Seventeen years ago, amidst a firestorm of tragedy and betrayal, Genevieve left Paris behind forever. Since then, she’s remade herself as the formidable Lady Grantham, a fixture on London’s social scene. Years of arranging advantageous matches between Europe’s cash-strapped nobility and the New Money heiresses she trains in her finishing school have left her jaded and disillusioned. Love has become the enemy.
When the mysterious and handsome Lord Wrexham, unknown in London Society, arrives in town, the carefully ordered life Genevieve has built for herself begins to crumble. It seems the time has come to confront everything she left behind in Paris—and everyone.
Amanda has loved romance since she read that very first Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novel at fifteen. After a long detour into a career as a costume designer in theatre, she’s found her way back to romance, this time as a writer.
A native Floridian, Amanda transplanted to New York City many years ago and now considers Brooklyn home, along with her husband, daughter, two cats, and nowhere near enough space.
2.5/5. Short and rushed on account of it being a novella. MCs met in Paris 17 years earlier, she the daughter of a courtesan, he a would-be artist. They fell in lust and love within mere hours of acquainting themselves with one another. After bedding (sans protection I have to add), they proceeded to plan their future together and procreation, all before any talk of marriage, but hey, just call me old-fashioned, because neither one of them thought it an issue that he was not her first lover. For a girl who didn't want to be like her mother, she was certainly quite liberal sexually. In any case, their affair ended as quickly as it started 48 hours later. Personal disasters struck simultaneously and pulled them apart. Now that their paths cross once more, neither bear much resemblance to the young people they once were. She has reinvented herself as Lady Grantham, respected London matchmaker for American heiresses and he is now an earl and widowed father of two young children looking to marry again.
Personally, I find novellas way too truncated and lacking in emotional depth compared to full length novels. This in particular is oversimplified because the limited pages are divided between past and present. The early youthful romance was way too rushed and unconvincing and without a solid background, it was hard to care and get emotionally invested in their second chance romance.
What a perfect angsty sweet second chance story for Lady Gen. Archie is perfect and swoony. I really enjoyed the backwards fling to Paris in the crazy time of the Montmartre artists, and as always, Amanda Weaver manages to give her heroines personality and agency while showing how frustrating the patriarchal Regency era was for women. So glad to have this story in the series, but I hope it's not the last!
I really enjoyed this book even though it was heartbreaking at the same time. There were no real villains here - just two people who had the misfortune of fate being against them. Gen and Archie meet again decades after falling in love in Paris. But they are both very different people. She is aloof and proper and he is cold and detached, a recent widower. Or so they come across to each other. We finally come to understand that circumstances and the time apart from their true love have made them this way. My heart broke for both them but especially Gen, as she comes to realize how terrible is the life she is leading. When he told her about the painting he had bought with her in it, I cried as well. It's a short novel and you don't have to read the previous ones. It took some time for me to warm up to the characters but the FB's really helped me connect as I came to understand why their present selves were so different from their previous ones.
Sigh. I love Amanda's writing. If you've read the three Grantham Girls novels you must have been a little bit curious, as was I, about Genevieve Grantham. I kept thinking to myself "why the hell would she train all those girls but not find a husband for herself?" And now I know. This companion novella is perfect. It's a little sad and angsty, and a lot engaging. It's got some swoony parts and there is one fabulous happy ending. This is your next 1-click, guys. Right after you 1-click the first 3 novels.
I’m usually kind of meh about companion novellas. They tend to be too short to really add anything, and the stories can seem abrupt and the romance moves too quickly to be enjoyable. But I LOVED this one. The story is fleshed out very well, and for a character who didn’t have a ton of development in the main series, Gen was very compelling. I enjoyed the split timeline and the way it all weaved together. Overall I definitely recommend this book! I also really liked the main series and wish this author had more HRs!
Having read the entire series in order I can safely say that this series is absolutely worth the time. I am just sad it's over. I sill say tho that Victoria's story remains my favorite. I enjoyed each on its own. This author is new to me but I will check out her other works after this wonderful series
If you've read the other Lady Grantham books, this story is nothing like them. The book is the backstory of the current Lady Grantham, with a delayed LAFS ending. The transitions are choppy, but it's still an enjoyable read.
Love Weaver's characters-they are always engaging. It's a novella so the story was a little rushed but that was okay. I definitely had enough time to feel invested. Beautiful and a little angsty.
What a great way to end The Grantham Girls series! I particularly loved the scenes in Paris, their historical accuracy and how they evoked the works of artists from that time. Loved learning how Genevieve became Lady Grantham despite the tragedies that befell her. I liked Archie, he was sweet and a good man. Amanda Weaver will always be an instant one-click buy for me!
Not feeling this right now. There's some tropes and character choices that I don't really care for. I might return to this at some point, but I'm not feeling it right now.