The Snow White Bride by Claire Delacroix

Rhys is a notorious figure with a bounty on his head for treason against the English king. But then the mysterious Welshman arrives and wins her. It’s bad enough when Madeline discovers she’s on the block. In Wales, where he’s from, it’s not uncommon for cousins to marry, so he bids on her, seeing an easy way to win Caerwyn for himself through their marriage. He believes that Lady Madeline is that child, and he arrives just in time for the auction for her hand. Rhys learns that after her death, her child was taken in by the Laird and Lady of Kinfairlie as their own. The only person preventing him from claiming his family’s estate, Caerwyn, is the daughter of his cousin Madeline Arundel, who died in childbirth 23 years earlier. Rhys FitzHenry is on a quest to locate the last surviving member of his family. So Alexander decides to auction her hand to the highest bidder, bringing him some much-needed funds while finally allowing him to see her married.

It doesn’t help that he can’t afford to offer a dowry for her. Madeline is the eldest of his five sisters, all of marrying age, and the others refuse to marry until after Madeline is wed. This has created problems for her brother Alexander, who recently became Laird of Kinfairlie after the sudden death of their parents. Lady Madeline of Kinfairlie has refused to marry since the death of her betrothed. The Beauty Bride isn’t as different and original as some of her Harlequins, but it was a good way to rediscover an old favorite. I haven’t read a book by Claire Delacroix in several years, which is odd since I very much enjoyed some of her Harlequin Historicals.

The Snow White Bride by Claire Delacroix