Favorite Quote: “Rebuke? Censure? How dare she! Did she know who he was? What he was?

Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne bought a young girl’s freedom with a gold watch and a knife, saving her from certain death. Instead of sending her home to her family as promised, he sent her to work as a servant on one of his neglected estates with his nephews. When a Pinkerton detective finally locates her and lets her know she is a wealthy heiress, Josie Wentworth makes plans to finally see her family. However, when she learns Marcus needs to marry for wealth, Josie decides to stay in London a little while longer so she can save her boys while teaching their uncle a much deserved lesson.

She was done being the Duke of Blackthorne’s servant. It was time to confront the man and make him pay for his dishonorable behavior toward her—and the two boys who’d had the misfortune to become his wards.

Marcus Wharton doesn’t want to marry again. He loved his first wife and her death almost destroyed him. Especially when he learned she had hidden her illness from him. However, his father left him with a mountain of debts that not even his first wife’s money could touch so he must remarry though he vows he will not lose his heart this time around.

His wedding couldn’t come soon enough. Once he’d had Miss Wentworth, the froth would be off the beer. The bloom would be off the rose. He’d be satiated and satisfied, and this unbearable longing would be over and done.

When Marcus meets Josie again, he has no idea who she is but finds himself falling head over heels all over again. When he discovers the real reason she married him, he must decide if he can stand living a lie or will is he brave enough to love another Blackthorne Bride?

I’ve long enjoyed Joan Johnson’s historicals. They are quick, romantic reads with clever characters, witty dialogue, steamy romances. Blackthorne’s Bride is Josie Wentworth’s story. The last of the Wentworth siblings, Josie was captured by the Sioux from her wagon train and hasn’t seen her siblings in years. Though I haven’t read the first three in the series, that in no way impeded my enjoyment of this story.

I love the premise of this story. Second chances, marriage of convenience, revenge, reconnection, and redemption. Josie and Marcus were fun to get to know as individuals and as a couple. Their dialogue flows so smooth and we are made privy to their innermost thoughts so we know what the truth really is. Marcus unknowingly fell for Josie when he rescued her but she was too young and he was engaged to someone else so he did the honorable thing and let her go. Their second meeting at his solicitor’s office sparks flames and only grows hotter the more time they spend together. They marry quickly and while Josie hasn’t been completely honest in her intentions, their relationship slowly flourishes and deepens as they become further acquainted with one another. Though it was Josie’s beauty and money is what initially attracts Marcus, it’s her charm, passion, honesty, and genuine caring of those around her that ensnares him. He gradually comes to realize that her pretty face hides an intelligent and complicated woman.

Josie also finds herself having to reconsider her feelings towards Marcus. He isn’t what she thought him to be. She can’t reconcile the man who broke his promise and left her to languish in servitude with the man who stands before her and treats her like someone precious to him. There is strong sense of convention and compassion behind his seeming disregard for his human obligations. His autocratic attitude is well ingrained but Josie’s little digs and ability to completely ignore him are very amusing.

He’d be damned if he was going to let some barely-out-of-the-schoolroom American girl shame him into changing his behavior.

He didn’t say another word to her, determined to show her his displeasure.

When the performance was done, she chattered on effusively about the play, seemingly unaware of his continuing silence. Which made him wonder if he was always this surly, so she simply expected this sort of behavior from him.

The love scenes, unfortunately, are far and few between but this slow simmer is perfect for show casing their change in attitude and deepening affection for one another. Sensual in its tension, this couple’s dance is a thrill to watch as Marcus sets out to seduce his bride while keeping his own heart firmly locked away. I loved he didn’t push her though by law he could have. He takes his time and is very nicely rewarded for his patience.

He stifled a laugh when he saw what Josie was wearing. The white flannel nightgown had a bow at the throat that was tied up tight. The blousy sleeves covered her arms to her wrists, and the heavy winter material left nothing but the tips of her bare toes showing on the Aubusson carpet. His breath caught in his throat when he focused his gaze on the glorious golden curls tumbling across her shoulders.

“I was in bed waiting for you,” she said. “I didn’t think about having to let you in.”

He saw the pale-pink silk sheets on the bed were rumpled, saw the indentation of her head on one of the pillows, and felt an immediate flare of pure animal lust.

She must have sensed his reaction, because she took a step back, gasped, and put a hand to her throat.

He took a step toward her, and she took another step back. He grinned wolfishly. “At least you’re headed in the right direction.”

She glanced over her shoulder and apparently realized that in a few more steps she would be backed up against the bed.

“I’m a little nervous,” she admitted, lifting her chin and standing her ground.

“Me, too.”

She looked flustered at his admission. “At least you’ve done this before.”

“Not with you.”

The main plotline is pretty low-key in terms of conflict despite its introduction. Grief is the main theme on which this story is built. Most in here are experiencing grief of some sort. Marcus still grieves for his first wife, his son, and his parents. Everyone he has ever loved has left him. I like that Johnston did not vilify his first wife in order to facilitate his relationship with Josie. Josie also grieves her parents, the lost time with her family, and her freedom.

I admit there was some confusion in the extreme lengths Johnson went to expose the culprit and the reasons behind their deception. It was melodramatic but Johnston cleverly uses it to interject and quick develop a humorous secondary romance. The story drags as we are waiting for Josie to come clean or Marcus to recognize her. A single conversation would have cleared it up quick and easy but Johnston choose to keep Marcus in the dark until it’s almost too late, using it as a plot device to force his hand and heart.

An engaging cast of secondary characters round out the story. Johnston flashes to Josie’s siblings on occasion, giving old updates on their lives and new readers a chance to get to know them. Marcus’s twin sisters and grandmother are quite amusing and it was nice to see the deep bond he shares with them. Marcus’s nephews are adorable though we don’t see much of them.

The ending wraps up the story in a nice neat bow, leaving us with a sweet epilogue that assures us of this couple’s longevity. Blackthorne Bride is another winner from Joan Johnston that gives readers delicious story of love, laughter, forgiveness, and family.

Grade: B-

I just love this book and would recommend it to any one who love great books . I sent a review to Amazon as well as the author.as well as on my Facebook

Josie, captured and tortured by a Sioux Indian, is rescued by of all people an English Duke! Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne, saves Josie from certain death and takes her to England. He promises to return her to her family once she's well enough; it's one promise he doesn't keep...
Entertaining, interesting historical romance. Likeable characters in Josie, her family, Marcus, his family. Parts of the story were over the top but all in all it was a good read.
Voluntarily read ARC, from Netgalley and publisher, for honest review.

This book is a very satisfying and to the mail order bride series. It is also a part of the Blackthorne family saga which is one of my favorite series. This was a really good story with a very appealing hero and heroine. The story spans several years from when the hero and hero and first meet each other and than meet again. There is a marriage of convenience but there are miscommunications on each side. The story is exciting and the characters are enticing and it was a great way to end the series. I cannot wait until the bitter creek series continues. I received an advan copy of this book through netgalley and this is my honest review.

Blackthorne's Bride was the forth in the Bitter Creek Series. Not having read the previous books, I was grateful that this novel could stand alone. But it does make me want to go back and read the rest of the series. Marcus Wharton, Duke of Blackthorne, was in America hunting with a group of men when he comes upon a girl being treated brutally by a tribe of Indians. He saves her and takes her back to his home in England to help her recover, but hands her over to his brother in law to follow through and then return her to her family in America. Simple you say? Of course not. Josephine Wentworth was that girl who was banished to one of Blacktorne's estates and had been treated as a servant with no correspondence from Marcus. She has taken care of his two small nephews, who she feels have been abandoned by him. Josie gets word her family is alive in the Americas and makes the journey back to find she has inherited a lot of money. What follows is Josie seeking revenge against Blackthorne because she feels he has neglected his nephews and wants to take them with him Finding that he is looking for a rich wife from America, you can guess what happens! As with all of Joan Johnston's books, you are drawn into the characters and feel a part of the story. This is definitely a page turner with action, adventure and a love story that will have you anxious until the end! Thank you for another fabulous story!

This was my first book by Joan Johnston, and it definitely won't be my last.
I'm going to be reading the series from the beginning.
What an opening for this story it had me hooked, Josie Wentworth is a strong woman of character she was abducted by renegade Indians and was whipped for not being a submissive woman she had enough backbone to actually fight the Indian. Throughout her ordeal she's saved by Marcus Wharton the Duke of Blackthorn. On a last ditch before entering matrimony he's visited the Americas with his soon to be brother in law. He brings her to England and gives her the necessary medical treatment she needs and sets her up as a housekeeper/maid on one of his estates. Meanwhile Josie's family have been looking for her. She realizes that she has the means to escape and she sets for London.

All the years that Josie has been running his estate Marcus has married and is widowed. His financial situation is dire and he needs to marry an heiress, enter Josie. Although all this time he's found himself thinking of her he doesn't appear to recognize who she is when she proposes to him. He sees her as his saving grace and accepts.
She has plans of revenge for her new husband wanting him to grovel for forgetting her and the hardships he unknowingly put her through. What they didn't realize was the passion that sizzled when the were together. Her vengeful feelings turn to admiration and desire that will definitely be dangerous to her heart! Lots of twists and turns in the plot, betrayal, danger a page turner that in all honesty grabs your imagination from the first paragraph.
A great story 5 stars!!! I voluntarily read this ARC copy from Net Galley and this is my honest review and opinion.

Very good book I enjoyed it very much. The final book in the Wentworth family series... it can be read as a stand alone ...but the series is worth the read.

I will never get tired of reading about arranged marriages or mail order brides. The couples are forced to deal with whatever issues they have because their relationship has to work. Historical Romances generally are refreshing with honest characters who don’t have the time or want to beat around the bush. The heroes and heroines are getting to know each other and usually have the pressure of having to be intimate to provide an heir. I LOVE this since I am not a fan of angst and just don’t have the patience for it. I appreciate that most Historical Romances get to the point and the characters make their feelings known. BUT, in order to stay true to the Romance genre, there has to be a small sprinkle or little dash of misunderstanding and assumption.

Blackthorne’s Bride is book 4 in the Mail-Order Brides series by Joan Johnston. I haven’t read a book by Ms. Johnston in 20 years and she did not disappoint.

Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne, was Josie Wentworth’s savior, until he wasn’t. He left her as a maid in his brother’s home and never sent her back home to America as he had promised.

Marcus never forgot about the girl he saved and wondered why she never wrote him to at least thank him for saving her life.

Two years after rescuing the American girl, the Duke of Blackthorne has to find an heiress to help him save his family’s land and pay off the debt he inherited from his deceased brother.

Luckily for the Duke, Josie agrees to marry him, but she has her own reasons for doing it. This is where the dash of misunderstanding and assumption starts coming into play because the Duke has no idea that Josie is the American girl he rescued and is obsessed with, and Josie sees Marcus as “the Dastardly Duke” because he basically kept her as a prisoner for two years and neglected his two nephews whom Josie has come to love.

The Duke sees this as a position he needs filled by a woman who would love to have “caught herself” a Duke and has no intention of letting his heart soften or become enamored by his new bride.

He’d seen and spoken to a great many prospective brides. The moment she’d lifted her chin and met his gaze from behind gold-rimmed spectacles, bringing him up short for failing to offer her a proper proposal he’d known: This is the one.

Josie had a plan: Marry the Duke, give him what he needs and, in the bargain, take his nephews with her back to America. Things didn’t quite work out the way she wanted them to.

He wasn’t an easy man to love. Too proud. Too used to getting his own way. But somehow, she’d fallen, deeply and surely, in love with him.

The Duke may not have made it easy for Josie to love him, but Josie unknowingly was making it hard for him to resist her.

Miss Wentworth came tripping into the room wearing a robin’s-egg-blue evening gown, a smile on her face that revealed bewitching twin dimples, her wide-spaced blue eyes open and unguarded behind the ridiculous spectacles perched on her upturned nose, and said, “Good evening, Your Grace.” His heart jumped. And then pounded hard in his chest, as though he’d been running in place the fifteen minutes he’d been waiting for her. His body sprang to agonizing life, reminding him that he was no more than a savage beast, determined to mate with the most alluring of its kind.

The secondary characters were present which I also loved. Ms. Johnston made them interesting enough to want to get to know. Great descriptions of characters, settings, and emotions and an overall story well-told. This is the fourth book in the series but can be read as a standalone. I am now going to go back and read the first three!

Blackthorne’s Bride is another GREAT in the Mail Order series. This series captures your interest and keeps you wanting to see what happens next to the Wentworth women. Each has suffered tremendous hardship and still come out ahead. Josie is the last one of the Wentworth to be found. Her situation beings as she is being whipped by one of the Sioux who captured her when Englishmen came upon them. She was bought by one of them with a watch and a knife, both family heirlooms and of great worth. You would think that would make her a prize of great worth, too. The Duke of Blackthorne bought her and nursed her back to better health on his way back to England. He was traveling back with his soon to be brother in law and about to be married. The duke, Marcus Wharton, was about to marry The Earl of Seaton’s sister Fanny.

Marcus knew he must let the girl he bought go once she was healed, he left it up to his almost brother-in-law to make sure she returned to the states to find and be with her family. Marcus never knew the name of the injured girl trying to be faithful to his wife, but he never forgot her. Marcus’s wife and Seaton’s sister knew she was dying and did die trying to provide the Blackthorne heir about a year into their marriage. Upon his return from the state, Marcus had told Fanny everything. She was instrumental in placing Josie at Tearlach Castle.

Josie knew she had been taken to Tearlach Castle, a northern holding of the Duke of Blackthorne. She became close to his mistreated and forgotten nephews also left there. Josie blamed all of her treatment and that of his nephews on the duke. When she was found by the Pinkerton man and given control of her fortune, she determined to speak to the duke and ask for custody of the boys.

The duke needing to marry an heiress to save his family estates, advertised for one. His friend Seaton never told him the girl was still in England as he knew the duke must forget about the girl and marry wealth. Without giving too much away to take away from your enjoyment of the book, Josie ends of marrying the duke. Events occur testing their relationship and marriage – one being Josie keeping the secret from Marcus of her identity.

Johnston writes a great book that has no true villain, except for the selfish housekeeper and governess of the precious nephews. You will love this as much as the rest of the series. Yes, Bride can be read as a stand-alone. I just enjoyed reading it in sequence. Thank you Net Galley for sharing this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty good read with lots of action, mystery and romance. The author has written a story with remarkable characters and a fantastic story line. It was exciting from page one and held my interest.
Some spots were a bit dragging, but overall a western romance to appeal to all.
Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne, is in America seeing the sights with his best friend. When he finds a young woman being whipped by an Indian, he rescues her and takes her back to England. During her convalesce Josie Wentworth is glad for the care of this handsome man. He says that she will be returned to America as soon as she is well, but then Josie is palmed off to the friend to one of his estates. She winds up in Scotland where she is treated as a servant by the housekeeper for two years. Josie is also taken up with two little boys who are the nephews of this Lord Blackthorne who never comes to see them. Then one day Josie gets news that her family is looking for her and she is a rich woman now. An investigator finally tracks her down to let her know that she will have someone to take her back to America. But her plans go awry when Josie finds out that Blackthorn is looking for a bride who is rich...... Josie begins her transformation to a woman who would appeal to the likes of Blackthorne. There is so much to this story with Josie and Marcus and their trials of their life that changes them. They have to learn to trust each other and begins the love they both need.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

What a great read! I really enjoyed this.

Josie was determined not to like Marcus because of things she thought he did after rescuing her several years before. Marcus had no clue she was the same girl he rescued and has pined for. But all worked out in the end ☺

*thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me*
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In 2013, Joan Johnston published Montana Bride, the third in her Mail-Order Brides series about the Wentworth sisters. Fans have been waiting since then for Josie Wentworth’s story and it was worth the wait. Blackthorne’s Bride has an old-school vibe.

The titular Blackthorne is summoned home by his grandmother from America. Blackthorne asks his companion to take care of the girl and to do whatever it takes to save her. The back cover copy neatly telescopes the next few years in the lives of our protagonists.

Two years have passed since Josie Wentworth was bought from the Sioux for a gold watch and whisked back to England by Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne. When Marcus breaks his promise to return Josie to America, she ends up as a maid in the home of his charming but neglected nephews. Once Josie’s long-lost family finds her, however, the suddenly wealthy heiress sets out to save the two boys from their indifferent uncle—and teach the duke a lesson in honor.

Now that Josie is re-united (at least by letter) with her long-lost sisters, heiresses all, she is determined to return to America but she has a task to accomplish before she sails. The neglectful duke must be forced to recognize his responsibilities to the nephews for whom he is the guardian. Hell-bent to Blackthorne’s eyes, Josie hires a gentleman from the Pinkerton Agency, the Regency equivalent of a private eye, and travels to London. While she is “sitting near the fire at the Hare and Hound, a pub near the London docks”, she overhears a bit of business that shocks her.

“The duke is completely pockets to let. If he doesn’t find a rich wife within the month, he’s going to lose everything.”

The word “duke” had caught her attention, but she was still only half listening, when the other gentleman said, “I heard he’s advertised both here and abroad seeking an American heiress.”

How very convenient that Josie is an American heiress. I spy with my little reading eye a marriage of convenience, entered into with secrets on all sides. Not that the penurious duke doesn’t see something very special about Josie, after he meets her and they decide to wed. According to his sister Lark, he’s quite taken with Josie.

“But I can see what he likes so much about you, even beyond your good looks.”

Josie was embarrassed into laughter by the effusive compliments. “What is that?”

“You don’t kowtow to him,” she said matter-of-factly. “You stand toe-to-toe with him and speak your mind.”

“And no one else does?”

She shook her head. “Everyone’s too busy trying to please the Duke of Blackthorne to object to anything my brother says or does. He’s used to ruling the roost. I suspect he isn’t quite sure what to do with you,” she said with a cheerful grin.

“And that’s a good thing?”

Lark nodded. “Absolutely. Marcus needs a challenge.”

Men are not immune to the challenge of a beautiful bride, and Josie Wentworth is irresistible. Marcus is a widower and although he needs—his estate needs—money desperately, he is adamant that there is “no room in their marriage for emotional attachments—on either side.” So why is he worried?

What he’d found most disturbing was his physical desire for the woman he planned to wed. What magic web had this slip of a girl spun in the brief time he’d known her to make him want her so badly? The need to kiss her, to hold her, to thrust himself deep inside her, had become intolerable. He’d never experienced anything like it. Not with Fanny. Not with any woman since. Whenever he was with her, he found himself in an excruciating state of arousal. He swore under his breath as he realized that just thinking about her had accomplished that dreaded result.

His wedding couldn’t come soon enough. Once he’d had Miss Wentworth, the froth would be off the beer. The bloom would be off the rose. He’d be satiated and satisfied, and this unbearable longing would be over and done.

Done and done? Froth gone, bloom off? Spare a moment to shake your head in disbelief at the arrogant duke’s heady expectations. Josie Wentworth will not be an easily forgotten bride and she and the Duke of Blackthorne weave in and out of a sensuous and passionate dance as they find their way to a glorious HEA.

'Blackthorne's Bride' by Joan Johnston is Book Four in the "Mail-Order Brides" series This is the story of Marcus and Josie. I have read the other books in this series, but feel this can be a standalone book .
Marcus saved Josie from Indians when she was younger and he nurser her back to health on the ship back to England. Marcus had promised her that she would be sent back to America when she was able to travel again. He left instructions with his soon to be brother in-law to send her home. Marcus was to marry and felt his new wife wouldn't understand his connections to Josie.
About two years later Marcus's wife has died and he is in need of a new wife with a good bit of money. Josie has been kept on a poor estate of Marcus and left work as a maid. But her family has just found her and she has money now. Josie has grown close to the two little boys who have been left at the estate with her...that are Marcus nephews. Josie plan is to offer Marcus money in exchange for the boys but when she shows up he thinks she is there to become his wife. Which set in to motion Josie new plan to take the boys with her as their Aunt. But will she be able to leave? Will Marcus be upset when he finds out who she really is and how she was treated?
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I loved everything about this book. My only regret is that I didn't read the first three books in this series-not that that's necessary. We see all of the characters from the other books and the author does such a good job at summarizing their stories without overshadowing the main story. Marcus and Josie were so good together. There are so many misunderstandings between them, especially on Josie's side, but underneath it all there is something inexplicable that draws these two together. There's undeniable chemistry between them that becomes so unbearable because Josie keeps fighting it. I loved the moments where she would let down her guard and let Marcus in. It showed her the man he really was versus the image she had formed based on her assumptions. I loved David and Lark's story which was expertly woven through the book. Like the previous characters, it never overshadowed or detracted from the main story and in fact it actually made Marcus and Josie's story richer. There is so much love and family in this book and of course some steam. I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end.

I was so excited to get Josie's story from Netgalley. Having read all the other books in this series and seeing the Wentworth family slowly get their HEA I couldn't wait to see how Josie's story played out. I wasn't disappointed. Blackthorne's Bride was my favorite book in the series. I'm sad that this will be the last of the series. I want to know what happens to the children. The children would make a great spin off series, and let us catch up with the parents...Hint! Hint!
Josie was great. She was brave, smart, and caring. Marcus was kind, protective, and sexy. He had some abandonment issues and just wanted to be loved. Josie and Marcus were great together. They had a strong connection. I loved getting to catch up with Miranda, Hannah, and Hetty. I also really liked Marcus's sister Lark. On the other hand I couldn't stand Marcus's first wife, and I thought his best friend was a crappy friend. This book was lower on the action, and angst, and more about the romance and a sweet family reuniting after years of being separated. I loved everything about this book. The only reason it's not a full 5 stars is because I felt the ending was rushed and I would have liked a little more of an epilogue.

Josie Wentworth was abducted by a renegade Sioux when her family’s wagon was attacked in America. Josie fought back and enrages her Sioux attacker who ties her to a post and severely beats and whips her. Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne, witnesses Josie’s brutal punishment by the renegade who inflicted her pain and almost caused her death. He saves her and decides to take her with him to England to ensure she gets all the medical attention she needs.
Now two years later Josie is a virtually slave at one of Blackthorne’s estates with no means or a way to return to American to her family. She’s has been working as a servant, protecting these Blackthorne’s two young boys as best as she can. Once Josie’s long-lost family finds her she suddenly wealthy heiress sets out to save the two boys from their indifferent uncle.
Marcus is seeking a rich wife, an American heiress to save his estate. Josie decides to offer herself as the rich heiress to marry Blackthorne and save his nephews from their neglectful uncle. Marcus has never forgotten the girl he rescued; he’s thought of her often over the last two years wondering who she is, where she is. What a twist of fate he accepts Josie’s proposal but doesn’t realize who she is. This a captivating story of two people who have lost so much. Josie has despised Blackthorne for two years, but what she finds is a caring and passionate man. Can Josie resist his charms before she falls deeper under the spell of a husband determined to claim her heart. A great story 5 stars!!! I voluntarily read this ARC copy from Net Galley and this is my honest review and opinion.

Publisher's Description:

A rogue nobleman, a rescued lady, and revenge undone by romance all play a part in New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston’s irresistible novel of best-laid plots, delicious deception, and unexpected passion.

Two years have passed since Josie Wentworth was bought from the Sioux for a gold watch and whisked back to England by Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne. When Marcus breaks his promise to return Josie to America, she ends up as a maid in the home of his charming but neglected nephews. Once Josie’s long-lost family finds her, however, the suddenly wealthy heiress sets out to save the two boys from their indifferent uncle—and teach the duke a lesson in honor.

Learning that Marcus is seeking a rich American bride to save his estate, Josie plots to catch his eye—certain he’ll never recognize the beauty she’s become as the ragged captive he rescued. But Josie doesn’t wager on her marital charade taking a tender turn, as the nobleman she’s despised for years proves to be a very different man than she’s imagined. And there’s no denying his passionate caresses, as she falls deeper under the spell of a husband determined to claim her heart.
My Thoughts:

I had not previously read any books by this author.

This book is what has been described as the final book in the series.

Maybe having not read any of them prior to this one is what made me not totally enthralled by this book, but I found it's style not to my liking. It is also an American Indian/Western and I don't care for this setting setting. I used to read a great deal of American Indian Romance by authors like Janelle Taylor, Madeline Baker and Constance O'Banyon, however I haven't found the newer ones to my liking.

The story however is passable and maybe if you like this author and her writing style you would love this book.

I gave this book 3.25 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read.
This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

When he was in the Dakota Territory on a buffalo hunt, Marcus Wharton, Duke of Blackthorne, witnessed a woman being whipped by Sioux renegades; he couldn’t stand it, and rescued her. He made sure she was taken care of and he entailed a friend to take her back to England and then send her back to her family in America. Marcus could not forget her bravery, but as he was to get married, he had to forget the nameless woman. Two years later, Marcus is a widower without an heir, his wife having died in childbirth. His estate is in dire need of money, and he must marry within a month. Marcus would rather marry an American heiress; he doesn’t want his peers to know about his financial distress. The woman, Josephine “Josie” Wentworth, meanwhile never made it to America, and has been a servant in one of Marcus’ estates, where his two forgotten nephews also reside. Josie has become friends with the unfortunate boys, and she tries everything to help them. And one day, she could. Josie learns she has inherited quite a bit of money, and founds out that the Duke is looking for a rich American. She swears Marcus will pay for not keeping his promise to her and letting his nephews suffer.

BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE is part of the Bitter Creek series, I hadn’t looked before picking it up, and it’s actually a long series. BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE definitely can be read as a standalone, and in a way it is part of what was sort of a problem where I’m concerned The romance between Josie and Marcus constitutes but a part of the book, it seems like BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE is part of a family saga rather than a series of interconnected books, and I thought there was too much recapitulation of several momentous events that lead to this particular story. While some of it was necessary to recap how Josie came to be a captive, there was much insistence and repetition on what had happened in the previous books and to Josie’s siblings. I’m not sure if readers who had read the other books needed all of it. In fact, there was so much recapping that I feel I don’t need to read the previous instalments, and I’m not convinced it is a wise marketing strategy, but then again, it’s a matter of personal preferences.

Ms. Johnston’s excels at descriptions, peppered with period details that make this book a picturesque reading experience. BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE is a very good story, with many more layers than I expected, and the characters are extremely complex, and experience much growth, but it takes a very long time to get anywhere, as the story meanders to Josie’s siblings, and a second romance takes place. The relationship between Josie and Marcus is riveting, however the inevitable kept dragging along to create yet more unnecessary conflict.

There was a phrase that was jarring, not era-appropriate, and had me on edge for the remainder of the story. While I know I was reading an uncorrected proof, I can only hope that the offensive idiom was caught in the final edit process. Had I known that BLACKTHORNE’S BRIDE was more of a family saga than the type of series I’m used to, I might have enjoyed it more. Still the writing is overall excellent, and every issue is nicely settled in the end.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
I give 3 stars
(Review by Monique for Buried Under Romance)

This book was a bit odd. Not because it was bad, on the contrary, but sometimes it created contradictory feelings.

Marcus Wharton, Duke of Blackthorne, always kept me guessing. Heroic enough to save a girl and almost lose his life doing it, but not enough to deliver her directly to a safe haven. I know he “hands” her over to his friend and almost brother-in-law, but still. If I had saved someone and made sure they survived taking care of them, I wouldn’t have them with someone else at the end. Even if there was a nuance to consider.

Same thing with the “abandonment” of his nephews. For someone who said that loved them, a small letter from a governess shouldn’t be enough. At least (more in my opinion, but let’s keep a low bar) a visit once a year, to be sure they were well fed and well taken care of and were learning what they needed to learn. I agreed with the female lead character – Marcus should have sent the boys to live with him, but I understand that at the beginning, it might have been a difficult decision – but not forever.

Josie is strong-minded and she is determined to get her revenge for being left in England and not sent back home to America, and made a maid in her supposed-to-be rescuer's country house. She also wants to avenge the two boys that the duke left almost abandoned at that same house. When the opportunity arises, Josie was a bit torn about going straight home or getting her revenge, for herself and the boys, which she planned to take with her to America. Choosing the second option, Josie tricks the duke, thinking him the horrible villain, but she then starts to realize that he is a broken man, who is still suffering, and he actually believes that the girl he saved is back home with her family and that his nephews are happier in the country where they can play, than with him in the city. Josie basically tells him that he should think for himself, that he should open his eyes and see that he deals with his matters himself, and not shove them to someone else, even if he trusts them – that’s how he got into this mess.

I realized right from the beginning how everything got mixed up, but I believe the point the author wanted to make was that there wasn’t a “real” villain, but just people who were flawed and did what they thought was right even though it was wrong.

In the end, it was a nice book, because Josie managed to entice me and made Marcus understand his mistakes and correct them. And, in the end, as is should be, all the family gets back together in America, for a visit with the characters from the previous books of the series (which I haven’t read). A happy ending, no doubt.

Blackthorne’s Bride by Joan Johnston

It has been a few years since I have read a book by Joan Johnston and quite frankly, I have forgotten how much I enjoy her books. Blackthorne’s Bride is the last book in the series about Mail Order Brides which are a spin off the Bitter Creek Series. However, saying all that, I read the book without reading any of the previous books and did not feel like I was missing anything by reading it as a stand alone.

Josie Wentworth after having a series of tragedies early in life ended up as a captive of the Sioux Nation. She was saved by Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne. Move forward in time and Marcus is dire need to marry an heiress. His estates are crumbling and he needs a huge infusion of money fast thanks to the crazy spending habits of his father and brother. Josie is a heiress and offers to marry Marcus, but Marcus does not know who is and how come she is willing to marry him so quickly.

Blackthorne’s Bride was a interesting read with the usual twists and turns of an historical novel when both sides do not share information with the other. This leads to misunderstandings and problems. Joan Johnston is back on my list of authors to read. Blackthorne’s Bride was a good read.