What do You think about The Pretender (2003)?
The book started great. The chimneysweep of a hero totally had my attention and I love Simon for a name for my hero, a close second to Harry, my all time favorite. But I digress. Then Agatha happened. Oh, overly bold, lying, plump, virgin-turned-harlot, love-being-on-top, Simon-jumping Agatha. Very early on in the book I realized that Agatha is what I know as........crazy. Agatha's brother disappeared. She wanted to ingestigate, decided on a scheme and went to London. In from the back of the house, comes Simon, the God, who saved her from her lie. Then more lies about her marital status, outragerous lies too, then spy master schemes blah blah blah and then, they had sex. I rolled my eyes and literally groaned (not the good kind) reading this novel. Agatha is outrageous. I believe some readers would like her. But she is too much for me. She is everywhere, with her lies, with Simon, with James, and everywhere. She has to be because oh she is so smart and has a mind of her own and no man can control her. Simon is a much more likable character. I have to say him being jumped by Agatha multiple times in this book is a little pathetic but oh well, who am I to judge. I think 10% of the story had my full attention and it is usually when Simon and Agatha stole a few moments together knowing that they had no future. And it was all about Simon too. I cannot help but imagine Agatha as this danger-prone woman who sticks her head where it doesn't belong but gets offended when people tell her the fact to her face. Oh and did I mention that she is a country woman in London playing a married woman without a husband who attends social parties and volunteers at the hospital? All in all, I could work with Simon, but cannot stomach Agatha. I don't dislike her as a character but I find such heroines unattractive and annoying. Then there is the writing. Sometimes I really wish I could write to these authors and ask them to please read what they wrote before they allow it to be turned into a book. Is this something that you would say to a man??? Woman is that is the case.....well..... I have nothing to say to you.......and that is woman to woman. Sometimes the conversations are so contrived and...I don't want to say idiotic, I guess it is probably......I don't know, I have no adjectives for it, pathetic? Honestly, is this how some women talk?? Then there are the secondary characters. Man there are so many of them. I lost count. Who is the butler? Who is the valet? Who is the butler's nephew? Who works at the club doing what? Then Lord someone who is the hero for another book in the series, then the nephew of the Lord. Why is it necessary to have all these people who are not relevant for the romance? The villain is unimpressive, the "intruguing mystery" not so intruguing. This book is a real mess, no clear plot line, annoying and unncessary characters The only good thing is Simon, who is also not a strong male lead. But I will stop here. How do you describe a mess?
—Zoe
A spy regency. I should have known. I should have known better than to let my fascination of how chimney sweep/thief/spy Simon Rain would look, if I caught him and dragged him around to be my husband. Delicious, is what I think. Ms. Bradley really did try hard to make something of the spy business, but with a name like the 'Liar's Club' I couldn't really get past a schoolboy clubhouse. And it was Simon's incredible consuming obsession with Agatha, that held me from truly respecting this novel. I loved the stupid banter between them, though I would have expected more intelligance from those Brits, especially the smart variety. The villainess was terrible. Why? Because she was a raving lunatic with a killa bod. James, the 'protective' yet 'neglectful' brother was cute, and obviously being prepped for a later story, but truly, he was hard to like. Well, he's not my type with his condensation and player history. I especially liked the part in the end, when Agatha asks why James had to stay with his mistress for 6 hours when it obviously did not take that long. The choking Simon was much too adorable to forget. Still, I cannot say that it was a book I could read again, other than that one part.
—Nisha
This was a simply delightful romance - I really loved it! It was a rollicking roller coaster ride of a story, funny, charming, exciting, mysterious and sexy - plus, a happy ending! What more could you want?I loved Agatha, our heroine. She was so spunky and strong willed! Yet, she was ingenuous and delightful - not to mention she had a delicious figure, and knew how to use it to her advantage when out to get information (or her way) from men. Whether dancing with overstuffed generals or dealing cards in a sexy outfit in a gaming hell - she left men spellbound!Simon was a dashing hero as well. At first, I was put off that he was noble born, but you get over that very quickly. Tall, dark and handsome with arresting blue eyes he has an amazing physique (as both Aggie and his valet can testify). Plus, throw a little James Bond in there and he's irresistible! The two of them are so funny together, posing as man and wife, and the way they first meet is very funny when Aggie insists he takes off his clothes, and he thinks she means to bed him! She just wanted him to take a bath and pose as her make believe husband. Well, as soon as they meet the sparks fly and the story unfolds. The main fly in the ointment here is, since Simon is a spy, he can't act on his urge to love and marry Agatha because then his enemies would use it against him? Should he choose his love of England and duty - or his love for Agatha? She is so winsome and a joy - and she tells the biggest and funniest lies! Some real whoppers!Lots of surprises and gotchas in this book, and it was all very clever and it had a spectacular ending - I won't spoil it, but this is a must read! Ms. Bradley is the Queen of great endings. Clever, a bit sappy, but oh so wonderful, and the sex scenes are great (fans self) but not over the top - they're just right!This is the first in The Liar's Club series, and I can't wait to read the rest of them!5/5
—Julie
