This book was definitely better than the first one. I think that is mainly due to the fact that the book focused just about entirely on the couple who's love story it was. Tara and Breccan made a nice couple, and it was entertaining to watch his uncles interact with them and each other. I enjoyed the dogs, especially Daphne. Owen was just awful. And I wanted to smack Breccan for even thinking he could have been telling the truth. The excerpt for Sabrina's book sounded very good; I can't wait for it to come out! ( )

The Bride Says Maybe by Cathy Maxwell is a 2014 Avon publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This second book is the trilogy reunites us with Tara, a young woman we met in “The Bride Says No.” She was not the easiest person to warm up to, and she got her comeuppance when the man she thought she really loved, married someone else.
As this story opens, Tara is still pining for her lost love, but soon finds herself being sold into marriage due to her father’s gambling debts.

The lucky groom? Breccan Campbell – “The Beast of Aberfeldy”. Tara manages to wrangle a deal with him which consisted of providing him with two children, then allowing her to return to London and live the life she so longs for. Naturally, when two strangers move in together, things don’t go as smoothly as they think it will.

Will Tara learn to love her new life or will she really abandon her future children for a life in London?

Although Tara has only herself to blame for her single status, she knows she is beautiful and could still snare a husband. But, under the circumstances Breccan is her only hope of having the life she so desires. It takes her a long while to grow to respect Breccan, but by George, I think the lady has finally begun to grow up!

But, Breccan is the one who stole my heart. He was so funny, patient, and forgiving, but also human, given to doubts, and a little outburst of temper. He makes mistakes, looks into his own heart and realizes his initial motives toward Tara were based on a few unreasonable illusions on his part, and whole lot of lust.

All this takes place against a backdrop of hilarity, especially when Breccan’s dogs are around. The stories Breccan tells, are poignant, and funny, and the banter between the couple was sharp and witty. This is a very light hearted historical romance, written the way it should be. The language was right, the customs were right, and the dialogue fit the time period, with only few slightly modern terms slipping through the cracks.

It was good to see Tara finally show some maturity, meet her true love, and have her very own happily ever after. ( )

This novel was better than I expected it to be. The heroine was headstrong, which I like in my historical heroines, and the hero was a "monster" that no one wanted...which is also a characteristic I like in my heroes...especially my sexy scots. Anyway, the plot moved at a relative pace. There was a brief "misunderstanding" that made up a plot device that I despised but overall it was pretty good. I haven't read any of the others in the series but I plan to now. ( )

We first met Tara in The Bride Says No, where she was engaged to another man. She didn't want him, believing herself in love with the horse trainer on her father's estate. She ran away from her engagement, at which time her father forced her older sister to take her place. Tara then tried to break up the engagement between her old love and his fiancee, and when that didn't work, tried to get her old fiance back. She ended up with nobody, and facing the scandal of her actions. She still wants to marry for love, but that's looking unlikely while she's stuck in Scotland instead of being in London.

Tara has begun to realize that she brought her troubles on herself. She also knows that she still wants to find someone she can love. She is also determined to find someone that will love her for herself, not just want her for her looks. She is smarter than people give her credit for and she wants to do something that matters, not just sit around and look pretty. Then her father promises her to a local laird, in exchange for the man's paying off his debts. Tara tries running again, but is caught by Breccan himself.

Breccan is head of a local clan that doesn't have the best of reputations. He's also a very large man, which has earned him the title of "Beast of Abefeldy". He wants to marry and have children to pass his lands to, but finding a wife has been difficult. When he sees Tara he is immediately drawn to her beauty and thinks she'll make the perfect mother for his kids. He doesn't really think of her as a person outside of that.

Their initial meeting is pretty funny. He catches her running away from him and is furious. He also still wants her. Tara doesn't want to marry him, but also doesn't want her father in debtor's prison. She puts her very agile mind to work, persuading Breccan to enter into a bargain with her in regards to their marriage. What they agree to is pretty interesting, especially as Tara is at a bit of a disadvantage regarding some of the information she is working with.

Once they get back to his home, both have to face themselves and their own issues. Breccan has some self worth issues thanks to the way people treat him. He tends to be gruff and broody, which doesn't help Tara with her own fears. The information she has received about the wedding night has terrified her, which affects the way she acts around Breccan. At this point we actually do see another side to Breccan, and I loved the sensitivity he was able to show her.

They start a process of getting to know each other and discover that they may actually like each other. I loved seeing Tara start to think about more than herself and begin to fit in around her new home. She also starts to see Breccan differently and her feelings about him begin to change. Breccan also begins to look at more than just Tara's beauty, and sees that she's even more than he could have dreamed of. He backslides, though, when his unpleasant cousin raises doubts in Breccan's mind about Tara's past, preying on Breccan's fears. I loved seeing Tara face him and start them talking again, and how they fixed their marriage. I liked seeing the cousin get a little of what he deserved at the end. ( )

THE BRIDE SAYS MAYBE by Cathy Maxwell is a delightful Regency Historical Romance set in Scotland. #2 in "The Brides of Wishmore " Trilogy. See,"The Bride Says No".

What a delightful story, once again, Ms. Maxwell has written a tale of romance, passion, misunderstandings, and finding love.

With a "Beauty and the Beast" theme, you will be delighted as well as a little in awe as Lady Tara Davidson is basically sold off to settle her father's debts to Breccan Campbell, the "Beast of Aberfeldy".

Breccan is considered huge by other's standards, even to the Scots, he has faced ridicule but he finds he wants Tara, the county beauty, at all costs. So he pays Tara's father's huge debts and place's his clan's future on a horse race. He must win or lose everything. Since, he spent most of his money of paying Tara's father's debts. His clan is considered the most despised clan in the valley. While, they may be poor they are rich in love.

Tara, despite herself is attracted to Breccan. He is determined to seduce her.

A delightful tale with a "Beauty and the Beast" theme. I find I thoroughly enjoyed this story, even though Tara is a little conceited, demanding, prideful(how that can be I can not phantom) and lovely. She grows up along the way, and it was nice to see her and Breccan grow together. If you enjoy Regency romance, HEA endings, and a great story than you will want to pick up "The Bride Says Maybe". I can hardly wait for the next installment coming soon, "The Groom Says Yes". Received for an honest review from the publisher and Edelweiss.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More ( )