This is a trilogy about three friends who return home to England after fighting in the war. Along the way, they save a gypsy from a mob. She “curses” each of them with the promise of finding true love before the next year.
This was a quick book even though the author did a great job of having three complete stories. Each story had it’s own different twist so it wasn’t like reading three of the same story. I really enjoyed each of them. It actually reminded me that I can still enjoy sweet stories when I take the time to read them. I highly recommend this book.

'Here Comes the Bride' by Alexandra Ivy. This is a set of three books totaling about 495 pages.
I so love Ms. Ivy writing and her historical romances are my favorite. So I was so happy to see this book set. It is also nice that each story is a Novella so if you need a quick story while waiting somewhere or if you like a short story for your night reading this is a good book for that.
In addition if you haven't read any of Ms. Ivy books than with this three selection book you can get a feel for her writing. Sometimes for me I need to read one or two books by the author to see if I like their style in writing...if so then I am hooked on their books to come.
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What’s it About? Three friends return home from war and while out riding save an old gypsy woman from being attacked. In return the gypsy gives them a true love blessing. Each man will find love before summer begins. Of course the three of them see it as more of a curse, laugh it off, and decide to have some fun with it by making a bet. The first one to succumb to the Gypsy's curse must pay a thousand pounds and a red rose. The three friends then go on their merry ways still not believing in Gypsy blessings or curses. Simon, Lord Challmond, arrives at his estate where he goes head to head with his childhood friend Claire Blakewell over his neglect of his tenants. Barth, the Earl of Wickton returns home to find that his arranged marriage to Isa Lawford is no more because she prefers someone else, and Philip, Lord Brasleigh is determined to marry off his ward Bella Howe to the first man he can find. Except Bella's disappeared and when he finds her he's determined to play the rogue to scare her into obedience but she's not easy to frighten.




Overall reaction to the story? I liked Here Comes the Bride but I didn't love it. All three stories are quite similar in nature which made me feel like I was reading three variations of the same story. There were slight differences of course but they didn't really stand apart from each other. There was also the repetitive use of the word "Maiden" that really had me grinding my teeth by the end of the last story. The three stories take place at exactly the same time and while they're separate tales, they tie together nicely in the end. Overall, Here Come the Bride is entertaining enough if you enjoy a more fluffy sort of romance with a dash of cheeky humor.




Let’s talk about the romance: Since each story is more of a novella there wasn't a whole lot of time for a real romance to develop between any of the couples. It was a lot of butting heads which was entertaining enough but then BOOM! They're confessing their love and that's that. There is very little heat between the couples so if you're looking for a steamy read, this is not it. i would put it more in the sweet category. The three heroines were spirited and opinionated but none of them managed to bowl me over with their personalities. Same goes for the heroes.


Click It or Skip It? Depending on your reading tastes you'll either like Here Comes the Bride or you won't. I'll leave that up to you to decide. As for me, it was just an okay read.

Definite buy buy buy book! Even with the rewrite, finding myself totally engrossed in the stories. Written with heart and compassion. Steady pace and good characters. The story line was strong and totally well written. There were a few places maybe not so good , however, all in all a definite good read! So feel free to buy the book, sit and just enjoy. I did not put it down until I finished the entire book. I love when you find a book that the reader can lose themselves in. This is one of them! So buy buy buy! I was given this book in return for a honest review. Anna

I appear to have received this book in error. Apologies I won't be able to read it as it does not seem a good fit for me.

Here Comes the Bride is a three book series of A Bride for Lord Challmond, A Bride for Lord Wickton and A Bride for Lord Brasleigh originally released in 2001 under the name Debbie Raleigh although written by Alexandra Ivy. Knowing that, I wanted to read these books as a comparison to today’s more sensual books. This series is truly ‘clean’ compared to a lot of books released today.

The Lords, Challmond, Wickton and Brasleigh are on mission to Spain while happening upon a gypsy being attacked by a group of ruffians. These lords are true gentlemen in every sense of the word, and act as typical lords of that day and age, very chivalrous. In exchange for rescuing her, the gypsy blesses the three lords with meeting the love of their lives with in the upcoming year. Thus, the beginning of each story is alike, but with the perspective of the ‘lord’ in that story. The three gentleman did not take the blessing of the rose and romance promised seriously at all. They even made a wager of a rose and $1,000 as forfeit at the end of the time specified by the gypsy..

Each of the stories is entertaining, lighthearted and different enough you will enjoy them all. As in the beginning of the books, about two-thirds of the way through each book the gentlemen meet up at their favorite London club, but this time they are wallowing in their despair over how their lives are so messed up by a woman. That meeting, too, is written from the perspective of each respective lord, again interconnecting the simultaneous books.

Since this is a re-release, it has been thoroughly reviewed. My effort is to encourage you to select this series just for fun and for a lighthearted read for a weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed the series. They have each fallen to the love of their life not realizing until getting together they were actually in love with the woman they were lamenting. Each of the women in their lives offers some serious challenge and rethinking of what the lords thought their life would be. Ms. Ivy wrote each female as charming, witting and independent. You will love them, too. Just enjoy!

Fun short stories about denying the power of Love and not needing anybody but their club. All the friends believe the gypsy blessing was hogwash bit are not seeing the power of her words. Truly amazing.

Comprised of Three distinct books that are intertwined and preceded by prologues that capture the viewpoint of each aristocratic hero. All the heroes are quite similar. They are returning soldiers, officers who fought against Napoleon, friends who spent some post-war time in Italy and now are back in England redy to assume their responsibilities toward their title and estates. A Gypsie in Italy blessed them with a charm of true love within the next year. So our heroes make a bet that whomever of them succumbs to true love will forfeit a thousand pounds and a red rose to the others. The remainder of the books are about our heroes Simon, Barth and Phillip trying their best to avoid falling in love and doing a terrible job of it.
Each book features a feisty heroine determined to not fall in love. Simon’s nemesis is Claire Blakewell a neighbor who seems to try Simon’s patience. Barth’s betrothed, Isa Lawford, is calling off the betrothal because she thinks she is in love with another man. Phillip’s ward, Bella Lowe, is fighting against marrying someone Phillip has chosen for her.
I enjoyed seeing how each arrogant lord was brought to true love by these strong-willed women and how each woman was struck by cupid’s arrow at the same time. This is not a book with graphic sex scenes. There is some sexual tension. The stories were well written and developed, with all three lords appearing in each book. My only criticism is the author’s overuse of the word “absurd”, It appears so often as to be annoying.

After receiving this, I realized I was familiar with the stories as they are re-issues. But I enjoyed re-reading them and they are a lovely way to become acquainted with Ms. Ivy's talent.

This trilogy features three dashing rakes returning home from war. They’d been part of a guard that escorted the Pope to the Vatican & have lingered in Italy after selling their commissions & are enjoying the freedom before returning to England & their responsibilities. But along the way they rescue an old a gypsy who blesses them with the gift of true love for all three before the following summer. Their high-spirited response, a daring wager made by Philip that by June the first, whomever Cupid catches must forfeit one thousand pounds and a red rose

A BRIDE FOR LORD CHALLMOND
Simon Townsled, Earl of Challmond, is off to his Devonshire country estate with his friend Locky, where he is sure to be safe from feminine wiles. But he doesn't count on feisty do-gooder Miss Claire Blakewell who is as determined to march down the aisle as he is to avoid it or is she. Claire has always been outspoken but when her father seems interested in a money grabbing widow she plots & that involves Simon. Simon however soon works out her motives but he also enjoys her company. An east reading enjoyable book & the verbal spats between Simon & Claire are so entertaining.

A BRIDE FOR LORD WICKTON
Barth Juston, Earl of Wickton, assumes a woman would be grateful to accept an arranged marriage with him. What a shock that beautiful Isa Lawford is not! In fact, she insists she prefers someone else, the vicar’s scholarly son! Now this overconfident lord is about to enter the most perilous battle of all: a fight for a woman’s heart This was delightful Isa very determined not to fall in love with Barth again (did she ever fall out of love with him!) Barth treating his courtship like a military campaign. A really feel good novel & had me smiling all the way through.


A BRIDE FOR LORD BRASLEIGH
Philip Marrow, Lord Brasleigh, must marry off his troublesome ward, Miss Bella Lowe. But determined to wed for love, Bella has run away, and Philip must track her down. Since he has never met her, he plans to play the rogue and scare her back to London. He never expects to ignite an overwhelming passion or find a lady who fights fire with a clever scheme all her own Another delightful book to conclude the trilogy. The interaction between Philip & Anna / Bella is so very entertaining & they’ve certainly met their matches. The attraction between the pair is obvious from the beginning but both fight it. I was hoping that another romance would bloom between ‘Pudding’ & a certain vicar’s daughter.
Three well written entertaining books. The characters are well rounded & very likeable. The pace of the books is good. The highlight of all three books is the verbal spats between all of the characters & the fact that they all fight the attraction but eventually the gypsy has her blessing.

Overall I liked the story. Good plot. Certainly different than Ms. Ivy's usual romance.s

An enjoyable trilogy,although the denouement in the second book was a little abrupt.