The Autumn Bride
4 Stars

This book hits all the right notes. An arrogant and high-handed hero who meets his match in the feisty and endearing heroine.

Lord Max Davenham returns from the orient to discover that his beloved aunt has given refuge to a former governess, Abigail Chantry, and her mismatched "sisters". Some of the most wonderful banter ensues as Max and Abigail vie for supremacy in their relationship.

An entertaining read overall, and I look forward to continuing with the series. ( )

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. ( )

One of my favorite Regencies. Four girls band together to survive London and one finds romance after a bumpy path. The elderly widow character is great fun, makes the whole story work. Book 1 of 4. ( )

I liked these characters, aspects of them seemed very believable, and the setup was interesting. There are also actual good reasons for the miscommunication/secrets/etc. rather than just for the sake of throwing together some drama. Which I appreciate. ( )

Abigail Chantry and her sister Jane were left penniless by the deaths of both parents and were brought up in an orphanage for the children of gentlemen. Abigail has been working as a governess and Jane is on her way to start work as a companion when she is abducted and sold to a brothel. In the process of saving Jane, Abigail meets Demaris, another abducted girl, and Daisy, a servant who put herself at risk to save Jane and Demaris. The four girls decide to look after one another and create their own family, the Chance sisters.

This is the first book of a series, and features Abigail. In a desperate attempt to get money to pay for a doctor to treat the very ill Jane, Abigail comes across an elderly lady who is being mistreated by her cruel servants. She and the other Chance sisters, including the recovered Jane, move into the old lady's house to look after her. The old lady's nephew, Max Davenham, soon arrives from some unnamed foreign country where he has been for nine years working to pay off his uncle's and father's debts.

Most of this book is pleasantly cosy and tidy. Max and Abigail are upright people who certainly deserve a happy ending, but the threat from the violent brothel-keeper lurks in the background. Anne Gracie's writing is a bit pedestrian, but this was quite readable and I'd try another in the series if there was nothing better to hand. ( )