Very enchanting wonderful story filled with suspense, adventure and emotional angst-filled trials. Surprised the hell out of me how much I enjoyed it. This was a 5 star read from the beginning. If it wasn't for the 2nd half of the book I would have given this a 5 star without hesitation. I thought both the hero and heroine were unique fully fleshed out real original characters who I really loved and enjoyed reading about. Troth is a half-Scottish half-Chinese woman who's been forced to live her life as a man (Jin Kang) in order to be 'accepted' in the Chinese society she was brought into. Lord Maxwell, Kyle crosses paths with Troth during his trip across seas. It was really interesting and quite enthralling to see these two interact. Kyle is suspicious and weary of his mysterious draw and attraction to the quiet unassuming laborer assistant 'Jin Kang'. I loved seeing these two slowly be drawn to each other and spend time together on their treck to Canton to sneak into the Hoshan temple. And this may be only my second book I've read by Putney but I have to say her depth and skill of writing such vivid scenery, setting, descriptive detail to every single thing was a complete draw in for me. I could not put this book down because of it. She paid so much attention to the history, culture, time setting and way of life for all the characters in this book that I got completely lost in it. I loved it. Everything felt so real. The characters completely stood out from the pages they were so real and I felt so intuned with them. I was really impressed with how Putney handled writing the characters and setting up the story with such vivid detail. Kudos to her! I found myself learning so much right along with Klyle about the Chinese culture and their traditions. There was nothing fake or contrived about this story. When you get so completely sucked into a story you know it's a good one.The sexual tension and playful interaction between Klyle and Troth was really addictive to read about. The chemistry and sexual tension between the two was enthralling and explosive to read about. The was nothing forced about it. The scenes in the jail cell in particular just melted me. Troth having to say goodbye to Kyle like that had me on the verge of tears & broke my heart. It just made me want to read the book faster to see what happens next. Those were some major stand out scenes from the entire book for me. The story actually begins in the 'middle' where we see a heartbroken Troth arriving at Kyle's family's residence about to tell them about his death. The story jumps from present to past in the first half where we see the story unfold and how the characters end up where they are in the beginning of the book. The 2nd book picks up from present day where we see the couple 'reunite' and deal with their circumstance.The thing I struggled with a little and made the story wain a little was the second half once Kyle returns from his release in prison. I was expecting a lot of angst, tension and misunderstandings like any typical romance drama. But here....I think Putney let it drag out a little too long . It just made the conclusion not as wonderful as I was hoping it would be. It didn't have the emotional impact I was hoping for. I think the fact that it took the couple forever to realize they loved each other and to voice their feelings just got drawn out too long. I just hated that the final ‘climactic’ HEA ending wasn’t as climactic as I wanted it to be, it was underwhelming when it finally came to a conclusion. Also the much anticipated reunion between Kyle and Troth when he returns from jail I was anxiously waiting for through the entire story was underwhelming and disappointing. We see them drift apart and Troth's continuous resentment towards him and brittle anger and rebellious attitude against him and his English family I think was a little unfair and unfounded considering everything he did for her and way he treated her through most of the book. I thought she was lashing out at the wrong people for her understandable misgivings and frustrations. Her shift in personality and frame of mind was little bit out of character too. Troth always was in the mindset and grew up thinking she didn't belong anywhere, was ugly and not worthy of marriage to someone like Kyle. I understood her hesitant regard towards being a permanent fixture in his life and thinking of herself as just an obligation. But the constant misunderstandings, miscommunication, misconstruing each other's words got to a point of redundant and really tiresome. They had a whole bunch of unspoken feelings and miscommunication going on between them thinking the other was just an obligation who didn't want to be married. Good grief. Cut it out! I really think the back and forth game and dragging it out till eternity just watered down the story. It started to muddle everything wonderful that happened previously. It went from beautiful heartbreaking story about two people discovering each other and finding love to a silly 'yes, no' tired old misgivings game we see play out dozens of times in HR books. I understood the tension and the whys in the first half but in the second half it was dragged out and milked for all it's worth that it became silly and tiresome and really unnecessary. I lost count how many times those two repeated the same start/stop conversation of ‘do you want to continue to be married to me?’. Just come out and SAY what you feel and stop with the cat and mouse game. Also I didn't much care for Kyle's first love Constancia that he kept comparing his time and what he felt for her with how he feels for Troth. The man was clearly confused and unsure but the constant questioning and talking in circles about 'should they?' or 'shouldn't they?' give their marriage a real shot drove me up the wall. Constancia was his only other love in his life before meeting Troth, so it was understandable why she had such a significance in his life. But seeing as how he met the much older courtesan when he was 18 and made her his mistress for the next ten years I wasn't a big fan of. But that's more of personal taste so *shrugs*.... Another thing I didn't really care for and thought was completely out of character for Troth was that silly 'suicide' attempt she pulled after hearing the scathing things Kyle's father said about her being unfit as his wife. Total WTF? jumped the shark moment for me. She came off so desperate and manipulative in that scene considering she pulled the stunt only to 'get a reaction' out of him. I really didn't like that. It was so out of character for someone like her to do. Troth is a very level-headed honest forthright person. She doesn't do sneaky desperate stunts like that. No matter how shattered.Overall great story, great first half.... that alone was 5 star. The second half: 3.5/4 star.
This is the second book in the "Bride " trilogy by Mary Jo Putney. The story picks up six years after Dominic's marriage. Kyle is still "unsettled ". He has traveled extensively and is now visiting China with his business partner. Here he meets a beautiful girl that is half Scottish, half Chinese. Kyle is attracted to her, and she to him. However, Kyle believes he was given one true love and he could never feel the same way about anyone else. So, they became "friends with benefits ". When Kyle is captured, accused if being a spy, he marries Troth .The ceremony wasn't really legal, but now Troth could return to her home and be well taken care of. The marriage was supposed to last a few hours only. It was presumed Kyle had been executed. His wife goes to Kyle's family to inform them personally of Kyle's death. Then Kyle seemingly returns from the grave.The first half of the book explores the politics, traditions, religions, and laws of China. This period of time opium was a huge source of income and trade. The relationship between Troth and Kyle that starts out as friendship then develops into something more, until tragedy struck. The second half addresses the predjudices of people toward other races, especially Kyle's father. Troth wants to belong somewhere, to fit in. But, after being insulted, she decides to embrace her Chinese heritage. Kyle looks for a way to dissolve his marriage without causing a scandal, always denying his feelings for his "wife". The first half was interesting if you enjoy reading about other cultures. I was interested, but I thought the story moved too slowly at times.The second half was more traditional romance novel angst. I enjoyed the second part more. I'm just more of a dialogue person. I felt sorry for Troth .She lost her confidence in this new country, her husband didn't appear to share her feelings, her father in law disapproved of her. Kyle was stubborn and clueless! I just wanted to shake him!I did love the intrigue at the end. This story didn't appeal to me as much as the first book, but it was still good to see Kyle finally have his HEA. It was also nice to get sn update on the characters from the first book. Overall B -
What do You think about The China Bride (2001)?
My first 5 star waiting for a book on goodreads belongs to the China Bride. I've been working my way through Ms. Putney's back catalog after devouring her Lost Lords series. This book had all the parts of romance that I love a will they or won't they, an almost thwarted HEA, jumping around with the timeline. I loved the China setting and wish more historicals could leave Britain and head elsewhere. The characters were fully developed and even though I'm reading in the middle of a series, I was not lost. This a wonderful stand alone book that I devoured on a single rainy morning. This book was beautiful, sweet and tender. Happy reading!
—Marline
An excellent novel about acceptance in yourself and faith in love. Troth Montgomery is half Chinese and half Scottish. As a mixed-blood woman, she has never really fit in anywhere, but when her father dies and a friend takes her in, she disguises herself as a man so she can be useful as a translator. Kyle, Viscount Maxwell, is traveling the world as part of a childhood dream. He feels a void in his life that he needs to fill, and believes that a journey to the Temple Hoshan will fill it. When he discovers Troth's secret, he convinces her to travel with him in exchange for his help in getting her to England to try and start a real life there - as a woman. When they are discovered in forbidden territory, and Kyle is sentenced to death, a hasty marriage seems the only way to protect Troth once Kyle is gone.In England, Troth fulfills her responsibility to Kyle by informing his family of his death. But when ghosts from her past reappear, she will need to learn to accept herself for the diverse, unique woman she is meant to be.The story is beautiful, and embraces the international politics of the day. One of the things I love about this series from Ms. Putney is that she goes outside of England. There are more and more historicals that are branching out these days (Duran, Thomas, Jewel), and it makes the world of the novel come alive. Ms. Putney's China is somewhat fictional, but she did her research. The culture is real enough that it is a part of Troth without blaring out that it is her Chinese upbringing.Kyle's search to fill the void in his soul is a journey I've been waiting for since reading Wild Child. His heartache is real, but we can see very early on that the joy he and Troth share in their lovemaking on the way to Hoshan is the kind of healing that he needs.The one problem I had in this novel was the villain, but since most of the story focused on the internal conflict of the characters, I wasn't too concerned. The external danger is just a catalyst.For my first read, I was very nervous about this story and I actually skipped ahead because I just couldn't take the suspense! But I encourage potential readers to resist that temptation. Enjoy the ride - Ms. Putney is a fine navigator.
—Kate
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. Davina Porter does an excellent narration. The only problem I have with it is that I am so used to her narrations of the Outlander series that I occasionally felt confused about what I was listening to!Recorded Books summary:A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly best-selling author, Mary Jo Putney has also won numerous awards, including the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Historical Romance. In The China Bride, Putney once again enchants her many romance fans. Troth Montgomery spends most of her time disguised as a man, going by the name of Jin Kang. While working as a translator and a spy, she encounters viscount and adventurer Kyle Renbourne, and realizes that her life is about to take a significant turn. Relieved to discover the true identity of the lovely Troth, Kyle feels passion ignite and is driven to possess her. Together, they start on a dangerous quest, but fate steps in and separates the two lovers. Though haunted by despair, passion and danger, Troth becomes the woman she was destined to be. Exquisitely, narrator Davina Porter brings to life Putney’s passionate characters--whose love endures the greatest challenge--finding that the joys far exceed the sorrows.
—Johnsergeant
