The Convenient Bride

‘The Convenient Bride’ by Teresa McCarthy is a clean regency romance and the third book of The Clearbrook Series. There are four sons and one daughter in the Clearbrook family. The first book dealt with the oldest son and the daughter and is called The Rejected Suitor. The second book dealt with the fourth son and is called The Wagered Bride.

Lord Clayton Peter Cathaven Clearbrook is the third son. The Clearbrook’s Uncle Cathaven, and Clayton’s godfather, has recently died and the will is read. Several of his siblings get items, but he is to inherit the castle and any money. Uncle Cathaven was known as a penny pincher (or England’s equivalent), so it comes as a total shock when the solicitor names the amount of money he will inherit. But uncle left a stipulation, Clayton has to marry within three weeks after the will is read or the castle and the money will go to his other godson and Clayton’s cousin, Sir Gerald. Now Clayton wasn’t planning on getting married for many years, but he also can’t let Gerald get ahold of that kind of money. Apparently Gerald is not a good man and should never have that amount of money. (They never go into specifics of what dastardly bad things he will do with that kind of money, they only imply.) So he decides that he needs a bride, and soon!

Briana Garland, Bree to her friends, grew up as Emily Clearbrook’s friend. She has had a crush with Emily’s brother Clayton when she was fourteen years old. When she older, she met Lieutenant Alistair Perry and fell in love. He had promised that he would get out of the army so they could marry. Only he went back on his promise and didn’t leave the service. What’s worse is that the army was called to France to go after Napoleon and he left to fight and died in battle. This has helped Briana learn not to trust men and she decided to protect her heart by never marrying.

Clayton had once loved Lady Serena, but she broke his heart when she ran off and married another man with a higher rank in the army than him when he was off fighting in the war. He then vowed to never fall in love again. And so he is looking for a convenient bride, one who is willing to stay in the castle in the country will he lives in London and lives his own life.

Briana’s godmother is Miss Agatha Appleby, the spy, makes another appearance in this book. So you know that there is going to be some intrigue, secrets, and suspense to go with the romance in this story. This is another wonderful addition to this series.