The Perfect Wife (author's site):It was to be hoped that her groom was partial to cherries. For Avelyn feared she would very much resemble one at their wedding feast. Too round, to red in the scarlet gown that was all she could fit into…and perhaps too tart for his taste? No doubt he longed for a sweet, biddable bride, one who was as tiny and trim as she was trying to appear.
Paen Gerville longed for a lively, well-rounded woman, one whose plump breast would cushion his head after the lonely, harsh life of a solitary fighting knight. At first his wife-to-be promised no such delights—her form was unbending, her health apparently fragile as she fainted into his arms as their first kiss. But one split bridal gown later, her assets were eye-poppingly apparent and Paen could only grin as he anticipated the surprises yet to come on his wedding night with… THE PERFECT WIFEReview: I waited awhile to read this book. I really wished I would have kept on waiting. Maybe then, this happy little bubble I had for this book would not have burst like Avelyn's bindings. This story takes place in the late 12th century. Paen has been away fighting in the Crusades, which had to be the Third Crusade(1189-92) since Paen says that King Richard released him from service. This is where things get a little hairy for me, murky waters and all. Paen often speaks of being a hard soldier and being away years for the crusade, but the last crusade only lasted three years and was still within King Richard's reign. How, other than travel time, was he away for the crusade for the quantity that this tale suggests? I mean the Second Crusade ended forty years previous to the Third Crusade! You gotta watch when history buffs read your books.
Beyond quibbling over Paen's late claiming of his betrothed, there are more pressing matters to attend to. Avelyn comes across as a bumbling half-wit. It is never a good thing when writing about a 'pleasingly plump' heroine to have her come across as an incompetent fool. People tend to hold plus sized or larger than average people to a higher standard and presenting Avelyn in the way she was presented early on, only confirmed their beliefs. I know some claim that she was nervous and beat down for her cousins' taunting, but there is only so much a reader can take. The story took so long to get to a point where it was passably enjoyable that I felt I deserved some sort of metal of valor. Also, the suspense plot that ran for the last part of the story did nothing to make up for the dismal first half. If this was supposed to be a humorous story I wasn't laughing. Okay, I laughed for a few pages at the beginning but then it got old and repetitive. The love scenes between Paen and Avelyn were well done. I also like David, Paen's squire. Overall, I would pass on this book. There is not a lot to draw you in and keep you. If it wasn't for the fact that I wanted a non-erotic, historical to review for this blog, I would not have even tried to finish it. Even if Avelyn was skinny and still presented the same way, I would not have likeed this book. If the first half had been present more like the second half, then I would have liked this one. Can't say I'll try this author again.
