Christian Barnes never meant to steal his half-brother’s identity, but when Major Andrew Bradford, Viscount Trowbridge, falls at Waterloo, Christian grabs his chance at the life he should have had as his father’s oldest son. He and Andrew could have been twins, and he knows he’ll get better care for his own wounds as a major than a private. The masquerade is so successful, he continues it once he … he returns to England. However, he hadn’t prepared for Rebecca Davenport, the fiancee Andrew had left behind.
Lady Rebecca Davenport imedialtely realizes that Andrew has returned to her a different man. She just isn’t quite sure if it’s the years he’s spent at war that have changed him. But as her suspicions grow, she realizes that the changes are welcome. This man is much better than the one she used to know. But can she hold her tongue and actually marry this imposter?
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His brother and him are very similar that when his brother falls, he takes their identity. Once home he passes as his brother so well but it seems there is only one who could betray him. His brother bride to be. She knows he is so different but will she give him up? She likes him better. Will she expose him? Will they marry? See if they Will carry it off
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was my first read in this series, and I found the short book engaging and very enjoyable. When Christian decides to impersonate his deceased half-brother, he gets more than he bargained for – a fiancee. He sees the good he can do for others and not just himself by continuing his ruse, but do the ends justify the means? I enjoyed this sweet story, and I felt for both Christian and Rebecca as they worked to figure their future out. I do wish the story had been longer to show Christian (hopefully) struggling with his decision and actions, and to see a more realistic (longer) timeline for he and Rebecca to fall in love, but for a novella, it does an admirable job.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really liked this one can you imagine how hard it would be to take over for his brother life find out you have a fiancée and trying not to be found out. It simply was a great imposter story with well written and excellent characters. I do wish it had been a bit longer there was so much in the book but I give the author two thumbs up on this one. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Diana Bold’s style is one of my favorites.
Diana Bold has created a delightful story with a wonderful couple and likable secondary characters. It is full of emotional moments & humorous/witty conversations with a second chance on life with new, true & sweet love.
Christian Barnes was the bastard son of Viscount Trowbridge who had raped his mother who was a maid in his household. Trowbridge threw her to the streets after he found out she was with child to make her way on the streets. The viscount went on to father a son, Andrew, who would be his heir. There was never any personal contact between the 2 brothers but both went to war – Andrew an officer & Christian, a corporal. Christian is wounded on the battlefield & on his way to get medical treatment he sees his 1/2 brother killed & they have always looked like twins so Christian chances becoming his brother, Andrew Bradford after taking his & personal identity papers.
He returns to his country estate as he is now Viscount Trowbridge after his father’s death. Christian/Andrew also finds out he is betrothed to the Earl of Marlborough’s daughter, Lady Rebecca Davenport. He feigns not remembering details, etc because of head injury but it does not take long for the two of them to begin having real feelings for one another. She disliked Andrew while they grew up as he treated her badly and this newly returned Andrew is completely different.
The adventures of deceit, love, caring for others starts her and you will completely enjoy the journey with this great couple and another visit with gypsy woman Madame Zeta and her Path of Life.
This is an intriguing, entertaining, amusing and sweet. Christian is impulsive, caring, protective, uncertain and very likable. Rebecca is bold, hopeful, naive and intelligent. Christian is a bastard who’s father never acknowledged nor supported. Andrew is his half-brother, and legal heir. When Christian sees his brother fall in battle he decides to switch identities knowing that he could get better medical attention as Andrew. Then he goes home and decides to try to keep being Andrew. His uncle, who is Andrew’s butler, helps him with social expectations and advice. Neither knew that Andrew was betrothed, until she demanded to see him. Shocked that there was someone who knew Andrew so well, Christian rethought his position. But when she doesn’t immediately call him out as an imposter, they go forward with the charade. Rebecca knows that something is different about Andrew, but thinks that the war changed him. It goes well until there are a couple of unforseen twists. I loved the storyline and the twists in it, and especially the ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
The art work on the cover is what drew my eye to this book.The third book in the Fortunes of Fate series a well written book that I was not putting down until I finished reading it. Christian Barnes takes a chance when his half-brother Major Andrew Bradford, Viscount Trowbridge, dies at Waterloo. He changes clothes and identities with the dead man and becomes Andrew Bradford. He does not know that Andrew was engaged to Lady Rebecca Davenport until he gets back to England. Rebecca feels that Andrew has changed a lot but then other things do not make sense. Rebecca meets Madame Zeta at the Country Fair and has her fortune told how close will things be with the reading? Will they get a happy ending? I would say read this book and if you do I hope you like it as much as I did.
I really liked this earthy, emotionally raw, painful, anxiety driven story of a young man rejected by his father for being born on the wrong side of the blanket. While at war, his younger half-brother Andrew was killed in action and Christian was tempted to take advantage of the situation but not for malicious reasons. He and Andrew looked so similar that people often confused them for the other. Christian took over Andrew’s life. Things became extremely complicated seeing that he was not brought up as a peer and had none of the social graces. But what he lacked he made up for it with a kind and thoughtful heart. He was humble and had a good head on his shoulders. He never forgot where he came from and was able to empathize with others easily. When he retired to the country estate things became catastrophic. He found out that Andrew was betrothed, had a son with his mistress. What a mess. At every turn his betrothed always felt something was off about him but thought it must have been the war. As they spent time getting to know each other as Rebecca and Christian, Rebecca still thought he was Andrew, they started to fall in love. Rebecca is a lovely young lady waiting to marry Andrew but feared his arrogance and disrespect towards her. But when she met Christian as Andrew her heart started to thaw and have hope of a happy union. The eve before the wedding, they were having dinner together when Andrew’s mistress and son appeared shrieking where is Andrew. Rebecca heard this and all her doubts came before her. These were just a few of the hurdles Christian had to overcome and it did not end at that fateful dinner. There was more trouble over the horizon. An amazing book. A must read and I highly recommend it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Waterloo, June 1815 “We could have been twins.” The thought that Christian Barnes had as he looked down at his half brother’s slain body. Andrew, Viscount Trowbridge and heir to his father’s estate, while he was just a by blow. Could he change places? Yes, he took the chance and life changed in that moment!! Nobody thought he was not Andrew and he was able to have his wounds treated and return to England.
Diana Bold has written a marvelous story about a second chance at life. What would happen if you could step into someone else’s shoes that seemed to have it all? Not so much the wealth and position, but the security, a home, possibly a family, a dream that had never seemed possible with the hard life growing up.
Well Christian decided to try and hopefully with the aid his uncle who was the butler at their estates.
Arriving in London, the thought would not let go he might could step into Andrew’s place and nobody would be the wiser? After all he was the first born son, even if not legitimate and his uncle agreed to help him.
What he soon learned once they retired to the country estate, he (or his half brother) was bethrothed to beautiful Lady Rebecca Davenport! But something seemed to happen as the two spent time together.
Could Christian pull this off and could he actually marry Rebecca and she never figure out who he was? Or would have tell her?
I loved how this story progressed with Christian doubting himself, but he was truly a good guy and only wants to do good with his title and money, unlike his brother. How he treated others and they were shocked at his “new” persona, because Andrew had treated so many people poorly.
Prepare to be enthralled once you turn the first page and not be able to stop until you get to the end. P. S. Isn’t the cover lovely? Plus you will get a visit with Madame Zeta at the Country Fair!
Christian Barnes saw the chance to make a better life for himself when his noble half-brother Andrew Bradford, Viscount Towbridge dies before his eyes on the battle field. At first it was just a way to get better medical treatment for his injuries and cash in on his commission to have some money to start over after war. And maybe even a way get back at his noble father for raping and abandoning his servant mother. But things get complicated when those who knew Andrew before start to question things and wonder how a once selfish and cruel man could be so kind and considerate; in particular Andrew’s finance Rebecca, who never expected to care so much for him. This story has been told many times before in movies and books. Christian was a good man, but it must have been hard worrying that his house of cards could come crashing down. I liked Rebecca’s companion Sabrina and I hope she gets her own romance in a future book.