The Bartered Bride (The Bride Trilogy, #3)

A dashing sea captain, an indomitable woman, and a deadly mission... After building a fortune in the exotic East, American adventurer and merchant prince Gavin Elliott sets his sails for London to begin a new life. Then fate intervenes on an infamous island in the East Indies where he discovers an Englishwoman facing degradation and peril. Though saving her may cost Gavin his life, he cannot refuse to help the fierce beauty who touches his heart and soul with her unconquerable spirit. Alexandra Warren is returning home from Australia as a widow and mother when a pirate attack condemns her to a life of servitude. A miracle arrives in the form of a steely-eyed Yankee captain whose reckless courage wins them freedom and a safe passage home to London. Intimate strangers joined by too many secrets, they slowly begin to heal the past with attraction and tenderness--until an old enemy reaches out to threaten the passionate love Gavin has found with his irresistible bartered bride. Praise for The Bartered Bride: "This third book in a thrilling trilogy delivers a powerful story of one woman‘s indomitable courage and one man‘s unshakable love. You don‘t have to read the first two books (The Wild Child and The China Bride) to enjoy this one, but all three are packed with adventure, romance, and characters who overcome seemingly insurmountable odds to find true love. I recommend the entire series!" -Old Book Barn Gazette "Mary Jo Putney can sweep readers into exotic locales as easily as into the ballrooms and courtrooms of Victorian England with all its pomp and ceremony. I was captivated by the fascinating Eastern culture, swept up in Alexandra and Gavin‘s passionate romance. Though some readers may find a few events predictable, most will surely enjoy another finely crafted tale by the mistress of the genre." -Romantic Times "With its strong, courageous characters, high degree of emotional intensity, excellent writing, and compelling plot, this novel is classic Putney and a fitting conclusion to the trilogy that began with The Wild Child. One of the best authors writing today, Putney is not shy about dealing with serious, sometimes controversial issues, and she has few peers when it comes to creating emotionally satisfying romances that connect with readers" -Library Journal "This final volume in a popular trilogy (The Wild Child; The China Bride) is a rich and realistic 19th-century historical romance... Both characters have vivid inner lives and thoroughly imagined personalities. Their union is inevitable-this is a romance novel-but their journey from strangers to spouses to true lovers is utterly authentic." -Publishers Weekly The Bride Trilogy: The Wild Child, #1 The China Bride, #2 The Bartered Bride, #3 About the Author A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USAToday bestselling author, Mary Jo Putney‘s novels are known for psychological depth and intensity and include historical and contemporary romance, fantasy, and young adult fantasy. Winner of numerous writing awards, including two RITAs, three Romantic Times Career Achievement awards, and the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from Romance Writers of America, she has had numerous books listed among Library Journal‘s and Booklist‘s top romances of the year.