A Counterfeit Betrothal/The Notorious Rake

By Mary Balogh

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Mary Balogh presents two of her classic Regency-era romances--seductive tales of ladies who are running away from love . . . and rogues who enjoy the chase. A COUNTERFEIT BETROTHAL Lady Sophia Bryant has no intention of marrying anytime soon. Her one desire is to reunite her parents, who have been estranged for fourteen years. Surely, if she happens to announce her betrothal--even a false one--they will be forced to see each other. Devilishly handsome Lord Francis Sutton seems perfect for such deceit, always agreeable to games of passion in which he has nothing to lose. The trap is set--if only Lady Sophia can keep her foolish heart from falling prey to her brilliant snares. THE NOTORIOUS RAKE Lord Edmund Waite is everything that Lady Mary Gregg despises: lewd, lascivious, mocking--the most incorrigible and successful rogue around. A bluestocking like her would never tempt a man whose taste runs to pretty playthings--so Mary is startled to find herself the object of Lord Edmund's desires. Even more surprising is her reaction to his shocking advances. She may be a lady, but this man knows so well how to make her feel like a woman. Includes excerpts of The Proposal and The Arrangement by Mary Balogh

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440245478
• ISBN13: 9780440245476
• Release Date: April 2013
• Publisher: Dell
• Length: 560 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Very early work and not her best

The first story begins as if the partners in the betrothal are the focus of the plot. They are not, and thank goodness, as they are shallow, immature and birdbrained. The real story follows the bride to be’s parents, but it is rather humorless and frustrating. The second story, which is a sequel, also deals with wasted lives/time, but again there is little humor and the characters are rather stilted. Not her best work, but probably one of her earliest. I have seen her use similar devices to much better effect in later work.