The Snow White Bride

The Jewels of Kinfairlie Book 3

By: Claire Delacroix

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

The laird of Kinfairlie has helped his sisters to find husbands. Now the laird himself seeks to wed and pins his hopes on The Snow White Bride.

Lady Eleanor knows better than to dream of romance and love. Married twice to secure her father's alliances, she has learned that she is desirable only for her fortune. When the Laird of Kinfairlie's sisters ask her to wed their brother, Alexander, Eleanor agrees, expecting only to save herself from danger.

Alexander is like no man she's known before. He is a man more interested in courting her smile than her obedience. He is a man who values her counsel as much as her newly awakened passion. He is unaware that Eleanor is the key to a fortune that could ensure the future of everything he holds dear.

Now, ruthless enemies will stop at nothing to secure Eleanor's capture. Will she dare to trust her new husband before it's too late for her, for Alexander, and for Kinfairlie?

©2005, 2011 Claire Delacroix, Inc. (P)2015 Deborah A. Cooke

The snow white bride

I loved the snow white bride. I am not a person who likes audio books as my husband is in the room with me and he likes me to answer him when he said something and it is hard when I have a head set on.

The Snow White Bride was my favorite of the Jewels

Any additional comments?

The Snow White Bride had suspense, danger, and a swoon-worthy romance. Arabella’s story touched me. I admired her bravery, strength and grace. I found myself hoping she would find her happy. Her story has some dark moments and I will warn you, while not overly detailed it is upsetting. View Spoiler » I have always admired Alexander, the Laird of Kinfairlie. Despite what his sisters say, he is honest, charming and sexy. He cares deeply for his homestead and those in his keep. I loved that we had villains, danger and unexpected surprises throughout the tale. As the couple became acquainted and learned to trust we hit a few obstacles but they communicated and did not run around acting like ninnies. I loved the mixing of humor, heat and conversation allowing their relationship to feel genuine. The last section had me biting my nails, crossing my fingers and even shedding tears. The Snow White Bride was delightful and loved spending time in the medieval halls of Kinfairlie.

Another fantastic narration

If you could sum up The Snow White Bride in three words, what would they be?

Breathtaking, Love Story, Epic

Who was your favorite character and why?

Eleanor because she was so pure even with all the awful things she had to bare.

Which character – as performed by Saskia Maarleveld – was your favorite?

Elizabeth the youngest of the Laird's sisters

Any additional comments?

The audible edition is narrated by the mesmerizing lyrical voice of the sensational Saskia Maarleveld whose vocal range perfectly portrayed each and every character from impish young women and children to old men, old crones and adult male warriors and dastardly foes. And whose familiarity of Claire’s tales and characters only increases her brilliant narrations.

Delicious and Devious

Excellent story. I loved it, though I was constantly surprised by its twists and turns. Love this series.

A woman's real worth...

This is the third book I've read in "The Jewels of Kinfairlie", series by Ms. Delacroix. I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. In addition to reading the ebook, I also purchased the audio version to listen to after I finished reading the book. In this book Alexander, meets his fate head on. Ever since the death of his parents, about a year before, he has been struggling with taking on all of the responsibilities of becoming the new Laird upon the death of his father. After two, almost disastrous marriages he contracted for his two eldest sisters, it's only fair that Alexander have his own flirt with fate so to speak. With lots of trust issues raging on each side of the coin, Alexander finally grows up and grooves himself worthy of being Laird. I would easily recommend Alexander's story to any of my friends looking for a good read or great listen. Saskia Maarleveld is a superb narrator and really brings the story to life with her amazing ability to bring life, and voice, to all the various characters. This is a true combination of a really good story being performed by a master narrator.

Wonderfully Crafted Romance -- Sigh!

Any additional comments?

This wonderfully captivating series has been a pleasure to follow with its emotionally conflicted, vulnerable characters who eventually find their happy ever afters.

There is no doubt this series has captured my imagination. I love the way author Claire DelaCroix develops the story using a formal, archaic speech. She helps place me squarely into the setting. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld’s produces an awesome listen with her silky, velvet narrative voice with flawless understanding of the characters’ emotional state as depicted by dialog.

In book 3 of the series, Alexander has had the tables turned. He’s always been the trickster, the one who gets his way. Although the reader sees he is slowly changing in how he perceives his deeds, the deeds have already been one. He managed to force the marriage of his two older sisters. However, the means to attain this goal was somewhat callous, the outcome produced splendid results.

Some would say Alexander was not ethical, had a mean spirit. Some being his sisters. However those in his keep fairly adored him, something the reader couldn’t ascertain in the previous books. But in this story, his and Eleanor’s, we see a completely different side of this man. It’s true his financial means are almost nonexistent. He struggles to care for his castle and its people. The most amazing thing about this man is he has not shared these circumstances with his sisters. He wanted them not to worry. He had them believe all was plentiful and he just wanted them wed.

At the beginning of this tale his remaining three youngest sisters decided to trick him into marriage. They put into play the saying what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Eleanor happened to arrive afoot, bedraggled and exhausted on a winter’s night, finding shelter within Kinfairlie’s chapel. She was there when all congregated for prayers the next morning. The sisters saw her to be a person of well breeding and quickly concocted a scheme their brother. They proposed to have her take shelter with them and consider marriage to their brother if he was to her liking. And thus she agreed. The net was cast to one of trickery.

Eleanor has had a hard time of it. She has been twice married and twice over she has been treated unkindly. Could she trust Alexander or was she so marred she could never trust a man again? Could she share her deepest secrets with him and if she did, would he hate her? Alex was out to get the truth. Lies he could not tolerate. Not through fear but through kindness, he decided to get the truth from this woman. There was something about her that made it so. He would make her smile. He would see her happy. “On that you can rely!”

Sometimes one reads a story where you know what will happen either because it is so obvious or you learn it from one of the characters. There are several places in this story that were a complete surprise and complete enjoyment. To this point we have learned the sisters are the gems of Kinfairlie. I would propose Alex be counted among them.

There's just enough cliff hanger which more than entices you to finish the series with The Ballad of Rosamunde. I love the series, love the author and love the narrator.

A Pleasant Enough Summer Listen

While this was a nice light listen for a long solo car trip, I can't say I wasn't a bit annoyed at the two main characters. I get that in romance novels it is common to fall deeply in lust and love in the blink of an eye, but bedded, wedded, annulled, and consummated (Yes, in that order) in less that 24 hours and without knowledge of your bride's name? Our hero never really learned from his mistakes of being too impulsive in previous novels this series, and our heroine agrees to honesty and then lies. Repeatedly.Yikes. I enjoyed the first two in this series more.
The narrator does a fine job with characters and narration. Her voice is easy to listen to.

This was a good one

Sometime the story and the narrator are good. This one of those times. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Another Outstanding Medieval Historical Romance!

Any additional comments?

The Snow White Bride by Claire Delacroix is the third book in The Jewels of Kinfarlie Series, which are set in 1400's England. I can't express how much I love this series! All books are narrated by Saskia Maarleveld who is one of the best narrators in the business. She gives every character their own distinct voice and has a rhythm to her reading that is melodious.

In The Snow White Bride, the story centers around Alexander, the Laird of Kinfairlie. After being married off in the first two books, Madeleine and Vivienne persuade Alexander into marrying Lady Eleanor, who is running away from a life of misery following two awful and violent marriages. Eleanor has never known love and Alexander is just the man up to the task of showing her what it is - even if it takes them a lifetime. Pure historical romance at its best! (sigh)

Outstanding Medieval Historical Romance

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed listening to this story I thought it was a interesting read with humor, drama and passion. I doubt many people have worse luck than Lady Eleanor it does seem at every turn someone is one step ahead of her make it hard to believe anything she said. She is holding all her cards close to her chest not giving out much information. She has so much to give the right man and all she asks for return is to be respect, cared for and honored. She isn't interested in love just want a man that will not abuse her and trust her. Is that to much to much to ask for? It does seem so when you live in a world where man rule and show no respect to women they are for one thing only and can do with their women as they see fit. They are mean as they use, abuse and beat the women they marry all wanting one thing at this time she has been unable to give. You might say her heart you would be wrong for they have no desire for that they want something much bigger and are willing to fight to take her and keep her. That is until one night when she walks in the snow and finds 3 sisters who want her help to get back at their lord brother. Pranks lead to danger as one man is taken in and weds a lady he does not know why another come to take her away any way he can.

Lady Eleanor I thought was sweet but it does seem the whole world as turned against her. She has been abused and will not take give of herself easy until Alexander shows her how a man should treat a women. She still does not take things as face value for she has seen how sweet and kind men can be when they want something. She knows they will turn on you on a dime when things do not go their way. She is scared that he will turn on her if she gives him the truth he seeks. This causing trouble for them and makes her look guilty at every turn. Can she learn to trust and give what he needs before time runs out and all is lost?

Alexander is a man of honor who lives for his family. Times are hard and he does the best he can without giving away just how poor they truly are. When he meets Eleanor he is taken in he see that she is not trusting and has been abused. He wants to make her smile give her a little happiness. His sisters have a plan for him which he knows nothing about until the deed is done and he has little choice but to go along with it. On the day of their wedding he learns so much about her and her lies. He cannot abide by lies and goes to annul their marriage. Eleanor sees things differently as she puts a plan into action to keep the marriage intact. Alexander works towards finding the truth but it might be to late for there is evil all around who is willing to die for the hand of Lady Eleanor.

Saskia Maarleveld does a wonderful job of narration her many voices are clear and strong. You have no trouble knowing who is talking as she takes you on a wonderful tale the author has wrote. There are no background noises nor any breaks it is all even tone each character is easy to understand and each voice is different. Ms. Maarleveld brings so much to this audio her tones and voice you have no trouble knowing what each characters are feeling. You can hear the sadness and laughter as she uses her voice to bring this story alive. Her tones are even, smooth and her voice is a joy to listen to. This is the first time I have listen to this narrator and I look forward to listening to more from her. I love her accent it brings more to the audio as she takes you back in time to a world you know little about. Outstanding listen.

This is the first time I have read/listen to anything by Ms. Delacroix. I found this story to be a delight. She has wonderful characters that you will fall in love with as she gives you a wonderfully captivating listen. There is drama as one women tries to find a safe haven. She gives you sadness that will break your heart and laughter that you will find delightful. The author gives you a compelling store which has adventure, a few thrills and even a chill that you will say OH NO please let this turn out right. She does give you a wonderful HEA but first these characters must fight to stay alive. Here characters you will love as they work their way through trying times. The supporting characters will keep you laughing as each woman are strong and will have their due. The author writes in a style that pulls you in as you feel each emotion of these characters and all they go through. I really enjoyed this book and feel most that like this time in history will enjoy it.