Review
Jason Granville, Viscount Tarrant, needs a woman. As heir to his father's earldom, Jason is being forced into a marriage he has absolutely no intention of honoring, therefore, he has devised a plan. What better way to defer his family's good intentions than to pretend that he's fallen madly in love with a country local and announce an engagement of his own design? Once the family has resigned itself to the arrangement, the young lady would then suddenly have a change of heart, leaving him too distraught to possibly consider another match anytime in the immediate future. Satisfied that he's come up with the perfect plan, Jason places an add in several neighboring periodicals for the one essential element in this perfect plan - a willing, yet suitable, young lady that will agree to this unorthodox scheme. Miss Aurelie Carrollan is stuck. In just three months her twenty-first birthday will arrive and Aurelie will be out from under the oppressive guardianship of her mother's step-brother. But in the meantime, the hateful man is determined to marry her off to the highest bidder. Taken to drab clothing and hideously thick spectacles, she's managed to scare off the majority of would-be suitors, leaving only the attentions of a few hapless swain eager to get their hands on her inheritance. The notice in the newspaper provides a source of hope and Aurelie answers it without a moment's hesitation. Finding herself face-to-face with the dashing viscount, Aurelie cautions her rapidly beating heart to remember her purpose. And the look of distaste that crosses his face as he looks her over, further dispels any fanciful notions. That is, until he casually informs her that she has not answered an advertisement for a governess, as she'd been led to believe, but one to personate as his fiancée - for a fee, of course. Aurelie is dumbfounded. Never has she encountered such a proposition and she finds the situation in extremely bad taste. Ever the charmer, Jason manages to persuade Aurelie that his intentions are honorable and that she would be doing him a tremendous service. His resolve is soon to be shaken, however, at first glance of the real Aurelie. Radiant in her new fashionable gown, sans the spectacles, she looks nothing like the plain mouse he hired and he questions the sanity of his plan. Jason and Aurelie are beautifully matched lovers, complimenting each other like music and fine wine. The reader is absolutely helpless when it comes to falling in love with this couple's riveting story.Sparkling debut! Choice Deceptions marks the beginning of what is sure to be a star-studded career. Emma Jensen is a name to look for when it comes to novels you'll cherish. Choice Deceptions is classic romance done with undeniable style.Lori Wright --
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From Literary Times
From the Inside Flap
THEY COULD FOOL THE PUBLIC, BUT NOT THEIR HEARTS. . . .
Lord Tarrant needed a woman. Aurelie Carollan needed a place to hide. Her advertisement and his offer seemed to ensure that both parties would get what they so desperately desired.
He would get a faux fiancée in an orchestrated deception to avoid a dreadful matchmaking attempt. And she would find heaven-sent sanctuary from the evil machinations of greedy relatives.
But against her better judgment, Aurelie is boldly curious about the man behind the saturnine manner and mercurial moods, beginning to view him less as a partner in crime and more as a man destined to wreak havoc with her best-laid plans . . . and her heart!