His Awful Grace

by Anne Knight

In 1887 London, the elite of Mayfair prosper while the poor of St. Giles die. Despite being an aristocratic wife, Ellen Grenfall fights in the bowels of London to save the lives of premature infants and their mothers with her fledgling medical dispensary--a cause close to her heart after her own infant loss.


Eight years earlier, Mark Grenfall joined the Royal Navy to escape his struggling marriage. But when he’s suddenly called by his family to provide an heir, he’s forced to return to London and the woman he abandoned—discovering that she is nothing like the giggling debutante he left behind. The real Ellen is a passionate, wildly intelligent woman pursuing neonatology, and he’s just the man who underestimated her.


Ellen has no use for a husband who abandoned her, especially not with a medical practice to keep her busy, but Mark's attention and support of her medical research sparks a new connection. Yet unresolved grief and a duty to produce an heir that neither feels capable of meeting endangers their fragile reunion.


Ellen must decide if she's willing to open her heart to her husband—and the possibility of new life—and try again.


Genres: Historical Romance

338 pages, ebook

Published July 28, 2026

About the author

Anne Knight has been writing stories since she was three years old. Before she could read or write, she followed her parents and babysitter around, begging them to dictate her words. Eventually she learned the alphabet and began writing herself. She sneaked her first romance novel when she was thirteen, but did not become an avid reader or writer of the genre until after college.

Anne has lived in two countries, studied in three, and traveled through a total of thirty four. Her work history includes ESL teacher, domestic violence advocate, paralegal, and hospital project manager. She lives in Arkansas with her real-life swoony hero, four children, and two cats. The cats are named Cyrano and Ivanhoe.

Reviews

[Nikki (awallflowerreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so easy to fall into, and I was so absorbed in this world. I encourage you to read the CWs and go into this one gently if you have tenderness around infant loss and premature babies. Anne does such a careful job telling this story, and its layers of hope and optimism really got me through the hard bits. Both of these characters experience such tremendous growth, and I think that’s why this second chance works so well. But there were moments of such grief and loss that I had to put this book down for a bit. The emotions are so raw and real here, and it’s a story I think will resonate with so many. But go in gently my friends, and take care of yourselves with this read.

Mark is a pretty unlikeable character at first, but for some reason the way that Anne writes him, I’m still incredibly engaged. He’s pompous and arrogant, and his past thoughts regarding Ellen were beyond insufferable. But he’s also growing, and I love a man who slowly realizes his wrongs and that he’s basically married to a Baddy. Ellen might have been young and flighty eight years ago, but after her husband abandoned her and she lost her baby, she’s been forever changed. Pair that with her years of working with premature infants and women during pregnancy, and she’s nothing like the woman Mark left behind years ago. While he’s back initially with the strict purpose of producing heirs (needing estranged wife for that), he soon becomes intrigued by this new person his wife has grown into. Not to mention the chemistry and sexual tension that’s always been there.

You can tell this one is really well researched, and I appreciate when I feel like I’m learning something in my historicals without it overpowering the plot. This might be Anne’s first full-length novella, but you can tell she’s spent years honing her craft and storytelling. The characters are complex and layered, and this one really felt like a poignant reflection on grief, healing, and ultimately love.

5/5
Thank you to the author for an eARC of this novel.

Marriage in trouble, second chance, ex-Navy officer, premature infant care, grief & healing, blonde hero, scholarly MMC

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Marriage in trouble and the start of neonatal care.

This has sensitive subjects that are really well handled, and I loved learning about the beginnings of neonatal care in Victorian London. The relationship element is a little weak, but the book is enjoyable.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Booksprout for a copy of this novel and this is my freely given opinion.

This was a compelling read that I enjoyed on several levels. It was a historical romance with a second chance at love story, with characters that both grew and matured, but still have to rediscover each other and forge a new relationship with their present selves, while working through the trauma of their past relationship as well. Also, there was quite a bit of history researched and relayed in this story that added so much depth and interest to it, specifically women and women's health care during that period, which I found very interesting and quite enjoyed. Also a complex and intrigung story that involves class/social, and sexual/gender barriers as well.

Mark Grenfall was an immature idiot and a rank coward. His marriage to Ellen was a love match, but also one driven by the desire of a younger son in search of a rich bride, and Mark fell for the beautiful and rich 18 year old, and wed before he was 21. Shortly after, he realized that perhaps he was a bit too hasty and had determined that he had fallen 0ut of love with his young wife, who appeared to not even share anything in common with him. Not being able to face a future with what he has determined to be a shallow, stupid woman, he decided he would just up and leave, joining the Royal Navy, and not telling her until literally his bags were packed and at the door. Of course his wife, Ellen, was not going to understand why her husband was abandoning her and not going to take his exit well.

Eight years is a long time, and much has developed during those years, and when family circumstances force Mark to return, and reconcile with his wife, he is forced to face those changes and reconcile with the past, including his own cowardice, immaturity, and lack of judgement. The woman he discovers is not the woman he thought he left behind, and he is fascinated by the vibrant and intelligent woman Ellen has become, but chastened by the fact that he never bothered to learn enough about her in the past to foster her interests. Ellen was a young woman following the expectations foisted upon her as a debutante, not knowing any better. But when she was abandoned and forced to suffer life changing events without her husband, in her recovery she found a passion and purpose in ensuring other women do not suffer as she had, when she suffered the loss of her child. She has spent years learning the most modern methods of prenatal and post natal care, especially for premature births, determined to save as many babies as she can, with the resources she has, especially amongst the poor in St. Giles. This includes her like-minded friends in the clinic she funds and works in, a retired midwife, and a woman doctor who works tirelessly to care for those living in the stews.

When Mark suddenly reappears in her life, she rejects him outright, but when her family threatens to constrain her radical activities working amonst the poor, she is forced to choose a lesser evil and strikes a deal with her husband which will allow her to continue her work.

Mark takes this new opportunity to learn about Ellen and her interests and finds himself falling for her, but also facing truths about the past that he was able to ignore, when he was comfortably distant from them. Ellen distrusts Mark, with good reason, but when he insists on being a part of her life and work, the barriers she builds start to crack, and she starts to trust and care for him again. But when she discovers that their reconciliation may be motivated on his part by his family's need for an heir, the perceived betrayal of her new found trust may be enough to break them apart for good.

Historical romance with lots of emotion as they both face the past, with Mark facing his mistakes and his losses, and Ellen dealing with his abandonment and her traumatic loss. They need to relearn each other and overcome past broken trust as well, while negotiating a new relationship in their new knowledge of each other.

4.5 stars out of 5

[Jody Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this second chance romance, although to be fair, these two kids barely had their first chance. Mark married Ellen because he needed an heiress to shore up his situation as a younger brother. He soon discovered that the pretty and charming girl he courted doesn't have any there there. They were both young when they married (18 & 20) and Mark in particular acted very immaturely. Instead of interrogating why Ellen acted the way she did (hint, the patriarchy) or talking about his concerns with the marriage, he [forks] off to the Navy, barely telling her his plans on the way out the door.

Here's the thing. He married her for money, he made his bed, and he didn't even really try to lie in it at all. He had the benefit of an education and plans to spend his days just Thinking Big Thoughts, and never stops to wonder how the situation is different for women. There's a scene where he's wincingly recalling an instance of Ellen burbling up with an inrelevant comment that derails a conversation, and the reader can quite clearly suss out that she was putting an end to the offensive statements being made, but he just cannot see past the giggle.

Anyway, this is all relevant because his brother the Baron had an accident that will keep him from fathering children, so he needs to come up with an heir. And he comes back from eight years away (he didn't even see her on his shore leaves!) to find a woman completely changed. Indeed, Ellen is now the England expert on premature births, spurred on by her own tragic pregnancy loss. And she *hates* him. I mean justifiably hates him.

Knight does a marvelous job of showing Mark's realization of what he's lost. Not just the baby, which he felt removed from, "It was Ellen who'd been affected, not him. Ellen deserved sympathy; he didn't need it." but also the opportunity to have gotten to know his bride before acting like an impetuous jerk and ripcording out of the marriage. "Mark thought about how immature and silly Ellen had been at eighteen when they first met, and then how, honestly, he'd been worse at twenty."

TBH, Mark is still the immature one in the relationship. Ellen has carved out a much-needed and important life for herself, making a real contribution and he is still (initially) trying to figure out to follow the same dreams he had as a young man. And pulling the same "leave without talking about it" moves that he did as that young man. These two need to learn to talk about their reckoning of the past and their hopes and fears for the future, so they don't replay the mistakes of the beginning of their marriage.

I love the way Knight has woven in her research about premature births and pregnancy loss in the time. Childbirth was dangerous, and not everyone survivied, and parents were deeply affected, just as they are today. The depiction of the hopes and fears and resentment and anger that are part and parcel of loss and pregnancy after loss was beautifully done here.

The only quibble I have with this book, and its a small one, is the transition from hate to affection and love that Ellen undergoes. Knight does the work to get the characters there, I was just hoping for more somehow. As it is the transition feels a little abrupt, as does their shift to intimacy, and conversations and revelations that maybe needed to come earlier come later. That's life I guess, non-linear when you want a clear path.

On a line level the prose here is just lovely. I have so many kindle highlights of beautiful turns of phrase. Knight is known for her mastery of the novella form, and this is her first full-length book. Listen, did I need the whole villain plot? Not really. But I will say the inclusion of it gave this book a very pleasing old school "lots going on here" feel. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to the author for the arc.

[Kelli Matthews | SighingOurPleasure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark may start as "awful," but he shows up without arrogant swagger or brooding armor to reconnect with his estranged wife, Ellen. He comes back curious about this new, adult version of the giggling debutante he thought he knew — he watches and takes her in before he judges. That sensitivity is enough to let him grow into who he needs to be. He works because of his softness, not despite it.

Mark and Ellen have been estranged for eight years. He initiates their reunion (surprise! Your husband is back!) when he is called home from the Royal Navy to produce an heir. He remembers Ellen as an airheaded 19-year-old who, granted, he was infatuated with, but also embarrassed him as a would-be Oxford scholar. He left her with little notice and was gone during a time of significant loss and subsequent trauma.

To his credit, Mark arrives in London as earnest and sincere, understanding he will need to woo Ellen. But she's furious. And he's baffled: she's not the ridiculous, embarrassing debutante he left behind for the Navy, and he's intrigued by who she's become. His growth over the course of this story is exponential as he comes to terms with (and falls in love with) this brilliant, driven, passionate woman who has replaced the silly teenager he married.

Ellen has built lists, routines and rituals to process the grief she’s had years to sit with. She’s foul-mouthed, angry with Mark and a little lonely. She softens toward Mark as it’s clear he is willing to see her, carry some of her burden and help her protect her peace.

Mark and Ellen are on different clocks. She’s processed her grief, but he hasn’t. Knight writes this grief, and how each of them moves through it, with a care that I could tell came from lived experience even before I read her author's note.

Knight renders each of the characters and the world in sharp detail. St. Giles feels real. As a reader, I can see and feel it as Ellen and her dispensary colleagues help their patients. Thankfully, we are protected from having to smell it. The classism of the women making the donations cuts sharp and serves to remind us that these assumptions still exist today. These details give us more than a marriage reconciliation plot. They give us a whole world.

My one caveat (and it’s small) is that the ending runs a bit chaotic against the pacing of the story up to that point. But the threads all resolve and chaotic and dramatic may be exactly what Mark and Ellen needed to break their stalemate.

I’m a big fan of Knight’s novellas and her ability to tell a full story in a short format. I was so happy to see that style extend to this first full-length story and still deliver expert storytelling. That storytelling is why I couldn’t put this book down.

Mark is one of my favorite MMCs I’ve ever read. His sensitivity and softness don’t feel like a put-on; they’re real and they show up over and over.

[Winnifred D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes: second chance romance; forced proximity; MFC traumatized by a past experience
Steam level: 3
TW: stillbirth

4.5 stars rounded up. Don't let the cover and title fool you; this is not your standard romance novel. I've enjoyed Anne Knight's Victorian England-set HR's in the past (especially "A Girton Girl's Guide to Longing and Loathing") but this book is outstanding in its unflinching honesty regarding childbirth, bringing to light issues that resonate today (the US definitely still has room to improve when it comes to women's healthcare).

I thought I was somewhat aware of the history of childbirth from my own research before I had my second child almost 20 years ago, but my eyes were opened by details the author wove into this storyline. MFC Ellen and her colleagues face challenge after challenge as they give women who live in the slums prenatal and postnatal care, even taking on the role of midwife when forced to. Knight based MFC Ellen's pregnancy experiences on her own, cluing me into a medical condition I never knew existed (it's explained in her notes at the end).

Be aware that there are thoughtfully written but heartrending, and in some cases grim, scenes centering around the topics of poverty, social inequality, and the grief of losing a baby.

I haven't mentioned the central romance much in this review, which I know is rather odd. MMC Mark does have chemistry with Ellen, and the open-door scenes are well written, with more of a natural tone than in a lot of romance novels. Mark starts off as basically a somewhat oblivious cinnamon roll who finds an opening to reunite with the wife he left behind many years ago, thinking that he'll finally produce the heir his family expects him to. Instead, he finally comes to terms with what he lost after he left and what he needs to do to regain his wife's love.

The only real weaknesses of his book emerge when the author tries to follow the usual HR beats. Mark's sudden decision to join the Navy right after he and Ellen marry feels orchestrated. They have so many sweet moments together but then fail to communicate on basic issues. The Third Act Miscommunication had me so frustrated that I almost lowered my star rating to 4, especially when the telegraphed confrontation involving the baddie arose. Although the action was exciting, I felt like it detracted from the more nuanced scenes between the MC's that were a highlight for me. The jump to the epilogue felt a bit jarring.

In the end, though, I had to round up to 5 stars. This book brings up so many important issues involving society's strengths and failings when it comes to childbirth, as well as what it means to trust and love someone through grief. Highly recommend.

This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book. Thanks to the author and Net Galley for this opportunity.

[Bookish.Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5
Anne Knight’s first full length novel surprised me with its depth and sensitivity, offering a well researched historical romance that centres neonatal care, pregnancy loss, and the particular grief carried by mothers. Ellen and Mark’s marriage begins as a youthful, transactional match built on attraction, but his immaturity sends him fleeing to the Navy after only three months, leaving Ellen to face a devastating stillbirth alone. Eight years later he returns, older and in need of an heir, while Ellen has rebuilt her life through work with poor mothers and premature infants. Their reunion is fraught, shaped by who they’ve become and the painful history between them, and the novel traces their uneasy, necessity driven reconciliation with all its sorrows and joy.

What stood out most for me was the detailed way Knight renders the living conditions of the poor in Victorian London. The streets and alleys of St. Giles, the particular hardships faced by women and children, and the stark social divides of the era are all drawn with care. She shows the roles played by the middle and upper classes, both helpful and harmful, and takes on the patriarchy in subtle and overt ways to highlight the constraints placed on women of every class.

The sensitive handling of infant and pregnancy loss is another strength. Having lived through two miscarriages of my own, one difficult birth, and one healthy one, I felt Knight captured the emotional trauma of those experiences with real accuracy. Her portrayal of the aftermath of pregnancy loss, especially for the mother, is thoughtful and compassionate. Learning more about the particular challenges of the Victorian era was fascinating and also underscored both the progress and the stagnation in women’s healthcare today.

There is also a love story here. While I found Mark a bit flat, Knight shows how he has changed and gives him a solid redemption arc with a couple of stumbles before his full atonement. Ellen, too, takes her time to forgive him and accept him as a husband worthy of her trust. I appreciated that she didn’t lower all her defenses at once. The steamy scenes are well written and serve the relationship and the story. The relationship between Mark and Ellen is believable and even though the ending felt a bit rushed, it was a satisfying end to the romance. The title, a but misleading in that it brings to mind a duke, ends up fitting the story really well once the connection is revealed later in the novel.

Aside from some pacing issues, this is a strong first novel, and I’m glad that I supported it on Kickstarter and thank the author for the ARC as well.

[Nanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story Anne has given us with this one. Be sure to read the content warnings as this book may not be for everyone. This story hit really close to home as I had a premature baby, and he would not have lived if he was born during the time of this story. Mark Grenfall has returned home after spending eight years in the navy due to his brother Matthew having a serious accident. Now he must face the young wife he left after only three months of marriage. They were very young and fell in love fast, not really getting to know each other. Mark was embarrassed by her lack of intelligence and her giggle and love of fripperies. So, he ran, not taking the time to talk to her or tell her what he was feeling. Hard, ugly words were said by both. Now he is back and he finds a woman instead of the girl he left, and he doesn’t know her at all. She is smart, helping the under privilege of London by teaching them how to care for premature babies. Ellen can’t believe Mark is back; she thought to never see him again. How she hates him for everything he did and didn’t do during their short marriage! She almost lost her mind after the loss of her daughter, and he did nothing but send flowers and a stupid note! As they are forced to spend time in the same house and slowly begin to talk, ask questions and try to understand what happened and why, neither can trust the other. He now knows how much he hurt her and misunderstood why she acted like she did. He knows he doesn’t deserve her now and has no idea how to fix what he messed up so badly. Ellen has a hard time still hating the man who Mark is now. Showing up to help and protect her and his kindness to the people she works with and those she helps. His support is amazing and she is afraid to trust her feelings. When secrets come to light, can their new relationship last or will it tear them apart? This is a very emotional, heart pounding story with lots of twists and turns. Both of our couples have a lot to overcome and deal with. The author gave us so much insight into the lives of the common people and what they had to do to live without any help or very little from wealthy. As you read the story, you may have to put it down and then come back to it. I have read over 100 books so far this year and this one is the most emotional and heartfelt I have read. It will stay with you for a long while. I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it. Don’t miss this one; it is an amazing story.

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Thank you to Anne Knight for an ARC of this book!

The title of this book is very apt because for the first half of the book, Mark really was awful. But then, he wasn't so bad.

I really enjoyed Ellen as a main character. She talk what will undoubtably be one of the worst moments of her life and channelled that anger and sadness into doing something good for people who are less of fortunate than she is. She was such an incredible person and her strongest traits were those that were diminished the most by her family. I really enjoyed that she resisted Mark and rightly kept him at a distance until they could prove that he had changed.

In the flashbacks and the memories, you can tell that Mark was a very immature man. While his years at sea changed him, they weren't necessary for better or worse. It's not until he comes face to face with Ellen again that he can truly begin to understand the devastation he'll left behind and how his casual cruelty affected her so much. In one sense I felt a bit sorry for him, because he was young and he didn't know what to do but on the other hand Ellen was the same age and was completely alone. I think Anne did a very creditable job over redeeming Mark by the end of the book. It was really important for him to be interested in Ellen and her medical work. By the end he became a champion of her which was such a stark contrast to the dynamic of their relationship when it ended years ago.

The past versions of Mark and Ellen didn't work together. They were too young, too naive and (in Mark's case) too egotistical. However the newer versions of them were believable as a couple in love and you wanted to root for them by the end of the book. While Ellen changed so much and grew so much as a person in the intervening years, Mark's main growth took place over the course of this book. He was the one who really needed to open his eyes and appreciate what was in front of him. There was definitely chemistry between the two characters and it became clearer once they began to trust each other more.

What is spoke to deal with a couple of heavy topics, I did think they were handled quite sensitively. At times it wasn't necessarily an easy book to but it was worth it I think in the end because those moments were very defining for Mark and Ellen's relationship.

There are plenty of stories that can be told from this particular universe (the nurse and the brother come to mind !!) and I hope Anne Knight continues to explore them.

[Unapologetic Termagant · Rating 4 out of 5]

His Awful Grace is a wonderful example of the amazing things the historical romance genre has been doing lately; it's a smart, obviously well researched and well written book that isn't just a bunch of tropes in a raincoat and actually takes an unflinching look at how truly terrible life sometimes was in an era before we had all the amenities and options we now take for granted, while still delivering a beautiful love story. Honestly, the contemporary romance girlies who vehemently refuse to engage with reality and just want mindless escapism probably wouldn't be able to handle this.

While the storyline focusing on maternal and infant care was fascinating and heartbreaking, which I was expecting, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well Anne Knight portrayed the often brutal business of marriage in Victorian England and how she dared to make her hero look pretty bad in that sense. While Mark was a fundamentally decent man, when the book focuses on his and Ellen's courtship and early days of marriage, he does not really win many points with his brutal assessment of his wife's intellect. Ellen, on the other hand, was just playing the role she'd been indoctrinated into believing she was supposed to play, that of a vapid, simpering beauty who'd never challenge the Oxford scholar's ego and sense of superiority. When the book opens, they've been estranged for eight years, and Mark needs to woo back a wife he no longer recognizes, because this new Ellen is a competent healthcare provider with a strong sense of self and a very valid chip on her shoulder. This was the best part of the book for me, seeing Ellen kick ass through her flabbergasted husband's eyes and seeing them rebuild their bond. The medical aspect was also very interesting and the book got pretty bleak at some points, which I appreciate. As I said, this type of historicals is what I consider the best in the genre: a smart book focusing on women and a social justice issue that is still relevant today, paired with a swoonworthy, explicit romance.

The only thing that I had issues with was that the dialogue did sound a touch too modern at moments, with some, frankly, annoying Americanisms, but I did get used to it and it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. Also, would it be too much to expect the story of Mark's brother and That Nurse? The setup, achieved through a single letter, was amazing.

Huge thanks to Anne Knight for the ARC.

[Fanosse23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

am an avid reader of historical romances, and second-chance love stories hold a special place in my heart—especially those involving married couples. There’s something deeply moving about two people who have already pledged themselves to one another finding the courage to try again. In today’s world, it often feels like people give up too quickly, but in this story, the couple fights through tremendous obstacles, and the author masterfully immerses us in every emotion they feel along the way.

This book is far from a typical historical romance. While the couple’s journey back to each other is beautifully told, the story’s deeper themes carry even greater weight. It is clear that the author approached this subject with extensive research and a genuine passion for portraying it authentically. If you are sensitive to themes of infant loss and premature births, I recommend reviewing the trigger warnings before diving in. Anne handles these delicate topics with grace, honesty, and an undercurrent of hope that guides you through the heart-wrenching moments.

Mark and Ellen’s second-chance journey is raw, emotional, and profoundly human. Their love story is filled with misunderstandings, setbacks, and the kind of mistakes that leave lasting scars, yet each misstep leads to growth. Watching Mark evolve—facing the pain of his past, understanding what he lost eight years ago, and striving to make amends—is incredibly rewarding. Ellen’s strength and resilience after rebuilding her life are inspiring; she is compassionate, independent, and selfless, even amid her grief.

The book does not shy away from the complexities of mourning, the fear of creating another heir while grappling with devastating loss, and the fragile hope that persists even in the darkest times. There are scenes that are heartbreaking, yet the journey never feels hopeless. The exploration of grief is tender and authentic, and Mark’s emotional awakening is one of the most satisfying that I have read in a long time.

This is a powerful, moving story that lingers in your heart long after you close the book. Anne’s ability to balance intense emotion with ultimately uplifting hope is a testament to her extraordinary talent as a storyteller. She has created a second-chance romance that is as unforgettable as it is profound—an amazing story!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a free Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Soha Amer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in expecting a standard second-chance Victorian romance. I did not expect to get my heart completely dismantled by a 19th-century neonatologist in a green dress.

London, 1887. Ellen Grenfall is not waiting prettily in Mayfair for her husband to come home. After losing her own infant, and after eight years of an abandoned marriage, she has built something radical: a medical dispensary in St. Giles for premature babies and their mothers. She is brilliant, furious, grieving, and completely uninterested in being rescued.

Then Mark Grenfall walks back in. Royal Navy officer, estranged husband, the man who left. His family sent him home to produce an heir. What he finds is not the giggling debutante he married. It is a woman who has become formidable without him.

What sold me: Knight does not let Mark off easy, and she does not magically fix Ellen either. This is a real grovel, earned page by page. He reads her research. He stands guard at the dispensary doors. He learns how to be useful instead of just being sorry. And Ellen, god, Ellen. She is allowed to be angry and ambitious and terrified of trying again, all at once. The medical history here is phenomenal – you can feel the research, without it ever reading like a lecture.

The central conflict – two grieving people being told they owe the world an heir when they are not sure they can survive losing another child – wrecked me. It is tender and devastating and ultimately so hopeful.

It is slow burn in the best way. When they finally touch again, it means something.

Not a light, frothy Bridgerton romp. This is closer to The Essex Serpent meets Evie Dunmore, with actual scalpels. If you want a heroine in STEM who is taken seriously, a husband who grovels correctly, and a love story built on respect first, read this.

I cried three times. Would do it again.

Content warnings: infant loss / stillbirth (backstory, discussed throughout), premature birth / infant medical distress, grief, marital estrangement, pressure to conceive, class disparity / poverty and medical neglect

Tropes: Second chance / estranged marriage, He falls first, Medical heroine, Victorian London, Slow burn, Grief and healing, Found family

[D Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this and had never read anything by the author, so requested and received it on Netgalley.

I think I just found a new favorite author. This book was extraordinarily well written. First, the amount of knowledge/research about neonatology in the 19th century that the author did was extensive. Then she added in a real, believable story that, in a word, captivated.

ODC starts out having been separated for 8 years due to a marriage in which they were too young and did not know each other well. Mark is quickly turned off by his wife's apparent stupidity, and Ellen is baffled as to why he suddenly falls out of love and decides to leave for the navy, on notice so short as to be insulting. What Mark does not know is that within months, she endures a tragedy which traumatizes her for years, and she feels driven to help other women facing her situation. Mark, now halfway across the world, is seemingly uninterested and uncaring about her tragedy, adding insult to injury.

Mark comes back, needing an heir, and discovers that Ellen was neither so silly nor so uneducated as he thought. He realizes in order to win her, he will have to do some major groveling.

I loved, loved, loved these characters. Mark may have been a complete arse in the beginning, but he knows it, and has a deep desire to be a better man to his wife. After 8 years, Ellen has moved on to what is essentially a career, and his words do not mean much to her. How they are able to build trust and love again was a pleasure to read, and during that, I learned a ton about early pregnancy and birth as of 1887. When Mark finally faces his loss, I had to have the tissue nearby. I am glad the author put a warning at the beginning. These themes are a bit triggering to me, as I had a high-risk pregnancy that affected me in negative ways. I needed to know before I dived into the book. The author tells her own story of at the end of the book.

The only thing I can say is READ IT. This is a touching story, but the realism was something we do not ordinarily find in HR. I can't wait to read some of her other books. An easy 5 stars. I can think of no negatives, it was just so well done.

Spice level-4/5

[Milly Dashwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Awful Grace is a feat. I admire Anne Knight’s courage in exploring subjects that are deeply personal and vitally important. Many readers, myself included, turn to romance for escape. His Awful Grace is absolutely a romance, but it is not an escape. It is, perhaps, something just as valuable. It is an exploration of what love and devotion ask of us. 💛

At times, it feels unimaginable that Ellen and Mark could ever reconcile. That is precisely the point. Knight never asks the reader to overlook the damage that has been done. Instead, she patiently builds two fully realized people. Their failures and grief make their journey toward one another feel deeply earned.

As a woman and a mother, my heart broke for Ellen, and I suspect hers is a journey that will stay with me. Through Ellen’s work in London, Knight also accomplishes something remarkable. She invites us to consider the history of women’s health and maternal care, along with the importance of bodily autonomy. Historical fiction lets us examine the present through the lens of the past, and this novel sharpened my understanding of conversations that remain painfully relevant today. For those who believe we have come a long way, this story is a reminder that we still have a long way to go.

When I finished the novel, I was left with something unexpectedly hopeful. Let me state explicitly that this love story is worth the journey. It is a testament to enduring loyalty and the weight of vows. More than anything, it celebrates the extraordinary resilience of people who choose one another again and again.

Readers should check the content warnings and care for themselves first. However, I also hope we continue to make room for romances like this one. Many of us come to romance looking for escape, and there is real comfort in that, but books like His Awful Grace remind us that romance can also invite us to grow. They deepen our compassion, challenge our assumptions, and send us back to the world seeing it more clearly.

This book releases on July 28th. 💛 I want to thank the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. 💛

[readmeregency · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, the ANGST. Anne Knight has been a favourite of mine for her novellas, and now she's blessed us with her debut novel, which lives up to the hype I gave it in my head. In the content note, she encourages the reader to take breaks if needed, to breathe, and this was the first point at which I knew I was in for an emotionally intense ride. My friends, I was glued to this.

Mark has returned home after 8 years of estrangement from his wife. He remembers her as a giggly, vacuous young woman, and has to hype himself up to dedicate himself to begetting an heir with her. Upon their reunion, he quickly realises she's not the same woman he married, and he has to execute the world's most impressive grovel if he wants any chance at an amicable relationship. Ellen never wanted to see Mark again (with good reason), and finds fulfilment through her work with pre-term infants. When Mark starts actually behaving like a supportive spouse, she finds herself reconnecting with him despite herself.

I love how histrom delivers the heaviest hitting estranged spouse plots. If this was modern day, they'd just break up and move on. Unfortunately it's the 1880's, and they're married and bound together forever, so instead of separating he just joins the navy and ships off to another continent. Ellen and Mark are so full of anguish, you can practically feel the tension leaking from the pages. I was constantly holding my breath, and my chest physically ached at times for their pain. They thoroughly earned their HEA, and emotionally destroyed me in the process. Having held my own babies, Ellen's journey in particular affected me, and was written with effective and thoughtful purpose.

Ellen and Mark's story is a painful, beautiful exploration of reconciliation and redemption.  It doesn’t shy away from tough situations or emotions, but dives right in to devastating effect. What a cracker debut!

[Alexandra G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me think and feel, on a very personal level, because neither my son, nor me would be here if it wasn’t for the hard work and perseverance of women like Ellen in the past. They laid a solid foundation, and we’ve made progress ever since, but we’ve still got a long way to go.

Ellen & Mark.
She was a girl raised to be the perfect flibbertigibbet to attract a title. He was a baron’s spare, a Greek scholar with big dreams and no funds. They married young – too young – and barely 3 months later he fell out of love with her and fled into the Navy.
When he learned their daughter was stillborn, he was half a world away.
Now, 8 years later, duty called him home. His family needs an heir. He hadn’t expected a warm welcome, but neither did he expect his wife’s transformation into a devoted self-taught neonatal nurse, running around the city’s slums, tirelessly fighting for women and their babies.

She runs on anger, grief and grit. He’s in awe, regretting his impulsive foolishness.
Loosing their daughter was her tragedy, until reality brutally opened his eyes – and yes, this story was brave and unapologetic, not shying away from uncomfortable truths and injustices.
No fluff – well, a little, there are some truly gorgeous tender moments like Christmas, the picture frame and Mark showing up, supporting her every single day – but raw, honest and very emotional. Him grovelling for dear life because he’s fallen in love with his wife all over again, realising just how royally he f’d up. She wary, still very much hurt, struggling to reconcile present and past. Then there are the women and infants who’s lives Ellen touches, the flipside of a devastating end, haughty charity, misinterpretations and impossible choices. And all of it under the shadow of their personal loss, her fear and his struggle to find his own path forward. Their happy ending is one heck of an uphill fight, yet so incredibly rewarding!
This book was simply magnificent and left its mark in more ways than one!

[Cerian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark falls head over heels in love with his young, beautiful heiress wife when he’s 20, but their marital bliss is short lived when Mark starts to view Ellen as a vapid, giggly girl he’s shackled himself to for life. He abruptly decides to start a career in the Navy, abandoning his heartbroken new wife. Eight years later and Mark is back and wants an heir - unfortunately for him, Ellen isn’t the girl he left behind and the woman he reunites with, well… she hates him.

The arrogance and presumption of Mark at the start of the book made me want to deliver my own slap. The way he looked down on Ellen and dismissed her infuriated me. Thank god for character growth. He does his own fair share of growing up in the years they’re separated and on his return, he quickly realises what a treasure of a woman he’s married to and resolves to do whatever he can to make things right between them.

Ellen has endured so much heartbreak - her husband abruptly leaves her, and then, she suffers a devastating child loss. But through all of that, Ellen emerged strong and compassionate. She devotes her time and efforts to helping expectant mothers and new babies in the poorest parts of London, and becoming an expert in neonatal care. Ellen needs time to learn to trust Mark again and the slow lowering of her walls was paced well through the story.

There’s no denying that there’s a fierce chemistry between them, but that was never their problem. The journey to their reconciliation leads them to confronting their past, processing their grief and to truly considering what a future together could be. I loved how Mark was in awe of Ellen’s work and was supportive of her.

Though I found some of the elements towards the latter part of the book to be unnecessary and Mark’s character growth took a bit of an unexpected dip, the book was clearly very well-researched and the glimpses into maternity and neonatal character of the late 19th century added to the emotional complexity of the story. The themes of grief and loss were heartbreaking to read at times, but this was also a delicately crafted story of healing and hope.

*I received a review copy from the author - this is my honest opinion.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw Anne Knight’s first full length novel was coming up I grabbed it. Her novellas are little gems so I was keen to see her work expanded.

I was not disappointed. His Awful Grace was fantastic!

It is the story of Mark and Ellen, married eight years earlier and estranged for much of that time.

Mark had alot of work to do to redeem himself. Young and stupid when he married Ellen he ran away to the navy to escape.

Now that he’s back, the yearning is top notch as he realises his big mistakes (yes, plural) and falls back in love with his wife.

I loved Ellen’s character. She is fierce and independent, while Mark was away, and has built herself into an expert in caring for premature babies. She really wants nothing to do with him, but circumstances force them together.

The book includes a beautiful and tender exploration of grief. And Mark’s awakening was excellent.

In addition to the central romance, we had a great exploration of the plight of mothers and their babies in the poorest parts of London. This story doesn’t flinch from the desperate and devastating lives of people in the slums. It also deals with the importance of extended family and neighbours in caring for new mothers, dealing with “do gooders” donating rubbish to charities, and the friction between midwives and the male doctors encroaching and discounting their skills.

Take care with the content warnings on this book.

I received an advance copy of this book at no charge. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You must snatch up the joy where you can and cling to it for dear life.”

I often have a hard time summing up what a story is about in one sentence. But to put it succinctly, this quote from the book does just that. It’s not said mildly and Mark and Ellen go through the wringer. Yet for them to find happiness again together after being estranged, they had to cling to the joy where they could.

After reading 90 books so far this year, this is my favorite.

Anne doesn’t shy away from the hard and emotional themes in the story so be sure to check the CW at the beginning. The research and care she took with the characters and themes shows though and makes this such a memorable read.

I loved how much of Mark’s point of view we got and it contributed to how much I was able to see his growth and root for them. He knows early on how much of a hole he’s dug over the last eight years and intently works to mend their rift. He also seeks to understand her and is appreciative of her work which understandably goes a long way with Ellen.

She doesn’t let him off the hook easily and there was some misunderstanding on Ellen’s part at different times. Which helped to not have everything one sided and show Ellen is not perfect either.

I loved this book. I’ve read most of Anne’s novellas and have enjoyed all of them. This is her first full-length novel and it was so wonderful.

There are three open door encounters and a fade to black scene.

I received an advance reader copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man this story really has a lot packed into it that if I could I would give it a 10 star and this is a story I will definitely be adding to a favorite from Anne Knight.

An arrogant second son who comes back from the Navy to find out the woman he left behind has been through more than he can ever imagine and she isn't ready to even look at him and it's definitely his fault. But one thing is for sure he isn't the same awful person that she knew from before..

These two characters will go through so many ups and downs together with her trying to figure out how to manage with the fact that he is back in her life and he isn't the same person and that this version of him is even better than the one from before and she isn't sure how to guard herself from it or even if she wants to, and he isn't certain how to handle this much stronger smarter version of her other than he can't do without her.

I just can't say enough about this one.. it's filled with tears of laughter and sadness, then there's such a beautiful ending.. that you can't help but feel happy for both of the characters..

I can't wait to read the next book from Anne Knight.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the author. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Kate Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is far from your typical fairy-tale historical romance. Instead, it's a beautifully written and well-researched story that explores the lives of ordinary people rather than focusing solely on the ton. The attention to historical detail really brings the setting to life and makes the characters' struggles feel authentic.

There are some genuinely heartbreaking moments, and our hero, Mark, has a great deal to make up for. I thoroughly enjoyed this second-chance romance and watching Mark grow as he comes to understand exactly what he left behind eight years earlier—and everything he missed during that time.

The emotional journey is compelling as Mark tries to convince Ellen to hear him out and give him another chance. After everything that has happened over those missing eight years, the question isn't just whether he can win her back, but whether she can ever truly trust him again.

This steamy romance is rich in historical detail and explores themes of love, regret, duty, loss and forgiveness. I also appreciated how it reflects the changing times, with women gaining greater opportunities for education and more freedom to make their own choices. Altogether, it made for an emotional, thought-provoking, and thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rather intense tale. Although it has a happy ending, the journey is full of heartache and uncertainty. Ellen and Mark were in love and married young. A disillusioned and immature Mark enlisted in the Navy and did not return to his wife for eight years….eight years! He was summoned home because his older brother had had an accident that left him unable to procreate, leaving Mark with the responsibility of producing an heir for the barony. Needless to say, Ellen was not thrilled to see him. Saying that they had a lot to work out in their relationship was an understatement. Meanwhile, Ellen had been working with Dr. Amelia Hart in a poor section of town, usually assisting the families of premature babies. So the subject of her work is heavy and emotional, as is most of this story. There are some humorous moments, as well as steamy ones, and eventually Ellen and Mark establish a meaninful relationship. This is a well written story that hijacks your emotions and showcases subjects that are less than lovely. However, it is a worthwhile read and leaves you grateful for modern medicine.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shiney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it's not popular with many people, but estranged husband-and-wife historical romances getting another chance at their happy-ever-after really warm my cockles. More than any former lovers reuniting or another form of the second-chance romance, being married raises the stakes in the need for redemption because, come on, these are two people who have tied their fates to each other for life--at least in the legal and reputation sense.

The spouses Glenfall married young, and they were one of those who really found their person early in life. Only, because Mark and Ellen were barely out of their teens when they got together, they really didn't have the measure of each other nor tested their mettle as a couple. They reunite after eight years--Mark, having already been in the Navy, and Ellen, finding her own vocation in healthcare serving the slums.

At first, I found their parting and reunion somewhat frivolous. Or maybe the better way to describe it is not sufficiently, intrinsically, passionately motivated. Mark left the Navy and initiated coming back home to Ellen because he was expected to produce an heir after his elder brother's accident sterilizes him. Ellen offered to share a home, because her parents had restricted her in the practice of her profession. And then, it just revealed that Mark applied to the Navy on a whim because three months into their marriage, he fell out of love and thought his wife stupid.

But this is where Anne Knight reveals her subtle genius: when there's no dramatic nor compelling reason for the state of the relationship, there's only the pure sentiment of love and the whims of timing. Through the unraveling of events as Mark and Ellen start to live together again, there's the growth of understanding and the recognition of the loved one, in all their hopes and dreams, the pains they've lived through, and the way they had been, were, and could still be loved.

His Awful Grace is both sweet and sensual, and is all I've ever wanted in a historical romance.

I received an early copy from the author. This review is made voluntarily, honestly, and for free.

[Theresa25 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second chance at love. Ellen and Mark got married too young and everything Ellen did, Mark couldn’t stand. So, he decides to leave and join the British Navy. After six years he returns. In that time, Ellen had miscarried their baby and barely survived mentally. She’s full of hate for Mark not only for leaving on short notice, but also for not returning when she needed him the most, when she puts their daughter to rest. Six years later, Mark has returned a changed man. He is set on winning his wife back and having the marriage they should have had in the beginning. Except Mark is keeping a secret from Ellen, that could destroy everything if she finds out.

This was a nice story about a couple trying to reconnect and save their marriage from past mistrust and difficulties. I thought Mark did a great job in trying to win back his wife’s love and trust. He did everything he could to make their marriage work this time, except for keeping one big secret from her which if she finds out might destroy her all over again. This story deals with a difficult topic of babies not living for long once they are born and the difficulties it brings to families. Very well written story.

[Ridzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netgally review. Everything that historical fiction should be.

Yays 👍
This book is simply exceptional in it's delivery of what a redemption story looks like. Wrap that up in an absolutely boss FMC, real London of the 1880's not just the rosy bits, lots of grovelling, strong secondary characters and amongst the best researched HR books in the market. You've got something that doesn't just deliver on the romance, it does, in all the good ways. This also delivers it in a strong narrative that never falters, whether its facing loss, cruelty or helplessness. The story takes you through all of this into hope, forgiveness and happy endings even in the midst of adversity. MMCs character is so believable, he is an idiot, not an arsehole but shows up and continues to do do.

Nays 👎
Can't find a fault with this one.

Verdict 🪒
READ IT NOW!! This one has the feels, steam, romance without loosing its soul to shimmery gowns, balls and house parties HR is riddled with. Everything you want in a HR but wrapped in a real story not fantasy.

[bookofmandalore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an eARC for an honest review.

There’s something incredibly cathartic about this story. I don’t dabble in historical romance often, but I’m so glad I did for this book.

Mark and Ellen have a beautiful second chance romance that pays off so well in the end. I grieved with them, I laughed with them, and grew to really love them by the end of the story. Despite wanting to knock some sense into them at times.

Marriage is often not easy, but if you find the right person it can all be so worth it. Mark and Ellen are a shining example of that concept.

They both made their share of mistakes, but with each mistake came a moment of growth for both of them. There were many emotional moments that had me sorting through my feelings.

I highly recommend this book if you’re in need of some deep healing and joy.

Heed the trigger warnings before diving in. This story does cover heavy topics about pregnancy, stillbirths, and infant loss.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1887 London, after a long absence, aristocrat Mark is surprised to find his estranged wife Ellen running a medical dispensary for premature infants. Despite past hurts, their connection reignites, but unresolved grief and the pressure to produce an heir threaten their reunion.

Gritty and emotional, this novel focuses a lot of attention on grief and socioeconomic disparity. The characters are well-drawn and relatable, though the romance seems almost secondary to Ellen's activism. It's a well-written and heartbreaking story.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Millie Bowker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SUCH an impactful read!
Perfectly researched & incredibly well executed I am absolutely obsessed with Ellen & Mark's story - a true second chance romance!
Ellen has definitely got a strong head on her shoulders and is reluctant to allow Mark back into her life after his previous escapades but oh how worth it it is when she does!!

From start to finish this book totally hit the mark (pardon the pun!) but please check the trigger warnings before reading!

Another 5 star read!

Thank you to the author for the ARC - all opinions are my own :)

[NelleRenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a second chance story. The MMC married for money and then joined the navy for 8 years. Now he comes home because his older brother needs an heir. Now he finds a different wife. The FMC was young when they met and had been trained on how a debutant is to act. Now she has lost a baby and become an expert on premature births and pregnancies. She is not willing to take her husband back and give up her calling. I enjoyed the story and watching the MMC realize what he gave up and trying to become the husband his wife needs. It is an emotional read at times.

[Sam-TRN · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an early copy from Anne Knight’s kickstarter.

Why did I love this?
• I am an Anne Knight stan
• I am a SUCKER for the
ANNE KN
"marriage in crisis" trope, especially after a period of estrangement.
• I am a big fan of "women in
STEM, but make it historical".
• A redemption arc to beat all redemption arcs; Mark had to show tremendous growth to win Ellen's forgiveness.
• I relate to that kind of loss and grief, on a personal level.

The dialogue felt a bit too modern at times but it didn’t impact the flow that much.