The Hostage Bride

by Jane Feather

Book Overview

The first novel in the captivating Brides Trilogy, in which three unconventional young women vow they will never marry--only to be overtaken by destiny.

Bride #1 is the outspoken Portia. . . .

It's bad enough that seventeen-year-old Portia Worth is taken in by her uncle, the marquis of Granville, after her father dies. As the bastard niece, Portia knows she can expect little beyond a roof over her head and a place at the table...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553578901
• ISBN13: 9780553578904
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.4" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

loved it

i loved this book it had alot of elements that make up my kind of book. i mean Portia was not classically beautiful but had fire in her which made for great dialogue between her and the mischievious Rufus, i think miss Feather did a good job on this one.

A WILLING HOSTAGE?

THE HOSTAGE BRIDE is the first in the "Bride" trilogy by Jane Feather, followed by THE ACCIDENTAL BRIDE, then THE LEAST LIKELY BRIDE.THE HOSTAGE BRIDE is the story of Portia, one of three friends who vow together to always remain friends and to never get married. Portia is a "double-bastard" teenager who wants to be a soldier and wants nothing to do with men in the biblical sense.When her father dies, Portia is taken in by her uncle, Cato Granville, a rich Marquis and his wife, Diana. Portia becomes an inseparable, good friend to Cato's daughter, Olivia; but while she is clothed and fed by the Granvilles, she is treated as the bastard niece that she is.THE HOSTAGE BRIDE takes a major turn when Rufus Decatur, sworn enemy of the Marquis, attempts to kidnap the Marquis' daughter, Olivia, but accidentally kidnaps Portia instead. A relationship develops between Rufus and Portia that neither anticipated, but neither can deny.This is an excellent book is about friendship, loyalties, civil strife, passion and romance.

This is a great read!

Since the other reviews here are rather skimpy, I thought I'd add my two cents. I just finished this book in a bit over a day, while working more than 10 hours and taking care of the family - in other words, I stayed up really late! (And probably ignored my family more than I should!) Portia and Rufas have really dorky names but that's the only criticsm you'll get from me about this book. She's a great female character - she wants to be a soldier and goes out and does it! Rufas is a bit over the top with the revenge thing, but his reckoning at the end is totally believable. The plot is great, and the timeframe is one that isn't covered in many books - I get bored with the Regency "ton" and with circa-1100 war lords. I'm buying the next book in the series, can hardly wait to see what awaits Phoebe and Cato (who is a bit of a jerk in this book, so I wonder how he redeems himself!) Buy this book!

Excellent start for a trilogy

This book is excellent. I'm really looking forward to the final two books; they just can't be published fast enough in my opinion!!

I'm hooked!

This book is a great read, with well-developed and lovable characters and a pretty good plot. I love the heroine's spunk, independence, and determination, and I will most definitely buy the next two books of the trilogy when they come out. I also like the settings--a drafty castle, a frozen moat, a freezing countryside, a secluded criminal camp, a cozy cottage. I also liked that the heroine is not absolutely perfect in looks; she is realistic, like the rest of us, and her beauty comes from her heart and personality. The sexual tension is believable every step of the way, and the plot never slows down. My favorite scene is the practical jokes that Portia and Olivia play at one point.