The Bad Luck Bride

Debut author MacGregor brings England’s Regency era to life in this sparkling launch for the Cavensham Heiresses romance series. Lady Claire, the daughter of a duke, was orphaned at a young age when a carriage accident claimed the lives of her parents. When her fourth attempt at an engagement, this time with unlikable Lord Paul, ends in disaster like the previous three, London’s gossips compound her survivor’s guilt by declaring her cursed. She’s saved from the worst of them by the timely intervention of Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke, one of Lord Paul’s childhood friends. The pair seems to get on well, despite their inauspicious beginning, but they are both struggling with secrets: Alex’s thirst for revenge against Paul, who mistreated his sister, and Claire’s nightmares of her parents’ deaths. This charming tale features a refreshing array of happy families, solid relationships, and candid portrayals of realistic reactions to adverse events. The lack of trust and communication between the principal characters sometimes feels contrived, but the book’s promise of a delicious story is well realized, building anticipation for future installments. Agent: Pam Ahearn, Ahearn Agency. (May)