Clare Greenough was raised in a wealthy home but she and her
mother lost everything when her father passed away. Her
uncle and cousin took everything from them. Clare's mother
passed away not much later leaving Clare to make her way as
governess.
When she receives word that her uncle has left her the
fortune he received on her father's death, she sets out to
assure that she won't lose anything again. The will places
two men as trustees, her solicitor and her cousin, Simon
until Clare marries. Although Clare has never been able to
figure out why Simon hates her so much, she knows that he
will do everything in his power to steal what is hers.
She asks her solicitor to find her a husband who needs
money.
James Boleigh, Baron Trehearth has tried everything short of
marrying an heiress to save his estate. No one will loan
him the money he needs to set things right. Having finally
accepted the inevitable, he asks his solicitor to sell
everything. Instead he is presented with the opportunity to
save his home and family. Marry an heiress and agree to
sign papers which allow him access to only a portion of the
money or sell, the choice is clear.
The marriage happens quickly and the couple set off to
Cornwall with Clare's companion. The house she envisioned
is nothing like the reality she encounters. Add in young
twin sisters that she knew nothing about and Clare has her
work cut out for her.
She and Jamie have a great marriage in some ways but Jamie
has the mistaken impression that Clare will eventually give
in and turn her finances over to him. That one erroneous
thought is the source of most of the contention in the book
and leads to the near destruction of the marriage.
While a big fan of Jane Ashford, THE BRIDE INSISTS was
somewhat
disappointing to me. As appealing as Jamie is on a
romantic level, his drinking and his willful avoidance of
any problems he can't control left me with a strong
desire to smack him. When he blindly signed a document
which would have led to the loss of everything, I lost
patience with him. The twins, Clare,and the secondary
romance made the book worthwile for me.
Sparks fly in this sexy, fast-paced Regency romance
by acclaimed, bestselling author Jane Ashford
When governess Clare Greenough learns she's inherited a
fortune, the good news comes with a catch: it will be held
by her cousin until Clare can find a husband. To stave off
ruin, Jamie Boleigh, the seventh Baron of Trehearth, agrees
to marry Clare under the condition that she controls the
money, a provision he hopes to overturn. Their passionate
relationship becomes a battle of wills. When the cousin
tricks Jamie into betraying his wife, he'll have to prove
the truth or lose her forever.