A Fall From Grace

Title: A Fall From Grace (audio)

Series: Clavering Chronicles #1

Author: Jennie Goutet

Narrator: Stevie Zimmerman

Genre: Historical Fiction, Regency, Romance, British Literature

Publisher: Independently Published

Source: Hoopla

My Review:

Jennie Goutet is a new to me author. Unfortunately, I can't remember who recommended her to me, but thank you!

A Fall From Grace is a fascinating story. I liked how Selena handled her circumstances, going out and getting a job despite the smear on her name. I felt that she could have been bolder in her defense of herself and not so much of a doormat. However, I did admire her ability to hold her tongue in certain situations. Later in the story, I did not agree with her stubborn pride. It was standing in the way of something she wanted.  However, that showed how she had grown as a character, so I can't complain too much.

While Sir Lucious is portrayed as prideful and full of himself, at first sight, I was glad that his personality was not the way through the entire story. We see who he is and understand why he acted the way he did at the beginning. His desire to do the right things when he had not done them before showed admirable character growth.

This is a sweet story of Selena's fall from grace through no fault of her own. Even though Selena gets a job as a lady's companion, she is treated like scum on a shoe or as if she is invisible. There are few characters that treat her okay, but mostly she endures hardships. Sir Lucious also has his hands full, with his uppity sister constantly trying to get him married and Rebecca trying to get his attention in all the wrong ways.

The narrator, Stevie Zimmerman, does an excellent job of telling the story and switching between characters and accents. 

I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys clean Regency romances with a happy ending. 

★★★/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 

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 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?