Se han casado por poderes, é,l desde el castillo de Leger, mientras ella permanecí,a en Londres, no se conocen. Ella esperaba encontrar un hombre gentil, educado y culto. É,l, una mujer fuerte, capaz de encajar en aquella vieja mansió,n de piedras toscas y gastadas, de estancias oscuras y pasado lú,gubre. Ni é,l ni ella han visto satisfechas sus expectativas: porque é,l es rudo, de mal talante, má,s dispuesto al golpe que a la caricia, y porque ella es fina y delgada, demasiado educada y... pelirroja. Só,lo el buscador de novias sabe que aquel hombre y aquella mujer compartirá,n al fin un amor de leyenda. É,L ES ANATOLE ST. LEGER
Todos los campesinos lo temen, a algunos incluso les inspira terror. Una maldició,n ha arrastrado a la familia St. Leger por sendas de la vida llenas de barro: la soledad y la tristeza, el doloroso y peligroso don de predecir el futuro, la convivencia con lo sobrenatural, la obligació,n de los varones de casarse no con quien quieran, sino con quien elija el buscador de novias... Pero, ¿,querrá, la vida que hombre y mujer tan distintos rompan el hilo del destino para encontrar la paz y el amor? ELLA ES MADELINE ELIZABETH BRETON
Procede de la buena sociedad londinense, tiene un apellido de calidad, el cuerpo fino y los mejores modales, la mujer ideal para casarla con un rico hacendado y obtener por ella una buena dote. Claro que el castillo de Leger está, a cinco dí,as de viaje y dicen las malas lenguas que una maldició,n lo habita... A ella no le importan las habladurí,as, no le dan miedo ni almenas ni calabozos, ni los retratos de crueles antepasados. Pero de su esposo, ese Anatole, ¿,no son de temer su cabellera negra, esas manos grandes y curtidas como cuero, esas espaldas tan anchas que serí,a imposible abrazarlas?

There is only one literary Anatole as far as I'm concerned: the french cook employed by Bertie Wooster's aunt Dahlia.

In a bid to rescue her family from debtor’s prison, the heroine accepts the offer of marriage from the total stranger who’s exiled himself in the country. A bit torn with the indecision whether she made the right choice or not, she meets her new husband in less than stellar circumstances. First off his butler refuses her and her companion entrance to the house, than the hero stomps up to her companion, thinking she’s the new bride, and smacks a kiss on her. The hero, who’s embarrassed over his mistake sinks deeper into his shell and turns grumpier in his demeanor. He often compensated for his insecurities by lashing out at those around him. He’d always longed for his mother’s love but his powers made her hate him and as such, he’s always loathed his abilities. The heroine had secretly longed for the opportunity to find love or even companionship with her new husband and she’d already developed a tiny crush on him after receiving a portrait. But her hopes are dashed when the man turns out to be nothing like her dream man. Despite her initial dashed hopes, the heroine is stubborn and refuses to be cowed or bullied by the big man. Slowly she begins to break down his walls and comes to know the vulnerable sweet man inside the gruff exterior. I really loved this story as it had everything I look for in a romance. A gruff misunderstood hero and an innocent, kind yet brave heroine. There was many times when the heroine mistook the hero’s words or actions for attacks and in turn she hurt his feelings by her reaction. It took time for them to come to understand each other but their love had developed into a great tale by the end. ( )

A nice easy read. A good story line. ( )

I enjoyed this mystical historical romance with a complex hero.

http://ktleyed.blogspot.com/2009/06/bride-finder-by-susan-carroll.html ( )