Reading Guide
What to read?
Hi! Looking for a place to begin for reading Jennie Goutet’s novels? Below the books are organized by series (when applicable) and trope. You can easily find the reading order and the tropes that fit your mood here.
THE BRIDWELLS' GRAND TOUR:
Overall theme : Georgian era – 1770-1772. Set on the Continent in Spa, Belgium (although the country did not exist yet), Paris, and Rome. Their eccentric father decided to take the three sisters on the Grand Tour of the Continent where they each find love.
Who: Sisters Amy, Hannah, Marianne Bridwell
1. A Love Once Lost : Tropes: second chance romance, star-crossed lovers, one true love, the one that got away, childhood sweetheart
Historical details : moderate – discover life in the fashionable mineral water resort in 1770
The Earl's Sisters:
Overall theme : London Season. The young earl has five sisters who need to be married off.
Who: Siblings Everard (Evo), Dorothea, Sophia, Camilla, Joanna, Matilda.
1. A Brilliant Match: Tropes: Pride & Prejudice (in reverse), forbidden love, likes attract.
Historical details : light
2. A Secret Infatuation: Tropes: She never forgot, forbidden love, childhood crush, not good enough.
Historical details : light
3. Wit, Wiles, and Courtship (on pre-order) :
Historical details : light
Clavering Chronicles Series:
Overall theme : London Season. First book set in a country house in wintertime, second two set in London in spring.
Who: Siblings Lucius, Philippa, and George
1. A Fall from Grace : Tropes: Cinderella-heroine, damsel in distress, not good enough, reluctant protector, sworn off relationships
Historical details : light
2. Philippa Holds Court : Tropes : Grumpy (he)-sunshine (she), enemies-to-love, witty-banter
Historical details : moderate (parliament)
3. The Sport of Matchmaking : Tropes: sworn off relationships, loveable rogue, witty banter, bet on love, lovers in denial
Historical details : light
Daughters of the Gentry
Overall theme : Set in and around Horncastle in Lincolnshire. Life in a village outside of London with members of the gentry.
Who: Neighbors Honoria, Arabella, Christine
1. A Whimsical Notion Tropes: blind-to-love, forbidden-love, all-grown-up
Historical details : light (feel-good, gentle story)
2. A Stroke of Good Fortune Tropes: Damsel-in-distress, protector, widow, single-mother
Historical details : light-to-moderate (mill work and smuggling)
* Trigger Warning : This book includes a narcissistic, psychologically manipulative bad guy.
3. A Presumptuous Hope Tropes: forced proximity, marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers
Historical details : light
Memorable Proposals
Overall theme : Set during Napoleonic wars with military references in each book. First set in country and in London. Second set in country. Third set in Brussels during the Battle of Waterloo. This series is published by Cedar Fort and is available on kindle, paperback and audio.
- The ebooks in this series are available on Amazon only.
Who: Siblings Stratford and twin sisters Anna and Phoebe
1. A Regrettable Proposal : Tropes : Enemy-to-love, ugly-duckling, orphan, sworn-off-love, blind-to-love, ex-military-hero
Historical details : light (light suspense)
2. A Faithful Proposal : Tropes : opposites-attract, fish-out-of-water, inspirational hero-man-of-the-cloth, heroine-London-socialite
Historical details : light (light suspense)
3. A Daring Proposal : Tropes: Older brother’s best-friend, childhood crush, blind-to-love, men in uniform, last minute epiphany
Historical details : heavy (Battle of Waterloo)
Stand-Alone Books
His Disinclined Bride Tropes: Arranged marriage, enemies-to-lovers, marriage without love
Historical details : light
* Trigger warning : This book contains talk of consent and consummation and is not recommended for younger teens.
A Sham Betrothal A long novella set in Paris in 1774. Tropes : fake engagement, flirty, lover in denial, commitment issues, damsel in distress
Historical details : moderate with Georgian setting
A Gentleman’s Reckoning Tropes : loveable rogue, fake identity, insta-love, it will never work, revenge turned love
Historical details : moderate with details on the orphan’s asylum, mills, and intrigue
A Yorkshire Carol A long novella Tropes : holiday-romance, house-party, friends-to-love, unrequited-love, snobby-heroine-who-softens
Historical details : moderate with Christmas details and Yorkshire farming
An Amiable Foe Tropes : orphan, forced-proximity, fish-out-of-water, both-want-same thing (and it’s not each other)
Historical details : light
The Christmas Ruse, a short novella Tropes : damsel-in-distress, insta-love, protector, holiday romance
Historical details : light
In the order published
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Reviews
Ashley M
This book is incredible! It is romantic, charming, sweet, heartfelt, and just all around amazing! Whenever I picked up “A Fall From Grace”, I felt like I traveled back in time, and went on an amazing journey with this story!
Sandra H
The characters are wonderful and I enjoyed the way they reacted in both the hardships and good times in their lives. This is a great regency romance book!
MaryEllen C
Wonderful characters, witty dialog, great storyline!
I like that we see how the characters feel about each other even though they don’t realize it until much later. Leave it to the kids to see it, too!
Marilee M
Absolutely loved this book! What on earth took me so long to pick this one up? Don’t make the same mistake. Such a swoony romance with everything I love about the Regency period.
Franki S
I got lost in the pages of this book. That isn’t something that I can always say about modern historical fiction. The wonder of Selina and Lucius’s tale is that it was smooth. At no point did there seem to be a modern disconnect.
Shaylin M
Loved this book! It had such fun characters even the “bad” ones were fun to get to know. I liked seeing the characters grow and change their lives to be better people (most of them anyway). I absolutely loved Lucius’s youngest sister and brother- I’m hoping they will get stories as well.
Rochelle D
I absolutely love this story and the books that follow in the series. Jennie Goutet is one of my favorite authors.
desiree d call
I’d say very good. I enjoyed myself while reading this, I enjoyed getting a glimpse into French court, fashion and society. I felt it was written authentically without being tedious or boring. The main characters were likeable. The Hero was fun and the heroine steady and strong character. I thought the story was flirty and showed attraction between the two and clean. A few kisses, no innuendo, or overly descriptive passionate make out scenes. The story was interesting and had a great flow. I loved the little details that bring the story to live and add believability.