English countryside - 1811

Despite the vow Lady Madeleine Castleigh made with her three cousins ten years ago never to marry, two of her cousins have already wed. Now, to escape her father, the Earl of Castleigh, Maddie has determined she must marry also. Not that her father is mean to her, but Maddie needs to control her life to help the poor and needy, and her father places too many restrictions on her. Meek and mild Mr. Dover is her prospective husband, and he has their elopement to Gretna Greene planned down to the minute, but only if they leave promptly. Maddie may not have passion in her marriage like her two other cousins, but she will be free to fulfill her life's mission as she sees fit...until her elopement gets mixed up with John Phillip Charles Martingale, Marquess of Blackthorne, and his brother Nicholas.

Jack, as he prefers to be called, is quietly reading the paper in a coffeehouse when his younger brother Nicholas enters with his usual tale about getting involved in a "bit" of trouble. He's just humiliated the Duke of Bleven, called him a rapist in front of everyone, plus he even told him that Jack thought he was a filthy scoundrel. The Duke of Bleven and the Martingale family go back many years when their mother spurned him to marry their father. Ever since then, the Duke has been their enemy, and now the powerful Duke appears ready to try to kill them both. As they fight their way out of the coffeehouse, they run straight into a carriage about to leave London. Jack and Nicholas liberate the carriage driver of his duties and take over Maddie and Mr. Dover's carriage, along with Maddie's cousin Ashley, who found out about the elopement and refuses to leave.

If you appreciate a rollicking good time with action every step of the way, this story sure has everything you can look forward to. Without revealing too many spoilers, all five people end up being chased by fathers, Dukes, scorned daughters, innkeepers, and almost anyone else with a score to settle. The adventures continue to Gretna Greene, where the craziest...well, sorry I can't tell you, but believe me, it's wild!

Shana Galen has once again added another worthy chapter to this series of four girls who pledged never to marry. They all had good reasons back then, and Ms. Galen has given each of their lives the necessary excitement that makes for a great novel.

Talk about a plethora of people making an appearance in this fast-paced story! There's the Duke of Bleven and his henchmen and a long ago feud with Jack's family. Maddie's and Ashley's fathers both trying to avert scandal, and of course the punctual Mr. Dover, the erstwhile fiancé.

BLACKTHORNE'S BRIDE follows the previous two books in the Misadventures in Matrimony series, NO MAN'S BRIDE (September 2006) and GOOD GROOM HUNTING (February 2007). You will enjoy the antics in the historical romp of Maddie and Jack and their rousing relationship.

Carolyn Crisher