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The Scarred Duke’s Chosen Bride: A Historical Regency Romance Book
“He has not let anyone close in ten years.
She falls into his life, quite literally.”
Marcus Wyndham, the reclusive Duke of Thornfield, is a man carved from silence and scars. The world believes him broken. He prefers it that way.
Until he finds her.
In a muddy ditch. Bleeding. Smiling.
Charlotte Bright is everything he has spent a decade avoiding, warm, relentless, and impossible to ignore. She talks too much, sees too much… and worst of all, she looks at him as if there is nothing to fear.
Now she is under his roof.
In his house.
In his space.
In his carefully controlled world.
And she is changing everything.
Because Lottie does not retreat.
She does not flinch.
And she does not understand that some men are not meant to be saved.
But the more Marcus tries to push her away…
…the more he begins to wonder if she is the only thing capable of bringing him back to life.
If you love strong characters, slow-burning passion, and a story filled with twists, secrets, and unexpected turns, don’t miss the chance to add this captivating Historical Romance to your library.
With scandal, emotion, and tender moments that will keep you turning the pages, this romance novel delivers everything readers adore.
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a beautifully satisfying happily ever after full of romance.
Also available with Kindle Unlimited!
She falls into his life, quite literally.”
Marcus Wyndham, the reclusive Duke of Thornfield, is a man carved from silence and scars. The world believes him broken. He prefers it that way.
Until he finds her.
In a muddy ditch. Bleeding. Smiling.
Charlotte Bright is everything he has spent a decade avoiding, warm, relentless, and impossible to ignore. She talks too much, sees too much… and worst of all, she looks at him as if there is nothing to fear.
Now she is under his roof.
In his house.
In his space.
In his carefully controlled world.
And she is changing everything.
Because Lottie does not retreat.
She does not flinch.
And she does not understand that some men are not meant to be saved.
But the more Marcus tries to push her away…
…the more he begins to wonder if she is the only thing capable of bringing him back to life.
If you love strong characters, slow-burning passion, and a story filled with twists, secrets, and unexpected turns, don’t miss the chance to add this captivating Historical Romance to your library.
With scandal, emotion, and tender moments that will keep you turning the pages, this romance novel delivers everything readers adore.
No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a beautifully satisfying happily ever after full of romance.
Also available with Kindle Unlimited!
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 17, 2026
59 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 18, 2026
Lovely story.
I loved Marcus and Lottie's story. She was such a wonderful character. I really liked her. There was sadness but also humour. Laugh out loud moments that are quite rare, imo. I have read many of this author's work in the past and if I did not see her name on the cover as the author, I would never have said this was her writing - so different it is from previous works. But in the best of ways. I really liked it. I only picked up one inconsistency: the 3am library encounter where she speaks of foxglove and valerian, but the author later refers to it by stating she played the piano for him. The author repeats it again later. I can only conclude it happened 'off camera' so to speak. There is also a duplicate paragraph in chapter 15, which I'm sure will be corrected. I really liked that the extended epilogue was included after the epilogue in the ARC copy, but sad to see it's back to a sign up motivation in the release copy. Overall though, this is a lovely clean story with heart.
I loved Marcus and Lottie's story. She was such a wonderful character. I really liked her. There was sadness but also humour. Laugh out loud moments that are quite rare, imo. I have read many of this author's work in the past and if I did not see her name on the cover as the author, I would never have said this was her writing - so different it is from previous works. But in the best of ways. I really liked it. I only picked up one inconsistency: the 3am library encounter where she speaks of foxglove and valerian, but the author later refers to it by stating she played the piano for him. The author repeats it again later. I can only conclude it happened 'off camera' so to speak. There is also a duplicate paragraph in chapter 15, which I'm sure will be corrected. I really liked that the extended epilogue was included after the epilogue in the ARC copy, but sad to see it's back to a sign up motivation in the release copy. Overall though, this is a lovely clean story with heart.
April 26, 2026
This book is about two people who needed a leg up to get on with their lives. Charlotte had been fired, no money and no reference. She had a wreck on the way to her Aunt's and fell onto the road. She had blood from a cut on her forehead and a sprained ankle. Then a man walking through the woods, saw her. He put her on his horse and took her back to his house. His housekeeper had a Dr come check on her injury. The man was a Duke who lost his kid brother in a fire 10 yrs before & the Duke's face was scared. He closed up & lost all hope. Lottie was a positive person, open & she was kind to the Duke. She wouldn't take charity so the Duke said he needed his library organized and he paid her so she didnt have to leave. He slowly let her in. As time went on they became closer. There was nothing I didn't love about this book and it has a great ending. This book may be the best book I've ever read. I didnt want it to end. It was a miracle. If I could give it six stars I would.
May 5, 2026
Ok this was unexpected!!!! KU win
I really liked this.
It was not a typical Regency romance. It was not a fluffy, lighthearted, rom-comesq, dive into regency england. It was a very heartfelt deeply personal prose filled with real moments of human interactions and flaws.
I loved the mirror that these two were the distance through solitude and walls, and that of false brightness and people pleasing.
It didn't go to a London season with a dew eyed debutant and grumpy Duke, there were no miscommunications, side quests, rumours and drama. this was just a story about 2 people and I really liked it.
This is a very 'done' trope, but it was sooooo well done here. No over blown cliches and unnecessary self flaggilation and martyrdom. I really appreciated it.
I don't know that I would want to read heaps and heaps of books written in this style, but I may be wrong, as this was delightful.
I really liked this.
It was not a typical Regency romance. It was not a fluffy, lighthearted, rom-comesq, dive into regency england. It was a very heartfelt deeply personal prose filled with real moments of human interactions and flaws.
I loved the mirror that these two were the distance through solitude and walls, and that of false brightness and people pleasing.
It didn't go to a London season with a dew eyed debutant and grumpy Duke, there were no miscommunications, side quests, rumours and drama. this was just a story about 2 people and I really liked it.
This is a very 'done' trope, but it was sooooo well done here. No over blown cliches and unnecessary self flaggilation and martyrdom. I really appreciated it.
I don't know that I would want to read heaps and heaps of books written in this style, but I may be wrong, as this was delightful.
April 19, 2026
I really liked the chatty FMC. She was delightful in seeing the good in things and being very whimsical. The MMC is the grumpy one due to his scars and withdrawal from society. She is injured when he finds her along the roadside so he takes her home to get medical attention. After that the walls around his heart start to crack. The story has humorous moments along with the slow burn of the romance.
May 1, 2026
Heartwrenching
I would argue that this is the best of Forbes. There is nothing remarkable about the genre or trope, but it’s how the author’s prose, dialogue, and memorable characters immerse readers into this sorrowful tale. Read how a scarred duke, entombed in grief for ten years, is ever so slowly eased into living by an impoverished young Miss who has a gift for naming gargoyles. Bring a box of tissues.
Worthy of 5 stars and rereading.
May 3, 2026
The best
I think this is the best book I have read so far in 2026. It has everything. I adored the characters. Marcus was a unique person dealing with so much and he was just existing. Charlotte or Lottie was amazing and so likeable I wished she was real. I cried after they admitted their love and were so happy till his mother arrived. Loved this book! Great read great romance.
I think this is the best book I have read so far in 2026. It has everything. I adored the characters. Marcus was a unique person dealing with so much and he was just existing. Charlotte or Lottie was amazing and so likeable I wished she was real. I cried after they admitted their love and were so happy till his mother arrived. Loved this book! Great read great romance.
April 20, 2026
The duke, Marcus, has lived ten years as a recluse after a fire that killed his brother. He finds Lottie injured after a cart overturned and in the process of her recuperating he realizes that her unique qualities of a sunshine disposition despite adverse difficulties is just exactly the personality that brings him out of his dark place and back into the world around him.
April 26, 2026
A lovely story
I enjoyed this story it flowed well and the characters were very human and at times poignant. But happily they made the right decisions and gave me the happy ending
that I look forward to in reading these stories. Sally Forbes manages to reach this goal in most of her books.
I enjoyed this story it flowed well and the characters were very human and at times poignant. But happily they made the right decisions and gave me the happy ending
that I look forward to in reading these stories. Sally Forbes manages to reach this goal in most of her books.
April 30, 2026
She Won the Heart of the Broken Duke
It was a wonderful story with well developed characters that was fun to read. A Duke who was wounded not only with scars but also with the guilt that sometimes comes with loss. The Duke was slowly taught to live again by a woman who hid her pain behind laughter and cheerfulness.
It was a wonderful story with well developed characters that was fun to read. A Duke who was wounded not only with scars but also with the guilt that sometimes comes with loss. The Duke was slowly taught to live again by a woman who hid her pain behind laughter and cheerfulness.
May 12, 2026
I loved this book
I love how this book was written. I think it’s Sally’s best writing I have read.
I read a lot. Well over 100 books a year. I do not cry when I read books. This one brought tears to my eyes. Both sorrow, and joy.
Read this book. You will enjoy it too.
I love how this book was written. I think it’s Sally’s best writing I have read.
I read a lot. Well over 100 books a year. I do not cry when I read books. This one brought tears to my eyes. Both sorrow, and joy.
Read this book. You will enjoy it too.
April 27, 2026
Totally delightful. An enchanting story beautifully written.
April 27, 2026
at first, I was underwhelmed
BUT….I could not stop reading, and by the end, I cried….I’m still having difficulties forgiving the Dowager Duchess. (Sniff, sniff)
BUT….I could not stop reading, and by the end, I cried….I’m still having difficulties forgiving the Dowager Duchess. (Sniff, sniff)
May 7, 2026
charming
A truly lovely book. No sex, no baddies just fun and loving. A truly delightful read. I will look for her other books.
A truly lovely book. No sex, no baddies just fun and loving. A truly delightful read. I will look for her other books.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews