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The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband: A Bridgertons Prequel Kindle Edition

by Julia Quinn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 14,739 ratings
Editors' pick Best Romance
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There were Bridgertons before the eight alphabetically named siblings. In this second of the Bridgerton Prequel series, following Because of Miss Bridgerton, we go back to where it all began. . . from #1 New York Times bestselling author 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.

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  1. Book 2 of 4
    The Rokesbys
  2. Print length
    393 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Avon
  5. Publication date
    May 30, 2017
  6. File size
    5.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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From the Publisher

Look for Queen Charlotte
Welcome to the Romantic and Scandalous World of Bridgerton
"Vibrant and Engaging." - NPR
More from Julia Quinn
Because of Miss Bridgerton
The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband
The Other Miss Bridgerton
First Comes Scandal
The Duke & I
The Viscount Who Loved Me
Buying Options
Customer Reviews
—
4.5 out of 5 stars 14,739
4.6 out of 5 stars 11,817
4.4 out of 5 stars 12,614
4.5 out of 5 stars 70,219
4.5 out of 5 stars 55,023
Price — $7.99 $7.99 $7.59 $9.99 $7.55

Editorial Reviews

Review

“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

From the Back Cover

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.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LL0JGW0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon (May 30, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 30, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 393 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 14,739 ratings

About the author

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Julia Quinn

Julia Quinn

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#1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn loves to dispel the myth that smart women don't read (or write) romance, and in 2001 she did so in grand fashion, appearing on the game show The Weakest Link and walking away with the $79,000 jackpot. She displayed a decided lack of knowledge about baseball, country music, and plush toys, but she is proud to say that she aced all things British and literary, answered all of her history and geography questions correctly, and knew that there was a Da Vinci long before there was a code. Ms. Quinn is one of only sixteen members of Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame, her books have been translated into 29 languages, and she currently lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
14,739 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the story and found it entertaining. They liked the characters and found them well-developed. The humor was praised as witty and laugh-out-loud moments. Readers appreciated the writing quality and the use of letters to move the narrative. They also enjoyed the historical romance and the well-detailed setting that made the book seem more realistic and exotic.

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ReadabilityCharacter developmentWriting qualityHumorRomanceSettingStory qualityPacing
274 customers mention "Readability"249 positive25 negative

Customers enjoyed the book. They found the premise interesting and the story entertaining. The series kept them hooked with its warmth and sweetness. However, some felt the story dragged in certain parts.

"...read narrative, not overly focused on romantic scenes, and provides a great backdrop and information about the times in which she writes, including..." Read more

"...PROS: The premise is sweet: two people both already a little in love through the bits of correspondence they’ve shared, but both thinking their..." Read more

"...and the search for Cecilia's brother has enough drama to keep the story interesting even as these two talk and laugh and cry and know one..." Read more

"...Cecilia and Edward are adorable together, and I am looking forward to re-reading this book many times." Read more

93 customers mention "Character development"82 positive11 negative

Customers enjoy the character development in the book. They find the characters nice, with Edward and Thomas being especially liked. The story explores their relationships as they get to know each other. Readers praise the hero as a good, honest, and honorable man.

"...The characters are well-constructed—they have clearly marked characteristics that tie in well with their intentions, and their personalities make..." Read more

"...The story goes deep into these characters as these semi-strangers begin to get to know one another...." Read more

"...Cecilia and Edward were both kind and endearing characters, though neither were as vivid or outgoing as I'd have liked...." Read more

"...He also is such an honest and honorable man, it never occurs to him that anything about their marriage could be untrue...." Read more

61 customers mention "Writing quality"53 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find the narrative easy to read, with well-written scenes and emotions. The use of letters to move the narrative is praised. Readers appreciate the development, descriptions, and dialogue. The characters feel relatable and lifelike.

"...She writes in an easy to read narrative, not overly focused on romantic scenes, and provides a great backdrop and information about the times in..." Read more

"...Quinn is a talented writer who has written just over two dozen books, but she always manages to bring something different and special with each new..." Read more

"...As always, the sex scenes are very well written. So if you're more interested in erotica than romance or plot, this is probably the book for you." Read more

"...There are even a couple of passionate love scenes that were written with depth and feeling...." Read more

60 customers mention "Humor"49 positive11 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it witty and delightful, with laugh-out-loud moments and dramatic irony that keeps their interest throughout. The characters have good moments of witty banter and the dialogue is snappy. The story is whimsical, romantic, and sexy, with Quinn's trademark sense of humor evident.

"...The characters had some good moments of witty banter, but the general hilarity I like to see in Ms. Quinn’s stories likely would have clashed with..." Read more

"...and i was not disappointed. this novel has quinn's trademark wit and humor. she has always managed to tackle difficult things with a light touch...." Read more

"...Cecilia is delightful. She is daring without being too bold, a perfect heroine...." Read more

"...Her heroines are always witty and charming while holding their own individuality and strength...." Read more

58 customers mention "Romance"58 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romantic stories in this book. They find the story engaging with a nice combination of unrequited love and a bit of rebirth for both characters. The ending is satisfying, with great passion and devotion. The author draws you in with her storytelling and keeps you engaged until the end.

"...She writes in an easy to read narrative, not overly focused on romantic scenes, and provides a great backdrop and information about the times in..." Read more

"...Average: 4.1/5 Sweet Romance, Aggravating Plot OTHER INFO:..." Read more

"...British lines in the American Revolutionary War, this intense and emotional story of a husband and wife learning one another is a winner. The twist?..." Read more

"...It was an interesting change of pace to have a historical romance novel that uses the amnesia trope as well as being set away from England...." Read more

17 customers mention "Setting"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the well-detailed Revolution-time Manhattan setting. They find the historical details interesting and praise the vivid world created by the author. The creative storyline is vibrant and unique, with a lovely climax and resolution.

"...Setting: 4/5 Well-detailed Revolution-time Manhattan. Romance: 4/5 Sweet premise without much development...." Read more

"...The Colonial setting was perfect, and I liked the historical details very much. Cecilia is delightful...." Read more

"...The historical setting was also refreshing, not the same old Regency England background. I enjoyed that aspect quite a bit...." Read more

"...Makes the books seem more real and exotic. Maybe because I'm from the states? Not sure, but definitely good...." Read more

52 customers mention "Story quality"21 positive31 negative

Customers have mixed reviews about the story. Some found it engaging with humor, suspense, and romance. Others felt the story dragged out, with an overdone amnesia plot that detracted from the story. The history was described as detailed.

"...CONS: The story fell a little short on plot, the main points being Cecilia’s secret that they’re not married, Edward’s lost memories, and Thomas’s..." Read more

"...on romantic scenes, and provides a great backdrop and information about the times in which she writes, including the places & culture...." Read more

"...book is a loosely painted framework around a regrettably overdone amnesia/misunderstanding plot that hinges on characters lying and not..." Read more

"...This was a wonderful book. It was an interesting change of pace to have a historical romance novel that uses the amnesia trope as well as being set..." Read more

28 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive18 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it fast-paced and engaging, while others feel the pace drags at first and doesn't build up to an interesting story until the end.

"...because it kept dancing around this "secret" and took forever for it to come out. It was drawn out for too long." Read more

"Quinn does it again. Each character is complete. Different and loveable. Another page turner. The book is Delightful. Enjoyed every minute." Read more

"...However I struggled to get into this book. I felt like it dragged on a bit at the beginning and only really got into the story about a two third or..." Read more

"...It had a very fresh plot but it seemed to drag a lot...." Read more

These Rokesby men 😍
5 out of 5 stars
These Rokesby men 😍
“My fierce warrior.”“Change what you can and accept what you can’t.”“He would embarrass her, or more likely, himself. But he wanted to watch her. He wanted to learn her. He wanted all of her secrets and desires, and he wanted her mundane stories, the little bit of her past that fit into her like pieces of a puzzle. How odd it was to know another person, inside and out.”These Rokesby men are insanely good! This is Edward Rokesby and Cecilia Harcourt story! When we first hear of Edward, he is in the colonies fighting for the king. He is doing his duty for his family, country and his king. The only problem is he doesn’t remember the last couple of months. When he wakes up, not remembering anything and now he’s married, it definitely throws him with a lot more questions then answers. Let’s be honest though, I would have done the same thing and said he was my husband. A man in uniform, sign me up! 🤤Cecilia Harcourt is probably by far, my favorite! She is so much braver then she believes. She is a complete bad ass! Not many people would cross the ocean in search of their injured brother. Even though circumstances and choices lead her to Edward, I love that they already have that connection through letters…so they already have those feelings. How quickly they fall for each other and assume it’s only one sided, made me laugh and cry. I can’t wait for the rest of the Rokesbys!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Dr. Kayla V. PT & teachmeDPT
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great condition, great price, great read!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Overall, I was excited for this purchase it did not disappoint! My friends and I are reading through the entire Bridgerton series, prequels, and all of the authors penned books to date. This was just one purchase within a much larger purchase, and the quality of the book that arrived is as described, in good condition, and great price as always! Highly recommend book orders through this platform, in addition, highly recommend all of Quinn's books. She writes in an easy to read narrative, not overly focused on romantic scenes, and provides a great backdrop and information about the times in which she writes, including the places & culture. My friends and I have enjoyed reading her books and following the series on Netflix. Although we feel the Netflix televised series is so much more different than the books that it really is its own thing.
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  • Kristin Young
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Romance, Aggravating Plot
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    TITLE: The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband
    AUTHOR: Julia Quinn
    SERIES: Rokesbys (Bridgertons Prequel), Book 2
    SETTING: Mid/Late Georgian period/American Revolution, almost entirely in British-occupied Manhattan
    THEMES/TROPES: amnesia, war, big secret, best friend’s sibling/sibling’s best friend

    OVERVIEW: When Miss Cecilia Harcourt travels to New York to nurse her injured brother, Thomas, she can’t seem to find any trace of him. Determined to be of some use, Cecelia goes to the aid of Thomas’s best friend, Captain Edward Rokesby. The only problem is that they won’t let just anyone into the makeshift hospital to see him—so Cecelia tells them she’s his wife. When Edward awakens with no memory of the last several months to find his “wife” at his side, he’s not inclined to argue—he doesn’t remember marrying Cecelia, but he recognizes her face from the miniature Thomas carries, and he recognizes her wit from the bits of correspondence they’ve exchanged through Thomas. With Thomas still missing, Edward recovering from his injuries, and little to return to at home, Cecelia drags the secret out until the truth and her feelings are both hopelessly tangled.

    PROS: The premise is sweet: two people both already a little in love through the bits of correspondence they’ve shared, but both thinking their feelings are silly and unreciprocated. I enjoy this as an alternative to the attraction at first sight that we see in so many romances, where the couple senses an immediate attachment without much or any reason.
    The characters are well-constructed—they have clearly marked characteristics that tie in well with their intentions, and their personalities make sense together.
    Quinn also does a fairly good incorporation of wartime stress and tragedy, pulling in bits of sorrow and chaos that keep the setting grounded without making the war a central player in the story.
    Ms. Quinn also uses letters to great effect in this book, placing pieces of Cecelia and Thomas’s correspondence (with input from Edward) as epigraphs for each chapter, which become more poignant as the story progresses, and including longer letters in the story itself.

    CONS: The story fell a little short on plot, the main points being Cecilia’s secret that they’re not married, Edward’s lost memories, and Thomas’s disappearance. The secret quickly turned into the sort of situation where you end up yelling at the book—“Why haven’t you told him yet?! Just tell him!”—and Edward’s memory and Thomas’s disappearance both played out disappointingly, without enough of interest to justify the suspense.
    I also felt a little short-changed on the romance because of the plot. The characters have gone through the earliest stages of infatuation before the story begins, and a lot of the excitement of new romance is drowned out by the fact that they are already married, but both, for different reasons, feel a little weird about the situation.
    The humor, too, wasn’t in full force in this book. For this, I blame the setting more than Quinn’s writing. The characters had some good moments of witty banter, but the general hilarity I like to see in Ms. Quinn’s stories likely would have clashed with the sobriety of the setting and plotline.

    RATINGS:
    Writing: 5/5 Always high quality, characters’ voices well incorporated.
    Characters: 4/5 Clearly and consistently defined.
    Plot: 3/5 Aggravating secret keeping and unfulfilling reveals.
    Setting: 4/5 Well-detailed Revolution-time Manhattan.
    Romance: 4/5 Sweet premise without much development.
    Sexiness: 5/5 Small quantity (which I prefer) and great quality.
    Humor: 4/5 Some witty banter, light on narratorial humor.
    Average: 4.1/5 Sweet Romance, Aggravating Plot

    OTHER INFO:
    This is the second in the Rokesby series, following Because of Miss Bridgerton, which is about Edwards’s older brother, George, and Edward’s best friend, Billie Bridgerton. I’ve also seen this series listed as “Bridgerton Prequel” and “Rokesbys and Bridgertons.” The connection to Quinn’s original Bridgerton series is that Billie Bridgerton, heroine of the first book, is the aunt of the main Bridgertons from the other series. At the time of this series, the father of the Bridgertons from the original series is still at Eton.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Sheila M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Romance Set on the British Side of the American Revolutionary War
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    "Husband? They were calling him her husband? Was he married? He couldn't be married. How could he be married and not remember it? Who was this woman?"

    FINAL DECISION: Behind the British lines in the American Revolutionary War, this intense and emotional story of a husband and wife learning one another is a winner. The twist? They aren't actually married but only she knows it.

    THE STORY: Edward Rokesby awakes in a military hospital in the American colonies, he has a hole in his memory of what he was doing on an assignment in Connecticut. Months are missing during which he apparently also acquired a wife he does not remember -- Cecilia Harcourt. The sister of Edward's best friend, she has come from England in search of her brother who is missing. There is a good reason that Edward doesn't remember marrying Cecilia -- they are actually not married.

    OPINION: An usual Julia Quinn book with less humor and more seriously emotional content. Quinn's books always have an underlayer of seriousness but usually there is more amusing events. This book is quickly more serious than I expected. With a different setting (the colonies during the American Revolution) and much of the action taking place in confined settings (so much happens in the four walls of a room) and a different emotional temperature, this book feels more fresh and different than other Quinn books while retaining the wonderful and likeable characters.

    One of the best parts of this book is that both Edward and Cecilia are such nice people. Yet, circumstances twist them up and make them do things that they don't anticipate. This story is how two people who seem like they should have an easy road to happiness together become so mixed up that it seems like their happily ever after will pass them by. The story goes deep into these characters as these semi-strangers begin to get to know one another.

    I would say that this is a slowly developing story, but I don't want to give the impression that the story is boring. No, this is the story of two people who are discovering one another. The deception that lies between them and the search for Cecilia's brother has enough drama to keep the story interesting even as these two talk and laugh and cry and know one another.

    I also especially enjoyed the change in venue to the colonies -- especially because we get a glimpse of the British side of the war (which is not the usual side in this time period). Moving away from the expected place gives energy to the story as these new details suffuse the story was new relationships and details. (Plus, I'm glad that we finally get a glimpse of a significant event that is often missing from historical romance books of the period).

    I liked this book much better than the first in the series primarily because I really liked these characters who feel like nice people trapped in a situation that they cannot control which challenges their essential goodness.

    WORTH MENTIONING: It is pretty obvious who the next book in the series will be about.

    CONNECTED BOOKS: THE GIRL WITH THE MAKE-BELIEVE HUSBAND is the second book in the Rokesby series. It is not necessary to have read the first book in the series since this book is only loosely connected and the other characters of the series only make a very brief appearance.

    STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

    NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Edelweiss in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
    15 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Tianna Sinkovits
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely story but the book cover does not match the one delivered
    Reviewed in Canada on February 6, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The book is amazing. I had already read it on my kindle and wanted to have a physical copy as well. I honestly love the prequels more than the original series that follows the siblings. My only problem is that the book cover that is advertised does not match the book cover that I received. For me I already have the other three books in this advertised style but I had unfortunately received a pink version with a blonde girl on the front that does not match the other three. I’m just one of those people who likes to have all of their books match but that does not affect how I loved the story.
    Report
  • Yvonne L
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just as good as the original series
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Julia Quinn can write!
    We all know that there will be a happy ending, but the journey with The Rokesbys is every bit as good as the Bridgerton books.
    Exciting, romantic, historical, engaging, and just pure escapism.
    I highly recommend you give this series a read.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Julia Quinn's best book ever!
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Beautiful and romantic. A love story like no other.
    Not at all predictable.
    An extraordinary story with incredible characters And settings.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eficiência
    Reviewed in Spain on November 22, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Espetacular
    Report
  • un appassionata di fantascienza
    5.0 out of 5 stars Uno dei migliori di miss Quinn
    Reviewed in Italy on May 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Bellissimo romanzo. Uno dei migliori di questa autrice. I caratteri dei protagonisti sono ben delineati. Piacevolissima lettura. Brava Julia Quinn
    Report

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