Moonraker's Bride

by Madeleine Brent

MOONRAKER'S BRIDE can be classified as a gothic romance novel. While the romance does play an important role in the overall story, the mystery is just as compelling. The story starts in China at a missionary. Seventeen year old Lucy Waring grew up in China under the care of an English missionary. She has never known a society beyond the Chinese and when the dire situation convinces her to try her hand at thievery her life changes. In prison she meets Nicholas Sabine, scheduled for execution, who agrees to help her and asks if she will marry him as payment. Once released from prison she is sent to England away from everything she knows and even more mysteries unfold.

The reason why I love this book is because Lucy is such a loveable character. Having grown up in exotic China, she is not prepared for English society. Her sense of propriety is viewed as outlandish and unacceptable and only adds to the hilarity of the story. The story behind Nicholas Sabine and his rivals give the novel a haunting feeling and kept me wondering what was going to happen in the end. There are some unbelievable elements but nothing too outlandish.

MOONRAKER'S BRIDE is a clean, light-hearted story that a lot of people will enjoy. It has its own air of excitement and I never thought it dragged. I have read a couple of books by Madeleine Brent and this one is my favorite. A perfect book if you just want to feel good after reading it.