Karen Tuft is a favorite author of mine and The Gentleman's Deception may be my new favorite of her books. It is so good. I can always rely on Karen Tuft to write real, but lovable characters, stories that keep me turning the pages, and romance that leaves me swooning. If you love Regency era romance, definitely read Karen Tuft. You will not be disappointed. 5 stars

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

Lavinia needs to escape her past. Lucas prefers to face his past with a fiancee by his side. A chance meeting provides each with salvation in the form of each other - but how can a relationship built on lies and deception turn into something real?

Well, with great ease, apparently. With many shenanigans and drama along the way, this is a fun fake relationship romance. I enjoyed how they got to know each other and helped each other out. I also appreciate the family reconciliation and difficult conversations that resulted. A touching and genuine romance.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book via NetGalley but all opinions are my own

I quite enjoy regency books, it's always interesting to see how different the times were in comparison to now. I also enjoy fake romances cause you always know how it ends but it's interesting to see how it happens. This book served me with both. It was such delightful read. I liked the characters, I liked the relationships between them, family, friendship and of course romance. I laughed out loud several times as I read through the book and I didn't want to put it down. Near the end however there was a part were I could no longer suspend my disbelief, but the ending was still great.

Thanks to Netgalley and Covenant Communications for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is saved from romance tropes by lively and intelligent writing, and a heroine that manages to be incredibly likable without being cloying.

This book was a great regency romance. I enjoyed the way our two main characters found each other, first with one deception, then another.

Parts of the story brought to life harsh facts of the time period. It made me very grateful for my rights as a woman in this day and age.

The supporting characters were quite hilarious, and I loved the way they were family to our protagonist.

The romance was sweet and despite all the mishaps and misunderstandings I really enjoyed the happily ever after ending.

Lavinia was a very likable character, you cant help rooting for her from the beginning. And Lucas was all that a hero should be! I loved these two together. I especially loved the way their story unfolded. Fun chemistry, but I loved the friendship they had. I loved the supporting cast, Lucas' family and Laviania motely crew.

Overall, this is a very charming and fun story. Well paced and kept me turning the pages eager to see how things would unfold. I really hope Ms. Tuft continues to write regencies, she really has a knack for it!

A secret that she is unwilling to share, running from a life she no longer wants, hoping that no one will recognize her. Having a gentleman ready to help you. This book was a quick read for me

The Gentlemen's Deception Is such a fascinating story. You have poor dear Lavina/ruby. She is/was an actress and wants out. So she can get away from the many icky unwanted advance's from the men that go to the theater. So she has to sneak away to start her life and in doing so she had to pretend to be engaged to poor Lucas - whom she did not know - can you imagine Lucas? Then the Tables were turned. She had to pretend she was his fiance around his family and so it goes on and on and feelings started to occur. How will he feel about her when he finds out the truth about her past? Will she tell him? What is his past?

This is a sweet Regency about two people that have had to invent their lives due to necessity. They are no one's heir. They have no titles to speak of. An actress and an infantryman is all they are, yet they are so likeable and cute together you just hope they can somehow find their way to each other and to make a living.
However, there's more to the story. Each of them has a turn pushing the other into some play acting to camophlage some truths that they really don't want revealed. But really, this just makes the story all the more fun.

This was a clean romance. I loved the storyline of Libby being an actress and Lucas the returned solider falling in love while playing at a pretend betrothal. Lucas was a dashing hero and Laconia the damsel in distress but not in the overdone ways. I loved the supporting Jennings family and lights actor friends to round out the characters. I would love the continuation of these secondary characters in other book is especially the sister, Susan, and seamstress Hannah. Great read and appreciated the s soon worthy romance that was PG.

The Gentleman's Deception is a good read. Many Recency fans will want to add this one to their wish list. Most definitely a must read.
4 1/2 stars

What a fun book this was to read. Ruby Chadwick, The Darling of Drury Lane, wants to retire from the spotlight. She's tired of pretending to be someone else, and fending off the advances of men who don't really care about her (Lavinia Fernley), just Ruby the actress. She hatches a plan to sneak out of town after her latest show but she gets separated from her three friends (Delia, Artie and Hannah) because they go to the wrong inn where they're to spend the night. This leads to her literally running into Lucas Jennings' arms, to avoid some friends of lord Cosgrove, and telling him to pretend to be her husband!! This is only the beginning of this fun Regency romance.

Lavinia and Lucas get to know each other on their way to the farm where she and her friends are going to live, but when they get to the farm it's not at all what Lavinia had pictured in her mind. Lucas, ever the gentleman, can't leave her and her three elderly friends in the uninhabitable house, so he invites them to stay at his family's home, where he unexpectedly introduces Lavinia as his fiancée!! Ever the actress Lavinia plays along. Of course the truth eventually comes out, but it all works out in the end for everyone.

I thought this was a delightful read. Lavinia's "friends" are the only family she has left--Hannah was her nursemaid and helped keep her from the ugly side of the acting world while she grew up. Delia and Artie are long-time actors she's known since she was a child. Delia and Artie have their idiosyncrasies which I found brought humor to the story. They've been actors so long it's almost like they can't turn it off and be normal people.

I liked both of the main characters--Lavinia and Lucas. You can see Lavinia and Lucas falling in love with each other on the journey. They each have issues to overcome--she had a different upbringing since her father was an actor and she followed in his footsteps, and Lucas isn't the oldest son so he isn't titled so he chose to join the military. He's just returning home after years of being away. He feels he doesn't have much to offer a wife since he has no title, and no source of income since he's left the military.

This book has a lot of heart and quite a few laughs. It's definitely a clean romance. Karen Tuft is a new author to me but I think I'll be reading other books by her. Thanks to NetGalley for my review copy. All thoughts in my review are my own.

I have read the Earl's Betrothal & was excited to see Lucas get his own story. I didn't want to put this book down. I was so caught up in the story I stayed up until 1:30! I chuckled when Lavina lied about Lucas being her husband & laughed out loud when he used a similar lie! The characters were so likable, I was pulling for them to figure everything out..

Lavinia is trying to start a new life. She has grown up in the theatre as a polished actress. Now, she has tired of all the lecherous men that are fighting to conquer her virtue.
Luck is a soldier returning home from the war in Spain. He is glad to return home but fears he has nothing to show for being gone seven years.
These two characters will meet and change each other's futures.
Loved this story. It's romantic, has intrigue, humor, love, loyalty and so much more. An endearing read . I loved the characters and would be delighted to meet them if they existed!
5 Stars

This was a wonderful regency that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters weren't your typical regency players, but I loved this view into another portion of Regency England. I enjoyed the characters, especially the quirky thespians. This was sweet and clean, I'd rate it PG, if not G.

Fake husband, fake fiances, fake identities, fake charades...true characters, true friendships, true hearts, true love.

Oh, how I loved this book. Such a fun group of characters who find themselves stuck in a charade when all they want to do is be free of charades. When the heart has been taught not to trust though, it is going to take a lot of courage, friendship, a true gentleman and love to help heal those wounds.

Right from the beginning, the stage is set, the players introduced and I was a happy and willing spectator watching it all unfold before my eyes. Ruby is a spitfire, a larger than life character and she was so fun to watch perform her roles from the beginning and to have her true character and heart revealed. She was a truly great character to read about. A true friend who is very loyal to those who have watched over and protected her since childhood. Her friends are great comical relief throughout the book and just all around splendid characters. I would love to find myself on a carriage ride with them, or better yet, having an afternoon out on the lawn participating in their antics.

Delia, Artie and Hannah have watched over Lavinia since she was little. They have stuck close to her side protecting her as she took on the persona of Ruby, and will not leave her side, they will always protect her. Every time they started to talk, I couldn't help but sit on the edge of my seat waiting for some blunder to come out of Artie's mouth to reveal their identities. Or anticipating something truly fun, honest and humorous to be shared. Delia was a gem, a funny gem. And a very sneaky one too. She wasn't as abrupt as Artie was and I loved trying to guess what she was up to and what trick she was going to play next.

Lucas was a true gent. He had many unresolved pains from his past that were haunting him. He kept putting off the inevitable or returning home to his family after fighting in the war in Spain for 7 years. He can't save face if he does. He has nothing to show for his life except pain and the memories of war. When he returns home, he will feel like a failure around all his siblings who are thriving in their life choices.

A crowded inn, danger, hidden identity, an impetuous decision, a recognition. All these things send Lavinia running into the arms of the tall man in the corner. With a prayer in her heart she just reacts without truly considering the consequences except to protect herself. Landing in Lucas' arms and declaring him her husband seemed like a great idea in the moment. But once she realizes what all the repercussions could be she is unsure of her choice. But she must play it out if she is going to survive and be able to hide away from all of London.

Once started, a deception is hard to cover up and as it keeps on, there must be more deception and cover up, causing a tangled web of deceit. How far must Lavinia and Lucas go into this web to protect all hearts at stake?

Such a fun book about friendships, familial relationships, and discovering true love. One I am definitely going to be rereading and recommending to friends. It will probably find its own special spot on my bookshelf at home. The author has another book, The Earl's Betrothal, that is about Lucas' friend from the war and takes place before this book does.

Content: Clean.

I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

This is a Romance with a similar storyline as many other books; when a couple pretends to be betrothed... and then really fall in love. However, this was told well and different than most of the regency romance books I’ve read lately. It was very refreshing. It’s cute, quick, and clean. The characters were well liked, and I found myself smiling and not wanting to put it down. I’d recommend this to anyone who likes fluffy regency romance novels, like me

I enjoyed this book. The characters were personable. I enjoyed the humor of Lavinia's friends. I also enjoyed the story of two people (Lavinia and Lucas) helping each other through their separate deceptions, and finding love along the way. The ending may have been resolved a little too simply to be entirely realistic, but it is a romance and is supposed to be happily ever after!

I loved the story line of this one. It totally felt like a Georgette Heyer plot. Some twists and turns and mistaken identity. I thought it was very fun. I loved the characters and found my self finding any possible moments to fit in another chapter. A fun clean regency romance with interesting characters that will take you for a fun ride. It felt like it should be part of a series. With so many brothers and unmarried sisters I wouldn't mind getting to revisit this family again so what happens next.

Lavinia Fernley, born and raised an actress, has been hugely successful with her roles in plays but also in the persona she has created for herself, Ruby Chadwick, the Darling of Drury Lane. Having inherited a farm from a distant relation, she is ready to give up her life as an actress and the men desperate to possess her and live a life of solitude. As she tries to disappear from London, however, she is nearly discovered--and in order to not blow her cover, she throws takes a chance and throws herself at an unknown gentleman. Lucas Jennings is shocked when a woman calls him her husband, but as a gentleman, he can't turn away a lady in need. And since he's not really keen on returning home to see his successful siblings and all that they've accomplished, he doesn't mind delaying his journey to help Lavinia and her companions reach their new home, and when in a moment of spite, he tells his family Lavinia is his fianceé, he can't bring himself to regret it.

This was such a delight to read. I loved the secondary characters--Lavinia's actor friend were a hoot--and I thought the plot moved along well. Both Lavinia and Lucas were well-developed; the reasons why they acted how they did were plausible. Although you don't have to read Karen Tuft's book The Earl's Betrothal before this one, it does have characters from that book, which made it even more fun for me. Highly enjoyable read!

I read a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.