"Humorous, entertaining start to new Liar's Club series."

Agatha Cunnington is on a mission to find her missing brother, James, and she'll do whatever she must, including taking on an imaginary husband so that she may freely move about London society without calling undue attention to herself. Unfortunately, there are those who demand to meet the fictitious "Mr. Applequist" and Agatha is forced to enlist the services of Simon Montague Rain.

Simon is nothing more than a chimney sweep and common thief, but he'll do. She vows to teach him the basics of etiquette and pay for his silence until her brother can be found. Agatha realizes the risk in such a scheme, but Simon proves to be an apt student, much more than she ever imagined. He's tall, handsome, charming, and Agatha begins to see beyond the rough exterior Simon sometimes presents and wonders if this one might be worth keeping.

The Liar's Club is a rebel group of rogues and thieves loyal to the Crown, an organization Simon Montague Rain has dedicated his life to. Someone in the organization is leaking information to the enemy and causing the deaths of a number of agents. Simon has a hunch that James Cunnington is the culprit. He also believes Agatha to be Cunnington's devoted mistress. Going undercover disguised as a chimney sweep seems the perfect way to gain access to her home, but he's drawn into the whole affair much deeper than he ever intended. Now he must guard more than his life, he must guard his heart against the irresistible allure of "Mrs. Agatha Applequist."

This is the first of Ms. Bradley's Liar's Club series, a sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, but consistently entertaining tale of adventure and intrigue. Don't miss this one!

Reviewed by Margaret Ohmes
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted May 16, 2003

Summary

Rule #1: Never fall in love. Celeste Bradley captivated critics and readers alike with her unforgettable novel Fallen, which was nominated for the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America for Best First Book. Now, she brings us The Lover, the first book in the wildly fun, exciting, and sexy new Liar's Club series both featuring irresistible heroes who are out to steal their leading ladies hearts! She had a secret she'd do anything to hide. Agatha Cunnington, a headstrong beauty from the country, has come to London in search of her missing brother James. The only clue she has is a cryptic letter signed The Griffin. Agatha decides to disguise herself as a respectable married woman so that she can go about the city unnoticed. But for her charade to work she needs a suitable "husband," preferably someone tall, elegant, and rakish-someone like Simon Montague Rain. He had a secret he'd do anything to hide. Simon Montague Rain, also known as The Magician, is a member of The Liar's Club, a renegade group of rogues and thieves in the service of the Crown. When someone begins murdering members of the undercover cabal one by one, Simon is given the mission to bring in The Griffin, one of his comrades who is suspected of betraying his brothers. Simon goes undercover and infiltrates the home of "Mrs." Agatha Applequist who he believes is the Griffin's mistress. Before Simon knows what's happened, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to Agatha's soft, feminine charms-and he is tempted beyond reason to break the first rule of The Liar's Club: never fall in love.