ARC Review: ‘The Wrong Bride’ by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe
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The Wrong Bride
by Gena Showalter, Jill MonroeSeries: Kings of Fury #1
Published by Author Talk Media LLC on September 30, 2024
SubGenres: Paranormal Romance
Format: eArc
Pages: 323
Source: the author
Audience: 18+/Adult
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Vacationing in Scotland, schoolteacher Elizabeth “Elle” Darcy anticipates picturesque landscapes, castles of old and kilt-wearing charmers, not awakening in someone else's body. Worse, that someone just married enigmatic billionaire Callen Bruce. Though that’s not the biggest problem. To the rest of the world, her new “husband” runs an elite empire. But behind his public persona, he’s a king of berserkers locked in an ancient, supernatural war with wolf-shifters.
Determined to reclaim her normal life, Elle will do anything necessary to switch back with Callen’s real wife. First, she must ditch the disciplined warrior. An impossibility when he refuses to relinquish the bride chosen for him by fate, even though he despises her. Or does he? The growing heat in his eyes says otherwise. Not that it matters. There’s no way this temporary queen will fall for the moody, broody secretive warrior who belongs to another woman. Nope. Not Elle. Not ever. Probably.
I was so excited that Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe were teaming up to write a Paranormal Romance series together, and I couldn’t wait to dive into The Wrong Bride. If there is one thing you should know about me, I’m going to gobble up Paranormal Romance books, especially if Gena and Jill write them.
If you loved the movie Freaky Friday, you’ll definitely like The Wrong Bride, especially with its paranormal twist and how it’s set in Scotland. The main character, Elizabeth Darcy, is supposed to be traveling back home from her vacation in Scotland, but she finds herself stuck in another woman’s body named Isobel Cambell, whom she switched with unknowingly. Not only is she, not Elizabeth anymore, but she’s married to a broody, grumpy berserker who loves trying to tell her what to do. She tries everything to convince her new husband that she’s not his wife, but he refuses to listen to her, and it’s up to Elizabeth to find a way back to her original body before the woman who switched her ruins her life at home. In the meantime, though, Elizabeth finds it hard to resist her new husband, Callen Bruce, especially when she finds out that he’s not always broody and grumpy, and he reminds her so much of an alpha hero from one of the many romance books she reads. =)
First off, I love alpha heroes in my romance books, and Callen Bruce definitely was one of those heroes. He could be overbearing at times and had a horrible temper for being a berserker, but he had a soft and protective side, especially when you get to know him more. I understood why Elizabeth described him as the ultimate romance book hero whenever she was around him.
I loved Elizabeth Darcy and how she handled the switcheroo of bodies. She even got everyone at the castle to like her version of Isobel because the real Isobel was not a kind person. Even Callen noticed a change in his wife, but he didn’t believe it was due to the switched bodies. I loved the moment he realized he fell for ‘Elizabeth’ because he realized she brought out the best in him.
This book was full of twists and turns, especially at the end, and I couldn’t put it down after I started it. This was a great start to Gena and Jill’s new series, and I give it five stars. I wish I could give it more. It had me laughing and smiling the whole time I was reading, and I can’t wait to read more books from this new series. Please give me more berserkers, like Callen, and female characters like Elizabeth, who know how to handle them. =)
Single/Dual POV: Single POV (Heroine’s POV only)
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s the first book in the Kings of Fury series.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you are looking for a Paranormal Romance with Freaky Friday vibes, then this book should be added to your reading list.
What to Expect:
💙Slow Burn Romance
💙Fated Mates
💙Forbidden Love
💙Marriage of Convenience
💙Secret Identity
💙Brooding Berserker
💙Ruthless King
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. It will help sponsor future giveaways but costs you nothing extra. You can read the full disclosure underneath the Privacy Policy.
About Gena Showalter
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of nearly 100 novels. Most stories fall under the genre of romance, be they paranormal, fantasy, contemporary, or young adult. She’s also co-authored a (delightfully quirky) cozy mystery series as well as a nonfiction guide about how to write a book in a year.
Gena is a dedicated mother, grandmother, and fur-mom. A woman under construction, whose life took a few unexpected turns the past few years. But she’s learned a lot and firmly believes her best days are ahead of her, not behind her. Chances are good she’s writing her next novel and already in love with the hero.
About Jill Monroe
Jill Monroe is the international best selling author of over fifteen novels and novellas.
Her books are available across the globe and The Wrong Bed: Naked Pursuit has been adapted for the small screen for Lifetime Movie Network. When not writing, Jill makes her home in Oklahoma with her husband, enjoys daily walks with her dog Zoey, texting with her two daughters who are away at college and collecting fabric for items she'll sew poorly.
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