Jane Chantry (now going by the name of Jane Chance) remembers very well how difficult her childhood was. Her parents were madly in love, and married against their families' wishes, causing them to be disowned. Her father had no skills or training, so they lived in poverty, and were left as destitute orphans. Jane is determined to live a better life now that she has a chance. She is about to make her debut, thanks to the generosity of her "aunt," and vows she will never live that kind of life again. She desires children, and wants them to have every advantage. She plans to select the best man to provide the kind of life she never had, and hopes only for affection. Love doesn't matter, or so she initially says.
Adam Aston-Black, the new heir to the title of Earl of Wainfleet, is about to be declared dead by his cousin, who would then inherit the title. Since Adam has not been seen for eight years, that's a reasonable assumption. But Adam, who has been using the name of Zachary Black, is alive and well, and has been in service to the king. While he's not thrilled about coming back home and taking up the duties of an earl, that's a better option than letting his cousin take his rightful place. So, he returns, only to find that he is wanted for murder. The person he is accused of murdering is his stepmother, Cecily, a woman he escorted to a safe place, to keep her out of the clutches of his abusive father. However, Cecily cannot be found, so he has to remain Zachary Black until the mystery is solved.
Meanwhile, Jane has caught the eye of a very eligible man who has all the qualities she is seeking. This gentleman has remained single for years, just waiting for the perfect match. He collects beautiful things, and he wants to add Jane to his collection, as she is the loveliest woman he's ever seen. He makes his proposal, and Jane accepts, much to the dismay of her sisters, who want her to marry for love.
A chance encounter between Jane and Zachary (who is still incognito) has them both very interested in the other. From here, the story really blossoms. The practical, sensible Jane finds that she is developing feelings for a man who has nothing to offer. Zachary realizes that he is willing to give up his carefree life, if he can only convince Jane. These are two of the most likeable people you'll encounter, and I couldn't wait for Jane to choose love. Despite the appearance that she is only interested in material things, in truth, Jane is scared. Her young life was a hard one, and she doesn't want to put her children through that. Zachary is hero material - he left home at a young age, taking his stepmother to safety, and getting them both away from his father, who was a tyrant.
THE SPRING BRIDE is a very well written, truly romantic story with great characters. I devoured this third book of the Chance Sisters series, and recommend it highly.
A dog in need of rescue brings together a young debutante
and a mysterious stranger in this regency charmer from
the
beloved Anne Gracie. For fans of Mary Balogh and
Madeline
Hunter.
On the eve of the London Season, Jane Chance is about to
make her entrance into high society. And after a
childhood
riddled with poverty and hardship, Jane intends to make a
good, safe, sensible marriage. All goes according to plan
until a dark, dangerous vagabond helps her rescue a dog.
Zachary Black is all kinds of unsuitableβa former spy,
now
in disguise, heβs wanted for murder. His instructions: to
lie low until his name is cleared. But Zach has never
followed the rules, and he wants Jane Chance for his own.
If that means blazing his way into London society, in
whatever guise suits him, thatβs what heβll do. Jane
knows
she shouldnβt fall in love with this unreliable, if
devastatingly attractive, rogue. But Zach is determinedβ
and
heβs a man accustomed to getting what he wants.
She froze a moment, staring down at the big hand holding her wrist so firmly.
Warm, brown, masculine fingers wrapped around her bare skin. She would have
imagined a gypsy's hands would feel rough but his didn't. She tried to remember
how those hands had smashed into those young thugs. His grip was strong, but he
wasn't hurting her.
With dignity, she turned her head to glare at him. An unhand-me-sir sort of
glare. A society-lady-to-gypsy sort of glare.
It ought to have put him in his place.
It didn't.
Their gazes locked for an endless moment. Gray-green eyes bored unapologetically
into hers, warm hard fingers gripped her firmly. The noise of the city, the
dismal reek of the alleyway, even the dog faded from her awareness. Such bright,
hard, unsettling eyes. Soul-stealing eyes. She swallowed and fought to maintain
her composure.
He was a stranger, a gypsyβand an angry one, judging by the glitter in his eyesβ
and this was the second or third time he'd touched her, yet she felt no sense of
threat. Well, not physically.
It was a different kind of danger.
He was so close she could feel the warmth of his big body, could see each dark
bristle in his skin, the rough darkness of his jaw, the mobile fascination of
his mouth.
Fascination? What was she thinking?
A chance-met gypsy in a small side-alley. Rough. Tough. Intimidating. He'd
handled those boys with a casual violence that ought to have horrified her.
Instead, it had thrilled her.
She ought to be repelled by him.
She wasn't. Far from it. Something about him drew her in some strange way. The
thought sparked a warning deep within her.
"What do you think you're doing?" She wrenched her gaze off his face and glanced
pointedly at his hand. A surprisingly clean hand, tanned, but with clean, well
trimmed fingernails. He didn't smell dirty, either. There was a scent of
woodsmoke and damp wool and old leaves and underneath it all a scent of. . . she
didn't know what, but it was dark and masculine, and somehow. . . enticing.
He moved, and another sliver of stark awareness rippled through her.
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