My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
About the Book
In a bid to escape the incessant attentions of a man she does not love, governess Lucy Hayes embarks on a journey to begin a new post. But when she’s stranded in a storm, her plans go shockingly awry. Desperate times call for desperate measures: against her better judgment, she agrees to a foolhardy scheme presented by a handsome stranger, known to her as only William. But when her mysterious benefactor falls ill, she finds herself unwittingly drawn into his family home in a case of mistaken identity: they believe she is William’s betrothed. Though she realizes she should admit the truth, the family’s warmth and welcome make it all too easy to play along, just for a while. Until she meets Baron Lord Simon Calloway, William’s older brother.
Simon is suspicious of his lovely future sister-in-law, a woman who seems completely unsuited to his self-important brother. As they wait for William to awake, Simon and Lucy are drawn ever closer together. But danger draws closer too, in the form of her unwanted suitor. Lucy knows that when Simon discovers the truth, he will despise her. Now she must find a way to keep herself safe . . . and avoid falling hopelessly in love with a man she can never have.
My Review
What a mess Lucy is in! She is kept safe with the family of William, but she knows it is temporary. For Simon it's a case of forbidden love as he thinks that Lucy is his brother's fiancee. It's all very While You Were Sleeping, and the author even slipped in some well-known quotes from the movie as well as similar characters and scenes. It was interesting to see the modern story applied to Regency times, with the differences in the way society worked and the roles of women and men. Lucy struggles with the deception, but self-preservation ultimately keeps her from confiding in Simon, even after they develop a friendship and attraction. It was an entertaining read, but I don't think the nods to the original story were subtle enough for me. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series which is a Regency take on You've Got Mail.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Don't miss the next book in the Calloway series . . .
