Smitten by Books

CAN A SCANDALOUS CHARADE

For seven long years, Lady Cassandra Monroe has waited for the man of her dreams to return from the war. Unfortunately, he happens to be engaged to her flighty cousin. What Cass wouldn’t give to take her cousin’s place! When he mistakes Cass for Patience Bunbury, a fictitious friend her cousin has invented to escape social obligations…even with her future husband, Cass thinks this is her chance.

LEAD TO TRUE AND LASTING LOVE?

After defeating Napoleon at Waterloo, Captain Julian Swift is not quite ready to settle down and enter into his unwanted arranged marriage—especially when the real object of his affection turns out to be a beguiling beauty he meets at a party. Patience Bunbury is witty, independent, passionate…and, unbeknownst to him, the cousin of his current fiancée. When the truth about Cass comes out—and Julian　 discovers that their courtship is anything but accidental—will he surrender his heart to a woman who really is too good to be true?

Other books in the Playful Brides series:

This one is another gem by Bowman. A light-hearted, fun read that I couldn’t put down. If you enjoy stories that give a little bit of crazy happenings, Bowman doesn’t disappoint.

Right from the beginning I got a glimpse of some crazy characters. From the Duchess of Hunt to the heroine’s inane cousin Penelope, there are plenty of people to initiate the events that send our heroine, Cassandra to a fake house party with the faux name of Patience Bunbury. What makes this tale even more crazy is the fact that the one man Cassandra loves believes she’s Patience.

The hero, Captain Julian Swift, has recently returned from the continent with a firm decision to end his betrothal to Penelope, except he can’t find her. He attends a house party where Patience is because she’s Penelope’s friend, and his soon-to-be-ex-finance will surely attend, or will she? Soon, he’s infatuated with Patience, but trying to be the strong and noble type until he can officially end his engagement.

My favorite part of the story is, the end of course. But I can’t tell you that part. I can tell you about the part where Cass is bound and determined to attract Julian and the dratted man thwarts her attempts yet again.

Cass opened her eyes and blinked at him. Just like on her sixteenth birthday. She wanted to cry but she refused to. There would be no more crying. Instead she pressed her lips together and tried to look composed. “Yes.”

“I… Frankly, you don’t know how much I want to kiss you right now.”

“Then why don’t you?” Oh, there went Patience Bunbury’s reputation. The harlot.

Julian stood and paced toward the hedgerow, scrubbing his fingers through his hair. “Because at the moment, I still have an understanding with Penelope Monroe.”

The hero is definitely not a rake, though he does display some rakish tendencies at certain points of the book. The pacing, the story, and the shenanigans are great for a nice read that didn’t burden me with any reality. Let me be 100% honest that this one of the more far-fetched historicals, but I really enjoyed it.

Overall, if you like laughs, characters you won’t forget today or a year from now, you can’t go wrong with this historical take on the Importance of Being Earnest. For readers who enjoy Tessa Dare and Keiran Kramer.

P.S. Also, I’m most anxious for the next story, a take on Much Ado About Nothing. The secondary characters in this book, Garret and Jane, had some of the best, feistiest dialogue I’ve read in a while. I’m pretty sure Bowman won’t disappoint.

Reviewed by Landra
Heat Level: Hot