck. As an orphan sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle — who do not want her — Livia doesn't have any beautiful gowns or a dowry to win over a husband. How does missing her mother, father and grandfather affect her relationships?
Livia sees herself as someone who’s fundamentally alone, and in a world that’s not particularly welcoming, either. This viewpoint is reinforced when she’s forcibly thrust into the Penhallow family, who initially don’t want her either ... So it may seem that her luck has gone from bad to worse!
It’s that very proximity, though, which permits love to blossom — love that will allow Livia to connect deeply with Gabriel Penhallow, and to finally feel that she’s a part of a family, living in a home where she truly belongs.
My favorite thing about Livia is her sense of humor — especially when she tricks Gabriel early in the novel! Is there anyone in your life who helped inspire Livia's antics?
Yes! My friend Liz, a quick-witted actress and writer, can easily slip in and out of any persona, and she’s also blessed with a strong sense of self and a wickedly funny sense of humor. I could totally see her tricking Gabriel like that.
Gabriel Penhallow is very wealthy and very handsome, but he's also nearly as stubborn as Livia! How on earth will these two find common ground?
Their common ground is actually their differences. I know this sounds paradoxical, but just as Mr. Darcy is intrigued by Elizabeth Bennet’s feisty personality (and fine eyes!), Gabriel Penhallow comes to realize that Livia’s strength, intelligence, and defiant spirit are precisely what he needs to shake him out of his aloof and arrogant mindset. Livia, for her part, finds in deep, steady Gabriel her rock ... someone who loves and accepts her for exactly who she is.
Livia has good reason to fear horseback riding, but she's urged to learn regardless. Do you have horseback riding experience?
I did a little bit of riding when I was a kid, but nothing that would ever put me in the category of “equestrienne.” I’ve always liked horses, though, and I certainly enjoy reading about them. In fact, I recently reread National Velvet (which I do every couple of years) and still have the same sense of awe and appreciation. Oh, that piebald! My horse hero!
Gabriel's grandmother is the strict and commanding family matriarch, but she also has very sad moments. Where did you draw inspiration for her from?
Here again I thought about Jane Austen, and her indelible character Lady Catherine de Burgh in Pride and Prejudice. She’s a grande dame who seemingly has everything — and yet there’s also something a little empty, a little pitiful, about her. My Henrietta Penhallow is like that too; if you look hard enough, past and through her needle-sharp arrogance, you’ll see there’s a big hole in her heart.
What's your favorite thing to research when it comes to history?
Oh my goodness, everything. Food, fashion, manners, terminology, medicine, current events of the time, scientific breakthroughs, transportation, fads and trends, jokes and puns — I love it all. But if you were to insist that I pick one thing? The clothing. Gowns, petticoats, corsets, shoes, bonnets ... Styles that are so exotic to us now, and to my mind incredibly sensual.
Do you have any advice for writers out there who may be struggling with their own first book?
Well, it’s not original, but it works for me. Keep going. Word by word, one after the other. It’s such a simple strategy and yet so profound. As E.L. Doctorow once famously remarked, “Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” So, yeah: Keep going.
We're already eagerly awaiting book two of the Penhallow Dynasty! Can you give us a taste of book two?
With pleasure! I’ve moved from a forced betrothal in You May Kiss the Bride to a marriage of expedience in The Laird Takes a Bride — and in the third book there’s a marriage of convenience. You can tell I like throwing my protagonists together, whether they like it or not!
About Lisa
Lady of Quality by Georgette HeyerI read my first historical romance when I was fourteen. I remember it distinctly. It was Georgette Heyer’s effervescent Lady of Quality, which my mom had gotten from her book club. The jacket cover had this elegantly dressed lady in a ruffled yellow skirt, dainty little sandals, and a bonnet.
Despite being over 5,000 miles from Bath, England, and understanding very little of the period terminology, I was instantly captivated. A smart, capable, independent heroine. A clever, dashing, irresistible hero. Crackling repartee. Who knew that conversation could be so incredibly romantic?
I’ve read a lot of romance since then — and I mean a lot — but it’s Heyer who’s probably had the strongest influence on me. I’m thrilled to now be writing my own historical romances, and it’s with a respectful tip of my hat (a high-poke bonnet, of course) that I’ve set my first three books in the United Kingdom in 1811, just when the Regency era had officially begun.
When I’m not writing, I like to read (of course), bake (not to brag, but my chocolate-chip cookies are amazing*), go to museums (all kinds, and in particular I highly recommend the Museum of Bad Art in Boston if you ever get a chance to visit it), and travel with my intrepid family.
QUOTED: "will dazzle readers with its irresistible mix of graceful writing tempered with ... crisp wit."
10/19/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1508469552986 1/3
Print Marked Items
You May Kiss the Bride
John Charles
Booklist.
113.15 (Apr. 1, 2017): p30.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
* You May Kiss the Bride.
By Lisa Berne.
Apr. 2017. 384p. Avon, paper, $7.99 (9780062451781).
Why waste time? As far as Gabriel Penhallow is concerned, the sooner he gets married, the better. Fortunately, Gabriel
doesn't have to go to all the bother of selecting a suitable bride, since his formidable grandmother has already taken care
of that task for him by choosing the seemingly perfect Cecily Orr. Poised to propose to Cecily at a ball arranged by her
parents, Gabriel finds his matrimonial plans upended when he is caught in the garden kissing penniless nobody Livia
Stuart instead of remaining inside the ballroom dancing with Cecily. Forced into asking Livia to be his wife, Gabriel
vows that theirs will be a marriage in name only, but what Gabriel fails to take into account is that Livia may have a
very different idea about the kind of marriage she wants with him. Berne's exceptional romance debut, the first in the
Penhallow Dynasty series, will dazzle readers with its irresistible mix of graceful writing tempered with just the right
dash of crisp wit, splendidly captured Regency setting and atmosphere, and beautifully nuanced characters.--John
Charles
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Charles, John. "You May Kiss the Bride." Booklist, 1 Apr. 2017, p. 30. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA491487893&it=r&asid=31bc88e9c0d52b5bc7047dd529d4871e.
Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491487893
QUOTED: "Author Berne offers a masterful Regency debut that explores pride and prejudices with a tone that seems much less modern than that of many recent historical releases."
"a sheer delight."
10/19/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1508469552986 2/3
Berne, Lisa: YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE
Kirkus Reviews.
(Feb. 15, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Berne, Lisa YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE Avon/HarperCollins (Adult Fiction) $7.99 3, 28 ISBN: 978-0-06-245178-1
A well-born but penniless orphan is compromised by a wealthy gentleman and comes to realize that all the luxuries in
the world aren't enough reason to enter into a loveless marriage. Her plans to escape are foiled, though, when she begins
to question her feelings--and his.Livia Stuart has endured years of neglect from her guardians and derision from her
neighbors-- especially the spoiled, unkind Cecily Orr--which she has tried to rise above. When rich, handsome Gabriel
Penhallow arrives to court Cecily at his pompous grandmother's behest, he winds up kissing Livia at the ball where
everyone's expecting him to make an offer of marriage for Cecily. Of course, they are discovered; after Gabriel stiffly
does his duty and says he'll marry Livia, it isn't long before he finds himself confused by his strangely ambivalent
feelings toward the matter: "Green eyes blazed up at him, and he had to remind himself that blue eyes were better than
green, and it was a foolish, regrettable kiss that had stolen from him his safe and predictable future. If she hadn't been
so tempting, everything would be perfect right now." From that moment on, Gabriel is determined to maintain the
legendary Penhallow control while Livia struggles with the idea of marrying the arrogant Gabriel. She wants to be
loved and accepted, though she'd die before she'd admit it to him, or even herself. As they dance back and forth, aware
of their blazing attraction but hiding behind their masks of manners and pride, they meet--and create--obstacle after
obstacle to finding true affinity. Author Berne offers a masterful Regency debut that explores pride and prejudices with
a tone that seems much less modern than that of many recent historical releases and two main characters who epitomize
traditional Regency sensibilities (but for two love scenes) as they sort through what they want and how to get it. Livia
becomes the sun shining in on a stuffy, wounded family whose initial dread at the thought of her joining them
transforms into happiness as she turns out to be their salvation. A sheer delight.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Berne, Lisa: YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Feb. 2017. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA480922076&it=r&asid=72ae326fc4c6616ab2f3e921d3288ab3.
Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A480922076
QUOTED: "lively and well researched."
"Berne's consistent, engaging writing and solid knowledge of the period make for a wonderful evening's reading."
10/19/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1508469552986 3/3
You May Kiss the Bride: The Penhallow Dynasty
Publishers Weekly.
264.10 (Mar. 6, 2017): p47.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* You May Kiss the Bride: The Penhallow Dynasty
Lisa Berne. Avon, $7.99 mass market (384p)
ISBN 978-0-06-245178-1
In Berne's lively and well researched debut Regency romance, Livia Stuart knows that hers is far from a fairy-tale
existence. She was orphaned at the age of six in faraway India and summarily packed off to live with her sole English
relatives. Her Aunt Bella and Uncle Charles see her only as an expense upon Ealdor Abbey, their ramshackle home in
Wiltshire County. Now 18, Livia is no real beauty, has no inheritance and little education, and exists in that strange
space between servant and gentry that leaves her completely vulnerable and lacking in prospects for advancement. She
has a brief but memorable first encounter with wealthy Gabriel Penhallow; their second meeting, at a ball in honor of
Gabriel's likely offer of marriage to snooty, condescending Miss Cecily Orr, is far more remarkable, ending with Livia
and Gabriel being found in a compromising situation. He awkwardly makes the obligatory proposal to save Livia's
reputation, but the two of them struggle to wring happiness from their hasty marriage until Livia decides it's time to
stand up for herself and stop to meekly fading into the woodwork. Berne's consistent, engaging writing and solid
knowledge of the period make for a wonderful evening's reading. Agent: Cheryl Pientka, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"You May Kiss the Bride: The Penhallow Dynasty." Publishers Weekly, 6 Mar. 2017, p. 47. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA484973660&it=r&asid=9fd116d1a4acf309e38e655d2504ff94.
Accessed 19 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A484973660
QUOTED: "The conclusion made the journey worth the slog through all the stubbornness."
You May Kiss the Bride
Lisa Berne
Buy This Book
In this début novel from new author Lisa Berne, Gabriel Penhallow has to get married. He does not have to enjoy it, but it has to happen and all is set for his marriage to a biddable society bride. The problem is that he accidentally kisses Livia Stuart, who is as far from biddable as one can hope to get and his plan for a simple marriage of convenience begins to crumble before his eyes. You May Kiss the Bride is a slow-burn, opposites-attract tale about how what we think we want and what we need are often very different things.
‘The Penhallow Way’ is shorthand among the family for finding a spouse, producing an heir and a spare, and then living quietly separate lives. No need for intimacy, no need for warmth, just lie back, think of England and get on with it. This future has been so ingrained in Gabriel that he doesn’t even seem to care about the identity of the spouse and sees women as interchangeable. (Gabriel, let me say here, is not the favorite hero of all those I’ve ever encountered, although he did grow on me… slowly.) So when negotiations are underway for his marriage to one woman and he gets caught compromising another, this fazes him not a bit.
Livia Stuart is an orphan with few social graces but a lot of goodness. She’s the ward of her uncle who can think of no better outcome than for Livia to be married off to a Penhallow and the first scene clearly shows readers that Livia’s life is one in which things have happened to her rather than one she in which she has participated. As she’s not fit – meaning not socially adept and ‘up to snuff’ – to be a proper Penhallow wife, Gabriel’s grandmother takes charge of her tutelage, this heralding the beginning of the world’s longest engagement.
This book is a lot of things all at once and I struggled to review it because of that. It’s a story of two people who were abandoned at young ages learning how to love and how to actually be in a relationship with another human being. There’s also a thread of social commentary running through it; I got the impression the author was trying to make the point that society valued the wrong things about a person sometimes, and perhaps still does. For example, she posits that kindness is more important than social standing, and being willing to help someone in need is more valuable than knowing all the right hair styles and still being a cruel person. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the relationship between Livia and her so-called friend, Cecily. Cecily is the woman Gabriel was supposed to marry, and she spends much of the book attempting to undermine Livia, as she feels a Penhallow marriage is rightfully hers. The contrast between Cecily and Livia is stark.
I said before that the romance is of the slow burn variety – and so it is. Very. A lot of other stuff happens before they kickstart their HEA.
I am not a fan of angst or slow burns, so the pacing of this novel didn’t really work for me. What did work, however, was Livia’s relationship with Grandmama. It’s a slow evolution, but one which changes both women for the better. To expand upon that more would be to spoil a few plot elements, and so I will refrain, but anyone who enjoys cross-generational friendships will find a lot to love here. I also really enjoyed who Gabriel and Livia were at the end of the story and how they evolved together. The conclusion made the journey worth the slog through all the stubbornness.
I can’t wholeheartedly recommend You May Kiss the Bride, mostly because there were a few too many moving pieces for me to feel settled in the story and to really enjoy it. But there were things I liked, and I will look out for Ms. Berne’s future offerings.
QUOTED: "The author’s research—if, indeed, she did any—isn’t well applied for most of the book; it feels like it could’ve taken place at any point at any time. The rest of the plot is painfully weak. Not much tension is milled out of the contest for Alasdair’s hand; indeed, though the book makes a big deal of it, it takes up much less of the story than one would presume from the blurb."
"While Berne’s writing shows promise, The Laird Takes a Bride is riddled with weaknesses in terms of plot, characterisation, romance and overall construction."
The Laird Takes a Bride
Lisa Berne
Buy This Book
Lisa Berne’s Penhallow Dynasty series continues with The Laird Takes a Bride, a rather hard to love little volume about a spinster and a disreputable laird with a long past behind him.
Fiona Douglass is, at twenty-seven, still a spinster. The only one of the four Douglass girls to remain unwed, she still yearns for Logan Munro, who had courted her nine years before but had then turned around and married Nairna, Fiona’s younger sister. Fiona keeps busy by managing her life with lists while dodging less-than-well-meaning suitors; she may be past the first flush of youth, but she is an attractive marriage prospect due to the dower lands held by her father. When Fiona drives away the three latest hopefuls, her father suspends her dowry and she is later forced by clan edict to attend a gathering at Castle Tadgh – on pain of death.
Laird Alasdair Penhallow is the kind of guy who inspires believable rumors that he’s ridden a horse through his castle stark naked on a dare. The scandal of the Eight Clans, he’s happy with his silly, drunken, carefree bachelor lifestyle – until an ancient edict is revealed the day after his thirty-fifth birthday by Dame Margery, the oldest and most respected member of his clan. It seems that any Laird of the Castle Tadgh who isn’t married by his thirty-fifth birthday must immediately invite the marriageable maidens of the Clans of Killaly to Tadgh to stay. The Laird then has thirty-five days to choose a bride from these invited women and thirty-five more to marry her – and if he fails, he will be put to death. When the clan’s ancient tome confirms this, Alasdair shrugs – he is thirty-five and without an heir, so, taking the advice of his similarly free-wheeling Uncle Duff, Alasdair decides to make a marriage for the sake of begetting a son, rejecting the concept of love wholeheartedly.
Fiona and Alasdair enter into courtship with a mutual sense of dislike for one another, and it seems unlikely he’ll choose her from the assembled maidens, but when Alasdair’s initial choice dies in a raid during which Fiona proves herself incredibly useful, she seems suddenly worthwhile. Fiona is not the biddable, easily put-aside bride that he’d been searching for – Alasdair was imagining someone far more buxom and far less cold – but left with no other choice and with Fiona firm upon the notion of not returning to her father, they marry abruptly and unemotionally.
When Fiona sets out to fixing the castle’s many operational flaws, she incurs Alasdair’s displeasure – especially when she takes over the room of his beloved late mother and changes it to suit her tastes. The couple goes on loathing each other, but meeting at night to perform their ‘duty’ begins to crack the frostiness between them. But when Fiona demands information that Alasdair refuses to give her, she retreats back home. Can Fiona overcome her strong desire for Logan, and Alasdair his own private scars and disinterest in intimacy to forge a bond worth fighting for?
The Laird Takes a Bride is, in a phrase, a strange book, and the best word I can think to use to describe it is ‘soggy’. Berne’s prose is engaging and playful – there’s a note of Bridget Jones’ Diary to it – but the plot, characters, and romance are all over the place and make a muddle of a mess that’s less than charming for the reader to untangle.
Perhaps the biggest problem lies in the interactions between Fiona and Alasdair and their general personalities. Far too much time is spent on Fiona’s lust for the lost Logan – we are even treated to a scene in which she fantasizes about him on her wedding night! – and the moment at which she finally decides to put him aside is so abrupt in light of her obsession with him as to be unbelievable. Fiona is tough and practical and intelligent and warm by turns, but she’s mostly icy and hard to like.
Alasdair is worse. For a man who’s introduced as party-hearty, there’s nothing charming or fun about him; indeed, he seems filled with the same anger that Fiona’s been trying to dodge by leaving home. He’s understandably burdened due to a tragedy in his past, but Berne can’t seem to decide how sociable he should be and there’s generally not much that’s appealing about him.
The relationship between the hero and heroine is utterly charmless. It’s filled with nonstop, childish bickering far past the midpoint of the book and even once they begin to bond and open up with one another, there’s still petty sniping. When their connection turns tender it’s hard to believe in either of them, because they’re both so painfully hardheaded. Something miserable hangs over their romance, which feels as ungainly as a dancing giraffe most of the time.
And then there’s the plot. Fiona’s desire to get away from her family is understandable, but there is – frankly – nothing really romantic about the notion of our two protagonists being forced into romance on the pain of death (and I hardly believe that Alasdair’s relatives would execute him for basically no reason beyond old superstitions). Clan tradition or not, murdering someone for being unmarried in the 1800s would be punishable by law; perhaps if the author had set the book in an earlier time period, I might have believed it, but not in a more sophisticated just-pre-War of 1812 world. All of this leads to a twist that’s so painful I almost literally saw stars when I read it. Without spoiling a thing, all I can say is that in the 1800s things Would Not Have Happened That Way. The author’s research – if, indeed, she did any – isn’t well applied for most of the book; it feels like it could’ve taken place at any point at any time.
The rest of the plot is painfully weak. Not much tension is milled out of the contest for Alasdair’s hand; indeed, though the book makes a big deal of it, it takes up much less of the story than one would presume from the blurb. Fiona is kidnapped and witnesses a slaughter during a raid; her middle-aged cousin falls in love with Alasdair’s uncle; things happen to Nairna and Logan back home, but not much of it feels like it makes a real impact on the characters, whose epiphanies only seem to be lightly connected to most of these events. And the way the author chooses to resolve the tension between Fiona and her father and Logan and Fiona is limp at best.
While Berne’s writing shows promise, The Laird Takes a Bride is riddled with weaknesses in terms of plot, characterisation, romance and overall construction and I can’t recommend it.
MAY 31, 2017
Review: You May Kiss the Bride by Lisa Berne
Reviewed by Jen
Eh. This book didn’t do much for me one way or another. I didn’t dislike it necessarily, but I found it pretty superficial. It didn’t make me feel anything…though I did roll my eyes a few times.
Livia is an orphan who was raised on the charity of an aunt and uncle who never really cared about her. No one has ever really cared about her. For some reason, her snotty, beautiful neighbor has made her into a charity case, but she uses every opportunity to remind her of her low social station. Anyway, the snotty girl is set to marry a rich, handsome catch of the ton, but Gabriel is taken by Livia’s beauty and kisses her in the garden during a ball…and gets busted. From there, he has to propose in order to maintain his honor and reputation.
The entire story follows his grandmother’s efforts to turn Livia into a lady fit to be his wife. This, as Gabriel keeps reminding himself it’s supposed to a marriage in name only, and he shouldn’t like his new bride.
One of my biggest problems with the book is that it begins so many threads and then lets them fade off into nothing. Like Livia’s childhood in India. Like her mean aunt and uncle. Her plot to run away (twice.) Grandmother’s recognition of Livia’s father.
Another is the developments that happen out of nowhere. Like the state of the family home. Like the instant rekindling of a romance for Grandmother’s companion. Like the loss of Livia’s virginity (!) and the circumstances surrounding it. And a random psychic who saves the day out of nowhere. (!!) Nothing felt connected. It was just one thing strung together with another, after another.
And Good Gravy was Livia kicked around. Literally everyone in her life has dumped her or dumped on her. Including the family she’s marrying into. They didn’t deserve her. It made it hard to root for Gabriel when he was such a dick. He starts the book terribly conceited; he’s dense, completely oblivious to what’s really going on with Livia; and he’s self-involved, really all the way to the very end. Still, I couldn’t muster enough feeling to hate him. I just recognized his faults in a detached way.
It was just one of those books where I was aware I was reading the whole time. I never fell into the story.
Rating: C
*ARC provided by Avon
Click to purchase: Amazon
You May Kiss the Bride
by Lisa Berne
Release Date: March 28, 2017
Publisher: Avon
Share this:
Share
Filed Under: by Jen, Historical Romance Tagged With: ARC, Lisa BerneLeave a Comment
Speak Your Mind
QUOTED: "How the author weaves love in among all the manipulation, gossip, conflict, and intrigue makes page-turning reading."
"Lisa Berne creates a compelling story with great pacing that is an early nineteenth century rollercoaster ride. Good entertainment!"
You May Kiss the Bride by Lisa Berne
March 23, 2017 By completedreviews Leave a Comment
You May Kiss the Bride by Lisa Berne
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (289 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Camellia
In an unforgettable debut, Lisa Berne introduces you to the Penhallow Dynasty—men destined to marry, but hesitant to love.
Wealthy and arrogant, Gabriel Penhallow knows it’s time to fulfill his dynastic duty. All he must do is follow the ‘Penhallow way’: find a biddable bride, produce an heir and a spare, and then live separate lives. It’s worked so well for generations, certainly one kiss with the delectable Livia Stuart isn’t going to change things. Society dictates he marry her, and one chit is as good as another as long as she’s from a decent family.
But Livia’s transformation from an original to a mundane diamond of the first water makes Gabriel realize he desperately wants the woman who somehow provoked him into that kiss. And for all the ladies who’ve thrown themselves at him, it’s the one who wants to flee whom he now wants. But how will he keep this independent miss from flying away?
A rags-to-riches story, You May Kiss the Bride is not a happy story much of the time and love seems an impossibility. How the author weaves love in among all the manipulation, gossip, conflict, and intrigue makes page-turning reading.
This is especially true since Gabriel Penhallow does not hold women in high esteem and is not looking for love. He just needs a suitable woman of society–intelligent, has substantial wealth, and in good health—to produce his heirs.
His managing grandmother met Lady Glanvilles and daughter, Cecily in Bath and declares Cecily to be good wife material for Gabriel. The two of them attend a house party at the Glanvilles, with Gabriel intending to ask Cecily to be his wife.
To escape the vacuous activities of the house party, Gabriel Penhallow rides out alone and gets lost in the forest. He sees Livia Stuart. He is entranced. She looks like a ragged but beautiful wood sprite. But his haughty elite self surfaces and he tosses coins to her for information on how to get back to the Glandvilles. BIG MISTAKE!
Livia Stuart, the poor orphan relative sent home to Ealdor Abby from India when she was very young,expects and gets nothing.more than food and shelter from her wastrel Uncle Charles and her “medicine” addlepated Aunt Bella. She has no money, no education, and no prospects; even though she’s now of marriage age. She is Lady Glanvilles and Cecily’s charity case. They, snobbish and snide, give her Cecily’s hand-me-down clothes and invite her to events at their home.
How Livia and Gabriel become betrothed and plan to use each other sets up conflict, rejection, loneliness, and heartbreak. Not until Gabriel and his grandmother come to recognize their self-centeredness and entitlement attitudes almost destroyed what they hold dear, do they come to recognize the value and joy of having Livia in their lives.
Lisa Berne creates a compelling story with great pacing that is an early nineteenth century rollercoaster ride. GOOD ENTERTAINMENT!
QUOTED: "The strength of the story ... is the satirical perspective with which characters are presented."
"definitely recommended to Regency lovers."
You May Kiss the Bride: The Penhallow Dynasty
BY LISA BERNE
Find & buy on
The first of the Penhallow Regency series varies the traditional Cinderella story by introducing a heroine with a strong rebellious streak. Livia Stuart finds Gabriel Penhallow arrogant and patronizing, and when he insists they marry after they are caught exchanging an unexpected (and confusingly passionate) kiss, she runs away. Without money, however, her options are limited, and after a day of toil as a scullery maid in a nearby inn, that particular plan of escape loses its lustre. When Gabriel easily tracks her down, she decides to make the best of the situation: a marriage of convenience, without affection or even physical intimacy, both (uneasily) agree. That, he insists loftily, is the Penhallow way: duty, not personal feelings, is all-important.
Given their impulsiveness and powerful, shared attraction, this plan is equally implausible, but the bumpy, if at times rambling, road to mutual respect, true love, and happy marriage offers an entertaining journey. The strength of the story, however, is the satirical perspective with which characters are presented, especially members of the gentry. Vacuity, snobbery, thoughtlessness, spitefulness, slavish adherence to convention and superficial appearance: all are neatly skewered with a skill even Jane Austen might appreciate. Definitely recommended to Regency lovers.
QUOTED: "With the engaging cast of characters ... this charmer heralds a bright new voice in the genre."
Romance / Historical Romance / England / Regency Period
Image of You May Kiss the Bride: The Penhallow Dynasty
RT Rating:
Genre:
Romance, Historical Romance, England, Regency Period
Setting:
Regency England
Sensuality:
Hot
Published:
March 28 2017
Publisher:
Avon
BUY NOW!
Amazon:
Buy Now
Barnes & Noble: Buy Now
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and purchase an item from the vendor, we receive a percentage of the profit (even if you don't buy the item we've linked to). Thank you for supporting RT Book Reviews!
BOOK REVIEWS
All Genres
Top Picks!
Contemporary Romance
Historical Romance
Historical Fiction
Romantic Suspense
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Paranormal
Fantasy
Urban Fantasy
Young Adult
Inspirational
Mainstream
Science Fiction
Series
Erotica
RT Review Source
RT RATINGS GUIDE
5 GOLD: Phenomenal. In a class by itself.
4 1/2: TOP PICK. Fantastic. A keeper.
4: Compelling. A page-turner.
3: Enjoyable. A pleasant read.
2: Problematic. May struggle to finish.
1: Severely Flawed. Pass on this one.
YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE
Author(s): Lisa Berne
Berne and the Penhallow Dynasty debut with a near-classic Regency romp. With the engaging cast of characters, delightful Cinderella plotline, the arrogant (Mr. Darcy-ish) hero and the joyous road to the characters’ HEA, this charmer heralds a bright new voice in the genre.
When the right time and the right woman comes along, Gabriel Penhallow will do his duty: marry and continue to live his life as he pleases. He never counts on Miss Livia Stuart’s delectable kiss. Livia is an orphan living a dream when one unexpected kiss at a ball thrusts her into an unwanted engagement. Gabriel believes he can still follow his plan. But with his meddlesome family and friends determined to turn Livia into a diamond in the rough, he’s at a loss. Suddenly, the woman he desires is the only one running away, and he’ll need to put aside his pride if he’s to win her heart. (AVON, Mar., 384 pp., $7.99)
Reviewed by:
Kathe Robin
QUOTED: "Author Lisa Berne had a great idea creating a series revolving around a wealthy and influential family without a peer in the mix. Her début ,You May Kiss the Bride is a throwback to the classics where characters like Mr. Darcy were a catch without a title in front of their names. Unfortunately the author’s inexperience shines through more than her unique ideas, with poorly rendered characters and a rather juvenile storyline."
You May Kiss the Bride (Penhallow Dynasty #1) by Lisa Berne
Apr
14
you may kiss the bride
Purchase Now from Amazon
Wealthy and arrogant, Gabriel Penhallow knows it’s time to fulfill his dynastic duty. All he must do is follow the ‘Penhallow way’: find a biddable bride, produce an heir and a spare, and then live separate lives. It’s worked so well for generations, certainly one kiss with the delectable Livia Stuart isn’t going to change things. Society dictates he marry her, and one chit is as good as another as long as she’s from a decent family.
But Livia’s transformation from an original to a mundane diamond of the first water makes Gabriel realize he desperately wants the woman who somehow provoked him into that kiss. And for all the ladies who’ve thrown themselves at him, it’s the one who wants to flee whom he now wants. But how will he keep this independent miss from flying away?
add-to-goodreads-button
Publisher and Release Date: Avon, April 2017
Time and Setting: England, 1811
Genre: Historical Romance
Heat Level: 2
Review Rating: 3 stars
Review by Sara
Author Lisa Berne had a great idea creating a series revolving around a wealthy and influential family without a peer in the mix. Her début ,You May Kiss the Bride is a throwback to the classics where characters like Mr. Darcy were a catch without a title in front of their names. Unfortunately the author’s inexperience shines through more than her unique ideas, with poorly rendered characters and a rather juvenile storyline.
Livia Stuart is constantly making the best of the circumstances she’s been dealt in life. When her parents died in India she was shuffled off to her aunt and uncle’s home in Wiltshire but their care has been anything but attentive. Their neighbor Lady Glanville’s daughter Cecily is a constant thorn in her side, parading her wealth and beauty in front of Livia at any social gathering and gifting Livia with her old dresses in the name of Christian charity. Livia has tried to remain above Cecily’s pettiness but it’s becoming harder to swallow her envy when the girl and her mother are always visiting her home to share news of their good fortune.
Their latest visit brings news that the esteemed Mrs. Penhallow has chosen Cecily as the perfect bride for her grandson, Gabriel. The Penhallow family is one of the wealthiest in England and an association with them will bring prestige to any young woman lucky enough to marry the heir. Lady Glanville brags that Mrs. Penhallow and her grandson are visiting their estate so that Cecily can be presented to Gabriel and their betrothal made official. Livia finds herself a little jealous of Cecily’s betrothal but is happier that the neighborhood mean girl will be off to marry and will leave Wiltshire behind.
Gabriel Penhallow isn’t thrilled at the idea of marrying a woman hand-picked by his grandmother but the time has come for him to continue the family’s legacy. It’s expected that all the Penhallow men will marry, sire an heir and use their wealth and connections to influence noblemen around England. Gabriel escaped the pressures of his name for a time by working abroad as a diplomat, but his grandmother has started reminding him that it’s his duty to continue the Penhallow tradition. Arriving at the Glanville estate, Gabriel is unimpressed by his potential bride but figures that one debutante is much like another and their marriage will be comfortably convenient. When he leaves the house for a walk, Gabriel gets lost in the unfamiliar lands where he meets a beautiful woman walking through a wooded area and he’s immediately attracted to her. From her dress and her manner of speaking Gabriel sees that she’s a servant and isn’t be the sort of woman he could dally with.
Livia is furious when the handsome man she meets in the forest arrogantly assumes she’s an uneducated servant. From his fashionable clothes and haughty manner Livia is certain this is Mr. Penhallow, but rather than correcting his presumption, Livia acts up the role of a servant and gives Gabriel confusing directions back to Cecily’s home. Later than evening when her aunt is discussing their invitation to Lady Glanville’s ball, Livia sees a chance to get one-up her neighbor and throw Gabriel’s arrogance back in his face. She creates a stunning gown from Cecily’s cast-offs and makes a dramatic entrance at the ball. Gabriel notices her right away, and is angry at her deception as well as aroused by her beauty. When he catches Livia leaving the ballroom with their host’s son it bothers Gabriel more than it should, but he follows her out onto the terrace where he interrupts her conversation and then rashly allows his temper and attraction to get the better of him. He kisses her in full view of the ballroom and soon he and Livia have an audience of his almost-betrothed, her mother and his grandmother. The last witness is Livia’s uncle who insists his niece is now ruined and must marry Gabriel.
What should follow this episode is the standard romantic storyline of a marriage of convenience between two enemies, soon to be lovers. It doesn’t quite work out that way and most of that can be attributed to Livia and Gabriel’s childish behavior. Livia doesn’t want to be married to an arrogant ass like Gabriel so she runs away. His pride gets in the way of managing Livia’s own anger and fear at their situation so he makes a rash declaration that they will marry but in name only. Within a matter of chapters Gabriel has taken sex off the table when that was the only motivation he had for getting married in the first place. These two knuckleheads have a very hard time talking without taking petty jabs and exploiting the insecurities they can see in their partner. As they are forced into each other’s company, lust seems to take over all the decision making. Gabriel’s no-sex policy is quickly thrown out the window, but they still don’t seem to see eye-to-eye on anything important between them.
The story picks up a bit when Gabriel and his grandmother are faced with evidence that the Penhallow legacy is rather hollow. Livia then becomes the strongest character because of her experience having to take control and reshape her life in unfortunate circumstances. Both Gabriel and Mrs. Penhallow come to appreciate Livia for the kind and loving woman she really is underneath all the emotional walls she’s had in place since her parents death years before. She holds the family together through the crisis and Gabriel discovers that giving his heart over to his wife is a long buried tradition within the Penhallow family that should be revived.
While there are some problems in You May Kiss the Bride I feel like the story should be graded on a bit of a curve as this is the author’s first published work. The characters could have used just a tad more common sense; however there was still a romantic side of the story that I liked. I will reserve my judgement on Ms. Berne and the entire Penhallow Dynasty series until the next book is released.
QUOTED: "With her sophomore effort, Berne shows a special mastery for characters who hide their feelings, even from themselves."
"a bright, intelligent, heart-tugging romance."
BOOK REVIEWS
BLOGS
KIRKUS TV
PODCAST
KIRKUS PRIZE
PRO CONNECT
LIBRARY SERVICES
THE LAIRD TAKES A BRIDE by Lisa Berne
THE LAIRD TAKES A BRIDE
by Lisa Berne
BUY NOW FROM
AMAZON
GET WEEKLY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
Email Address
Enter email
Subscribe
Email this review
KIRKUS REVIEW
Highland spinster Fiona Douglass is forced to attend a house party designed to find a bride for Alasdair Penhallow and has every expectation of being looked over, but after a series of unexpected events, she finds herself married to the intriguing, infuriating man.
Fiona, the eldest and only unmarried daughter of a Scottish chieftain, has spent the past nine years being useful and resourceful in her father’s castle in an attempt to distract herself from the pain of watching her beloved sister marry the man she was in love with. Since that time she’s become a master at list-making and problem-solving, avoiding her moody father when necessary, and avoiding the many men who’d like to marry her for all the wrong reasons. So when it’s discovered that Alasdair Penhallow, the chieftain of Castle Tadgh, having reached his 35th year, must “immediately invite the eligible highborn maidens of the Eight Clans of Killaly to stay within the castle, and within thirty-five days choose one to be his bride,” Fiona is packed off to the event. Up against three much younger ladies, Fiona is perfectly content when she and Alasdair get off to a rocky start. He is obviously a ne’er-do-well with no interest in her. As the days pass, however, she begins to see him, his clan, and his lovely castle in a different light. After a tragic accident narrows the field, Alasdair and Fiona conclude that they must marry and surprise themselves by getting along quite well. Yet Alasdair mourns past losses, and Fiona, also wounded, feels spurned again by a man who makes her feel she’ll never be good enough. With her sophomore effort, Berne shows a special mastery for characters who hide their feelings, even from themselves, and yearn, even when they don’t realize it. A difficult love scene is also brilliantly rendered.
A bright, intelligent, heart-tugging romance.
Pub Date: Aug. 29th, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-06-245181-1
Page count: 384pp
Publisher: Avon/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19th, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1st, 2017