The Bridal Quest Book

I honestly thought going into this that I'd have to endure scene after scene of Irene spouting her feminist ideals about the rights women should have, but that's not at all the case. I love this quaint unorthadox romance match between the main characters Irene and Gideon. Irene was a person who was determine to remain a spinster for valid reasons. Gideon who was kidnapped at 4 years old and grew up as a poor urchin later to gain his own personal wealth using the hard knock methods of survival and thrived. Gideon did not wish marriage but knew he must provide and heir to his estate. Irene is no exception: she won't get married because she doesn't want to "belong" to a man the way her mother belonged to her abusive father. The reoccurring character is Lady Francesca, the matchmaker. I actually enjoyed this book; it had a mystery intertwined with the storyline. This time, we meet Irene and Gideon. Irene is dead set against marriage fearing its bonds after being raised in a house where her father drank, gambled and treated his family with violence. Lady Irene Wyngate really should marry. Her brother's wife doesn't like her and she doesn't have enough money to move out. She's sharp-tongued and most of the eligible suitors avoid her.

I really liked it! More than the first one! It has a better plot and more interesting main characters! Also, I liked the mystery in the story! Great tension, arguing, and battle of wit and wills between main characters - definitely better than the first Matchmaker book. This book is the second in Candace Camp's Matchmaker Series and follows The Marriage Wager. My main complaint with the first book of the series still holds true here, but it wasn't as bothersome. I don't know if this is Camp's normal writing style, but in neither book does she show the hero's POV (except for once for a total of 4 lines in this one) and I find it very disconcerting. I'd already read the first book in the Matchmakers series and honestly had no intention of reading this one, but when you find a book by an author you like at the library you have to check it out. The heroine didn't really interest me based on what I'd gotten from the summary. Turns out, I was very wrong. Once again, another fun read from Candace Camp. I love her stories because her heroines aren't helpless; they tend to be a little older, a little caustic, with lots of spunk. The hero in this book is great, too. This is the second book in the matchmaker series. Once again, could not put it down! Two for two in this series. Again, she favors "older" heroines and people who aren't necessarily wealthy beyond words. Truly wonderful, touching story, great characters.