So, so intriguing! A body swap set in Regency England! It’s really a brilliant idea and the author made an exceptionally good job at developing it, particularly because in that time the roles of men and women and society’s expectations for them were very different. I was intrigued by Simon having to deal with the typical problems of a young woman, both of the physical and emotional types, and I laughed quite a lot when Emma had to do the same with Simon’s male friends. I didn’t miss the steam as I thought I would, because there are a couple of good kissing scenes and I think I’d have found it creepy if they engaged in physical relations during the body swap. I loved the writing very much and the characters, both main and side ones, were vivid and captivating. I look forward to the other books of the series.

"The Lord Pretender" by Sawyer North is a delightful and inventive Regency romance filled with wit, intrigue, and a dash of magical mischief. Emma Watts, determined to seek revenge on the notorious Prometheans' Club, finds herself entangled with Simon, the Earl of Blackburn, whose perspectives shift dramatically after a twist of fate leaves them in each other's bodies. As they navigate their newfound predicament, sparks fly and unexpected connections deepen. North masterfully blends humor, romance, and suspense, creating a captivating tale that keeps readers enthralled until the very end. With its charming characters and clever plot twists, "The Lord Pretender" is a must-read for fans of historical romance.

A Freaky Friday type switch but between Emma' and Simon. I loved, loved it. She is trying to get revenge and he's trying to not let her do that. This story line was fresh and lovely. Don't miss it!

The Lord pretender by Sawyer North was a fun read I enjoyed this light hearted book. This book follows Emma Watts and The Earl of Blackburn better known as Simon. They are both connected to the Prometheans Club, Emma's father had joined and gambled away his wealth leaving Emma cast out of society with nothing. Simon is a member of the Prometheans Club and he keeps running into Emma who is hellbent on revenge on the notorious club. Simon discovers that some chit is trying to destroy the club by uncovering dirt on other club members, As the story continues they end up switching bodies. I liked this book it really kept me entertained and it really did give off Freaky Friday vibes. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This was such a fun book. I love a good revenge story and it was a premise I've barely seen. My only critique would be that the pacing was a little slow in the beginning. Other than that, this made a long layover way more fun! Would recommend, and can't wait for number 2!

Think a Historical Romance version of Freaky Friday with a dash of revenge, and a romance twist. While that particular aspect (the body swap...err, spirit swap?) was unexpected, and a but unusual, it served its purpose in showing them both what it was really like to walk in the others shoes, live in their stations, love in their time. Emma and Simon are characters you can't help but love, even when one is out to get the other for reasons that seem perfectly sound...at the time...but their eventual coming together isn't just a matter of feelings confessed. It's something on a BIGGER scale, more befitting their stations and circumstances that certainly makes a splash! A few moments, but nothing overtly steamy.

I loved the premise of this book. It's not everyday I come across a body swap historical romance. This is my first book by this author, but I will be looking for more. I only wish there were a few more liberties taken when it came to their discoveries of their new bodies! overall, a really good read!

Emma Watts with her sister and mother had to move out of her home when her father died and left them with out funds. They moved in with her aunt but in an area that was lower in class and she blames the club that her father belonged to not knowing the circumstance that brought him to his debtors end. She blames the men of the club and she is determined to find some negative things she can use against them.
Simon the Earl of Blackburn is a member of the Prometheans’ Club and it is his duty to find this person who is trying to get negative gossip on the members. At the same time he has met Emma and is attracted to her not knowing that she's the one he is looking for. The story goes on to find the true about her father and the club and the Earl who she is attracted to. Thank NetGalley for the chance to read this story.

I did not read the synopsis of this book and, therefore, did not know it had a Freaky Friday/body swap element...and I loved it! Also, I didn't know that the author is male, which is super rare in historical romance. This book was so much fun. I love the body swap element and how the two characters handle it, especially since it is a male/female swap. This lead to some very funny discussions. This is a sweet/clean romance and really focuses on these two characters having to understand the world that the other inhabits. A really fun and unique way of putting somebody in another person's shoes. Can not wait to read more in this series.

Mr. Sawyer is a new-to-me author and I was excited to try this book out. I have to admit, I was a tiny bit skeptical as I have not read many romances written by male authors, as it is a predominantly female dominated genre, but the few I have read I did indeed enjoy. This one also did not disappoint! Mr. Sawyer did a nice job of creating the scenes with his detailed descriptions and really bringing the story and characters to life.
After her father gambled away her prospects, Emma is out for revenge against the members of the Prometheans’ Club for leading her father to complete ruin. When Simon, the Earl of Blackburn and a member of the club, hears about a woman looking into the club's members, he volunteers to take care of the situation. Then on a stormy night the unfathomable happens, and both Emma and Simon's lives are changed - or should I say exchanged! Things start to get really interesting from there...
This was a unique story that gave off Freaky Friday vibes, which definitely made things a bit more interesting. I haven't seen that plot brought into regencies, so it brought a nice twist to the story in which the characters had a chance to really see and experience society in the each other's points of view. It was very cleverly done! It is a clean, light-hearted romance with well-developed and entertaining characters and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The humor throughout was well done and the witty dialogue kept me smiling. A very enjoyable read!
I received a complimentary copy from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Ok so I will admit I must have missed reading in the preview about switching lives….. I almost dnf, but I thought I’ll read on until i just can’t. I am very happy to say that never happened. The characters were written so well and the storyline was so smooth and had me turning pages quickly. I truly enjoyed this book and would love to see if this becomes a series with her friends.

Set in 1814 London, The Lord Pretender is fascinating in that lead characters find themselves swapping bodies early in the story and having to get used to the complications that arise. Simon made me laugh the first time he had to undress Emma’s body. His thought process is so typically that of a boy: Don’t look,” he tells himself when confronted with a mirror, but of course he looked. The body swap enabled author Sawyer North to examine a host of prejudices and misconceptions both from the perspective of men and women and from the perspective of privileged and impoverished. The story in which all this takes place is entertaining and moves at a clipping place. My only beef is that at time one character or the other labour’s their point a little more than necessary.

This story sounded like a lot of fun. Not only is it a historical romance revolving around revenge, but then you add the paranormal aspect of switching bodies and it just sounds like a good time. However, I had a very hard time with this story. It was just too slow moving for me. Things don’t really take off until about the halfway point. The first half is just Emma going on and on about how the Promethean’s were to blame for her father’s gambling problem. I just wasn’t really a huge fan of Emma’s if I’m being honest, and that also made the book feel drawn out. However, with that being said, the story did pick up for me once they switched bodies and started to actually see the life the other person lives. That was when I felt like the story really started to get interesting. From Emma going to boxing day (where the members box each other) to Simon getting his first period. Those were the moments that I found most interesting and kept me reading.

While the first half of the story was a bit slower than I would like, I did find the story as a whole interesting. I do wish that there was actually a romance in this story and maybe more time spent in the swapped bodies, though. I think anyone who is looking for a historical read with a paranormal twist might find this story to their liking.

The Lord Pretender by Sawyer North is the first book of the Red Lion Ladies. Emma Watts’ father joined the notorious Prometheans’ Club and gambled away all of Emma and her family’s prospects. Emma must do what needs to be done. She plans on taking revenge on the members of the club. Simon, the Earl of Blackburn, is the most prominent member of the club. When he learns that a mystery woman is digging up dirt on his fellow members, he is determined to discover her identity and ruin her. Both Emma’s and Simon’s plans go awry when a freaky thunderstorm causes them to switch bodies.

This is definitely different than any other historical romance I’ve read. The whole ‘Freaky Friday’ spin was funny and entertaining. I wish I connected more with the characters, though.

I was really enjoying this one, it had all the promise of an excellent enemies to lovers romance. Then there was this freaky Friday moment. If you aren’t familiar, they literally switch bodies. I won’t spoil how it happened but it does.

Once that occurred I was a little thrown. I wanted to DNF at first because I just wasn’t into it. However I found myself compelled to continue reading. Even though I wasn’t a fan of the body swap, I actually really enjoyed the characters. So aside from all the confusing ways in which you had to try an remember they were in each other’s bodies, (the characters themselves had issues), I enjoyed it. I’d love to read other stories about the friends, Dodie, and the dragon in the future!

3.5 stars rounded up!

I am often delighted by surprises in writing, but this one hit me like a brick. I did not see the twists of this story coming. I was delighted by the unique voice of the author. My first male regency author, he provided a fresh perspective that was as surprising as it was delightful. The descriptive style of writing truly brought each scene to life, each character a pure visual in mind. I found myself drawn more with every page, not wanting the story to end. I hope we will have many more stories from this group, as surely each tale begs to be told of the ladies of the Order of the Red Lion, as well as the few noble Prometheans. I am not always a fan of retellings, but in this case it was truly a unique story. A new invention rather than a simple twist. I can’t wait to read more!

This is a truly unique Regency romance. It starts off with the h, Emma, who has lost her father and blames his death on his involvement with a group of wealthy lords called the Prometheans. Her father gambled away the family's savings, and she and the other women in her family have been cast into poverty because of it. She has sworn to avenge her father's death by dragging the names of the club's titled followers through the mud.

The H, Simon, a loyal member of the Prometheans, uncovers what Emma is trying to do. The catch is, he's met her twice previously--under random, although somewhat steamy, circumstances. He and Emma have an undeniable attraction, but are completely unaware of each other's identity for about the first quarter of the book. These chapters are my favorite, as both MC's are in the dark and alternately demonize and idolize each other without having any notion who the other is.

Then the "Freaky Friday" aspect of the plot kicks in; Emma and Simon trade bodies in a sudden lightning storm that also involves the recitation of a Latin motto. The balance of the storyline involves the two pretending to be a member of the opposite sex, fooling friends/family until they're finally about to switch back into their own bodies.

A lot of this is fun; I particularly involved the scenes when Emma is able to tell off Simon's dragon of a mom, which he's unwilling to do himself based on a deal he made with his dad on dad's death bed. Interactions with other secondary characters are also enjoyable, particularly the byplay between real Simon and "Emma" Simon and his young niece. The author's writing style is smooth and the language is generally true to the time period without being too flowery, although there are times that "purple prose" does raise its beautiful but unwieldy head.

Why not 5 stars? The fantasy aspects interfere with the romance and realistic themes. This isn't a paranormal romance exactly, and there isn't a ton of world-building present. There are valid topics raised by the author, not just about the subjugation of women, but the responsibility of those who wield power and money to those who are weaker and less fortunate than they. I enjoyed the final scene in the club. But both the message, and the MC's relationship, are intruded upon by the "Freaky Friday" contrivance. Even though they're literally in each other's shoes, Emma and Simon never really have a chance to connect with each other as any other couple would, and the sexual stuff is more spooky than sweet once the switcheroo happens. They never even have a chance to discuss the circumstances surrounding her father's death until the end of the book. And then there's the Big Misunderstanding, when Emma mishears Simon and runs off without even talking things over with him (this is a trope I always hate). Emma's behavior grated and Simon was too quick to take the blame.

Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the fact that the author is trying something different with this book. And I think this may be the first time I've read a romance novel by a male author (although there are a couple husband/wife teams out there). The HEA is delightful, and I am hoping to read further books in the series.

I would recommend reading this with an open mind, not expecting your typically steamy Regency but a lighthearted, fairytale-ish story about two people who don't really know who they are until they unexpectedly become each other. If that makes sense?

This is a voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this books. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for this opportunity. Reviews left on Goodreads, Bookbub, and Amazon.

Since the death of her father, Emma Watts has been determined to take revenge on the members of the Prometheans’ Club, who encouraged his father’s gambling habit. The man who she believes tops the list is Simon, the Earl of Blackburn. Yet when Emma finally meets Simon, it leads to a series of catastrophic events, with Emma and Simon waking up to finds themselves in each other’s bodies. Soon they both discover what it is like to be living a different life.
I found this an entertaining story with Emma and Simon, growing to understand the other person’s life and characters. Whilst this was an unusual premise which I grew to understand, I did at times find it difficult to follow the characters’ conversations. However, this was an entertaining story from the very start.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not at all what I was expecting. There were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and the body-swapping certainly added to that. FYI there is only kissing in this book, no spice. Not what I usually read but did make for a great palette cleanser.

Following the death of her father, Emma Watts and her family have lost their place in society. She places the blame squarely on the Prometheans’ Club. Whose ranks her father joined before gambling away the family fortune. Her plan is to take the club down.

Simon, the Earl of Blackburn, is a respected member of the Prometheans. When the club discovers that someone is digging for embarrassing information on the club members, Simon volunteers to uncover the woman's identity.

Simon and Emma bump into each other a few times, Both are taken with one another. He sets up a plan to catch the woman digging into the club and chases after Emma when he discovers it's her. A thunderstorm hits and as they begin to argue light strikes changing their lives forever.

Thanks so much to the author, Entangled and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
The Lord Pretender is a unique, entertaining story. This is a historical romance with a little of the fantastical and a dash of humor. Emma vows vengeance against Simon and his club. Emma blames Simon for encouraging her father to gamble away the family’s fortune. After two brief encounters as strangers, Simon and Emma confront each other during a thunderstorm and magically switch bodies.

I was cautious going into the novel due to the magical nature of the plot. The body-swap worked; the plot focused on how Simon and Emma handled each other’s lives rather than the why and how of the swap. There were a couple of loose ends. Simon’s niece’s revelation was far-fetched. Also, Simon’s father demands Simon to make a vow concerning his mother, and we never learn why his father made him do this, which bothered me. That being said, this was a tricky plot device that could have gone wrong in many ways. I believe it worked and told a romantic, socially conscious story.

The romance was unique due to the body swap; however, the connection between
Simon and Emma were intense. Simon had to learn what life was like for a single, destitute woman with no prospects. Emma had to learn what life was like as a man who had the whole world at his beck and call. Reading how these characters learn humility and grace in their respective roles was striking; that was the best part of the book. The plot moved well; in the middle, it drags just a bit, but the final twenty-five percent flew by.

The Lord Pretender is the first book in the Red Lion Ladies series. Sawyer North is a new author to me, and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of his writing. The balance between the practical and the fantastical was perfect. There were a few minor issues, as stated above, but all in all, I felt this was a solid beginning to a unique and entertaining series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.