Ran into this title when I was re-reading an old journal of mine. Apparently I loved this book when I read it as a 16 year old. I'm disappointed that our library system doesn't carry it and a used copy runs $25 from Amazon. Ebay even has a copy for $1004.11. Wow, I don't remember being THAT good!

4.5 stars if I could!
What a fantastic story! It's been a little while since a book has caught my attention so completely. I didn't want to put it down. I had to know how it was all going to play out. I loved the characters and was so intrigued by the mysteries surrounding each of them. Loved how everything intertwined and fit together. This is a book I know I will love to read again!

BEST. BOOK. EVER.

The story of Lucy Waring hooked me from the very first line, and never let me go till the end. I want to say that i found this book in the old library of a former literature teacher and since i love to read i really wanted to save this book for myself. I would never have expected to have in my hands one of my favorite books ever.  I loved every single character and between the pages for a moment I really felt in that temple of Tsi Kai-feng.

I got this at our book club xmas book exchange, and I think I was the definite winner. It was such a fun read. Adventurous, interesting, just enough romance to keep it interesting, and rather unpredictable. I really enjoyed it.

One of the very best Gothic romance novels I have ever read. And, believe it or not, this one was written by a man! XD ! I read this book when I was 16, which is a great age to wholeheartedly enjoy a Gothic romance.
Lucy Waring, like all Brent's heroines, is simply splendid and hilarious. She is my favorite thing about this book.

This is one of my mother's favorite books and I have to admit it is one of mine. I loved the way it was written. Having read a plethora of romances, this one hit different. The characters were likable and stood well on their own. The story was very entertaining and quite funny in some places. I really liked how the author neither condemned nor glorified one culture over the other. He (yes the author is a he) just wrote it like it was. I really liked it. Way to go mom!

Really liked this way back in high school when my grandma recommended it (and back then I probably would have given it 4 Stars) so I'd like to read it again to see if I still like it.

I don't usually read books twice, but Moonraker's Bride by Madeleine Brent is a favorite of mine. As I write this review, I realize that I don't remember all of it. I may have to read it again. LOL! It starts at a Chinese mission, which reminds me of Lottie Moon and stories I heard in Girls in Action as a child. The protagonist is caring for herself and fifteen other orphans. She is a strong female character. Then there is a mysterious prisoner, and of course she ends up finding love. How could you not want to read this book?

Great little book with a bit of everything (adventure, mystery, intrigue, history, heroics and a refreshingly squeaky clean underlying romance). The actual writing was more straightforward and less poetic than I like but the character development and story were good enough to keep me glued. It was fun to find out after the fact that the author is a man and Madeleine Brent is a pen name. He could have fooled me (he did!) A fun start to summer reading.

Every time I reread this book I constantly marvel at how well it has been written... while it is in first person it has been written so well that it truly adds to stories content ... the best and my favorite by far definitely recommend! It is a semi romance, its not JUST romance it had a decent plot with lots of twists which keeps you pulled in... definitely recommend!

3 1/2 stars
NUTSHELL :
A young English woman is raised in China in a missionary home for girl orphans. Despite being white on the outside she is more Chinese than English. When money runs out and the babies in her charge are starving, Lucy sets off for town where she attempts to steal a brooch. The story takes off there. Prison. Marriage. Treasure maps. Caves. England. The boxer rebellion and an unwrapping of villains. Its all there.

I really really love Madeleine Brent's books but I didn't feel that Moonrakers was up to the standard of either The Long Masquerade or Golden Urchin . Don't misunderstand me. Moonrakers bride is very good and deserves a solid 3 1/2 stars, I just didn't find it as outstanding as her other works.

The hero I really liked but we didn't see much of him. The bits in England were ok (not boring but not exciting either) and the ending a little too predictable. (And for the record, I really hate it when readers say a book is predictable, it sounds so snobbish) but seriously, I guessed everything in here so that probably took away some of the thrills for me. *sigh*

I'll tell you what I LOVED though. The humor. The scenes where Lucy talks about eating cat or becoming a concubine (see my updates) were hilarious. I love these kind of social blunders! And Lucy's friendship with young Matthew and Mr. Marsh was very sweet too.

My favorite parts were in China but alas it was a small part of the book. Still its worth a read. Enjoy!

CONTENT :
SEX : None
VIOLENCE :Mild
PROFANITY : Mild
PARANIRMAL ELEMENTS : None

MY RATING :PG

I picked this book out of a packed box of someone moving, to be put out on the street. I read it, not realizing that I was to be drawn into this authors incredible list of fiction books. She is an alias for Peter O'Donnell. The story is set in China and is about the survival of a poor family which includes one European child.

I cannot say enough about this under-acclaimed author. Peter was British, and he taught me a lot about classical fiction writing. No one book can be said to be better than the other. Just look them all up, buy them all, and read. Trust me, you won't want to put any of them down for a second, and before you know it, you'll have finished all 13 of them. Utterly brilliant plots, well researched, un-guessable twists and the villain always comes out as a total surprise.