Pretender to Love

by Zabrina Fiare and Zabrina Faire

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 044694467X
• ISBN13: 9780446944670
• Release Date: September 1982
• Publisher: Warner Books
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent and interesting storyline

I am reading all my Zabrina Faire books (I have them all!) - my favorite still being "The Wicked Cousin" - and enjoying her wonderful writing style. Zabrina Faire (aka Florence Stevenson) wrote under several pseudonyms. Sometimes her Regencies border on gothic but this particular one did not. It was a traditional regency ... with a twist. Julia, a penniless governess, has just lost another position. Circumstances (in some cases her beauty!) have prevented her from finding long term employment. Along comes her school friend Flora who, along with her brother, devises a scheme that will net her a little money and help Flora's brother Frederick. Julia just has to pose as Frederick's fiancé for a short time. That way "old" Uncle Randal will not write his nephew out of his will. Since Uncle Randal (the Earl of Combe) caught wind of Frederick's infatuation with an actress, there is danger another nephew will be chosen as heir. Julia unwillingly takes on the task and in traveling to "old" Uncle Randal's estate finds a man who is not old but definitely ill. The doctor has urged a sea voyage to restore his health and Julia finds herself taking the voyage too! There is a storm and Julia and the Earl end up overboard and washed away. The remainder of the story is their adventures after being rescued by an old woman. There is some sadness in the story as this good woman is lost to them. Also Julia and Randal fight a growing attraction to each other. Julia is horrified that she perpetrated such a lie about being Frederick's fiancé and Randal cannot dishonor his nephew's fiancé! What a quandary! There is some fun near the end - after all, the Earl was given up for dead and now that he is not there are some explanations required. Why is that actress at the Earl's estate for one! And will the Earl marry his friend's daughter that they met on the trip home? Julia feels that the Earl will never return her feelings after he learns of her lie! Can he? Read this delightful story and find out. Highly recommend.