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She agreed to the ruse. Love was never part of the bargain.
Miss Rose Astley has never been engaged—secretly or otherwise. Unfortunately, the Duke of Pembroke announced her as his secret intended, and now all of Society is congratulating her on an engagement she most definitely did not accept.
Pembroke claims it was necessary to escape an unwanted arrangement. Rose admittedly understands his reasons but cannot fathom how she became his only solution.
The duke is far too charming for his own good, flirting as easily as he breathes, and blurring the lines between pretense and reality. With every dinner party, trip to the theater, and breathless waltz, Rose reminds herself of the rules they set. Even still, she did not anticipate how difficult it would be to keep her heart out of the arrangement discovering that in the Marriage Mart, nothing is more dangerous than a pretend arrangement that begins to feel too entirely real.
A Clever Ruse is a clean Regency romp with witty banter, a fake engagement, and just enough laughs to keep you reading to the very end.
Oh, how I love a good Regency romance that’s clean, heartwarming, and includes a juicy fake engagement! This was only my second Angela E. Johnson novel, but I’m happy to announce that I’m hooked and found A Clever Ruse to be quite the delightful read! I loved seeing Rose get her happy ending! ❤️
Obviously, the fake engagement pretense and blackmail espionage elements were the highlight of the novel, but I also really enjoyed the witty banter between Bash and Rose! They make the cutest couple, and were so caring and compassionate to one another!
I also loved seeing the characters from the previous (and upcoming) novels in the series, and especially the sisterhood of Rose and her sisters and the brotherhood between Bash and his friends. The added suspense surrounding Violet (Bash’s sister) and her mystery suitor was also a fun addition to the plot!
If you’re looking for a clean Regency romance, definitely check this novel (and the rest of Angela E. Johnson’s stories out! All the Bridgerton-type vibes without the spice! ❤️
✨ Sisters in chaos
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Golden Retriever hero
✨ Fake engagement
✨ The Orangery
✨ Blackmail
✨ A Clever Ruse is the third installment of the “Madcaps of Mayfair” series, but can be read as a standalone. Suitable for young adult readers and older. ✨
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Publisher
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Book #
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Trigger Warnings
She agreed to the ruse. Love was never part of the bargain.
Miss Rose Astley has never been engaged—secretly or otherwise. Unfortunately, the Duke of Pembroke announced her as his secret intended, and now all of Society is congratulating her on an engagement she most definitely did not accept.
Pembroke claims it was necessary to escape an unwanted arrangement. Rose admittedly understands his reasons but cannot fathom how she became his only solution.
The duke is far too charming for his own good, flirting as easily as he breathes, and blurring the lines between pretense and reality. With every dinner party, trip to the theater, and breathless waltz, Rose reminds herself of the rules they set. Even still, she did not anticipate how difficult it would be to keep her heart out of the arrangement discovering that in the Marriage Mart, nothing is more dangerous than a pretend arrangement that begins to feel too entirely real.
A Clever Ruse is a clean Regency romp with witty banter, a fake engagement, and just enough laughs to keep you reading to the very end.
Oh, how I love a good Regency romance that’s clean, heartwarming, and includes a juicy fake engagement! This was only my second Angela E. Johnson novel, but I’m happy to announce that I’m hooked and found A Clever Ruse to be quite the delightful read! I loved seeing Rose get her happy ending! ❤️
Obviously, the fake engagement pretense and blackmail espionage elements were the highlight of the novel, but I also really enjoyed the witty banter between Bash and Rose! They make the cutest couple, and were so caring and compassionate to one another!
I also loved seeing the characters from the previous (and upcoming) novels in the series, and especially the sisterhood of Rose and her sisters and the brotherhood between Bash and his friends. The added suspense surrounding Violet (Bash’s sister) and her mystery suitor was also a fun addition to the plot!
If you’re looking for a clean Regency romance, definitely check this novel (and the rest of Angela E. Johnson’s stories out! All the Bridgerton-type vibes without the spice! ❤️
✨ Sisters in chaos
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Golden Retriever hero
✨ Fake engagement
✨ The Orangery
✨ Blackmail
✨ A Clever Ruse is the third installment of the “Madcaps of Mayfair” series, but can be read as a standalone. Suitable for young adult readers and older. ✨
Stop guessing — find books that actually match your preferences
Filter by intimacy level, tropes, and more in seconds
2700+ books • Filter by exact content levels • Built for closed door readers
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