Fortune's Bride

Brides of Montclair #3

by Jane Peart

Slowly she turned to face the door just as Graham came through at full stride. At the sight of him a wild kind of joy seized her. Graham halted on the threshold. He drew in his breath sharply, and in spite of himself, his pulse thundered at the sight of the tall, willowy figure. The last time he had seen Avril she had been a child. Here in her place was a graceful young woman. "Avril, my dear," he said, finding his voice. "Welcome home!" Fortune's Bride, the third in a series of award-winning novels by Jane Peart, is a revision of the story of Avril Dumont, a wealthy young heiress and orphan, who gradually comes to terms with her lonely adolescence. There is romance and heartbreak, true love and fulfillment in this story of Avril's seemingly unreturned but undaunted love for her bachelor guardian, Graham Montrose. Readers of Fortune's Bride will be smitten with the charm of the old South as they follow Avril's development into womanhood, and meet the people who give her a sense of self-worth. So skillfully drawn is the plot of this romance that the reader will suffer form ongoing suspense throughout Avril's story.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Christian, Historical Romance, Fiction

269 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1987

About the author

Jane Johnson Peart of Asheville, North Carolina, Humboldt and Marin counties, California, and in recent years, Hawaii, passed away in 2007. She was the author of more than 60 works of suspense, historical fiction and romance, which touched the hearts and minds of thousands of readers whose correspondence she treasured. She wrote for the secular and Christian market, and is best known for the Brides of Montclair series.

Reviews

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The feeling of nostalgia is strong for me in this one. I remember the days of being 13 or 14 years old and my friends spoke about this book in hushed tones because it was so romantic and wonderful.

I do still like it, in a way. But if you don't like stories where an older man adopts someone and then marries her years later, then you'll have a problem with this one.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Avril! Plans thwarted time and again, although this turns out for the good as God teaches her the importance of faith and waiting on Him. As always in this series, the author delights with lush descriptions of clothing and places that threw me right into the historical setting.

[Kayleigh Huneycutt-Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! My favorite Montclair book so far!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in the "Brides of Montclair" series is the story of Avril Dumont, a young orphan who is taken in by her parents' friend, the young widower Graham Montrose. As she grows up, the childish crush that she feels for her guardian grows along with her, until she believes it is the love of a woman for a man. Graham, as he tries to move forward with his own life, resists seeing her as anything other than a young lady under his care, while Avril struggles to make him see more.

I absolutely ADORED this book when I first read it (and then re- and re- and re-read it) as a not-quite teenager. It was one of my absolute favorite books. I loved the story, I loved the depth of genuine emotion that it evoked it me--Avril's heartbreak was my heartbreak, her frustration my frustration, her joy my joy--I loved the characters (I would have wanted Graham for myself if I hadn't truly liked Avril and felt so strongly that they belonged together), and I loved the idea that an older man could fall in love with younger girl (...a younger girl like me, perhaps?).

I don't remember enough about the book to honestly say that it was really well written, or that it wasn't childish or overly melodramatic. But I like to think I was a discerning reader even then, so I think it was probably of at least of adequate writing quality, if not better. I hope if when I decide to read this again that it is as wonderful as I remember.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's pretty freaking boring. Four fifths of the book is spent on the heroine doing mundane things at a different location while the Hero is off somewhere else. There's little romance but we're constantly reminded that this is a 'love story' because we're told the girl pines for the guy. If you like inconsequential, polite conversation that serves no purpose other than to turn a simple 20 page love story into 269 page book, go ahead and read it. If you happen to relate with the heroine's 'pitiful' but extremely privileged life, this one is right for you. The h and H never share any significant moments at all; anything of importance/interest is constantly interrupted by external forces and by the h/H's own indecision.

I deeply regret buying the book. On the brighter side, I will readily use this book as a kindling source for bonfires or emergencies.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the entire Brides of Montclair series, I find myself coming back to this one on a regular basis. Avril was the first Bride I had the privilege of reading about as she was my introduction to the series. While I have appreciated many of the others, and I have enjoyed seeing the deep heritage associated with the Montclair family, nothing tops the story of Avril, Graham, and how God brought them together.

Further, this book cemented this series my main fictional indulgence. As a primarily non-fiction reader, this book is a treat.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favorite book in the series!! Avril is an adorable sweetheart! Unlike the other brides who are grown women when they come to Montclaire, Avril grows up on the estate. We follow her from childhood, wild adventures with neighboring children, first ball, first kiss, boarding school, jealousy, falling in love with Graham and finally... him realizing how much he loves her! Beautiful!! :)

[Carrie Garza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christian historical romance. Avril comes to live with Graham as a child of ten. He has. Become her guardian upon the death of her parents. By the time she is of age for guardianship to cease she has fallen completely in love with him.

[Swati Pant · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars