Review

With the second book in The Bridal Pleasures series, Jillian Hunter is back on top of her writing game. Her last couple of books haven’t been my favorites but in A Bride Unveiled she got it right.

Violet Knowlton knows a proper lady shouldn’t be staring out the window searching for the boy who pretends to swordfight in the graveyard but she does it anyway. She also knows that proper young girls don’t go on treasure hunts but she finds herself in catacombs face to face with Kit, the boy outside her window.

Kit dreams of getting away from the workhouse and spends his days with Violet and his new friends exploring for buried treasure. Violet immediately welcomes him with open arms and Kit is struck by her warmth and love, something he’s never been shown. But it all comes to an end when Kit is sold and taken away. 

Ten years later Violet is enjoying the London season and is about to marry before she runs into sword master Christopher Fenton. It isn’t until she’s dancing with him that she realizes that Mr. Fenton is her old friend Kit. Sparks fly instantly and there is no denying that fate has brought them back together.

There is one problem. Violet is engaged to one of Kit’s students and Kit is not happy about it. Violet’s fiancé, Sir Geoffrey is all about moving up in the ton. He wants Violet to be the perfect, virtuous woman not the passionate adventurer she truly is. Kit is determined not to lose Violet again so he sets out to win her back.

Violet has done everything to make herself into the lady she knows society, and her aunt, wants her to be. It isn’t until Kit shows back up in her life that she realizes that she has been hiding her true nature.

I loved Kit from the beginning and as the story went on I fell even more in love with him. Despite the fact he doesn’t believes he’s good enough for someone like Violet because of his past, he is still as honorable, if not more, then true “gentlemen”. Plus, he is rather dashing with his sword.

What I love about Violet is that she doesn’t pity Kit. From the beginning she sees him as a friend and despite his upbringing in foundling house, she sees Kit is a man of worth. You couldn’t help but root for Violet and Kit.

A Bride Unveiled is full of laughs and love. It’s about the true meaning of friendship and love. Throw in some fancy sword fighting and a bad guy and you’ll have yourself a fun time reading it.

For those who have read Ms. Hunter’s Boscastle Family series will be excited to see some familiar faces, such as Jane, the Marchioness of Sedgecroft and Weeds the faithful butler to the Boscastle clan. I love how familiar faces reappear in her stories because sometimes I wonder about what happened after The End.

Reviewed by Jamie