How to Fake It in Society
Due to a spiteful old woman’s unusual plans, paint shop owner Titus Pilcrow inherits a fortune and, with this windfall, a host of problems. Enter the charming, handsome, and clever Nicolas-Marc, Comte de la Motte-Valois, who lost out on the fortune that Titus inherited and is in dire need of funds to pay off a debt to a vicious gangster. The attractive, goodhearted, but somewhat naive Titus wants assistance in navigating the new society he has been thrust into, and the experienced Marc is willing to help—with the intent of fleecing Titus of some of his newfound wealth. What follows is a slow simmering romance between the two men, with each attempting to do the proper thing, keeping the other at arm’s length. Their lives get caught up in scandals, secrets, family drama, and life-threatening situations, while their mutual attraction and desire for each other develops into a full-fledged relationship.
It’s charming, witty, whip-smart, readable and fun, with an engaging storytelling style and interesting characters, and there are enough solid details of Regency England to add color and depth. However, it’s the author’s sympathetic, sensitive portrayal of the conflicted romance between the two clueless male characters that moves the story along to a satisfying conclusion. Handsome unsuspecting men, loyal servants, cranky old ladies, high society snobs, various low life creeps, forgeries, poisons, false identities, and a scam involving a Marie Antoinette portrait all add up to a fun romp through London society and a romance that happens quite by accident.
