Anne Gracie: The Autumn Bride

~Chosen as one of the best romances of 2013 by NPR and Library Journal~

From the beloved, award-winning Anne Gracie comes this 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.  For fans of Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn, and Stephanie Laurens...

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

CW: Child trafficking, SA threat, violence, abandonment, orphans, elder abuse

If you have been a Regency Reader for a while you know the one Season I am on the hunt to read when the -ber months come along is Autumn.  So much so that it is the only season I have devote multiple lists to (see this, this, and this) and the season I go begging every year on social media for recommendations for.

So yes, I had hoped The Autumn Bride would be the pumpkin spice latte equivalent of Regency Romance.  Was it?  No.  There is a brief mention of Autumn, and although there is no summer (because its set in the Year Without Summer) even the weather was not autumnal.

But it was still a good read.  The secondary characters were really interesting, like some of them were delights.  I also enjoyed the look at changing fortunes, following two characters suffering for the sins of the father. Set in London but outside the ton was a good diversion. I also think the romance was strong.  Some of the dialogue was also really funny, although generally the plot and content was more on the dramatic side.

This was the first in the Chance Sisters series, but worked well as a standalone.

There is some violence, some mature themes, and an intimate scene that happens at the end of the book. But its better for mature readers who like some intimacy on page.

I think this was more like a 4.35 star for me, or maybe slightly higher.  It was entertaining and fast paced, and I liked the MCs character growth a lot.  I think there was some elements of the MMC that just pinched at me, and the intimate scene slapped on at the ending threw me for a loop. But what could have been melodramatic struck the right balance, and so it deserves a lot of the great reviews it receives.

I would recommend this for readers who are looking for a series on sisters (some of them found family) who like to read something different than the glittering Season and Town.

And, if you have read an Autumnal or gothic-esque Regency that is not on one of my list, drop a recommendation in the comments!