The Bargain

NOT Your Run-o'-the-Mill Romance

Although there are a millions of romance novels circulating out there in America, this is one author who absolutely knows her business when it comes to creating a love story that not only offers passion and romance, but also offers a complex plot that will keep readers intrigued until the very last page. This New York Times bestselling author has once again written a book that will have no trouble breaking more records.

We begin at the funeral of the Earl of Cromarty, who is being laid to rest in Charlton Abbey in England in the year 1812. The Earl had one daughter, Jocelyn, and, unfortunately, no sons. Of course in the British world, a daughter could not inherit the lands from her father, so Jocelyn's priceless home falls into the greedy hands of her Uncle and his horrific wife, Elvira. But, there was one more surprise. At the reading of the will, Jocelyn is told that she will not even inherit her father's money UNLESS she is married by the age of twenty-five.

In London, 1815, Major David Lancaster is wasting away in a hospital bed. He is in an incredible amount of pain, and is paralyzed from the waist-down due to his injuries at Waterloo. Not only is he waiting for death, but he's also extremely scared to leave behind his younger sister, Sally, who has no means of support once David 'meets his maker.'

A very beneficial meeting occurs when a woman named Jocelyn - who is just about to turn twenty-five and only has eyes for one man who is a confirmed bachelor - walks into the hospital and makes a bargain with the Major. If he marries Jocelyn, she will provide five hundred pounds a year for Sally's care and well-being. This is a wonderful match, seeing as that Jocelyn really doesn't want to be married but must get her inheritance, and the Major is close to death.

However, Sally is extremely upset. She thinks Jocelyn is absolutely horrible for using her brother and wants this woman to simply disappear. She goes on a quest for the perfect doctor and finds herself in the office of a "mad-Scot" named Ian Kinlock. This Doctor is also smart enough to find it quite odd that if Sally's brother is paralyzed.then why is he in pain?

Soon, Major David Lancaster finds himself on the mend - in his wife's house - where Sally moves him so that she can make Jocelyn's life a real pain. But will this man who was near death, and this high-society female with a total fear of marriage, find that they are actually meant for each other?

Unbelievable plot, fantastic characters, and a romance that is truly a 'dream.' I can never say enough about this fantastic author except I, for one, hope she writes for the next fifty years.at least!

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

not what it seems

this is not the book that is summarized. Its about two different characters and totally different story line

6 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Great read

I am not sure what the other reviewer is talking about. The summary for this book is exactly what this book is about. Great read. I enjoyed it.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Very good plot.

I very much enjoyed this story. Romance novels usually just have one romantic couple to follow, but this one had two (that was a nice change). Although there definitely was one couple whose romance was the most important, the minor characters' romance was also enjoyable. There was enough of a plot to make it interesting and new, even though we all know how it will turn out. This did not have as many "steamy" scenes as other romance novels, but it was definitely romantic. I would eagerly recommend it.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Couldn't put it down

I really enjoyed this book! I like historical fiction and it was a very interesting and romantic book. I am extremely interested in all this author's other books based on this book alone! I literally couldn't put it down.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I love this book

In read this book years ago and really enjoyed it, but over time I forgot the title or who had written it. I had been searching for it because I remember the story and wanted to read it again. I found it. It was just as good the second time!

Fun book

Fun book -- very enjoyable

Great Story

Loved it

Sweet and entertaining!

This book is a beautiful love story, sweet and takes you on a touching journey and leaves you feeling happy, thoughtful and wanting more from this great author!

A sweet love story.

Great plot. You will not be disappointed.

The Bargain

No text was provided for this review.

Not my favorite

At first I thought this could be one of those books you read when your out of books and don't have the money for a new one. But once I got past the first two pages I found I couldn't put it down. It became a much faster and enjoyable read until about halfway through. Once the Major makes his miraculous recovery, and decides to win her heart, it becomes predictable and I found myself growing board. There was too much detail when the annulment was agreed upon. I wasn't reading this to learn the process for getting annulled in that period. Overall I think its okay if you like period pieces, which I do, but not good enough to read again and certainly not good enough for my library.

Amazing

This is my first read of a mary putney novel amd i will most definitly be back for more. It was a pleasure to read a romance that was so much more than girl meets boy, boy seduces girl, they marry. The other themes she brings forth, abandonment, guilt over death, medicine are truely what makes this a great read. I barely put it down.

So well written

Mary Jo Putny has done it again!

Great Book!

I really enjoyed this story - and I thought the description and the story were the same as well. I liked the fact that you had the main story and a secondary story involving the groom's sister. Great read.

Not what I was hoping for.

I normally stick to my tried and true authors Julie Garwood and Johanna Lindsey, but I've re-read all of their books many times over, and figured I'd give another author a try. I didn't like the book at all. It started out interesting enough, but it just got more and more irritating as I read along. No humor in it either. I had to force myself to finish it.

Enjoyed

I really enjoyed this book. Loved the romance and drama. Wished it didnt end.

Highly Recommend

Well written, nice romance.

Blah.

Slow, boring, the author didn't inspire me to care about the characters. I didn't bother to finish it (the ending was obvious, anyway).

Of course you know what you're getting

Which is of course why I bought it and loved it.