The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn

The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband (The Rokesbys, #2)

by Julia Quinn

"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."--provided by publisher.

With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, 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. When Edward comes to he finds the blow to his head knocked out three months of his memory-- but surely he would recall getting married!

Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on

4 of 5 stars

Share
Cecilia Harcourt is tending to her father in her ancestral home as her brother, Thomas and his friend Edward Rokesby battle in the Americas. She corresponds with her brother, but slowly messages go back and forth between Edward and Cecilia.

When Cecilia's father passes and Thomas is injured her scheming cousin makes plans to wed her. Of course, the only responsible thing to do is travel to America to find her brother! Quinn hooked me from the start, and I absolutely loved the correspondence we were made privy to at the beginning of each chapter.

When Cecilia arrives she cannot locate her brother but discovers that Edward is unconscious in a church converted into a makeshift hospital. When she is unable to attend him, she declares herself his wife...and then he wakes up!

Poor Edward awakens missing six months of memory and finds himself married. He cannot even remember the wedding. Oh, what fun! While I did get a little annoyed at Cecilia for not being straight with Edward. I understood her reasons and laughed at some of her quick thinking comments regarding their supposed relationship. Their conversations, the awkwardness, and inner thoughts had me smiling and laughing.

The romance was slow-burning despite the nuptials and had a surprising buildup. Their chemistry felt genuine and I found myself truly wishing for an HEA. The ending had a few twists, a little heartache, and some humor all of which kept me flipping the pages.

Copy provided by the publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 8 May, 2017: Finished reading
  • 8 May, 2017: Reviewed