A Convenient Bride
Read A Convenient Bride Online
Authors: Cheryl Ann Smith
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Historical, #General
P
RAISE FOR THE
S
CHOOL FOR
B
RIDES
R
OMANCES
The Scarlet Bride
“The School for Brides has a new resident, allowing Smith to add another strong, resilient heroine to her feminist series. It’s wonderful to get reacquainted with past characters, and the connection between them, as the plot—complete with suspense, murder, and passion—unfolds.”
—Romantic Times
“A very good love story as well as a well-written mystery. It certainly held my interest from beginning to end.”
—The Book Binge
“The story kept me on the edge the whole way through.”
—Night Owl Reviews
The Accidental Courtesan
“With a dash of humor, plenty of sensuality, and a fast pace, Smith’s second School for Brides novel is a pure delight. Readers will enjoy the charming cast of secondary characters and the mystery.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A wonderful historical romance.”
—Genre Go Round Reviews
“A fast-paced, amusing romantic historical filled with fun, and a delight to read.”
—Fresh Fiction
“Will appeal to fans of historical romance…Passion, mystery, and intrigue, a fast-paced plot, and a dashing and worldly hero who knows how to work with his hands.”
—TwoLips Reviews
“A charming story with characters that engaged you from the first sentence. Truly a joy!”
—Night Owl Reviews
The School for Brides
“Chockablock with plot twists…Plenty of passion and intrigue.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Smith makes a dazzling entrance to the romance community with a charming, sexy, innovative tale that sparks the imagination. There’s a bright future ahead of Smith.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Delightful…And I loved the twists.”
—The Romance Dish
“A great read.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Brings an interesting twist to this era of historical romance.”
—Fresh Fiction
“I was completely captivated…Sharp and highly entertaining…Incredibly fun to read.”
—TwoLips Reviews
“A warm gender-war historical romance…Fans will cheer.”
—Midwest Book Review
Berkley Sensation titles by Cheryl Ann Smith
THE SCHOOL FOR BRIDES
THE ACCIDENTAL COURTESAN
THE SCARLET BRIDE
A CONVENIENT BRIDE
C
HERYL
A
NN
S
MITH
BERKLEY SENSATION, NEW YORK
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
A CONVENIENT BRIDE
A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation mass-market paperback edition / January 2013
Copyright © 2012 by Cheryl Ann Smith.
Excerpt from
The Wife He Always Wanted
by Cheryl Ann Smith
copyright © 2012 by Cheryl Ann Smith.
Cover art by Judy York. Cover design by George Long.
Interior text design by Laura K. Corless.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
ISBN: 978-1-101-61855-4
BERKLEY SENSATION
®
Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
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| ALWAYS LEARNING | PEARSON |
For my readers,
who continue to offer their encouragement and support,
this book is for you.
Chapter One
T
he first thing Lady Brenna Harrington noticed was the pistol. The second was the unusual shade of blue eyes of the man holding the pistol. The third was the way those eyes bore into her with such intensity that her heart beat at a rapid clip.
Then, without warning, the highwayman cursed, lowered the pistol, and slammed the coach door shut without demanding either bauble or coin.
It took a few deep breaths for her heart to stop pounding in her ears and to recover her senses.
“That was odd,” she said, screwing up her face. “I may not know all the particulars of coach robberies, but I am certain highwaymen always steal valuables.”
Her maid, Tippy, let out a whimper of relief.
Brenna had the opposite reaction. “What sort of thief steals nothing?” As puzzled as she was, it was her next thought that forced her from the seat with a burning sense of urgency. The solution to her woes had appeared in front of her, complete with a pair of bright blue eyes, and she was not about to let him get away!
He would make a perfect substitute suitor! If she pretended to be smitten with the unsuitable stranger, he’d provide the
distraction needed to put off Father until she could find a way out of a marriage to the dreadful Chester Abbot.
The idea was perfect! Get the highwayman bathed, buy him some decent clothing, and teach him a few phrases of proper English. Once he was outfitted respectably, she might be able to successfully convince Father that she was deeply infatuated with the man.
Of course, Father would not be fooled for long. He would be outraged that a low-born stranger was courting his daughter, convinced the man was a rogue, out for her fortune, and would be fit to kill. Who knew better how to keep his neck safe from an irate father than an experienced highwayman?
