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Scandalous Duchess #1
Marblestone Mansion Book 1
A Duke by inheritance, Hannish MacGreagor soon learned the title came with very little wealth, so he bought a silver mine in Idaho, left his wife of two weeks in Scotland, and sailed to America. Later, he sold the mine, became one of the wealthiest men in Colorado and built Marblestone Mansion on a bluff overlooking Colorado Springs. His hopes were high when he sent for his wife, but something was amiss - his wife was not what she pretended to be.
Coming soon - Watch for book 10 and see how this series ends.
Coming soon - Watch for book 10 and see how this series ends.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
426 people are currently reading
1109 people want to read
About the author
Marti Talbott
87 books140 followersMarti Talbott (www.martitalbott.com) is the author of over 45 full length novels, all of which are written without profanity and sex scenes. She lives in Seattle, is retired and has two children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The MacGreagor family saga begins with The Viking Series and continues in Marti Talbott’s Highlander’s Series, Marblestone Mansion, the Scandalous Duchess series, and ends with The Lost MacGreagor books. Her mystery books include Seattle Quake 9.2, Missing Heiress, Greed and a Mistress, The Locked Room, and The Dead Letters. Other books include The Promise and Broken Pledge.
Watch for her new trilogy - THE FOX, THE LION, and THE BEAR (A Triplet Trilogy)
Watch for her new trilogy - THE FOX, THE LION, and THE BEAR (A Triplet Trilogy)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 6, 2013
Hannish MacGreagor inherited an impoverished Scottish dukedom. Instead of living an idle life in debt, he moved to America and made a fortune in Colorado silver mines. Now a wealthy man, he has asked his family to move to America as well. To his consternation, only his sister arrives--his wife stopped in New York to shop. Increasingly disturbing rumors reach him, from her cruelty to their servants to her adultery. At last, the infamous duchess comes to Colorado.
It was at this point that I was surprised. Estranged couples in historical romances tend to fall in love with each other. I'd assumed that the rumors were all misunderstandings, or that the duchess was playing some long game. In fact, she is even more awful than Hannish's servants let slip. He sends her packing back to Scotland, then mopes around his large marble mansion because he's fallen in love with one of his maids but he's against divorce. This was the other unexpected aspect of the book: Hannish and his romance take up a tiny number of pages. Most of the attention is on random other characters the author seems to assume the reader already knows and likes. There's more detail in what each servant packs in their picnic baskets than there is on the romance.
It was at this point that I was surprised. Estranged couples in historical romances tend to fall in love with each other. I'd assumed that the rumors were all misunderstandings, or that the duchess was playing some long game. In fact, she is even more awful than Hannish's servants let slip. He sends her packing back to Scotland, then mopes around his large marble mansion because he's fallen in love with one of his maids but he's against divorce. This was the other unexpected aspect of the book: Hannish and his romance take up a tiny number of pages. Most of the attention is on random other characters the author seems to assume the reader already knows and likes. There's more detail in what each servant packs in their picnic baskets than there is on the romance.
April 25, 2017
I know people are going to say this is an unfair review because I didn't finish this book but I want to save others the trouble of buying it. From what I read this is a poorly executed and not well written book. If an editor had stepped in and taught this author about POV and how important it is to not write from 8 different points of view in the same page and how a book should not start with a feel like it's the third or fourth book and you are missing something, then I would have kept reading. I can't read a book that doesn't follow a formula and is all over the place. We have 16 characters and we are getting snatches of each persons thoughts in a couple of pages, when all of the beginning pages are the main character? It is a mess and I just can't read it.
September 4, 2017
This is a real mess of a story. Duke Hannish MacGreagor (stupid name - I kept reading it as Hamish) comes across as feckless and irresponsible as his lying, cheating, adulterous wife.
What sort of man builds a marble mansion with 67 rooms in it (!!!!) and then later on says he has spent most of his money on this house and repairing the old one. Idiot.
There were far too many characters for me to get them straight in my head and Sassy - who I think was meant to become a major character was just plain shallow and irritating. There was little depth to any character or any realism and I gave up.
What sort of man builds a marble mansion with 67 rooms in it (!!!!) and then later on says he has spent most of his money on this house and repairing the old one. Idiot.
There were far too many characters for me to get them straight in my head and Sassy - who I think was meant to become a major character was just plain shallow and irritating. There was little depth to any character or any realism and I gave up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2015
I simply cannot say enough about Marti Talbott's Clan MacGreagor series of books. From "The Viking," which tells the story of how the MacGreagor Clan first started, through her eleven-book Highlander Series, which explores generation after generation of the MacGreagor Clan, to the present "Marblestone Mansion, Book 1," which brings the MacGreagor Clan to the American Colorado Rockies, these books are simply breathtaking in their ability to touch a part of your heart and keep a smile on your face long after you have closed each book.
Never, in all my many years of reading historical romances, have I ever been so gripped by a series of books, have lost time and sleep because I just couldn't put them down, or been so impelled and driven to get the next book in the series as I have been with these amazing books! And, without fail, at the end of each book, I always have a smile on my face.
In order to truly understand and appreciate the history behind Ms. Talbott's current book, "Marblestone Mansion, Book I," I highly recommend you begin with her very first book on the MacGreagor Clan, "The Viking." Even if you don't, you will still thoroughly enjoy "Mablestone Mansion." However, if you do start at the beginning, you will smile and say "ah" when you recognize several little things that appear in each book. It makes it even more enjoyable when you realize how cleverly she sneaks in that little bit of magic into the stories.
There are very few authors who have the talent to write such unique, heartwarming stories which will make you laugh, cry, worry about and truly feel you are part of a very special family as you follow their lives through several generations. Marti Talbott is one of those very talented authors.
So, do yourself a very big favor and pick up Ms. Talbott's truly lovely books on the MacGreagor Clan. Be prepared to spend many wonderful hours lost in a world with all the triumphs and tragedies of a unique and special family from their ancestors to their present generation. I guarantee at the end of each book you, too, will be impelled to quickly reach for the next book in the series and you, too, will have a smile on your face!
As always, I can't wait for the next book! :)
Never, in all my many years of reading historical romances, have I ever been so gripped by a series of books, have lost time and sleep because I just couldn't put them down, or been so impelled and driven to get the next book in the series as I have been with these amazing books! And, without fail, at the end of each book, I always have a smile on my face.
In order to truly understand and appreciate the history behind Ms. Talbott's current book, "Marblestone Mansion, Book I," I highly recommend you begin with her very first book on the MacGreagor Clan, "The Viking." Even if you don't, you will still thoroughly enjoy "Mablestone Mansion." However, if you do start at the beginning, you will smile and say "ah" when you recognize several little things that appear in each book. It makes it even more enjoyable when you realize how cleverly she sneaks in that little bit of magic into the stories.
There are very few authors who have the talent to write such unique, heartwarming stories which will make you laugh, cry, worry about and truly feel you are part of a very special family as you follow their lives through several generations. Marti Talbott is one of those very talented authors.
So, do yourself a very big favor and pick up Ms. Talbott's truly lovely books on the MacGreagor Clan. Be prepared to spend many wonderful hours lost in a world with all the triumphs and tragedies of a unique and special family from their ancestors to their present generation. I guarantee at the end of each book you, too, will be impelled to quickly reach for the next book in the series and you, too, will have a smile on your face!
As always, I can't wait for the next book! :)
June 21, 2012
I really like this author's style of writing & would have given this book 5 stars if not for so many spelling & grammar errors. As I've said with her other books, she must self-publish & not thoroughly review her book before posting.
March 2, 2012
I throughly enjoyed this book. The characters are fun and just simply great reading. I could hardly put it down! I'm looking forward to getting the next books in the series.
January 6, 2016
The story was about Hannish McGregor and his wife, the Dutchess, joining him in America. She is supposed to bring his sister and their household staff with her from Scotland to start over in the mansion he built for her. Things are not as they seem when she arrived.
First of all she left half the staff back in Scotland, then she traveled with another man to America. She is cruel and very unlikable. Many characters are introduced throughout the book yet there is something missing in their development. It is all over the place with the huge cast of characters.
The end is rushed and that is why I can only give a 3 rating. I wanted more from the author. I wanted to feel more of their personalities.
First of all she left half the staff back in Scotland, then she traveled with another man to America. She is cruel and very unlikable. Many characters are introduced throughout the book yet there is something missing in their development. It is all over the place with the huge cast of characters.
The end is rushed and that is why I can only give a 3 rating. I wanted more from the author. I wanted to feel more of their personalities.
January 18, 2013
What a great read! This was a good book with great characters and such a strong moral cord running through it. Hannish is such a great hero with such a good heart. He shows so much character in his nonjudgemental concern for people and their problems, instead of using his position as a Scottish Duke to gain what he wants. I want to read more of these people. I want to see his sister McKenna find happiness too. As for Olivia, I can just imagine what other trouble she will cause. She makes a great villain that you love to hate.
May 21, 2015
After reading the first book of the Highlander series and liking it, when I saw the name of the author I didn't even bother reading the blurb, needless to say it was a big mistake. Thank God for iBook store free books, as it is I only wasted a couple minutes of my life that I'll never get back. I don't mean to be so harsh, this looks more like a rant than a review, but there is no helping it.
First and foremost I couldn't bring myself to keep reading after the Duke got a call from his brother and explains his plan to Alistair, so I didn't finish it. The only reason I read till this point was my misguided hope that the book wouldn't be as predictable as I thought it was shaping to be.
It was. Let's do a check list:
Honorable wronged, handsome, titled and wealthy man... Check
Dreadful, Callous, cheating, gold digging wife, soon to be ex-wife... Check
Poor beautiful, fun, and loving maid soon to be future wife... check
Now I have nothing against the Lord of the manor falling for the poor maid, But Sassy???? Really??? Of all the women a man like him could find that weren't interested in his money. He had to fall for the unschooled maid that as far as I could stomach to read had no ambition of learning and better herself. Really???
I'm at a lost for words, this book was as dreadful as the aforementioned gold digging soon to be ex-wife.
First and foremost I couldn't bring myself to keep reading after the Duke got a call from his brother and explains his plan to Alistair, so I didn't finish it. The only reason I read till this point was my misguided hope that the book wouldn't be as predictable as I thought it was shaping to be.
It was. Let's do a check list:
Honorable wronged, handsome, titled and wealthy man... Check
Dreadful, Callous, cheating, gold digging wife, soon to be ex-wife... Check
Poor beautiful, fun, and loving maid soon to be future wife... check
Now I have nothing against the Lord of the manor falling for the poor maid, But Sassy???? Really??? Of all the women a man like him could find that weren't interested in his money. He had to fall for the unschooled maid that as far as I could stomach to read had no ambition of learning and better herself. Really???
I'm at a lost for words, this book was as dreadful as the aforementioned gold digging soon to be ex-wife.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 7, 2025Another sanctimonious literary fast-food which promotes the idea that every girl, no matter her origin or social status or intellectual capacities, dreams exclusively about falling in love and marrying a handsome and rich man. Such a lousy way to describe women and their interactions with the opposite sex. The outcome is extremely disappointing: after a remarkably bad denouement, Hannish MacGreagor is finally a free man and he takes for wife his young and childish servant, which sounds like paedophilia.
Furthermore, the majority of characters are so judgemental, even for 19th century Colorado society. Scandal announced in the book description seems to be related to the Duchess' polygamy. I was hoping for something less obvious or at least better portrayed. However, the violent and hysteric Duchess with anger management issues is the only character that has potential and merits to be developed. Other plot-lines are just noise.
Furthermore, the majority of characters are so judgemental, even for 19th century Colorado society. Scandal announced in the book description seems to be related to the Duchess' polygamy. I was hoping for something less obvious or at least better portrayed. However, the violent and hysteric Duchess with anger management issues is the only character that has potential and merits to be developed. Other plot-lines are just noise.
January 15, 2013
If you are looking for a historical romance with fully developed characters, and without graphic sex scenes, you will enjoy Marblestone Mansion. The author does a good job at describing the setting of the story, without overdoing it. Some authors get carried away with descriptive scenes, making you skim over paragraphs. It was a good balance and comfortable read.
I liked how she visualized the story in her mind, and was able to convey the scenes and setting with her words.
I really didn’t intend to read the story when I did, as I only had my iPod. But I was bored one afternoon, and started reading it. I got immediately into the story. This is one book in a series, and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
I've read literally hundreds of romances over the years - and this book holds its own with all those traditionally published works. Good Job.
I liked how she visualized the story in her mind, and was able to convey the scenes and setting with her words.
I really didn’t intend to read the story when I did, as I only had my iPod. But I was bored one afternoon, and started reading it. I got immediately into the story. This is one book in a series, and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
I've read literally hundreds of romances over the years - and this book holds its own with all those traditionally published works. Good Job.
May 24, 2015
Who knew the Scottish Highlands were flat?
Ms. Talbott starts out her book with this assertion, and it just gets worse from there. She also knows nothing about the mores of English and Scottish peerage, master/servant relations, Scottish history, American history, fashion history, seamstressing, cooking, or any other subject on which she holds forth, but she apparently has written volumes and volumes of this trash.
The plot of this particular gem is completely unbelievable, the dialog is childishly stilted, and the author's penchant for making up character names completely unsuited to the period and ethnicity of their owners is nothing short of hilarious. Nonetheless I'm giving it two stars because it fascinated me in the same sense as would a train wreck. I suppose I'd read another one, for the same reason, if it were also free, but I wouldn't pay even a penny.
Ms. Talbott starts out her book with this assertion, and it just gets worse from there. She also knows nothing about the mores of English and Scottish peerage, master/servant relations, Scottish history, American history, fashion history, seamstressing, cooking, or any other subject on which she holds forth, but she apparently has written volumes and volumes of this trash.
The plot of this particular gem is completely unbelievable, the dialog is childishly stilted, and the author's penchant for making up character names completely unsuited to the period and ethnicity of their owners is nothing short of hilarious. Nonetheless I'm giving it two stars because it fascinated me in the same sense as would a train wreck. I suppose I'd read another one, for the same reason, if it were also free, but I wouldn't pay even a penny.
September 22, 2015
Marblestone Mansion
Marblestone Mansion is the setting for a family story centering on an American who is wealthy due to silver mining investments. From Scotland, he is also a duke, an inherited title that came to him sans any real wealth. After making his fortune in America, he builds a mansion in Colorado, where he hires a few good, loyal people. Then he sends for his wife, a sister, and about twenty retainers. He thinks of them all as family and oversees the adjustments, the frictions between the new "American family" and the "old Scots family. A good clean entertaining story. I'll be looking for more by Talbot.
Marblestone Mansion is the setting for a family story centering on an American who is wealthy due to silver mining investments. From Scotland, he is also a duke, an inherited title that came to him sans any real wealth. After making his fortune in America, he builds a mansion in Colorado, where he hires a few good, loyal people. Then he sends for his wife, a sister, and about twenty retainers. He thinks of them all as family and oversees the adjustments, the frictions between the new "American family" and the "old Scots family. A good clean entertaining story. I'll be looking for more by Talbot.
February 3, 2016
Ms. Talbott certainly has a way with words!
She draws you in, cajoles you, makes you feel safe and comfortable in the world she creates then weaves the most wonderful stories!
She has a very descriptive style which is very evident in the first book of the Marblestone Mansion series.
Marblestone Mansion follows the MacGregors of the Highlander series into the 20th century and I must say they arrived with style and aplomb.
She draws you in, cajoles you, makes you feel safe and comfortable in the world she creates then weaves the most wonderful stories!
She has a very descriptive style which is very evident in the first book of the Marblestone Mansion series.
Marblestone Mansion follows the MacGregors of the Highlander series into the 20th century and I must say they arrived with style and aplomb.
November 1, 2013
What a fast past highland action packed romance turned suspense! This book was well written and the characters in it were a delight to get to know. I loved the spunky tone used and the colorful way in which everything is described in this book. It makes you feel apart of the story. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
July 21, 2014
Marblestone Mansion, #1
I gave this book 3-stars rather than 4-stars because of the number of proofreading mistakes. I'm thrown by these mistakes and it disrupts my immersion in the story. This book also seems to a weave of three or four short stories. Regardless I liked the book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance with a touch of mystery.
I gave this book 3-stars rather than 4-stars because of the number of proofreading mistakes. I'm thrown by these mistakes and it disrupts my immersion in the story. This book also seems to a weave of three or four short stories. Regardless I liked the book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys romance with a touch of mystery.
May 16, 2015
I prefer my historical romances with at least a little bit of steam. But this had zilch. Nothing. In fact if you measured the steam factor in this book it would be in the negative. I wasn't even 100% positive exactly who was supposed to the the heroine/love interest in this until around 60% of the book! I would not recommend this.
November 6, 2013
Loved this story! Not only are the character and scenes well developed the humor is delightful. I laughed at Sassy's antics along with the rest of the staff of Marblestone Manor and I can't wait for more.
November 17, 2016
A fun and well written series.
March 5, 2018
A pretty decent read and a good solid start of the third set of books of the MacGreagor saga. These series of books refer to the American MacGreagors from Scotland that settled in Colorado. Specifically this one is Hannish MacGreagor's story. Having inherited a Dukedom sans the wherewithal to maintain it, Hannish went to America and "struck silver" and built Marblestone Mansion (from the proceeds of the silvermine's sale) worthy of his Duchess. It turned out that the Duchess had other 3 living husbands before Hannish and that she used an assumed name when she married him. Ergo no marriage took place; thus Hannish is Free to marry. This is a funny and sometimes exasperating (re~presence of duplicitous Duchess) and made credible and relatable by the endearing characters that made up the colorful ensemble of this delightful book.
September 9, 2017
Good story
I enjoyed the story and the characters were complex enough to be engaging and interesting. I was supremely disappointed when I realized the entire 10 book series was about the same villainous woman for the entire series! Although cameo appearances by this scandalous "duchess" would have been fine, having the same antagonist for the whole series was not what I wanted. Hoped the second book was only about McKenna. If Charles showed up again as a villain for the second book, that would have worked. Ah well. The first book was fun.
I enjoyed the story and the characters were complex enough to be engaging and interesting. I was supremely disappointed when I realized the entire 10 book series was about the same villainous woman for the entire series! Although cameo appearances by this scandalous "duchess" would have been fine, having the same antagonist for the whole series was not what I wanted. Hoped the second book was only about McKenna. If Charles showed up again as a villain for the second book, that would have worked. Ah well. The first book was fun.
December 20, 2017
An Interesting Historical Ficiton
I think, given the title of the series, I was expecting a little more scandal in the book, but otherwise it was a good read. I love how the story makes you invest in all of the characters not just the main ones. It makes the story more believable and gives more personality to everyone. I really liked the setting - it was an era I'm very familiar with, but someplace new - which was refreshing. I am curious where the next book heads with McKenna, but not sure if I'll continue the series beyond that though. Just not my usual style of book.
I think, given the title of the series, I was expecting a little more scandal in the book, but otherwise it was a good read. I love how the story makes you invest in all of the characters not just the main ones. It makes the story more believable and gives more personality to everyone. I really liked the setting - it was an era I'm very familiar with, but someplace new - which was refreshing. I am curious where the next book heads with McKenna, but not sure if I'll continue the series beyond that though. Just not my usual style of book.
August 23, 2020
This novel is about the McGreagor family from Scotland. Mr. McGreagor came to America and made his fortune leaving his wife in Scotland. As he prepares for her to arrive in USA he is baffled when she stays in New York with a man hired to do repairs on the Scotland estate. The servants arrive without her. His sister has also arrived. No one likes the wife. When she finally arrives her true colors come out and she is sent back to Scotland. Oh the antics to occur are very mysterious until the truth comes out. Really got into the characters and the the story that is not over at the end.
February 3, 2018
Soooo many errors, but better than the previous series and the series before that. Aside from grammatical and punctuation errors, there were both logical and factual errors. For instance, the telephone did not reach Colorado Springs until sometime after 1902 (I didn’t care to do enough research to get an actual date) and this book mentions that the current President was President McKinley who served from 1897-1901. That’s one example. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story ok.
November 15, 2021
Refreshingly different
It was enjoyable to read this tale of a Scots Lord who moved to Colorado. Not having read previous books in the series, the backstory wasn’t clear. However, that didn’t take away from this. The way Hannish treated his unfaithful wife was so different and so perfect. Of course, the happy ending for Hannish and Sassy could be seen coming a mile off, but the way it came about was unique and interesting.
It was enjoyable to read this tale of a Scots Lord who moved to Colorado. Not having read previous books in the series, the backstory wasn’t clear. However, that didn’t take away from this. The way Hannish treated his unfaithful wife was so different and so perfect. Of course, the happy ending for Hannish and Sassy could be seen coming a mile off, but the way it came about was unique and interesting.
June 6, 2018
This is book 1 in a series called Scandalous Duchess. This kind of reminded me of a western Gone with the Wind. The story was good but the romance not so much. It was very weak the two that end up together just barely our together. So i am giving it four stars for the story but only a one on the Romance side.
August 23, 2018
We now move from the late dark ages and meet the MacGreagors in Victorian times in America. There are no clan wars, but we still meet good and bad people and see what trouble they create. Some romance as well. This crazy old Irishman likes Marti’s books well enough and read and enjoy the slightly different genre and very different times and places. Marti, keep writing and I will keep reading.
December 24, 2019
Yep. Nope. That's enough of that. Not that this book has anything 'wrong' with it per say--but the magic doesn't exist, the character personalities feels stilted, and the action seems to be the only concise idea in this story.
Dialogue is also rough--nice accented bits, but no real emotional volume. Behh--I recommend you pick a different one, I sure won't be continuing this series!
Dialogue is also rough--nice accented bits, but no real emotional volume. Behh--I recommend you pick a different one, I sure won't be continuing this series!
January 6, 2023
Wonderful Wonderful Story!
I absolutely loved loved loved this book. I love the characters and storyline so much. Hannish, McKenna, Leesil and the rest what a beautiful story and I am so excited there are 9 more to go. Since I’ve read the Beloved Series before this I know of the outcomes but still this is great. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜😊😊😊😊😊
I absolutely loved loved loved this book. I love the characters and storyline so much. Hannish, McKenna, Leesil and the rest what a beautiful story and I am so excited there are 9 more to go. Since I’ve read the Beloved Series before this I know of the outcomes but still this is great. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜😊😊😊😊😊
July 5, 2017
:)
I confess I found this book a bit too telling, but I nonetheless enjoyed it. I discovered Marti Talbott through her highlander series, and I liked reading about the MacGreagors in Colorado.
I confess I found this book a bit too telling, but I nonetheless enjoyed it. I discovered Marti Talbott through her highlander series, and I liked reading about the MacGreagors in Colorado.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews