A Delightfully Light Piece of Fluff

If you are looking for a historical romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat looking for villains at every turn and pegs your anxiety level on high, this isn’t the right book.
But!
If you are looking for a historical romance that will help chase away the stress of real life for a while, this is the right book.
It is so enjoyably light hearted; I didn’t even try to guess who the villain was.
Yes, The Autumn Bride will be read again and again over time.
Looking forward to the next book in the series and hope Alison Larkin will narrate, after all she is a large part of the book's success.

21 people found this helpful

Enchanting!

I honestly can't remember the last time I've enjoyed a book quite this much, it was engaging from page one. A book with fresh ideas, a delightfully cast of characters, funny, heart-warming, with the passion of romance.

A thoroughly enjoyable book, enhanced by the performing talents of Alison Larkin.

11 people found this helpful

I can't wait for the second book in the series!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Autumn Bride to be better than the print version?

If I could bookmark all the fun passages in the audio edition as I do in the book/eprint version so I can go back and listen again, then yes. Since I can't, No. But I enjoyed the audio.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Aunt Bea is a hoot! She's quite funny, but also loving and loyal.

What does Alison Larkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Alison Larkin was a great pick for this narration. I read the ebook first, then bought the audiobook. I could hear each character's voice in my head as I read. Ms. Larkin's Bea, Freddie and Daisy were different, but better.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The conversation between Abby and Aunt Bea when Abby found Bea in her lonely room, uncared for moved me to tears. I got just as angry with Max as Abby did. I know Max was at sea working to keep Bea living in comfort, but not having someone check to make sure everything continued along the same path when Bea man of affairs passed away leaving her care to his son was irresponsible. The apple does not always fall close to the tree. He should have known better.

Any additional comments?

This is a beautifully written story with wonderful dialogue. A little sad at the beginning, but it becomes humorous very soon after. I am waiting for the next story which is The Winter Bride (Damaris & Freddy's) love story. What's weird is I would not have pick these two characters to fall in love, but, I'm now intrigued.

10 people found this helpful

Excellent, excellent read!!

I don't know where to begin but let me start by saying I have read and listened to many historical books. I have my favorite authors and Anne Gracie was not one of them. Actually this is my first time with one of her books but I must say not my last. This book was so refreshing, I didn't want to put it down. I can't wait for the next book(s) in this series. Max and Abbie did not have much interaction together apart from their dislike for each other and heated word exchanges, but we all know that great dislike between most men and females result in love! I recommend this book and if their were more stars I would have given it an 8, a 10 required more sexual contact.

5 people found this helpful

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.

Genre: regency romance

4 people found this helpful

Wonderful Love Story

it made me cry when the heroin found the lady in her room...being neglected...
whole story's wonderful...i can't wait for the new series to come out

3 people found this helpful

pleasantly surprised!

Where does The Autumn Bride rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is a new favorite author a little behind mary balogh, and lisa kleypas. Im looking forward to more by her.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Autumn Bride?

I really loved the "Old Lady" she was great throughout...made me chuckle a lot.

What does Alison Larkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

nice accent.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

yes...but I don't want to give it away : )

Any additional comments?

I really loved the characters and I am hoping there are more audiobooks to come... wonderful little story.

3 people found this helpful

This is a well written book but it is not clean.

I look for books that are clean. This book does not fit that. It would have been a great book if the smut had been left out.

2 people found this helpful

Loved Every Moment - Great Narration!

Ms. Gracie’s heroine Abby was enormously lovable right from the get-go. Abigail Chantry was a governess and had a good working relationship with her employers and her charges but when she heard her younger sister was in desperate straits, Abby would do anything to save her and two of her sister’s dearest friends from a fate worse than death, including death itself. Hiding from being discovered by folks who would do them harm, funds were at a perilous or nonexistent state. Needing medication for her sister Abigail decided to break into an empty mansion in the hope of finding something to sell. What Abby did find was Lady Beatrice Davenham, bedridden and neglected. Horrified at how Lady Beatrice’s servants were robbing their mistress blind, with Lady Beatrice’s affirmation Abby then fired them all - with Lady Beatrice’s blessing. After that Lady Beatrice had these four young ladies become her “nieces” .

Life was good until Lady Beatrice’s dashingly handsome and arrogant nephew, Max, Lord Davenham return from the Orient and discovers an impostor running his household.

I have to say that I have always been a fan of Anne Gracie but what originally prompted me to pick up this audio was two things, one the gorgeous artwork of the cover, and second because I have always liked Ms. Gracie’s writing. So WOW - I got DOUBLE the pleasure!!! Add to that the superb narration by Allison Larkin and this Audible version was the best!

Not only do you have a wonderful sensual romance going on between Max and Abby (once they figured it out) but Lady Beatrice was a darling; her other “nieces” were sweethearts; and Abby’s friends who had always looked out for her became their butler and footman! It was a purely spectacular mix of great characters who interacted with each other in a wonderful tableau of danger, adventure and humorous antics.

Naturally, there was also the danger of the fiends who were trying to find Abby’s sister and reel her back into the dangerous brothel she had escaped from. Add to that the mystery of how and why her sister ended up there in the first place and you have one fully fleshed out tale, that will keep you listening to the very wee hours.

This Audible version is highly recommended.

Marilyn Rondeau

2 people found this helpful

Wonderfully Light - Creating Much Needed Amusement

What made the experience of listening to The Autumn Bride the most enjoyable?

Whitty females getting the best of the alpha males in their lives. Love the strength and bond the women have in this story. Not the normal smugness usally expected fo the "Gentle People" of this era.

What other book might you compare The Autumn Bride to and why?

This book reminded me of Lisa Kleypas, The Hathaways Series. The oddities that just make you laugh.

Which character – as performed by Alison Larkin – was your favorite?

Lady Beatrice Davenham "The Aunt"; is the best and most favored charater.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book had me in stitches ..... It made laugh so hard I was crying. This is a great pick me up.

2 people found this helpful