The Summer Bride - Anne Gracie (Berkley - July 2016)

Series: Chance Sisters (Book 4)

Fiercely independent Daisy Chance has a dream -- and it doesn’t involve marriage or babies (or being under any man’s thumb). Raised in poverty, she has a passion -- and a talent -- for making beautiful clothes. Daisy aims to become the finest dressmaker in London.

Dashing Irishman Patrick Flynn is wealthy and ambitious, and has entered society to find an aristocratic bride. Instead, he finds himself growing increasingly attracted to the headstrong, clever and outspoken Daisy. She’s wrong in every way -- except the way she sets his heart racing.

However, when Flynn proposes marriage, Daisy refuses. She won't give up her hard-won independence. Besides, she doesn't want to join the fine ladies of society -- she wants to dress them. She might, however, consider becoming Flynn's secret mistress. . .

But Flynn wants a wife, not a mistress, and when Flynn sets his heart on something, nothing can stand in his way...

A wonderful conclusion to the series. I think Daisy was my favorite of the four "sisters." She is the only one who wasn't born a lady and makes no secret of her background. Rather than dreaming of marriage as her sisters do, Daisy's ambition is to be dressmaker to the stars, or "toffs" as she calls the London elite. It was great fun to see Daisy do her best to resist Lady Bea's attempts to turn her into a lady. She is quite blunt in reminding everyone that she isn't a lady and no amount of polish will turn her into one. She is stubborn to a fault, determined that nothing will derail her plans, especially not one Patrick Flynn, charming Irishman and business partner to her brothers-in-law.

Flynn is a self-made man. Like Daisy, he isn't well-born but has made his fortune through hard work. Now that he has reached that point, he's ready to settle down and start a family. He plans to make an advantageous marriage, and he has settled on the pretty daughter of an impoverished earl. Unfortunately for him, he discovers that it isn't that easy. The lady in question isn't all that enthusiastic, but he's better than her alternative. Flynn is a good man at heart, and I loved how he handled the issue. I also loved how comfortable he is with himself. He doesn't really care what others think of him, and I love how his waistcoats show a bit of that independence.

From the very beginning of the series, Daisy and Flynn have been friends. Because their backgrounds are similar, they find it very easy to talk to each other. Flynn doesn't laugh at her speech or mannerisms or scoff at her dream to own her own dress shop. Daisy doesn't object to his plans for marriage, but she does point out some things he hadn't considered. I loved their banter and the honesty with which they treat each other. It's easy to see how perfect they are for each other, but each suffers from tunnel vision that blinds them to it until a dare causes Flynn to kiss Daisy. Each of them reacts as if hit by lightning but with different results. Flynn realizes that the perfect woman for him has been right under his nose all along. He just needs to convince Daisy of that fact. Unfortunately for him, Daisy sees her reaction to Flynn as the death-knell to her dreams if she were to give in to him.

The development of their relationship was great fun to watch. Flynn is determined, and nothing is going to stand in the way of getting the wife he wants. His attempts at courtship were sweet and romantic. I really loved the flowers that he sent to her. He is incredibly patient and endearingly confused by her adamant resistance to his advances. Thanks to her past, Daisy doesn't trust easily. To her, marriage means the loss of independence and her plans for her future. But Daisy is nothing if not practical, and giving up on marriage doesn't mean giving up on passion. She rather shocks Flynn with her proposition, but he is quick to see the advantages. I loved how he uses that as another method of courtship, continuing to chip away at her defenses. Daisy doesn't go down easily, fighting her feelings to the very end. An unexpected complication creates a dilemma for Daisy, and Flynn's response is romantic and perfect.

As always, Lady Bea is a force to be reckoned with. I loved the battles between her and Daisy over Daisy's resistance to "lady lessons." Sometimes Daisy wins, sometimes Lady Bea wins, but the love between them is never in question. I also liked how Lady Bea treats Flynn the same as the other men and doesn't look down on him. She also is very good at keeping him in line if she wants to. There is a very emotional scene with her, Daisy and Flynn at the end. We don't see a lot of the other sisters in this book, but their appearances always showcase the closeness they all share. I also loved seeing more of Featherby, the butler, and his protectiveness toward all the ladies.

The Spring Bride - Anne Gracie (Berkley - June 2015)

Series: Chance Sisters (Book 3)

On the eve of the London Season, Jane Chance is about to make her entrance into high society. And after a childhood riddled with poverty and hardship, Jane intends to make a good, safe, sensible marriage. All goes according to plan until a dark, dangerous vagabond helps her rescue a dog.

Zachary Black is all kinds of unsuitable--a former spy, now in disguise, he's wanted for murder. His instructions: to lie low until his name is cleared. But Zach has never followed the rules, and he wants Jane Chance for his own.

If that means blazing his way into London society, in whatever guise suits him, that's what he'll do. Jane knows she shouldn't fall in love with this unreliable, if devastatingly attractive, rogue. But Zach is determined--and he's a man accustomed to getting what he wants.

Very good book. This is the third in the series of books about the four Chance sisters, only two of whom are actually related. The other two are sisters of the heart, brought together by circumstances and bonded by what they've been through. Abby's story, The Autumn Bride, and Damaris's story, The Winter Bride, tell the beginnings of their friendship.

As this book opens, eighteen year old Jane is preparing for her come-out. She's excited about the parties and balls, remembering the stories that her mother used to tell. Her sisters tell her that with her beauty it won't take long for some handsome young man to fall in love with her and her love him right back. But that isn't what Jane is looking for. She saw that love is what got her parents into trouble, leading to the difficult childhood she and Abby had. Jane wants to find a good man with enough money and a home to give a secure life to her and any future children. She is certain that love will follow. So when a wealthy man, looking for a beautiful wife to add to his "collection" proposes, she accepts.  But her road to the future isn't going to be as easy as she thinks. When she rushes to the rescue of a dog who is being tortured by some ruffians, she is in turn rescued by a tall, dark and handsome gypsy.

But Zachary Black isn't really the gypsy he claims to be. The son of an earl, he left home at sixteen to escape his abusive father, helping his stepmother to escape also. Since then, he has travelled the world, spending the last eight years working as a spy for the Crown. He has just returned to England with some vital information, only to discover that his father has died and he's the new Earl. But because he's been gone for so long, his greedy cousin is trying to have him declared dead so that he can have the estates. Zachary is ready to reclaim his name and lands, until he finds out that he's also wanted for the murder of that same stepmother. He's told by a friend to lay low until the stepmother can be found, but Zachary is drawn to the lovely young woman he rescued.

I really enjoyed the development of their romance. There is an instant connection between them. Jane is aware that she should not be spending time with him, but she is fascinated by the stories of his travels. Zachary is entranced, not just by Jane's beauty, but also her kindness and compassion. Their meetings as Jane is walking the dog take place under the watchful eye of a footman, so there is no opportunity for hanky panky. Instead they spend the time talking and getting to know each other. Jane desperately tries to resist the feelings that are growing for him, knowing that he can't give her the security she craves. Zachary falls deeper under Jane's spell, even knowing that she belongs to someone else. He becomes more determined to clear his name so that he can pursue her himself. Jane remains stubbornly attached to her plans, until Zachary's arrest makes her realize the truth of her feelings. I loved seeing her come to his rescue rather than the other way around, even though it could end badly if she isn't successful. The ending is fantastic, with a couple of unexpected twists.

Both Jane and Zachary go through some significant changes. Jane has spent so long denying the importance of love in a marriage, that it takes a while for her to accept her feelings for Zachary. I loved watching her deal with the differences between her fiancé and Zachary. Eventually she sees that marriage with a man who sees her as just another beautiful object for her collect can't compare to one with true love. Zachary starts out the book as a charming rogue, but under Jane's influence grows into a sense of responsibility for his land and his people.

The secondary characters all add a sense of depth to the story. Lady Beatrice continues to be a supporter as well as something of an agitator. I loved Zachary's friend, Gil. He was in Zachary's corner all the way, and seeing his reactions to Zachary's behavior made me laugh. Lord Cambury, Jane's fiancé, was a man that was easy to dislike. He looked at her as more of an object for his collection than a woman, and his treatment of her later in the story made that clear. I wanted to shake Jane for saying yes to him in the first place. I loved what she said to him when she broke things off. She was kind, but firm, and refused to be made to feel bad.  The other sisters, Abby, Damaris and Daisy all have their opinions on what is best for Jane. I especially enjoyed Daisy's comments on what she believes is happening to Jane. She's also quite vocal on her own plans and expectations for herself. I'm looking forward to reading her story.