Blackthorne's Bride-Shana Galen

Blackthorne's Bride
Shana Galen
Avon, Nov 2007, $5.99
ISBN: 9780061124976

In 1801 London, the four preadolescent female cousins vowed to never marry. They form the Spinster’s Club.

Ten years later, two of the members have had “Misadventures in Matrimony (see NO MAN’S BRIDE and GOOD GROOM’S HUNTING). A third one Madeleine, tired of insincere proposals, plans to run away with scholarly Conlon Dover, a father of two. However, the fourth member, still unmarried Ashley jumps into the coach with them. Dover tells Madeleine they need a chaperone anyway; she asks why since they are eloping.

At a café, Marques John Martingale quietly drinks coffee when his brother Nicholas arrives. Nick explains that he humiliated Duke Bleven by calling him a rapist at a party. Bleven sent thugs after Nick, who explains that he also quoted Jack as calling Bleven an asshole. A moment later Bleven and his armed thugs arrive. Jack and Nick flee. As Ashley, Madeleine and Dover are leaving, Jack with his nose bloodied and clothing stained by coffee dives into their coach. Nick replaces the coachman and drives. Jack is instantly attracted to Madeleine who demands he take them to Gretna Green; Jack says no. Madeleine is attracted to the roguish Jack, who steps out of the coach only to find Ashley’s dad has caught them. Nick jumps her dad. Jack insists he must marry Ashley as they jump back into the coach and flee for Gretna Green with two dads, Bleven accompanied by his thugs, and who knows who else in pursuit.

This amusing Regency romance will have fans in stitches as the runaways land in one predicament after another. The lead couple is a nice pairing while her cousin and his brother provide strong support once the audience understands their bickering started from meeting one another prior to this romp. Although the villain is dispatched too easily; making the climax too fast and weak, readers will appreciate this hilarious historical.

Harriet Klausner