This is my first book by this author, and I received an ARC from Netgalley for my honest opinion. I would give this 3-1/2 stars because I found Michael's problem an original premise for a Historical Romance. I liked March and Michael, but the story felt a little contrived to me and the ending a little too pat.

The Luck of the Bride by Janna MacGregor March Lawson life hasn't had much luck in it since both of her parents die due to the influenza outbreak. While there are legal Guardians and Trustees to help manage the estate, all ignore her letters and pleas to release the money, until her youngest sibling and future heir come of age, March is in charge. March does what she can for her family and may have done some things that could land her in jail. Finally, a new Trustee falls into her life, Michael Cavensham, the Marquess of McCalpin and heir to the Duke of Langham and after seeing her and curiosity gets the better of him. Some secrets revealed. Lust and curiosity from March and Micheal make things even more interesting. But the secrets and lies that brought them together attempt to tear them apart. But they finally get it together in the last pages with an HEA.

Quick read. I haven't read any other books from the series, so this works well as a stand-alone novel.

I was offered an e-ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book by Janna MacGregor. A very enjoyable regency romance which in common with other books by this publisher is a bit different from the norm. I recommend this book to any lover of this genre

“Luck is believing your lucky.” –Tennessee Williams

This review features book 3 in The Cavensham Heiresses series. I have not read books 1&2.

Book 1: The Bad Luck Bride [Claire and Alex]
Book 2: The Bride Who Got Lucky [Emma and Nick]
Book 3: The Luck of the Bride [March and Michael]
Book 4: The Good, the Bad, and the Duke [estimated pub Dec 4, 2018]

From the first paragraph, I was gripped by this story. Although it was the third in a series… it worked well as a stand-a-lone. The author did an excellent joy of bringing the previous stories seamlessly into this book. I loved when Claire and Alex [book 1] were in a scene and Emma and Nick [book 2] were adorable. Emma’s friendship and trust went a long way in helping March during her troubles.

We open with the prologue… Lord and Lady Lawson have died from an influenza outbreak, leaving three children… March [barely 16], Faith [11], Julia [10] and the heir Bennet [1-year old]. Due to many mistakes and neglect, the children are nearly starving with a determined March that she will take care for her siblings.

Chapter one opens eight years later and the Lawson situation has now become desperate and no one is answering March’s letters for assistance. In an attempt to get to her trust fund… the roof is leaking, repairs have to be made on the estate, debts to merchants need to be paid… March began forging the signature of co-trustee Marquess of McCalpin in a request for funds.

Michael Cavensham, Marquess of McCalpin, heir to the Duke of Langham, was determined to find out who the embezzler was and what they were doing with the money. His brother William had brought the theft to his attention and they had refused to honor the latest request, which was rather substantial. When Michael arrived at Lawson Court he was stunned at what he found.

“I’m lucky in having found the perfect partner to spend my life with.” –Sara Paretsky

Our author has written a delightful story of survival, loyalty, love, secrets and family. I absolutely fell in love with the Cavensham family… from the Duke and the Duchess to their extended family. They made this story and gave the reader a feeling of “I want to know these people and be friends with them.”

There was angst, as you would expect in a good love story. The villain was clearly defined, and his object would disgust the reader, as we watched his plans unfold. The supporting cast were helpful to our hero as he fought for his love. The angst just tore my heart out… until the last minute and I was afraid all was lost. This was an I CNPID [could not put it down] type of book. I loved it. I look forward to the next book which is expected later in 2018. I loved these guys.

Rating: MA: mature audience, adult themes, explicit sex scenes between consenting adults

I volunteered to read an uncorrected digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley. The views expressed are my own. Projected publishing date May 1, 2018.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from the publisher.

I liked March as the head of her family and doing all she could do to protect them. Michael as the hero was kind and devoted to his family and the duties to his title. I felt a bit frustrated by Michael toward the end when he and March are wedged apart by circumstances, but he did have reasons for behaving as he did.

I thought the story threads got tied up nicely.

Bennet, March’s brother is an interesting secondary character and I’d be interested in reading his story someday.

Although part of a series, this book is standalone.

The Luck of the Bride by Jana MacGregor is another interesting tale. A historical romance that takes readers deep inside a family's woes. A young girl of 16, eldest daughter, lost her parents. After losing them both, she had to grow up quickly and take care of her family. Two other sisters and a baby brother, plus managing their family estate isn't what March should have been left to do. Yet she took her responsibilities seriously and made do with what they had. Until too much of the burdens were adding upon her shoulders. Now, seeking her inheritance to help her family eat and stay well, she forges a letter. This letter leads March and her siblings into a headfast journey. One that brings trouble, trials, laughter, memories, and maybe, love.

Next, there is Michael. A Marquess who has a heart of gold. All his life he has struggled with a secret. He cannot add or subtract numbers. In fact, he can't do anything with numbers. But he's very smart with reading, arguing, and hard labor. The man helps anyone who needs him. But his brother fears of March using Michael's generosity and kindness for her own personal gain. But as Michael and March hang out together, a path so unknown to them opens up...I was immediately enchanted and deeply engaged.

Jana MacGregor definitely knows how to lure readers, like me, into her world of fiction. The characters were memorizing. Believable, charming, and realistic...they were. I couldn't help but to fall in love with them all especially, March's young brother, Bennett. I hope to read his adult story. He will become a great man one day. This novel, was wonderful. I highly recommend it to all.

The Luck of the Bride 2.5⭐️

March Lawson is an orphan who, for the past eight years, has struggled to raise her siblings on a meager allowance. Most women March’s age would be picking out ball gowns for the upcoming season. But March’s focus is not on finding a husband. First, she must devote her energies to just one man: the coldhearted skinflint who refuses to release her inheritance.
Michael Cavensham, the Marquess of McCalpin, is not a heartless man. When he learns that Miss Lawson has been forging his name to procure funds, he can’t bring himself to have her arrested―not when the bold-faced embezzler is so enchantingly beautiful. Instead, McCalpin agrees to visit her home to assess the situation more closely. March has no choice but to accept. But how can she manage the handsome trustee who controls her purse strings―when he tugs at her heart strings as well?

I have read the other books in the series and like them can be read as a stand alone book.

I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book dealing with the March struggling to provide for her orphaned siblings. Then in steps the Hero..... rescues the family, falls in love with March, until the evil cousin starts causing trouble and the hero believes the lies.... not very heroic in my book. Then miracles happen and overnight all is forgiven, the real villain is uncovered and the once again happy couple marries.... sheesh I think the ending could have been thought out a little to be less fairy tale and more believable.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley!

Before I continue into anything about the book, I have to say that this is hands down one of the best regency romances I have ever read, to date. And I've read all your classics. Before being given this ARC in exchange for a genuine and honest review here on my blog, I had never even heard of the author. But after finishing, I ordered the other two books immediately and I cannot wait to receive them.

If you'd like to read them, these are the Amazon and Goodreads links to the summary of this adorable book. March Lawson (and as a Little Women fan, seeing that last name as a first name kept throwing me right off) has been taking care of her little orphan family for years, ignored by everyone who was supposed to take care of them. It takes some illegal forgery and embezzling, for funds rightfully hers, to gain the notice of their guardian. Michael, the Marquess of McCalpin, inherits a basket full of orphaned gentry kittens and doesn't know what to do with them from the start. But with a little trust in his family and a little attraction to the leader of the kittens, he finds his way well enough.

The standout thing in this relationship is the open admittance of trust and love in this relationship. It's what made me buy the other books. So often there's this tragic misunderstanding or overreaction and every time I read a line and closed my eyes and thought we were headed there, we weren't. Everything was made even better than before.

Another thing is the likability of the characters. So often at least one character is absolutely insufferable and lives to make another miserable. I thought we'd face that here too, but yet again it was handled masterfully and with grace. And March was so determined, never upset with her siblings for the motherly role she'd been handed. An easy five stars from me and I can't wait to tell you guys about her other books!

Pre-order The Luck of the Bride today, it comes out May 1st!!

With Luck,

Megan Ann

The Resident Romantic

I thought this book was wonderful. Dimensional characters, interesting plots, steamy scenes - what more can you ask for?

This book gave me the FEELS. I loved it so much and spent the fourth of the book crying. March was such an amazing heroine. She was strong, loyal, and willing to do whatever it took to help her family. I could relate to her on so many levels. Her younger brother, Bennett, was my favorite side character and I hope he'll have a story in the future once he has finished growing up.

Another fun read from author Janna MacGregor. Her characters never disappoint and March and McCalpin were a delight. This is a great book that shows that even when one is dealing with hard times one can find true love.

I haven't read such a delightful and heart-breaking historical romance book in a very long time. Every page in the story of The Luck of the Bride drew me deeper into the lives of March, Michael, and their families. I shamelessly admit tears flowed freely while reading this book because the situations between March's life and Michael's were so endearing and painful that I couldn't help but have felt what they were feeling. The author did a brilliant job in bringing these two main characters to life!
The Luck of the Bride tells the tale of a young March, who at the age of seventeen was left to take care of her three siblings after their parents died in influenza. What a sad time back in those days when illnesses such as influenza took lives so easily! March had no choice but to raise her siblings as if she was their parents. Scratch that - probably not a lot of young teenagers this day and era would take up the household mantle of both mother and father to raise their young siblings. But March did and although through much hardship and heartache, she raised her siblings brilliantly. Her love for them was the brightest thing in her life and she would have done anything for her brother and sisters.
Along comes the Marquess, Lord Michael McCalpin, who in his own right, was a Duke in training. He was raised to be the next Duke of Langham and desired by many young ladies of the realm who were fascinated by his good looks and his immense wealth and title. But the Marquess had a terrible secret that he kept from everyone except his brother and it was this secret that kept him at arms length from everyone - especially the ladies.
Enter March, who was desperate to keep her family from destitution since her family's wealth had been kept from her and her siblings when their parents died. Without any money that rightfully belonged to them, March did everything she could to keep them at their family estate and not starve. When opportunity rose for her to "take back" her own inheritance, she did exactly that, except not really thinking about the heavy consequences which might occur. Well, circumstances got in the way which turned out that the Marquess was supposed to have been March's siblings' benefactors. However, Michael had no idea that a mix-up of catastrophic efforts brought March to do the unthinkable in order to save her siblings' lives. And that's where the fun part of the story began.
What I really loved about this story was the true friendship that developed between March and Michael. They both had secrets and while March had to be forefront with hers, Michael still kept his for fear of shame and disloyalty within his family and the ton. Nobility back then really screwed everyone up where if any shame befell upon the nobles, you were shunned for a very long time. However, as March and Michael's friendship grew, so did their respect for each other and a deep love. Michael came to admire March's strong will to protect her family and estate as well as an old family friend who helped raise the Lawson children. Michael helped March see her worth in both beauty and intelligence while March led Michael to believe that his terrible secret wasn't necessary and he could overcome it.
As with any well-written historical romance, The Luck of the Bride is filled with flowery prose and beautiful descriptions. The dialogue between the characters - major and minor - were delightful to read and imagine what noble life must have been back in that era. The author wrote each detail very vividly and extravagantly and made me feel like I was back in the era.
The Luck of the Bride will probably bring you to tears too - the struggle that March faced along with the hardships and desperation will have you instantly root for her. But also with Michael who was brave and kind and was facing a terrible secret he had to keep from everyone. This book is incredibly well written and kept me up till early morning desperate to finish it and find out the fates of March, Michael, and March's siblings.
The story is full of triumph and overcoming one's shortcomings and self doubt. But through love and self worth, one can indeed grow to become stronger and braver in the face of diversity.

Thank you for the ARC! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wonderful story.

This started out to be a good story, we have the death of a father, and
Mother, Viscount, and Viscountess. Their oldest daughter is 16 years old, and takes on the care of her two younger sisters, and her one year old brother. It was good up until the Author totally re writes History for liberal purposes. There are two servants left, the house keeper, and a man called Hart. He was good to them, however, every time she really needed him, he would be gone for days at the time! Guess where he was, with his homosexual lover! If you want to write contemporary, then please do! Do not distort History to this degree, it is an insult to our intelligence. When she was desperate for money, he did not help her, however, after his death, and she is about to marry, he leaves her fifty thousand pounds? This reaches way out of the way, of what would have truly happened! The Courts would have removed from her care her young brother, and her two sisters.

Despite all the twists and turns of the plot, this book never rang true for me. I like a strong, feisty heroine, not one who is so consumed by self-doubt that she cuts people off who are trying to help her so that she can continue to feel badly for herself. I like a hero who is proud and honorable, not one who doubts his beloved hours after his marriage proposal. I felt that this book was bogged down in noble titles and lineages as it was getting started, and yet seemed to ignore many other historical realities such as chaperones and how long it actually takes to make a dress. Honestly, I don't mind if all the historical accuracy gets swept under a rug if I love the characters and story, and I don't mind hating the characters if the story is worth telling, but if I hate the characters, the story is bogged down with inaccuracies, and the romance seems forced....then I'm not really sure why I finished the book. I hate to write a bad review, because this is obviously the product of a lot of work, and is the third in a beloved series so the author has proved her mettle. It just really didn't work for me.

*I was given an ARC copy in NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This books is part of a series but it really works as a standalone. The author is new to me but I like the way she structured the story and how it unfolds.
Both lead characters are well rounded, with their own strengths and weaknesses. March 's love and utter loyalty to her family is breathtaking, and McCalpin's need to hide certain parts of himself and protect others is also overwhelming and beautiful in its own way.
The secondary characters are good, especially her little brother and his brother as well, adding an interesting layer to the story.
I liked how the conflict was developed and resolved, it wasn't over the top and it felt real and logical within the narrative.
As a final note, it was refreshing to read about a ducal family that was actually a loving, kind and caring family.

I look forward to continue reading novels from this author!

Three and a half
I don’t read a lot of historical romance but when I do I prefer a more action packed story which unfortunately this is not . It is however a book that works as a standalone even though it is apparently part of a series.
I will give a different (for me) type of review here as I’m still a little undecided about exactly how much I enjoyed this story.
Things I didn’t really like include so many words and terms thrown in to make this feel of it’s time. Yes I know everyday parlance has changed but honestly if felt like the author tried too hard. I do get why March felt Michael was perfect as he’s apparently gorgeous, intelligent and charming. I just couldn’t believe in his feelings towards her as apart from him finding her beautiful and loyal to her family what else was there to like/love ? Plus nothing really happened very much in the first half apart from shopping and balls.
So what did I like and why did I keep reading ? I adored Bennett, the little brother who struggles valiantly to be a grown up. The interactions with him are frequently hilarious and oh so touching. The villain is just pants I’m afraid with revelations that tear apart the little family and it did feel a little like a pantomime. Yet still I read because by then I was intrigued as to just how the author could swing everything around. I’m still perplexed as to why the guardian thing fell to Michael and not his father but really enjoyed the scenes with the duke and his wife. As everything hurtled to its conclusion I’m afraid any sympathy I had for Michael completely disappeared and I wanted him to just man up. Yet there was a moment when Michael finally picked up the pace ( hint read a book !) and I found that I could emotionally connect with March, Michael and the feelings they shared.
So my review isn’t particularly a glowing one but perhaps I’m not the perfect target. I did enjoy it but alas for this reader it lacked the pace and action that I look for.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

This is a new to me author, and now I understand there are other books in the series. I’ll have to go back and get the others now! This does work well as a stand-alone book though.

I really enjoyed how March is a strong woman, determined to take care of her family after her parents die from influenza. She will do whatever it takes to make sure her siblings get the lives they deserve, including sacrificing her own happiness.

This review is based on a galley copy from netgalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I very much enjoyed this book I feel like I must read it again. March’s wonderful world was shattered with the death of her parents. She carries on and raises her family. Michael takes over guardianship of her family once he is made aware of his deplorable situation. The have a very passionate start but others try to drive them apart. A very beautiful read.

I loved how March sacrifice a lot for the family and to keep them together...

This was a well-written, entertaining book. March Lawson has done what is required to take care of her siblings, but now she has been caught placing orders in Michael Cavensham, the Marquess of McCalpin's name and he has called her to London for a meeting. They are drawn to each other, but can they trust each other? I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author. I would recommend this book and this author to others.