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Chance Sisters #1
The Autumn Bride
Anne Gracie is “always terrific,”* and now the award-winning author delivers a brand-new series about four young women on the verge of destitution—until a daring act changes their fortune and transforms each of them into a glowing bride…
Governess Abigail Chantry will do anything to save her sister and two dearest friends from destitution, even if it means breaking into an empty mansion in the hope of finding something to sell. Instead of treasures, though, she finds the owner, Lady Beatrice Davenham, bedridden and neglected. Appalled, Abby rousts Lady Beatrice's predatory servants and—with Lady Beatrice's eager cooperation—the four young ladies become her “nieces,” neatly eliminating the threat of disaster for all concerned!
It's the perfect situation, until Lady Beatrice’s dashing and arrogant nephew, Max, Lord Davenham, returns from the Orient—and discovers an impostor running his household…
A romantic entanglement was never the plan for these stubborn, passionate opponents—but falling in love may be as inevitable as the falling of autumn leaves...
*Mary Jo Putney
Governess Abigail Chantry will do anything to save her sister and two dearest friends from destitution, even if it means breaking into an empty mansion in the hope of finding something to sell. Instead of treasures, though, she finds the owner, Lady Beatrice Davenham, bedridden and neglected. Appalled, Abby rousts Lady Beatrice's predatory servants and—with Lady Beatrice's eager cooperation—the four young ladies become her “nieces,” neatly eliminating the threat of disaster for all concerned!
It's the perfect situation, until Lady Beatrice’s dashing and arrogant nephew, Max, Lord Davenham, returns from the Orient—and discovers an impostor running his household…
A romantic entanglement was never the plan for these stubborn, passionate opponents—but falling in love may be as inevitable as the falling of autumn leaves...
*Mary Jo Putney
310 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 30, 2012
437 people are currently reading
3254 people want to read
About the author
Anne Gracie
83 books1,509 followersI've always loved stories. Family legend has it that I used to spend hours playing in the sand pit, with a dog on either side of me and Rocka the horse leaning over me, his head just touching my shoulder, while I told them stories. I have to say, dogs and horses are great audiences, apart from their tendency to drool occasionally. But people are even nicer.
In case you imagine we were a filthy rich horse-owning family, let me assure you we weren't. The horse period was a time when my parents entered a "let's-be-self-sufficient" phase, so we had a horse, but no electricity and all our water came from the rain tank.
As well as the horse and dogs, we had 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly,) goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. I don't know how my mother managed, really, because both she and Dad taught full time, but she came home and cooked on a wood stove and did all the laundry by hand, boiling the clothes and sheets in a big copper kettle. Somehow, we were always warm, clean, well fed and happy. She's pretty amazing, my mum.
Once I learned to read, I spent my days outside playing with the animals (I include my brother and 2 sisters here) and when inside I read. For most of my childhood we didn't have TV, so books have always been a big part of my life. Luckily our house was always full of them. Travel was also a big part of my childhood. My parents had itchy feet. We spent a lot of time driving from one part of Australia to another, visiting relatives or friends or simply to see what was there. I've lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece. We travelled through Europe in a caravan and I'd swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time I was eight.
This is me and my classmates in Scotland. I am in the second front row, in the middle, to the right of the girl in the dark tunic.
Sounds like I was raised by gypsies, doesn't it? I was even almost born in a tent --Mum, Dad and 3 children were camping and one day mum left the tent and went to hospital to have me. But in fact we are a family of chalkies (Australian slang for teachers)- and Dad was a school principal during most of my life. And I am an expert in being "the new girl" having been to 6 different schools in 12 years.The last 4 years, however, were in the same high school and I still have my 2 best friends from that time.
No matter where I lived, I read. I devoured whatever I could get my hands on -- old Enid Blyton and Mary Grant Bruce books, old schoolboys annuals. I learned history by reading Rosemary Sutcliffe, Henry Treece and Georgette Heyer. I loved animal books -- Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby books and Mary Patchett and Finn the Wolf Hound. And then I read Jane Austen and Dickens and Mary Stewart and Richard Llewellyn and Virginia Woolf and EF Benson and Dick Francis and David Malouf and Patrick White and Doris Lessing and PD James and...the list is never ending.
This is me posing shamelessly on a glacier in New Zealand.
This is me in Greece with my good friend Fay in our village outfits. The film went a funny colour, but you get the idea. I'm the one in the pink apron.
I escaped from my parents, settled down and went to university.To my amazement I became a chalkie myself and found a lot of pleasure in working with teenagers and later, adults. I taught English and worked as a counsellor and helped put on plays and concerts and supervised camps and encouraged other people to write but never did much myself. It took a year of backpacking around the world to find that my early desire to write hadn't left me, it had just got buried under a busy and demanding job.
I wrote my first novel on notebooks bought in Quebec, Spain, Greece and Indonesia. That story never made it out of the notebooks, but I'd been bitten by the writing bug.
My friends and I formed a band called Platform Souls a
In case you imagine we were a filthy rich horse-owning family, let me assure you we weren't. The horse period was a time when my parents entered a "let's-be-self-sufficient" phase, so we had a horse, but no electricity and all our water came from the rain tank.
As well as the horse and dogs, we had 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly,) goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. I don't know how my mother managed, really, because both she and Dad taught full time, but she came home and cooked on a wood stove and did all the laundry by hand, boiling the clothes and sheets in a big copper kettle. Somehow, we were always warm, clean, well fed and happy. She's pretty amazing, my mum.
Once I learned to read, I spent my days outside playing with the animals (I include my brother and 2 sisters here) and when inside I read. For most of my childhood we didn't have TV, so books have always been a big part of my life. Luckily our house was always full of them. Travel was also a big part of my childhood. My parents had itchy feet. We spent a lot of time driving from one part of Australia to another, visiting relatives or friends or simply to see what was there. I've lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece. We travelled through Europe in a caravan and I'd swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time I was eight.
This is me and my classmates in Scotland. I am in the second front row, in the middle, to the right of the girl in the dark tunic.
Sounds like I was raised by gypsies, doesn't it? I was even almost born in a tent --Mum, Dad and 3 children were camping and one day mum left the tent and went to hospital to have me. But in fact we are a family of chalkies (Australian slang for teachers)- and Dad was a school principal during most of my life. And I am an expert in being "the new girl" having been to 6 different schools in 12 years.The last 4 years, however, were in the same high school and I still have my 2 best friends from that time.
No matter where I lived, I read. I devoured whatever I could get my hands on -- old Enid Blyton and Mary Grant Bruce books, old schoolboys annuals. I learned history by reading Rosemary Sutcliffe, Henry Treece and Georgette Heyer. I loved animal books -- Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby books and Mary Patchett and Finn the Wolf Hound. And then I read Jane Austen and Dickens and Mary Stewart and Richard Llewellyn and Virginia Woolf and EF Benson and Dick Francis and David Malouf and Patrick White and Doris Lessing and PD James and...the list is never ending.
This is me posing shamelessly on a glacier in New Zealand.
This is me in Greece with my good friend Fay in our village outfits. The film went a funny colour, but you get the idea. I'm the one in the pink apron.
I escaped from my parents, settled down and went to university.To my amazement I became a chalkie myself and found a lot of pleasure in working with teenagers and later, adults. I taught English and worked as a counsellor and helped put on plays and concerts and supervised camps and encouraged other people to write but never did much myself. It took a year of backpacking around the world to find that my early desire to write hadn't left me, it had just got buried under a busy and demanding job.
I wrote my first novel on notebooks bought in Quebec, Spain, Greece and Indonesia. That story never made it out of the notebooks, but I'd been bitten by the writing bug.
My friends and I formed a band called Platform Souls a
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews
October 13, 2019
There are some plots you suspend belief and just love it and others that seem to plod along. This was the later. The character that I enjoyed the most was the former brothel maid. I may read her story. The rest were just sooo sweet and sooo good and sooo poor. It made time pass but would not reread.
December 12, 2017
I loved the story in this first book in the start of a new historical romance series! My lower rating stems from the fact that the actual romance between the main characters was very low! In fact, even the sex in this did not exist until the end of the book!
On the positive side, the story line was wonderful and highly entertaining! I’m moving right along to the next instalment! All I can hope for is something more romantic and sexy... than there was last time... then I would be very happy!!
On the positive side, the story line was wonderful and highly entertaining! I’m moving right along to the next instalment! All I can hope for is something more romantic and sexy... than there was last time... then I would be very happy!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2016
The parents of the children in her care were mean-spirited and strict toward their governess, Abigail Chantry, so when she learned of her sister Jane along with two friends, Daisy and Damaris, being in dire straits and needing safety, their refusal to allow the girls under their roof didn’t surprise Abby. The four girls swore to stay together forever – sisters in all but blood; though of course Jane was Abby’s sister – their struggles to survive sent them in a direction they would never have dreamed they’d head.
Lord Max Davenham had been away from England for nine long years – he had left his elderly Aunt Beatrice to be cared for while he travelled, but he was concerned for his aunt’s health and returned earlier than he’d been expected. Max’s shock at discovering his frail and obviously unwell aunt in the company of young women who were calling themselves her nieces was great; his determination to discover the motives of the sisters Chance and oust them from his household, steadfast.
What would the future hold for Abby, Jane, Damaris and Daisy in the hands of the arrogant Lord Davenham? Was Aunt Beatrice strong enough to defy the nephew she hadn’t seen since he was no more than a boy?
The Autumn Bride is my first by Aussie author Anne Gracie, and it most definitely won’t be my last! I thoroughly enjoyed this refreshing and entertaining historical romance set in London in the 1800s and am looking forward to the next in the series, . Highly recommended.
Lord Max Davenham had been away from England for nine long years – he had left his elderly Aunt Beatrice to be cared for while he travelled, but he was concerned for his aunt’s health and returned earlier than he’d been expected. Max’s shock at discovering his frail and obviously unwell aunt in the company of young women who were calling themselves her nieces was great; his determination to discover the motives of the sisters Chance and oust them from his household, steadfast.
What would the future hold for Abby, Jane, Damaris and Daisy in the hands of the arrogant Lord Davenham? Was Aunt Beatrice strong enough to defy the nephew she hadn’t seen since he was no more than a boy?
The Autumn Bride is my first by Aussie author Anne Gracie, and it most definitely won’t be my last! I thoroughly enjoyed this refreshing and entertaining historical romance set in London in the 1800s and am looking forward to the next in the series, . Highly recommended.
February 11, 2015
Fabulously written, sweet, and funny, this book has become one of my favorites, as has the series. An unusual set of heroines in dire circumstances find a benefactor when they rescue her from being a prisoner in her own household. How the heroine discovers her is also most unusual! The four heroines come together as "sisters" for their own survival, and form bonds of friendship and caring that is heartwarming. The hero has no chance. If you're a fan of old-fashioned, well-written, sweet Regencies (and even if you're not), this book and series will come as a breath of fresh air. I look forward to reading more about the "muffins." :-)
February 26, 2014
Now published on :)
I'm a big fan of Cinderella-type stories where the impoverished heroine ends up with a handsome, dashing lord. This one is original and highly interesting, setting up the quartet of the Chance sisters.
Abigail Chantry is related to two esteemed families, but is sadly not acknowledge by either due to her parents having eloped. Ever since her parents' early deaths, Abby had grown up taking care of her sister Jane, working as a governess to support Jane's schooling. Just as Jane should be on the way work in a respectable household, Abby gets notified by Daisy, a brothel servant, that Jane had been abducted and about to be sold! Her job aside, Abby, with Daisy's help, managed to save her sister along with Damaris, someone who helped to prevent Jane from getting raped while at the brothel. Together, these four become the Chance sisters, people met by chance but held together by a sisterly bond. Their adventure continues as Abby, in an attempt to obtain money for them, tried to rob the house of Lady Beatrice Davenham...
As this book is the first in a series, quite a bit of it has been devoted to explaining the background of the Chance Sisters. However, Anne Gracie's moving prose and characterization establishes a good pacing, leaving space for both plot twists and relationship developments. The Autumn Bride is undoubtedly focused on its lead characters, Max, Lord Davenham, and Abby. Max inherited the earldom from his uncle right out of university, and was shocked the settling of his uncle's heavy debts on his. He was told that he must "sell everything" in order to pay the debts, but he refused to sell his aunt's residence and the family seat. Already his character is established as highly honorable and caring of his relatives, as well as perseverance as he spent the following 9 years in trade to repay all the debts. In this, he is a perfect match for Abby, who takes the role of the eldest and sacrifices her own comforts to care for her new "sisters." She is not idealistic nor a fool, knowing that she must sacrifice some morality for livelihood, for the sake of survival. I absolutely loved the conflicting struggles between honor and necessity in Max and Abby, showing their complexity and true strength.
The romance side of this novel is nicely done as well, and I would very highly recommend any romance reader to pick this up. It is simultaneously moving, beautiful, sweet, and passionate, and an absolute delight to read. I can't wait for the other Chance sisters' stories, as well as more of Max's partners in trade.
(As a side note, muffins are an inside joke in the story, and one you will definitely want to find out more about!)
I'm a big fan of Cinderella-type stories where the impoverished heroine ends up with a handsome, dashing lord. This one is original and highly interesting, setting up the quartet of the Chance sisters.
Abigail Chantry is related to two esteemed families, but is sadly not acknowledge by either due to her parents having eloped. Ever since her parents' early deaths, Abby had grown up taking care of her sister Jane, working as a governess to support Jane's schooling. Just as Jane should be on the way work in a respectable household, Abby gets notified by Daisy, a brothel servant, that Jane had been abducted and about to be sold! Her job aside, Abby, with Daisy's help, managed to save her sister along with Damaris, someone who helped to prevent Jane from getting raped while at the brothel. Together, these four become the Chance sisters, people met by chance but held together by a sisterly bond. Their adventure continues as Abby, in an attempt to obtain money for them, tried to rob the house of Lady Beatrice Davenham...
As this book is the first in a series, quite a bit of it has been devoted to explaining the background of the Chance Sisters. However, Anne Gracie's moving prose and characterization establishes a good pacing, leaving space for both plot twists and relationship developments. The Autumn Bride is undoubtedly focused on its lead characters, Max, Lord Davenham, and Abby. Max inherited the earldom from his uncle right out of university, and was shocked the settling of his uncle's heavy debts on his. He was told that he must "sell everything" in order to pay the debts, but he refused to sell his aunt's residence and the family seat. Already his character is established as highly honorable and caring of his relatives, as well as perseverance as he spent the following 9 years in trade to repay all the debts. In this, he is a perfect match for Abby, who takes the role of the eldest and sacrifices her own comforts to care for her new "sisters." She is not idealistic nor a fool, knowing that she must sacrifice some morality for livelihood, for the sake of survival. I absolutely loved the conflicting struggles between honor and necessity in Max and Abby, showing their complexity and true strength.
The romance side of this novel is nicely done as well, and I would very highly recommend any romance reader to pick this up. It is simultaneously moving, beautiful, sweet, and passionate, and an absolute delight to read. I can't wait for the other Chance sisters' stories, as well as more of Max's partners in trade.
(As a side note, muffins are an inside joke in the story, and one you will definitely want to find out more about!)
February 6, 2013
I understand this is the first book in a series, but part of what turned me off was the long setup and backstory of everyone involved. There's also very little passion and a halfhearted mystery plot that I just couldn't get behind.
The backstory *takes a deep breath*: The heroine, Abigail rescues her sister, Jane, and two other girls from a brothel after Jane is abducted from a genteel poorhouse and almost forced into prostitution. She is narrowly saved from having her virginity auctioned off to the highest bidder. Abigail was meanwhile working as a much-used and underpaid governess to a snooty, unforgiving family who refuses to help her sister, and whose master is such a douche he would dock her half a day's wages for returning from her breaks even one minute late. After such a dangerous misadventure together, the four women, Abigail, Jane (her sister), Daisy and Damaris (workers at the brothel who help Jane escape) decide to form a sisterhood and escapes to London to try their luck at rebuilding their lives, where by equal strokes of luck and misfortune, they meet Lady Bea.
Ok, now onto the hero. Lord Max inherited an title and a destitute estate, since his uncle spent everything into the ground. He is left to care for an aging aunt, Lady Bea, whom he actually loves. Since the estate is worthless, he decides to do everything he can to save his aunt's house and ships himself off to India for 10 years to make his fortune. Meanwhile, his aunt Bea is in extremely poor health and abused by her servants. Enter Abigail and her "sisters" to save the day. Lo and behold, Max returns upon receiving a suspicious missive about his aunt's health. He finds her well-cared for by the sisters, and is grudgingly thankful, but extremely suspicious of their appearance and identity.
The rest of the book is involved with Max trying to solve the mystery of the four women who have taken over his household, talking to his friends of the same company in India (who will undoubtedly play major parts in upcoming novels), being a spoilsport and trying to deny his feelings for Abigail, and trying to figure out who is making some rather halfhearted attempts at Abigail's life.
The book was just...OK. There was no great passion and romance or evena hint of a fizzle between the two characters. There is very little sex or erotica (which is just fine with me, by the way), but there's nothing that makes me feel like the characters are actually falling in love. The entire book feels like a setup for future novels more than anything, I just found it extremely bland.
The backstory *takes a deep breath*: The heroine, Abigail rescues her sister, Jane, and two other girls from a brothel after Jane is abducted from a genteel poorhouse and almost forced into prostitution. She is narrowly saved from having her virginity auctioned off to the highest bidder. Abigail was meanwhile working as a much-used and underpaid governess to a snooty, unforgiving family who refuses to help her sister, and whose master is such a douche he would dock her half a day's wages for returning from her breaks even one minute late. After such a dangerous misadventure together, the four women, Abigail, Jane (her sister), Daisy and Damaris (workers at the brothel who help Jane escape) decide to form a sisterhood and escapes to London to try their luck at rebuilding their lives, where by equal strokes of luck and misfortune, they meet Lady Bea.
Ok, now onto the hero. Lord Max inherited an title and a destitute estate, since his uncle spent everything into the ground. He is left to care for an aging aunt, Lady Bea, whom he actually loves. Since the estate is worthless, he decides to do everything he can to save his aunt's house and ships himself off to India for 10 years to make his fortune. Meanwhile, his aunt Bea is in extremely poor health and abused by her servants. Enter Abigail and her "sisters" to save the day. Lo and behold, Max returns upon receiving a suspicious missive about his aunt's health. He finds her well-cared for by the sisters, and is grudgingly thankful, but extremely suspicious of their appearance and identity.
The rest of the book is involved with Max trying to solve the mystery of the four women who have taken over his household, talking to his friends of the same company in India (who will undoubtedly play major parts in upcoming novels), being a spoilsport and trying to deny his feelings for Abigail, and trying to figure out who is making some rather halfhearted attempts at Abigail's life.
The book was just...OK. There was no great passion and romance or evena hint of a fizzle between the two characters. There is very little sex or erotica (which is just fine with me, by the way), but there's nothing that makes me feel like the characters are actually falling in love. The entire book feels like a setup for future novels more than anything, I just found it extremely bland.
December 10, 2015
I had a really tough time with the beginning of this book. Slavery is bad enough, but sex slavery pushes all my buttons and the main character confronts that right up front, learning her sister has been abducted and Abby must act now to save her. I cringed at Abby's gullibility (I mean, she doesn't know this person leading her into seamy sections of town) even as I feared for the sister. Gracie doesn't sugarcoat this section and the characters react as you'd expect when facing such horror.
The book lightens enough I could breathe relatively quickly, though the threat lingers a bit. What this section excels at is establishing Abby's character and essential motivations; seeing to the safety of her family and supporting her friends is paramount to her. Abby is a fundamentally caring person, a little naïve, but from a place that makes her strong, even fierce, like the proverbial lioness and her cubs. I loved her devotion to her "sisters" and later to Lady Bea and loved seeing her face setbacks and obstacles with clever determination.
Max was tough to engage with at first, though that caring alpha thing wins my heart in the end every time. He makes assumptions that make him mean in the beginning and that's never fun. And while his suspicions were "reasonable", they weren't really likely given what he knows of his aunt and he really should have been quicker to question those assumptions given he isn't a stupid man. Fortunately, he isn't one of those guys who irrationally holds to a prejudice once beat over the head with contradictory evidence (as I feared he might be).
So I liked the main couple, despite initial misgivings, but I liked even more the "found family" aspects of this story. Not just the "sisters" who forge family feelings from desperation and mutual gratitude, but also Bea and Max who form a found family of their own (for all they're aunt and nephew so also related). That those families would merge is natural and Gracie does a fantastic job of showing that attachment's growth and nurturing as they mingle on the shared devotion to Aunt Bea.
The only thing detracting from all-out enchantment (besides the harrowing beginning) was that I thought Abby's naiveté was a bit too pronounced in the brothel/abduction back-plot. She may not have learned deductive reasoning formally, but we see her being clever and determined and I couldn't help feeling that she should have put the clues together that I found rather obvious. Max pierces things pretty quickly when he gets the pieces and I'm not sure Gracie meant that to come off quite as sexist as it seemed to me. Sure he has more worldly experience from all his time putting the family fortunes back together, but she's not exactly unacquainted with the world and she knows, from first-hand experience, that people can be evil and abuse positions of trust.
Anyway, this was a solid four stars throughout and never dipped below. It kept me up way too late and prompted enough stifled giggles that it flirted with higher. I'm definitely interested in other books in the series.
A note about Steamy: Very little steam through most of the book. There's only one explicit sex scene. It felt more than a little out of place, actually, though it fit the emotional trajectory of their relationship (particularly for modern audiences). And no, I don't mean that it was modernized or anything like that, and
The book lightens enough I could breathe relatively quickly, though the threat lingers a bit. What this section excels at is establishing Abby's character and essential motivations; seeing to the safety of her family and supporting her friends is paramount to her. Abby is a fundamentally caring person, a little naïve, but from a place that makes her strong, even fierce, like the proverbial lioness and her cubs. I loved her devotion to her "sisters" and later to Lady Bea and loved seeing her face setbacks and obstacles with clever determination.
Max was tough to engage with at first, though that caring alpha thing wins my heart in the end every time. He makes assumptions that make him mean in the beginning and that's never fun. And while his suspicions were "reasonable", they weren't really likely given what he knows of his aunt and he really should have been quicker to question those assumptions given he isn't a stupid man. Fortunately, he isn't one of those guys who irrationally holds to a prejudice once beat over the head with contradictory evidence (as I feared he might be).
So I liked the main couple, despite initial misgivings, but I liked even more the "found family" aspects of this story. Not just the "sisters" who forge family feelings from desperation and mutual gratitude, but also Bea and Max who form a found family of their own (for all they're aunt and nephew so also related). That those families would merge is natural and Gracie does a fantastic job of showing that attachment's growth and nurturing as they mingle on the shared devotion to Aunt Bea.
The only thing detracting from all-out enchantment (besides the harrowing beginning) was that I thought Abby's naiveté was a bit too pronounced in the brothel/abduction back-plot. She may not have learned deductive reasoning formally, but we see her being clever and determined and I couldn't help feeling that she should have put the clues together that I found rather obvious. Max pierces things pretty quickly when he gets the pieces and I'm not sure Gracie meant that to come off quite as sexist as it seemed to me. Sure he has more worldly experience from all his time putting the family fortunes back together, but she's not exactly unacquainted with the world and she knows, from first-hand experience, that people can be evil and abuse positions of trust.
Anyway, this was a solid four stars throughout and never dipped below. It kept me up way too late and prompted enough stifled giggles that it flirted with higher. I'm definitely interested in other books in the series.
A note about Steamy: Very little steam through most of the book. There's only one explicit sex scene. It felt more than a little out of place, actually, though it fit the emotional trajectory of their relationship (particularly for modern audiences). And no, I don't mean that it was modernized or anything like that, and
October 24, 2023
3.5/5 Cute and I really enjoyed the found family but disliked that he thought himself betrothed for so long. Ended fine though.
June 16, 2014
At the beginning I had to check if this was really a romance novel or if it was kind of Oliver Twist type of book...
The beginning is bleak and I felt very sorry for Abby. She was treated like dirt and, even if I knew it was normal in that period, I felt for her.
Also the brothel scene was bad... the thought that girls really were sold like cattle is a sad demonstration of how low a human can fall...
But after a while, we're introduced to Lady Beatrice and it is then that things get good!
I loved Lady Beatrice and her speach: so direct and so fun! I could picture her in my mind so well! She's the best character in the whole book and she alone deserves 5 shining stars!
I loved the interaction of the "sisters" too. It was nice and heart warming. The love born from difficult time is what made them sisters, not blood! Great idea!
Max was a good hero too. I could understand his reticence at the begining. It was such a normal reaction and I appreciated it!
The romance is not steamy, but has a nice slow building pace. It was different from other HR, but I liked it all the same. Sometimes I need sweet and tender!
A good, solid romace with nice characters, nice dialogue and nice fun moments!
The beginning is bleak and I felt very sorry for Abby. She was treated like dirt and, even if I knew it was normal in that period, I felt for her.
Also the brothel scene was bad... the thought that girls really were sold like cattle is a sad demonstration of how low a human can fall...
But after a while, we're introduced to Lady Beatrice and it is then that things get good!
I loved Lady Beatrice and her speach: so direct and so fun! I could picture her in my mind so well! She's the best character in the whole book and she alone deserves 5 shining stars!
I loved the interaction of the "sisters" too. It was nice and heart warming. The love born from difficult time is what made them sisters, not blood! Great idea!
Max was a good hero too. I could understand his reticence at the begining. It was such a normal reaction and I appreciated it!
The romance is not steamy, but has a nice slow building pace. It was different from other HR, but I liked it all the same. Sometimes I need sweet and tender!
A good, solid romace with nice characters, nice dialogue and nice fun moments!
May 26, 2022
This was a sweet heroine. But if you read "The perfect rake" there are many similarities, like the fact that the heroine would do anything for her sisters, that she is a carer, that there's some type of violence the sisters are running from, that an older person helps them out, the absurd yet entertaining plot... both books/series has the same line of thought...
3.5 star.
3.5 star.
March 18, 2021
Абигейл/Аби Чантри и Макс, лорд Девенхам
За пръв път чета книга на тази авторка. Хареса ми, чакам с нетърпение следващите книги от поредицата.
Когато Макс е 18 годишен, чичо му умира и Макс наследява титлата... както и куп дългове. До самия си край, чичо му е пръскал пари, които няма, и сега Макс трябва да продаде всичко, което е наследил, за да изплати поне част от дълговете, които чичо му е натрупал. Единственото, което отказа да продаде са семейното имение и градската къща в която живее леля му Беа, жената, която през целият му живот е била като негова майка. За да натрупа богатство Макс заминава на изток.
Абигейл Чанти е сирак. След смъртта на родителите си, тя и по-малката й сестра Джейн са изпратени в сиропиталище. Щом навършва пълнолетие Аби започва да работи като гувернантка. Минават 6 години и един ден, докато Аби се разхожда, едно слугинче й казва, че носи вест от сестра й. Джейн е отвлечена и затворена в бордей с намерението да бъде продадена. Аби веднага се притичва на помощ на сестра си, но й се налага да приюти освен Джейн, още едно момиче на име Дамарис и слугинчето Дейзи. Заради тази своя постъпка, Аби губи работата си и четерите заживяват заедно, решавайки, че от този ден нататък ще бъдат сестри.
След изненадващото разболяване на Джейн, Аби предприема отчаяни мерки, решавайки да ограби една богаташка къща, без да подозира, че от този миг нататък живота и на четирите ще се промени коренно.
Страхотен избор на издателството за книга. Надявам се скоро да ни поднесат и следващите.
За пръв път чета книга на тази авторка. Хареса ми, чакам с нетърпение следващите книги от поредицата.
Когато Макс е 18 годишен, чичо му умира и Макс наследява титлата... както и куп дългове. До самия си край, чичо му е пръскал пари, които няма, и сега Макс трябва да продаде всичко, което е наследил, за да изплати поне част от дълговете, които чичо му е натрупал. Единственото, което отказа да продаде са семейното имение и градската къща в която живее леля му Беа, жената, която през целият му живот е била като негова майка. За да натрупа богатство Макс заминава на изток.
Абигейл Чанти е сирак. След смъртта на родителите си, тя и по-малката й сестра Джейн са изпратени в сиропиталище. Щом навършва пълнолетие Аби започва да работи като гувернантка. Минават 6 години и един ден, докато Аби се разхожда, едно слугинче й казва, че носи вест от сестра й. Джейн е отвлечена и затворена в бордей с намерението да бъде продадена. Аби веднага се притичва на помощ на сестра си, но й се налага да приюти освен Джейн, още едно момиче на име Дамарис и слугинчето Дейзи. Заради тази своя постъпка, Аби губи работата си и четерите заживяват заедно, решавайки, че от този ден нататък ще бъдат сестри.
След изненадващото разболяване на Джейн, Аби предприема отчаяни мерки, решавайки да ограби една богаташка къща, без да подозира, че от този миг нататък живота и на четирите ще се промени коренно.
Страхотен избор на издателството за книга. Надявам се скоро да ни поднесат и следващите.
December 4, 2021
Loved it again.
July 14, 2018
Everything I could ask for in a historical romance!!
Adorably sweet, funny and romantic with no unnecessary drama.
I can't wait to read the rest of this series!!
Adorably sweet, funny and romantic with no unnecessary drama.
I can't wait to read the rest of this series!!
March 17, 2024
DNF at 41%. I didn't see any chemistry or sparks between the main love interests. The only person I liked was the lady in the bed. Maybe I'll pick it up at a later date to finish as I'm a mood reader.
October 11, 2021
“Do not let fear or embarrassment make you less than you are.”
“Women need to hear the words. They don’t need the world conquered for them, but they do need a man to speak the words that are in his heart.”
**Synopsis:**
When Max’s uncle dies and he inherits the family estate, he is not expecting it to be bankrupt and riddled with debt. He spends the next nine years paying the debt off and building a trading company with some friends. While in India for business, Max gets a letter from England indicating his elderly Aunt Beatrice is not being cared for. He heads back to London where he is shocked to find his aunt is extremely fragile and obviously uncared for. But that’s not all he finds. Somehow his aunt has “found” four new nieces and new servants and by the looks of it they clearly don’t have her best interest at heart. He’s bound and determined to uncover their motives and schemes.
Abby is working as a governess when she receives an alarming message from a woman named Daisy. Her sister (who should not be in the London area) is in trouble. She learns Jane has been drugged, is being kept in a brothel and ready to be sold to the highest bidder. With Daisy’s help, Abby rescues Jane and another woman named Damaris. Having nowhere else to stay, Abby brings the three girls back to the family she is staying with. When the family discovers the girls, Abby loses her job.
The girls are in dire straights and form a long-term plan. They swear to stay together forever and they will always be sisters.
~ “Alone each of us is vulnerable, but together we can be stronger, like a family.” “Four orphans: one family,” Damaris said. “I like the sound of that.” “I like it too.” Jane held out her hands. “Let us take hands then, and make a vow to become as sisters to one another.”
The plan is in jeopardy of falling apart when Jane becomes ill. Desperate to get money for medical help Abby resolves to steal a few valuables from a rich house, knowing they would never miss a few bobbles. What she finds in the house is so much more than she ever bargains for.
~ “You’re not here to kill me?”
“No.”
“Pity.”
Abby blinked. “Pity?”
“A dog in my state would be put out of its misery with a bullet.” There was a pause. “You don’t have a bullet, do you?” Said with an edge of hopefulness.”
~ “You need a home. I’ve always wanted daughters.”
“But you don’t know anything about us.”
“Aiming to take advantage of me, are you?”
“Well, yes, if we are to come and live here, it would indeed be taking advantage.”
Lady Beatrice snorted. “Aiming to do me harm, I should have said.”
“No, of course not.” Abby gave the dirty room a scornful glance. “We’d take a lot better care of you than those servants, for a start.”
“I know it. And this arrangement will suit both our needs.”
** The following are my thoughts about this book: **
- Abby was strong, but a bit naive to follow someone she didn’t know to the seedy side of town. I was cringing a bit and hoping it wouldn’t backfire on her.
* * In chapter one i was instantly wrapped up in the story . The revelation the sister was drugged and locked up in a brothel, ready to be auctioned off , and the subsequent rescue was engaging.
* * the girls were resilient and I loved them. Not the typical debutants of London, so it was nice to have different character types.
* * Actually. I loved the all the characters. The unorthodox butler and footman, the four girls and Lady Davenham - all were wonderfully colorful and I wanted the best for all of them.
* * the initial meeting between Abby and Max was around 30%. So the first third of the book was the backstory and the story building around Abby, her “sisters” and Lady Davenham. I didn’t mind this because establishing the relationships between these characters was crucial to making the story a success.
* * if you are looking for a story that’s heavy on romance, I don’t think this will do it for you. Clearly there is a love story here, but it kind of takes a backseat to the relationships being built between Lady Davenham and the girls. Therefore I didn’t get a strong connection between Max and Abby. Their romance doesn’t really kick up until the end of the book so be forewarned if you are looking for a steamy, combustible romance - you won’t find it here
* * I love a crotchety old Lady who doesn’t hold her tongue when it comes to her opinion. Lady Beatrice was very amusing.
~ “For the last nine years I’ve been praying for her to drown or elope or fall down a mine hole or pit or whatever they call it in the north.”
~ “Is that what she wants, a rich old man who’ll quickly pop his clogs and leave her a wealthy widow?”
* * Was it unrealistic? Sure. Was it different than the typical London aristocrat historical? Yes! I found it quite refreshing.
**Overview:**
- Content Warning: sex trafficking (hinted at, mostly off page)
- Setting: London, 1816
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: historical, wealthy/destitute
- Who is the Hero? Lord Max Davenham (age: 29). Partner in Flynn & Co. Oriental Trading.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: bold, dashing, handsome, always off on an adventure, spent nine years sailing the seven seas, keeps his word
* H likable? Yes.
- Who is the Heroine? Abigail Chantry (age: I think early 20’s). Governess. She and her sister were orphans by the age of twelve. Her parents came from esteemed families but both were disinherited when they fell in love and chose to elope rather than marry the individuals that had been arranged by their families. So she has a bit of polish from being taught by aristocratic parents, but has none of the wealth that goes along with that.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Heroine: courageous, loyal, good-hearted, brave, protector
* h likable? Yes. I really liked her.
- h virgin? Yes
- First time they kiss: 62%
- First time they sleep together: 98%
- Safe sex? as is common with historical romance, no protection used
- First time they say I Love You 96%
- steamy? Not really. A few kisses but nothing else until the bedroom scene at 98%
- OW/OM drama? a little bit
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Yes. The Hero is in the dark about what’s really going on until 85%
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? yes. I chuckled a few times
- Did I swoon🥰? not really
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? A few months later
- Recommend? yes. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of this series.
**Quotes**
“Come to England with us, find out why Max’s aunt has turned all polite on him—apparently ’tis a terrible affliction, politeness in aunts.”
“I was so bored before you came along! Now I have gels in breeches climbing through my window at all hours of the night, bringing me soup and conversation and plotting to sack my butler.”
“She held the small black kitten against her bosom, caressing it behind the ears. Max the kitten purred blissfully, like a rusty little coffee grinder. Max the man glowered.”
“Typical man, she thought: arrives on the scene after years of absence and immediately starts criticizing.”
“A literary society for people who don’t want to be improved,” Lady Beatrice said thoughtfully. “Just a good story, with wine and cakes . . . I like it.”
“It was horrid being so poor. You couldn’t even afford pride.”
“Women need to hear the words. They don’t need the world conquered for them, but they do need a man to speak the words that are in his heart.”
**Synopsis:**
When Max’s uncle dies and he inherits the family estate, he is not expecting it to be bankrupt and riddled with debt. He spends the next nine years paying the debt off and building a trading company with some friends. While in India for business, Max gets a letter from England indicating his elderly Aunt Beatrice is not being cared for. He heads back to London where he is shocked to find his aunt is extremely fragile and obviously uncared for. But that’s not all he finds. Somehow his aunt has “found” four new nieces and new servants and by the looks of it they clearly don’t have her best interest at heart. He’s bound and determined to uncover their motives and schemes.
Abby is working as a governess when she receives an alarming message from a woman named Daisy. Her sister (who should not be in the London area) is in trouble. She learns Jane has been drugged, is being kept in a brothel and ready to be sold to the highest bidder. With Daisy’s help, Abby rescues Jane and another woman named Damaris. Having nowhere else to stay, Abby brings the three girls back to the family she is staying with. When the family discovers the girls, Abby loses her job.
The girls are in dire straights and form a long-term plan. They swear to stay together forever and they will always be sisters.
~ “Alone each of us is vulnerable, but together we can be stronger, like a family.” “Four orphans: one family,” Damaris said. “I like the sound of that.” “I like it too.” Jane held out her hands. “Let us take hands then, and make a vow to become as sisters to one another.”
The plan is in jeopardy of falling apart when Jane becomes ill. Desperate to get money for medical help Abby resolves to steal a few valuables from a rich house, knowing they would never miss a few bobbles. What she finds in the house is so much more than she ever bargains for.
~ “You’re not here to kill me?”
“No.”
“Pity.”
Abby blinked. “Pity?”
“A dog in my state would be put out of its misery with a bullet.” There was a pause. “You don’t have a bullet, do you?” Said with an edge of hopefulness.”
~ “You need a home. I’ve always wanted daughters.”
“But you don’t know anything about us.”
“Aiming to take advantage of me, are you?”
“Well, yes, if we are to come and live here, it would indeed be taking advantage.”
Lady Beatrice snorted. “Aiming to do me harm, I should have said.”
“No, of course not.” Abby gave the dirty room a scornful glance. “We’d take a lot better care of you than those servants, for a start.”
“I know it. And this arrangement will suit both our needs.”
** The following are my thoughts about this book: **
- Abby was strong, but a bit naive to follow someone she didn’t know to the seedy side of town. I was cringing a bit and hoping it wouldn’t backfire on her.
* * In chapter one i was instantly wrapped up in the story . The revelation the sister was drugged and locked up in a brothel, ready to be auctioned off , and the subsequent rescue was engaging.
* * the girls were resilient and I loved them. Not the typical debutants of London, so it was nice to have different character types.
* * Actually. I loved the all the characters. The unorthodox butler and footman, the four girls and Lady Davenham - all were wonderfully colorful and I wanted the best for all of them.
* * the initial meeting between Abby and Max was around 30%. So the first third of the book was the backstory and the story building around Abby, her “sisters” and Lady Davenham. I didn’t mind this because establishing the relationships between these characters was crucial to making the story a success.
* * if you are looking for a story that’s heavy on romance, I don’t think this will do it for you. Clearly there is a love story here, but it kind of takes a backseat to the relationships being built between Lady Davenham and the girls. Therefore I didn’t get a strong connection between Max and Abby. Their romance doesn’t really kick up until the end of the book so be forewarned if you are looking for a steamy, combustible romance - you won’t find it here
* * I love a crotchety old Lady who doesn’t hold her tongue when it comes to her opinion. Lady Beatrice was very amusing.
~ “For the last nine years I’ve been praying for her to drown or elope or fall down a mine hole or pit or whatever they call it in the north.”
~ “Is that what she wants, a rich old man who’ll quickly pop his clogs and leave her a wealthy widow?”
* * Was it unrealistic? Sure. Was it different than the typical London aristocrat historical? Yes! I found it quite refreshing.
**Overview:**
- Content Warning: sex trafficking (hinted at, mostly off page)
- Setting: London, 1816
- POV: Dual POV
- Tropes: historical, wealthy/destitute
- Who is the Hero? Lord Max Davenham (age: 29). Partner in Flynn & Co. Oriental Trading.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Hero: bold, dashing, handsome, always off on an adventure, spent nine years sailing the seven seas, keeps his word
* H likable? Yes.
- Who is the Heroine? Abigail Chantry (age: I think early 20’s). Governess. She and her sister were orphans by the age of twelve. Her parents came from esteemed families but both were disinherited when they fell in love and chose to elope rather than marry the individuals that had been arranged by their families. So she has a bit of polish from being taught by aristocratic parents, but has none of the wealth that goes along with that.
* The following words/phrases were used to describe Heroine: courageous, loyal, good-hearted, brave, protector
* h likable? Yes. I really liked her.
- h virgin? Yes
- First time they kiss: 62%
- First time they sleep together: 98%
- Safe sex? as is common with historical romance, no protection used
- First time they say I Love You 96%
- steamy? Not really. A few kisses but nothing else until the bedroom scene at 98%
- OW/OM drama? a little bit
- H/h cheat? No
- Time apart? No
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? Yes. The Hero is in the dark about what’s really going on until 85%
- Did I cry? No
- Did I laugh? yes. I chuckled a few times
- Did I swoon🥰? not really
- Cliffhanger? No
- HEA? Yes
- Epilogue? A few months later
- Recommend? yes. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of this series.
**Quotes**
“Come to England with us, find out why Max’s aunt has turned all polite on him—apparently ’tis a terrible affliction, politeness in aunts.”
“I was so bored before you came along! Now I have gels in breeches climbing through my window at all hours of the night, bringing me soup and conversation and plotting to sack my butler.”
“She held the small black kitten against her bosom, caressing it behind the ears. Max the kitten purred blissfully, like a rusty little coffee grinder. Max the man glowered.”
“Typical man, she thought: arrives on the scene after years of absence and immediately starts criticizing.”
“A literary society for people who don’t want to be improved,” Lady Beatrice said thoughtfully. “Just a good story, with wine and cakes . . . I like it.”
“It was horrid being so poor. You couldn’t even afford pride.”
July 2, 2014
Conversations and events were fun, likeable, enjoyable. It’s charming. Emotionally fulfilling.
This is not a great book, but I’m giving it 5 stars because I was in such a happy mood during the two days I was listening to it. I was smiling all the time – during and not during.
It reminded me of Georgette Heyer books. I like the author’s choices - what the characters do, how they react, what they say. There was a blackmail attempt and my initial reaction was uh oh, this could be a downer. But it wasn’t. The author did not string it out with secrets and drama. I felt good with what happened. It was not what most authors do. That is still strange to me. I give the author credit. I like her choices.
I liked the way Lady Bea would call Abby Miss Burglar. I liked the way Bea did not like vegetables. I liked Freddy’s attitude and fear of muffins (irritating females chasing him for marriage).
The only thing off for me was sex before marriage did not fit the characters. I would have preferred seeing the wedding first. I also would have liked more romantic relationship development – seeing Abby and Max spending time together.
NARRATOR:
The audiobook narrator Alison Larkin did an excellent job. I loved her emotional interpretation of characters. She made Freddy sound odd, but that was ok. Her voice for the heroine reminded me of Julie Andrews -- lovely. I was surprised that a friend of mine was disappointed with the narrator. So this clearly is a personal preference thing.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 10 hrs and 53 mins. Swearing language: none other than Good God. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: two. Setting: mostly London, England 1805 and 1816 England. Book copyright: 2013. Genre: regency romance.
This is not a great book, but I’m giving it 5 stars because I was in such a happy mood during the two days I was listening to it. I was smiling all the time – during and not during.
It reminded me of Georgette Heyer books. I like the author’s choices - what the characters do, how they react, what they say. There was a blackmail attempt and my initial reaction was uh oh, this could be a downer. But it wasn’t. The author did not string it out with secrets and drama. I felt good with what happened. It was not what most authors do. That is still strange to me. I give the author credit. I like her choices.
I liked the way Lady Bea would call Abby Miss Burglar. I liked the way Bea did not like vegetables. I liked Freddy’s attitude and fear of muffins (irritating females chasing him for marriage).
The only thing off for me was sex before marriage did not fit the characters. I would have preferred seeing the wedding first. I also would have liked more romantic relationship development – seeing Abby and Max spending time together.
NARRATOR:
The audiobook narrator Alison Larkin did an excellent job. I loved her emotional interpretation of characters. She made Freddy sound odd, but that was ok. Her voice for the heroine reminded me of Julie Andrews -- lovely. I was surprised that a friend of mine was disappointed with the narrator. So this clearly is a personal preference thing.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 10 hrs and 53 mins. Swearing language: none other than Good God. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: two. Setting: mostly London, England 1805 and 1816 England. Book copyright: 2013. Genre: regency romance.
December 8, 2015
BACKSTORY TIME: While serving as a governess to mean people, Abigail Chantry ends up assisting a housemaid (Daisy) in the rescue of her sister (Jane) and Jane's new friend (Damarius) from a brothel. The girls swear to be sisters. Abby ends up hijacking an older woman's house (fully with her permission) and things are going SWIMMINGLY, until the "old lady's" nephew comes home and DESTROYS EVERYTHING. OF COURSE.
1. This was entertaining. I didn't even mean to read it all today but I did. So I guess that's a mark in its favor.
2. I loved the sisters and their development. It seems strange saying this--as many have pointed out, the balance between the sisters relationship and that of the main couple is extremely skewed--but I almost needed a bit more of the sister? Or, that is, the development that was present seemed pretty front-heavy: near the end of the novel when feelings are getting in the way, Abby made a couple of semi-dismissive comments about her sisters / their disregard for the escort rule. They just really threw me; they didn't seem to fit into my understood characterizations?
3. Ha, that relationship was short-shrift. I demand a (metaphorical) refund.
4. I do like Gracie's writing. I just didn't put down The Autumn Bride feeling satisfied, so...3 stars it is!
1. This was entertaining. I didn't even mean to read it all today but I did. So I guess that's a mark in its favor.
2. I loved the sisters and their development. It seems strange saying this--as many have pointed out, the balance between the sisters relationship and that of the main couple is extremely skewed--but I almost needed a bit more of the sister? Or, that is, the development that was present seemed pretty front-heavy: near the end of the novel when feelings are getting in the way, Abby made a couple of semi-dismissive comments about her sisters / their disregard for the escort rule. They just really threw me; they didn't seem to fit into my understood characterizations?
3. Ha, that relationship was short-shrift. I demand a (metaphorical) refund.
4. I do like Gracie's writing. I just didn't put down The Autumn Bride feeling satisfied, so...3 stars it is!
April 21, 2017
Having only recently completed Anne Gracie's, The Perfect Rake, the first in The Merridew Sisters series, I am a tad disappointed that The Autumn Bride didn't quite come up to the same standard. Notwithstanding this, this series is still looking to be a good solid series. With Aunt Bea and Freddy Monkton-Coombes looking to be excellent secondary characters.
Abigail Chantry and her sister Jane were orphaned at an early age and Abi has assumed the caring role for her sister, 6 years her junior. Abi is forced to take employment as a Governess, leaving her little sister in the home for distressed gentlewomen which they had both been sent to on the death of their parents. All has gone along reasonably quietly until Jane is of an age to also take up employment, en-route to her post as a companion, Jane is kidnapped and taken to a brothel. This sets in motion a chain reaction that leaves Abigail caring for, not only her little sister but two friends who help her to escape at great risk to their own safety and luckily before her innocence is compromised. Abigail's employers cast her out and so with the little money she has saved she finds the three girls and herself meagre lodgings. Money is running out, Jane has taken a fever and Abi is desperate. She spots a manor house close to her lodgings which appears to be occupied by only a skeleton staff, there is a window open on the second floor, it remains exactly the same for days, Desperate times mean desperate measures and Abi must buy medicine for Jane somehow. She decides to scale the drainpipe, climb in through the window and see if there is anything of value. After succeeding in her endeavour she is shocked to be confronted by a voice in the darkness of the room asking her if she has come to kill her. Abby is appalled by the condition of the elderly lady apparently abandoned to die in disgustingly, filthy conditions.
The story continues with the intrepid Abby ascertaining that Lady Beatrice Davenham, the occupant of the filthy room, is being neglected and fleeced by her own servants, her friends have long since stopped calling, being informed by the butler that she is away from home and her nephew, Max, Lord Davenham has lived abroad for eight or more years and is unaware of her predicament. The elderly lady is feisty and brave but very weak, she is lying in her own filth just waiting to die. The kind hearted Abby finds a way to get past the servants and the two hatch a plot, Abby and her 'sisters' will move in and care for Lady Bea, as her nieces. The servants are sacked and Abby brings in two male friends from her lodgings as butler and footman. Lady Bea is pleased with the arrangement and begins to thrive with the love and care being lavished on her by the four girls who are only too glad to have a roof over their heads.
Max hotfoots it home when he receives a letter informing him that the writer is concerned regarding his Aunts welfare. He is appalled by his Aunts condition on his return although by this time she is beginning to regain her health, he wrongly assumes that the four girls are taking advantage and knows for a fact that his Aunt does not have any living relatives other than himself. Eventually Max learns the truth regarding his Aunts condition and finally believes that the girls have his Aunts best interests at heart, he cannot, however, persuade his Aunt to refer to the girls as anything other than her nieces and this is where Anne Gracie's talent for comic dialogue comes into play. There is an uproariously funny scene where she blatantly lies to her friend regarding the appearance of her 'nieces' on the scene, nothing Max says, even outright denial, can stop the outrageous elderly lady from claiming her half sister Griselda's girls' as her nieces, even though no such sister ever existed. The more Max protests, the more the ton will accept the lie, believing it to be a scandal he is trying to conceal.
Another extremely funny character whom I loved from the beginning, is Max's silent partner and friend Freddy Monkton-Coombes. Freddy believes all girls are out to trap him into marriage and he is determined to avoid this fate at all costs. Not having seen Max's house guests he believes them all to be muffins, rather plain girls, probably bookish and intent on trapping any unsuspecting man in any way she can, or in Freddy's words 'eligible girls bent on wedlock'. He is eventually introduced to them all and is pleasantly surprised. I'm looking forward to his re-appearance. Freddie and Aunt Bea are definitely the outstanding characters in this gentle and charming tale.
The attraction between Max and Abby is tangible but Max has other issues in his life which need to be dealt with and he is an honourable man although he does not strike a cord as a wow hero, such as Gideon. Still this is a sweetly written, occasionally very funny story. It has a fairly weak plot but Anne Gracie's writing is sound and I can't say I didn't enjoy it. It just doesn't come up to Gideon's and Pru's standard. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 rather than down to 3.
Abigail Chantry and her sister Jane were orphaned at an early age and Abi has assumed the caring role for her sister, 6 years her junior. Abi is forced to take employment as a Governess, leaving her little sister in the home for distressed gentlewomen which they had both been sent to on the death of their parents. All has gone along reasonably quietly until Jane is of an age to also take up employment, en-route to her post as a companion, Jane is kidnapped and taken to a brothel. This sets in motion a chain reaction that leaves Abigail caring for, not only her little sister but two friends who help her to escape at great risk to their own safety and luckily before her innocence is compromised. Abigail's employers cast her out and so with the little money she has saved she finds the three girls and herself meagre lodgings. Money is running out, Jane has taken a fever and Abi is desperate. She spots a manor house close to her lodgings which appears to be occupied by only a skeleton staff, there is a window open on the second floor, it remains exactly the same for days, Desperate times mean desperate measures and Abi must buy medicine for Jane somehow. She decides to scale the drainpipe, climb in through the window and see if there is anything of value. After succeeding in her endeavour she is shocked to be confronted by a voice in the darkness of the room asking her if she has come to kill her. Abby is appalled by the condition of the elderly lady apparently abandoned to die in disgustingly, filthy conditions.
The story continues with the intrepid Abby ascertaining that Lady Beatrice Davenham, the occupant of the filthy room, is being neglected and fleeced by her own servants, her friends have long since stopped calling, being informed by the butler that she is away from home and her nephew, Max, Lord Davenham has lived abroad for eight or more years and is unaware of her predicament. The elderly lady is feisty and brave but very weak, she is lying in her own filth just waiting to die. The kind hearted Abby finds a way to get past the servants and the two hatch a plot, Abby and her 'sisters' will move in and care for Lady Bea, as her nieces. The servants are sacked and Abby brings in two male friends from her lodgings as butler and footman. Lady Bea is pleased with the arrangement and begins to thrive with the love and care being lavished on her by the four girls who are only too glad to have a roof over their heads.
Max hotfoots it home when he receives a letter informing him that the writer is concerned regarding his Aunts welfare. He is appalled by his Aunts condition on his return although by this time she is beginning to regain her health, he wrongly assumes that the four girls are taking advantage and knows for a fact that his Aunt does not have any living relatives other than himself. Eventually Max learns the truth regarding his Aunts condition and finally believes that the girls have his Aunts best interests at heart, he cannot, however, persuade his Aunt to refer to the girls as anything other than her nieces and this is where Anne Gracie's talent for comic dialogue comes into play. There is an uproariously funny scene where she blatantly lies to her friend regarding the appearance of her 'nieces' on the scene, nothing Max says, even outright denial, can stop the outrageous elderly lady from claiming her half sister Griselda's girls' as her nieces, even though no such sister ever existed. The more Max protests, the more the ton will accept the lie, believing it to be a scandal he is trying to conceal.
Another extremely funny character whom I loved from the beginning, is Max's silent partner and friend Freddy Monkton-Coombes. Freddy believes all girls are out to trap him into marriage and he is determined to avoid this fate at all costs. Not having seen Max's house guests he believes them all to be muffins, rather plain girls, probably bookish and intent on trapping any unsuspecting man in any way she can, or in Freddy's words 'eligible girls bent on wedlock'. He is eventually introduced to them all and is pleasantly surprised. I'm looking forward to his re-appearance. Freddie and Aunt Bea are definitely the outstanding characters in this gentle and charming tale.
The attraction between Max and Abby is tangible but Max has other issues in his life which need to be dealt with and he is an honourable man although he does not strike a cord as a wow hero, such as Gideon. Still this is a sweetly written, occasionally very funny story. It has a fairly weak plot but Anne Gracie's writing is sound and I can't say I didn't enjoy it. It just doesn't come up to Gideon's and Pru's standard. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 rather than down to 3.
August 3, 2015
16/7 - 3.5 stars. The Autumn Bride is a light and fluffy romantic comedy, it’s not what comes to mind when I think of romance books. I was surprised to find I really enjoyed it because it doesn’t really have much depth or all that much romance. In order; there’s a male fantasy involving whipped cream, a kiss, a naked male chest, and finally another kiss quickly followed by the last chapter where the only sex scene happened. Really, I would compare this to some of the rom com movies that I’ve loved over the years, more focussed on the com than the rom. There were quite a few good laughs, especially during the scene where Lady Bea first discusses the origins of her ‘nieces’. I read this specifically because I started a book further along in the series (I can’t remember the title and with still no internet I can’t check which number) and realised that I needed to read them in order, there was too much history that I was missing by reading them out of order. After reading the first one I would definitely say you need to at least read the first book first, the order of the rest of the books probably doesn’t matter as much but there’s a lot of backstory for the Chance sisters that the future books just won’t have the room to include. As soon as my internet returns I’m putting the next one on hold.
PopSugar 2015 Reading Challenge: A Funny Book
PopSugar 2015 Reading Challenge: A Funny Book
August 13, 2016
Decent narration by Alison Larkin, but she doesn't add anything to the story. I'd give her performance 3 stars. Her rendition does a disservice to Freddy, the hero of the next book, . She makes him sound mincing, and very immature.
As for the story, it's an enjoyable regency-era romance, set in London. Unlike Gracie's , this too-similar book is not a "desert isle keeper" but I found it nonetheless fairly heartwarming and entertaining. It held my interest, despite the predictability. I'm a sucker for rich, sexy, grey-eyed men built like stevedores and unrelated cast-outs becoming a loyal family. Kittens, too! I liked the portrayal of the maid, Daisy, the butler Fotherby, and old Aunt Bea.
I read book 2, and liked it better than this one. Damaris and Freddy -- a wonderful story.
See reading status updates for more thoughts.
As for the story, it's an enjoyable regency-era romance, set in London. Unlike Gracie's , this too-similar book is not a "desert isle keeper" but I found it nonetheless fairly heartwarming and entertaining. It held my interest, despite the predictability. I'm a sucker for rich, sexy, grey-eyed men built like stevedores and unrelated cast-outs becoming a loyal family. Kittens, too! I liked the portrayal of the maid, Daisy, the butler Fotherby, and old Aunt Bea.
I read book 2, and liked it better than this one. Damaris and Freddy -- a wonderful story.
See reading status updates for more thoughts.
April 11, 2013
Really enjoyed the first half of this book - characters are fairly well developed (I loved Aunt Bea), dialogue is snappy, plot has some unique characteristics that keep it from being entirely cliche for the genre. However, the secondary characters (Aunt Bea, Freddy, Featherby & William, etc.) really steal the show. The attraction between Abby & Max feels forced and I really could not have cared less if they ended up together or not.
Also grating was the fact that all the conflicts are wrapped up neat and tidy with little effort or action shown on the part on the main characters. In fact, the main threat/antagonist is dealt with entirely off screen by Max while Abby and her sisters wait at home. There's definitely a lot more 'telling' than 'showing' in this book.
Still a fun and light-hearted read, but not a re-read.
Also grating was the fact that all the conflicts are wrapped up neat and tidy with little effort or action shown on the part on the main characters. In fact, the main threat/antagonist is dealt with entirely off screen by Max while Abby and her sisters wait at home. There's definitely a lot more 'telling' than 'showing' in this book.
Still a fun and light-hearted read, but not a re-read.
August 10, 2023
This was so sweet!! I can’t wait to read the other three books about the other sisters!!
Just a warning, the story starts off with three women running away from sexual slavery. It’s not graphic, but no punches are pulled. Also a violent altercation against a woman involving a knife. She’s set upon by two men and the H saves her, but it’s not an easy or sure thing. Also two kidnappings/attempts.
None of it is for violence’s sake, it makes sense to the plot, but it might be a bit much for some readers.
Still, the love story is solid, I LOVE Aunt Bea and all of the sisters. I wish we had seen more of the sisters’ interactions with one another, they were so loving. Also can I say, we all need a Featherby and William in our lives. Both are just big sweeties!
4, better than I expected, stars.
Just a warning, the story starts off with three women running away from sexual slavery. It’s not graphic, but no punches are pulled. Also a violent altercation against a woman involving a knife. She’s set upon by two men and the H saves her, but it’s not an easy or sure thing. Also two kidnappings/attempts.
None of it is for violence’s sake, it makes sense to the plot, but it might be a bit much for some readers.
Still, the love story is solid, I LOVE Aunt Bea and all of the sisters. I wish we had seen more of the sisters’ interactions with one another, they were so loving. Also can I say, we all need a Featherby and William in our lives. Both are just big sweeties!
4, better than I expected, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2015
I love this writer. I recently discovered her and already read 3 of her books. I loved them all. I’m reading another one of hers at the moment, the only one left on my shelves, but she has several more novels in print, and I will order them all from Amazon. Such a nice feeling – pleasant anticipation. I have 8 more books of hers to look forward to. I’m thrumming with future joy. I think Anne Gracie is one of the best historical romance writers today. Why didn’t I hear about her before?
This story is about Abbie and Max. She starts the novel as a governess, an impoverished orphan with a younger sister to take care for. He is a rich aristocrat. When Abbie with her younger sister Jane and two more girls move in with Max’s aunt, Beatrice (read the novel to learn how this unlikely twist came about; there were crime and deception involved and lots of good will), Max is concerned. He thinks the young harpies might be taking advantage of his old and feeble aunt, so he abandons his business in the Southern Seas and returns to London. He discovers that the situation is not exactly what he thought, but it takes him time to unravel all the secrets and learn the truth about Abbie and her sisters. Along the way, he falls in love with Abbie, and she with him.
The writing is clean and expressive, very high quality. The pacing is fast. The story sparkles with subtle humor. And the characters are all alive and sympathetic. Abbie in particular engaged my heart. A loving and sensible girl, she is ready to sacrifice everything for her sisters, even though some of them are not related to her by blood.
Lady Beatrice is also a delightful character, eccentric and kind. She is a creature of her time, of course, but her imagination is blooming, and she is set on improving the lives of the girls she had adopted no matter the cost. If she has to hoodwink the entire ton to do it, so be it. In her opinion, the polite society exists specifically to be hoodwinked by her.
Max is less interesting, a standard alpha male, but he plays a satisfying foil for the colorful cast of female characters.
All in all, a very rewarding read.
This story is about Abbie and Max. She starts the novel as a governess, an impoverished orphan with a younger sister to take care for. He is a rich aristocrat. When Abbie with her younger sister Jane and two more girls move in with Max’s aunt, Beatrice (read the novel to learn how this unlikely twist came about; there were crime and deception involved and lots of good will), Max is concerned. He thinks the young harpies might be taking advantage of his old and feeble aunt, so he abandons his business in the Southern Seas and returns to London. He discovers that the situation is not exactly what he thought, but it takes him time to unravel all the secrets and learn the truth about Abbie and her sisters. Along the way, he falls in love with Abbie, and she with him.
The writing is clean and expressive, very high quality. The pacing is fast. The story sparkles with subtle humor. And the characters are all alive and sympathetic. Abbie in particular engaged my heart. A loving and sensible girl, she is ready to sacrifice everything for her sisters, even though some of them are not related to her by blood.
Lady Beatrice is also a delightful character, eccentric and kind. She is a creature of her time, of course, but her imagination is blooming, and she is set on improving the lives of the girls she had adopted no matter the cost. If she has to hoodwink the entire ton to do it, so be it. In her opinion, the polite society exists specifically to be hoodwinked by her.
Max is less interesting, a standard alpha male, but he plays a satisfying foil for the colorful cast of female characters.
All in all, a very rewarding read.
October 5, 2014
I really, really enjoyed this. It had me giggling several times.
It's a found family book, really. In my mind, more of that than a romance. The book really took its time establishing character and it took a while for the couple to meet. (And, ultimately, they didn't get enough focus for me to care that much about them.) And, oh, it did such a good job of setting up the women who are going to get books.
I was thinking about that this week after finishing . I could figure out which characters were getting books in that series, but they weren't present enough for me to particularly long for those stories. But this book, yes, very much looking forward to everyone's story.
And this book managed to somewhat defuse some of the usual annoying romance cliches.
It's a found family book, really. In my mind, more of that than a romance. The book really took its time establishing character and it took a while for the couple to meet. (And, ultimately, they didn't get enough focus for me to care that much about them.) And, oh, it did such a good job of setting up the women who are going to get books.
I was thinking about that this week after finishing . I could figure out which characters were getting books in that series, but they weren't present enough for me to particularly long for those stories. But this book, yes, very much looking forward to everyone's story.
And this book managed to somewhat defuse some of the usual annoying romance cliches.
February 13, 2013
3-1/2 stars
A sweet Anne Gracie. The romance wasn't the strongest ever but it was more than made up for with the lovely secondary characters. The book was mostly about Abby and her sisters, both real and of the heart, finding a place to live and thrive. The hero was sort of secondary but it was still a believable romance and I continue to enjoy AGs stuff.
The writing is smooth and the feel for the period good. I did think that the one sex scene was not really likely to have happened considering the previous characterizations of the hero and heroine. But eh what are ya gonna do?
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
A sweet Anne Gracie. The romance wasn't the strongest ever but it was more than made up for with the lovely secondary characters. The book was mostly about Abby and her sisters, both real and of the heart, finding a place to live and thrive. The hero was sort of secondary but it was still a believable romance and I continue to enjoy AGs stuff.
The writing is smooth and the feel for the period good. I did think that the one sex scene was not really likely to have happened considering the previous characterizations of the hero and heroine. But eh what are ya gonna do?
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
September 27, 2021
This was so sweet and delightful. Light on Romance but big on found family and cozy vibes.
4/5 stars
4/5 stars
December 13, 2017
This was addictive, but the last 15% or so were soooo unsatisfying that I feel almost betrayed. Let me explain.
The story starts with the hero half a world away receiving a letter that his aunt is not feeling well, so he decides it's finally time, after almost a decade away, to go back home. The heroine is introduced too, though her troubles are more troublesome than his. I loved it. The story building and background creating took almost a quarter of the novel, but I was thoroughly entertained. I was glued to my reader the entire evening and well into the night. The hero and the heroine meet somewhere around 25% and it exceeded my expectations, having seen some of Abby's grit beforehand.
I adore Abby. The girl is fierce. She doesn't let herself be bullied and intimidated by anyone, and if she feels someone's being unjust in her presence, she will let them know. I loved it. And I love her.
Max wasn't quite as likeable, but he sort of grows on you after he pulls his head out his ass.
But the reason this was so unsatisfying for me, was that because of the long buildup, of Abby's, Max's, Lady Beatrice's, the girls', theburritosbutler's* and everyone else's background, the final part, when the two main characters finally get together feels so rushed. So sudden. One moment they're still coping with their attraction to each other and the next, he's proclaiming his undying love and they're doing it in his hotel room. I realize the author had to cram in a lovemaking scene, but god, did it feel out of place. Just like I love you, I love you too, here's my aunt's ring now lets do it like they do it on the Discovery channel.
I was hoping the author would wait until they're married, give them more time to spend together before they seal the deal. It would've been a bit more believable.
But I love Gracie's heroines. Let's hope Jane will be the same as Abby and Damaris. BTW for some reason, I read it out of order, starting with the second book in the series, but it's actually fine. You're caught up to everything important immediately, so it's easy to follow the story.
*Autocorrect changed butler's to burritos and I think it's hilarious, so I'm leaving it.
The story starts with the hero half a world away receiving a letter that his aunt is not feeling well, so he decides it's finally time, after almost a decade away, to go back home. The heroine is introduced too, though her troubles are more troublesome than his. I loved it. The story building and background creating took almost a quarter of the novel, but I was thoroughly entertained. I was glued to my reader the entire evening and well into the night. The hero and the heroine meet somewhere around 25% and it exceeded my expectations, having seen some of Abby's grit beforehand.
I adore Abby. The girl is fierce. She doesn't let herself be bullied and intimidated by anyone, and if she feels someone's being unjust in her presence, she will let them know. I loved it. And I love her.
Max wasn't quite as likeable, but he sort of grows on you after he pulls his head out his ass.
But the reason this was so unsatisfying for me, was that because of the long buildup, of Abby's, Max's, Lady Beatrice's, the girls', the
I was hoping the author would wait until they're married, give them more time to spend together before they seal the deal. It would've been a bit more believable.
But I love Gracie's heroines. Let's hope Jane will be the same as Abby and Damaris. BTW for some reason, I read it out of order, starting with the second book in the series, but it's actually fine. You're caught up to everything important immediately, so it's easy to follow the story.
*Autocorrect changed butler's to burritos and I think it's hilarious, so I'm leaving it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2025
This was just okay for me, not sure I’ll continue on in the series though. This was my first time reading this author and I was honestly kind of bored.
This is a historical romance where he’s been away for years and comes back home to check in on his aunt. He finds her being taken care of by 4 ladies pretending to be her nieces, one of which is the heroine (the others are her sister and 2 of their dear friends). I grabbed the audio from my library, they have the whole series on hoopla and I expected to binge them, but this book was a bit lackluster and I don’t have the want to continue on now. I was invested in the characters and it felt forgettable. Maaaaybe I’ll see what else the author has for one more try, but I’m not as excited now.
This is a historical romance where he’s been away for years and comes back home to check in on his aunt. He finds her being taken care of by 4 ladies pretending to be her nieces, one of which is the heroine (the others are her sister and 2 of their dear friends). I grabbed the audio from my library, they have the whole series on hoopla and I expected to binge them, but this book was a bit lackluster and I don’t have the want to continue on now. I was invested in the characters and it felt forgettable. Maaaaybe I’ll see what else the author has for one more try, but I’m not as excited now.
Read
April 28, 2024I adored this!
I laughed out loud so many times reading it. All four sisters were fabulous, as well as the old lady who takes them in.
I am so sad I have to wait to read the next ones since my Libby doesn't have them yet :(
I laughed out loud so many times reading it. All four sisters were fabulous, as well as the old lady who takes them in.
I am so sad I have to wait to read the next ones since my Libby doesn't have them yet :(
Read
June 21, 20242.25 stars.
Although this book had decent character development and was engagingly told, I had a hard time finishing it. The premise of this story was just too farfetched and the angst between the MCs felt wrong. The suspense/mystery also felt like an afterthought. (However, I do prefer my mystery/suspense reads to by all or nothing so that's probably just a me thing.) The romance aspect of this story was middling at best. There was a whole lot of unwilling physical attraction but too much resistance to any romantic feelings for this to really feel romantic. And I never understand why Ms. Gracie feels the need to tack on an intimate scene at the very end of the story. It didn't add any value to the plot; if anything, it detracted from the special nature of an H who is willing to wait to have an intimate relationship with the h.
safety
Overall, I found this book to be just OK. There were some funny bits, but this wasn't my favourite work by this author.
Although this book had decent character development and was engagingly told, I had a hard time finishing it. The premise of this story was just too farfetched and the angst between the MCs felt wrong. The suspense/mystery also felt like an afterthought. (However, I do prefer my mystery/suspense reads to by all or nothing so that's probably just a me thing.) The romance aspect of this story was middling at best. There was a whole lot of unwilling physical attraction but too much resistance to any romantic feelings for this to really feel romantic. And I never understand why Ms. Gracie feels the need to tack on an intimate scene at the very end of the story. It didn't add any value to the plot; if anything, it detracted from the special nature of an H who is willing to wait to have an intimate relationship with the h.
safety
Overall, I found this book to be just OK. There were some funny bits, but this wasn't my favourite work by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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