This was March and Michael’s story. March has taken care of her family for so long while their guardian ignored them. She has been forging her guardian’s signature to have funds for them to live on. He finds out. He demands she come to see him. He brings her family to London. They have an instant attraction. Their relationship is not easy. There is an evil relative and an unexpected twist. The book kept me on the edge of my seat.

What can I say I Just Love Love this series by Janna Mac Gregor!!! The Cavensham Heiresses Series is a must read! Can't wait for the fourth book!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading March and Michael's story because both of them were strong protectors of their family and yet, vulnerable to each other. March was very skilled with math and numbers and this ability is something that Michael, the Marquess of McCalpin, does not have. I'm so glad that they were able to work out their differences!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I was looking forward to March’s book and it did not disappoint. Her hero Michael is this charming gentleman who has a soft spot for women in trouble. Their story was a goid addition and i hope to read more by this author.

I liked the premise of this book, but I struggled with finishing it. Several things seemed unanswered such as the brothers attitude. 3 Star read for me.

Jenna MacGregor tells an interesting tale about two families, one struggling to survive after the deaths of their parents and one whose ducal heir struggles with a learning disability that he hides very well. The two families are tied together when Marquess of McCalpin learns he is the successor trustee for the sisters, of the Viscount Lawson, trusts and that someone is embezzling funds from one of the accounts. Summoned to meet with the Marquess March, the oldest sister, now must explain what has happened. The Marquess is quite taken with March and he struggles with being romantically involved because of his 'disability' and March is more interested in raising her siblings then in getting married. There's plenty of action and some interesting turns of events as the story continues to it's conclusion. I really enjoyed reading this book.

The Luck of the Bride
The Cavensham Heiresses Series - Book 3

By Janna MacGregor
St Martin's - May 2018
Historical Romance


March Lawson was soon going to be presented for her Season when her parents had died. It had then been up to her to see her siblings raised, the youngest, but a babe, was heir to the title. She had done her best, but although her parents had said provisions had been made for such a situation, the truth was so much different. March had used every bit of skill and ingenuity she had to see her siblings educated and fed. Now, she was desperate. She knew she was of an age that she should have her inheritance, but she was being ignored. Desperate, she knew there was only one option remaining. She would falsify papers and steal from her own account. Of course, if she had been given access to her own money, she wouldn't have had to go to such extreme measures.
Michael Cavensham, Marquess of McCalpin, had always known situations like these would arise. His own lack of skill was a risk only those closest to him could know. When he learned of March's scam, he decided to find out the facts on his own. She claimed that she was one age, but documents showed she was another. Regardless, it was obvious that the family was living a meager existence when it should have been one of relative ease. That was most obvious when he discovered the truth of what the cat dragged in.
McCalpin decides to take responsibility of helping the Lawson family, and as he spends time with March, he realizes she is exactly what he wants in a wife. But he has spent his entire life hiding his limitations and doesn't trust easily. And March is a woman who has already proven able to best him.
The Luck of the Bride was yet another wonderful, poignant romance that I truly enjoyed by an author who is becoming a "Must Read Author" for me. March is a heroine, through and through. First to her family, giving up so much for her younger siblings, and willing to face unknown difficulties to make things easier for them. Then for a man who may appear to be invulnerable, but has insecurities of his own. I look forward to the next story in this series.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Desperate measures!

A young woman struggling to make ends meet for her family resorts to various tasks, mostly honest, but now, out of despair, quite the opposite.
March Lawson and her siblings were orphaned just as March was about to make her come out.
Various trustees had failed to provide for them, so March made what shifts she could. Brilliant at figures, she eked out the family income by doing bookkeeping
Add to that running the estate and shearing sheep they'd somehow made do. But times are desperate so March forges a trustee's signature in order to embezzle from her own trust fund.
And that's when her world came crumbling down.
Michael Cavensham, the Marquess of McCalpin, who unknown to him, has become a trustee for the orphans, discovers the game and decides to investigate. After all, it's his signature that's being forged! More problems arise, especially as March and Michael are so aware of each other. Michael does describe March (to himself fortunately), "as a banquet of sensual delights." To March, Michael appears as the statue David. Mmm!
Talking about banquets, the scene around eating the rabbit for dinner that Maximus the dog presented to them is priceless. I loved March's nine year old brother Bennett, Lord Lawson, and how he conducts himself, with a quaint mix of innocence and dignity. Mind you his early demand for sweets with dinner is also hilarious.
And then there's Michael's secret problem--he struggles with numbers. Thankfully his brother has looked after the estates investments for him.
Just when these two are coming to some accord, March is blackmailed and Michael thinks she's wronged him. All bets are off!

A NetGalley ARC

I found Janna MacGregor’s character’s misplaced trust, quick romantic attraction and light banter a delight to read. I appreciate the ying and yang of the Dukes learning disabilitiy while the solution is the main character’s strength. #netgalley #St.Martin’sPress,

This historical novel is spellbinding and full of palpable emotions.

March is left to fend for herself and her siblings just before she makes her debut in society. She doesn't receive much help and works hard to ensure that her two younger sisters and brother are cared for. Managing an estate is not easy, especially when money is scarce.

McAlpin is the heir to a Dukedom. He is very proficient at what he does, but he has one weakness. A weakness which could ruin his reputation should it become public.

When March's correspondence regarding her family's financial stance is ignored, she takes it upon herself to "borrow" the money from her own inheritance. To do this, she has to use McAlpin's identity by fraudulent actions. This eventually comes to light and he sets out to examine her living condition. He is appalled with what he finds and comes up with a solution. He doesn't expect to develop feelings for March who herself is quite besotted, but her family comes first.

McAlpin's solution is working tremendous well until, greed and jealousy come out of the woodwork. The future becomes uncertain and March goes from one heartache to another. Will she get a break and have the future that every girl dreams of?

This story is an emotional rollercoaster and truly captivating. The feelings are tangible and the characters are very well portrayed. It's all about family values. Love, loyalty and dedication are at the forefront. McAlpin is a true gentleman, but his secret makes him vulnerable. March fights tooth and nail for those she loves. Despite all the pain, unfairness and uncertainties, it ends on the most beautiful note.

I was kindly issued with an eARC and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

A touching Regency novel that kept me mesmerized from beginning to end with memorable characters and a beautifully written story that included family dynamic, survival, overcoming adversity, secrets, scandal, trust, hope and heartwarming romance. I really liked March Lawson, an orphan struggling to raise her siblings and her dynamic with the other characters, especially her attraction and chemistry with Michael Cavensham, the Marquess of McCalpin and heir to the Duke of Langham. They are both caring, honorable and duty-bound and jumped right out of the book and into my heart.

I love historical romances and have recently become a big fan of Regency romance. This is the first book I have read by Janna MacGregor and I look forward to reading more by this talented author. The Luck of the Bride is a must-read for fans of the historical romance drama.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my unbiased review. I enjoyed it so much, I purchased a copy for my keeper library.

The first few pages of this book had me in tears and the author had me hooked on to the story. I also loved the plot with the math loving, sheep farming heroine and the hero having a learning disability. But as the story progressed, the main plot was sidelined and the end when the heroine finds out about the hero is disappointing. By the end of the book, I felt the author only used this plot to add some diversity to the book rather than actually enrich the storyline.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

Although it is the third in this series, The Luck of the Bride can be enjoyed as a standalone. Historical is one of the largest subgenres under the Romance umbrella. With so many historical romances coming out every month, authors do what they can to have their work stick out. However, sometimes, less can be more.

MacGregor is a talented writer, with complex worlds and characters. Unfortunately, sometimes, it becomes too complex such as the case with Luck of the Bride. If our bride March has any luck, it is rotten luck at best. New opposition seemingly appears to pop up every chapter to the point the reader almost expects God himself to come down and condone their being together. While some drama can add some spice to a story, too much can make it a chore.

That being said, MacGregor is a talented writer with an easy style that flows smoothly. Her characters are complex but likable with a resourceful female lead. While Luck of the Bride may be too drama heavy for some readers, others will thrive off of it.

The latest entry in MacGregor's Canvensham Heiresses series follows March Lawson, who was memorably introduced in a previous book as a penniless young woman trying to take care of her orphaned siblings. Driven by desperation to commit a crime in order to provide for her family, she is caught by Lord McCalpin, a Cavensham and the very man who controls access to her inheritance--and who has secrets of his own. The drama is life and death, the characters are rich and likable, and I can't wait for the next installment in December!

I went into reading The Luck of the Bride thinking that it would be a typical Regency era romance. I based my assumption on the blurb. So, wasn’t I surprised when the prologue set the tone for the entire book. I am not an emotional reader but this book made me ugly cry during most of it.

I had a lot of respect for March. She took over raising them after their parents died. Her sisters were preteens and her brother was an infant. She raised those children with no help and almost no money. When a damaged roof takes all the money that she had saved, March was driven to do something that she would have never considered. She embezzled money out of her dowry account. That money was going to the upkeep of the estate and more importantly, to keep food on the table.

I thought that March and McCalpin had chemistry from the beginning. So much heat came from a single glance. I did like that the author kept them from having sex until almost the end of the book. Even after that, the chemistry was still there.

The romance between March and McCalpin had me in tears during certain parts of the book. Theirs wasn’t a slow burn romance but it wasn’t Instalove either. They both had a lot of obstacles to overcome. Trust was a huge issue on either end. Mainly on McCalpin.

I liked McCalpin from the get-go. His secret, while not shocking, was painful for him. I could understand why but I didn’t understand why he didn’t tell his parents earlier. Pride and not wanting his father to think any less of him was a huge reason. I loved how March was the only one for him as soon as he met her. Even though they met because she embezzled money from him. Her money but still. He only had eyes for her.

I wanted to strangle Cousin Rupert. He was an awful, awful man. When he burst into the ball with his “evidence” of March being a bastard, I wanted to throat punch him. Before that, I wanted to kick him in the boy bits for lusting after Julia and being horrid to Faith. All I have to say is that he got what he deserved in the end.

The end of the book was fantastic. The author did a great job of bringing all the storylines to a close. There were no storylines left dangling or forgotten. The emotional scene between McCalpin and March had me sobbing. The epilogue was spot on!! I am hoping that there are more books in this series!!

What I liked about The Luck of the Bride:

A) Excellent romance

B) Fantastic storyline

C) 3D characters

What I disliked about The Luck of the Bride:

A) March resorting to embezzlement to keep a roof over her head.

B) Cousin Rupert. He disgusted me.

C) McAlpin’s secret

I would give The Luck of the Bride an Adult rating. There is sex. There is mild violence. There is no language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There are no trigger warnings in The Luck of the Bride.

I would recommend The Luck of the Bride to family and friends. I would reread this book.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Paperbacks, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Luck of the Bride.

All opinions stated in this review of The Luck of the Bride are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

This is a three because I really did not like Michael Cavensham, the Marquess of McCalpin. He ignored Marsh and her sisters causing Marsh to struggle to make ends meet. He finally does the right thing only to crash and burn when March is accused of crimes against McCalpin. He was just not that great a hero. On the other hand I did like Marsh. She worked hard to keep her family together and to always put them first. The romance was second behind the crimes . It sounded like a better story in the blurb. Of course, in the end though there was a HEA even if I though Michael did not deserve one.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Janna MacGregor is one of my current favorite historical romance authors and I've been enjoying her debut series “ The Cavensham Heiresses” very much. I really liked this book. There were some absolutely adorable and sweet moments between the hero and heroine, as well as some extremely funny ones. Once again, Janna Mc Gregor’s writing is beautiful, with likeable characters and witty dialogue.

The Lawson siblings struggle financially. March Lawson is the eldest daughter and since the accidental death of their parents, she has been looking after her two younger sisters and her brother. Their legal guardian is Michael Cavensham, Marquess of Mc Calpin. Yet, he appears to have shirked his responsibility to her family and has ignored her requests for funds. March has been left with a limited choice and has forged his signature to embezzle her own funds.

March is as independent as can be for a young woman of her time. She’s determined, witty and caring. She has the burden of her family’s well-being on her shoulders. She isn’t impressed with Michael, but she eventually conquers her animosity when around him and their relationship grows.

Michael is a complex character. He is part of a warm and supportive family and is heir to a dukedom. And yet, he feels inadequate and flawed. He is ashamed he failed March’s family and is willing to do anything and everything for her. March and Michael were fabulous together, two truly engaging characters that were meant to be together despite all of the obstacles.

The Luck of the Bride was a wonderful story as it unfolded. There were more elements to this story than I ever expected. This author writes such wonderful characters. The cast of secondary characters add depth and warmth to the story and I guarantee that March's young brother, Bennett, will steal your heart! I heartily recommend this engaging and satisfying read !

Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher

This is the third volume in The Cavensham Heiresses series but it can be read alone even if the heroes of the previous volumes appear in this one. We meet March, who has responsibility for her three brother and sisters and the familial estate, facing Michael, their trustee until she reaches the age planned on their father’s will.

March is a strong and independent heroine who had to take responsibility for her siblings when she was not more than an adolescent herself. There was a big dysfunction after their parents’ death because no one took care of them, the designed trustee was going mad and sent less and less money until his final death and their total oblivion. Finally she came to do forgery to withdraw money from the fund her father left her which is under key until she reaches 25. She’s very talented with numbers and very attentive and devoted to her siblings. My only problem with her is the fact she’s constantly belittling herself, thinking she’s not pretty or good enough compared to others.

Michael is a bit ambivalent, he’s his father’s heir and is proud of it but at the same time he feels he’s an impostor because he suffers from dyscalculia (but at this time it’s a not a known trouble). His brother takes care of everything concerning accounting. When he realizes how his assistants neglected March’s family he’s mortified and decides to take them back to London, become their tutor, and set the sister in Society. His amazement when March’s little brother tells him they will eat the rabbit hunted by his cat the following day was really funny! March and him are quickly attracted to each other and we see their complicity in spite of a mutual lack of trust which made them cute together.

The secondary characters have a big place in this story, first Michael’s parents who welcome with open arms the orphans, showing a surprising generosity, but most of all the two set of brothers and sisters. Michael is very close to his brother and his sister, and March and her kind are very solid. The interactions between siblings are well written and each hero can count on his siblings’ support, even if we can found Michael’s brother takes his support a little too seriously concerning the heroine. And I especially loved March’s little brother who comes and confronts Michael as head of the family from all of his eight years of age, then goes back to his lessons with his teacher.

There are some drawbacks: the uncle, the story’s a little vicious bad guy, who doesn’t hesitate to create a scandal during a ball; the fact everyone forgives quickly the real embezzler because poor guy he has mitigating circumstances and he didn’t want to hurt the heroine (even if he put everything on her); and most of all the fact March forgives Michael really fast for doubting her and turning his back on her. Yes it was about numbers and we know he blocks on everything touching numbers, but I’d have like for him to have to do more than just say he’s sorry.

To conclude a cute story in spite of this that I enjoyed reading.

The Luck of the Bride by Janna MacGregor

Third in the Cavensham Heiresses series

3 stars

March Lawson has been down on her luck. Her parents fell sick and died leaving her and her three siblings without a proper caretaker and destitute. She has raised her brother, the future heir, and hopes that her sisters can enter into a London season to find their match. However, she can’t access her trust until she is twenty-five and her family is starving. She takes upon herself to pose as the Marquess of McCalpin. When she is summoned to meet him, she is expecting her family to meet ruin, but she is charmed by Michael Cavensham. He isn’t sure if he can trust her, but he can’t stop thinking about her. The Luck of the Bride is your typical historical romance romp. It doesn’t offer a whole lot of substance to the genre and MacGregor’s writing style is simple and wracked with clichés. It’s not a horrible novel and it is a lot of fun, but I can’ see myself heralding this as a must read in the genre because it doesn’t stand apart from the countless romance novels within the market. It’s fluffy and fun, which is a plus in all HRs, but I must admit, I want substance with this genre. I want dark and gritty topics that are touched on and not just glazed over. The Lawsons live in poverty, but I don’t feel like MacGregor took much time to really portray its effect on the family as in individuals. The dialogue is forced and stilted. The most famous and cliché line in HRs is found here and repeated in a multitude of different ways:
“Even if it was his complete undoing.”
This novel gave me second-hand embarrassment, not only for the characters but for the lines that are written. Like this one:
“My God, she was a seductress without even knowing it. His little embezzler was temptation incarnate.”
How embarrassing to read and it is just laughable. It is a fun novel and it does read rather quickly. It’s biggest drawback besides the diction usage is its pacing. It can definitely feel a little boring at times and then all of a sudden, something will occur to change the game. It doesn’t change the game believably though. It just feels like an abrupt shift in the narration because it has to happen or else the story can’t go on. It doesn’t feel natural.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 2.5

The main female character is March. March is sassy and headstrong. She is incredibly compassionate and deeply loves her siblings. She is very much the mother hen character and I can relate to that. However, her stubbornness seems contrived at times and almost completely unfounded in reality. It doesn’t fit her sensible nature and just left me feeling annoyed.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3

The main male character is Michael. Michael isn’t a bad romantic lead, but he doesn’t really speak to me. He is just kind of there. He says all the right things (when they aren’t the cringey dripped lines in the throes of passion that haunts all HRs), but he feels just as frustrating as March. He is kind of dramatic and he contradicts his passions with others’ opinions. It became really annoying towards the end when the novel was reaching its climax. I don’t think he is bad by any means, but I am not swooning whenever he is on page.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 3

The Villain- Predictable. I have been reading HRs this year that have upped the ante when it comes to villains, but this one falls into the usual run-of-the-mill HR villain who is out to thwart true and everlasting love usually for money.


Villain Scale: 2

I did love the secondary cast of characters. Faith, Julia, and Bennett were wonderful and I would definitely read a novel that follows any of their perspectives because I adored them. Bennett was my favorite and towards the end he was the only character with any sense which says a lot because he’s still a kid. Also, he’s obsessed with sweets and has some of the funniest lines. Faith and her buddy romance with the Scottish doctor who was healing her had me shook. I was invested in them so hard. Kind of wish this novel had followed them. I also loved the Cavensham clan. They are so funny and they made the novel fun. The secondary characters are definitely where this novel shines and that is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to novels.


Character Scale: 4

Overall, The Luck of the Bride has its fair share of faults. I do think it will be loved by many HR fans, especially those who love the Cavensham series. I recommend for the hopeless romantics and anyone just looking for something fun that doesn’t require a lot of brain power and can transport to the London ton with balls, dresses, scandals, and romance.


Plotastic Scale: 3

Cover Thoughts: A wedding dress on a HR! I feel like I don’t see those often. There’s always a dress, but never a wedding one and this one is cute.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Karma..... This compelling story serves up a fantastic lesson in Karma and how sacrifice is rewarded.
Our heroine, March, has been responsible for her 3 younger siblings since she was 17 after losing both parents to an influenza epidemic. Even though they are a noble family and money for them exists, poorly written legal documents and disinterested guardians have left the family in difficult circumstances. Desperate times bring her to the attention of Michael, the trustee she's never met.
I enjoyed seeing March and Michael getting to know each other. They had a rocky start, but he was a true hero for the family once he realized the extent of their situation. It was wonderful to see March and her sisters blossom into the young women they were meant to be once the strain was lifted from them.
The budding relationship between March and Michael was easy to root for as it was based on mutual respect. Learning to trust each other and let someone else carry part of the burden blossomed into a romance that the reader knew would be a love story their grandchildren would relish telling.
A sneaky relative out for his own gain and a man desperate to save his son, threw a wrench into things when the past comes back to bite March. How Michael behaved during this time is one of the reasons I couldn't give this story a 5 star review. His actions here didn't seem to jive with the Michael we'd seen during the earlier story. Thanks goodness for strong and loving secondary characters as they truly did save the day.
This is a fun historical that pulls on the heart strings. If you have read the previous Cavensham books you will enjoy seeing Emma and Claire make frequent appearances. The story also left me intrigued to see what happens for William (Michael's brother) as well as March's siblings.