Fleeing her life as renowned actress Ruby Chadwick, Lavinia underestimates how difficult it would be to leave London with her older companions. Reluctantly returning home, Lucas is moved to join a charade that will change his life.

These characters are just plain adorable. Lavinia's tendency to play a character in whatever situation she faced was realistic and fun. Lucas' reaction to her was believable if more honorable than one might expect.

The plot moved along at an excellent pace. The romance was not love at first sight, which was refreshing, although it did happen fast. If there was anything that did rub me wrong, it was the ending, which seemed sudden and the acceptance of Lucas' family a little out of the realm of believability.

Overall, this was as sweet Regency romance and very well written. I would recommend it to any Regency fans looking for a clean read.

Such a lovely story. I read a lot of Regency romance and this one was very original. Definitely not the usual balls and stuff like that.

Lucas and Lavinia were great main characters, and I loved to see how their relationship progressed from something convenient to them, to something they didn't expect.
The secondary characters were a great addition, Lavinia's little group and Lucas' family.
Beautiful ending.
Highly recommend.

Awwwwwwwwww!!! *sigh* I loved this book, and to tell you the truth it was a pleasant surprise. Not that I had any doubt in Karen Tuft's spectacular writing, but the plot wasn't something I thought I'd overly care for. I love this kind of historical drama. Set in my homeland. Honour & loyalty beat out despair and hopelessness. The idea behind it has been done many times - random unwitting member of the gentry, comes to the aid of helpless female in dire need of protection or other such assistance. Pretend marriage or acquaintance - fall in love. However the way in which this was achieved was spectacular & unique. I was engaged from the very first page and could not put this book down.

It's always hard to do it justice, without over playing it in order for another reader to not approach it with overly high expectations. Sometimes I wonder if that's the beauty of a good book. There is magic in the unknown.

Leading an absurd group of travelers is Lavinia Fernley, who was for many years the infamous Ruby Chadwick - The Darling of Drury Lane. She hails from the Theatre District of London, and her talent and unique beauty (namely stunning and rare head of red hair) has propelled her into celebrity status. Pursued by a multitude of men for years, including the awful Earl of Cosgrove, who has outdone them all and is insistent she become his mistress. Celebrity is not what it is today, back then it was something the aristocracy of England cared little outside of the theatre where it belonged, and certainly did not run in their illustrious social circles.

Lavinia is repulsed by the unsolicited attentions of the men that she is subjected to. Has been her whole life. Her little band of misfits have stuck together to support each other and now they are planning an escape out of London. Will she be able to blow Cosgrove off her scent?

Lucas Jennings is a younger son of a Viscount and after 7 years of fighting for his country in Spain, he is back on English soil and preparing to return to his family seat of Alderwood, Lincolnshire. It may have been years, but has it been enough time to heal his heart? Broken by his childhood sweetheart who up and married his eldest brother, the one that receives the title and the estate, mere months after his departure to Cambridge. As he sits pondering this in the White Horse Inn, north of London -a mysterious middle aged woman launches herself at him, declaring him to be her husband!

This is a clear 5 star recommendation from me. Clean, beautiful love story of finding healing and trust, this definitely goes to the top of my list for 2018. (Yes, I know we are only in January, but I've read enough to know pure quality when I find it!)

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC. This is my honest review.

The title of The Gentleman’s Deception does not begin as our Lucas Jennings’s deception, but as Lavinia Fernley or Ruby Chadwick’s deception. Lavinia and her elderly theatrical friends are trying to get away from theater and lead what they presume to be a normal life when Lavinia learns she has inherited Primrose Farm. One of the people she most wants to get away from is the Earl of Cosgrove, who refuses to take no for an answer. He wants ‘Ruby’ as his mistress and will do anything to have her, apparently.

This book fairly quickly becomes Lucas’s deception due to his pride. But, Lucas is a gentleman through and though. He proves it time after time in his dealings with Lavinia, his family and even with Lord Cosgrove. Several times Lucas complimented Lavinia on how she handled situations, but he kept his cool, too, in difficult times.

As Lavinia and Lucas were together more and came to love and respect each other, you saw them develop a careful trust. They just needed a bit more confidence in their relationship which did develop mover time. Yet, you have that little bit of confusion that adds to the story before they get to their HEA.

Lavinia’s theatrical friends were hilarious and portrayed as such. There is no way they will ever give up theatrics completely. Ms. Tuft wrote them in such as way as to help them keep you entertained even as they entertained children and adults around them. I love the way Ms. Tuft brought Lavinia and Isobel’s relationship together to help rebuild the relationship between Lucas, his brother and Isobel. It was beautiful. I, also, appreciate the way Lavinia explained kissing to Lucas – sweet and endearing of her character.

Lucas’s whole family are just good people. You see the love they have for each other even though Lucas is reticent about returning home. Even as his brothers begin showing up to see him, they make fun of each other, speak of the idiosyncrasies of each other, but support each other, too. Even when it appears Simon has betrayed a trust, he is given the opportunity to explain with out tremendous anger.

This is a great stand alone book, but I did enjoy having read The Earl’s Betrothal first so I knew of the relationship between the earl and Lucas, although it really did not have a bearing on this book. Ms. Tuft writes a beautiful romance that centers on caring and loving relationships rather than the sensual. I appreciate that. If you have not discovered Karen Tuft, yet, this is a great time to start.

While this is one of my favorite genres to read- Regency romance, I haven't read many with an actress as the main character, so I was intrigued to learn more about the details of that life. I found it interesting that Lavinia had to "escape" to a new life that is more respectable in order to keep men from pursuing her. I enjoyed her character and her relationship with Lucas, even though their deception provided conflict and uncertainty. The cast of supporting characters rounded out the story and it was fun to see how everything worked out in the end. Recommend to fans of Regency romance and sweet romance!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

I really couldn't get into this book. And the blurb seemed so interesting when I read it too.

Really enjoyed the novel and characters. Definitely wanting to look into more novels by the author. It ended a little too soon with Minor details that I would have enjoyed answered. It also had the overly happy ever after but sometimes that's okay.