The Pretender: The Liar's Club

This is actually the 2nd novel I've read by her, but it's the first in the Liar's Club series (I read "The Spy"- book #3 first.) If you love Lisa Kleypas and Teresa Medeiros and Julia Quinn - you'll really love Celeste Bradley's Liar's Club series! Part of the plot twist was spoiled for me here, but I loved reading it anyway and it was still a great entertaining read - I loved this so much I picked up the rest in the series, and the situations her characters get into are hilarious! These definitely aren't light breezy reads to plow through in one day on the beach - the plot and action and character drama constantly unfold on every page - there is never a lull. Favorite scenes include: Agatha catching Simon breaking into a safe at a party, Agatha playing cards w/ the hospital patients, when Agatha keeps attempting to "trap" Simon in his bed chamber, when Agatha finds her brother, when Agatha makes up the story of the "deceased twin", and the introduction to Robbie!!!! from book #3 "the Spy".

The Pretender is my second Celeste Bradley book, and I am hooked. This one has it all: humor (I smiled through so many pages & even laughed out loud a few times), heartbreak, longing, romance, sensuality, suspense, adventure, tenderness, a well-paced plot, and engaging characters.The secondary characters turn up in other books, which is lovely (and these two reappear later) because they are wonderfully drawn (Button & Kurt, for example). Simon is truly dreamy and Agatha is indeed headstrong and quick-thinking. Unfortunately that sometimes gets her into trouble. My only complaint is that Simon didn't hang on to his fake accent long enough and he seemed, for a spymaster, rather slow on the uptake in figuring her out. But, get past that and the book soars. Splendid!

I usually don't like romance novels that are described as humorous, because that usually means ridiculous situations and absurd plots that don't make me laugh at all. I think this is the first romance novel written in this style that has made me laugh. And the best part is, it doesn't take away from the love story.Agatha is incredible. She is smart, witty, independent and very stubborn, when she wants something she doesn't stop until she gets it, and this created some of the funniest scenes in the book. And she was hilarious! I mean, the way she could just spin a tale in a second! The only thing I found a little unbelievable and improbable was her ability with cards. Where would she have learned those tricks? You need to be a seasoned gambler, or at least have had a very good teacher to know how to shuffle cards like a pro and cheat. But aside from that little detail, her character was very believable and likeable.Simon was great too. His character is not as original as Agatha's, he is more your usual romance hero, but he was ok.The story had a little of everything, laughs, tears, sensuality, heartbreaking moments, action and suspense. Very entertaining. I will run to get the next book of this series "The Impostor", since the preview looks very promising and I can't wait to read Dalton's story.

I've just finished "The Pretender" & "The Impostor" (the first two books in Celeste Bradley's The Liar's Club series), and all I can say that Regency romance readers are in for a treat! Finally, we readers are being treated as intelligent people with taste and discrimination. No heroes that make your hands itch for a frying pan, no foolish yet feisty heroines, and no storylines that beggar belief! Instead, we have an interesting and compelling storyline, revolving around a hero who deserves the appellation of 'hero' and a heroine who's intelligent, determined and brave. Miss Agatha Cunnington is in a pickle. Her brother, James, is missing and her greedy neighbour (who also happens to be the executor to her dead father's will) is trying to pressure her into marrying his repulsive son. So, Agatha escapes to London in order to find James. Disguising herself as a married woman (Mrs. Agatha Applequist), Agatha hopes to infiltrate society in order to find the "Griffin," a master spy, whom she suspects knows what has become of James. But her plan hits a snag when because of the suspicions of one particular society matron, she must produce Mr. Applequist and quickly. Fortunately for her, Fate steps in in the shape of a chimney-sweep, Simon Rains. Tall and sinfully handsome, Agatha is sure that if she can pass Simon off as Mr. Applequist, all her troubles will be over. But can she persuade the rough cockney chimney-sweep to cooperate with her plans?Someone is killing off the members of the Liar's Club (a group of rogues and thieves who work as intelligence gatherers for the Crown). And Simon Montague Raines is sure that it is James Cunnington. James has since disappeared, and Simon is sure that Mrs. Applequist (whom he assumes is James's mistress) holds the key to James's whereabouts. All Simon needs to do is to find some way to infiltrate the Applequist household. And what better way than by pretending to be Mr. Applequist? All seems to be proceeding according to plan, that is, until Simon realizes that Agatha is unlike any other lady he's ever met. Never has met so intelligent, devious and determined a lady -- and she's also kind and compassionate to boot. And it doesn't take Simon long to realize just how deep and inappropriate his feelings for Agatha really are. For Simon fully intends to arrest James on the charge of treason as soon as he finds him. And just how this will affect Agatha is something he dares not contemplate...If you like big Regency romance novels -- the ones with sweeping plot-lines that possess a few twists and turns and moments of poignancy, humour and tenderness, with good character development, and a sizzling attraction between the hero and heroine (where neither of them is in denial about their attraction to each other), than you'll really be pleased with "The Pretender." Celeste Bradley is a gem of a writer. Somehow she's managed to incorporate all the elements of what makes a book a good romantic read without letting any one

I absolutely loved this book! Unforgettable hero and heroine (especially the heroine), Simon Raine and Agatha Cunnington will leave you laughing out loud, sighing with delight and crying from the powerful emotion evoked. Like the reviewer before me, I don't want to talk much about the plot because it would be difficult to do so without accidently spilling plot twists and the sweet and funny bits. The attraction between the couple is so amazing and powerful, you just couldn't get enough of them! Agatha's unconventional beauty is refreshing and such a delight, you will just fall in love with her! Simon's frustration at his uncontrolled attraction to Agatha and not to mention his past, makes him the most endearing hero you could ever get! Celeste Bradley's quirky narrative and snappy dialogue, plus the nerve-racking plot made this book an absolute page-turner.This story has the combination of incredible love, sacrifice, comedy, suspense (extreme) and twists with a wonderful finale that will make you hug the book once you have finished. Finally, excellent supporting characters lift the story and moves it along, filling the gaps to make the story whole. There is just so much to this story that I could go on forever! A MUST READ!