Jane Ashford is somewhat known for her unusual characters, and the hero and heroine of her newest book, Bride to Be, are no exception. Actually, all of the secondary characters are also unusually vivid and interesting; they help make the book an entertaining read. The book has a few problems here and there, but it’s still worth a look.

Emily Crane has had a very bizarre upbringing. Both her parents are well-born artists who care nothing for convention. They shocked the ton with their elopement to Gretna Green, and have kept right on shocking people ever since. Though Emily loves her parents dearly, she is not artistically inclined, and craves some stability in her life. So when her mother arranges for her to have a season in London, chaperoned by her aunt (who is a Duchess), Emily jumps at the chance.

One of the first people Emily sees in London is someone whom she has already met. About a month before her sojourn in London, Emily rescued Lord Richard Sheldon from a beating. She took him to her home and he met her odd parents. While Richard had a much more conventional upbringing than Emily, recent circumstances have changed him. He used to be a free-spending dandy, but he was traveling on a ship that was ship-wrecked off the coast of South America. Forced to survive for months in the wilderness, Richard reevaluated his life, and he’s now a changed man.

Richard now has little use for the simpering society ladies, so he looks forward to renewing his acquaintance with Emily. Unfortunately, Emily has taken the teachings of her aunt too much to heart, so at first glance she appears to have become one of the uninteresting debutantes that Richard has come to despise. But soon more attempts are made on Richard’s life, and as Emily spends more time with Richard, her true nature begins to show through. One of the murder attempts puts Richard and Emily in a compromising situation, and they become engaged. Initially, both see the engagement as a sham. And although each begins to fall in love with the other, both parties are afraid to express their feelings for fear they are not returned. Will they be able to tell each other how they really feel before disaster overtakes them both?

The basic plot line of Bride to Be is a familiar one – particularly the part about the hero’s life being in danger. But the unconventional characters make it worth reading. Richard shows growth and development throughout the book as he looks back, often with shame, on the man he used to be. He becomes more aware of the feelings of others, particularly his mother, who was very shaken by his disappearance. Emily is an even better character. She truly loves her parents, but she has always had problems with the nomadic lifestyle they forced upon her as a child. When she experiences the somewhat stifling lifestyle of a London debutante, she realizes that structure also has its drawbacks. She needs to realize what is truly important to her, and in Richard she finds a man who can give her the kind of life she needs.

All of the secondary characters are terrific, but Emily’s parents deserve special mention. It would be easy for such characters to be portrayed as foolish idiots who have no understanding or love for their daughter. Instead, they are drawn colorfully but lovingly. They are very absorbed in their art, their love for each other, and their unconventional lifestyle. Yet they also worry about their daughter’s happiness. I can’t help wishing that Jane Ashford will write a prequel about their love story.

The book has a couple of flaws that keep it from being a real keeper. The first is that sexual tension is somewhat lacking until the very end of the book. A few more romantic scenes early on would have heightened the tension and made for a more compelling read. Also, Richard’s behavior at times left a little to be desired. He is far too willing to misinterpret Emily’s words and jump to erroneous conclusions about her motives. Fortunately this tendency abates somewhat by the end of the book.

Overall, characterization makes this book a solid read. I have read one other Ashford book, The Bargain, which I would rate similarly. Both books are worth trying.