Review - - Is This Real or Just Pretend?

Is This Real or Just Pretend?

by Emily Sullivan

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: September 9, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

Alexandra Atkinson prides herself on being in control. It’s why she’s such an asset to her father’s investment firm—along with her utter lack of a social life and her talent for spotting successful ventures for investors. But with her father nearing retirement and the board unwilling to have a female head, Alex could lose everything . . .

After his business partner burned him, Lucien Taylor is determined to start over. But he doesn’t know how until his childhood friend’s sister, Alexandra Atkinson, comes to him with a most unusual proposal: She’ll help Lucien find the funding he needs if he pretends to court her long enough to secure her claim to her father’s company.

But Alex and Lucien soon realize they didn’t quite account for all the details in their arrangement—like how they can undo each other with just a look. And the more time they spend together, the more the intensity shimmering between them can’t be controlled. Not even by Alex. And if they give in? Well, she’s not sure which of them will be in more trouble . . . but she’s willing to find out.

PJ's Thoughts:

Emily Sullivan's historical romances are fast becoming auto-buy books for me. Her newest is book two in a series featuring the Atkinson sisters. It can be read as a standalone though I enjoyed it more for having read Duchess Material first as the Atkinson sisters and parents are key characters in both books. 

I was immediately intrigued by Alex in book one and wondered if there might not be hidden layers to this financial wizard who keeps the family business afloat without any credit from the outside world. Turns out there are. She guards her emotions tightly but there are deep feelings rumbling within. Who knew it would be the coachman's son who would bring them to life?

I enjoyed this gender-flipped, Victorian romance inspired by the movie, Sabrina. It was fun to watch the newly-returned Lucien sort through his feelings while attempting to overcome the disaster his former business partner had created. He goes through quite the evolution from beginning to end, which he needed to in order to be the right partner for Alexandra. Of course, there needs to be growth for Alex too and I was pleased with how her personal evolution played out. 

Alex's family have key roles in this story with youngest sister, Freddie, the most prominent. I can't quite decide how I feel about her (you'll understand once you read this book) but I'm looking forward to discovering where her book's journey takes her. As with Alex, and Phoebe in book one, I have a feeling there may also be hidden layers within Freddie that are waiting for the right moment to be revealed. 

If you enjoy fake courtship, cross-class romance, age gap (she's five years older), virgin heroes, buttoned-up heroines, and complex family dynamics, you might want to give Is This Real or Just Pretend? a try. 

 

Review - - Duchess Material

Duchess Material

by Emily Sullivan

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: November 19, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

Phoebe Atkinson is what society might call unconventional. Instead of marrying well like other women born to wealth, she chose to be a schoolteacher. Not to mention she lives in a leaky flat in an unfashionable part of town rather than stay in her parents’ mansion. But when her most promising pupil goes missing she has only one option: beg her sister’s best friend, the powerful Duke of Ellis, for help. 

The last thing William Margrave ever expected was to inherit a dukedom. But now that he has it, he’s determined to act the part perfectly—and that includes marrying the perfect duchess. A bluestocking Bohemian schoolteacher is decidedly not duchess material. But he can’t resist her plea for help regarding her missing student. 

As they fall further into the mystery, William discovers that he never got over his childhood crush on Phoebe, and he doesn’t really want to.

PJ's Thoughts:

Emily Sullivan is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors for fresh, entertaining, hard-to-put-down, Victorian romance. Duchess Material is the newest addition to her list of books that have kept me eagerly reading late into the night, unwilling to stop until the final page is turned with a swoon-worthy HEA secured. 

Let me start by saying I adore Phoebe Atkinson. She checks so many of my Victorian heroine boxes: independent, engaged, kind, inquisitive, focused; a social and educational activist determined to provide opportunities for all women and girls, regardless of financial or social standing. I enjoyed her journey, her growth, and the lessons she learned, especially pertaining to her family, society, career, and, of course, her relationship with Will.

Did I mention growth? Boy howdy, does Will ever have one doozy of a growth arc. It's understandable that he feels duty bound to the dukedom he unexpectedly inherited at the age of eighteen. It's been the totality of his life for the past decade and he's determined to do right by it, including choosing a wife who is perfect duchess material. How fun it was to watch his entire plan be knocked sideways by one request for help from his best friend's little sister, the now grown woman who had fascinated him as a teen and, unfortunately for his duchess hunt, still does. 

The relationship journey Will and Phoebe embark upon is filled with steam, snappy banter, a bit of a mystery, hijinks in disguise, family dynamics, self discovery, a vibrantly depicted secondary cast of characters, and a hard-earned happy ending. I enjoyed every bit of it. 

I have my fingers crossed that Sullivan has more books planned for this family. I'm thoroughly invested in the lives of Phoebe's two sisters, Alex and Freddie, who both deserve books of their own. 

Review & Giveaway - - The Hellion and the Hero

The Hellion and the Hero

by Emily Sullivan

A League of Scoundrels - Book 3

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: August 23, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Lady Georgiana Arlington has always done what’s best for her family—even when it meant marrying a man she didn't love to save her father. Her husband’s death has left her stronger and bolder—a hellion, some would even say. When a mysterious enemy jeopardizes her livelihood and reputation, there’s only one person she can trust to help her uncover the threat: the same man she left heartbroken years ago.

Captain Henry Harris is no longer the penniless fortune hunter he was when they first met. Now a decorated naval hero, he could have his choice of women, but no other woman has Georgie’s allure, nor the tenacity he can’t help but admire. Assisting Lady Arlington will put both his body and his heart in danger—and yet, he can’t resist a second chance with the one woman he’s never been able to forget.

PJ's Thoughts:

A widow, ready to live life on her own terms following the end of a controlling marriage of duty. A former naval officer/spy, burdened by PTSD and the guilt of living a lie. A second chance to claim the kind of love neither thought was meant for them. Is it any wonder I devoured this book like a warm cookie straight from the oven?

Emily Sullivan continues to reel me in with her intriguing plots, relatable characters, well-crafted suspense, and heart-tugging - and sizzling - romance. Georgiana and Henry are both complex, well-developed characters who engaged me both emotionally and intellectually. I love how Sullivan's heroines are of their time but still pushing against their societal boundaries. I couldn't help but cheer for Georgiana to best those determined to stop her efforts to change England's employment landscape. 

My heart ached for Henry and all that he had endured. He's a caring man, uncomfortable with his celebrity, who captured my heart. I was with Georgie and Henry every step of the way as they navigated the initial awkwardness of their reunion, along with the long-held bitterness and mistrust between them - feelings that slowly gave way to rekindled attraction, understanding, forgiveness, and more. The "more" including amorous moments in both a carriage and a bathtub. Color me exquisitely satisfied! 

With a slow-burn, sensual romance, a mystery that kept me guessing right up to the reveal, a richly-depicted secondary cast that helped move the story forward, and a hard-won happily ever after, Emily Sullivan's The Hellion and the Hero kept me happily engaged from beginning to end. This book stands well on its own but for an added layer of understanding of the main couple I recommend reading book two, The Rebel and the Rake first. 

Have you read Emily Sullivan yet?

Do you enjoy historical heroines who push boundaries?

It has to be uncomfortable in real life but, I admit it, I'm a pushover for a good carriage love scene. What's your love scene catnip? 

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, September 1 will receive print copies of The Rebel and the Rake and The Hellion and the Hero. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review - - A Rogue to Remember

A Rogue to Remember

by Emily Sullivan

League of Scoundrels - Book 1

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: March 9, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

After enduring five interminable seasons, Lottie Carlisle has had enough of shallow London society, her boring little life, and her uncle Alfred's meddling. When he demands she accept a proposal by the end of next season or else he will choose a husband for her, she devises a plan: create a scandal shocking enough to make her unmarriageable and spend her spinsterhood far enough away in the countryside where no one will ever recognize her.

Alec Gresham hasn't seen Lottie since he left his childhood friend without a word five years ago. So he's not surprised to find her furious when he appears on her doorstep. Especially bearing the news he brings: her uncle is dying, her blasted reputation is still intact, and Lottie must return home. As they make the journey back to her family estate, it becomes increasingly clear that the last five years hasn't erased their history, nor their explosive chemistry. Can Lottie look past her old heartache and trust Alec, or will his secrets doom their relationship once again?

PJ's Thoughts:

The first thing that drew me to this book is the fact that it's set in Italy. Any book set in Italy is going to set my heart to happy dancing, especially when written by an author who, through her words, immerses you in this unique, richly atmospheric setting. The scenes in Venice, in particular, are very authentic, especially at night when the back alleys and canals of this city by the sea can take on a mysterious, slightly sinister tone. She brought it all to life and put me right back in that country that speaks to my soul. 

I also enjoy a friends-to-lovers trope and this one, with a reunion/second chance plot added in, was right up my alley. Both Lottie and Alec are well-developed characters who pulled me into their stories. I was in Lottie's corner the whole way, cheering her on in her bid for independence from her controlling uncle. I loved her intelligence, her wit, her determination, and her hard-won self confidence. Alec, on the other hand, had to work for my approval, as well as Lottie's. I understood his reasons for the decisions he made years earlier, the ones that broke Lottie's heart, but I wasn't going to forgive him too easily. I enjoyed his evolution, hurt for him when certain details of his early life were revealed, ached at his yearning for Lottie and celebrated when he finally realized what was most important in his life. 

Secondary characters, as well as Alec's occupation, add a bit of suspense and action to the story that devolves into danger for Lottie. There's a twist near the end that took me by surprise as well as a mea culpa and forgiveness that seemed a bit too easy considering the pain and heartache the person's actions had caused. I would have liked to have seen that facet expanded a bit but it's a small quibble in the overall scheme of things. 

I enjoyed my first Emily Sullivan novel and am looking forward to seeing what this debut author brings readers next. I hope it will be more action, adventure, and romance in continental Europe. Another book set in Italy would be just fine with me.