
Is This Real or Just Pretend?
Emily Sullivan(Author)
Forever (Publisher)
Published on 2. October 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-5387-4237-2 (ISBN)
Description
A sizzling Victorian historical romance where an overlooked business woman forms an unlikely alliance with the son of her family's coachman by faking a courtship to both get what they desire.
Alexandra Atkinson's talent for spotting successful business ideas has helped enrich her father's company while leaving her with little time for a social life-and certainly nothing as silly as love. But when her father hints that Alex will need to marry as well if she ever wants to win the approval of the company's far more fusty board members, she hatches her most ambitious plan yet: a fake courtship that lasts just long enough to see an important deal through and secure her place at the head of the company.
As the son of the Atkinson's coachman, Lucien Taylor grew up admiring the family from a distance-and pining for Winifred, the youngest sister. But when he finally accepts that she will never see him as anything other than a playmate, Lucien leaves home to make his fortune. Now he's back and in search of funding after his duplicitous partner ruins his business. Help comes from the most unexpected place when Alexandra, the eldest Atkinson sister known for her icy beauty and infamously brusque manner, makes a proposition: she will help him secure what he needs to start his business if he pretends to court her for a few weeks. Her offer is too good to pass up, but the more time they spend together, the more Lucien realizes that a fake courtship with Alex isn't enough. He wants something real.
Alexandra Atkinson's talent for spotting successful business ideas has helped enrich her father's company while leaving her with little time for a social life-and certainly nothing as silly as love. But when her father hints that Alex will need to marry as well if she ever wants to win the approval of the company's far more fusty board members, she hatches her most ambitious plan yet: a fake courtship that lasts just long enough to see an important deal through and secure her place at the head of the company.
As the son of the Atkinson's coachman, Lucien Taylor grew up admiring the family from a distance-and pining for Winifred, the youngest sister. But when he finally accepts that she will never see him as anything other than a playmate, Lucien leaves home to make his fortune. Now he's back and in search of funding after his duplicitous partner ruins his business. Help comes from the most unexpected place when Alexandra, the eldest Atkinson sister known for her icy beauty and infamously brusque manner, makes a proposition: she will help him secure what he needs to start his business if he pretends to court her for a few weeks. Her offer is too good to pass up, but the more time they spend together, the more Lucien realizes that a fake courtship with Alex isn't enough. He wants something real.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Little, Brown & Company
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 133 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
446 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5387-4237-2 (9781538742372)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Emily Sullivan is an award-winning author of historical fiction set in the late Victorian period. She lives with her family in New England, where she enjoys taking long drives and short walks, and she always orders dessert.