I would have hated to lose the watch, but a life is a life.

Monty sounds like a prince. Not.

Poor Blackthorne has no idea where you've been, honey. You'd think Seaton would have said something.

Who paid for the Pinkerton, by the way?

Where did all these Blackthornes come from? They're everywhere!

Talk about a meet-cute! She's there to save him from money troubles, yet ends up asking him for money! Haha!

Have some prunes, Grandmama.

I know Lark's all starry-eyed, but that was kind of rude. Poor Lindsey should have at least been invited.

Fanny sounds crazy.

His father whipped him for getting locked in a dungeon, but he's the one who took three days to notice his kids were missing.

I've heard of angry sex, but never scared sex.

He took the whole she's-the-one-he's-been-wondering-about thing better than I thought.

Get a little self-confidence, mate.

Um, Lark, why are you horrified that you'll have to marry Seaton when you say you love him and basically stalked him across the country?

Those two women should be shot.

This novel was a good read. The plot was good. The author combines romance, mystery, and some adventure in this story.
Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne, saves Josie Wentworth from a Sioux Indian who was whipping her. He gives the Sioux a gold watch and whale bone knife to trade for Josie. He does not know where her family is or if she has any since she was ill and in pain. He brings her to London and takes care of her on the ship from America to London. When Marcus arrives, he asks his friend Seaton to return her to America when she is healthy and he marries Seaton's sister.
Two years later, Josie is still in England. She has written to Marcus but receives no reply. Marcus' nephews are not being cared for properly and Josie promises to get them away from the home. She was sent there as a maid. She is very angry at Marcus and plans to get revenge and to take his nephews to America with her. Josie finds out she is a wealthy woman and her siblings have been looking for her. Marcus needs a wealthy bride to save his estates and his wife died in childbirth. Marcus has always admired the woman he saved from the Indian and wanted to see her again.
Marcus and Josie meet but he does not yet remember her. They marry and Josie puts her plans into action. However, she sees a caring side to Marcus and does not understand why he abandoned his nephews and did not answer her letters. As the story goes, truths are revealed. Nothing is as it seems. Will Josie return to America? Will Marcus ever learn Josie's true identity? Who made sure that Marcus and Josie did not know each other?

Blackthorne's Bride is a wonderfully written novel. The story is interwoven with other books written by Ms. Johnston, but I enjoyed it as a stand-alone novel.

The tale of Josie Wentworth and Marcus Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne is full of excitement, intrigue, passion and love. Josie is an unusual heroine as she was completely adaptable to whatever situation she found herself in. The transition from serving as a maid to becoming a Duchess is elegantly maneuvered, without any angst involved. From the beginning to the end Josie is most concerned with helping and taking care of others. She is loyal, intelligent and charming. What a perfect heroine.

Marcus is also an ideal hero. He is gentle, considerate and forgiving. Marcus spends quite a bit of time in the dark as to what is happening around him, but once he catches on, he's back on track to being the man Josie deserves.

Ms. Johnston has written a highly entertaining and compelling tale, one I thoroughly enjoyed.

What a lovely and satisfying way to end the "Mail Order Brides "series: "Texas Bride," "Wyoming Bride," and "Montana Bride" Yes, it can be read as a stand alone story, but don't deprive yourself of the others. They are all amazing! It is one of my favorite series. It is packed with steam and romance. This is the eagerly awaited story of Josie, the youngest Wentworth sister, whisked away to England after being rescued from a tribe of renegade Indians by a handsome Duke. I don't want to give too much away so I'll leave it at that. This a must-read for all Joan Johnston fans. I have read everything Ms. Johnston has written. She is the Queen of steam and romance, and never fails to deliver a story that draws the reader in from the very first page. It keeps you enthralled in the story until the end. This is a keeper!