An accomplished musician, Dorothea Flammel has refused more proposals than any London debutante; her only true love is her music. Dory’s shimmering talent and beauty have long been adored from afar by Thomas Wheel, an untitled gentleman who can only dream of asking for the hand of a nobleman’s daughter. But when her father, the insolvent Lord Flammel, arranges for Dory to marry a lecherous Earl in order to pay off a debt, she runs to Thomas—and proposes marriage to him. Eloping to Scotland saves Dory from a disastrous fate, but what is for her a mere marriage of convenience proves more passionate—and more complex—than either imagined as rumors, scandal, and buried emotions come to light. And when a vengeful challenge from a drunken and embittered Lord Flammel puts Thomas’s life on the line, will the fragile trust between husband and wife be enough to save them both?
The book was decent. The plot was not bad, it was pretty standard. I liked both main characters. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Thomas Wheel has loved Dorothea Flannel from afar for years. He loves her musical talent, her beauty, and her gentle heart, never dreaming she could be his. The fate intervened when he saved her from the marriage her parents were arranging for her with a lecherous old earl. Although they elope to Scotland, their marriage is filled with one issue after another. The least of which is that Tom desperately loves, but she does not return his love. Or does she? It takes several near disasters for them to come to their senses. As the third book in the Forever Brides series, this was a very enjoyable read. It was very nice to catch up with the characters from the previous books. Tom and Dory were very likeable characters, but I did wish I could reach inside the book to shake some sense into them at times.

I absolutely adored Thomas and Dory's story!

A marriage of convenience is not going to work when one party is in love with the other, but Thomas will do anything for Dory even if it means breaking his own heart. These two were so good together! My heart kept breaking as I read the story and all the stumbling blocks that they came across during the beginning of their marriage.

This was a great conclusion to this series. Fenichel's next series, Everton Domestic Society, starts with the story of Dory's brother. I'm excited to read it!!

This is a romantic and dramatic story. Tom is sweet, charming, captivating and vulnerable. Dory is oblivious, determined and naive. They marry to save her from being sold to pay her father's debts, but Tom has been in love with Dory for years. All she wants is her music. They start the marriage off with hope, but it soon turns bad. Inside and outside influences cause strife. It's an intriguing storyline with endearing characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. The story is about a young girl who has had several seasons and turned down several proposals. Finally her father contracts to marry her to an old man in order to settle an enormous debt he owes. Dory goes to her friend who is an untitled gentleman and begs him to marry her. He initially says no due to their different stations in life but when he sees the man she has been promised to he relents and they elope. There are rough spots in this new marriage but in the end all things work out for the best. This is a good book to read and I would recommend it.

Thomas Wheel is a single man working in his study late one evening when Lady Dorothea (Dory) Flammel arrives at his home. Her brother, Markus, is Thomas’s good friend and Dory is the daughter of an earl.

Dory explains that her reason for being there is that she needs a husband and asks him to marry her. It appears she needs to find a way to get out of her parents’ plan to marry her to the elderly Henry Casper, the Earl of Hartley. Her father is a known drunk and marrying her to Hartley will enable her father to get his debts paid off.

Thomas greatly admires Dory but as much as he would like to marry her, he reminds her that is he is merely a mister. When she convinces him that does not matter, they elope to Scotland. A wealthy man in his own right, Thomas has a wonderful home and can give Dory anything she would like. As she is an accomplished musician, and Thomas loves music as well, she spends much of her time in the well-equipped music room that he has provided for her.

Thomas has fallen in love with Dory but is not certain that she loves him in return. To protect her, he puts his life at risk for her which leaves him severely wounded. Will Dory realize how much Thomas loves her and will he recover from his wounds? Can they have a happy life together?

I really loved the beginning of this story but it soon fell off for me. Dory seems warm early on in the story but she seems to cool down. Thomas is a dear man but too sweet for his own good. Why anyone would put up with Dory’s father for more than one minute is beyond me. Boot him and her mother both out! I have enjoyed this author’s other stories, but this one disappointed me.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Desperate Bride is book three in A.S. Fenichel's Forever Brides series. While I like the author and the other two books in the series this one was kind of depressing for me. I'm not partial to books the make me feel depressed.

In this one we have Dorothea and Thomas. In the previous books Dory has always come across as straightforward, levelheaded, and so absorbed into her music. In this book we see a more insecure side. Thomas is utterly devoted to Dory and she's too oblivious to realize why. Normally I get a kick out of oblivious characters but in this case Dory being oblivious is way to hurtful to Thomas and Thomas doesn't handle that well. The lack of communication gets annoying as well, how can you love someone if you don't trust them enough to talk to them about things like feelings and to confide in them about stuff so you are not assuming and doing what you think is right for the both of you but it's not.

Dory needs to get married before her father signs a contract for her to marry someone else. Dory has avoided marriage because she's always been told that once she does she will have to give up her music so when her father basically sells her to settle his debts Dory runs to the only person she can think of that wouldn't take away her music if they married, Thomas Wheel. Thomas has been in love with Dory since he first heard her play. He never pursued it because she was too high above him in status, he never thought he would have a chance. When Dory first asked he said no because of it but after seeing the way the man treated her he arranged it so they could run off and get married before the contract is signed. On the journey up to Scotland they agree that they can be friends in the marriage, and even though Dory is scared to death she's willing to be a wife in every sense. Thomas wants to make sure she knows she can change her mind at any moment. They get married and soon after there is a misunderstanding that leads to a series of misunderstanding that doesn't end until their friends intervene but that's only after Thomas' life is threatened by Dory's worthless father and the Lord who lost Dory as a bride.

Overall, least favorite book of the series. I hope Anthony gets his story next.

'Desperate Bride' by A.S. Fenichel is book Three in the "Forever Brides' series. This is the story of Dorothea Flammel and Thomas Wheel. This can be a standalone book.
Dory loves her music and would be happy with just that in her life. But as a Lady and her father having a title she is doomed to marry. Her father though takes it further and tries to marry her off to an old mean man.
Thomas has worshiped Dory but knows that he is to below her level for him to be more to her. But when she comes to him for help with the Ideal of marriage he is hesitant to do so. But it doesn't take long for Thomas to know that he has to help Dory.
Dory has to learn there is more to her world than music and Thomas has to accept that Dory could be happy without a Title.
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Be still my heart!
Dorothea Flammell just wants to play her piano and compose her music! It’s her love in life and can’t imagine succumbing to a husband that will stifle her and only allow her to play for display.
Just when she realizes that she’s to be sold to a man old enough to be her grandfather she knows that the only person she can trust to help her is Thomas Wheel , all she had to do is have him accept her offer.
Thomas Wheel has always admired Dory and loved her from afar, when she proposes her offer he thinks he must be dreaming at first he refuses until he sees the lecher of a man that her father wishes to sell her to pay off his debts he quickly whisks to Scotland and marry. Although Dory is honest with Thomas letting him know that she’s incapable of love he accepts but tries to woo her heart. It takes Thomas’s injuries that threaten his life for Dory to realize that she’s desperately and deeply in love with her husband.
A very enjoyable read with plenty of misunderstandings and challenges that the Hero and Heroine go through to acquire their happiness. Well written a witty dialogue with much intrigue, villainous characters bent on keeping them from their destiny with a very happy ending!
I received a complimentary copy from the author through NetGalley for my unbiased opinion.

Characters that are likable, and a plot that keeps you interested. Really loved this story. Received this on NetGalley at no charge. This is my honest review.

Desperate Bride by A S Fenichel

Desperate Bride by A S Fenichel is a fun romp in the historical romance genre. The characters are interesting and the plot line is not too overdone. Dorothea Flammel is desperate for a solution to her dilemma. Her father has essentially sold her to an older man, an Earl. The man is not known for being nice, safe or even acceptable to most of the ton, except he welds power. Dory’s family life is not ideal; she knows her only role in the family is to marry well, but this marriage is unbearable. Dory takes matters into her own hands and propositions Thomas Wheel, a nice man who is friendly with her brother. She is sure that he will not take away her playing and composing of music. Luckily Thomas accepts after a few days of consideration and brings her to her their mutual friends in Scotland to marry.

Dory’s family continue to harass her about her choice, demanding money and then Thomas is threatened and Dory is scared and confused. A Desperate Bride by A S Fenichel is a good read.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I was attracted by the story of a young woman with an outstanding musical talent, constricted by her parents and the mores of the day. Lady Dory pours all her passion into music, it is her reason for living and she is terrified that, with marriage, it will be taken away from her and so refuses all offers of marriage. However this backfires on her when her parents declare they will choose her husband. The Earl of Hartley is lecherous and old enough to be her grandfather but he is also rich and her father is in debt to him. With nowhere to turn, Dory runs to her brother's best friend and asks him to marry her. Thomas has always been strongly attracted to Dory but although wealthy he is without a title and he knows that the Ton will consider their marriage a mésalliance and probably ostracise her. Also does he want to walk open eyed into a marriage with a woman who considers him the lesser of two evils and whose feelings towards him are lukewarm, whilst reserving all her passion for music?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Note: My understanding is that after her marriage to Thomas, Dory should have been styled as Lady Dorothea Wheel, rather than Mrs Thomas Wheel but this does not detract from the story.
As the daughter of a peer above the rank of Viscount, a woman enjoys the courtesy title of 'Lady' while remaining a commoner.
If she marries an untitled commoner, she takes his family name but retains the title 'Lady' in combination with her own first name.
If her spouse receives a knighthood, she retains her former married name as her rank is still higher than his, i.e., the daughter of a peer has precedence over her knighted husband.
If her husband becomes a (life) peer, she takes his rank and becomes formally known as Baroness X, informally as Lady X, but it is still a courtesy title.

Dorothea (Dory) Flammel is in a tough spot. Having rejected too many eligible men over the course of several seasons, her options are limited. Then, she is not given any option at all as her father makes an agreement for her hand in marriage in exchange for the forgiveness of his enormous debt. To a very old man. The man who is known for his wandering eye and misogyny.

Thomas Wheel has loved hearing Dory play the pianoforte, especially when she does not know other people are in the room. They have been friends for many years and has snuck in to hear her play many times. But he is below her in rank and would not embarrass her by making his feelings known. So what is he to do when she runs to his house in the middle of the night begging him to marry her?

Dory and Thomas are big supporting characters in the last two books and their romance was hinted at several times, so it was very exciting to see their own love story come together in this book. As read in the previous 2 novels in this series, Dory has a hard time trusting others, but is a fiercely loyal friend. Thomas always does the right thing and is a selfless friend to the gentlemen in the previous books. Since I started reading this series, I have been anxiously waiting for Thomas' own love story. I just KNEW he would be perfectly romantic and I was swooning through these pages (especially the part where he brushed her hair for her!). I did not expect, but was also pleased with, him to be a progressive feminist for the time period that they are in which added to his perfection. It also was perfect for his romance with Dory as she had been told her whole life that her musical talent is useless because she is a woman as well as been treated as property rather than as a woman. Therefore, Thomas treating her as an equal seems too good to be true and she has a hard time trusting the situation that they were thrown in.

A.S. Fenichel does a wonderful job of creating characters that develop through love, on both sides of the romance, and are incredibly endearing. Although these books could be read as standalone, in my opinion, it is fun if they have been read in order as I did find myself squealing in excitement when the main characters in previous books were referenced or made an appearance.

I would recommend this book for all fans of historical romance, especially those who also enjoy unexpected twists and/or steamy love making scenes. I would also recommend this book for those who enjoy elements of music intertwined with romance.

On the other hand, I would not recommend this book for those who may be triggered or offended by explicitly sexual scenarios, mild foul language, misogyny, or violence.

Please note: an electronic copy of this book was generously provided for free by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Special thanks to A.S. Fenichel not only for writing this fantastic story, but also for posting on Facebook when the book was available on NetGalley :)

Oh my angst! The struggle is real in this story. After Michael and Elinor, I was really looking forward to Tom and Dory's story and Andie did not disappoint. The chemistry was there in Foolish Bride and it carried over perfectly into Desperate Bride even though Dory was clueless. And that seems to be the problem throughout this story. Dory is completely clueless when it comes to her feelings for Tom and his for her. It's understandable since she grew up with such abhorrent parents, or it would seem so at first. Margaret certainly redeems herself to a certain extent. Dory's father? Not so much.

Tom is the perfect gentlemen. Sweet, caring, honorable and completely in love with Dory. One word comes to mind when I think of Dory and that's music, her first love. She grew up in a loveless household and turned to music to escape. Music also helped Dory and Tom ultimately come together and work through their differences.

This story has the perfect balance of romance, angst and suspense. It gave me all the feels and at times it left me with tears in my eyes. I could absolutely feel the struggle that both Tom and Dory went through and I'm so glad their friends are pushy and scheming. Everyone gets what they deserve and what's more satisfying than that?

I liked this book. The main characters suffered from lack of communication and the "great misunderstanding" but it was happily ever after in the end"

This is Dory and Tom's story. Dory asks Tom to marry her to get out of an arranged marriage to an old man her father owes money to. Dory just wants to compose and play her music. There are many nefarious plots to separate them. Tom loves Dory but is doesn't think she will ever love him. There are many twists and turns in their relationship. Their friends take matters into their own hands. They find love on both sides. It was a very well written story.

The third book in this series finds Dorothea Flammell desperate to wed to avoid being sold off into marriage by her father. She turns to Thomas Wheel who is not titled, but has long loved her from afar. At first he refuses, but is soon convinced when seeing her potential husband.

The romance itself was good - they both share a love of music and that was an interesting twist. Similar to the last book of the series, the conflict between the two was strange to me and felt a little forced just to have that plot twist. However, I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it. I hope we see Markus' book next.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

4.5 stars
An accomplished musician, Dorothea Flammel has refused many marriage proposals; her only true love is her music. Dory’s shimmering talent and beauty have long been adored from afar by Thomas Wheel, an untitled gentleman who can only dream of asking for the hand of an Earl’s daughter. Then when her father is deep in debt he arranges for Dory to marry the elderly lecherous Earl Hartly to solve his money problems, she runs to Thomas—and proposes marriage to him.
At first Tom refuses but when he sees Hartly ogling Dory he changes his mind & they elope to Scotland, but what is for her a mere marriage of convenience proves more passionate & far more complex than either imagined as rumours, scandal, and buried emotions come to light. Then a vengeful challenge from a drunken and embittered Lord Flammel in Whites puts Thomas’s life on the line.
I’ve loved this series & this novel lives up to the standard of the previous stories. It is the third in the series but could well be read as a stand alone book but if like me you love series then I’d recommend reading the series in order – you won’t be disappointed. Thomas is lovely, he’s so kind & caring & his letter to Dory had me welling up. Dory has suffered abuse all her life & so her self esteem is zero believing herself unable to love & unlovable. There are misunderstandings in abundance as well as eavesdropping that hurts one of them badly, it takes drastic measures by their friends to throw them together. There’s also Lord Hartly causing problems as well as Dory’s drunken father which all add to their woes. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it was well written & the pace kept me engrossed. The characters had plenty of depth. At times I wanted to shake Tom & Dory but I think their friends felt the same! I look forward to reading more from the author

Another really great story by A.S. Fenichel, “A Desperate Bride” was an enjoyable read. Dory is being forced to marry an old codger who her father owes money to and she finally rebels against the marriage. She proposes to Thomas Wheel and asks him to marry her. They both enjoy music and he will be the perfect man to give her time and space to compose music and play.

Thomas absolutely adores Dory, but is worried she won’t be happy married to him. He refuses her proposal until he realizes she is truly in desperate straits. They run away to marry and lots of misunderstandings appear. Dory doesn’t love him, and is honest about that, but Thomas wants more than a willing bed partner and baby-maker, he wants a loving, happy home.

Dory and Thomas have a long road to travel toward their happily ever after. Disapproving parents, misunderstandings, duels, you name it – they face it. They are very good together and their story is a very good one. Some semi-steamy love scenes.

This is not to my liking. I can not endear to the heroine.