She needs a champion. He needs one less person to worry about.
Selena Lockhart comes with neither fortune nor connections, and she knows better than to expect Society to give her a welcome—especially after her father gambled away his fortune, precipitating the family’s sudden fall from grace and Selena’s betrothed to break off the engagement. It therefore comes as no surprise that her new … new neighbor, Sir Lucius, treats her with disdain. Why should he look beyond appearances when her own promises so little?
Sir Lucius Clavering is not married, but he may as well be, considering he is expected to escort his widowed mother to watering holes, round out the numbers at his married sister’s dinners, and come to the aid of his scapegrace younger siblings. It doesn’t help that single women and matchmaking mamas jostle each other for his face, fortune, and title so that he’s left without a moment’s peace.
When Selena shows up at Lucius’s doorstep looking for help, he is sure it’s another ploy aimed at cutting up his prized bachelor existence. Although his prejudice does not last long, Lucius fears his first reaction might have ruined his chances with her. How can he save her from Society’s teeth when she continues to hold him at arm’s length?
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A Fall from Grace is a sweet Cinderella-story of a Regency romance, with threads of Austen and Heyer. Jennie Goutet’s writing admirably evokes the era, giving her characters a romantic—and believable—happily-ever-after.
What a delightful! read I thought the first few chapters were a little confusing, but I soon came to understand why the author chose to tell it that why. I liked the spunk of Selena and Lucius was as gruff as a bear. Will Selena turn the gruff bear into a teddy bear? The character development was perfect, tests and trials at every turn and sweet romance added up to 5 stars from me. I hope to hear more of this family. I think George and Philippa need their stories told.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The storyline had a bit of angst, a touch of humor, and a delightful romance. This is my second book by Jennie Goutet and she will now be an automatic read for me.
I listened to portions of A Fall From Grace via audiobook and the narration was very well done.
Loved this audiobook version of A Fall from Grace by Jennie Goutet. The narrator was especially good and did a fabulous job bringing each of the characters to life.
I loved the premise of the story. A young gentlewoman whose father died leaving the family in disgrace is now the companion to a wealthy dowager. As she travels to her new assignment, her carriage breaks down and she ends up seeking help on the doorstep of Sir Lucius Clavering.
Having just escaped one near entrapment, Sir Lucius thinks this is just another woman trying to trap him into marriage. However, once he realizes Selena is telling the truth about her circumstances, he offers to deliver her to destination. Surprisingly taken with the soon to be companion of his neighbor, Lucius fears his gruff treatment at their first meeting might have hurt his chances with her.
Lady Harrowden is not an easy woman to please, and with the arrival of her nephew and ward, Selena’s hands are full trying to deal with the demands of all these people and keep her position. Sir Lucius manages to find excuses to visit his neighbor and her lovely companion. Selena must constantly guard her heart because she is in real danger of falling for the handsome somewhat irascible Sir Lucius.
This book gave me a Pride and Prejudice feel especially with the main characters. I loved Lucius! He’s definitely not a pushover, but he does have a tender side. Like Darcy in P&P he’s proud and also prejudiced against women in the sense that he thinks they are all after him for his money and title. I enjoyed watching his character grow and change. Selena like Elizabeth is prejudiced against the upper echelons of society. She thinks that because of her father’s downfall that she will never be accepted and is unwilling to even entertain the idea of Sir Lucius because of his station.
It’s a delightful, well written, regency romance with witty dialogue and an enjoyable story. I’m excited to read or listen to the next book in the series!
First time reading this author’s work. Very enjoyable read.
From the very beginning I was hooked. So funny and cute, all the feels in this book. I couldn’t put the book down because I had to see what would happen next. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clean regency romance with a great HEA. I really enjoy this author and this book did not disappoint
I love the way Jennie Goute writes! She creates wonderful characters that jump off the pages and this story does not disappoint!
The plot has enough depth and tension and humor to keep the reader engaged while the romance develops between the main characters.
Truly delightful story and I liked both main characters a great deal. They both had to rise about their own limitations and that of society.
I look forward to reading more from her and to continue the series!
I wish I could give this book six stars. So beautifully written that I forgot I was reading sometimes. The characters vulnerabilities and strengths were captured and the despair of the era for those who fell foul of the ton was brutal. So looking forward to discovering more of Jennie Goutet’s books now!
Selena has fallen from grace in the ton’s eyes due to her father’s actions and is forced to take a job as a companion to a disagreeable Countess who piles on her responsibilities by having her be governess to a wayward spoiled young heiress Rebecca who tried to compromise the neighbor Sir Lucius. Lucius seems like a bit of rake and despite his attraction to Selena is hesitant to peruse her because he would rather remain a bachelor. After she is publicly humiliated due to his older sister’s shrewish actions he realizes he might finally be ready to commit, but Selena keeps turning his away sure that her ruin would bring him down. I was frustrated by the characters actions as Sir Lucius was selfish at times and I wanted to ask Selena why would she continue to put up with people who harped on her when she had an alternative that engaged her affections.
I was given audio copy and the narrator was good with voice changes and inflections in all the right places. However, the whiny voices of Lucius’s older sister and Rebecca were giving me a headache.
Absolutely loved this book! What on earth took me so long to pick this one up? Don’t make the same mistake. Such a swoony romance with everything I love about the regency period. Only thing that could have made it any better would have been an epilogue but still a 5 star read!
A delightful Regency Romance novel! Thoroughly enjoyed the story of Lucius and Selena. The story line had a good mix of characters that you grew to love and those that just didn’t endear themselves to you, which makes for a better story in my opinion. I’ve read everything this author has written, and I do believe this is my favorite novel of hers yet! Highly recommend!
Selena Lockhart’s life is not at all how she imagined it would be. She, her mother and siblings are still paying for the scandal her father caused, and because of their fall from grace, her fiancé called off their bethrothal. Now Selena has taken a position as a paid companion to Lady Harrowden, a somewhat cantankerous elderly woman. Her carriage has an accident on the way to her employer, and she knocks on the door of Sir Lucius Clavering for assistance. Sir Lucius has come back to his country home for solitude and some peace and quiet, but isn’t finding it as young ladies in need keep coming to his door.
This is my first book by the author, and I listened to the audiobook of it. We all love the Regency stories of balls, and falling in love, but society was not kind to those who didn’t live up to their standards. Selena and her family are paying the price for her father’s sins, which were all his own. No longer attending balls, she’s trying to survive and help her mother by becoming a paid companion. Simply put, Selena has swallowed her pride and does what she needs to do.
Lucius, a Baronet, is tired of the matchmaking mamas parading their eligible daughters in front of him at all the social events and has retired to his estate for some peace and quiet. Instead of finding peace and quiet he’s drawn into the events going on at Lady Harrowden’s home, and slowly falls for Miss Lockhart. I liked the changes that Lucius made over the course of the story.
Selena handled Lady Harrowden a lot better than I would have. She kept giving her more responsibilities, but I don’t know how she expected Selena to accomplish them and still be her companion and be at her beck and call. I didn’t like Lucius’ sister at all. She struck me as very shallow–she wanted to set Lucius up with a young woman who had somewhat questionable morals, but looked down on Selena because of her father’s disgrace, and then to invite Selena’s former fiancé to her ball was the cherry on top!! I don’t see how Selena and Lucius forgave her for that.
Selena drove me a bit crazy. She didn’t always practice what she preached, but she made the process lovely. Lucius was incredibly patient and persistent. A bit of humor among the story.
I listened to this wonderful book and enjoyed every minute of it! What a storyteller! I will be reading more from this talented author.
I listened to the audiobook and it was wonderful! Between the narrator and the story itself, A Fall from Grace was a treat from beginning to end. I just adore Sir Lucius!
Fans of Jane Austen, you’ll love this book. I listened to the audiobook, which was pure delight when I drove to and from work. I loved the characters, their internal struggles with their feelings for each other and the wonderful ending.
I was given free copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I listened to the audio book and it was fantastic! Stevie Zimmerman did a wonderful job with all the accents and different characters! A big thumbs up for the narration!!!
I enjoyed this clean regency romance! I’m excited that this is book 1 of the series which means there will be more!!!
I quite enjoyed this clean romance. I listened to the audio-book and I have to say that Stevie Zimmerman is an excellent narrator. Her lovely accent makes the book come even more alive in my mind since as much as I’d like to I can’t make my brain read in an English accent when reading English stories. So big thumbs up for the audio version.
It had been my intention to just listen to a chapter or two while out walking each day but I found that I didn’t want to stop listening when I got done with my walk. I was engaged enough in the story to want to keep listening each time. Finally I bagged that idea and just listened to the rest straight through.
I liked the main characters. I don’t think I’ve seen Selena used as a name in Regency books before so that was unique to me. It is a pretty name. I felt for Selena and the fall from grace she underwent not of her own making. It would be so difficult. She had much more patience that I would in holding her tongue to the caustic Lady Harrowden. I really wanted Lady H to show some element of caring toward Selena in the end. She just isn’t very nice. And Lord H is horrible.
I loved the cute meet of Selena and Lucius. The sardonic personality of Lucius just made the whole thing enjoyable and funny. I was glad to see the growth he undertook over the course of the book to learn to care for someone else more than himself. Rebecca is a spoiled, thoughtless child and the way Lucius handles her is perfect. She really deserves the misery her behavior will no doubt bring.
I think I would have liked an epilogue to show what happens to the secondary characters. We can assume that Selena and Lucius will live happily ever after but what of the others?
Sex: mild innuendo and leering, kissing
Language: no
Violence: no
*I received a complimentary copy of the audio-book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I just listened to the audio version of this book and I am so happy that it’s the first book of the series I am so eager to read/listen to the follow up books in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I loved the story line and characters. Clean and wholesome regency era romances are my favourite and Jennie Goutet is fast becoming a favourite of mine of mine for this genre.
The narration for this book was also very enjoyable. I think Stevie Zimmerman did a great job bringing the story to life and was pleasant and easy to listen to.
I can definitely recommend this book – whether to read or to listen to… or both!
I was given an ARC of the audiobook, this however in no way influenced my opinion and I am under no obligation to leave a review.
Jennie Goutet
Sweet Regency Romance – Audiobook Review
This is my 1st book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I felt bad for what Selena had to go through in her life but I’m glad that she met and had a connection with Lucius. I liked their banter and conversation as they got to know each other. I loved how Lucius stood by Selena and how their romance came about. The narration was perfect! The narrator performed the male voices just as great as the female voices. I am looking forward to the next book in the series! I would recommend this book!