Review: His Yankee Bride by Rose Gordon

His Yankee Bride
by Rose Gordon
Series: Banks Brothers Brides #2
Publisher: TALC
Publication date: September 27, 2012
Genre: Adult Historical Romance
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon
ARC provided by author for unbiased review
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At nineteen John Banks decides to board a ship bound for America—oblivious of who he'll find when he arrives. Having grown up on a large indigo plantation, the expressive and possibly overdramatic, Carolina Ellis can hardly wait to see what the gentlemen of Charleston will be like. But alas, they were not what she'd been hoping for. Ball after ball and dance after dance, Carolina is disappointed time and again. Then she sees him...Boston and Philadelphia held no appeal to John, so on a suggestion from a friend, he headed south to the booming town of Charleston, South Carolina. Not meaning to become the center of attention, John becomes exactly that when he walks right into the largest social event of the year dressed like nothing more than a poor drifter. So what is a penniless man to do when in such a situation? The only thing he can do: rely on his sense of humor to extinguish the tension. Immediately, Carolina takes a shine to this unusual man and his equally unusual humor and is determined she will do whatever it takes to marry him—Southern aristocracy be damned.

I have always been drawn to tales that take place in early American history and Rose Gordon takes us on a tale to Charleston and introduces us to the funniest heroine I have ever met and the poor English chap she sets her sights on. His Yankee Bride was a delightful, hilarious romance that is sure to entertain. I did not real the first book in this series, but each book contains a new couple.

The tale begins when we meet John Banks the third son of a Baron, who does not want to enter the military or be a barrister so he decides to become a clergyman. At only nineteen he is feeling restless and his brother encourages him to travel before settling down. Carolina Ellis is the daughter of an Indigo plantation owner and is visiting Charleston with her mother in the hopes of finding a husband. She finds the men of Charleston to be boring and life as a plantation wife does not appeal to her. When John arrives at a large social event dressed like a British drifter she is immediately drawn to him and sets her sights on him. John has already decided he wants a meek and modest wife and Carolina is anything but! The tale that unfolds was hilarious as Carolina relentlessly pursues John.

Carolina is unique, sweet, bold and downright hilarious in her pursuit of John. I almost felt sorry for this young, naïve man. The interaction between them had me giggling as Carolina sought the advice of her friend, brother and the slave who treats her better than her opinionated mother. Gordon skillfully weaved in characters of the period with their opinions and southern ways them feel both original and fleshed out.

While the tale focuses on Carolina’s pursuit of John, the author gives us a strong sense of the political climate, life on a plantation in the south and slavery.  The tale has a delightful pace as the romance slowly builds and we get a few steamy scenes. The romance itself felt genuine even with Carolina’s outlandish comments to John. She tell him he wants to marry her he just doesn’t know it! John admits he is attracted to her but not as a vicar’s wife. There is a little heat, a little scandal and a whole lot of laughter. What works regarding Carolina is that she is genuine, has a pure heart and you cannot help but embrace her. I quickly consumed this and enjoyed myself immensely 

Fans of Regency and historical romances that are heavy on the sweet, with a little heat will enjoy His Yankee Bride and the Banks Brother’s Bride series.

Three and half cups of British coffee out of five

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