Blackthorne's Bride

By: Joan Johnston

Narrated by: Julia Gibson

Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

A rogue nobleman, a rescued lady, and revenge undone by romance all play a part in this 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.

©2017 Joan Mertens Johnston, Inc. (P)2017 Recorded Books

Lovely Story

I need something to escape , and I glad I found this light romance. Bravo for Julia Gibson. And also the narrator is doing her job so well with various accents and perform superbly all the characters in the story, she is so adorable with the child voice. Absolutely lovely.

Great Romantic read

This author is one heck of a writer. Her descriptions of scenes are characters is probably the best I’ve read in a while. Her vocabulary is also excellent. It has a little “heat” to the story but still it’s a 5 star book. The narration is excellent.

Dastardly Duke

I don't know which was worse the foppish accent of the duke or the stupidity of the main character. The worst was that I paid $20 for this book.

Narrator was great but the story not so much

This is a first for me by this author. Ok so the beginning was very interesting, but somehow I managed to make it to chapter 30. I couldn't continue because nothing wasn't really happening in the story enough to grab my attention. Julia did a great job narrating.

Irritating Nonsense

What did you like or dislike?
I really liked the basis for the story.
I really disliked the execution.

***Spoilers****
Why turn the heroine into maid?
Why would said maid feel as though the Hero who had rescued and nursed her, be an insensitive, selfish, bore?

The prologue is the best part of the book after that it is all down hill. The h makes assumptions that at every turn prove to be incorrect , but she just keeps going. Reality seems to be meaningless concept to her.The H is under developed and thereby made weak, whereas there are too many side stories.

Whom would you recommend the book too? To writers seeking a deeper understanding of how a great idea can go sideways quite quickly.

Why did you choose that rating?
The concept was great and the narration was acceptable. I really would like to see this story reworked.