I read with increasing interest this romantic novel set in the eighteenth century. The romance is between a French lady and Lord Harlington. Lord Harlington has to buy a bride at a wife sale in order to fulfil the terms of his father's will. If he doesn't do that he will lose his inheritance. The story develops from that point, but I am not going to spoil it by saying any more about it. I can only say that there are well drawn characters in the book and the novel was such a page turner that I had to finish it as quickly as possible. Highly recommended. I have never been disappointed in Sally Gardner's novels and this book was no exception.

Sally Gardner’s The Bride Stone is a captivating historical novel set in 1796. It combines suspense and romance against a backdrop of societal norms and personal secrets. The story revolves around Duval Harlington, who must marry within 24 hours to inherit his father’s estate. He impulsively buys Edmée Hyde, a widow, at a wife sale, setting the stage for a tense and mysterious relationship.

Duval and Edmée are both well-drawn characters. Duval is conflicted between desperation and duty, growing as he learns about trust. Edmée is resilient and mysterious, making her more than just a woman trapped by circumstances. Their relationship evolves from suspicion to something deeper, which is a big part of why the book is so engaging. Other characters add layers to the plot but the focus remains on the protagonists.

The novel explores themes like survival, social constraints, and the cost of keeping secrets. Gardner uses these to comment on current issues, like gender roles and how people protect their independence. The historical setting heightens these themes by immersing us in a world where personal freedom is often restricted by society.

Gardner’s writing is vivid and tense, capturing the story's urgency. Her language is authentic to the period but still easy to understand. The narrative structure maintains suspense while allowing character introspection.

The book stands out in its ability to take readers to a different era while tackling timeless human issues. The historical detail creates a rich atmosphere but never overshadows the emotional heart of the story. Gardner weaves these elements together expertly, creating a novel that feels personal and expansive.

The Bride Stone is a memorable read that balances suspense with emotional depth. Its exploration of trust and survival encourages readers to reflect on their own experiences. Gardner delivers a story that stays with readers long after they finish the book.

Firstly the cover so well planned and like the book captivating. The story is intriguing, enlightening and romantic. Without spoiling the story, you just want it all to work out but the many turns it takes keeps you reading.

Wow. I loved this. Vanity Fair meets Laura Shepard-Robinson: Romance, tragedy, scandal, murder, revolution, emigres, all in one story!

Set in 1796, Duval is returning to England after being imprisoned in France during the revolution. When he docks, he’s informed that to inherit his deceased father’s estate he must marry in 2 days time. His resolution is to buy a wife at a wife sale. His new wife Edmee though has many secrets of her own, and the marriage is even more for her convenience than his. What unfolds is a slow burn romance, scandal after scandal, murder and kidnap plots and even the Bow St Runners.

This had me gripped all the way through & I loved both Duval and Edmee and their love story. I also enjoyed the very vivid and often comedic cast of other characters and thought that the author painted a remarkable portrait of late Georgian London. I was fascinated by the details of the experience of emigres who escaped the Terror and horrified to learn that British men could sell their wives! Although it had a very gripping fast paced plot, it was well
balanced with excellent character development and well researched historical details.

A heartwarming ending where the good overcame the bad and every one got their just desserts. My only hope is that the BBC immediately turns this into a period drama!

Off to buy all her other novels!

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the copy to review.

Marriage of convenience, tick. Rogue heir with a ticking clock to inherit, tick. Wife sale…. Tick.

Duval is returning to England after a stint in prison in France during the French Revolution. Having originally gone to Paris to train to be a Doctor against his father’s wishes he is hit with the news that not only has his father died, but he’s left with only 2 days to get married in order to inherit according to the will. Not wanting to lose Muckmore Estate the race is on.

He finds Edmee at a Wife Sale (actually did use to happen as divorces were impossible for the lower classes), and together they rush to Muckmore to marry before the will’s lawyer.

It’s a book of two halves really, there’s secrets aplenty, traumatic pasts, and then boom! in comes a mystery and a Bow Street Runner (early police officer) to investigate that I was not expecting at all. It really increased the stakes and kept me turning the pages. I’ve never read anything by Gardner previous to this so I’m not sure if this is her usual style but I certainly enjoyed it. It was a delightful twist to what was otherwise a very nice, but typical historical fiction novel.

I’ll absolutely be checking out more of Gardner’s work in the future. Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy.

I was utterly captivated from the first page of The Bride Stone. It’s 1796 and following Duval Harlington’s release from a French prison, he is on the final stage of an arduous return journey to London. He has survived the French Revolution - the Terror, the massacres and the guillotine - but upon his arrival into the capital he discovers that he must marry within two days and seven hours to inherit his late father’s estate. As Duval raced against time to find a bride, I raced through this novel to find out what would happen!

The historical events described in this novel were fascinating. I was horrified to discover in the author’s note that the last wife sale in England took place as late as the 1930s. This was a depraved practice in which women were treated like chattels.

The Bride Stone was a compelling novel and the narrative remained tight, though after reading the opening chapters I had expected that Duval's time in France would form a key part of the plot. Duval initially supported the Revolution and I would have been interested to learn more about his political views and how he reconciled those views with his title and inheritance. It was actually the romance plot line which came to the fore as Duval explored his capacity to love.

The two main characters in this novel were well-developed, but I thought that the presentation of many of the other characters seemed binary – they were generally depicted as either wholly good or wholly bad. For example, the portrayal of Duval’s rival for the estate, the diabolical Ralph Carson, seemed one-dimensional and his character did not appear to have any redeeming qualities.

These minor drawbacks did not spoil my enjoyment of the novel. It was a great story and a solid four stars. Thank you so much to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for sharing this eARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

It's 1796 and a marriage of convenience takes place so that Duval can inherit the Muchmore estate from his late father. The novel explores the relationship that develops between Duval and Edmee after Duval buys her at a wife sale. There's romance, mystery and suspense throughout this piece of historical fiction as secrets and hidden pasts are revealed.

My thoughts

I loved this book. I was drawn in from the start and remained captivated throughout. I loved the setting, the plot, the characters, the themes and found myself wanting to stay in that world a little longer after finishing the book. This was a great read and I would highly recommend it. I will be adding Sally Gardner's novel The Weather Woman to my TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley, Head of Zeus, Apollo and Sally Gardner for this e-ARC.

The Bride Stone is a thoroughly engaging historical novel brimming with intrigue, romance, and unexpected twists. Set in 1796, it sweeps the reader into a world of high stakes and hidden secrets as Duval Harlington races against time to secure his inheritance. Gardner’s writing is elegant and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the tension of Duval’s predicament and the mystery surrounding Edmée, his enigmatic bride. The characters are richly drawn, and the plot moves at a satisfying pace, keeping the reader hooked from start to finish.

The Bride Stone by Sally Gardner
Having read The Weather Woman by the same author I was very much looking forward to this novel. The premise of the story is based on the wife sales which used to take place as the poor did not have enough money in order to be able to divorce.
It is set in 1796 and the main character is Duval Harlington who has just been released from the infamous La Force prison in France. On his arrival in France he learns that there was a codicil in his late father’s will which means that he has to be married in 2 days or the entire estate goes to a distant cousin. He has arrived in snow so travelling anywhere is difficult. He is encouraged to attend a horse sale and learns that a wife sale is also about to take place. This seems to be the answer to his problems but Duval and his wife are both harbouring secrets which are gradually revealed.
The writer’s evocation of late Georgian London and the customs of the time is beautifully conjured. I found that the comparison drawn between the life of the French Emigres and those who are currently attempting to cross the Channel in small boats appalling. How history repeats itself.
I will be recommending this book to my various book groups and look forward to listening to the author at The Essex Book Festival. Many thanks to the author, Head of Zeus and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

Set in Georgian England during the Napoleonic wars and the French revolution, author Sally Gardner creates a glorious cast of characters and a twisty plot that leaves her readers wanting the central characters, Duval and Edmee to make it alive and in love by the end of the story. Although the story encompasses the brutality and oppression of women (starting with that as their husband’s chattel, they can be sold at a wife market) the story champions resilience, acceptance and kindness over social status. This is undeniably a romance but with enough peril, historical detail and atmosphere to be gripping.

Such a fun opening. A race against time, and weather to find a wife, and marry her in a specific location or loose your inheritance.
There's a lot of things going on in this book, with characters with interesting back stories.
There's gossip a plenty, history and romance.
Honestly ticks a lot of boxes.
Thoroughly thoroughly enjoyable.

This novel was so much fun !! I was not so sure at the beginning that it would grab me as it first appeared a bit strange. However, I enjoyed the plot (surprising as well...), and I just loved the funny side of it! The characters fitted perfectly well , and I also enjoyed the dialogues. A light and entertaining novel!
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

This was a very solid piece of historical fiction, and I really enjoyed it. It reminded me in tone of Victorian classics that were originally published in episodes—Vanity Fair comes to mind. I especially appreciated the nod to this “old school” style of storytelling.

The novel follows Duval, a British aristocrat who returns to England from France after being imprisoned for three years during the French Revolution. Due to the urgent terms of his father’s will, Duval is under pressure to marry quickly or risk losing his inheritance. Desperate, he chooses to participate in a wife sale and ends up marrying a young French widow, Edmée. As the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that both Duval and Edmée - especially Edmée - harbor many secrets that gradually come to light.

The historical context was particularly fascinating to me, as someone who enjoys reading about the French Revolution and the surrounding period in European history. I wasn’t aware of the phenomenon of wife sales, but it added a unique and disturbing element to the story.

Structurally, the book felt somewhat like two novels in one: the first half focused on the growing relationship between Duval and Edmée, while the second shifted toward a mystery. This episodic feel contributed to the charm and old-fashioned atmosphere. The pacing was brisk throughout, making it a very engaging read.

I found the main characters, Duval and Edmée, well-developed and complex. Their relationship felt believable, even though the style leaned toward classic romantic storytelling. The secondary characters were more one-dimensional—falling into either villainous or virtuous roles—but this didn’t detract much from my enjoyment, as it suited the overall tone of the novel.
The ending was satisfying, well-plotted, and even a bit surprising.

All in all, I really liked this book and would gladly read more from this author. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a well-crafted historical fiction novel with strong old-school vibes.

Wow I loved this one. We follow Duval Harlington, recently freed from a French prison. The year is 1796, our guy was prisoner during the revolution, he goes back in London and is informed that his father had died and left his inheritance with the condition that Duval must marry or everything goes to some unknown cousin. And Duval has only two days and seven hours to find a wife, marry her, and keep his estate. Here comes Edmée Hyde, the wife Duval buys on the wife market.

In this book we have romance, mentioned miscarriage, domestic violence, rape, kidnapping, mystery, secrets, and many interesting facts of the time period. I ate it up. The pace was fast, the writing suited the time period in the book which just grabs and brings the reader back in time to enjoy the writing even more. I’d say the book feels like a romance novel in the first half where we get to know our characters and their growing romance. Then we have the second half where new characters are introduced and it’s more of a mystery novel where the secrets are revealed and we learn who Edmée is and her past.

It is my first book from Sally Gardner, and I loved it! Despite the heavy topic in the book, I’d say it’s not hard heavy read. In fact, it feels light and enjoyable. I believe the way it’s written, the characters are the heart of the book too!

Thank you, NetGalley and Head of Zeus for sharing this ARC with me!

What a magnificent, rip roaring page turner of a novel. A totally immersive read, eloquently written with an intriguing plot which unravels at a galloping pace in a variety of revelatory directions.

Gardner’s characterisation is excellent, portraying of a wealth of classical heroes/heroines versus villains, which were most entertaining. Whilst the ‘love story’ of our two main characters Edmée and Duval, was classically romantic, teetering on cheesy at times, it worked well with this style of old fashioned story telling. I also greatly enjoyed the historical setting, (despite being rather horrified reading in the epilogue that the last wife sale in England was as late as 1930!) with the backdrop of the French Revolution versus high society London and ‘the ton’ of wealthy countryside landowners, there was plenty to keep the historical fiction lover more than happy.

This is the first book by Sally Gardner that I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be my last. Big thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Sally Gardner is a fantastic writer who I've admired for years. This is her second adult novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. When Duval is released from prison he finds that his father has died and that he must marry within two days to fulfil the conditions of his will in order inherit his estate. In desperation Duval acquires a wife through a wife sale who is bruised and clearly abused and so the story begins to unfold. It is historical fiction but part mystery part love story. It is so perfectly plotted, with a brilliant cast of secondary characters, and the writing is so well crafted.

The Bride Stone by Sally Gardner is set in 1796 and tells the story of Duval Harlington, recently freed from a French prison, who must marry to claim his late father’s estate, Muchmore House. At a market, he unexpectedly bids for a young widow, Edmée Hyde, in a wife sale. Their marriage, born of necessity, soon reveals dark secrets that put their lives in danger.

This book is a thoroughly entertaining and fast-paced read, full of twists that kept me guessing throughout. It also carries the air of a mystery thriller, which added an extra layer of excitement. The characters are vividly drawn — I particularly enjoyed the dashing Duval and the enigmatic Edmée, whose chemistry had me rooting for them all the way.

Overall, it was a gripping and enjoyable story that balanced romance, suspense, and historical detail with skill.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A scandalous love story starting off with a marriage of convienience, draped in mystery and set during the french revolution. This is my best way of describing this novel. I giggled, I was sad, I pitied and I celebrated with the characters. I loved every moment and it was my favorite read of the month. I absolutely loved Duval and Edmée's relationship
4.4 star read for me.

Originally published on the 22nd May edition of The Bookish Drop newsletter

I rarely delve into the world of historical novels, mainly because I don't want to confront just how little I actually know of the pre-21st-century world. Still, my reservations about The Bride Stone by Sally Gardner evaporated before I’d even finished the first chapter.

In 1796, amid the French Revolution, The Bride Stone follows Duval Harlington, fresh out of prison and back in London, to discover his despicable father has passed away. Rather than settle into life as the new Lord of the Muchmore estate, Duval is forced to find a wife within hours thanks to a small stipulation in his late father's will: he must be married or lose everything. After a dystopian meet-cute at a wife sale, Duval finds an eligible spouse in widow Edmée and honours his father's demands from beyond the grave. But marrying in haste is only the beginning of Duval's troubles.

The Bride Stone gives Vanity Fair and Bridgerton vibes but with a wonderfully gothic twist. I raced through the book within a day and wondered how I'd not read any of Gardner's work sooner. Although I'm new to the genre, I suspect this delicious historical romance will be one of the books of the summer.

You will have to wait until July 31st to get your hands on a copy of The Bride Stone, but you can read Gardner’s prior work The Weather Woman now.

When I started reading this book, I was a little worried that it might be a Mills and Boon type story. Fortunately, there was a lot more to this, including secrets, the impact of the French Revolution, greedy relatives, domestic abuse, and finding your way in life. Lots of action and some truly memorable awful people made for entertaining reading. The two main characters were easy to like and hope for good things for them. The ending, where the obnoxious Beales get their comeuppance is delightful. I hope to read more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Bride Stone was a page-turning historical novel, solidly researched, and full of twists and turns and well-rounded characters. Lord Duval has survived the French Revolution by the skin of his teeth, but when his father dies he risks being disinherited if he doesn't marry immediately. Duval pitches up in a town with a wife sale going on, and without giving it much thought he 'buys' himself a young woman. What both of them don't realize is that this single act will have ramifications a long way down the line. This was an interesting storyline, not something I had seen tackled before, and I found it very readable. The emotional stakes were high, and I wanted to know what happened to all the characters, good and bad.

This is the second book I have read by Sally Gardner, so I was looking forward to it. I wasn't disappointed. This story is set in the late 1700s, during the French Revolution, a period of great change. It is a mixture of historical fiction, mystery, and romance, and it balances the three very well. it kept my interest throughout and although it deals with some difficult topics, including abuse, rape and miscarriage, it is done well and these topics don't overwhelm the story.

Duval Harlington returns from being imprisoned in Paris to discover that his father has died, and he will only inherit the estate if he is married within seven days of his arrival home. He is on the verge of giving up hope when he stops in a town holding a Bride Sale. He returns to his home, Muchmore House, to marry Edmee, a French emigre widow. This is the beginning of a scandal and controversy that may ruin both their lives and disclose things they would rather keep in the past. I liked the characters in the book; they were well written, and I was intrigued to discover their stories.

I really enjoyed reading The Bride Stone, it kept my interest and I loved the intrigue. The story has a slight Bridgerton feel to it, but it was a more gritty tale. I would recommend picking this one up and finding a quiet corner to enjoy it. #netgalley

Although I found parts of this book tedious, namely the scenes in London, overall I really enjoyed this book, and, especially towards the last quarter of it, I found I couldn’t put it down. There are 2 slowly revealed mysteries, as well as the overall romance which keeps the reader with plenty to enjoy. I say a slight trigger warning for some people as there is discussion of domestic violence and rape, but there weren’t expletives or sex scenes, so it would be a good read for anyone 12+. I’d definitely recommend this book.

Refreshingly original and compulsive reading - loved it!
Loved every second of this book, it's certainly not what I was expecting, but even better.
Original and clever plot, twists and turns, unique and likeable characters. I was gripped from the first page. Even though I guessed where the story was going early on, I loved all the reveals and the way it progressed. I loved the speedier pace of the story, the questions are answered, and the mystery keeps you guessing. I can't say enough good things about this book. Highly recommended!

First of all, kudos to the cover designer - the book looks absolutely stunning & intriguing 😍

'The Bride Stone' is a tale set in eighteenth-century England, told with a light touch and a dash of romance (though the story occasionally goes to some bleak places). I think it would appeal to fans of Frances Quinn and Mary Hoffman.

My favourite snippet was the character Edmée's dream about the French Revolution, which was spine-tingling/spine-chilling: "A woman in a red bonnet of liberty sells petticoats. They hang around her, billowing like ghostly flags. These undergarments have outlived the ladies who once wore them. Cottons, silks and the finest linen - all have found equality here. None too clean, the sad flags flutter in the breeze..."

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

The Bride Stone transported me to the 18th century - with all the gritty realism of the time- from the French Revolution to the sale of women for marriage.

On his release from a French prison, Duval Harlington discovers his father has died and left him his country estate of Muchmore - however there's a catch - Duval only has a few hours remaining to secure a bride in order to retain the estate. A chance meeting with the mysterious Edmée seems too good to be true... Once Duval realises he knows nothing about his new bride, apart from some notes he discovers in her secret journal, will the risk of a rushed marriage be worth it?

Historical fiction at its finest. This felt so emotionally charged between the couple despite them marrying at a moment's notice and not really knowing each other- and thats without the scandal that soon ensues.

This moved at a pace to keep me hooked and entertained throughout. Characters I loved to hate, some I was rooting for, and things I wanted, no needed answers to.

Great time period, and superb characterisation. Glorious.

The Bride Stone has a gripping opening. Duval Harrington arrives back in England after three years in a French jail to find that his father has died and he must marry within 3 days or lose his inheritance. He is sure that he has no chance of marrying anyone within that time but then discovers a Wife Sale. He does manage to purchase a wife for the princely sum of 10 guineas but his problems still aren’t over.
I was gripped by the opening to this novel as Duval goes from hope to despair and back to hope again. I found myself really invested in the marriage between him and Edmee and the growing romance between them. I really wanted them to succeed despite all of the opposition to them. I also loved the setting at the end of the French revolution when French emigres were often seen as suspicious and the historical detail is excellent.
The book fell down for me on the secondary characters who nearly all felt very 2D and didn’t have a lot of depth. The only two who came alive for me were the Bow Street Runner who is called in to investigate the mystery and Mrs Dent who goes out to rescue women and children from the type of situation that Edmee found herself in. The inheritance grabbing cousin, Carson in particular feels a bit like a pantomime villain although to be fair, Duval himself notes that his cousin seems to have come out of a bad play.
Despite this, it was still a very readable story which I found hard to put down. I don’t think it’s quite as good as the author’s previous book The Weather Woman but a good read nonetheless.
My thinks as always to Net Galley and the publishers Head of Zeus, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It has been a very long time since I have been as gripped with a book as I was with this. I read it in two sittings - pausing only to cook and eat some food - and it kept me turning the pages all the way to the end.

A mix of romance and mystery, it follows the story of Duval, an Englishman who has survived the horrors of the French Revolution only to find he needs to marry within the next few days or lose his inheritance. Edmée, a Frenchwoman in England who has survived her brutal husband but is in desperate need of safety is for 'sale' in a wife market - a true thing that used to happen in England. It seems to be the solution to both their problems but it isn't long before both of their secrets threaten them.

The two main characters are a delight. Duval and Edmée are both characters you want to root for, although I could have shaken Duval more than once when he so callously left her and didn't write. I had really hoped their love would bloom over letters, but it is something more dramatic that brings him back and lets their love story really bloom. Edmée has been through so much, and the more you learn about her past, the worst it gets. She had a truly terrible hand in life and yet raises above it with bravery.

The minor characters are a little one dimensional - they are either utter rotter's who get what they deserve, or good characters who help save the day. Aunt Harriet was the only other character that really went through an arc - starting off distrusting Edmée to the point of telling the staff to make sure she hadn't stolen anything from any room she passed through - to being her strongest champion outside of her husband, and being the rock that both needed. She was fantastic.

There is a happy ending thankfully, and they deserved it.

I will be searching out other books by this author, just for how entertaining this was.

I was sent a copy of The Bride Stone by Sally Gardner to read and review by NetGalley. This is a very readable historical novel written by the author of The Weather Woman, which I loved. There is a great cast of characters as expected, with plenty of twists within the story. I did find it a little predictable in places and it has to be said it is a very romantic tale. That said, I did enjoy it and read it in just a few days. I would probably class it as an historical beach read – if there is such a genre!

I loved the French Revolution setting to this novel, it isn't a period that I know a lot about and this was wonderfully informative without being didcatic.
While the initial conditions of the will which are the catalyst are incredibly far fetched the rest of the book works within this parameter. I did like all of the 'good' characters and didn't find that the baddies were too pantomime in appearance. The local to me setting of Norfolk/Suffolk was also a bonus.

I've mostly come across Gardner as a children's or YA author and thought at times this book was verging towards this market but on the whole thsi was a great read.

I loved this book from the start, so utterly romantic and compelling with a lovely tone that makes you hope everything will be alright in the end, and if it isn't alright leaves you hoping that it isn't the end!

A race against time, a loveless marriage and an unreasonable father's post-grave demands all build to up to a thrilling plot, loveable characters and a story so well told it's hard to put down and a real shame when it ends.

Duval Harlington, back from captivity in the French Revolution, must find a bride quickly to meet the terms of his late father's will. When in desperation he buys a bride at a wife sale, is Edmee really the humble parson's wife that she seems? And will their hasty bargain end up in a love match before the meddling relation set to inherit Duval's estate wins out in the end?

You will love the plot twists and turns, the convincing settings and the whole host of believable characters that help build this into a masterful story.

This was very definately not my normal reading matter but the name of the author pulled me in. Sally Gardner is such a talented author and I love the way she writes her characters, the are so real and you really find your self loving or hating them.

Wow this was amazing. Set during the French Revolution with dual timelines. Absolutely beautifully written and exciting fast moving plot and the romance was beautiful. Highly recommend if you want a rich historical fiction book

As I started to write this review I checked my notebook to refresh my memory: all that I had written was DuVal and Edmee, a sure sign that I had been engrossed in the story!
DuVal, having just been released from a Paris prison learns that his father died nearly one year ago.under the terms of the will, in order to claim his inheritance he must be married and the marriage take place at the Hall within a year of his fathers death. With only days to find a suitable bride, confirmed bachelor DuVal has a momentous decision to make.
Edmee has had a troubled life which we learn about over the course of the book. She is an inspirational character, reinventing herself in order to survive and taking chances when appropriate.