Sherbrooke Twins (Bride Series) by Catherine Coulter

From the Publisher

Dear Reader:

The Sherbrooke family saga continues with James and Jason Sherbrooke, identical male twins who look exactly like their beautiful Aunt Melissande, and not at all like their father, the earl, which riles him no end.

James, twenty-eight minutes older than his brother, is the heir. He is solid, is James. He’s a student of astronomy, rides like a centaur, and, unlike his brother, Jason, enjoys learning the ropes of managing his father’s estates. He no longer sows excessive wild oats, as his neighbor, Corrie Tybourne Barrett, a brat he’s known since she was three-years-old, looks forward to doing since she turned eighteen. When she nearly shoves him off a cliff, sneering all the while, James hauls off and spanks her.

A promising start. Then, unfortunately, the earl, Douglas Sherbrooke, is shot at. This leads to Georges Cadoudal, a Frenchman in the employ of the English war ministry with whom Douglas had dealings with some years before. But Cadoudal died in 1815, fifteen years before. Were there children who might want revenge against Douglas? But the question is why: Georges and Douglas parted friends, at least Douglas believed that they had.

Adventures compound; Corrie hurls herself into the thick of things. As for Jason, not quite a half an hour younger, he loves horses, wants to start a stud farm, still sows more oats than a man should be allowed, but finally meets a girl who stops him in his tracks. And then what happens?

You will have to listen to the book to find out. I hope you enjoy yourself. The characters are rich, colorful, and a hoot to boot. The mystery will confound you.

Do let me know what youthink. Write me at P.O. Box 17, Mill Valley, CA., 94942 or email me at readmoi@aol.com. Keep an eye on my web site at www.CatherineCoulter.com.

Catherine Coulter [signature]

Publishers Weekly

Those who are drawn to the humor and cozy family dynamics of Coulter's Bride series (The Sherbrooke Bride, etc.), starring the lovable Sherbrooke family, will relish this new installment, which focuses on dashing identical twins James and Jason. The twins have had their share of sexual escapades, and though they think they still have a few more years to sow their "wild oats," romance sneaks up on them. James finds himself drawn to his tomboy neighbor, Corrie, who transforms from duckling to swan for her first season in London. Meanwhile, Jason waltzes into love with the alluring and mysterious Judith McCrae. But the twins' romances are put on hold when someone tries to kill their father, Douglas. Suspicion revolves around a man named Georges Cadoudal, a French spy who died 15 years earlier. Douglas suspects that Cadoudal's children may be trying to seek revenge, but he doesn't know how to track them down. Those new to the Sherbrooke family may be baffled by the mystery surrounding Cadoudal, but they'll be thoroughly charmed by James and Corrie and the affectionate banter among the family members, though some of their gags grow old after a while. A clever surprise ending wraps up the mystery subplot neatly and will ensure that many readers return for the next entry in Coulter's Sherbrooke saga. (Mar.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

In this continuation of the Sherbrooke family story begun in her "Bride" saga, Coulter focuses on identical twins Jason and James and their romantic lives. Jason is drawn to his young neighbor Corrie, who is in her first London season. The tale switches to the men's father, the earl, after someone shoots at him. A large part of the novel involves protecting the earl from further harm while trying to find out who shot him and why. Jason is kidnapped and rescued by Corrie, while James meanwhile falls in love with the mysterious Judith. The ending wraps up the mystery very neatly while allowing for more books in the series, ones that will likely feature James. Anne Flosnik reads professionally and competently, although there are no pauses between chapters, which can make plot changes confusing. For romance and popular fiction collections.-Mary Knapp, Madison P.L., WI Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

• Table of Contents
• Interviews & Essays

Table of Contents

Interviews & Essays

Heart to Heart: How did you come to start writing historical romances at a young age?

Catherine Coulter: In early 1981 (while still wearing a training bra) after writing four Regency romances, a "what-if" idea came to me for a much bigger, full-blown historical romance. That idea became Devil's Embrace, title selected by my husband. It was followed by its sequel, Devil's Daughter. (I always wanted to do a harem book -- what fun!)

HtoH: What reading inspired you?

CC: I grew up reading everything from Nancy Drew to Will Durant. My very favorite author was Georgette Heyer, which fit right in with my interest in history, especially the Napoleonic era. Since I knew the time period well and worshipped Heyer, I naturally began writing Regency romances.

HtoH: In the field of historical romance, you're credited with pioneering the linked series with recurring characters. How and why did you start that trend?

CC: Back in the Dark Ages (1985), I happened to run into Jennifer McCord (a book retailer) at a conference. I started whining that I wanted to use a character out of Midnight Star in the next book. She said, "Why not? Go for it." What an epiphany! So the Star series was born. Since that series, I've written the Song, Magic, Legacy, Viking, Sherbrooke, Night, Baron...goodness, that's oodles of books. Then, of course, there's the FBI series -- to date, eight thrillers, with lead characters Savich and Sherlock appearing in each of the books. I personally love to find out what's been going on with characters I've already met in previous books, and, evidently, so do readers.

HtoH: These days you alternate writing contemporary suspense thrillers and long historicals. How is the writing process different for each genre?

CC: When writing the FBI series, I have to be completely focused because I want the reader to keep turning the pages. Every book has to be tightly plotted, with no unnecessary scenes -- every scene in a thriller has to move the plot forward. Verisimilitude is essential to keep the reader solidly in the story. In the historical romances I can go off on fun tangents when the spirit moves me -- if I want to attend a cat race, why then the reader and I go to the McCaulty racetrack in Southern England. There's also usually a mystery in the historicals since my brain works that way, but naturally, the romance is at the center. There's also lots more humor in the historicals. By alternating between two such disparate genres, I'll never get burned out.

HtoH: Do you have a preference?

CC: No. Once I've finished the thriller, I'm ready to change and lighten up, and vice versa.

HtoH: Who is your favorite character in The Sherbrooke Twins?

CC: Hands-down it's Corrie Tybourne-Barrett -- she's a pistol.