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A review by theeditorreads
The Price of a Bride by Michelle Reid
5.0
I have joined Manali Dey, a friend on Bookstagram, for the #MillsandBoonReadathon for which we are reading 18 books, coz it's '18! This is Book 18.
Synopsis:
The story has an unconventional beginning where Mia, the heroine, is literally sold/prostituted by her 'father' for a male heir (to replace his dead son). And for this, he coerces the hero, Alexander, who is desperate to buy his family's island (which is one of Mia's father's possessions). Alex's motivation is clear from the beginning, and becomes more plausible, as he reveals the truth behind his desperation to own the land. But Mia discloses her actual motive behind this sordid deal much later, while she presents herself as a very selfish person to Alex. While Mia puts Alex in the same category of males as her father (what with the prenup he has drawn up), their wedding moves forwards with a sex fest. But as they both let their guards down with the shared intimacy, Mia's pregnancy announcement and Mia's little 'sister' Suzanna's surgery, do they find their happiness?
Review:
1999 – Yep, it is that old! But it did warm the cockles of my heart. And it left me in a happy daze at the end. But more of that later. Let's start at the beginning!
The hero's full name, Alexander Doumas (Greek) made me think of 'The Three Musketeers' writer, Alexandre Dumas (French). Not that there's a connection or anything, it just made me think.
Literally, the story relates to the price of Mia, as a bride – as she passes between two cynical businessmen as nothing less than a piece of property. I found the 'negotiations' between Mia and Alex over the prenup quite funny, and, ugh, it's not something to laugh about! The story has some hard-hitting dialogues.
The father is despicable, who doesn't give a shit about either of his daughters (Mia or her seven-year-old sister, Suzanna, who lives in a boarding school). The reveal that comes about halfway through the book is totally unexpected (about Mia's true motives behind agreeing to the deal), and it certainly raises the emotional quotient of the story. What a bastard Mia's father is, and the same goes for her long-dead younger brother, Tony! Though the other characters, especially Alex's younger brother, Leon, and his wife Carol, leave a warm and fuzzy feeling in the reader's heart. Whereas Suzanna, she has a permanent place there right now. In fact, I loved the chatty/sometimes mouthy Carol so much that I wish that Leon-Carol had a book of their own.
The bond shown between Mia-Carol and Mia-Suzanna is too sweet. And my heart went out to Suzanna, how starved for affection she is, what with that pathetic excuse for a 'father'.
Mia, in her mama-bear avatar, is so formidable, that her wrath spares not even Alex! And the reader can't help but feel one with Alex on the revelations of the depth of his desires, especially the way he protects both Mia and Suzanna from the father after the entire truth is in front of him.
I have one complaint though – the story ending as abruptly as it did. It left much to be desired:
• I so wanted Alex to have his island back (of course, for the reasons stated in the book),
• I was expecting an epilogue, at least, where there is a description of the happy family down the line, and
• I wished that Suzanna had acknowledged Mia-Alex for what they truly were to her.
This one is for keeps and recommended for a re-read.
Originally posted on:
https://sassyshaina.wordpress.com/2018/12/31/the-price-of-a-bride-by-michelle-reid/
P.S. This is my third and favourite [a:Michelle Reid|81218|Michelle Reid|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1260580903p2/81218.jpg] read. So much, that within the same year, I re-read it for the readathon.
I read this book as a part of the author's paperback collection titled 'Bridal Bargains'.
Synopsis:
The story has an unconventional beginning where Mia, the heroine, is literally sold/prostituted by her 'father' for a male heir (to replace his dead son). And for this, he coerces the hero, Alexander, who is desperate to buy his family's island (which is one of Mia's father's possessions). Alex's motivation is clear from the beginning, and becomes more plausible, as he reveals the truth behind his desperation to own the land. But Mia discloses her actual motive behind this sordid deal much later, while she presents herself as a very selfish person to Alex. While Mia puts Alex in the same category of males as her father (what with the prenup he has drawn up), their wedding moves forwards with a sex fest. But as they both let their guards down with the shared intimacy, Mia's pregnancy announcement and Mia's little 'sister' Suzanna's surgery, do they find their happiness?
Review:
1999 – Yep, it is that old! But it did warm the cockles of my heart. And it left me in a happy daze at the end. But more of that later. Let's start at the beginning!
The hero's full name, Alexander Doumas (Greek) made me think of 'The Three Musketeers' writer, Alexandre Dumas (French). Not that there's a connection or anything, it just made me think.
Literally, the story relates to the price of Mia, as a bride – as she passes between two cynical businessmen as nothing less than a piece of property. I found the 'negotiations' between Mia and Alex over the prenup quite funny, and, ugh, it's not something to laugh about! The story has some hard-hitting dialogues.
The father is despicable, who doesn't give a shit about either of his daughters (Mia or her seven-year-old sister, Suzanna, who lives in a boarding school). The reveal that comes about halfway through the book is totally unexpected (about Mia's true motives behind agreeing to the deal), and it certainly raises the emotional quotient of the story. What a bastard Mia's father is, and the same goes for her long-dead younger brother, Tony! Though the other characters, especially Alex's younger brother, Leon, and his wife Carol, leave a warm and fuzzy feeling in the reader's heart. Whereas Suzanna, she has a permanent place there right now. In fact, I loved the chatty/sometimes mouthy Carol so much that I wish that Leon-Carol had a book of their own.
The bond shown between Mia-Carol and Mia-Suzanna is too sweet. And my heart went out to Suzanna, how starved for affection she is, what with that pathetic excuse for a 'father'.
Mia, in her mama-bear avatar, is so formidable, that her wrath spares not even Alex! And the reader can't help but feel one with Alex on the revelations of the depth of his desires, especially the way he protects both Mia and Suzanna from the father after the entire truth is in front of him.
I have one complaint though – the story ending as abruptly as it did. It left much to be desired:
• I so wanted Alex to have his island back (of course, for the reasons stated in the book),
• I was expecting an epilogue, at least, where there is a description of the happy family down the line, and
• I wished that Suzanna had acknowledged Mia-Alex for what they truly were to her.
This one is for keeps and recommended for a re-read.
Originally posted on:
https://sassyshaina.wordpress.com/2018/12/31/the-price-of-a-bride-by-michelle-reid/
P.S. This is my third and favourite [a:Michelle Reid|81218|Michelle Reid|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1260580903p2/81218.jpg] read. So much, that within the same year, I re-read it for the readathon.
I read this book as a part of the author's paperback collection titled 'Bridal Bargains'.