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Donna Hatch
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The Reluctant Bride: Regency Historical Romance Kindle Edition

by Donna Hatch (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 598 ratings
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Fleeing a looming marriage to a terrifying man, Abby meets a mysterious, yet charming stranger who makes a startling proposition that will either save her, or leave her mired in scandal.
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  1. Print length
    17 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    December 14, 2011
  5. File size
    3284 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006MI3NBM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mirror Lake Press (December 14, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 14, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3284 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 17 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 598 ratings

About the author

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Donna Hatch

Donna Hatch

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Award-winning author of over two dozen best-selling Historicals, Donna Hatch is a masterful storyteller of captivating tales of courage, second chances, redemption, and lasting love. Meticulously researched, and beautifully written, her romances take place amidst the Regency Era immortalized by Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and Lord Byron. Donna weaves virtue and values into her tales yet includes plenty of chemistry. Every “Sweet” or “Clean and Wholesome” Donna Hatch romance brings courageous heroines and swoony heroes together for a glorious happily ever after. When she’s not writing or researching, Donna loves to dance—especially ballroom and hula—sing, hike, go to the beach, add to her growing collection of books, and therefore bookshelves. She also loves to dress up in costumes, which her kids say is cool if it's called Cos Play. Donna and her husband of over thirty years have raised six children and are discovering the joy of grandchildren.

Website: https://www.donnahatch.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RomanceAuthorDonnaHatch/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2072970.Donna_Hatch

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
598 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Keeshee Kindle
5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Charming
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2021
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A defiant fairy tale but well done if a little too short. You only get the meat of the story so you have to imagine what happens before and after but it's well worth the little time it takes to read it.
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Maryann Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars I wish it were longer
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2013
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When she was just a child, Abigail Marie Lansford's father arranged for her to marry Julian de Malet, Marquis of Rosenberg. Abby has never met the Marquis but she has heard horrible stories about him. Rumor has it that he is terribly deformed and his character is downright scary. He reportedly beats the ladies in his life and has no compunction at locking his servants in the dungeon if they dare to cross him. Abby has just turned 18 years old and her father has informed her that the time has come for her to marry Julian. No amount of begging and pleading on her part can get her father to change his mind so Abby stows away in the storage compartment of a mail coach so she can get to her aunt's house and seek sanctuary.

She actually had the money to pay for the trip but she stowed away so no one will know she is leaving so at their first stop when the driver of the coach finds out that she has stowed away she tells him that she has enough money to pay him for her fare but he has decided he wants more than just her money. While she is in a confrontation with the driver of the coach, a man who introduces himself as Will, comes to her rescue. Abby thinks he is a very handsome young man despite the rather significant scar on his face. When he tells the coachman to leave Abby alone, he is very persuasive (or at least the loaded pistol in his hand is persuasive) so the coachman reluctantly decides payment of the fare is compensation enough.

It took me about 30 minutes to read this little book and my biggest complaint is that it is too short. I liked both Will and Abby and I would like to have spent a bit more time with them.
8 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Eh
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2013
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The heroine of the story is a young woman who has led a sheltered life. She has been betrothed to marry a man who has been described as a monster. Abby runs away from home without fulling considering how her traveling alone could play out. She is rescued by the hero of our story. Of course, she doesn't realize he is the man she is to marry, and she proceeds to tell him everything.

I found the heroine to be silly, and I really couldn't take her into my heart. If this had been a real life circumstance I would have a great deal of pity for the poor man! He is going to have a lifetime of dealing with this hen brain.

But it isn't a true story, and it was short and sweet. So, if you have a little free time I would say read it. But don't count on reading it again.
4 people found this helpful
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Donna Gonzales
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2019
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I had given up on historical romance, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one and the other one of hers I recently read. I loved the characters, and the settings. Some I've read feel like the author is showing off research. This one flowed naturally.
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Junie B
2.0 out of 5 stars Simplistic, juvenile, annoyingly predictable, and exceedingly short
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2018
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A young woman stows away on a mail coach to avoid marriage with the disfigured "monster" to whom she is betrothed but has never met. She is assisted by a scarred man who happens along just as she is being accosted by the driver. Minutes later, while over a plate of food at the inn, they fall in love. Huh??? This little bit of prose is too short to be called a story and has such an improbable, simplistic, and predictable story line that it is almost annoying to read. There is potential for a story due to the apparent skills of the writer, but nothing is realized. The female protagonist is too childish for an 18 year old woman in the 1800's, even one with a sheltered life. This story line reads as if written by and for a twelve year old child.
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars Super Short, But Super Sweet
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2013
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I really enjoyed this short story. It is very touching despite its very short length. Because it is so short there isn't a lot to the plot, nor is there much character development. Nevertheless, I found it quite satisfying. Abby is running away from an unwanted marriage. She has been betrothed since infancy to a man she has never met, but has heard a lot of negative things about. Time is running out for the two to get married, and Abby has been unable to convince her parents to break the betrothal contract. While on the run, Abby hits a spot of trouble at which time, Will, the hero, comes to the rescue. Within a couple of hours the two are in love and get their HEA. I really liked Will....a whole lot. As another reviewer said, Abby was a bit silly. But considering she was only 18 and had lived a very sheltered life, that was to be expected. Besides, Abby did realize, to some extent, how silly her behavior was at times and was even able to laugh at herself. This story is the perfect length to read while waiting at an appointment or at bedtime. If you enjoy this genre of books, are looking for a light quick read, and is willing to suspend disbelief you might want to give this little book a try.
3 people found this helpful
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Only By Grace
1.0 out of 5 stars Cliche and gushing with sap. (SPOILER ALERT)
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2020
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Betrothed in time past did not equal a license to be as intimate in physical touch as these characters. The "gentleman" spoke of not wanting to soil her honor yet didn't stop her from fingering and kissing his face. This is behavior that would have caused scandal for everyone involved. Even married couples did not behave this way in a public place.
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Pamela
5.0 out of 5 stars a sweet, short story
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2016
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Title: The Reluctant Bride
Author: Donna Hatch
Genre: Short Story, Historical (Regency) Romance
Year: 2011
Rating: 5 stars
Summery: Abby flees an unwanted engagement to a man she's never met, but has heard many horrible things about. When Abby gets herself into some trouble, a gentleman comes to her rescue.

It's a very sweet short story! Even though I could guess where the story was going long before the end.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Sylvia
4.0 out of 5 stars A very short but lovely story
Reviewed in Canada on July 13, 2019
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I really enjoyed this story. I love the way it started, Abby is a young lady determined not to marry her betrothed and escapes in a very unorthodox way. This story made me laugh and I loved the ending, not unexpected but so good.
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Celyn
4.0 out of 5 stars A very light clean short read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2019
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It got me hooked from the beginning not like some other books that take a while to get going. I really liked the characters and Enjoyed this clean read.
However its was very short and I was just getting to really like these characters and wanted to learn more so I was disappointed the author didn’t expand on the characters and taken us further with them such as how did Will come by the scar on his face in the 1st place and why did he have such a terrifying reputation?
Overall a great short clean read that gets to the point.
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Vio
3.0 out of 5 stars Schnelles Lesevergnügen
Reviewed in Germany on May 22, 2017
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Als Kleinkind wurde Abigail Marie Lansford von ihren Eltern mit Julian de Malet, dem Marquis of Rosenberg, verlobt. Als sie 18 wird, teilen ihre Eltern der jungen Frau mit, dass es nun an der Zeit sei, das Eheversprechen einzulösen. Abby versucht sich dagegen zu wehren, hat sie doch nur Schlechtes über den Marquis gehört: So soll er von scheußlicher Gestalt sein und einen düsteren Charakter haben. Gerüchte besagen, er würde seine Angestellten in den Kerker sperren und Frauen misshandeln. Doch alles Bitten und Betteln nützt nichts, ihr Eltern bestehen auf die Einhaltung der Vereinbarung. Um der Horrorehe zu entkommen, läuft Abby von zu Hause fort und will im Gepäckraum einer Kutsche zu ihrer Tante reisen. Als der Kutscher von ihr im Gegenzug sexuelle Gefälligkeiten erwartet, kommt ihr ein vernarbter junger Mann zu Hilfe ...

"The Reluctant Bride" ist eine Kurzgeschichte vor historischem Hintergrund, deren Länge mit 17 Seiten angegeben wird. Das Buch habe ich in weniger als einer halben Stunde gelesen und mich gefreut, einmal auf eine Regency-Geschichte gestoßen zu sein, die man auch dann durchlesen kann, wenn man nur wenig Zeit hat. Für meinen Geschmack hätte die Geschichte ruhig etwas länger ausfallen dürfen, aber ist sie in sich abgeschlossen, was bei einer Kurzgeschichte natürlich besonders wichtig ist. Die beiden Protagonisten fand ich charmant, wenngleich Abbys Handeln und ihre Gedankengänge etwas unreif waren. Überlegt man, dass sie gerade erst 18 Jahre alt geworden ist und ein sehr beschütztes Leben geführt hat, ist auch ihre Unüberlegtheit wieder stimmig.
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Tessa
5.0 out of 5 stars Cute.
Reviewed in Australia on July 29, 2016
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A sweet short story about a young lady running away from an unwanted marriage. Naturally she meets with danger and is saved by a good looking gentleman.
Very much in the Georgette Heyer manner.
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emma
4.0 out of 5 stars zögerlich
Reviewed in Germany on May 8, 2018
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auch in dieser regency-geschichte zeichnet sich die heldin durch relative hirnlosigkeit aus, gepaart mit überbordender fantasie und viel hörensagenglauben.
aber offensichtlich ist sie ein hübsches und wohl auch ganz nettes mädchen und so findet sie natürlich einen weg aus ihrem dilemma. natürlich mithilfe eines zuvorkommenden jungen mannes. ;-)
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