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Tamed by the Marquess

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If love was poison, he'd drink it anyway.

Shunned by society her entire life, Joanna Bagley has been living as a nomad amongst the Travellers of Britain. When her daughter gets seriously ill, she has no other choice but to ask for help from the man that has been haunting her past for years...

Christopher Albertson, now Duke of Gresham, has always been duty-bound, until the death of his domineering father. Knowing no other love than the fair Traveller he fell for many years ago, his life changes unexpectedly when he takes her child under his protection.

But when he gets poisoned, all clues lead to Joanna. With suspicious filters found in her possession, she is thrown in prison, awaiting her horrid fate...

Until her daughter discovers a secret entrance to the Gresham manor that may be the only lead to her mother's salvation…but who will believe a little Traveller girl?

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2019

371 people are currently reading
56 people want to read

About the author

Scarlett Osborne

97 books78 followers
Born in the Sunshine State of Florida, but of both British and Nordic descent, Scarlett Osborne grew up reading historical romances from the land of her ancestors. Fascinated with the British society of the 1800s and armed with a wild imagination, she obtained a degree in Creative Writing and immediately started her career as a Regency romance author.

A daydreamer extraordinaire, Scarlett likes to jump in the shoes of her heroines, immersing herself in her own stories, living the adventures that she wished she had experienced as a child. An avid reader and fan of the outdoors, Scarlett spends her free time either reading or going on long horseback rides along with her two sons.

Get lost in a land of enchantment, where adventure and love await around every corner...Scarlett hopes that through her heroes, you too will get to live a whirlwind romance in the Regency era, when fairytales were real and all dreams possible!

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Leah Martas.
27 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2019
Normally after reading a book, I take a week, mull it over and then come back with a full review. Even less time if it is something that I just have to get out to the masses. However last month, I came across a book that pushed me to my emotional limits. A piece of literature that hurt me so badly in all of the best ways that I had to take a month, let it marinate, rage, let it settle some more, and still stare in disbelief at my notes at the end of it. Naturally, I’m talking about Tamed By the Marquess, by Scarlett Osborne. This book pushed me to the point of actually wanting to throw my phone across the room form rage, and then giving a standing ovation at 6 am to no one but my hunny by the ending.

The two leads had such amazing chemistry from the start, but it is all nearly ruined before the first thirty percent of the book is even over. The story follows the Marquess of Clydekill Christopher (or Christy as he is called through the entire book) and the young gypsy girl he befriends named Joanna. Their childhood friendship starts innocently enough in the beginning, but when they both hit early adulthood, they have to navigate the waters of hot and cold tension when they each realize that they are attracted to one another. When they finally get a clue, it was steaming right out out of my phone screen. Unfortunately, this is also the point in time where my eyes began to roll so hard that I thought that they would get stuck in the back of my head. Their plans to run off and get married get thwarted near instantly.

This early on occurrence comes in the form or Christy’s dad, with his boundless deception and racism. The old Duke is quite possibly one of the most deplorable men that I have ever seen put to paper. He hates that his son is a good hearted well meaning person, and he goes out of his way to make not only Christy suffer, but mostly Joanna. The Duke, and several others, not limited to one exceptionally petty Lady Jersey, just ooze evil for the sake of being evil. That is a part of why I struggled with this particular title. It’s as though many of them had nothing better to do but make life absolutely miserable for the hero and heroine as humanly possible. This is especially true of the father. His actions led to one of the most historically accurate, heart wrenching tales of a struggling single mother that almost broke me. Joanna endures every low point that one could imagine. As soon as you think that things cannot get worse for them, things manage to descend into the pits of hell. By the halfway mark I was shaking with rage and crying because I was just wanting the book to end. Either by Joanna’s death or some kind of happy resolution.

The two are eventually reunited, though not happily at first due to the lies and hurt caused by the people of Christy’s life, including but not limited to: His wife, his father, his sisters, the land steward, my salami leg, your salami leg, his salami leg, and Carl’s shoe. Well not quite all of those, but you get my point. There was angst seeping out of every page, to the point where when the three of them FINALLY got their happy ending, it felt well deserved. It felt like a reward after enduring all of life’s heartaches alongside Joanna and Christy over a ten year span. And it was absolutely SATISFYING.

When 6 am rolled around, I was mentally and physically exhausted by what I had read. A month later, I am still shell shocked and in awe of the world that Scarlett Osborne built. She has become an author to wait on pins and needles for when her ARCs become available. I am willing to wait until the end of time for the next story in this line, as I am excited to see what comes next for the Australian and Hannah.

***This book as received as an ARC. This review is based on my own opinion of the book and I was not compensated for this review***
Profile Image for Laurie.
1,558 reviews35 followers
September 12, 2019
I find it nearly impossible to believe that this book, "Tamed by the Marquess," was written by the same person who wrote the first two books published by "Scarlett Osborne". The writing style and tone are completely different from those of the previous books, the plot (mostly) makes sense, and, most importantly, the author seems to have a better grasp on the history of the Regency period. That isn't to say that the historical details in this book are perfect, however; for example, the author's information on how divorce worked during that time is completely wrong. It wouldn't have been as easy to obtain a divorce as the author seems to think, even for a duke such as the one featured in this story. Christopher, the Duke of Gresham, would have had to petition Parliament to pass a Private Act/Bill of Divorcement, which could have taken years to obtain, in order to legally dissolve his first marriage and be allowed to remarry.

As for the book's plot, while I found it to be a major improvement on "Ms. Osborne's" last two efforts, there were still some things that didn't quite make sense to me. For example, how did Mr. Coleman end up back in the courtroom to be arrested at the end of Joanna's trial? After his testimony, he made a point of asking the judge to be excused to return to Gresham Manor because the duke's "illness" had required him to take on so many of the duchy's responsibilities. When exactly did Mr. Coleman return to the courtroom? Why didn't he remain at the estate to ensure that no one interfered with his plans for Christopher's demise? Also, how is it possible that Dorothy knew nothing of her father's plans? The Colemans seem to have planned everything else together, so it seems unlikely that she wouldn't have been in on that aspect of the scheme as well.

In addition, the central romance between Joanna and Christopher didn't work very well for me because the main characters were apart for so much of the book. It was tough to believe that their childhood connection was strong enough to last through all those years apart, especially when one considers that they were only "in love" with each other for a single summer. It also seemed strange to me that Joanna never came to resent Christopher, even a little, for all of the struggles she experienced as a poor, unwed single mother. They both seemed very naive and gullible to me, even at the very end of the book when they were much older and presumably should have been wiser.

At any rate, this was a relatively entertaining story and I liked that it was different from most of the other historical romances I've read because it featured a gypsy ("Traveller") main character. I also liked some of the secondary characters, particularly Joanna and Christopher's daughter, Hannah, and Christopher's cousin and heir, Rowley.

*ARC provided by the author/publisher via BookFunnel in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Space Cowgirl.
4,133 reviews145 followers
August 25, 2020
Gypsies💃, Tramps, and the Thief of Her Heart💕

Georgian Era Romance
A love💕 story to stand the tests of time! Gypsy girl Joanna💃 has been the only childhood friend and playmate of Christopher🐺, the young Marquess, son and heir to the Duke of Gresham.

The only male child in his family, Christopher🐺 roamed the woods alone, finding the Gypsy camp and making a lifelong friend with Joanna💃💕.

They profess their love for each other, but time, lies, cruelty, and deception by the Duke and others comes between them and Christopher🐺 is forced by his father to marry an heiress , whom he detests. A few years later, Christopher is the Duke, but he is stuck with a spoiled selfish wretch for a wife.

Joanna's fate is not so kind.........

ARC Received from Bookfunnel🌀
I also got this ebook with KU.

This is a very adult historical romance, with multiple adult scenes as a natural and tasteful part of the story.
You will cry and smile at times during this wonderfully written and deeply emotional story of two young people who never give up on true love💘. There is a happy ending!
22 reviews
July 20, 2020
What a terribly, terribly depressing story. One of the worst I've ever read. I consider it an insult to romance writers and readers for its sheer stupidity. It was actually painful to read and I just wanted to get to the end. For the majority of this story the H and the h had no interaction with each other whatsoever. There was some interaction in the beginning and no more until almost to the end. The plot could have been an ok one but the author made it depressing. When reading a romance novel I like there to be moments of happiness between the H and the h; moments where I can feel happy for them. But in this story, there was no happiness until the very end. Just chapter after chapter of struggle, sadness and disappointment for the h. The majority of the story was internal ramblings and a narration of the events that took place in the lives of the H and the h as they lived separately for 8 years following years of childhood friendship that blossomed into one summer of being in love with each other and one act of intimacy that resulted in a pregnancy that the H never knew about. And what a weak, spineless, H was Christopher. An Oxford graduate who was unvbelievably naive. Never before have I read a historical romance where the duke is so naive and clueless. Usually, even from a young age the duke is strong, masterful and decisive. Christopher was none of those things even after he became a man and had become duke. Though his character was kind, gentlemanly and generally likeable, he didn't have the backbone to stand up to his nasty father, his nasty evil wife and father in law, the nasty old married duchess that wanted him, the nasty bisexual duke that made a pass at him. There was basically no character development.

And I hate any story where the H or the h is sexually involved with someone else. In this story the H marries another woman although being in love with and promising marriage to the h, Joanna. Yes, I know it waa s forced marriage, but did the author have to actually describe their sexual encounters? That's distasteful reading for any true romantic and lover of romance novels.

Apparently the author concentrated most of her efforts on the ending of the story, but by then it was too late to feel excited for the main couple. The happily ever after did not detract from the overall sourness of the story.
975 reviews5 followers
December 6, 2020
Christopher and Joanna

Well written with a exceptional story and characters. Christopher always imagined having Joanna as his wife. his father couldn't see anything but blood lines and always thought his son was weak for not having his same thoughts and Philosophy on life . Therefore for aiding his son to let Joannas father to escape from a hanging he made his son promise th have a season in London and to marry a woman chose. Christopher did all this hating every minute of it as Joanna was his one and only love not realizing she had bored him a daughter. Will leave the rest of the story up to you to fine out how it ends. But what a adventure and a HEA. Would highly re commend this author. Happy reading!
Profile Image for Gerri  Johnson.
547 reviews2 followers
November 14, 2020
I must say I was a bit disappointed with this book. I had stopped reading historical romance because they get redundant. Historical romances tend to include lots of detail about furnishings, etc. I don't like that. The story was nice and somewhat suspenseful and Joanna & Christopher show that love is everlasting.
359 reviews
January 14, 2021
Nice read

To find your soul mate when you were younger then left to go to school to come back and find that your feelings have not changed. To finally show her how much you love her not knowing that she was carrying your child. To leave her daughter on the door step of the house he lives in to get the medical help that she needs. To find out that the girl is your daughter
Profile Image for Delbora.
1,465 reviews7 followers
November 12, 2020
An Intriguing Romance

This author never fails to impress me with her imagination and romantic heart. The characters are developed by their lives and family realistically. This story takes you on highs and lows as any good story does.
261 reviews2 followers
August 27, 2020
Emotionally heartwarming love story.

Fantastic storytelling and terrific characters make this one emotionally gripping regency romance. Follow along on Joanna and Christopher's journey as life tears them apart, but will it be able to bring them back to each other before it's too late?
Profile Image for Emma.
2,864 reviews39 followers
July 21, 2019
I felt emotionally moved by the tumultuous, heart aching machinations of the Duke of Gresham, his daughter-in-law and her father against soulmates Lord Christopher Albertson and the love of his life Joanna Bagley. The characters in the story seemed true to life. Their actions, words and deeds exposed the very depths of their soul. The author brought out their personalities so that the reader could really get to know them. This story will have you fixated and absorbed immediately. This is a page turner that you will not be able to put down. The absolute horror and injustice that Christopher and Joanna had to suffer for their love was discouraging, frightening and horrendous. Throughout the years of separation Joanne stayed faithful. If it had not been for their daughter Hannah that Christopher never knew about, they would never have been reunited and even then, the evil people in Christopher's life were trying to doom the relationship and murder Christopher and they almost succeeded. If it were not by the grace of God that brought to light the sinister conspiracy, Joanna would have been sent to Newgate or hung for a crime she did not commit and Christopher would have met a murderous end. Even though everything was straightened out in the end I still could not help but feel compassion and sadness for them. This is a must read. You will not be disappointed.
642 reviews4 followers
July 21, 2019
Lord Christopher, or Christy as the gypsy, Joanne calls him. They are young and In love. It would never work as Christopher is a Lord who will become a Duke at His Father's death. His father will not accept any woman for him unless they have money. Joanna is threatened and leaves for London with a secret. Joanna has a daughter who is sick, after both have been in extremely bad straights. Joanna takes her daughter and leaves her on Lord Christopher 's doorway. Joanna knows that Christopher has married to a very rich commoner. How wife is cold as ice with a father who will do what he must to make sure his daughter have what she wants. She has not conceived a baby, which makes her an inappropriate wife. Since Joanna's daughter is at Christopher 's house and Joanna has to watch over her. One day Joanna is caught watching Hannah, Her daughter, and Christopher gives her a place in the house. There is intrigue, deception and love and steamy scenes. I enjoyed reading this read. I received this book from the author for a honest review.
436 reviews24 followers
July 23, 2019
Joanna Bagley was a Traveller of Britain. Her daughter Hannah was sick and getting sicker. To get the proper medicine that would hopefully make her well Joanna left her on the back stoop of the ducal Manor house for the Duke's of Gresham.

This whole book started back when Joanna and Christopher the Marquis of Clydekill grew up together running in the woods on the estate. Christopher's father the Duke of Gresham has decreed that the travellers the runoff of his property and if any of them are found poaching on the property they will be hung and quartered as the law allows. Christopher tells Joanna and Cormac informed Domnall what the Duke had planned for anyone caught poaching. Joanna and Christopher realize that they were no longer just friends they were a man and a woman and wanted each other in the way a man wants a woman and a woman wants a man. Then the worst thing happened. To see what happened, you must read the book. And it's a good book...
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews70 followers
July 17, 2019
ONE WILD AND THRILLING TREAT!!!
OMG! Scarlett's take no prisoners attitude sets the stage for this tough and tumble, on point realistic bad boy that spins so intense, bursting with emotions propeling this gripping tale to life spectacularly. Throw in some twists and turn and a few bumps and bruises as you watch the world light up. The personalities are well matched and brought together smoothly. The scenes are so graphically detailed it paints an incredible backdrop that feels so realistic it's like you're right there with them. Amazing job Scarlett, thanks for sharing this little gem with us.
2,635 reviews45 followers
July 17, 2019
Joanna was a bit selfish and harsh with Christy after one kiss. She expected much she had no right to. It really irked me that Joanna looked poorly on Christy saving her dad. She seems unable to be pleased with anything Christy did. WTH ! Christy"s dad taking him to a bawdy house was repulsive! No dad needs to do that, plus the shame! Yuck! Lady Jersey is an evil vane hag and should be put down before she does more harm. Wretched beast! The old duke was such a dirty old perv I could barely read this. There are a plethora of characters to loathe, but very few to like or even give redemption to. I found to many villains and not enough fair and decent folks.
1,667 reviews9 followers
July 17, 2019
This is the story of Christopher and Joanna. This is a tear-jerker for sure. He is the upcoming Duke. She is a gypsy. Childhood friends that met by chance. Now as adults they fear that they can never be together. Christopher's father, the now Duke saves Joanna's father from death, only because they struck a deal. This is a heart wrenching story. All the happenings, all they they have to deal with separately is heart breaking. After all is said and done, they finally get together, but it years later. Scarlett Osborne's writing is exceptional in this story. It keeps you involved as if you were there.
63 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2019
This book has great, but flawed characters, which makes them all the more real. It begins with a youthful friendship that blossoms into a love that can never be - can it? You travel to the poor, dirty part of London and see the side of life led by those unfortunates who have to scrape for a living and barely get by without starving. The author's description of the characters and their surroundings are detailed and vivid and the story moves quickly after a bit of a slow start. I would have given 5 stars if not for a bit of an open end for one of the characters. It was billed as a stand alone book, but seems to have set the story up for a sequel
Profile Image for Tam.
2,181 reviews54 followers
October 4, 2019
This was a fast-paced, swoon-worthy read, that I found I did not want to put down! The story was fresh, original and exciting with characters that are realistic and likable. It is everything you could want in a rousing romp through the pages of a historical romance and more!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
1,979 reviews19 followers
July 16, 2019
The story revolves around Christopher, a marquess, and Joanna, a gypsy, who meet and fall in love over their childhood years. His father interferes and things go from good to bad. There is a HEA for them but a lot happens first, including his forced marriage, poisoning, bribes, attempted murder charges to name a few. It is a good read and there is a lot going on in this book.
390 reviews2 followers
August 7, 2019
Scarlett has done it again. A gypsy girl and a Marques discover that after years of being playmates they have fallen in love. There are twists and turns before they find their HEA. I would recommend this book to anyone over 18 interested in a good read due to steaminess
I received this ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review which I have freely written here
Profile Image for Sharon Wagner.
473 reviews1 follower
July 24, 2019
Great Great book!

Absolutely love Scarlett Osborne's books! She writes such exciting and romantic storylines. This was one of a love that lasted for years between Christopher and Joananna. What a wonderful ending!
398 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2019
Fabulous!

A wonderful read. The characters are so engaging that kept me rooting for Joanna and Christopher. Love the little twists and turns that practically forced me to turn the page! This is a really good love story
9 reviews
November 17, 2019
Really Great Read

If you like a book that has a great story line, this is the book for you. If you like a romance book that is not all fairy tales and crowns, then this is the book for you.
4,946 reviews10 followers
July 22, 2019
Romance

Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
222 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2019
Who tames who

Loved the story and seeing good overcome evil. Extended epilogue ready to go on with story of Hannah. Couldn’t put it down.
Profile Image for Dee Jay Blaylock.
241 reviews6 followers
July 29, 2019
A traveler who captures the Marquess.
Interesting view of the differences perceived by the ton.
Love wills out.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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