They thought they could fool everyone with a fake courtship, but they may be fooling only themselves...
Alexandra Atkinson prides herself on being in control. It’s why she’s such an asset to her father’s investment firm—along with her utter lack of a social life and her talent for spotting successful ventures for investors. But with her father nearing retirement and the board unwilling to have a female head, Alex could lose everything . . .
After his business partner burned him, Lucien Taylor is determined to start over. But he doesn’t know how until his childhood friend’s sister, Alexandra Atkinson, comes to him with a most unusual proposal: She’ll help Lucien find the funding he needs if he pretends to court her long enough to secure her claim to her father’s company.
But Alex and Lucien soon realize they didn’t quite account for all the details in their arrangement—like how they can undo each other with just a look. And the more time they spend together, the more the intensity shimmering between them can’t be controlled. Not even by Alex. And if they give in? Well, she’s not sure which of them will be in more trouble . . . but she’s willing to find out.
Alexandra Atkinson prides herself on being in control. It’s why she’s such an asset to her father’s investment firm—along with her utter lack of a social life and her talent for spotting successful ventures for investors. But with her father nearing retirement and the board unwilling to have a female head, Alex could lose everything . . .
After his business partner burned him, Lucien Taylor is determined to start over. But he doesn’t know how until his childhood friend’s sister, Alexandra Atkinson, comes to him with a most unusual proposal: She’ll help Lucien find the funding he needs if he pretends to court her long enough to secure her claim to her father’s company.
But Alex and Lucien soon realize they didn’t quite account for all the details in their arrangement—like how they can undo each other with just a look. And the more time they spend together, the more the intensity shimmering between them can’t be controlled. Not even by Alex. And if they give in? Well, she’s not sure which of them will be in more trouble . . . but she’s willing to find out.
Title: Is This Real or Just Pretend
Author: Emily Sullivan
Publisher: Forever Grand Central Publishing
Expected Publication Date: September 9, 2025
Review:
Thank you to Forever Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series. There's just something about period romance that gets me going. I love the Bridgerton world and Sullivan's books really hit that spot for me.
This book was Alexandra Atkison's turn to find some love. I wasn't sure I'd like her having met her in the first book and finding her to be very standoffish. But Sullivan did a great job of showing her inner thinking in this book. She actually may be my favorite Atkinson sister. Alex has so much more underneath that frosty exterior but she hasn't really ever shown it. She believes she's been good for just one thing: helping her father run his business. She doesn't think she's built for love or for someone to find her lovable. But she's a powerhouse of thinking and business acumen. It makes her a worthy opponent to the field of men among whom she works. Then Lucien Taylor comes back to town and her world is turned upside down. She knows he's always loved her sister, but she needs a partner to show she's stable. Proposing a fake courtship seems like the right thing to do. She doesn't expect to catch feelings for him. Nor does she expect him to return those feelings.
Lucien has come back to town to visit his sick father. He's tucked his tail between his legs for a business that didn't work out because his business partner wasn't who Lucien thought he was and left him high and dry. He doesn't expect to see his childhood crush or to have dealings with her sister. But Alex makes him an offer he can't refuse: fake courtship and she'll pay him for it so he can get his business back off the town. He doesn't expect to enjoy his time with her or to realize he's falling for her when he's always loved her sister. I really loved Lucien so much. He's a bit naive on some things but worldly with others. He really understands Alex, too, when no one else ever seems to.
Sullivan infuses romance and spice with some great plot points. I love the intrigue she's brought into this series with just the bit of mystery from some not so nice villains. It created some good tension and great expectations for what lies ahead. I expect to see more of this with Freddie's book. And I loved how she introduced pieces from the next story but doesn't give too much away just to keep me on my toes and want to have it in my hands. Sullivan also has on point pacing. I tore through the book, never really wanting to put it down.
Sullivan gives the reader a great story line with intense chemistry between her characters. While it's not necessary to read the first book to understand this one, I loved that I knew the background Sullivan continued to give us. There's banter and romance and just the right amount of spice. I'm really looking forward to more stories in this world and other stories from Sullivan in the future.
Author:
Emily Sullivan is an award-winning author of historical romance and mysteries set in the late Victorian period. Her books have received multiple starred reviews from trade journals including Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and have been praised in publications such as Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, Parade, Self, and Bookpage.
She lives in New England with her family, where she enjoys reading about history and writing about rebellious women.
She lives in New England with her family, where she enjoys reading about history and writing about rebellious women.
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