Review: The Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie

Title: The Autumn Bride {The Chance Sisters #1}

Published: Penguin Viking Feburary 2013

Status: Read from February 13 to 14, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy Penguin Australia}

My Thoughts:

The Autumn Bride is a charming Regency romance introducing the Chance sisters by popular Australian author, Anne Gracie.

After rescuing her younger sister from a London brothel, Abigail Chantry finds herself the sole charge of Jane, Damaris and Daisy. Though the girls pool their skills and resources, when Jane falls ill they cannot afford the services of a doctor, and in desperation Abigail climbs through the window of a mansion hoping to find a trinket she can exchange to pay for one. Instead Abby finds Lady Beatrice Davenham, a frail, elderly woman at the mercy of her neglectful staff. Incensed by the dowager’s condition, Abby and her ‘sisters’ with the approval of Lady Bea, claim kinship and evict the servants, restoring order to the house. It is an ideal situation for them all until Lady Bea’s nephew, Lord Max Davenham returns from overseas and is immediately suspicious of the ‘Chance’ sisters and their motives.

It has been a long time time since I have read a historical romance so I admit to approaching The Autumn Bride with some degree of trepidation. I was glad to discover a storyline that, while featuring the development of a romance between Abigail and Max, was built primarily around the dynamics of the Chance ‘sisters’. I also enjoyed the touch of mystery surrounding Jane’s abduction, though the link between the brothel and the orphanage is obvious from the first.

I found my self quickly charmed by Abigail, her ‘sisters’ and the indomitable Lady Bea. I much prefer resourceful protagonists with a bit of fire in them to simpering heroines so I liked Abby immediately. Lady’s Bea’s bright spirit and disregard for convention also quickly earned my affection as did Max, who’s sense of honour is admirable. I even developed a soft spot for Featherby and William who do little but lurk in the background.

The humour in The Autumn Bride was unexpected and I was surprised to find myself smiling widely at the witty dialogue. The pacing is appropriate, though traditional romance fans may find the relationship between Abby and Max a little slow to begin.

I enjoyed The Autumn Bride, it is a engaging book that is funny, romantic and charming. The first in a quartet of novels featuring Abigail, Damaris, Jane and Daisy in turn, I will be happy to pick up the next on it’s release.

I was fortunate to ask Anne Gracie a few questions about The Autumn Bride, please CLICK HERE to learn more…