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    The Autumn Bride
    The Autumn Bride
    The Autumn Bride
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Autumn Bride

    Written by Anne Gracie

    Narrated by Alison Larkin

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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 . . .
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateFeb 18, 2013
    ISBN9781452681788
    The Autumn Bride

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    Reviews for The Autumn Bride

    4.5/5

    30 ratings13 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Another sweet and humorous romance from Ann Gracie. I don’t know how I never came across this author in the past. I guess too many books + too little time kept me busy with the thousands of books I read and wanted to read over the years that Ann Gracie slipped under my radar. Happy now that I missed out years ago because I have enjoyed the last two I just read! Now more than likely I will open another as soon as I end this little write up. These have been the perfect books for me right now! Was reading mystery thrillers and crime fiction for a while the sweet romances with just enough twists and turns to get the MC’s to alter to make it satisfying. I like all the main and secondary characters of this story and pleased once again it wasn’t filled with never ending sex scenes. There is enough going on that the author didn’t need to fill pages needlessly. Now on to my next story!
    • 5/5
      ...brilliant dialogue; heartwarming and funny; romantic and sexy; memorable love story!

      This story opens up in 1805 with our young hero Max finding out that he's come up in the world and is to inherit a title of Lord Davenham from his uncle. That however wasn't the worst of it. Along with that title, he is informed that not is he only broke, but he is in so much debt that the only option left to this young man was to get himself off to India and work hard at amassing wealth so that he can pay-off all of those creditors and have enough left over to reestablish and restore his own name.

      Before he embarks on this trip and in order to accomplish this personal goal, he now must offer a pound of flesh to only one man who is shrewd and smart enough to accept it as a bargain and for the future benefit to both of them. As he leaves England, he makes sure that his solicitors will be taking care of his elderly Aunt, Lady Bea, who is residing in one of the property's he refused to sell because it has been her home for many years.

      It's now 1816 and while Max is still in India getting rich, our heroine Abigail Chantry has been putting up with a lot of abuse in a few positions she's had as a governess and the only reason she did, was that she loved their children.

      In her latest position, she gets some disturbing news about her only sibling and her request to be allowed to offer aid to her younger sister falls on deaf ears of her employers and is threatened with eviction if she disobeys them. Abby is left with no choice but to ignore the uppity couple she's working for, secretly rescuing her sibling and a couple of young girls that were helping her with that task. Not long after her employer kicks her out and now all four girls are dependent on Abby's skill and wits for their survival and that's when she meets Lady Bea, alone and woofly neglected in her town house, wishing for death to take her.

      Anne Gracie does it yet again! She created a wonderful story of a unique, strong willed and very witty heroine. She then sets out to play a matchmaker for her with a man who is duty bound to marry another and tries to ignore his desire for Abby. Add to the story a motley crew of supporting characters that are given smart, witty and frankly brilliant dialogue, and what you have is a heartwarming and funny, romantic and sexy, memorable love story.

      I promise you, the pacing is such that by the time you come to that last sentence at the end of the book, you'll be surprised and sad it's over. This promises to be another of her wonderful series and I for one can't wait for the second book to come out!

      Mel for b2b

      *Book provided by publisher through NetGalley.
    • 4/5
      Abigail Chantry's parents died when she was young leaving her to care for her younger sister Jane. Although she has not seen Jane in years, she helps to pay for her sister's schooling with her job as a governess for a family she is not especially fond of. When she gets word that Jane has been kidnapped and is being held as a captive in a brothel, she sets out to rescue her, and in the process also saves two other girls from the brothel as well. This unlikely quartet take a vow to take care of each other and thereby form their makeshift "sisterhood". This is how the Chance Sisters come into being, and how the first book in the series, The Autumn Bride begins.

      This is my first book by Anne Gracie. Before this book, I had never even heard of this author before, which I can't believe, as I am sure that I have been missing out!! I was hooked from the moment that I read the back cover, and although I felt that the beginning of the book was a bit slow, it picked up after about the fifth or sixth chapter and moved along quite nicely. It really started getting interesting once the sisters come across what they believe to be an empty mansion, where lacking money and needing food, Abigail decides to break in to try to find something of value that they can use to help them. What she finds instead is Lady Beatrice Davenham, who is bedridden and untended by her servants, who are using her money to instead feather their own nests. After she tells the story of her negligence, Abigail knows that she must help Lady Beatrice and proceeds to throw the worthless help out. At that point Lady Beatrice asks the sisters to stay and take care of her as her "nieces", and that in return she would help them to find husbands. All goes well for awhile until Lady Beatrice's nephew Max returns from the Orient to find a houseful of imposters caring for his Aunt.

      As far as the characters go, I would have to say that my favorite character was Lady Beatrice - she is such a gem and totally won my heart. I enjoyed this lighthearted story immensely, and appreciated the fact that the author didn't turn the whole thing into a love at first sight kind of thing. I enjoyed the tension between Max and Abigail as the rest of the story played out. This was such a delightful read for me, and I have to thank the ladies from Book Binge who sent me the book to review. I can't wait to read the rest of the series, and will definitely be looking for more books by Anne Gracie as well.
    • 4/5
      It’s probably bad that I compared this too much with Georgette Heyer, so of course I was a bit scandalized with some of the raciness. But it was definitely a fun read, and I look forward to finding out the happy ever stories of the remaining sisters.
    • 4/5
      Abigail Chantry is down on her luck, working as a governess she has to deal with the issue of being neither servant nor family. Working in a household where the family treat her negligently and when she explains that her sister is suddenly in town and needs shelter they refuse her permission. However her sister has been sold to a brothel and now needs to be rescued, along with a maid and another kidnapped girl.So they end up out on the street and in desparation Abigail breaks into a house to see if there's anything she can steal and instead finds a very neglected woman, Lady Beatrice. Her sense of justice is such that she goes to Lady Beatrice's rescue, ridding her of staff that are exploiting her. When her nephew arrives in London to find cousins he knows he never had sparks begin to fly.This feels like a story I've read before, but it was very enjoyable and a great story of found family. I'm glad to see it's part of a series, I want to see what happens to the other girls. The smarts displayed by all the characters was a joy as well. I like competence in characters.
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      Abigail Chantry is a governess, and has a deep love for children. Her parents died when she was young, and she and her sister Jane were left to fend for themselves. One day while out on her half day off, she is approached by a young woman, where she learns that her sister Jane was kidnapped and has being held prisoner in a brothel, and soon to be sold as a sex slave. Soon three women join forces and escape the brothel, and Now along with Abigail and Jane they have adopted two other women who are like sisters to them. Abigail knows that she will lose her position, so she leaves along with the three other women and they try to save money to go to Bath and have a dress shop. However their money has run out, and her sister Jane is sick, and needs a doctor. So out of desperation, she goes into a mansion, thinking it empty, and hoping its full of something she can sell to save her sister. After she climbs through a dark window, a old woman's voice startles her, and she learns about this bedridden woman whose servants treat her horribly and they are practically killing her with their neglect. So she decides to help Lady Beatrice who offers her home as sanctuary to Abigail and the three women she has taken in. Then after a few weeks, Lady Beatrice's nephew, Max, returns and fireworks start to explode between Max and Abigail, and a burning passion begins...I have always adored Anne Gracie, and I was first introduced to this author months ago, when I read a review for this book, and I knew I needed to try this author. So I have read a few of her other books so far, and loved every one of them. When I was able to get my hands on Autumn Bride, I was so excited. The Autumn Bride is the first in the series, and it sets the stage for the series. The beginning of the book we see the background of the story, how Abigail, Jane and her two friends become like sisters, Then we see the meeting between Abigail and Lady Beatrice. Lady Beatrice is a charming and witty character, and you can't help but feel for her situation. Max has been away for many years, trying to rebuild a fortune that was lost by his father, and works in trade now. When he receives a letter from his aunt's friend, he grows worried and heads back to England, not knowing what he will find. When Max and Abigail first meet, I felt like the windows were going to explode, there was such intensity to their first meeting, and even though Max doesn't know what Abigail's true plan is involving his aunt, but he means to get to the bottom of it despite how she stirs his senses.The characters in this story were fantastically amazing. In the beginning we see more of the sub characters and the introduction to the role that they play in the story. Abigail is at the center for the most part, and you begin to admire her as the heroine of the story. Abigail is strong, and will do anything to save her sister. She has a compassionate nature, and is very protective, especially when Max comes onto the scene. Max even though he has been gone, he has been working for years to rebuild a fortune that was lost in order to save his aunt. When he returns to England, his concern is only for her welfare, and knows that soon he will have to marry a woman he is bethroted to and has been ever since he made a deal to save their finances when he was barely out of school. Max is tough and protective, and fierce at times, but I loved the way he is with Abigail and he is the type of heroes you can't help but love because of his honorable nature. The side characters were zesty and lively.Overall I had quite a fun time reading The Autumn Bride, and the engtanglements involved, and seeing how Max and Abigail come together in the end. A charming tale of love, emotion, adventure and a sense of fun. ADORED IT
    • 4/5
      This is such a fun read. The characters are engaging and relatable.
    • 4/5
      It’s probably bad that I compared this too much with Georgette Heyer, so of course I was a bit scandalized with some of the raciness. But it was definitely a fun read, and I look forward to finding out the happy ever stories of the remaining sisters.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
       I loved this book! Abigail was just the right mix of gutsy and vulnerable, and Max hit just the right tone in-between distrust and attraction. The cast of characters are all interesting and strong in their own right, I just couldn't put this down until the end!
    • 5/5
      Really fun book with a kind hearted and strong willed young woman matching wits with an equally strong willed and determined gentleman. Abby is working as a governess when she gets word that her younger sister has been kidnapped and imprisoned in a brothel. With the help of a brothel maid, Abby rescues Jane and another girl, Damaris, but in the process loses her position as a governess. The four girls have plans to leave London, but must first find the means to do so. When her sister falls ill, Abby decides to break into a nearby mansion in hopes of finding something worth stealing. Finding Lady Beatrice was a surprise, and she ended up spending time just talking to her.Abby's kind heart was horrified by the conditions she found Lady Beatrice in. In another late night chat she and Lady Bea came to an agreement that found Abby and her "sisters" taking up residence with her. I loved the whirlwind that Abby and the girls created when they took over the household. It was fun to see Beatrice return to her feistiness as her health started to improve. In the meantime, Beatrice's nephew Max had received a letter telling him that something strange was going on back at home. He had been in the Orient for nine years, working to repair the family fortunes, under the impression that his aunt was being properly cared for. By the time he makes it back to London, he's worried sick and furious over the idea of his aunt being taken advantage of. His arrival at the house created a really fun to read confrontation involving mistaken identities, protective instincts from both Abby and Max, and what seems to be an interest in stirring the pot from Lady Bea. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't stand a chance against the plans his aunt has to make the girls a permanent part of her life. Max feels terribly guilty over what happened to his aunt while he was gone, and having Abby rub it in doesn't help his attitude toward her at the beginning. It doesn't take long for him to realize that his initial suspicions were wrong, but he is still unwilling to trust her. He knows that they are no relation to his aunt, and he is certain that they are up to something. He also suspects that Abby is hiding something, a suspicion proved correct when something from the past puts her in danger. Max also finds himself caught in quite a dilemma. He entered into a betrothal at the age of eighteen as part of his efforts to repair the family fortunes. It is now time for him to follow through on his promise. He is a man of his word, but his heart is becoming more and more set upon the fascinating and frustrating Abby. He is also a methodical man who must have everything in order before he is comfortable declaring himself, which creates a whole host of misunderstandings before he is able to redeem himself.Abby is just as enamored of him, but her experiences have shown her that men like Max aren't interested in women like her in any respectable way. When threats are made against her, promising that her presence would bring disgrace to Max and his aunt, Abby feels that leaving is the only thing she can do to protect those she has come to love. Once again it falls to Lady Beatrice to play the part of fairy godmother, and she does so in a most amusing way.I loved the mix of characters, from the irrepressible Lady Beatrice to "sister" Daisy, the brothel maid. Max's friend and business partner Freddy is very funny with his fear of the young ladies or "muffins" as he calls them. Each of them has a unique part of the story, and the way they blend together made this a really fun read. The dialogue is fantastic all the way through, teasing and loving and never mean. I can't wait for the next installment.
    • 5/5
      Oh I totally loved this story and Aunt Bea was amazing. She made me laugh so hard. The ending was beautiful and left me misty eyed as he married one of the muffins lol. Great book