Regency England

Eve Faraday could be called pretty, but she's no diamond. She's well liked, but she doesn't stand out in a crowd. Her father is a gentleman of good family but no great fortune. As a practical maiden of three and twenty, Eve is realistic about her attractions. That's why she can scarcely believe it when the most beautiful man she has ever beheld -- a complete stranger -- singles her out and asks her to dance. From then on, he woos her intensely. Surely he has a reason, but what could it possibly be?

Aubrey Ashford returned to England after years abroad and immediately became a sensation in London Society. Women young and old are fascinated by him, yet all he wants is Eve Faraday as his wife. Even though Eve hesitates, it's a foregone conclusion. He is just too attractive to resist for long. With the blessings of her father and younger brother -- her mother died years ago -- Eve agrees to marry Aubrey, but she wants to wait until they get to know each other better. Eve trusts Aubrey, but he has a way of distracting her when she questions him. And his distractions are too powerful for a long engagement.

Once married and Eve and Aubrey move to his home, Eve can't help falling deeper in love, but Aubrey, for all his loving attentions, remains an enigma. His estate of Far Isle is thinly staffed by old retainers left over from his father's day. It appears Aubrey has no family and no neighbors come to call. For all that Eve is caught up in the bliss of their honeymoon, she can't help sensing a strangeness at Far Isle and about its master. . .

I knew I'd like BRIDE ENCHANTED from its first line and nothing after that changed my mind, only increased my liking. One might think from my summary above that the book has a gothic feel to it, but that's not it at all. It's a lovely story, slightly otherworldly, perhaps, but light and charming as well. Eve and Aubrey are immediately appealing characters, captivating enough that they and their growing relationship could carry the whole book. But they don't have to. Minor characters add much to the tale. Yet the major questions that kept this reader turning pages till the wee hours are these: Who is Aubrey, and why exactly did he marry Eve? And can he or will he come to love her as she deserves?

What can I say about Edith Layton that hasn't been said already? She's a truly talented bestselling author. Indulge yourself in BRIDE ENCHANTED; you'll come to care about Eve and Aubrey as I did.

Jane Bowers