Scan barcode
melfierro's review against another edition
4.0
When a frustrated, and desperate March Lawson forges the signature of the appointed "guardian" to her dowry so that she and her siblings can eat while they wait for her brother to be of age to claim his title and inheritance, she knows she's risking it all.
When Michael, the "guardian", who had been kept in the dark about his charges plight due to both a personal issue (not revealed here due to spoilers) and evil machinations, discovers the deception, he is initially ready to have March thrown in jail. When he figures out what had happened, he changes his tune and becomes more of a friend and ally. But can he trust her with his secret, and his heart?
This installments of the Cavensham series is one of my favorites. I always like a story with secrets and misunderstandings that need to be overcome to further the story.
When Michael, the "guardian", who had been kept in the dark about his charges plight due to both a personal issue (not revealed here due to spoilers) and evil machinations, discovers the deception, he is initially ready to have March thrown in jail. When he figures out what had happened, he changes his tune and becomes more of a friend and ally. But can he trust her with his secret, and his heart?
This installments of the Cavensham series is one of my favorites. I always like a story with secrets and misunderstandings that need to be overcome to further the story.
amym84's review against another edition
5.0
At sixteen years old March Lawson lost her parents to influenza. Weeks before her seventeenth birthday and her first season March has to forego all of this in order to step up and take care of her family until her brother comes of age.
Eight years later and the Lawson family is struggling. The monies have quickly run out, so March has been posing as the Marquess of McCalpin (at least in signature) in order to get funds diverted from her trust account into the spending account. When McCalpin, aka Michael Cavensham, discovers the embezzlement, his own closely guarded secrets keep him from exposing March. A secret that could easily come out if March's crimes are pursued too closely, a secret that could mean societal consequences for his family. He's willing to forgive and forget as long as she agrees to stop with the charade, and Michael agrees to take guardianship over the Lawson household.
As March and Michael start working together to bring the Lawson household up to snuff, their feelings for one another begin to grow. Not ready fully admit his feelings, he does acknowledge that March would make the perfect Marchioness, and March, always thinking of her siblings first, admits that she wants to be with Michael too for herself and no one else. That is, if March's seemingly bad luck doesn't get in the way of their happiness first.
March was a standout secondary character for me in the previous book [b:The Bride Who Got Lucky|33574168|The Bride Who Got Lucky (The Cavensham Heiresses #2)|Janna MacGregor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493530118s/33574168.jpg|54380612], but I'll admit the tough times we glimpsed in that previous book were only the tip of the iceberg as far as everything March has had to deal with since the death of her parents.
This was quite the emotional roller coaster for March and, as a reader, I felt like I was right there with her through the whole thing. I felt the frustrations as no one would listen to the plight of the Lawson children, and I felt the irritation when those of higher rank, and those who have never had to worry about where money for food would come from, looked down upon her actions of taking money (from her own account mind you) in order to take care of her family. I could probably fill my whole review with my frustrations on the way people treated March and her brother and sisters. But, in that, I think is Janna MacGregor's intent. We see the struggle, which makes the reward all the sweeter in the end.
I loved the relationship between the Lawson siblings. They, if no one else, knows the sacrifices that March has made for them, and continues to make for them in order, for her sisters, to secure good marriages, and her brother, so he can grow up a Lord who knows how to run his household and the land. Just when you think the worst has happened for March another surprise comes along to throw everything off. But never does it seem like Janna MacGregor has gone too far or filled March's life with too much blight. Everything that happens seems like plausible natural progression given the events of the story.
I loved that Michael wasn't really prepared for March. She's different than all the other ladies garnering for his attention, hoping to become his Marchioness. March could honestly care less about titles, and the only reason she's preoccupied with money is because, unfortunately, there's very little that can be done without money. Although March is very good with numbers and figures and tries to barter her bookkeeping services. Which puts her directly at opposites with Michael, who secretly has a learning disability when it comes to numbers and figures. I guess, in reality, it makes them the perfect pairing. They fit into each others's weaker spots and make each other stronger for it. Even though March views herself as "less than" compared to the society ladies who don't have to work with their hands to ensure survival, Michael never lets her think those thoughts for long. Her somewhat precarious station is never a factor for him in terms of how he views her for marriage. What gets in Michael's way is what he would call his "short-comings". He's been hiding them his whole life.
I think this book has been my favorite in the series so far. I would love for March's sisters to get their own book(s), or if not (since this is the Cavensham series after all), I hope we get a little follow up info on them in subsequent books because they too have had to struggle and I'd love to see them get their happily ever afters.
It looks like youngest brother, Will Cavensham, should be next in line for a book. He didn't come across great in this one (although he had reasons), but being the opposition to Michael and March made him a bit of a standout, so I look forward to seeing how his story plays out.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Eight years later and the Lawson family is struggling. The monies have quickly run out, so March has been posing as the Marquess of McCalpin (at least in signature) in order to get funds diverted from her trust account into the spending account. When McCalpin, aka Michael Cavensham, discovers the embezzlement, his own closely guarded secrets keep him from exposing March. A secret that could easily come out if March's crimes are pursued too closely, a secret that could mean societal consequences for his family. He's willing to forgive and forget as long as she agrees to stop with the charade, and Michael agrees to take guardianship over the Lawson household.
As March and Michael start working together to bring the Lawson household up to snuff, their feelings for one another begin to grow. Not ready fully admit his feelings, he does acknowledge that March would make the perfect Marchioness, and March, always thinking of her siblings first, admits that she wants to be with Michael too for herself and no one else. That is, if March's seemingly bad luck doesn't get in the way of their happiness first.
March was a standout secondary character for me in the previous book [b:The Bride Who Got Lucky|33574168|The Bride Who Got Lucky (The Cavensham Heiresses #2)|Janna MacGregor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1493530118s/33574168.jpg|54380612], but I'll admit the tough times we glimpsed in that previous book were only the tip of the iceberg as far as everything March has had to deal with since the death of her parents.
This was quite the emotional roller coaster for March and, as a reader, I felt like I was right there with her through the whole thing. I felt the frustrations as no one would listen to the plight of the Lawson children, and I felt the irritation when those of higher rank, and those who have never had to worry about where money for food would come from, looked down upon her actions of taking money (from her own account mind you) in order to take care of her family. I could probably fill my whole review with my frustrations on the way people treated March and her brother and sisters. But, in that, I think is Janna MacGregor's intent. We see the struggle, which makes the reward all the sweeter in the end.
I loved the relationship between the Lawson siblings. They, if no one else, knows the sacrifices that March has made for them, and continues to make for them in order, for her sisters, to secure good marriages, and her brother, so he can grow up a Lord who knows how to run his household and the land. Just when you think the worst has happened for March another surprise comes along to throw everything off. But never does it seem like Janna MacGregor has gone too far or filled March's life with too much blight. Everything that happens seems like plausible natural progression given the events of the story.
I loved that Michael wasn't really prepared for March. She's different than all the other ladies garnering for his attention, hoping to become his Marchioness. March could honestly care less about titles, and the only reason she's preoccupied with money is because, unfortunately, there's very little that can be done without money. Although March is very good with numbers and figures and tries to barter her bookkeeping services. Which puts her directly at opposites with Michael, who secretly has a learning disability when it comes to numbers and figures. I guess, in reality, it makes them the perfect pairing. They fit into each others's weaker spots and make each other stronger for it. Even though March views herself as "less than" compared to the society ladies who don't have to work with their hands to ensure survival, Michael never lets her think those thoughts for long. Her somewhat precarious station is never a factor for him in terms of how he views her for marriage. What gets in Michael's way is what he would call his "short-comings". He's been hiding them his whole life.
I think this book has been my favorite in the series so far. I would love for March's sisters to get their own book(s), or if not (since this is the Cavensham series after all), I hope we get a little follow up info on them in subsequent books because they too have had to struggle and I'd love to see them get their happily ever afters.
It looks like youngest brother, Will Cavensham, should be next in line for a book. He didn't come across great in this one (although he had reasons), but being the opposition to Michael and March made him a bit of a standout, so I look forward to seeing how his story plays out.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
iskanderjonesiv's review against another edition
4.0
One of Book Riot's "9 Not-To-Be-Missed Romances Hitting the Shelves this Summer"
Can a woman who’s down on her luck find love with a dashing Duke-to-be? Find out in The Luck of the Bride, the next Regency romance in the Cavensham Heiresses series from Janna MacGregor.
She’s leaving nothing up to chance. Not even love…
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?
**
elspethm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tropes from this book: tall heroine, heroine with a facility for numbers, hero with some learning challenges, LGBTQ+ relationship, strong female main character, orphans, evil cousin, disabled main character (middle sister).
Bennett!!!! If you don't read this book for any other reason - you should check it out because of the 9 year old future peer, Bennett Lawson and his precocious, adorable ways.
In this book, March Lawson and her family have been orphaned for 8 years. When she was 16, March became the head of the family and worked to take care of her two younger sisters and 1 year old younger brother, who was in line to inherit the Lawson family title. She attempts to get money to keep up the estate but is unable to get the attention of the guardian of her family's finances. In desperation, March forges the paperwork to receive money from her trust so that the family doesn't starve.
March goes to London to meet with their guardian, Michael Cavensham, Marquess? and he ends up visiting the property and when he sees how desperate their straits are (with a number of adorable discussions with Bennett, who insists on being called "Lawson" because that's how peers address each other ;) ) he decides to help the family out.
There is an evil cousin who is attempting to convince March to let him marry her youngest sister Julia and take over the family's money. Another major plot point is the fact that Michael has some disability that causes him to not be able to manipulate numbers at all, which has become a huge secret he must protect in order to become the next Duke. Also, March is very good with numbers and has taken on some bookkeeping jobs to keep the family afloat.
This story was a very slow burn, and only slightly spicy, but around the second half I got more invested in the characters and laughed out loud listening to Bennett's letters and discussions with Michael. He is extremely protective of his sisters and a very bright kid, just a delight of a side character.
There were some great distinctive tropes in this book, which I added at the top of this review. Though I read it first it's book 3 of the series, so I may end up reading back even though I prefer books with more spice. Bennett is such a delight though that I'm definitely happy I read this one!
Bennett!!!! If you don't read this book for any other reason - you should check it out because of the 9 year old future peer, Bennett Lawson and his precocious, adorable ways.
In this book, March Lawson and her family have been orphaned for 8 years. When she was 16, March became the head of the family and worked to take care of her two younger sisters and 1 year old younger brother, who was in line to inherit the Lawson family title. She attempts to get money to keep up the estate but is unable to get the attention of the guardian of her family's finances. In desperation, March forges the paperwork to receive money from her trust so that the family doesn't starve.
March goes to London to meet with their guardian, Michael Cavensham, Marquess? and he ends up visiting the property and when he sees how desperate their straits are (with a number of adorable discussions with Bennett, who insists on being called "Lawson" because that's how peers address each other ;) ) he decides to help the family out.
There is an evil cousin who is attempting to convince March to let him marry her youngest sister Julia and take over the family's money. Another major plot point is the fact that Michael has some disability that causes him to not be able to manipulate numbers at all, which has become a huge secret he must protect in order to become the next Duke. Also, March is very good with numbers and has taken on some bookkeeping jobs to keep the family afloat.
This story was a very slow burn, and only slightly spicy, but around the second half I got more invested in the characters and laughed out loud listening to Bennett's letters and discussions with Michael. He is extremely protective of his sisters and a very bright kid, just a delight of a side character.
There were some great distinctive tropes in this book, which I added at the top of this review. Though I read it first it's book 3 of the series, so I may end up reading back even though I prefer books with more spice. Bennett is such a delight though that I'm definitely happy I read this one!
bibliocat08's review against another edition
3.0
This book was painful. The beginning and middle flowed really easily as a story, without a lot of strife and then the last bit is a total punch in the face. I was not prepared for it. The H was such a buttface. I just didn't see the reconciliation as believable but everything else was really interesting.
toni_lee's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked March and Micheals story. They were so easy to love. March bring the determined older sister was relatable and I am happy that she found love in the story. She really deserved, she was so worried about everyone else, making her love story all the more deserving.
labyrinth_witch's review against another edition
3.0
While this plot always pulls at my heartstrings- a young woman assuming a ton of responsibility that transforms her into an adult overnight and then no matter how hard she works/sacrifices nothing goes right- the arch of the story was a bit shallow. There wasn’t a ton of emotional growth for the main character in terms of understanding her own worth, how people loved her, and resourcefulness when things kept going wrong. I wasn’t very into the whole sad-sally bit she kept doing throughout the whole story.
For example- she didn’t need to disavow a marriage and family just because she was running the estate and her family. In fact that shows a remarkable lack of foresight for when her siblings leave the nest. There is a lot of body shaming because she’s all of 5’ 8” in the book (so?). And at the end she signs over her fortune to McCalpin because….? She didn’t steal, and he doesn’t need her money, so…? It was just deference after deference after deference. I kept wanting her to fight and stand her ground, or at the very least WANT something for herself. But she very much fit the trope of a Cinderella waiting to be rescued.
McCalpin was more interesting than the average hero. I always enjoy when authors explore what the experience of dyslexia would have been like in that time period for a ducal heir. But again, he made a huge emotional leap in the space of 2 pages which is shallow character growth. And then March forgives him immediately! Didn’t even make him work for it. Which, I’m sorry, I know there was only 20 pages left- but if he broke her heart to that magnitude the least she could do was go to Massachusetts and make him chase her and win her back. Just saying.
For example- she didn’t need to disavow a marriage and family just because she was running the estate and her family. In fact that shows a remarkable lack of foresight for when her siblings leave the nest. There is a lot of body shaming because she’s all of 5’ 8” in the book (so?). And at the end she signs over her fortune to McCalpin because….? She didn’t steal, and he doesn’t need her money, so…? It was just deference after deference after deference. I kept wanting her to fight and stand her ground, or at the very least WANT something for herself. But she very much fit the trope of a Cinderella waiting to be rescued.
McCalpin was more interesting than the average hero. I always enjoy when authors explore what the experience of dyslexia would have been like in that time period for a ducal heir. But again, he made a huge emotional leap in the space of 2 pages which is shallow character growth. And then March forgives him immediately! Didn’t even make him work for it. Which, I’m sorry, I know there was only 20 pages left- but if he broke her heart to that magnitude the least she could do was go to Massachusetts and make him chase her and win her back. Just saying.