Counterfeit Commoner

by Kelle Z. Riley

When she traded her tiara for a few days of freedom, she didn't expect to find herself - or to lose her heart to the one man guaranteed to break it . . . When Lady Sophia de Lyons, former fiancé to a king and protected daughter of the aristocracy, masqueraded as an American commoner, she didn't expect to fall in love. She gets more than she bargained for when the man of her dreams turns out to be the tabloid reporter of her nightmares. Can she ever learn to trust him after he betrays her? Or will they both lose everything in a desperate gamble for love? Scroll up and grab a copy today.

353 pages, Paperback

Published May 30, 2023

About the author

Kelle Z. Riley, writer, speaker, global traveler, Ph.D. chemist and martial artist weaves bits of her real life into the Undercover Cat Series books. The series features a scientist-turned-sleuth who juggles mystery, romance and the search for a perfect cupcake recipe.

By day Kelle is a full time chemist working in water treatment with multiple U.S. patents. At night she turns into an author whose accolades include finals in the RWA Golden Heart and numerous chapter contests. More information on her workshops can be found on her website.

Kelle can be reached at www.facebook.com/kellezriley www.twitter.com/kellezriley and www.kellezriley.net

Reviews

[Christi · Rating 2 out of 5]

While quite cheesy in places, I was actually pretty drawn into the story, though I think a few things happened out of order (explained below). This all led to the ending feeling very abrupt and leaving me unsatisfied. He didn’t even explain his reasons behind what happened with punching Stephan. They never talked about the letters he supposedly sent – did she not get them, did someone else throw them away, did she throw them away without opening them…? So much went into building their relationship with him hiding his job from her and it left the ending falling flat and this abrupt cut off is what brought the rating down for me.

Also, for all the author used Sophia's thoughts about how stupid it was that she was raised as a virgin bride, the author still had her a virgin until she married Mike. Personally, I feel the marriage should have come AFTER the big reveal about his identity. The whole book he kept thinking about how she would never love him once she found out, she was destined to leave him, he wanted to enjoy it while it lasted...Then he goes and marries her anyway with her using SOMEONE ELSE'S ID and just goes about married life with the articles hanging over his head. It would have made much more sense in the story for them to be in a relationship and sleeping together (maybe even getting engaged), then have him punch Stephan and reveal his identity, THEN have him beg her forgiveness and get married. It would have felt much more complete to end on a wedding back in Morgan's Outpost than "I love you", the end.

Personal pet peeve - the author mentioned a condom the first time they had sex, then after that I don't know if it was supposed to be implied or wasn't used. There was no reference when they had sex in the shower. Most sex happened off page (which is fine!) but if an author is going to include sex in their books I prefer them to embrace both sexuality and safe sex. Easy way out is an IUD or birth control. 

[Robin Goodfellow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review.

Counterfeit Commoner, by Kelly Z. Riley, is a riches to rags fairytale about a young noble woman who falls in love with a man who is trying to leave his past behind. Lady Sophia de Lyons had just gotten off scott-free after being “ousted” out of her marriage to King Constantine Philippe Ramon D’ Malia by American Jill Bradley to her marriage. After agreeing to switch places with Grace Bradley, Jill’s sister, Sophia is suddenly thrusted into a life of freedom, only to end up alone, somewhat broke, and stranded in America. After an unlikely meeting with James “Mike” Michael Maguire, owner of the struggling pub Maguire’s Irish Pub and Grill, Sophie slowly learns how to be more independent, and to find happiness even in the struggle.

I think I enjoyed Counterfeit Commoner a lot more than I thought I would. It was charming, seeing Sophie try to get accustomed to American culture, thinking she’s making a mistake when in actuality everyone loves her. I love her interactions with the three Marys, and when Sophie’s family gets involved, I especially liked how Stephan bonds with Mary Margaret. It shows that, despite the disconnect Sophie has with her uncle and country, her family still cares for her and loves her. The same could be said for Mike; even though Mike’s previous choice in careers and lifestyle came back to bite him in the ass, he was still able to ground himself and protect his family. I loved how protective he was of his nieces and his sister and, to a certain extent, his dad.

However, what won me over was Sophie’s dedication to, not just Mike’s family, but his community as well. She was so friendly with the staff at the pub, and she was able to orchestrate an entire festival to promote Maguire’s and bring people together. I loved how Riley showed readers how Sophie was genuinely a sweet person, and how a relationship isn’t just about two people falling in love, although that is a big part of it. I suspect that this is the relationship Jill Bradley had with King Constantine, as well as Mike’s dad with Destiny, were just as charming, if not downright wholesome. It’s about two people falling in love and getting to know each other. As my father once said, love comes softly, and I feel that this is true for these two.

That being said, I was a little worn down by Mike’s perspective. We know you feel guilty about lying to your love. But you still did it, and I’d prefer if you’d own up to it. But what offset this was his romantic internal dialogue; then again, he is a writer, and I can certainly appreciate his sentimentality. Other than this, I enjoyed this book, and would give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[M. K. French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Sophia de Lyons decided to forego her lineage and forget that she's the former fiancée to a king. Pretending to be an ordinary American woman, she unexpectedly fell in love. Unfortunately, her new love turns out to be the tabloid reporter of her nightmares. Can she ever learn to trust him after he betrays her?

While this is the fourth novel of the Riches and Royals series, you don't have to know the prior three books in the series. Events are neatly summed up in the opening chapter: Sophia was raised to marry the second royal son, but the eldest abdicated for love, and the second found the love of his life. Sophia was now free of all those expectations on her head, and the new bride's sister suggested disappearing for a few days with her help. In the meantime, Mike was recalled home from his life in the paparazzi after his mother's death to help his sister and the family pub with all of their debts. Of course the two collide and kiss, leaving Sophia stranded in his orbit for a while. This lets him realize who she is and write a story to help pay the bills, but it betrays her in the process. We know Sophia will find out at the worst possible moment, and it adds to the tension while reading it. While they have their fun moments of daily life and cuteness, we know it's all going to fall apart.

I really felt for Sophie as she tried to figure out how to maneuver through life as a regular woman when it was clear this was for more than a few days. She became a waitress, definitely not a job for the faint of heart. She learned more about American life and Mike got closer to her as well as to his family. There are some really touching sequences, and we see how torn Mike is between the payout and protecting Sophie's identity. It crashes spectacularly badly, though Mike essentially surrenders his future to protect Sophie as best as he can in that situation. The declaration of love and hint of happily ever after come at the appropriate beats, and hopefully they actually get a chance to see it fulfilled. It's a cute romance, with the glamor of a modern royal family thrown in.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lady Sophia escapes a political marriage because the king fell in love with an American. She runs while on tour because she desires time to discover herself. How the heck did she manage to stay gone for SO LONG?? It’s illogical that the monarchy would allow that. At the beginning she trades places with Grace Bradley, but little is done with the fact that Grace is supposed to look like her, not just that she looks similar to Grace. I also don’t understand why Mike was having to bend spoons all the time. He’s not really established as a character with anger issues. Why was a condom only mentioned once? The marriage was stupid. They should have just slept together and then tied the knot officially in Melesia. It’s obvious that the marriage was done just to avoid seeming like this was fornication. There were also several inconsistencies, such as Katie’s Corner. It seemed like things were already up and running earlier in the book, but toward the end, it was like it was just getting started? And what about Stephan? Why would he randomly show up in America and they not capitalize on this? What really was the purpose of Mike hitting Stephan?

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to a Goodreads giveaway for this book. I must admit it was the cover that first attracted me to this book and then the story drew me in. A fairy tale about a Royal who wants to escape the duties and attention on the fabricated island nation and takes on a new identity during a visit to the States. She ends up in a relationship with the man who was her media nemesis unbeknownst to her and we see where the story is going. Full of a cast of interesting and fun supporting characters and true love winning out I enjoyed Sophia and Mike getting their happy ever after.

[Eclectic Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

An escaped noblewoman and a hotshot celebrity reporter are hiding their true identities... what could possibly go wrong?

Lady Sophia de Lyons is a noblewoman from the island of Melesia who finally finds freedom and independence masquerading as an American commoner. James “Mike” Michael Maguire run's his family's struggling Irish pub after retiring from his job as a sleezy tabloid bully and discovers the importance of family and responsibility.

This is #4 in the Riches and Royals Series and my first Kelle Z. Riley novel. I was intrigued by the riches to rags fairytale and the certain chaos that was to follow. However, it felt like pieces of the puzzle were shuffled around, resulting in a confusing narrative that didn’t really flow as smoothly as it could have. In fact, the abrupt ending left me in a state of "what the heck"! 

For example, that infamous punch Stephan took. I mean, come on! We never really got to hear the details surrounding it. And what about the letters Mike sent Sophia? Did she not get them? Did she read them? I get that not everything can be wrapped up nicely, but could we at least get a hint? All that anticipation built on those letters, just to leave me wondering what the heck happened to them!

Their relationship was so intricate and compelling, especially with him hiding his job from her.  I loved how Sophia learned more about American life and how Mike got closer to her as well as to his family. The tension was palpable, and I was here for it. But to have all that build-up only to have the story cut off so suddenly was a let down. I wanted a resolution, some kind of closure that tied everything together. Instead, it felt like being left on a cliffhanger that just... fell.

So, while I enjoyed many aspects of the story like the characters and the emotional stakes, the rushed ending and the unanswered questions definitely dampened the experience for me. I’m all for leaving some things open to interpretation, but there’s a fine line between intrigue and frustration.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am usually into books about royals - real or fictional, but this one just didn't hit the mark for me. This was book four in the Riches & Royals series. I did not feel like I walked into the middle of a story. It could be read alone.

Some times I got lost in the descriptions and forgot where the story was going. Those parts moved a little slow for me, but overall the book was okay.