I love Jennie’s beautiful writing. Her characters are so interesting. Selena was so sweet and kind but scared after being rejected by Society. Lucius was so amazingly sweet to Selena even though his lapse at the ball made me want to smack him. I love how he wanted to take care of her. And she really needed his protection from his sister Maria ( yuck) and Rebecca and the new Earl were horrible and deserved each other. I couldn’t read this book fast enough it was so good but then I didn’t want it to end either. Jennie writes the best romance and this one was so good! Can’t wait for the next book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this entertaining romance and being transported to such a different and interesting past with realistic characters.

I loved this story and the characters were really interesting as well. I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series!

Enjoyed the characters in this book. Some twists that were not expected. Looking forward to reading the rest of series. Fun author.

This is a new to me author and enjoyed this story. Lucius and Selena were a nice couple. Society was sure quick to cast blame to entire families when one member did bad things. There are other more detailed reviews, so I won't go into all of that. The only drawback was the last 20-25%. It got a little repetitive with Selena retelling the story of the meat monger to multiple people. Still, I will search out other works by this author since it's getting rare finding enjoyable books lately!

I was hooked from the first chapter of this story. So entertaining and interesting. Strong characters and a well written story of two people who find themselves at opposite ends of society. Each finding the strengths in the other to adore and lovingly excepting each’s weaknesses. I was easily kept at the edge of my seat throughout this book. Loved it!!!

Selena Lockhart's life is not at all how she imagined it would be. She, her mother and siblings are still paying for the scandal her father caused, and because of their fall from grace, her fiancé called off their bethrothal. Now Selena has taken a position as a paid companion to Lady Harrowden, a somewhat cantankerous elderly woman. Her carriage has an accident on the way to her employer, and she knocks on the door of Sir Lucius Clavering for assistance. Sir Lucius has come back to his country home for solitude and some peace and quiet, but isn't finding it as young ladies in need keep coming to his door. This is my first book by the author, and I listened to the audiobook of it. We all love the Regency stories of balls, and falling in love, but society was not kind to those who didn't live up to their standards. Selena and her family are paying the price for her father's sins, which were all his own. No longer attending balls, she's trying to survive and help her mother by becoming a paid companion. Simply put, Selena has swallowed her pride and does what she needs to do. Lucius, a Baronet, is tired of the matchmaking mamas parading their eligible daughters in front of him at all the social events and has retired to his estate for some peace and quiet. Instead of finding peace and quiet he's drawn into the events going on at Lady Harrowden's home, and slowly falls for Miss Lockhart. I liked the changes that Lucius made over the course of the story. Selena handled Lady Harrowden a lot better than I would have. She kept giving her more responsibilities, but I don't know how she expected Selena to accomplish them and still be her companion and be at her beck and call. I didn't like Lucius' sister at all. She struck me as very shallow--she wanted to set Lucius up with a young woman who had somewhat questionable morals, but looked down on Selena because of her father's disgrace, and then to invite Selena's former fiancé to her ball was the cherry on top!! I don't see how Selena and Lucius forgave her for that.

Sweet story. A good quick read. Fourteen more words needed so yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada

... with a once reputed rake, not necessarily reformed so much as simply bored & cynical from society's nonsense, who reluctantly rescues our heroine in an Arabella-esque meet-cute. Lucius has no interest in marriage & the last thing he wants is someone else to look after, but when he encounters Selena, he finds his sympathies - and interest - piqued. I came to this book after reading & loving the 2nd in the series, so I can assure you that the stories don't have to be read in order. This one was enjoyable, but Selena wasn't quite as engaging as Philippa. She was understandably out of her depth, & Lucius rescues her several times which is sweet, and you can see how it draws them closer to each other - but as a reader, you want to see her outwit her abusers at least some of the time There was also a historical point that bothered me, but it's a ***SPOILER*** Downing's deliberate scene at the ball would have been a scandal for him not just for her. Public scenes were bad ton. Especially in the political realm. The norm would have been for him to give Selena "the cut direct" - that would still have publicly humiliated her but without damaging his own reputation. There would certainly be gossip & could be poisonous whispers to follow that Maria would then be sure to pass on to Lucius (or have someone else do it). But publicly, Selena would most likely have been treated as an insignificant non-entity like other charity cases & servants ***END SPOILER*** So if you're a stickler for historical accuracy, you may find yourself frustrated; but if you're like me, and can overlook it because you're enjoying the story anyway, you'll likely enjoy this, too *Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic

Well written and entertaining. Not great, but very good. It might be worth purchasing some more from this author. Check for sales and perhaps directly from her website. All right, since I went ahead and purchased the second book in the series, and I'm enjoying it, I changed this rating from 3 stars to 4.

This is an enjoyable story. The prejudices of the time period are well described along with the difficulties endured adjusting to them. Love, of course, wins out.

Jennie Goutet is my new favourite historical writer. Yes, I want a HEA, but I also want fictional characters to be more than cardboard cut outs. Selena and Lucius are vivid, and BREATHE. Well done, Ms Goutet!

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. Wish I had thought to read this one first because there are three in the Clavering Chronicles. I happened to read the last one first, The Sport of Matchmaking, because the title intrigued me. A Fall from Grace is a standalone story, but the characters will appear in the next two novels. So, if you decide to read these books, do yourself a favor and read this one first to enjoy the events in order. The story itself was wonderful. Satisfying plot, easy to picture characters, and a good ending to the tale. Right from the beginning, I felt compassion for the main female character and the situation she found herself in.

I downloaded A Fall from Grace, book 1 of the Clavering Chronicles, as a free ebook from Amazon. Too predictable and the characters felt bland. My 3.5 rating is rounded up as I enjoyed the writing style and many elements of the story line.

Selena’s father gambled away his family fortune and drank until he died. Even though Selena had a successful season, her betrothed broke their engagement. She decided that the best way to help her mother and younger sisters is to accept a job as companion for her father’s widowed cousin. On the way to her new position, the stage breaks down on a cold, snowy night. She walks to a nearby house. The gentleman there is already irritated because another young woman arrived earlier. Sir Lucius assumes they both have the same devious intention. Thus begins his complicated acquaintance with Selena. His older sister is unfriendly to Selena, but his younger siblings eventually play important roles in their romance. As she bravely suffers through the demands of Lady Harrowden and her ward, she demonstrates a dignified and brave personality. Sir Lucius makes time to be with her. As they manage their emotions, mutual attraction develops. However, Selena is sure that her diminished social status would damage his reputation. It becomes amusing as Sir Lucius cleverly plans to prove to her that she is the wife he needs. I’m very eager to read the rest of this series !