The Pretender (Liars Club, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Celeste Bradley (Author) "She had married Mortimer Applequist on April 7, 1813, in a moment of mingled exasperation and imagination..." (more)
Key Phrases: gaming hell, Lady Winchell, Liar's Club, Lord Etheridge (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Agatha Cunnington needs a man. To more easily search for her missing brother, James, Agatha creates a new identity for herself as Mrs. Mortimer Applequist, but when the always conveniently unavailable Mortimer's presence is required at a social gathering, Agatha grabs the first man she can find to impersonate him. He turns out to be master spy Simon Montague Rain, who has disguised himself as a chimney sweep to sneak into Agatha's home to find evidence of her brother's whereabouts, because not only is James one of his spies but he also disappeared after some of Simon's other agents began turning up murdered. To get closer to Agatha, whom he believes to be James' mistress and accomplice, Simon agrees to pose as Agatha's "husband," but Simon soon finds how easily distracted he is from his real mission by his all-too-tempting new "wife." The first in a new series in which each title will feature a different member of the Liars Club of spies, The Pretender is a witty and delectable combination of superbly crafted characters and an intrigue-steeped plot in which Bradley beautifully manipulates the sinfully sensual yet delicately romantic relationship between Agatha and Simon into an irresistible and supremely satisfying love story. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Funny and touching...totally entertaining." --Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author

"A charming heroine and a dashing spy hero make The Pretender a riveting read...entertained me thoroughly from beginning to end." --Sabrina Jeffries, USA Today bestselling author of After the Abduction

"An entertaining romp...Celeste Bradley uses humor to draw you into the story...a new voice to watch." --Romantic Times

"An engaging, lusty tale, full of adventure and loaded with charm." --Gaelen Foley, USA Today bestselling author of Lord of Ice
-- Review

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (June 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312984855
• ISBN-13: 978-0312984854
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #195,430 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 1 in The Liar's Club Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an excellent beginning to a brilliant new series, October 18, 2003

By	tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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 element taking over -- the spy subplot is not told at the expense of the romance subplot (or vice versa) and neither subplot is hampered by overblown sex scenes or a prose style that will make you hoot with laughter. Indeed, "The Pretender" is an all around excellent read, that should not to be missed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bit of a frustrating mess, August 13, 2006

By	J. Kokoski "big kid" (Ellicott City, MD United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bradley's off to an interesting start with this series. There are several amusing encounters between the hero (Simon) and heroine (Agatha) throughout that show potential for the writers comedic abilities.

But we also get a bogged down story with too much backstory inflicted on the reader for the rest of the series.

I also found myself extremely frustrated with the disjointed political intrique and reasons for keeping these two apart. It's a hodge podge of unbelievable story that simply wouldn't fly in the time period.

Yet the humor and ultimate ending has me intriqued enough to give the rest of the series a chance.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laughter, Tears, Sighs, Nail-biting, everything!, June 11, 2003

By	"hunnee8" (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

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!