I will admit that its the cover that really drew me into this book, I absolutely loved the diversity of it. And I love a good interracial romance and Vanessa Riley really delivered on a great read. I wish that this review could be longer, but its a review I spaced on writing and so many of the details are a bit blurry. But I do remember how much I was drawn to this couple. Their romance was so precious. Those little moments is what made this book so unique and I definitely love what this author delivered here. Definitely eager to read the rest of the series.

FULL REVIEW ON FRESH FICTION
An emotional tale of hope, THE BEWILDERED BRIDE, is a well-written historical novel by Vanessa Riley. The fourth book in the Advertisements for Love series, it can be ready as a standalone, though characters and couples from previous books are present. Ruth is a resilient woman who has survived the unthinkable. She sees her husband all but killed in front of her, believes him dead, and then is saved from a brothel where she has endured the worst. Her traditional family doesn’t believe she was ever married, and aren’t convinced that her son was conceived in wedlock. So while she is back in her family’s care, Ruth spends four years essentially alone - feeling betrayed by the very people who should be supporting her. When word reachers her that a new Baron has taken over the Wycliff estate, Ruth is determined to find proof of her marriage and to give her son legitimacy. This determination and will to honor the husband she thinks she lost makes Ruth a character to root for, and the ways in which she has to navigate through the world after trauma while her sight is fading was fascinating and heartbreaking to read.

The Bewildered Bride was the first book I read by Vanessa Riley and it definitely won't be the last. Forces outside their control kept Adam and Ruth apart and it was lovely watching them reunite and fall in love all over again!

Ruth and Adam have a very interesting and intense relationship, right from the start their lives are in danger. Watching the most horrific scene unfold right in front of her eyes, Ruth’s life is over, her heart is crushed. Waking up to find her nightmare continuing to play out, Ruth is determined to change her life and the life of her son. She quickly finds fate has one more surprise waiting for her, in the form of her husbands cousin, Wycliff. Revenge has never be so sweet for Wycliff, avenging his father legacy and winning back his fearless, full of life Ruthy. Both characters pull the best out in each other, both are bold yet show restraint, they push ahead in life as the past continue to throw obstacles in their path.

Ruth and Wycliff share a life changing experience that is felt through the pages, it had me wondering at times if I wanted to finish the novel, how could Ruth ever get her happily-ever-after, after that. Ms. Riley pulled through, she made the pages turn quickly and did not hold back on the sweet revenge Wycliff served. The romance Wycliff had to move slowly with, it was built over time, regaining trust and exposing old secrets. It is a second chance romance with two new people, that one night changed Ruth and Wycliff into people neither would recognize years later.

A unique cast of characters add some flavor to the story, the older women who make snide remarks, the loyal sister, a caring mother and some in-laws looking to climb the ladder out of debters prison. Many twists and turns throughout the plot combine with the slow romance and sweet second chance at love will leave many readers satisfied with The Bewildered Bride.

Adam and I had been kicked out, were running for our lives, and the morning sun hadn’t even risen.

Ruth and Adam had a whirlwind romance that had them going to Gretna Green to get married. Adam hasn't been completely honest about who is and plots involving his uncle stealing money that have him in danger, so before they can fully enjoy their happily ever after, evil snatches it away.

Fourth in the Advertisements in Love series, The Bewildered Bride gets the story rolling right away, almost too quickly for me. I haven't read the others in the series and for the first twenty or so percent I felt like I was missing some background or key information. There is some lying by omission going on from Adam and he isn't completely honest about how much danger his uncle is, leaving Ruth in the dark in a way that completely hamstrings her. I felt even more lost than Ruth with the plot about Adam's evil uncle, I'm wondering if there was some information about this in the previous book or if Adam and Ruth's relationship starts there, as they're getting married when we first start the book. The middle was a still a bit muddled for me but towards the end, the author untangled everything to make things clearer.

“I have to believe the good in him. He did not take me to Gretna Green just to have at me. We married. I was a bride. I was loved.”

The star of the show was definitely our heroine Ruth. Since no one in her family ever met Adam, they don't believe she was married, making her family having to rescue her from a brothel and then delivering a baby nine months later, a dark mark on her reputation. Ruth's mother and sister don't believe her story about marrying Adam either, letting their friends say hurtful things to Ruth. I felt for her and her pain was palpable on the pages, it was just the construction of the story plot that I couldn't completely get on board with.

On their way back from Gretna Green, they are attacked by men possibly sent by Adam's uncle and it ends up where Adam thinks Ruth is dead and Ruth thinks Adam is dead. Ruth doesn't have any proof that she was married to Adam and Adam has a tough road to travel before he can get back to being in control of his own life again. This is a great set-up for some drama but when our hero and heroine meet back up again, Ruth doesn't recognize Adam (the first time because she doesn't have her glasses on). Adam proclaims some weak excuse for not telling her and for the vast majority of the story, we have Adam lying to Ruth again and some unreliability that she can't recognize him. I just didn't feel the romance between the two.

Ruth was a strong and heartbreaking character with all she had to deal with, while I felt like I couldn't connect with Adam and his lying. The evil uncle plot was a bit hard to follow but the author did a great job of portraying the emotional and historical feel of the times; classism and racism. I could have missed some information starting with book four, if you're a reader of the series you'll definitely want to read this for Ruth and if you're starting here, be prepared to maybe be as bewildered as Ruth.

I love Vanessa Riley's Advertisements for Love, and while they all pack an emotional punch, this one really makes you reach for the tissues and your dog or comfort source of choice. It is a slow, slow, painful build-up to get to the HEA, but I loved the characters and Riley does lovely things with dialogue, too.

This was another new to me author that wowed me. Good story and Great characters . Finished in two days

Grab your tissues, you will need them! This story of second chances was truly heartbreaking. The main character, Ruth, has been through so much and yet she is still standing. Her strength through so many hardships was the pinnacle of the story for me. However, I did not have any good feelings towards Adam. He was deceitful. I couldn't get past that.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

Using the rich background of the upper middle class community of color in early 19th century London and their work in the docklands, Riley creates a moving romance of lost love and mistaken identity, with enough plausibility that it doesn't diminish your view of either main character as a fool. Bonus for the theme of BELIEVE WOMEN.

I really struggled with this book. Ruth, the heroine, is a wonderful character, and I was so happy to read a historical romance featuring people of color. Unfortunately, Ruth spends the entire book being tortured by the people around her. In the beginning she has just eloped with Adam Wilky, a biracial peer who passes for white. Wilky's evil uncle, however, attacks them and Ruth thinks that Adam is killed. We next see her living with her family and son, and no one believes that she was ever married. Adam - who hadn't even told Ruth his real name - is not actually dead, and when he comes back into her life he (frustratingly) refuses to reveal himself. I found this book so stressful! I think in part because we didn't see much of Ruth and Adam together (and happy) in the beginning, and because Adam lies so often to Ruth, it was almost hard to root for them. I did want Ruth to finally find peace and happiness, but it was a struggle for her to get there, and I didn't think Adam proved worthy enough for her. As an aside, I think this is the first historical romance I've read with a first person POV (Ruth's parts are told that way, while Adam's are in the third person). I liked that and thought it was effective. This was an important story and I'll look out for Riley's other books, but I just wish that Adam had been a better partner for Ruth.

The Bewildered Bride is a reunion story where we first meet the characters before their forced separation. It must be noted that the London depicted by the author is multicultural, with secondary characters coming for instance from the Caribbean, with a black heroine and a mixed-race hero. It’s rare enough to be pushed to the fore at the beginning of my review.

From the beginning I thought this novel was anxiety-inducing: we begin with an innkeeper insulting the heroine, we go on with a violent attack by a group of bandits; then we jump several years to find Ruth constantly belittled and laughed at for this wedding nobody believes in, her family included. Scornful comments are made in front of her and I was sad and angry at the same time on her behalf. And when finally near the end her mother tells her that she let her shrews of friends snubbing her so in order to toughen her up, I just wanted to slap her.

Ruth is a strong heroine who suffered horrible things after this aggression in which her husband is supposed to have been murdered four years ago. We only know about what happened to her through some snippets thrown here and there and we can only finally figure the totality near the end, probably to have us wondering about her behavior too (careful, that could shock sensible people). She’s determined to do the best for her son, and she put an advertisement to find a husband. Meanwhile she endures snickers and barbs, and the fact she doesn’t see much without her glasses allows her to isolate herself even in the middle of a reception. The delivery of the trunk stolen from her after the aggression, containing the half of her wedding certificate, decides her to try and prove to everyone she didn’t made up a husband.

Adam is a hero who hides a lot of things. From the start there are secrets between him and Ruth, in part because he wants to protect her from those attacking his father, but it’s to the point of her not even knowing his real identity. When he comes back four years later and discovers his wife is still alive, he decides not to tell her anything, still to protect her, helped by the fact the aggression damaged his vocal cords, changing his voice, and his build changed too after four years in the Navy. The fact the heroine asks for the truth several times doesn’t seem to disturb him much. He’s determined to have his revenge and get Ruth’s heart back under his new identity (which is in fact his real identity), but if he’s implacable in his revenge he’s firm but attentive toward the heroine.

Between them the attraction is still present, but Ruth is disturbed because what she’s feeling is so alike what she felt for her husband, and the fact the hero disrupts her habits and certainties often has her freezing and refusing any contact. She needs time before yielding to her desire. However she forgives the hero too fast when she learns who he is and I’d have like for him to grovel more.

The plot with the bad guys is present without taking too much place, but we don’t know much about what’s happening. In fact I had the feeling it was the sequel of a story begun elsewhere but a priori it’s not the case. The discovery of the real bad guy in the end wasn’t a surprise for me, I’d been certain of his role for some time, but I hadn’t realized the extent of his depravity.

As for the style, all the parts from the heroine’s point of view are told in the first person when all the parts from the hero’s point of view are in the third person. I found it disturbing and unpleasant even if it allows to know directly who we’ll be following.

All in all I don’t really know what to think of this novel. There are good points and others less likeable, I was never really hooked by the characters but what the heroine suffered touched me, and as I already said I found the whole rather anxiety-inducing.

The Bewildered Bride is a sloooooow moving/slow burn second chance romance (though only one character actually is aware of their second chance status for 80% of the book!) that has a whole lot going on besides the romance. Revenge. Secrets. A hidden identity. Tragic and often-horrific pasts. A fatherless child who may or may not be illegitimate...

So. Much. Going. On.

Ultimately, The Bewildered Bride had a very sweet ending, but goodness, it took so much to get us all there. Adam kept his true identity hidden from Ruth way longer than he should have--I lost count of how many times she thought goodness, this [add in a thing about the baron here] reminds me so much of Adam! or his [fill in aspect of his person/personality here] is just like Adam's! Seriously, it was near constant, and soooo frustrating. She also did an awful lot of waffling between wanting to be with him--he made her feel so safe and protected!--and not trusting him at all and pushing him away. All part of being a "bewildered bride" I guess? The alternate first person POV (Ruth's) and third person (Adam's) was a bit disconcerting; I never did fully get used to it.

The drama with Adam's relatives, who were the villains of the story from start to finish was solid, though, and kept me turning the pages to find out just how many evil deeds they were capable of and how and when they would finally get their due. They did not disappoint, either in their villainy or in their comeuppance. ;)

This is the 4th book in the series, but it worked just fine as a standalone. It's not at all obvious who here might have even been in previous books (Ruth's sister, maybe?) so going into it not knowing anything about the rest of the series books wasn't an issue at all for me.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / C+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This is a hugely difficult review to write because I am so torn. It was really fantastic to read a historical romance that was set in England in the 18th Century.

I really struggled with the writing style though, it felt very disjointed and didn’t flow, and I found it really difficult to get immersed in the story at the beginning. I also thought there were many Americanisms throughout the book, that would not have been used in England, these felt jarring to me.

I did really root for the heroine though, Ruth Croome is a black woman living in Spitalfields, and heiress to her father’s fortune acquired in the textile business. She eloped with Adam Wilky four years before, and as they returned to London they were attacked and brutally separated. Ruth bears huge scars from her ordeal, physical and mental, including impending blindness and a fear of being outside. She had a son after she believed Adam had died, and she lives at home, suffering the disbelief of friends and family and taunts about her virtue and her mind.

Tormented by the judgment she experiences in her father’s house, she is seeking a marriage of convenience when Adam, now Baron Wycliff, returns. He hadn’t told Ruth he was heir to a barony, or his real name, which he hated, and when he was attacked and impressed into the navy, he spent four years away, believing Ruth was dead. He is the son on a white man and a black woman, but he passes for white, and he is back in London so secure his inheritance and to take revenge on his uncle and cousin who were responsible for the attack. He also wants Ruth back. He decides to masquerade as Adam’s cousin, and tries to woo Ruth again. Ruth slowly ( very slowly- the book is very long!) opens up to Adam, and he finds out the truth of what happened to Ruth - violence, assault and physical and mental abuse. Ruth finds the strength to trust Adam, and stand up for herself, and is altogether admirable in awful circumstances. Adam is honourable, but so angry, and he struggles with accepting what has happened to Ruth, and although he acknowledges Chris as his heir, his paternity and his way of dealing with Ruth are conflicted at first. Hugely physically altered he has grown into a muscular man, when he was very skinny, and his beard and other physical changes, together with his deep rough voice serve to make him unrecognisable to Ruth. He keeps the deception for far too long, and when he finally confesses, Ruth, understandably finds it difficult to forgive him.

I loved the plot and the story, but found the style very difficult to read.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Also posted,on Goodreads

Ruth is ready to move on with her life. After eloping, getting beset by highwaymen and losing her new husband, she is happy to have a marriage of convenience so that her young son will have a father. Just as she seems to have it all figured out, Adam comes into her life. Adam is a "cousin" to her late husband and has made it his mission to make sure that she is taken card of.

Adam can't believe that his wife is alive! ll of these years apart, he has morned the loss of her. But she doesn't recognize him. Adam doesn't look the same after working on a ship and has a much different voice from the damage the highwaymen inflicted on him. She also didn't know that he was heir to the Wycliff barony. He needs to keep her safe from the same men that attacked them before. He wants his wife and his life back and will do anything.

With Adam keeping his identity a secret, Ruth can't help but compare the baron to her late husband. What will she do when she finds out they are one in the same?

I really enjoyed Adam and Ruth's story. The pain that these two went through, both mentally and physically, just breaks your heart! They were quick to get married the first time and they really didn't know one another well. It was enjoyable watching the fall in love all over again, proving that they didn't rush things the first time around. This is my first book by Riley, but it won't be my last. I need to go back and read the rest of the series!

C+ review at SBTB:

https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/reviews/the-bewildered-bride-by-vanessa-riley/


“I started weeping during the first chapter of The Bewildered Bride and never stopped. It’s a poignant, heart-wrenching, and important novel to read. The protagonists have undergone unimaginable suffering, and watching them find their happily-ever-after is both difficult and emotional. Even though I loved the heroine Ruth and her unwavering mission to seek justice for herself and her child, I never warmed up to the hero due to his inexplicable decision to deceive Ruth about his identity. While I could have forgiven the deception had it been shorter or if he had grovelled more, neither of those things happened. As a result, my feelings about the book are mixed: I’m torn between my love for the heroine and my frustration that the hero’s deception isn’t adequately punished.”

Ruth Croome, a textile heiress who happens to be Blackamoor, eloped to Gretna Green with Adam. As they were returning, they were attacked. She saw her husband killed. He told her that his uncle wanted him dead. Now she is alone with her four year old son at her parent's house. She is to be married to whomever wants her. Her love for Adam is one thing that will never go away. Adam was never who she thought he was. He was really heir to the Wycliff Barony and he is not dead. She never knew. He finds that Ruth's alive as well. He presents himself to Ruth as a family member of Adams family. They become friends, but the danger to them both is not over. Someone is out to kill them and must be found before they are . Once Ruth finds out who Adam really is, he will have win her love back. Will they live long enough for that to happen? Intrigue, murder, second chances. It's a look into a different type of historical romance. I received this book from Net Galley and Publishing for a honest review.

A second chance interracial love story that will keep you wanting more and more from this couple.
It's been a while since reading a historical romance and i wasn't disappointed in this new to me author and story.
Like many marriages, not everything goes planed and the couple has to overcome so many twists and turns throughout the story, some things may trigger some readers but they needed to be said as real-life can be even worse than the fictional one.
Good writing, great characters and overall a great story that shows how love can overcome any obstacles if it's meant to be.

I really enjoyed this book. That doesn't seem like quite the right word to use, as parts of the plot are heartbreaking, but I truly liked this book. I found this portrayal of Black life in London during the Regency era fascinating--these are untold stories, and it's important to finally hear them. I haven't read many romances that deal with the issue of passing (Beverly Jenkins' Forbidden is a notable exception), and it was fascinating to see that explored in this era. My only problem with this book was the choice to switch between a first person narrator (the heroine) and a third person narrator (who spoke from the hero's perspective). This choice did not work for me at all. This was the first book I'd read by this author, and in spite of my complaint about the narration, now I am excited to go back and read her previous work.

I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All my opinions are my own.

This was my first time reading Vanessa Riley, and I really enjoyed this book. The Bewildered Bride is the fourth in this series, but it does well as a stand-alone. It was refreshing to read about the diversity of England during the regency era, so I'm looking forward to reading more from this series. However, I'm not a fan of a fake identity plot, and this book did not change my mind on that.

Only a few days after their elopement, Ruth and Adam are attacked on their return home. They are separated, both badly injured, and think the other is dead. A few years later, they find each other again. However, Adam does reveal to Ruth his true identity, letting her believe he is Adam's cousin the Baron of Wycliff. He's determined to win back Ruth's love before she is betrothed to someone else. However, Adam's secrets and enemies mean they have a lot to overcome before they can be husband and wife again.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my review.

This is a wonderful and riveting tale of second chances. The author has a wonderful narrative style and the dual first-person POV might take a little to get used to, but it's done wonderfully and it gives great insights in both characters.
Adam and Ruth's story is full of hardship, sorrow and suffering. Being apart for four years, and thinking the other one is dead, they had to do what was needed to survive. When fate brings them back together, they are two different people and coming to terms to that as their love unfold is beautiful.
I adored Ruth's character and hidden strength and the challenges she faced in life for her race and her disability and how she conquers her fears in the end. And Adam's powerful persona and how much he fights to deserve her love again.
I definitely recommend this story but I'll add content warning for references of sexual abuse/rape..