Zoe grew up poor in a London orphanage, although her mother was part of the French aristocracy and fled the Terror as a child. When she travels to France and visits the ruins of her mother's old home, she meets an intriguing traveling artist called Reynard. Zoe is also a painter, and the two travel and work together for a time. After they are separated by a misunderstanding, they encounter one another again in England--where they each have some surprises for the other, but their chemistry is still there.

The first half of this book is definitely stronger than the second. I loved reading about the two working on commissioned paintings and living in a little wagon in the countryside. The English ton part is also good, but the plot dragged a bit in the middle.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Zoe and Julian's story was a joy to read. This book was another solid outing by Gracie. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.

*rounded up to 4.25
The Secret Daughter is the 4th book in Anne Gracie's Brides of Bellaire Gardens series. Zoe Benoit is an illegitimate daughter of Sir Bartleby Studley and half sister to his legitimate daughter Clarissa and his other illegitimate daughter Izzy. While Zoe's mother was a member of the aristocracy in France before the Reign of Terror, after she fled the country for England her status dropped as she had to make a life in the stews of London. Zoe could speak aristocratic French, but her English was that of the lower class. So when her sisters discovered her a plan was hatched to send her to France with friends to learn how to be a lady so she could take her place in society when she returned.
The book opens when Zoe is attending a house party to practice her new social skills and because the house party was within 20 miles of her ancestral home. When she has to fend off the advances of the son of her hosts, Zoe knows she needs to leave. The son has also importuned a maid and they leave the estate together. Zoe decides to travel to her ancestral home by herself and switches clothes with her maid before sending her on to Paris and her friends' home. As she makes her way to her mother's home, she encounters a vagabond artist who offers her refuge after meeting more assailants on the road. Reynard is not who he seems, but then neither is Zoe. A friendship develops and then something more. But a big misunderstanding occurs that has to be made right.
The first half of this book was bordering on a 5/5 territory for me. It flowed so well and the relationship, even though it took place over a short period of time, seemed very authentic. The second half, while still good, had a few spots that got a little convoluted with the addition of other characters and the resolution took a bit of time.
I have read a lot of mediocre books lately and it was so refreshing to read something that was well crafted and engaging. I have read the other books in the series, but this one can be read as a standalone.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book didn't meet my expectations- the heroine seemed like an interesting departure, but she was just as naive and kinda boring as any debutante. It's not precisely insta love, but it's certainly not based on shared values and common cause.

The pacing of the book also threw me, as the first third is really the set-up, the middle separates the lovers, and the last third is just an unholy mess. I just did not care for it, and I found both of the protagonists to be pretty dull, bordering on annoying. I'm just going to give up on this author, probably just not for me, though I really liked Izzy's book of this series, this one turned me off completely.

This book was a fun and light hearted read. The main characters are full of secrets and humor. There are some interesting twists and turns that keep you reading until the end.

The Secret Daughter by Anne Gracie is the next title in the Brides of Bellaire Gardens series. As in the other books in this series, Gracie explores the seamier underside of High Society. Zoe Benoit’s father is a character in previous books and a real stinker. Her mother, a child of the French aristocracy, fled the French Revolution, escaping to England with no resources and no connections. Zoe was raised in the slums of London, until her sisters found her. She had been sent to Paris to learn French and Society manners. While there, she makes an impulsive visit to what was left of her mother’s family estate. When attacked she is rescued by an amiable man named Renard. She joins his travels for a short period until she finds out what he is doing. She flees back to England and rejoins her sisters. Renard searches for her with no luck and eventually returns to England where he is Julian Fox, Earl of Foxton. When he encounters Zoe at a ball, the game is on. Gracie does a great job of examining the bleaker side of society and particularly the effect it has on women and children. Her look at the plight of the French emigres is also enlightening. She continues to addresses the roles of women in Society and how limited they are. Another fine story from Anne Gracie! Strongly recommended.

This book is my favorite that I've read from this author. Anne Gracie is gifted at writing character development through both inner monologue and character action. Zoe and Julian are lovely characters, and I found myself rooting for their HEA from the moment they met. The storyline itself was very unique, and the anticipation of their eventual reunion grew with each chapter. While in the first portion of the storyline I could put the book down to do other things in between chapters, once I got to the point where they were going to be seeing each other again, I could not stop reading! All of the clues ans missed connections Gracie incorporated were fantastic. Julian was such a sweet romantic hero, and the way he worked to help Zoe overcome her feelings of inadequacy was so romantic. This book is part of a series, and so reading in order is always recommended, but Gracie writes in such a way that you don't feel lost in the story, even if you start it a few books in.

Absolutely gripping! This historical romance is packed with angst and is beautifully written. The characters' emotional journey is intense and unforgettable, making it a must-read for anyone who loves a deep, heartfelt love story.