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WORK TITLE: The Bad Luck Bride
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.jannamacgregor.com/
CITY: Kansas City
STATE: MO
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2017/05/02/janna-macgregor-interview-bad-luck-bride/ * https://us.macmillan.com/author/jannamacgregor/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2017055831
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2017055831
HEADING: MacGregor, Janna
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035 __ |a (OCoLC)oca10789362
040 __ |a IArlh |b eng |e rda |c IArlh
100 1_ |a MacGregor, Janna
370 __ |a Missouri |2 naf
374 __ |a Authors |2 lcsh
375 __ |a female
377 __ |a eng
670 __ |a MacGregor, Janna. The bad luck bride, 2017: |b title page (Janna MacGregor) page 3 of cover (Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri; lives in Kansas City [includes photograph])
PERSONAL
Born in MO; married; children: three.
EDUCATION:Graduated from law school.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and attorney. Partner (with her husband) in a law firm.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Janna MacGregor is a writer and attorney based in Kansas City, MO. Her literary works are mostly in the romance genre.
The Bad Luck Bride
In an interview with Joyce Lamb, MacGregor described the plot of her first novel The Bad Luck Bride. She stated: “The Bad Luck Bride, aka Lady Claire Cavensham, believes in curses, specifically she believes she’s cursed. After three failed engagements, she discovers her fourth fiancé has just jilted her at a very public ball. Alex Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke, swoops in like a knight in shining armor and declares in front of everyone that Lady Claire has agreed to marry him. Completely shocked, Lady Claire walks away not believing he’s serious.” MacGregor continued: “Oh, but Alex is quite serious. He is determined to marry Lady Claire as an act of vengeance against her fourth fiancé who Alex believes mistreated his sister. What appears as a simple marriage of convenience quickly turns into something special between Claire and Alex. However, when Claire discovers the truth behind his proposal, the couple must fight to save their marriage if they want a happy ever after.”
Caz Owens, writer on the All About Romance website, commented: “Janna MacGregor shows promise as an author of historical romance. She needs to smooth out her prose … and take a bit more care with some of her word choices and phrasing. The novel would also have benefitted from a firmer editorial hand to help weed out some of the extraneous plot developments and craft stronger and more plausible motivations for the characters.” Owens concluded: “Anyone looking to try a new author might like to give The Bad Luck Bride a whirl, but should be advised that while it’s not the worst historical romance. … It’s not the best, either.” Other assessments of the novel were more favorable. A critic in Kirkus Reviews remarked: “MacGregor’s debut, and the first in the planned ‘Cavensham Heiresses’ series, is an enjoyably complex treat.” The same critic described the book as “impressive.” John Charles, reviewer in Booklist, suggested that the book featured “beautifully defined, exceptionally appealing protagonists, intriguing secondary characters, and graceful writing deftly leavened with wry wit.” “The book’s promise of a delicious story is well realized, building anticipation for future installments,” asserted a Publishers Weekly contributor. A critic on the Scandalicious Book Reviews websites stated: “This is a well written book with some surprising twists and turns toward the second half. The reader will just have to be patient during the first half to get into it. A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series.”
The Bride Who Got Lucky
In The Bride Who Got Lucky, MacGregor focuses on Claire’s sister, Emma. Emma is a strong women and wants whomever she marries to treat her as an equal. Most of the eligible bachelors are put off by her feminism. However, Emma’s quest to avenge her friend Lena’s death puts her back in touch with an old acquaintance, Nick, who is not deterred by Emma’s views.
A Kirkus Reviews contributor asserted: “The second title in the ‘Cavensham Heiresses’ series again proves that MacGregor has a real talent for developing every facet of a romance.” The same contributor noted that the book contained “steamy scenes as well as emotional ones.” “Readers will eagerly turn the pages to see how this intense story concludes,” predicted a writer in Publishers Weekly. Jennifer Porter, reviewer on the Romance Novel News website, suggested: “The romance is quite delightful.” Porter added: “Nick is a great hero who is worthy of Emma’s love and willingness to sacrifice herself to marriage. Again, the romance in this one is strong and wonderful, but it is Emma who made this book such a standout.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, April 15, 2017, John Charles, review of The Bad Luck Bride, p. 25.
Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2017, review of The Bad Luck Bride; September 1, 2017, review of The Bride Who Got Lucky.
Publishers Weekly, March 20, 2017, review The Bad Luck Bride, p. 61; September 11, 2017, review of The Bride Who Got Lucky, p. 49.
ONLINE
All About Romance, https://allaboutromance.com/ (November 15, 2017), Caz Owens, review of The Bad Luck Bride.
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (May 2, 2017), Joyce Lamb, author interview.
Historical Novel Society, https://historicalnovelsociety.org/ (November 14, 2017), Monica E. Spence, review of The Bad Luck Bride.
Janna MacGregor Website, http://www.jannamacgregor.com (November 15, 2017).
Romance Novel News, http://www.romancenovelnews.com/ (November 15, 2017), Jennifer Porter, review of The Bride Who Got Lucky.
Scandalicious Book Reviews, http://www.scandaliciousbookreviews.com/ (November 14, 2017), review of The Bad Luck Bride.
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About Janna
Historical romance author Janna McGregorFollowing the doctor’s cheerful announcement of triplets, the first thing Janna MacGregor did was pick her darling husband off the floor. The second thing she did was make a decision about what to do with all her newfound free time. Take her word for it, mandatory bed rest can skew one’s perceptions. During her sojourn in bed, Janna remembered her attorney-husband’s sage advice that successful attorneys always have the last word in an argument. Taking these wise words to heart, she became an attorney and soon was managing partner of his law firm. She is certain he and their triplets rue the day he ever made that comment.
After living in a variety of Midwestern cities, she settled in Kansas City Missouri, the crown jewel of the Midwest and home of her favorite team, the Kansas City Royals. Through all her wanderings, she has always found time to read passionate, sweeping romances. It didn’t take long for her to decide to add Author on her resume. Practicing law by day, she writes sexy historicals set in the Regency period whenever she is not in court arguing those last words.
Join her and escape in stories about compelling and powerful heroines meeting and falling in love with their equally matched heroes. Remember—every romance should be messy, carnal and forever.
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QUOTED: "The Bad Luck Bride, aka Lady Claire Cavensham, believes in curses, specifically she believes she’s cursed. After three failed engagements, she discovers her fourth fiancé has just jilted her at a very public ball. Alex Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke, swoops in like a knight in shining armor and declares in front of everyone that Lady Claire has agreed to marry him. Completely shocked, Lady Claire walks away not believing he’s serious."
"Oh, but Alex is quite serious. He is determined to marry Lady Claire as an act of vengeance against her fourth fiancé who Alex believes mistreated his sister. What appears as a simple marriage of convenience quickly turns into something special between Claire and Alex. However, when Claire discovers the truth behind his proposal, the couple must fight to save their marriage if they want a happy ever after."
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Interview: Janna MacGregor, author of ‘The Bad Luck Bride’
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By: Joyce Lamb | May 2, 2017 12:01 am
Janna MacGregor
Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Janna! Please tell us a bit about your new release, The Bad Luck Bride.
Janna: Hi, Joyce and everyone! I’m so delighted to be here today. I’d love to tell you about the first book in The Cavensham Heiresses series.
The Bad Luck Bride, aka Lady Claire Cavensham, believes in curses, specifically she believes she’s cursed. After three failed engagements, she discovers her fourth fiancé has just jilted her at a very public ball. Alex Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke, swoops in like a knight in shining armor and declares in front of everyone that Lady Claire has agreed to marry him. Completely shocked, Lady Claire walks away not believing he’s serious. Oh, but Alex is quite serious. He is determined to marry Lady Claire as an act of vengeance against her fourth fiancé who Alex believes mistreated his sister. What appears as a simple marriage of convenience quickly turns into something special between Claire and Alex. However, when Claire discovers the truth behind his proposal, the couple must fight to save their marriage if they want a happy ever after.
Joyce: Do you have any particular rituals that help you get into the writing frame of mind?
Janna: Besides swilling countless cups of coffee in the morning to help get my brain functioning? Seriously, I like to get up in the morning and answer e-mails first thing. By then, I’m on my second cup of coffee, have the dog fed, and am ready to start writing. Normally, the night before, I’ve got a good idea of the scene I want to write. I plow ahead until I get my word count. I may or may not read the scene(s) in the afternoon.
Joyce: What do you do when you get stuck?
Janna: Good question. When I’m stuck, I take a walk. There are 26 miles of wilderness trails behind my house. While I’m strolling through the woods, I may listen to music or I may let nature serenade me. If I’m stewing on a scene, I normally won’t listen to music as I find it distracting. If that doesn’t work, I stay out of my writing room for the day. I take a legal pad and sketch a scene or two. Normally, just handwriting the next scene helps loosen things up so I continue to create my characters’ stories.
Joyce: Do you write by the seat of your pants, or do you carefully plot your stories?
Janna: Total plotter!
Joyce: Who are three romance authors who turn you into a fangirl?
Janna: Eloisa James, Lisa Kleypas and Christina Lauren (make that four romance authors! *wink*)
Joyce: Would you like to share a favorite moment from your writing career?
Janna: The CALL! My agent submitted The Bad Luck Bride and told me not to expect anything for a while. She said sometimes these things take months. Less than two weeks later, I had an offer to publish with St. Martin’s Press. I was so excited I kept walking back and forth through our upstairs hallway and asking, “Are you kidding me?” My dogs followed me in my path, barking the entire way because they knew something was up. I must have paced for an hour as I couldn’t sit still. Pure euphoria! It’s one of the best days of my life.
Joyce: What’s your favorite snack and/or beverage while you’re writing?
Janna: I admit it. I love coffee in every type — espresso, cappuccino, drip, Americano, Keurig pods … you get the idea. I always have a box of Dots in the bookshelf behind me. They’re another weakness. Sometimes you just have to have a little sugar with your coffee.
Joyce: Do you have a pet that hangs out with you while you’re working?
Pollie the pug.
Janna: My girlfriend, Pollie the pug, is always by my side. My children gave her to me on Mother’s Day one year so I wouldn’t be lonely when they left for college. Her “work” bed is underneath my desk. She naps on and off all day while I write. Of course, she gets up to stretch every now and then and checks on me. However, she draws the line at late nights. By 9 o’clock, she’s in my bedroom conked for the night!
Joyce: What’s your ideal scenery while you’re writing?
Janna: I’m surrounded by chalkboards that contain all my notes for my current story. Ideally, I’d love to be writing in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a perfectly manicured English garden with a bubbling fountain in the middle of it. If I got stuck in a scene, I could simply open the door and venture outside for a short walk.
Joyce: What would be your dream vacation?
Janna: Spending a year in the U.K. and roaming the island from one end to the other. Imagine the research only available there and the ideas for settings that would pop into your thoughts. I’d take so many pictures, my phone would probably explode.
Joyce: What’s coming next?
Janna: The next book in the series will arrive on Oct. 31. The Bride Who Got Lucky tells the tale of Claire’s youngest cousin, Lady Emma Cavensham and Alex’s best friend, Nick St. Mauer, the Earl of Somerton. These two, who became acquainted in The Bad Luck Bride, keep on running into each other, much to Emma’s chagrin. She’s trying to find a way to bring the murdering husband of her best friend to justice. The only problem is that Nick keeps showing up at the most inopportune times and ruining her plans. When the two are discovered in a compromising position, the ton goes wild with rampant rumors. Emma is completely stymied in her plans, and Nick may be the only man brave enough to join in her cause and fight for her heart.
I’m currently working on book three in the series and plotting away with book four.
Joyce: Do you have anything to add?
Janna: Thank you, Joyce and HEA. I’ve had a lovely time. I love to talk romance. Thank you to your HEA readers for spending part of their busy day with me. I really enjoyed it. Please stop by and say hello. You can find me on my Facebook page or Twitter @JannaMacGregor.
Joyce: Thanks, Janna!
About The Bad Luck Bride:
Is marriage a blessing or a curse?
A man of honor, Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke, will not rest until he exacts revenge on the man who destroyed his family. Just one more piece must fall into place for him to succeed he needs to convince his enemy s fiancée, the tragically beautiful Lady Claire Cavensham, to marry him instead.
Lady Claire s curse has always left her one misstep away from social ruin her past three engagements have gone awry, and now her fourth is headed in the same direction. . .until Alex, a man she barely even knows, shocks the ton and Claire by announcing their engagement. What begins as a sham turns into something deeper, and more passionate, than either Claire or Alex could have imagined. But when their secrets are revealed, will the truth behind their union scandalize them both or is their love strong enough to break the curse and lead them toward their happily ever after?
About Janna
Following the doctor’s cheerful announcement of triplets, the first thing Janna MacGregor did was pick her darling husband off the floor. The second thing she did was make a decision about what to do with all her newfound free time. Take her word for it, mandatory bed rest can skew one’s perceptions. During her sojourn in bed, Janna remembered her attorney-husband’s sage advice that successful attorneys always have the last word in an argument. Taking these wise words to heart, she became an attorney and soon was managing partner of his law firm. She is certain he and their triplets rue the day he ever made that comment.
After living in a variety of Midwestern cities, she settled in Kansas City Missouri, the crown jewel of the Midwest and home of her favorite team, the Kansas City Royals. Through all her wanderings, she has always found time to read passionate, sweeping romances. It didn’t take long for her to decide to add Author on her resume. Practicing law by day, she writes sexy historicals set in the Regency period whenever she is not in court arguing those last words. Her debut novel, The Bad Luck Bride, was published in May of 2017 with St. Martin’s Press, and the second book in that Cavensham Heiresses series arrives on bookstore shelves later this autumn.
Join her and escape in stories about compelling and powerful heroines meeting and falling in love with their equally matched heroes. Remember—every romance should be messy, carnal and forever.
Find out more at www.JannaMacGregor.com.
historical romance, Regency romance, Author interviews
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QUOTED: "The second title in the Cavensham Heiresses series again proves that MacGregor has a real talent for developing every facet of a romance."
"steamy scenes as well as emotional ones."
11/14/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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Print Marked Items
MacGregor, Janna: THE BRIDE WHO GOT
LUCKY
Kirkus Reviews.
(Sept. 1, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
MacGregor, Janna THE BRIDE WHO GOT LUCKY St. Martin's (Adult Fiction) $7.99 10, 31 ISBN: 978-1-250-
11614-7
Nosy noble nabs bold bluestocking.Yes, of course Lady Emma Cavensham finds Nicholas St. Mauer attractive--she
even kissed him once--but that doesn't mean she wants to marry him. Or anybody, for that matter, since none of the men
of the ton are "able or willing to accept a woman as an equal partner." Nick's interference three years earlier, when she
tried to purchase a rare copy of Bentham's Essays, led to her parents removing her from society. And in any event, her
only goal in life now is to prove that her best friend, Lena, died not from an accident, but at the hand of her abusive
husband. However, after her vengeful return to London, it's not long before Nick intrudes again, when Emma's quest
comes close to the border of impropriety, and this time, his meddling leads to a forced betrothal. Though they both
accept their fate, Nick's long estrangement from his father, the Duke of Renton, and Emma's desire for the freedom of
spinsterhood mean both are reluctant to abandon their prized solitude--even in the face of their powerful attraction. The
second title in the Cavensham Heiresses series again proves that MacGregor has a real talent for developing every facet
of a romance; it can be read independently from the first book, but readers of one will devour the other. In steamy
scenes as well as emotional ones, Emma and Nick develop not just as a couple, but also as individuals, each thanks to
the other's affections. After a lengthy buildup of tensions outside their love story, some readers may find the ending
somewhat abrupt, but all will be glad to see the protofeminist couple reach their happily-ever-after together--and as
equals. An independent-minded lord and lady find comfort in each other rather than Regency society.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"MacGregor, Janna: THE BRIDE WHO GOT LUCKY." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2017. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA502192400&it=r&asid=4d0a38ece61171b7103d6311b2057273.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A502192400
QUOTED: "Readers will eagerly turn the pages to see how this intense story concludes."
11/14/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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The Bride Who Got Lucky: Cavensham
Heiresses, Book 2
Publishers Weekly.
264.37 (Sept. 11, 2017): p49.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Bride Who Got Lucky: Cavensham Heiresses, Book 2
Janna MacGregor. St. Martin's, $7.99 mass market (368p) ISBN 978-1-250-11614-7
The second Cavensham Heiresses Regency (after The Bad Luck Bride) has a heady mix of action, wit, and sexual
tension. After headstrong Lady Emma Cavensham's friend Lena is murdered, Emma believes Lena's abusive husband,
Aulton, did it. When she learns that Aulton plans to remarry, Emma is determined to bring him to justice before another
innocent woman falls prey to him. The wealthy and reclusive Nicholas St. Mauer, Earl of Somerton, has one ambition:
to become more successful than the father who neglected, humiliated, and disowned him as a lad. Nick wishes to avoid
marriage, but his attempts to protect Emma during her reckless investigation land them in a compromising position and
then in front of the nearest vicar. The lovers share a history and are accepted by Emma's family, but that foundation
begins to crumble under Nick's inability to forgive and Emma's guilt over Lena's death. When Aulton discovers Emma's
plan, he strikes back at her; Nick's demand that she let go of her quest puts even more strain on the marriage. Readers
will eagerly turn the pages to see how this intense story concludes. Agent: Pamela Abeam, Abeam Agency. (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Bride Who Got Lucky: Cavensham Heiresses, Book 2." Publishers Weekly, 11 Sept. 2017, p. 49. General
OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA505634908&it=r&asid=6b24c3787c6a0b88db8f45348fbf9464.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A505634908
QUOTED: "MacGregor's debut, and the first in the planned 'Cavensham Heiresses' series, is an enjoyably complex treat."
"impressive."
11/14/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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MacGregor, Janna: THE BAD LUCK BRIDE
Kirkus Reviews.
(Mar. 15, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
MacGregor, Janna THE BAD LUCK BRIDE St. Martin's (Adult Fiction) $7.99 5, 2 ISBN: 978-1-250-11612-3
Fifth time's the charm.The Lady Claire Curse has left Claire Cavensham, an otherwise very marriageable young
woman, 24 and on the verge of spinsterhood. After her fourth fiance breaks their engagement, her tattered reputation is
barely saved when Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke, offers for her hand even though they barely know
each other. Surprisingly, they find that their marriage of convenience is a better match than either had anticipated,
leading two unhappy nobles to begin to hope they might have a happy ending after all. Though Claire's lifetime of grief
over being the only survivor of an accident that killed her parents seems as though it may interrupt their happiness, the
real danger to their marriage is the secret Alex is keeping. He didn't propose to Claire to save her--he proposed as part
of a larger plan to ruin her previous fiance. And the passion between them, strong as it is, may not survive that
revelation. MacGregor's debut, and the first in the planned Cavensham Heiresses series, is an enjoyably complex treat.
Though Alex's characterization is somewhat uneven, the obstacles of the plot lead to an ultimately satisfying resolution.
Winningly, although there's plenty of sizzle between the newlyweds in multiple passionate scenes, their efforts to build
a meaningful partnership outside the bedroom make this a mature addition to any Regency shelf. An impressive debut.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"MacGregor, Janna: THE BAD LUCK BRIDE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2017. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA485105383&it=r&asid=880b0048011424845e8417a3c39f8071.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A485105383
QUOTED: "beautifully defined, exceptionally appealing protagonists, intriguing secondary characters, and graceful writing deftly leavened with wry wit."
11/14/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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The Bad Luck Bride
John Charles
Booklist.
113.16 (Apr. 15, 2017): p25.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
* The Bad Luck Bride. By Janna MacGregor. May 2017.352p. St. Martin's, paper, $7.99 (9781250116123).
Claire Cavensham has already lost three fiances: one to death, one to disease, and one to dismemberment. Now Claire is
stunned when she receives a note from Lord Paul Barstowe, fiance number four, informing her that he has no intention
of showing up at the altar. So when Alexander Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke, offers to marry her instead, what
can Claire do but say yes? Alexander has his own reasons for proposing to Claire; the primary one is the settling of an
old score with his former best friend and now mortal enemy Paul. After all, it isn't as though Alexander has to be in
love with Claire in order for him to use their marriage to secure what he most desperately craves. But the more time
Alexander spends with Claire, the more he begins thinking about love and the less he focuses on revenge. With its
beautifully defined, exceptionally appealing protagonists, intriguing secondary characters, and graceful writing deftly
leavened with wry wit, this classic romantic story line becomes something marvelously fresh and new, thus making
MacGregor's stellar debut a must-read for any fan of Regency historicals.--John Charles
With its beautifully defined, exceptionally appealing protagonists, intriguing secondary characters, and graceful writing
deftly leavened with wry wit, this classic romantic story line becomes something marvelously fresh and new, thus
making MacGregor's stellar debut a must-read for any fan of Regency historicals.
--John Charles, on The Bad Luck Bride
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Charles, John. "The Bad Luck Bride." Booklist, 15 Apr. 2017, p. 25. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA492536142&it=r&asid=cb182d3dad04317fde0cdded35baf70f.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A492536142
QUOTED: "The book's promise of a delicious story is well realized, building anticipation for future installments."
11/14/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
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The Bad Luck Bride
Publishers Weekly.
264.12 (Mar. 20, 2017): p61.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Bad Luck Bride
Janna MacGregor. St. Martin's, $7.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-1-250-11612-3
Debut author MacGregor brings England's Regency era to life in this sparkling launch for the Cavensham Heiresses
romance series. Lady Claire, the daughter of a duke, was orphaned at a young age when a carriage accident claimed the
lives of her parents. When her fourth attempt at an engagement, this time with unlikable Lord Paul, ends in disaster like
the previous three, London's gossips compound her survivor's guilt by declaring her cursed. She's saved from the worst
of them by the timely intervention of Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke, one of Lord Paul's childhood
friends. The pair seems to get on well, despite their inauspicious beginning, but they are both struggling with secrets:
Alex's thirst for revenge against Paul, who mistreated his sister, and Claire's nightmares of her parents' deaths. This
charming tale features a refreshing array of happy families, solid relationships, and candid portrayals of realistic
reactions to adverse events. The lack of trust and communication between the principal characters sometimes feels
contrived, but the book's promise of a delicious story is well realized, building anticipation for future installments.
Agent: Ram Ahearn, Ahearn Agency. (May)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Bad Luck Bride." Publishers Weekly, 20 Mar. 2017, p. 61. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA487601782&it=r&asid=ef637f97685007c8b39bbaa5d3099273.
Accessed 14 Nov. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A487601782
QUOTED: "Janna MacGregor shows promise as an author of historical romance. She needs to smooth out her prose ... and take a bit more care with some of her word choices and phrasing. The novel would also have benefitted from a firmer editorial hand to help weed out some of the extraneous plot developments and craft stronger and more plausible motivations for the characters."
"Anyone looking to try a new author might like to give The Bad Luck Bride a whirl, but should be advised that while it’s not the worst historical romance. ... It’s not the best, either."
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The Bad Luck Bride
Janna MacGregor
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The first twenty-five percent or so of Janna MacGregor’s début novel, The Bad Luck Bride, had me eagerly turning the pages, so thoroughly drawn was I into the story of a man who was so bent on revenge upon the former friend he held responsible for the death of his sister, that he would go to any lengths to completely ruin him, even going so far as to steal his fiancée. Unfortunately however, at around that point, the first of what turned out to be several rather flimsy misunderstandings made its appearance and although I was still interested to discover where the story was headed, my former enthusiasm had waned. There were also a number of issues – choppy writing, odd word choices – that took me out of the story on several occasions, as well as inconsistencies in the characterisation of both principals that were impossible to ignore and which have affected my final rating.
Alex Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke is distraught with grief over the suicide of his beloved sister, and is determined to exact rather more than a pound of flesh from the man he believes fathered the child she carried and was thus responsible for her final desperate act. When a friend prevents Alex issuing a challenge to Lord Paul Barstowe, he turns instead to a far more devious manner of engineering the man’s downfall. Knowing that Barstowe is deeply in debt as a result of his liking for high-stakes gaming, Alex secretly arranges for him to receive all the credit he asks for and then buys up all his debts, putting the other man completely at his mercy. The final humiliation is that Barstowe must break his betrothal to a wealthy heiress, Lady Claire Cavensham, the daughter of the late Duke of Langham, a young woman whose “bad luck” in having suffered three broken betrothals (for good reasons) has made her … if not quite a laughing stock, then someone who is frequently a subject of gossip among the ton.
Alex plans to marry the lady himself, but knows he’s got his work cut out for him given that Barstowe will be ex-fiancé number four. But, well, Alex is tall, dark, handsome and wickedly charming, so I’m not giving away any secrets when I say that he manages things to his satisfaction, although not without a hiccup or two along the way. Up to this point, I was fully engaged with the story, wondering when and how the cat was going to be let out of the bag and what angsty twists and turns would follow. But then, during a discussion just a couple of days before the wedding, when Alex jumps to a not completely unreasonable conclusion about Claire – a misunderstanding which is quickly corrected, I might add – she decides that he doesn’t trust her and that she can’t marry him. Having some inkling that she might try to bolt, Alex unfortunately compounds his mistake by laying a wager under a false name (sort of) which backs Claire into a corner and gives her no alternative but to go through with the wedding.
After the ceremony, the newly-weds travel to Alex’s estate, which is close to Claire’s old home. She’s aloof and off-hand with him for a few days, but it’s not long before Claire begins to soften towards her new husband and to enjoy the time spent in his company. It’s the same for Alex. Even as he was preparing to marry Claire as part of his revenge upon Barstowe, he couldn’t help but recognise that he was attracted to her and that he actually wanted to marry her for herself. They find themselves bonding over the care of the tenants and villagers, and Alex is delighted with the way his bride settles into her role as his marchioness and lady of the manor. Of course, it’s just a matter of time before the serpent is introduced into Eden in the form of Claire’s discovering the truth about Alex’s manipulations, and, quite naturally, wanting nothing more to do with him.
While I think The Bad Luck Bride has the makings of a good historical romance, the execution is messy and overall, the story lacks focus. There are too many different plot-threads thrown in and the motivations of the characters are not always clear. But as I said at the beginning, the biggest stumbling block(s) relate to the flimsiness of the devices used to create the conflict between the hero and heroine. We already have the fact that the truth of Alex’s machinations is hanging over his head like the Sword of Damocles, but the author has to throw in the misunderstanding I mentioned earlier, AND give Claire a tortured past which involved witnessing the deaths of her parents in tragic circumstances, plus three broken betrothals, all of which have made her believe she is under some sort of curse. Despite several attempts early on to have it seem as though Claire is dismissive of it, it’s clear she actually believes she’s cursed, and that was a stretch too far for me.
The characterisation is inconsistent, too. There’s no question that Alex is manipulative, and that he would of course show his most attractive, charming side to the woman he is wooing, but apart from at the very beginning, he never really gives off a ruthless or dangerous vibe. Sure, he’s the hero and not the villain, but there’s never any doubt that he’s honourable and protective and all the things readers expect of a romantic hero. One of the reasons I picked this book up for review was because I like a redeemed bad-boy and had hoped that that was to be Alex’s journey; but there’s absolutely no ‘edge’ to him and he’s fairly bland when it comes down to it. And Claire… well, among the things that attract Alex so strongly are her dignity and inner strength, yet for much of the book she doesn’t appear to possess either of those things. I couldn’t really connect with either character – never a good thing in a romance – and at times their behaviour made little to no sense.
With all that said, however, I do think that Janna MacGregor shows promise as an author of historical romance. She needs to smooth out her prose – the sex scenes in particular are very “He did this. Then he did that. Then she did this.” – and take a bit more care with some of her word choices and phrasing. The novel would also have benefitted from a firmer editorial hand to help weed out some of the extraneous plot developments and craft stronger and more plausible motivations for the characters. I’m certainly going to keep an eye out for more of Ms. MacGregor’s work – although I might wait until she’s got a few more books under her belt before I pick up another one in the hope that she’s been able to iron out the first time bugs. Anyone looking to try a new author might like to give The Bad Luck Bride a whirl, but should be advised that while it’s not the worst historical romance I’ve read this year, it’s not the best, either.
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Book Details
Reviewer : Caz Owens
Grade : C+
Sensuality : Warm
Book Type : Historical Romance
Review Tags : The Cavensham Heiresses series
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3 Comments
LeeB. May 14, 2017 at 12:53 pm - Reply
I totally agree with your assessment. She has a nice writing style but the plot was ALL over the place. And I think the title was misleading; she didn’t have bad luck — bad things just happened to her.
Caz Owens
Caz Owens May 14, 2017 at 4:54 pm - Reply
Great minds, Lee 😉
It seems that so many of the débuts I’ve read in recent years suffer from the same thing – they don’t feel as though they’re properly finished and need a stronger editorial hand. And without that at the beginning, the authors carry on writing without improving.
Kate Marshall May 16, 2017 at 11:13 am - Reply
I have not read this book and am unlikely to do so now having read this review. The initial premise is very similar to that of The Madness of Viscount Atherbourne which was Elisa Braden’s debut novel. I must say I enjoyed that book very much particularly in relation to how the hero’s love for the heroine contributed to his redemption.
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QUOTED: "This is a well written book with some surprising twists and turns toward the second half. The reader will just have to be patient during the first half to get into it. A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series."
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Janna MacGregor REVIEW
The Bad Luck Bride by Janna MacGregor
“A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series ”
by Carmela
THE DEETS
Genre: historical romance | Series: The Cavensham Heiresses #1 | Publisher: SMP | Source: ARC | GoodReads
PURCHASE
US
Based on the title alone, I thought I’ve picked a book that could give me something to laugh about in places. Some romantic seriousness and some really witty, funny situations pertaining to some bridal misfortunes experienced by the heroine. My expectations were totally different from what I got. What I got was a book filled with the two wonderful tropes i love in historical romance- revenge and marriage of convenience.
Yes, the “Bad Luck Bride” is the heroine, Lady Claire Cavensham. My heart ached for what this poor woman went through and I’m just talking about the events she suffered before she meets the hero, Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke. What Alex had put her through is another matter altogether. No, there’s no physical violence or cruelty or anything like that. It’s just, unbeknownst to Claire, she is Alex’s instrument for revenge against a perceived wrong done to his sister by his ex-friend, Lord Paul Barstowe. Alex’s sister took her own life and in her suicide note, she mentioned of the blame for what she had done not to be attributed to Alex’s friend, Lord Paul. Alex was about to put a bullet through Paul when he was stopped by another friend, Somerton. Killing the bastard might have been stopped but not his desire to exact revenge in another way:
“I will take everything from him. I do not care the cost or sacrifice. Everything he holds dear will be mine.”
A year later, Alex found the perfect revenge. Paul got himself in deep shit gambling. Alex paid his gambling debts and in return, strong-armed him into signing over his properties as well as making him break his engagement to Claire. Of course, that’s because Alex is prepared to swoop in and make himself Claire’s fiancé and not Paul. Now, this is a bad, bad thing for Claire because Paul is her fourth engagement. Fiancé No. 1 died a month before the wedding, fiancé 2 suffered an unfortunate accident that resulted in leg amputation and fiancé 3 fled to the continent after killing the husband of the woman he was having an affair with in a duel. These events made Claire fodder for society gossip and made people, including her, believe that every engagement to her is cursed.
At the party where her engagement to Lord Paul is to be announced, Alex had made sure Paul breaks it off with Claire via a note and in a well thought out strategy, convinced Claire to announce him as her intended instead of Paul. Claire did it all to save face considering her previous record of broken engagements. Never did she imagine Alex’s determination to make her his Marchioness and how attracted she would be to him. As I’ve said above, my heart ached for Claire. My sympathies have been with her character at the onset, as I wouldn’t like to be manipulated into a marriage, much less, be used for revenge. I don’t like an innocent bystander like Claire be roped into a drama not of her own making. Alex’s actions on this regard made me ambivalent towards him. It is only after Claire found out the truth and after Alex has started his grovel, more in actions than words, that I’ve started to warm up to him. Adding to Claire’s belief that she is “cursed” when it comes to engagements, is the fact that she had never fully recovered from the trauma of losing her parents. She suffers from PTSD, manifesting itself during stormy nights where she’s deeply reminded of the way her parents died. This woman has had enough unhappiness that I just wanted her to find her HEA. Luckily, Alex had proved his worth in the end.
“Love, you had my heart the entire time in your possession.”
This is a well written book with some surprising twists and turns toward the second half. The reader will just have to be patient during the first half to get into it. A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series.
Hugs,
Carmela
Tags: carmela, Cavensham Heiresses series, Historicals
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Janna MacGregor REVIEW
The Bad Luck Bride by Janna MacGregor
“A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series ”
by Carmela
THE DEETS
Genre: historical romance | Series: The Cavensham Heiresses #1 | Publisher: SMP | Source: ARC | GoodReads
PURCHASE
US
Based on the title alone, I thought I’ve picked a book that could give me something to laugh about in places. Some romantic seriousness and some really witty, funny situations pertaining to some bridal misfortunes experienced by the heroine. My expectations were totally different from what I got. What I got was a book filled with the two wonderful tropes i love in historical romance- revenge and marriage of convenience.
Yes, the “Bad Luck Bride” is the heroine, Lady Claire Cavensham. My heart ached for what this poor woman went through and I’m just talking about the events she suffered before she meets the hero, Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke. What Alex had put her through is another matter altogether. No, there’s no physical violence or cruelty or anything like that. It’s just, unbeknownst to Claire, she is Alex’s instrument for revenge against a perceived wrong done to his sister by his ex-friend, Lord Paul Barstowe. Alex’s sister took her own life and in her suicide note, she mentioned of the blame for what she had done not to be attributed to Alex’s friend, Lord Paul. Alex was about to put a bullet through Paul when he was stopped by another friend, Somerton. Killing the bastard might have been stopped but not his desire to exact revenge in another way:
“I will take everything from him. I do not care the cost or sacrifice. Everything he holds dear will be mine.”
A year later, Alex found the perfect revenge. Paul got himself in deep shit gambling. Alex paid his gambling debts and in return, strong-armed him into signing over his properties as well as making him break his engagement to Claire. Of course, that’s because Alex is prepared to swoop in and make himself Claire’s fiancé and not Paul. Now, this is a bad, bad thing for Claire because Paul is her fourth engagement. Fiancé No. 1 died a month before the wedding, fiancé 2 suffered an unfortunate accident that resulted in leg amputation and fiancé 3 fled to the continent after killing the husband of the woman he was having an affair with in a duel. These events made Claire fodder for society gossip and made people, including her, believe that every engagement to her is cursed.
At the party where her engagement to Lord Paul is to be announced, Alex had made sure Paul breaks it off with Claire via a note and in a well thought out strategy, convinced Claire to announce him as her intended instead of Paul. Claire did it all to save face considering her previous record of broken engagements. Never did she imagine Alex’s determination to make her his Marchioness and how attracted she would be to him. As I’ve said above, my heart ached for Claire. My sympathies have been with her character at the onset, as I wouldn’t like to be manipulated into a marriage, much less, be used for revenge. I don’t like an innocent bystander like Claire be roped into a drama not of her own making. Alex’s actions on this regard made me ambivalent towards him. It is only after Claire found out the truth and after Alex has started his grovel, more in actions than words, that I’ve started to warm up to him. Adding to Claire’s belief that she is “cursed” when it comes to engagements, is the fact that she had never fully recovered from the trauma of losing her parents. She suffers from PTSD, manifesting itself during stormy nights where she’s deeply reminded of the way her parents died. This woman has had enough unhappiness that I just wanted her to find her HEA. Luckily, Alex had proved his worth in the end.
“Love, you had my heart the entire time in your possession.”
This is a well written book with some surprising twists and turns toward the second half. The reader will just have to be patient during the first half to get into it. A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series.
Hugs,
Carmela
Tags: carmela, Cavensham Heiresses series, Historicals
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ShareThis Copy and Paste entertainment reviews with a bit of attitude. BOOKS MOVIES/TV LIFESTYLE PODCAST STORE ADVERTISE REVIEW The Bad Luck Bride by Janna MacGregor “A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series ” by Carmela THE DEETS Genre: historical romance | Series: The Cavensham Heiresses #1 | Publisher: SMP | Source: ARC | GoodReads PURCHASE US Based on the title alone, I thought I’ve picked a book that could give me something to laugh about in places. Some romantic seriousness and some really witty, funny situations pertaining to some bridal misfortunes experienced by the heroine. My expectations were totally different from what I got. What I got was a book filled with the two wonderful tropes i love in historical romance- revenge and marriage of convenience. Yes, the “Bad Luck Bride” is the heroine, Lady Claire Cavensham. My heart ached for what this poor woman went through and I’m just talking about the events she suffered before she meets the hero, Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke. What Alex had put her through is another matter altogether. No, there’s no physical violence or cruelty or anything like that. It’s just, unbeknownst to Claire, she is Alex’s instrument for revenge against a perceived wrong done to his sister by his ex-friend, Lord Paul Barstowe. Alex’s sister took her own life and in her suicide note, she mentioned of the blame for what she had done not to be attributed to Alex’s friend, Lord Paul. Alex was about to put a bullet through Paul when he was stopped by another friend, Somerton. Killing the bastard might have been stopped but not his desire to exact revenge in another way: “I will take everything from him. I do not care the cost or sacrifice. Everything he holds dear will be mine.” A year later, Alex found the perfect revenge. Paul got himself in deep shit gambling. Alex paid his gambling debts and in return, strong-armed him into signing over his properties as well as making him break his engagement to Claire. Of course, that’s because Alex is prepared to swoop in and make himself Claire’s fiancé and not Paul. Now, this is a bad, bad thing for Claire because Paul is her fourth engagement. Fiancé No. 1 died a month before the wedding, fiancé 2 suffered an unfortunate accident that resulted in leg amputation and fiancé 3 fled to the continent after killing the husband of the woman he was having an affair with in a duel. These events made Claire fodder for society gossip and made people, including her, believe that every engagement to her is cursed. At the party where her engagement to Lord Paul is to be announced, Alex had made sure Paul breaks it off with Claire via a note and in a well thought out strategy, convinced Claire to announce him as her intended instead of Paul. Claire did it all to save face considering her previous record of broken engagements. Never did she imagine Alex’s determination to make her his Marchioness and how attracted she would be to him. As I’ve said above, my heart ached for Claire. My sympathies have been with her character at the onset, as I wouldn’t like to be manipulated into a marriage, much less, be used for revenge. I don’t like an innocent bystander like Claire be roped into a drama not of her own making. Alex’s actions on this regard made me ambivalent towards him. It is only after Claire found out the truth and after Alex has started his grovel, more in actions than words, that I’ve started to warm up to him. Adding to Claire’s belief that she is “cursed” when it comes to engagements, is the fact that she had never fully recovered from the trauma of losing her parents. She suffers from PTSD, manifesting itself during stormy nights where she’s deeply reminded of the way her parents died. This woman has had enough unhappiness that I just wanted her to find her HEA. Luckily, Alex had proved his worth in the end. “Love, you had my heart the entire time in your possession.” This is a well written book with some surprising twists and turns toward the second half. The reader will just have to be patient during the first half to get into it. A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series. Hugs, Carmela Tags: carmela, Cavensham Heiresses series, Historicals SPEAK YOUR MIND Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Notify me of new posts by email. NEVER MISS A SCANDALICIOUS POST! Subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest posts sent directly to your inbox. Subscribe SHOP OUR AMAZON STORES By purchasing your books and pre-orders through our portal you would be helping us out. We get a small percentage of all sales at no additional cost to you. All proceeds go towards the giveaways we host here on the blog and on Facebook. Thanks for your continued support. SCANDALICIOUS STORE © 2017 Scandalicious GET THE SCANDALICIOUS NEWSLETTER Subscribe ABOUT US | POLICIES | CONTACT | Design by Todd Jackson entertainment reviews with a bit of attitude. BOOKS MOVIES/TV LIFESTYLE PODCAST STORE ADVERTISE REVIEW The Bad Luck Bride by Janna MacGregor “A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series ” by Carmela THE DEETS Genre: historical romance | Series: The Cavensham Heiresses #1 | Publisher: SMP | Source: ARC | GoodReads PURCHASE US Based on the title alone, I thought I’ve picked a book that could give me something to laugh about in places. Some romantic seriousness and some really witty, funny situations pertaining to some bridal misfortunes experienced by the heroine. My expectations were totally different from what I got. What I got was a book filled with the two wonderful tropes i love in historical romance- revenge and marriage of convenience. Yes, the “Bad Luck Bride” is the heroine, Lady Claire Cavensham. My heart ached for what this poor woman went through and I’m just talking about the events she suffered before she meets the hero, Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke. What Alex had put her through is another matter altogether. No, there’s no physical violence or cruelty or anything like that. It’s just, unbeknownst to Claire, she is Alex’s instrument for revenge against a perceived wrong done to his sister by his ex-friend, Lord Paul Barstowe. Alex’s sister took her own life and in her suicide note, she mentioned of the blame for what she had done not to be attributed to Alex’s friend, Lord Paul. Alex was about to put a bullet through Paul when he was stopped by another friend, Somerton. Killing the bastard might have been stopped but not his desire to exact revenge in another way: “I will take everything from him. I do not care the cost or sacrifice. Everything he holds dear will be mine.” A year later, Alex found the perfect revenge. Paul got himself in deep shit gambling. Alex paid his gambling debts and in return, strong-armed him into signing over his properties as well as making him break his engagement to Claire. Of course, that’s because Alex is prepared to swoop in and make himself Claire’s fiancé and not Paul. Now, this is a bad, bad thing for Claire because Paul is her fourth engagement. Fiancé No. 1 died a month before the wedding, fiancé 2 suffered an unfortunate accident that resulted in leg amputation and fiancé 3 fled to the continent after killing the husband of the woman he was having an affair with in a duel. These events made Claire fodder for society gossip and made people, including her, believe that every engagement to her is cursed. At the party where her engagement to Lord Paul is to be announced, Alex had made sure Paul breaks it off with Claire via a note and in a well thought out strategy, convinced Claire to announce him as her intended instead of Paul. Claire did it all to save face considering her previous record of broken engagements. Never did she imagine Alex’s determination to make her his Marchioness and how attracted she would be to him. As I’ve said above, my heart ached for Claire. My sympathies have been with her character at the onset, as I wouldn’t like to be manipulated into a marriage, much less, be used for revenge. I don’t like an innocent bystander like Claire be roped into a drama not of her own making. Alex’s actions on this regard made me ambivalent towards him. It is only after Claire found out the truth and after Alex has started his grovel, more in actions than words, that I’ve started to warm up to him. Adding to Claire’s belief that she is “cursed” when it comes to engagements, is the fact that she had never fully recovered from the trauma of losing her parents. She suffers from PTSD, manifesting itself during stormy nights where she’s deeply reminded of the way her parents died. This woman has had enough unhappiness that I just wanted her to find her HEA. Luckily, Alex had proved his worth in the end. “Love, you had my heart the entire time in your possession.” This is a well written book with some surprising twists and turns toward the second half. The reader will just have to be patient during the first half to get into it. A good debut effort by this author and a lovely start of a very promising series. Hugs, Carmela Tags: carmela, Cavensham Heiresses series, Historicals SPEAK YOUR MIND Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Notify me of new posts by email. NEVER MISS A SCANDALICIOUS POST! Subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest posts sent directly to your inbox. Subscribe SHOP OUR AMAZON STORES By purchasing your books and pre-orders through our portal you would be helping us out. We get a small percentage of all sales at no additional cost to you. All proceeds go towards the giveaways we host here on the blog and on Facebook. Thanks for your continued support. SCANDALICIOUS STORE © 2017 Scandalicious GET THE SCANDALICIOUS NEWSLETTER Subscribe ABOUT US | POLICIES | CONTACT | Design by Todd Jackson ShareThis Copy and Paste
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The Bad Luck Bride: The Cavensham Heiresses
BY JANNA MACGREGOR
Find & buy on
1811 and 1812: Alex Hallworth, the Marquess of Pembrooke, blames his former companion, Lord Paul Barstowe, for the suicide of his younger sister, Alice. Rather than killing him in a duel, Alex decides to ruin Lord Paul by purchasing his vowels (IOUs) and forcing him to abandon his wealthy fiancée.
During their betrothal ball, Lady Claire Cavensham receives Lord Paul’s note and discovers she now has four broken engagements. Humiliated, she knows the ton will make her the center of gossip for weeks. All she wants is a loving spouse and a family, and Paul’s letter assures her she will have neither. Alex proposes a marriage of convenience to save Lady Claire. She accepts, thereby unknowingly guaranteeing Lord Paul’s ruin. But love has a way of unlocking the most frozen heart. Alex and Claire find that telling the whole truth is always better, and revenge is not always sweet.
I enjoyed MacGregor’s debut novel. Alex’s need for revenge casts an unnecessary pall over the story with his using Claire’s marital misfortunes for his own benefit. Throughout the tale, I felt sorry for Claire, who is a strong woman with a giving heart. Luckily for them, as well as the reader, the story has a happy ending.
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Details
PUBLISHER
St. Martin's
PUBLISHED
2017
GENRE
Romance
PERIOD
Regency
CENTURY
19th Century
PRICE
(US) $7.99
ISBN
(US) 9781250116123
FORMAT
Paperback
PAGES
352
Review
APPEARED IN
HNR Issue 80 (May 2017)
REVIEWED BY
Monica E. Spence
© Historical Novel Society 1997-2017
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Wednesday, 01 November 2017 18:33
Review: The Bride Who Got Lucky by Janna MacGregor
Written by Jennifer Porter
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BrideLluckyThe Bride Who Got Lucky by Janna MacGregor (historical, St. Martin’s, October 2017)
RNNREad2-3
Series: The Cavensham Heiresses, book 2
Summary:
He would do anything to protect her. Even marry her…
The son of a cold-hearted duke, Nicholas St. Mauer isn’t one to involve himself in society…or open his own heart to anyone. But driven by honor, the reclusive Earl of Somerton feels obliged to keep a watchful eye on Lady Emma Cavensham. She possesses a penchant for passions unbecoming a woman that finds Nick in constant peril of losing his well-structured solitude. She even dared kiss Nick once—an utterly unladylike, and delightful, lapse…
Emma can’t deny the appeal of the earl’s attention, and occasional affection, but she has no need for a man. There are worse fates than spinsterhood, as Emma knows too well. She still mourns the loss of her dear friend Lena, and is determined to prove Lena’s husband responsible for her death before he lures another innocent woman into a brutal marriage. But as Emma pursues her prey, a compromising moment upends all her plans. Now, with gossip swirling and her reputation in tatters, Nick may be the only man brave enough to join in Emma’s cause. . .and fight for her heart.
Review:
The Bride Who Got Lucky by Janna MacGregor, the second book on the Cavensham series, is a book that tugged at my heartstrings from the beginning until the end. The romance is quite delightful, but it is more the heroine’s journey in this book that has stayed with me. Lady Emma Cavensham is determined to give voice to women who are left at the mercies of society, especially men. She is a bold and idealistic character who spoke to me on several levels, especially since women’s rights seem to be under attack in the present day. I think I might actually have tried to fist bump her on several occasions.
Emma is the daughter of a wealthy duke and very loving parents. However, she is determined to not wed because women are given to their husband’s care and thus lose their right to think and act independently. She has seen what this can lead to; her best friend Lena was married to an abusive man - and probably murdered by him (as was her unborn child). Emma feels the loss deeply and is willing to do almost anything to bring Lena’s husband to justice before he marries his next victim.
Nick, Earl of Somerton, is a family friend who has his own personal issues, mostly stemming from a loveless childhood. He has closed himself off from love, but can’t stop trying to protect Emma from her plans that often put her on the brink of ruination. There is a serious attraction between the two. Since neither plan to marry, they try hard to not give into it (well, Nick tries harder because he believes that giving in requires marriage). Eventually, they are caught in a compromising situation which requires that they wed. At this point, Nick must work hard to convince Emma that they can be happy together, that he won’t force her to give up her dreams.
And Emma definitely has dreams: ones that include creating a bank that would lend money to women in trouble and also ones that find justice for Lena. Nick is entirely onboard with the idea of a bank, and he immediately helps Emma make it a reality. It is of course the plans for justice that create most of the conflicts and that require to Emma to fight. Nick has to deal with his father and his own hurt feelings that linger from his youth before he can be the man that supports Emma in the way she needs.
I really love how Emma and Nick work out their issues. Nick is a great hero who is worthy of Emma’s love and willingness to sacrifice herself to marriage. Again, the romance in this one is strong and wonderful, but it is Emma who made this book such a standout for me. She is fearless in the face of a world telling her to sit down and shut up and to just accept it. She refuses to do so. Her feelings about the reality of women’s place in the world are visceral and raw - and so very relevant in today’s world. Emma inspired me, so very much.
I can’t recommend The Bride Who Got Lucky by Janna MacGregor enough to fans of strong and powerful heroines. Emma, you are my hero!
Janna MacGregor: http://www.jannamacgregor.com/
Book Disclosure: A print book was provided by the publisher.
Last modified on Wednesday, 01 November 2017 18:36
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Tagged under Janna MacGregor October 2017 St. Martins Jennifer Porter Recommended latest book review historical
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Jennifer Porter
Jennifer Porter
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E-mail: jennifer@romancenovelnews.com
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