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A Trick of Fate (Brandon Brothers Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Stella Riley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 741 ratings
B.R.A.G. Medallion honoree.
Max Brandon is receiving bills for services he never ordered and goods he did not buy. For reasons he can't begin to guess, someone is 'borrowing' his identity to cause him maximum annoyance. When the games move closer to home, almost forcing him to fight a duel … more particularly, when they draw in Frances Pendleton, a lady he never expected to see again … Max vows to catch the man behind them, no matter what the cost. The result is a haphazard chase involving ruined abbeys, a hunt for hermits, a grotesque portrait … and a love story which, but for this odd trick of fate, might never have been given a second chance.
Stella Riley's Rockliffe series has been recommended in The Times. She is also the 2019 Readers' Favorite Gold Medallist for Historical Romance.
Readers’ Favorite 5 star review ... “I love how Stella Riley creates plots that outshine your typical historical romance novel. Her vibrant descriptions bring her characters, events, and adventurous expeditions alive. I have a vivid picture of Max haggling in the market over a parrot, of Frances dancing in the streets and the hideous painting of Mr. Ramsay.”

“A gorgeous book for a cold, wet, miserable day.”

“A well written romp with lots of touching scenes and some very funny moments. Haggis, anyone? Max and Frances are strong lead characters with engaging personalities, while the plot itself keeps you hooked with its twists and turns.”
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Brandon Brothers
  2. Print length
    348 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 25, 2019
  5. File size
    5.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

5 star review from Readers' Favourite
A Trick Of Fate is a work of romantic fiction, and slice of life sub-genres, penned by author Stella Riley. Caught in a case of mistaken identity, Max Brandon discovers that he must find the culprit who is toying with him before his reputation is ruined. But in doing so, the trickster brings him back to an old flame, and a wild chase through the eighteenth century that will alter the course of the rest of his life. This novel forms the first book of the Brandon Brothers spin-off series.

In terms of the story itself, author Stella Riley offers a fantastic slice of Georgian life with the right balance of intrigue, investigation, and romantic content to keeps fans of all of those genres turning pages eagerly. The character development for Max and Frances showcases their vulnerabilities and also the accurate constraints put upon them at that time in society, which makes for a compelling and realistic drama when things start to heat up. The plot winds and twists with plenty of scandal and surprise, just right for the themes of the tale and its period.

Overall, I would highly recommend A Trick Of Fate to anyone wishing to lose themselves in an immersive and very entertaining historical fiction read.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07XGCSCGG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ; 1st edition (October 25, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 25, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B097X7M8MS
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 741 ratings

About the author

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Stella Riley

Stella Riley

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Winner of 4 gold medals (Readers' Favourite 2019, Book Excellence Awards 2020, Global Book Awards 2022, Book Excellence Awards 2023) and 14 B.R.A.G. Medallions, Stella Riley lives in the beautiful medieval town of Sandwich in Kent.

She is fascinated by the English Civil Wars and has written six books set in that period. These, like the 7 book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times newspaper!) and the Brandon Brothers trilogy, are all available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham.

Stella enjoys travel, reading, theatre, Baroque music and playing the harpsichord. She also has a fondness for men with long hair - hence her 17th and 18th century heroes.

Visit Stella at https://stellarileybooks.co.uk for all the latest information on her books and her 'Who's Who' and Extras pages.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
741 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the romance engaging and compelling. They appreciate the well-developed characters and their interactions. The book is described as an enjoyable, heartwarming read with witty dialogue. Readers praise the author's writing style and the narration by Alex Wyndham.

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RomanceCharacter developmentEnjoymentReadabilityAppealHumorDialogue qualityMotivation
19 customers mention "Romance"16 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book. They find the premise interesting and the plots clever. The story blends love and mystery with an intriguing family mystery. Readers appreciate the artful storytelling of the past and present, as well as the strong focus on romance.

"...I can't list all the aspects I found enjoyable, heartwarming and romantic: the sparkling, witty dialogue beween Frances and Max, their strength of..." Read more

"...So many nice details. As for the reveal that came towards the end of their chase, I can honestly say I didn’t see it coming...." Read more

"...This book is Max's story. It starts with a mystery, and in the process of solving it, we meet Frances (his long lost love), and accompany them on..." Read more

"...This starts out very well. An intriguing little mystery about a prankster/identify thief who is going around pretending to be our hero Max Brandon,..." Read more

13 customers mention "Character development"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters. They find the hero and heroine to be nice, decent, and well-rounded. The author does a good job of fleshing out the characters and making them relatable.

"...: the sparkling, witty dialogue beween Frances and Max, their strength of character, love and honour - I especially enjoyed a hero who doesn't allow..." Read more

"...The main characters were smart, interesting, attractive, principled, and you enjoy spending time with them - just what I’ve come to expect from any..." Read more

"This was a sweet and enjoyable read. I loved both the hero and the heroine and a glimpse of their family...." Read more

"...Ms. Riley has a gift for fleshing out characters and allows us to see them as people--people who have been suffered and are a product of their..." Read more

9 customers mention "Enjoyment"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find the characters attractive and enjoyable to spend time with. The plot is well-developed, and the romance between the main characters is heartwarming and romantic.

"...I can't list all the aspects I found enjoyable, heartwarming and romantic: the sparkling, witty dialogue beween Frances and Max, their strength of..." Read more

"Not as good as her historical novels in the 1640s to 1660s but very enjoyable...." Read more

"...were smart, interesting, attractive, principled, and you enjoy spending time with them - just what I’ve come to expect from any novel by Stella Riley..." Read more

"This was a sweet and enjoyable read. I loved both the hero and the heroine and a glimpse of their family...." Read more

7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it an excellent read with engaging stories and characters.

"I enjoyed this book. Like all of the authors books it is a good read. The historical detail is well done and the characters believable...." Read more

"...As always, Stella Riley is a must read, and Alex Wyndham as narrator is one of the best." Read more

"...I have learned a lot of English history while enthralled by her stories, and her characters...." Read more

"Another good read from Stella Riley..." Read more

6 customers mention "Appeal"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book appealing with its lovely wedding and sparkling dialogue between Frances and Max. They describe it as a sweet, enjoyable read set in a remote region with castles and abbey ruins. The characters are described as appealing, with warm interactions.

"...all the aspects I found enjoyable, heartwarming and romantic: the sparkling, witty dialogue beween Frances and Max, their strength of character,..." Read more

"...The main characters were smart, interesting, attractive, principled, and you enjoy spending time with them - just what I’ve come to expect from any..." Read more

"This was a sweet and enjoyable read. I loved both the hero and the heroine and a glimpse of their family...." Read more

"...His narration lends a sexy gravitas to anything he reads. I can't wait to read and listen to the next book in this new series...." Read more

5 customers mention "Humor"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find the characters appealing and their interactions humorous and warm. The story is described as lighthearted and a funny Georgian romance.

"...I can only recommend this lighthearted, funny Georgian romance to everyone!" Read more

"...this up, I would say that what was truly charming here was the shared sense of humor between the two main characters...." Read more

"...The MCs are appealing, their interactions are humorous and warm and the reader wants very much for them to find their deserved happiness together...." Read more

"...They show promise. The humor caught me off guard and in more then one place I laughed outloud...." Read more

4 customers mention "Dialogue quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the dialogue quality. They find the dialogue between Frances and Max witty and romantic. The writing style is described as excellent and seductive.

"...enjoyable, heartwarming and romantic: the sparkling, witty dialogue beween Frances and Max, their strength of character, love and honour - I..." Read more

"...They were both very witty, and they found each other again mainly through humor. What could be more perfect?..." Read more

"...I love the world Ms. Riley has created in her books. I love her writing style, and I LOVE hearing Alex Wyndham read them...." Read more

"...The history is sound, the characters are well-drawn, the dialogue is excellent...." Read more

3 customers mention "Motivation"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the motivations believable and well-researched. They find the characters interesting and engaging.

"...As Stella Riley's books always are, this book is extremely well researched and shows the autor's familiarity with the period in every casual detail..." Read more

"...The main characters were smart, interesting, attractive, principled, and you enjoy spending time with them - just what I’ve come to expect from any..." Read more

"...Stella Riley is so good at creating likable characters with believable motivations...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • noagnes
    5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely Georgian roadtrip romance
    Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a spinoff of the author's Georgian romance series , set in the same world of Rockliffe and friends, centering on the family of the heroine from the last book (Arabella Brandon from Cadenza). Max Brandon of Brandon Lacey is a victim of a series of increasingly troublesome pranks involving someone impersonating him, incurring debts in his name and causing awkwardness with his neighbours. It reaches beyond annoyance when it involves Frances Pendleton, his lost love from five years ago, arriving and hurling undeserved accusations at him. At the mysterious prankster Mr. Grey's instigation, Max and Frances embark on a journey to uncover and stop Grey, who leads them into the wilds of the Scottish-English border region and into even more mischief and adventure. The prolonged closeness of travelling together on this misssion, however, gives Max and Frances an opportunity to discover the true story behind their tragic parting and rekindle their relationship (their love being never extinguished). During the journey they (and the reader swept along with them) discover the beauty of this remote region, full of castles, abbey ruins (although, alas, not a single hermit to be found), and of course Scotland, the destination for runaway weddings, offers opportunities not to be wasted by a couple in love. When they come to reveal Grey's secret, he turns out to be less of a villain than thought, and the resolution of his problem brings our couple home to use the special talents of Leo Brandon, the second brother (painter and horse breader - I bet you can't guess the uniqe way of his involvement!) and so we get to see the loving family of the Brandons together with appearances of characters from Cadenza - Lizzie and Lord Sherbourne, Arabella and Julian the Virtuoso Earl and their adorable adopted children (read the excellent book Cadenza to get better acquainted with them, although this book can be understood and enjoyed as standalone).
    I can't list all the aspects I found enjoyable, heartwarming and romantic: the sparkling, witty dialogue beween Frances and Max, their strength of character, love and honour - I especially enjoyed a hero who doesn't allow lust to win over his honour; his determination to deal with the past and to break down Frances's walls around her heart with his teasing innuendos and the warmth of his comfort and acceptance. I'll say that although I have read numerous historical romances with runaway weddings, I've never encountered anything like the funny and romantic and unique one in this book.
    I appreciated the ties this book has with the author's earlier two series, without making this book overwhelmed with them or needing the knowledge of them to be understood. The Brandons are the descendants of Gabriel and Venetia, protagonists of Garland of Straw, one of the Roundheads and Cavaliers series whose memory is prominently kept alive in the family; there are other references to this series as well as to the Duke of Rockliffe, titular character of the Georgian series connected with this one. This book is called The Brandon Brothers Book 1 - and the two younger Brandon brothers introduced are full of promise (the above mentioned Leo, and Adam who studies fencing in Paris) for future installments.
    As Stella Riley's books always are, this book is extremely well researched and shows the autor's familiarity with the period in every casual detail of aristocratic and everyday life, allowing the reader to be even more deeply swept into the story and live the experiences of the characters. I can only recommend this lighthearted, funny Georgian romance to everyone!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice romance in 1779
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Not as good as her historical novels in the 1640s to 1660s but very enjoyable. More of a typical romance and with some of the characters from her previous novels in the Rockliff series.
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  • LG
    5.0 out of 5 stars So enjoyable that I look forward to reading it again
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Others have already summarized the story, so I will just say that the only thing I didn’t like about the novel is that it ended. It was a genuinely enjoyable read, and I look forward (as I do with all of her novels) to letting enough time pass so that I can pick it up and read it again. The main characters were smart, interesting, attractive, principled, and you enjoy spending time with them - just what I’ve come to expect from any novel by Stella Riley. She does characters so well, and ultimately that’s what you care about in a romance: the heroine, the hero, and - in this case - their extended family and friends.

    You can read this as a stand alone novel, but my enjoyment was enhanced by the connections to Ms. Riley’s other series. Our hero Max is a direct descendant of Gabriel Brandon and Venetia from Garland of Straw (read it if you haven’t - it’s one of my favorites). And characters from her Rockliffe series appear here as well. Of that series (I enjoyed them all) I especially love A Parfit Knight, which I think of as the “parfit romance.” I also recommend The Mésalliance and The Player. But they’re all good. Clever plots, too, and all a bit different.

    The road trip piece of this book is beautifully done. There was a market scene that was just excellent, and there was a bit of a travelogue (enjoyable) as Max and Frances chased the mystery prankster across northern England and into Scotland. The Scottish flavor of the eventual wedding was also really lovely. So many nice details. As for the reveal that came towards the end of their chase, I can honestly say I didn’t see it coming. And even in the most enjoyable historical or romance novels, I usually see it coming a mile off. So I was impressed. About this reveal, I would also say that I hope it leads to the next or another book in the series, as this one is presented as Book One.

    While I agree with another reviewer that the characters here were almost too nice, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book. It’s true that some of my favorite characters from her other books are edgier and even deeply flawed (Alex Deveril in The Marigold Chain) and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of that in future. But I still found this to be a very entertaining story. (The hero of A Parfit Knight, for example, is the nicest, most decent character you can possibly imagine, and still very compelling.)

    Trying to wrap this up, I would say that what was truly charming here was the shared sense of humor between the two main characters. They were both very witty, and they found each other again mainly through humor. What could be more perfect? In this sense, it does remind me of the best of Georgette Heyer, where the hero and heroine bond over their shared sense of the ridiculous. As I said, my main regret here was the book ended so I couldn’t continue to enjoy reading it.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Scheri
    4.0 out of 5 stars Another good read from Stella Riley
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This was a sweet and enjoyable read.
    I loved both the hero and the heroine and a glimpse of their family.
    I like how Ms. Riley writes her characters and their family and making me, the reader, feel like I belong with them.

    I'm looking forward to the story of the other two brothers. They were both interesting!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Aurelie
    1.0 out of 5 stars Livre mal relié
    Reviewed in France on September 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Immediatement, la page de sommaire s'est détachée. Puis une dizaine de pages dans les 50 premières.
    La reliure est abominable, le livre se comporte comme un bouquin vieus de 30 ans et relu 100 fois.
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  • Beatrix Fitze
    5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn’t put it down
    Reviewed in Germany on November 18, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Thoroughly enjoyable, I had a wonderful time diving into this world! The story is fun, interesting and satisfying. Couldn’t wait to get back to it every evening!
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  • avidreader
    5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging love story and a unique mystery - Stella Riley does it again!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I fell in love with Max Brandon when he was introduced in the last book, 'Cadenza', as the loving, protective older brother of Arabella. He is a no-nonsense character, a straight talker who has a witty, wicked sense of humour and revels in the ridiculous. He is also loyal, hard working and dedicated to his family. Frances is the perfect foil for him, because she, too, likes plain speaking and engages in witty banter and repartee.

    The story opens with Max being hounded by an unknown character, a Mr. Grey, who is making his life very difficult - as the author tells us, today we would call it identity theft. Initially, Max is irritated by this unknown person's actions, but he is able to cope with them. He has confided only in his steward, Duncan Balfour, who is also a close personal friend - but as the actions come closer to home and he is concerned that his family will be affected, he decides that he must take action. Enter Frances, a whirlwind of pent-up frustration, anger - and also sadness, disappointment and disbelief because, despite the evidence, she is hoping against hope that Max is not involved in a very personal incident concerning her brother. Now we learn that Max and Frances have a history - they met five years earlier, at a house party, and instantly recognised a soul-mate in each other, at the same time falling deeply in love. The same fate which brought them together conspires to push them apart, and five long years later they have both changed, especially Frances who has become a bitter, disillusioned woman who has no life worth speaking of.

    Max is determined to pursue the man who is causing him no end of problems and Frances, for good reasons of her own, is equally determined to accompany him in order to mete our her own justice. Thus begins a road trip, centred on this couple, who, because of proximity and therefore familiarity, rediscover a love that never died, whilst accepting that both of them have changed from the young innocents they were five years earlier.

    Stella Riley takes us on the road trip, through the border country which she clearly knows and loves. She cleverly doesn't wax lyrical about every stage of the journey, realistically comparing some accommodation unfavourably with others, and certain stretches of the road that are stunningly beautiful and memorable against some which are, for the weary travellers, quite boring. As usual, she gives us nuggets of fascinating historical information, sending me hunting to find out more!

    There are so many interesting factors built into the trip and I didn't even come close to guessing the identity of Max's tormentor or his reasons for acting as he has - it was a complete revelation. Meanwhile, Max and Frances, who never stopped loving each other, are learning to trust again. There are incidents which are utterly charming, some which make you despair, some which brought a lump to my throat and some which make you wonder if the mystery will ever be resolved.

    Max is a descendant of Gabriel and Venetia Brandon ['Garland of Straw', R&C series], one of my favourite couples. You don't need to read their story but it brings everything together and shows how the following generations continued with the practices which Gabriel introduced at Brandon Lacey, and the equally strong characters who have followed in Gabriel and Venetia's footsteps. There is even a throw-away line about a descendant from another family from the R&C series!

    The author gives Leo, Max's younger brother, a more significant role in this book - and he is very much in the family mould. We also meet the other brother, the enigmatic Adam, and it whets the appetite to find out what she has in store for them. Lady Brandon, their mother, can be the icily regal grande dame, but adores her children for whom her only ambition is their happiness. Arabella and Julian, along with their adopted children, make an appearance, as do Ralph Sherbourne and Lizzie - and in this story, Stella Riley completes Ralph's redemption in a very sigh-worthy fashion. There is a brief mention of Rockliffe, answering the question that I imagine all readers of the series want answered. Each character - Duncan Balfour, Max's steward, Frances's ghastly mother and a supporting cast are portrayed so skilfully as their roles impact on the story.

    This is a wonderful addition to the author's books, and a clever move away from the Rockliffe series without abandoning it entirely.

    It is clear that Stella Riley's readers hold her in very high regard and it is hard to find the words to express how much enjoyment she brings. The eloquent writing, the wit and humour, the setting and locations and of course the characters are all testament to her very considerable skills. Read everything she has written and you will see how she stands head and shoulders above other writers in the genre.
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  • Clare McQuin
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real-life game of “Grandmother’s footsteps”.
    Reviewed in Australia on November 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Review of “A Trick Of Fate”

    A renewal of romance, and as Ms Riley so often does, a continuance of one from a previous novel. All with her wit and humour and pathos, and consummate resolution. I started it first thing on Friday morning and finished that afternoon and promptly restarted! This is an offshoot of her Rockliffe series and carries on from “Cadenza”. Some reviewers of “Cadenza” felt that Stella had short-changed us with a rather abrupt finish to the secondary romance of Sherbourne and Elizabeth. Not so! They are still secondary to Max and Frances, but Ralph continues to improve from anti to hero. I feel that Elizabeth is definitely her father’s daughter, however shows more understanding than previously and has coped well with the Langham children. Ralph even exhibits some humour! Definitely satisfying.
    The main thread starts with Max and his secretary discussing a disturbing series of incidents escalating in cost and severity, of what we would call identity theft. While investigating one of the incidents, and feeling that he could profit, Max is startled by the abrupt interruption by a lady from his past into the present scenario. And the story begins. Flashbacks explain the relevance; Max attempts to keep from worrying his mother, accepts Frances’ company and the link between them and their mystery man and off they go. Leo, Max’s younger brother, is an accomplished artist, and has drawn a very recognisable portrait of the perpetrator, so they are slightly advanced, but “Grey” is at home on the Scottish border, and manages to evade them, while continuing to lead them a merry dance.
    Max and Frances had met five years ago at a house party and fallen in love. Unfortunately her parents were determined she would marry a peer of their choice and managed to thoroughly disrupt the romance. She admits she still loves him, but feels her family will prove too much of a problem.
    And so on they go. The various threads are gradually unravelled and the rather erratic behaviour of their ‘villain’ explained and satisfactorily resolved.
    Congrats again to Ms Riley. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and laughter and just everything! Especially the handfasting!
    Bring on the next brother’s story.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Charming book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I liked the twist and turns in the book it's what I call a cozy story, you did feel everything would turn out to be an unusual reason for what was going on. There was no down side to the book.
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