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Lady Reluctant
A rollicking historical romance with unforgettable characters from a Two-Time RITA Award-Winning Author.
Beautiful, fiery Blusette Morgan, daughter of a notorious pirate, has been raised in the rough vulgar atmosphere of Morgan's Island. Now, her father is sending her, against her will, to her mother in London, with instructions to Lady Paget, to make Blu into a lady.
Convinced that she is the only virgin on the island, Blu intends to remedy that state before meeting her detested mother, and her discerning eye lands on Thomas, the gorgeous privateer who will sail her to England. This is the man who will make her into a woman and not sour her forever. But the momentous event does not unfold as expected.
Blu arrives in London to discover a family she didn't know she had, a glittering life she could not have imagined, and Thomas is the center of that vibrant world. Thomas, the passionate man she loves and craves but cannot have . . .
"Wit, style, and class." -- Nora Roberts
AWARDS:
Reader's Choice Award - Paperback Trader
Finalist for Best Historical Romantic Adventure - Romantic Times
Finalist for Reviewer's Choice Award - Romantic Times
Winner of Career Achievement Award - Romantic Times
Beautiful, fiery Blusette Morgan, daughter of a notorious pirate, has been raised in the rough vulgar atmosphere of Morgan's Island. Now, her father is sending her, against her will, to her mother in London, with instructions to Lady Paget, to make Blu into a lady.
Convinced that she is the only virgin on the island, Blu intends to remedy that state before meeting her detested mother, and her discerning eye lands on Thomas, the gorgeous privateer who will sail her to England. This is the man who will make her into a woman and not sour her forever. But the momentous event does not unfold as expected.
Blu arrives in London to discover a family she didn't know she had, a glittering life she could not have imagined, and Thomas is the center of that vibrant world. Thomas, the passionate man she loves and craves but cannot have . . .
"Wit, style, and class." -- Nora Roberts
AWARDS:
Reader's Choice Award - Paperback Trader
Finalist for Best Historical Romantic Adventure - Romantic Times
Finalist for Reviewer's Choice Award - Romantic Times
Winner of Career Achievement Award - Romantic Times
378 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1990
29 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Osborne
30 books518 followersaka
Margaret St. George
Maggie Osborne is the author of I Do, I Do, I Do and Silver Lining, as well as more than forty contemporary and historical romance novels written as Maggie Osborne and Margaret St. George. She has won numerous awards from Romantic Times, Affaire de Coeur, BookraK, the Colorado Romance Writers, and Coeur du Bois, among others. Osborne won the RITA for long historical from the Romance Writers of America in 1998. Maggie lives in a resort town in the Colorado mountains with her husband, one mule, two horses, one cat, and one dog, all of whom are a lot of aggravation, but she loves them anyway.
Margaret St. George
Maggie Osborne is the author of I Do, I Do, I Do and Silver Lining, as well as more than forty contemporary and historical romance novels written as Maggie Osborne and Margaret St. George. She has won numerous awards from Romantic Times, Affaire de Coeur, BookraK, the Colorado Romance Writers, and Coeur du Bois, among others. Osborne won the RITA for long historical from the Romance Writers of America in 1998. Maggie lives in a resort town in the Colorado mountains with her husband, one mule, two horses, one cat, and one dog, all of whom are a lot of aggravation, but she loves them anyway.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 12, 2016
This books deals comically with an unacknowledged issue.
Virgin Shaming.
Last year in 2015, when I was watching a talk show, the theme was 50SoG.\
And all of them were saying stuff like : Only a moron would still be a virgin at 22, real women lose their v-card fast, this was exaggerated cause things like that don't exist.
Now if it were just that I would understand, but I've read a ton of GR reviews where reviewers insult virgin heroines.
So I'd like to ask you guys a question : How many of you regret your first time? How many of you were pressured by society, friends or even boyfriend to "get rid of it"?
I don't agree with virgin shaming any more than I agree to slut shaming.
It's the woman's body, it depends on her own feelings. Only cause a woman might be ready immediately does not mean that another is.
Dear so-called feminists, do take into consideration that there are not 2 exact same people in the world.
This book deal with the issue very good.
I compliment the author in actually bothering to make sure the heroine grows up.
If I had a daughter, I would make sure that she had a choice, whether it was to lose her v-card at 16 with her first bf, or to lose it at 20+ years old.
It's a real personal choice, and it saddens me to watch it being reduced to something that "you must get rid of to be the same as society wants"
Virgin Shaming.
Last year in 2015, when I was watching a talk show, the theme was 50SoG.\
And all of them were saying stuff like : Only a moron would still be a virgin at 22, real women lose their v-card fast, this was exaggerated cause things like that don't exist.
Now if it were just that I would understand, but I've read a ton of GR reviews where reviewers insult virgin heroines.
So I'd like to ask you guys a question : How many of you regret your first time? How many of you were pressured by society, friends or even boyfriend to "get rid of it"?
I don't agree with virgin shaming any more than I agree to slut shaming.
It's the woman's body, it depends on her own feelings. Only cause a woman might be ready immediately does not mean that another is.
Dear so-called feminists, do take into consideration that there are not 2 exact same people in the world.
This book deal with the issue very good.
I compliment the author in actually bothering to make sure the heroine grows up.
If I had a daughter, I would make sure that she had a choice, whether it was to lose her v-card at 16 with her first bf, or to lose it at 20+ years old.
It's a real personal choice, and it saddens me to watch it being reduced to something that "you must get rid of to be the same as society wants"
June 20, 2021
Absolutely not on par with her later works, the two stars are only for the solid writing, but as long as characterisations and story go this one completely lost me in the second half.
What started as a very fun and original take on lady pirates and English lords and some more became an annoying mix of repetitiveness, duplicity and overplayed drama.
November 18, 2019
This was unlike any historical romance novel I've read before. It was over the top and so much fun. I laughed and smiled through it all. I felt like I was reading an amazing Mexican soap opera from the 90's, high praise indeed. Fair to say that it was published in 1990 and it shows. There were some parts that made me 🤔😬, but when reading old-school you just need to roll with it and enjoy the ride! 😂
June 2, 2008
It has been awhile since I read it but it was the first time during my many historical romance reads that I found page after page of "laugh out loud" humor tucked in with historical period facts and customs, along with a poignant story. I have saved it to read again.
March 26, 2023
Ok so I wasn't too keen as I read on initially because Blu's very open degenerate upbringing lead her to consider distasteful things as entirely normal and frankly Victorian society may have had some form of cleanliness and propriety but it was still pretty degenerate in its own ways. HOWEVER bloody hilarious as I read on I remembered why Maggie Osborne glues me to her books. The bits I skimmed were mainly the romance lol because boring. I wanted to read more of the hilarious massive absurd social faux pas that Blu and her bawdy crew would commit next.
February 28, 2017
This was just....I have no words. Well, ok, that's a lie. I have a lot of words but I don't feel like expending that much energy on a book that was cliche, one note and unsatisfying. The main character was a selfish little bitch, the hero was flat and way too "noble" for his own good and I disliked all of the characters except for Cecile and Beau Billy. Had this been a book about Katherine and Billy, this book would have been pretty good.
Now I had hopes for Blu. She's a pirate's daughter, she curses, and uses a sword and she's pretty kick ass for a woman in the 1800s. And she was that for approximately 10 minutes. Then in some weird Pygmalion, Blu pretty much became a different character who was just an immature, selfish, tantrum throwing, brat.
The hero could've been anyone. He had two names. I mean, he literally could've been anyone. He was less selfish but still a hypocrite and with no redeeming qualities it became increasingly clear that he was just supposed to be a good looking guy with a bank account.
This was just not one of her better books.
Now I had hopes for Blu. She's a pirate's daughter, she curses, and uses a sword and she's pretty kick ass for a woman in the 1800s. And she was that for approximately 10 minutes. Then in some weird Pygmalion, Blu pretty much became a different character who was just an immature, selfish, tantrum throwing, brat.
The hero could've been anyone. He had two names. I mean, he literally could've been anyone. He was less selfish but still a hypocrite and with no redeeming qualities it became increasingly clear that he was just supposed to be a good looking guy with a bank account.
This was just not one of her better books.
March 10, 2013
Rating =4.25/5
Review with quotes can be found from here
Review goes live at 00:00 hours, March 11, 2013 - MVT time.
Review with quotes can be found from here
Review goes live at 00:00 hours, March 11, 2013 - MVT time.
November 18, 2018
3.5 stars This was a little far fetched, but if you suspend reality it is a funny book.
June 14, 2020
am still digesting
cover a great put-off but a sweet romance of a savage pirate daughter and an aristocratic privateer with a cast of characters more suited to a Broadway farce. Pirate emeritus, ret'd, Beau Mallory forces Thomas to take his daughter Blusette [because she swears blue most of the time, also skilled swords woman] to London to her mother, Lady Paget, to become a lady. Take a stew pot and put every outrage of speech and action, strange characters, and haut ton, and stir with lots of rum. You can have brandy for a chaser or a beginner but you will have it. Blu desperate to lose her virginity with Thomas, he is enraptured but a gentleman, betrothed to her half sister, in wheel chair, a villain wanting Beau Mallory to hang, social lessons, do you see/smell the curls of delectable senses rising from the pot? Hilarity, passion, goodness on a stick, Blu becomes a lady, mostly and finally comes to terms with her mother. Aunt Tremble the biggest hoot. but closely followed by rest of the crew. A long book of Perils of Pauline collected in one place with a grand finale, jailbreak and heading to the Boston for new lives. Pretty splendid.
cover a great put-off but a sweet romance of a savage pirate daughter and an aristocratic privateer with a cast of characters more suited to a Broadway farce. Pirate emeritus, ret'd, Beau Mallory forces Thomas to take his daughter Blusette [because she swears blue most of the time, also skilled swords woman] to London to her mother, Lady Paget, to become a lady. Take a stew pot and put every outrage of speech and action, strange characters, and haut ton, and stir with lots of rum. You can have brandy for a chaser or a beginner but you will have it. Blu desperate to lose her virginity with Thomas, he is enraptured but a gentleman, betrothed to her half sister, in wheel chair, a villain wanting Beau Mallory to hang, social lessons, do you see/smell the curls of delectable senses rising from the pot? Hilarity, passion, goodness on a stick, Blu becomes a lady, mostly and finally comes to terms with her mother. Aunt Tremble the biggest hoot. but closely followed by rest of the crew. A long book of Perils of Pauline collected in one place with a grand finale, jailbreak and heading to the Boston for new lives. Pretty splendid.
October 20, 2025
This is probably the worst book I have read by Maggie Osborn. And yet, there is much to recommend in this book. The relationship between Blu and her father, the camraderie between Blu, Mouton, Monsieur and Isabelle are all worthwhile reasons to pick up the book. Maggie Osborne, she knows how to start a rollicking good story and how to introduce us to characters. She has had a lot of great hits no doubting there. The first half of Lady Reluctant had me laughing out loud at Blu's ridiculous antics, just as amused as Thomas must have been. The latter half, I still laughed and was touched by the many moments between Blu and Cecile as their relationship grew from strangers to sisters of the same heart. Just like Cecile remarked upon, Blu's directness is a prize indeed. However, I was not so fond of the deception the intended couple employed, despite C's adamance that all with eyes could plainly see those two were meant to be. It lessened my enjoyment of Lady Reluctant.
May 16, 2019
This book was hilarious. I laughed out loud half a dozen times, making it a delightful antidote to a really crappy week. The romance was full of tension, the heroine skilled with a sword and dirty language, and even the side characters were the absolute best. This was a book club pick, so not one I would have chosen on my own, but from now on I will not turn my nose up at a pirate romance, or really anything pirate-adjacent. More lady savages please.
December 10, 2020
She became a lady
This is one of my favorite books, I have read it in paper back ,over the years several times, and I never get
Bored or tired of reading Blusetta and
Thomas,s story, its filled with adventures, and danger, daring rescue, and a love that could not be
Denied. I will no doubt read it again.
Thank you ❤
This is one of my favorite books, I have read it in paper back ,over the years several times, and I never get
Bored or tired of reading Blusetta and
Thomas,s story, its filled with adventures, and danger, daring rescue, and a love that could not be
Denied. I will no doubt read it again.
Thank you ❤
February 11, 2022
I really love Maggie’s books. She creates such unique stories and characters. This book would have probably made my all time favorite shelf accept for a couple things. 1) about 20% of the book had the two main characters in separate towns 2) the ending felt a bit rushed 3) I would have enjoyed a bit more steamy scenes 😉
September 25, 2019
Okay, I want to start out by saying that I want to name my cat after the heroine. I mean, Blusette is such a pretty, unique name.
I enjoyed the book, and I did suspect that Thomas was Cecile's fiancee even before he was revealed as such. In short, a delightful tale!
I enjoyed the book, and I did suspect that Thomas was Cecile's fiancee even before he was revealed as such. In short, a delightful tale!
January 3, 2020
Written to be silly and fun -- wish I'd read this in the 90s. It was cute but the humor is now outdated and silly.
February 3, 2020
Very unique and engaging story! Far-fetched of course, but very very fun and enjoyable read!!! Maggie Osborne is a talented storyteller!
June 18, 2022
I enjoyed the hilarious parts in the book...but somewhere the author couldn't bring justice to the concept and the ending felt rushed...Good book for a one time read though.
June 13, 2023
while the novel was good, I found Blu to be fucking insufferable. And I wish for a better end for Cecile than what she got. It was a poor decision by Ms Osborne.
January 21, 2025
A breath of fresh air!
A pygmalion tale from the 17th century. A lot of fun to read and a wonderful heroine! A thoroughly enjoyable book which I found hard to put down
A pygmalion tale from the 17th century. A lot of fun to read and a wonderful heroine! A thoroughly enjoyable book which I found hard to put down
April 20, 2025
Good book
The best way to describe this book is delightful swashbuckling romp: pirates, Dukes, a heroine's who wields swords. sweet reunions and, most of all, romance.
The best way to describe this book is delightful swashbuckling romp: pirates, Dukes, a heroine's who wields swords. sweet reunions and, most of all, romance.
November 5, 2025
3.8/5. Some genuinely funny bits peppered throughout the read, though it was slightly too lengthy for me. Aunt Tremble turned out to be the funniest one.
March 22, 2018
disappointed. this is one of my favorite authors.
July 26, 2020
Loved this book
I laughed till I cried. Super good book. Don't miss this one. I'm sure to read this again and again.
I laughed till I cried. Super good book. Don't miss this one. I'm sure to read this again and again.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews