Women's Fiction
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The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband: A Bridgerton Prequel (Bridgerton Prequel, 2)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn presents the second novel of the delightful Bridgerton Prequel series in a stunning new package.
There were Bridgertons before the eight alphabetically named siblings, and in this novel, we go back to where it all began. . .
While you were sleeping...
With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie...
I told everyone I was your wife...
When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out three months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is-even if he does not recall her face-and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England.
If only it were true...
Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself-completely-to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.
There were Bridgertons before the eight alphabetically named siblings, and in this novel, we go back to where it all began. . .
While you were sleeping...
With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie...
I told everyone I was your wife...
When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out three months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is-even if he does not recall her face-and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England.
If only it were true...
Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself-completely-to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.
Editorial Reviews
"A great read...with mystery and adventure and, yes, romance. Quinn's fans will be grateful she's crossed the pond for this textured look at life in New York during the 1770s." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
"Quinn's sprightly dialogue, colorful descriptions, quick pace and emotionally touching storyline are just what readers expect from this consummate storyteller." - RT Book Reviews on The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
"The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband was an absolute treat. A historical romance written not in the Regency era but during the American Revolutionary War, this had a mix of poignant moments one would expect during such a tumultuous time along with the sweeping, heartwarming feeling of falling in love." - Harlequin Junkie
"The novel has a well-constructed plot, well-drawn characters, and vivid dialog…Imaginative…The author maintains the tension of the undiscovered lie almost to the end, and the denouement is both amusing and satisfying." - Historical Novel Society on The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
"Quinn's sprightly dialogue, colorful descriptions, quick pace and emotionally touching storyline are just what readers expect from this consummate storyteller." - RT Book Reviews on The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
"The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband was an absolute treat. A historical romance written not in the Regency era but during the American Revolutionary War, this had a mix of poignant moments one would expect during such a tumultuous time along with the sweeping, heartwarming feeling of falling in love." - Harlequin Junkie
"The novel has a well-constructed plot, well-drawn characters, and vivid dialog…Imaginative…The author maintains the tension of the undiscovered lie almost to the end, and the denouement is both amusing and satisfying." - Historical Novel Society on The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband
Readers Top Reviews
Elias ChaseRandal
This was a great story. Bit interesting to read from an American point of view where the British have always been the “enemy” around 1776. But, it was still sweet none-the-less and I must give credit to the vocabulary choice. Not often does a story—riddled with intricate language—not feel forced… in this case it fit the storyline perfectly.
Louise MarleyE
I would agree with other reviews and say this is one of the worst Julia Quinn I have read. I have read quite a few in lockdown! The main element of humour and good dialogue is missing and I really didn't like Celia. Some of the dialogue was just dull or incredibly modern and uses lots of current slang. Some other books have a lot more plot. Very little actually happens which was the main issue with Being Miss Bridgeton too. Without food characters, some plot and humour it exposes the repetitive sex scenes and romance.
Courtney Louise
Ahh I loved this book!!! It kept me interested from beginning to end. I’ve been reading the whole series. This is the third and BEST so far! The first two of the series was good but this blew them out of the water…pun intended😉 it was funny, heart MELTING, and breath taking! Even if you don’t wish to read the 4 book series this would be a good read in itself! Julia did a wonderful job, balancing romance, comedy, and mystery. 10/10 recommend this read!!!
Diane DCourtney
Julia Quinn does an another Amazing job at letting us into the lives of her characters. You can't help but feel sorry for the situation Cecelia finds herself in with the death of her father and the wounding of her brother (in the Army in New York). You can see her strength and independence when she leaves everything she has ever known to take a boat to NY to find out about her brother. Then there is the strength of character when she finds her brother's friend in the hospital, feverish and unconscious and she tells the lie that he is her husband so she can stay and nurse him. On the other side Edward Rokesby is an honorable and kind soldier. He has shown up in the hospital after being gone for 3 months and has a large gap in his memory. Even in a weakened state, he believes that he is married and must take care of the one woman he has loved since her brother started sharing her letters to him. Even as the two of them are caught up in this fake marriage, they both can't help but continue to fall in love. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to know more. Julia Quinn makes the reader really care about these characters and you want o them to get the Happily ever After that they deserve.
ReadingGenieDiane
THE GIRL WITH THE MAKE-BELIEVE HUSBAND by Julia Quinn I have a card file of every book I've ever read. This is filed by Author. I counted all the books of Julia Quinn's that I have ever read. "The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband" is my 33rd book of hers that I have read. I looked her up and she has written 34 books...her last one not published. I knew I liked her writing but I hadn't realized that I have read every one of her books up to this date. I believe that a lot of times when I want to read, I want a story that lightens my life so a little humor added is desired. This is Edward Rokesby and Cecilia Harcourt's story. It starts out with Edward waking up in a makeshift hospital located in a church on Manhattan Island in June 1779. He had a major headache to put it lightly. He listened to a woman speaking to someone and that other person calling the woman Mrs. Rokesby. She was asking about her missing brother, Thomas Harcourt, who was incidentally his friend. This must be Cecilia. What was she doing here in North America? He opened his eyes and said, "Cecilia?" Cecilia had received a note from the army saying her brother was injured. Next thing she knew her slimy cousin moved in and was pressuring her to marry him. She buried the silver in the back yard, packed up the house and took a ship to New York to find her brother. No one would help her locate her brother, Thomas, but she did find his friend Captain Edward Rokesby. She tried to get in to see him but they told her because of his rank only family could visit. At that she announced she was his wife and everyone believed her. She found him unconscious and very very much in need of care. She stayed determined to tell everyone the truth when he woke up. The blow to the head had caused Edward not to remember anything that happened during the last three months. Everyone was calling her his wife so he believed it to be true. Cecilia found that the Rokesby name had great power and people were now looking for her brother. I'll tell him as soon as Edward is stronger... I'l tell him as soon as I find Thomas and the lie grew. She thought she was a little bit in love with the handsome officer before but spending time with him as his wife she knew she was in love with him. Edward had an infatuation with her through her letters to Thomas and being with her, he found himself very protective and greatly in love with Cecilia. What happens when the lie continues and his memory comes back. A fun story you shouldn't miss. Happy reading!
