Just because sapphic historical fictions, or rather, historical romances are SO hard to come by , this one gets a pass for its overly silly and convoluted plot. It's the kind of book you don't need your brain for but it wasn't bad, you know? I liked the characters and their development, they were different but were still good together. Overall, it's fine, and great for historical romance fans, especially those looking for sapphic reads. 3.5 stars

This story felt like it was written in two very distinct parts. With the plot moving faster in the first half, and the second part a tad quieter.

The Accidental Bride is my first Jane Walsh novel, but I’m definitely eager to read more of her work.

An advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review

Although I don't often read lesbian historical fiction, I don't mind doing so occasionally. These books usually surprise me in a good way, as they did in this instance.

One of the protagonists in this story has a passion for botany, which adds to her sexuality the lack of support and credibility given to women scientists by the society of the time. The plot of this story is convoluted but humorous, and it is simple to understand how lesbians at that time had to behave and act in order to lead more or less full and satisfying lives.
This novel actually makes me think of the Wallflowers series, but it lacks the two elements that, in my opinion, make that series (or at least the first half of it) outstanding: an equal emphasis on platonic ties along with romantic relationships, and a splash of drama. For my tastes, there was a little bit too much dialogue in this one. There is nothing wrong with two loves discussing their emotions, but occasionally it seems like each of these people saw the same therapist.

4.5/5 stars.

This was my very first time reading something by this author and it was a great, I had a great time while reading this book.

What I loved the most is that plot wise, it was very unique and new to me. I don’t want to spoil too much so I’ll just say that the second part of the book was so interesting and entertaining. I could not stop reading it because I was so invested in Thea and Grace’s story.

I was a little nervous when I started this because I hadn’t read the first book of this series, but to my surprise, one can read this book as standalone without being confused.

I really did love this. The story was entertaining, the characters were endearing, and the writing was incredible. I would definitely recommend this!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

What can I say about Jane Walsh that I haven't already said? Her books are perfect and everyone should read them. There is so much hope, joy, and love in this series, and this this book in particular, and I feel so lucky to get to read it!

Thanks to Bold Strokes and NetGalley for this ARC.

A madcap race across Britain, two weddings, a secret pregnancy, and a lot of plants.

The next book in the Spinsters of Inverley series follows Miss Grace Martin, lady’s companion. Grace has one goal, get her charge Lady Edith engaged and down the aisle to the heir of the Martin family. With a proposal in sight she lets her eyes stray to the Martin’s wild, wayward daughter Thea, home from London to convince her parents not to cut her off. When Lady Edith elopes with the wrong brother, the women team up in an effort to stop the wedding and protect both their secrets.

This book is told in two parts, the first taking part on the journey to stop Lady Edith’s wedding and the second following our main couple as they progress their relationship. Forcing Thea and Grace to learn how to communicate and live as a unit, as a couple. Thea is beautifully smart, a botanist fighting to be seen as more than a woman, her words are as sharp as the thorns on her plants. Whereas Grace lives up to her name, you get the feeling she was born to be the lady of the house, although she has no want of a husband.

I enjoyed Thea and Grace’s story and hope we will see them in the next Invernley book.

This has a clever idea, which I'll not reveal here, no spoilers. That was enjoyable. I did feel like this book was in two distinct parts, which required an adjustment. I almost wanted "Book 1" and "Book 2" sections. The first has higher tension and even an extended chase sequence. The second part is quieter, domestic differences and adjustment.

I never really felt close to the characters. They were a bit more "types" than individuals. In the same way that Grace and Thea are having trouble knowing each other, I was at arms-length from both of them

It was nice to have a science-oriented woman, though I much prefer Olivia Wilde's [book:The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics|42117380].

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of the accidental bride. This was such a dreamy romance novel. I definitely need to find more from this author.

I'm not usually one for historical sapphic romances but woohoo did Walsh's work in this story really pull me in and entertained the heck out of me.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Who knew a pack of 13 pins would become the lucky charm?
Grace and Thea become a fun and loving couple, even though both are very insecure, not only with each other, but more so with themselves. I thought this would be the typical "lack of communication" romance novel, but it goes deeper. There is so much past emotional abuse. It's no wonder they are insecure. Thea is summoned home because her father is threatening to stop giving her the allowance she relies on for everything, but has to sleep in a small guestroom instead of her own bedroom. Lady "Aunt" Harriet is threatening to ruin Grace's possibilty for future employment within the peerage by blackmailing her to be her cousin Edie's companion for the season, but not allowing Grace to allow Edie know they're cousins. This sounds confusing and possibly spoiling the novel, but the theme is laid out within the first few pages. There are a couple of times I wanted to yell at both Thea and Grace, but understood why each made their decisions. Ironically, the first time they're together happens to be in Thea's childhood bedroom that Grace was given for her to use. It's also where they have their first encounter, an unplanned mental and physical release from each of their circumstances.
There are quite a few amusing as well as teaching events all throughout the novel. While chasing an eloping couple (whom I adored) to Gretna, Grace and Thea begin their relationship, even though they both have their own reason to stop the elopement...which neither reveals to the other. This is one of many examples of their vulnerability, keeping their shields up for protection.
I did enjoy the various good/bad luck charms Grace acquires. They fit well, and weren't just thrown in for no reason. They helped further the plot. There were a few surprises I did not expect.
Grace was definitely a people pleaser, while Thea wore her fear of rejection like it was her entire wardrobe. Untangling their own issues was a full-time job in itself for the author. Yet, she was able to do so, and bring the couple the HEA.
There are a few liberties taken regarding historical accuracy, not too egregious.
I would read this novel again, and there aren't very many I actually come back to after the first time.
This is definitely a mature novel, as the two main characters are both women. There are many graphic, but tasteful FF scenes.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book made me fall in love with sapphic regency romances all over again. Words cannot describe how much I loved this book, but I’ll try. (warning, this review is literally just going to be me gushing about what I loved).
Firstly, Thea is so smooth and charismatic and charming???? I was literally blushing and kicking my feet every time she hit on Grace.
The ROMANCE. Y’all. The romance is heart stopping. Swoon worthy! The spice is top tier too 🤭
They accidentally get married about half way through the book and the rest of the book is them adjusting to married life and really becoming a couple, which sounds boring in theory but somehow wasn’t at all.
Which leads me to my next point, during that part of the book, a major part of it is about their communication with each other. I have never read a romance novel with such healthy communication! It was AMAZING the way they handled things. No third act break up, no horrible fights, just two people who love each other trying to figure things out.
I really appreciated the end of Thea’s story arc; her parents refuse to accept the fact she’s sapphic, and she accepts it and moves on, determined to live happily.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book, and I will definitely be reading the rest of Jane Walsh’s books. 5/5 stars

This was my very first and most pleasant introduction to Jane Walsh. The Accidental Bride is a captivating and well-written historical romance, that will set a scene just enough to take the reader to that era, and yet won't bore them with descriptions.

A love story of 2 different and yet somewhat similar women, whose energies balance one another. Calm and collected Grace, who wants to break free from the society and positions she was forced to be in, and unfazed and quick-tempered Thea, who left the society to give herself to work that excites and fulfills her.
As quickly as they start their romance, as long as it takes them to figure out what this accidental marriage means to both of them. And maybe Grace is not as collected, and maybe Thea is not as unfazed as they both seemed. A beautiful story of two women in search of themselves and their place in life.

Every detail in this book matters and plays its role, from Grace's elbow to horseshoe and orange peels, making the reader wonder why it was of importance. Diverting metaphors of botany as a portrayal of their love relationship - "plants take time and effort, and care to look after", "growing new things from the ruins", and of camellia as a comparison with Thea herself, her fighting throughout life with parents and society.

Fun adventure!

Racing after her charge Lady Edith, who has run off to elope with a young man who happens to be the brother of Thea, Grace finds herself embroiled in an adventure she’d never dreamed off. After one night of passion with Thea they are united in their efforts to get to Gretna Green and stop the wedding however they find they cannot resist one another or the chance of a relationship.

There was a fast pace to this that was slowed by the historical setting, which made it all the more exciting. Thea and Grace ended up journeying to Scotland unexpectedly and growing closer with every mile travelled and stop they had to make. It was a lot of fun wondering if they were going to arrive in time to stop the wedding, whether their plans would change, or even their minds about one another during more heated moments. I loved how Grace and Thea were vibrant, exciting characters with different views and eccentric personalities that just suited one another perfectly. The Accidental Bride is the second book in The Spinsters of Inverley series but what I love most is being able to read it standalone. If you have read the first book though, you definitely benefit from knowing some of the other characters.

I loved the contrast with botanist Thea getting carried away with her passions for all things plants and flowers. When she was interacting with Grace about her studies and experiments she was full of life, excitement and enthusiasm for what she could achieve. It wasn’t all plain sailing though because Grace was a more subtle person, she worried and spent time overthinking some things which lead to tense and dramatic moments between them. It was magical how having resigned herself to a life that meant she wasn’t exploring her own passions, it was great how Thea encouraged and brought this out of Grace to make her realise she had a chance for more.

Really enjoyed this story in the series and can’t wait to find out what the future has in store for Grace and Thea if they are in any future stories in the series.

It’s really hard to find great Regency Romances with lesbian main characters and themes. Thank goodness we have author Jane Walsh. Ms. Walsh’s newest novel The Accidental Bride is a wonderful addition to her growing list of WLW Historical Romances.

This is the second book in ‘The Spinsters of Inverley’ series, and is probably my favorite book so far. I fell in love with the two main characters, and became totally invested in their story.

Miss Grace Linfield is a lady’s companion for the young Lady Edith. Grace sees this job as her only way to respectability and security for herself. Lady Edith’s family wishes her to be wed to James Martin, so they visit the Martin family estate near the seaside town of Inverley. There Grace meets botanist Thea Martin, and they have one night of secret passion right before Lady Edith elopes with Charles Martin, Thea and James’s younger brother. Since both families would be angry with this marriage, Thea and Grace race to Gretna Green to try and stop the marriage before it can happen.

The Inverley setting is familiar since I read the first book in the series as well. I enjoyed Thea’s townhouse with her garden of plants and flowers. Grace and Thea’s romance gives the reader quite a roller coaster ride, and provides some apprehension about whether they will be able to become a true loving couple.

As a lover of historical and Regency romances, I’m so glad we have these novels to read and enjoy. While this is the second book in the series, it could be read as a standalone if you wish. However, I’ve read both books now and can recommend them to all historical and regency romance lovers.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

This was my first book by this author. I don’t normally read historic novels and didn’t know much about this time period, and found this novel an interesting overview of the times. The botany angle was particularly interesting and I found myself rooting for the Camillea to bloom! The long journey chasing the escaped lovers and then the long scenes of domestic life in the second half of the book could have been edited down at times, but overall I enjoyed this book and it was good to see positive queer representation set in that period.

Queer regency romance is one of my favorites and this an adorable addition to the genre. The problems that the two face through the book are incredibly real and they honestly had me guessing whether or not this would end with the two back together. And the scene where Thea makes the decision to sell her garden for Grace? Nothing but tears, loved it!

Well written and sweet Sapphic romance but the historical accuracy is super strange it is mixed as to weather or not it is accurate.

The characters are loveable and the plot is well written.

The Accidental Bride is a lovely, sweet Sapphic Romance set in the regency era. I fell in love with Thea’s wit and intelligence.

This novel follows Grace and Thea in their race to save Grace’s charge, Lady Edith’s reputation from ruination. Grace and Thea share subtle touches and glances and even a bed or two on their journey. I do have to admit this book had me in a chokehold, racing to the end to find out if our heroines got their happy ending.

A special shout out to Jane Walsh and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC of this book. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

3.5 rounded up

Wow, am I happy to see an f/f whether both MCs know they're queer and neither are virgins!

I really loved these characters individually. And I had a great time in the first half of the book: How they met, their first encounter, the Plot that throws them together, the thirst, and the reason they end up (view spoiler)together by halfway through the book.

But once that happened, I got too stressed out by the relationship dynamics to continue. It was the absolutely *realistic* lack of communication -- not the cheap trick of misunderstandings and false accusations and refusal to listen.

I actually really love the idea of a couple getting together first and then having to figure out how to live together, to be a couple. This is so overlooked in romance! But this one was too stressful, and I wasn't enjoying myself. YMMV.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, opinions are my own.

Looking for a wonderful summer read that gives you an enjoyable escape into a world of romance and humor with a backdrop of prim and proper (oh how I could see Suranne Jones and Sophie Rundle playing Thea and Grace) this story is for you.

As Ms. Walsh transports us to beautiful areas of the UK, her writing really had me feeling like I was living the life I always envisioned with Pride and Prejudice. Ms. Walsh brings the countryside and travels so alive I really felt like I was there. Following the story of Thea and Grace I could not help but fall in love with this area. The MCs have such chemistry and their individual stories had me reading this book in one sitting.

I look forward to other books in this series (fingers crossed) and I plan to pick up the first book in The Spinsters of Inverley series.

Thank you Ms. Walsh, BSB and NetGalley for this ARC, I will be looking to purchasing the audio if available.