Unveiling the Counterfeit Bride

The Silver Leaf Seductions #2

by Ava Devlin

Who is Isabelle Monetier? 

The arrival of two mysterious men in an idyllic French village has thrown Isabelle's identity into question and her life into chaos. To find herself and uncover the secrets of her past, she will have to cross enemy lines, posing as the bride of an intriguing Englishman.

Peter Applegate has always considered himself bookish and unassuming, so how did he end up so far from home and so deeply out of his element? Alongside a rakish smuggler on the high seas, Peter must find the mysterious Miss Monetier and confront the dangers of land and sea to bring her back to England, where her long lost family eagerly awaits her arrival. 

Isabelle is his responsibility to keep safe, not only as his mission, but as his "wife."

Magnetic attraction must be resisted as the two set off toward an unknown future on dangerous waters. Ancient forests, abandoned mansions, sword fights, high seas, and a fugitive donkey await on the horizon for Peter and Isabelle. Join them as they embark on a quest for the truth and their journey to a love like no other.

Unveiling the Counterfeit Bride is the second installment in Ava Devlin's new series, The Silver Leaf Seductions. If you love sweet and steamy Regency romances, complex and endearing characters, and a touch of mystery, this is the book for you. Grab your copy today!

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency

259 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 17, 2020

About the author

Ava Devlin writes sweet and steamy Regency romances. She lives in New York City and believes that diving into fantasies of 19th century England provides an excellent reprieve from hectic metropolitan life.

Ava has been writing love stories for as long as she can remember, and spent her teen years swooning over classic romance novels. In her 20s, she moved to Britain and spent a year exploring the sights, experiences, and history that have made the Regency era such an enduring time of fascination and romance. Afterward, she spent several months living the life of a governess as an au pair in the French Alps, which only heightened the romance of her time abroad.

Today, she splits her time between her writing, her day job, and an excessive amount of dog cuddles. She loves nothing more than hearing from her readers, so feel free to drop her a line at ava@avadevlin.com.

Reviews

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unveiling The Counterfeit Bride
The Silver Leaf Seductions Series #2
Ava Devlin
https://www.facebook.com/AvaDevlinRom...
Release date 08/18/2020

Blurb :

Who is Isabelle Monetier? 
The arrival of a mysterious stranger in an idyllic French village has thrown Isabelle's identity into question and her life into chaos. To find herself and uncover the secrets of her past, she will have to cross enemy lines, posing as the bride of an intriguing Englishman.
Peter Applegate has always considered himself bookish and unassuming, so how did he end up so far from home and so deeply out of his element? Alongside a rakish smuggler on the high seas, Peter must find the mysterious Miss Monetier and confront the dangers of land and sea to bring her back to England, where her long lost family eagerly awaits her. 
Isabelle is his responsibility to keep safe, not only as his mission, but as his "wife."
Magnetic attraction must be resisted as the two set off toward an unknown future on dangerous waters. Ancient forests, abandoned mansions, sword fights, high seas, and a fugitive donkey await on the horizon for Peter and Isabelle. Join them as they embark on a quest for the truth and their journey to a love like no other.

My review :

Will she find more than what she was looking for ...

After reading Nell and Nate’s tale, I was left wondering about Nate’s missing sister and Nell’s twin on his way to bring her back home.
Yet the prologue was unexpected as it is a jump in time some twenty years ago on the night that altered their life forever and the book’s epilogue mimics its opening, offering a guest to voice his tenderness and love toward his charge.
I think this story lighter than the previous one as it was cleared of the revenge plot from the first couple’s romance.
It was a kind of coming of age journey as while Peter stays true to his character, Isabelle tests her inner self to discover who she is Alice or Isabelle.
And while it could have been an angsty read filled with resentment, it is contrarily one of love and acceptance.
When Isabelle is all light and fire, Peter is more a shadow man, don’t misread as a dark man, more like one waiting on the edges, quiet and patient.
Isabelle embarks on a trip to learn about her birth roots while not once reneging her other life.
She slowly is taught about her family, who they were and how they lived while falling for the calm and soothing presence always at her side, Peter.
I have already said I love scholars, while not alpha in the strict meaning of the word, they have a different strength, one acquired with their brain instead of brawn. And Peter is one when put at task, to see it completed even when it does not understand the why behind, like his fencing lessons as he misread his orders.
He is such a sweetheart, not afraid to confess his sentiments and read to step aside if necessary for the happiness of his beloved.

Mrs Devlin paints a lively tale of two souls while searching for answers find love on their path, if they are willing to give their heart full rein.
5 stars
I can’t wait for the next installment, wondering if it will be the lively, dashing and rakish Mathias’ tale.
And do not forget to subscribe to the author’s newsletter if you do not want to miss the most moving extracts from Isabelle’s family.

I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had two lovely characters in Isabelle and Peter. Isabelle was a free spirited and caring young woman. Peter was an academic and the twin of Nell. Peter is such a thoughtful and understanding person. There are a number of adventures, as well as the growing relationship between Isabelle and Peter. However, Isabelle has a number of new things to come to terms with. This was an engaging story taking place in France and England. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want adventure filled with spies, secrets, betrayal, finding one's true identity and of course a romance worth turning every page, then start reading and don't stop until the end! Wow

This is Peter and Isabelle's story. Isabelle is beautiful and full of adventure and Peter just stole my heart. Isabelle learns of her true family, and takes a journey filled with all that is needed for a special love to bloom.

Don't miss this one!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/22/2022)! 🎁

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m having a hard time with this review. I wanted so badly to love this book because the rest of the series and linked books were so great but it was just lacking. I enjoy this author and have read many of her books and had high hopes for this book but it was extremely slow to start and I struggled to get through it. It took almost till 60% into the book to get going and even then the little bit of a climax was a let down. There was all this lead up to the peril of getting the main character home to her brother in England and all of this prep work that went into their journey and it was almost unremarkable with the climax being a few pages of a lackluster sword fight and that was it. It had the potential in the storyline to be so much more.

The heroine Isabelle (Alice) was fantastic and had the promise to be a great female character throughout the book, with a lot of personality and grit. I really liked her and enjoyed her character the most out of the story. The hero Peter was a bit of a letdown. I enjoyed him as a supporting character in some of the other books and was looking forward to his story but felt that they were a bit of a mismatched pair. The way Peter was portrayed made me think of a school boy who is very awkward, and couldn’t reconcile this image with some of the passion scenes and how he was portrayed. Don’t get me wrong he had his moments but I felt like the few scenes where the author could have highlighted his prowess and shown him to be confident and on equal footing with the heroine she cut the scenes short and portrayed him as almost unsure. There was also a ton of descriptive background of the scenery and environment which was absolutely lovely but took up a good portion of the book and I found myself eventually skimming past because it was slightly repetitive. I did enjoy Mathias though and am looking forward to his book.

I felt this book deserved 3.5 stars honestly. I rounded up instead of down on the merit of the other books in the series. Worth the read as a continuation of the story line and moving forward with other books in the series but as a stand-alone not my favorite.

I received a complementary ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.

[OnceUponATime · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We can stay...or travel until the stars change overhead. It will not matter so long as we are together.”

Yet another beautifully written work by Ava Devlin! Her books always give me the all the feels & the same can be said for this latest installment of The Silver Leaf Seductions!

Peter & Isabelle - could there be any couple more adorable? Isabelle and Peter are both incredibly sweet. Isabelle also has a little fire to her; while Peter has a patient, shy, bookish way about him. I just adored them! They are both struggling with how/where they belong. Isabelle’s life has been turned upside down & she must make some important decisions regarding her future. Peter also struggles with belonging. Being a twin, he has always felt a strong bond with his sister. However, his sister has married & found happiness, leaving Peter feeling adrift. As events unfold, we see Isabelle & Peter attempt to make sense of how each fit into the lives of those around them...and possibly into each other’s lives.

This was a beautiful story of love, forgiveness & acceptance. It’s been a while since I’ve cried tears of happiness while reading a book, but I did with this one...and more than once. As with all of Ava Devlin’s books, I found myself swept away by the story & not wanting to put it down. I also found myself stopping to read lines/conversations a 2nd & 3rd time because of the emotions I experienced & wanting to savor those moments. Once again, BRAVO Ava Devlin!! I am anxiously awaiting the next in the series!!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book. This is my voluntary & honest review.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Applegate, who knew that gangly, socially-challenged nerd would turn into a handsome, sword-welding, Hortensia-adoring, romantic, yummy charmer deserving of his very own HEA? Isabelle was a delightful, clever character, and would have made her incredible mother proud. And Isabelle and her father were so wonderful together, even when certain marriage proposals were being considered. I've loved all of Ava Devlin's books, but this one might just be my favorite. My only potentially critical thought is that it would have been nice to have gotten some closure with Charles, but perhaps he'll earn an HEA someday too. Betrayal, survival, identity, courage, truth, family, friendship, strong women, sibling bonds, hope, and love were some of the major undercurrents in this captivating, steamy, tale.

And jftr, the love letters sent from Alice's father to her mother are entirely worth signing up for the author's newsletter :)

[Nazmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unveiling the Counterfeit Bride is the second book in Ava Devlin’s Silver Leaf seductions series. It can be read as a stand-alone without affecting the story, but it will give you greater understanding if you read the first book; Unmasking the Silver Heiress.
Isabelle Monetier has grown up happily in rural France with her father Yves. Her life follows a gentle routine which includes yearly visits from her cousin Charles. She has vague dreams of something missing maybe but, on the whole, she is perfectly happy with the rhythm of her life.
Until one summer when she receives an unexpected and unwanted proposal and two mysterious strangers arrive in her village with devastating news about her past. Suddenly, Isabelle’s entire identity is thrown into question and she starts to question what she wants in her life. She will need to trust the two strangers and travel with them to England to uncover the secrets of her past and discover who she truly is. Posing as the wife of one of the men – Peter Applegate – she must concentrate on what lies at the end of her journey but her attraction to Peter makes her wish that the fiction become reality.
Peter Applegate is a scholar – bookish and of a deceptively mild temperament. He cannot fathom how he became roped into his Aunt’s scheme to travel across the seas into enemy land to find Miss Monetier and bring her safely back to embrace her birthright and her long-lost family in England. Having lost the companionship of his twin Nell recently to matrimony, Peter is unknowingly a little lost and restless - a fact which may be why he agreed to such an enterprise - although this isn't the first time he has become unwillingly embroiled in his Aunt Zelda's machinations. Feeling out of his element in this strange country, he also must fight his attraction to the enchanting Isabelle until she is delivered safely to her brother.
Along with Mathias - a fellow member of the Silver Leaf society and devil may care rogue - a resourceful donkey and Isabelle’s dog Goliath, Peter and Isabelle will have to navigate days of travel, betrayals, evade capture by the enemy, and a perilous sea crossing before finally reaching their Happy Ever After.
I liked this story very much. It has a different tone to the first in the series and Peter is very much a Beta hero which is against the norm. I do usually like my heroes to be very Alpha, but Peter showed that he was just as competent and accomplished as an action hero. Despite his more sensitive and academic nature he was certainly not weak or lacking in any way. In actual fact the notion that he was not good enough was entertained more by Peter than Isabella. I loved that Isabelle never thought any less of Peter for this. She recognised his strengths straightaway and was attracted to him from the start. Peter admitted his feelings early but had the strength to stand aside and give Isabelle the space to decide her path for herself.
Isabelle is a strong heroine. She is warm, feisty and is not afraid to speak her mind. She definitely is not afraid of going after what she wants. In a bit of a role reversal, it is actually Peter that acknowledges his love first and it is Isabelle who takes a little time feeling sure of what she wants. She is also the one to propose which I loved!
There are again, many strong secondary characters in the story who really fleshed it out and sparked our interest. It was great seeing Nell, Gloriana and Nate again. The scenes between Nate and Isabelle were truly emotional. Yves and Mathias were great characters and I cannot wait for Mathias to get his own story.
I was generously gifted an ARC by the author, but I would definitely recommend you pick this up. There is plenty to grab your interest and keep you invested in the Silver Leaf Society and its adventures!

[Winnifred D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this 4 stars based on the quality of the writing. Ava Devlin does an excellent job stylistically, and some of the descriptions of France are stunning. I absolutely wanted to hop on a plane and fly to the rural village where the h lived (of course, I'd have to do some time traveling as well). The dialog and characterization are also a notch above your typical KU historical romance. I loved the closeness between h and her adoptive dad, as well as her relationship with her best friend (even the relationship between h and her dog was adorable). These characters come across as very real.

I had a harder time with H and h's romance. I got the impression from the first entry in this series that Peter was a bit of a cold fish. Although I do like bookish H's as a change of pace, and don't mind beta heroes at all, I felt that there was something missing in Peter's personality that would have drawn Isabelle, the h, to him. Their relationship seems like it would have been more of a "summer fling" in modern times. Although the sex scenes are tastefully steamy, I kept waiting for the scene when h and H would realize they absolutely needed each other. But there was no real turning point, nothing that occurred in the plot to make them both believe that marriage was the best outcome for both of them. Honestly, the h seems like the kind of independent, fiery young woman who would have been happy on her own for a while, and H seems like the kind of young man who would have happily completed his studies while waiting for h for a few years.

Here's the rub: As much as I dislike the overdone drama in some romances, this one doesn't have enough. SPOILERS AHEAD....................... First, Charles, Isabelle's cousin, who had proposed marriage before Peter arrived on the scene, throws a tantrum about the pretend marriage, then he calms down and disappears from the plot. After this, Peter and Isabelle's traveling buddy hints a couple times that their relationship might be frowned upon by Isabelle's brother, who is a politician and was presented in the first book as a bit of an opportunist. I was waiting for a heated discussion to happen. Nope. At the end h tells H that she has let her brother know that she wants to marry H, and that's all there is to it.

Bottom line: Just like a lazy afternoon outside, this is an enjoyable book, but won't get your heart rate up.

[EstelaReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starring Peter Applegate and Isabelle Monetier aka Alice Atlas

Y’all, there were so many parts in this story that I had wonderful Ugly Cry AF moments. I absolutely loved it!!

Peter Applegate is my new book boyfriend. Holy wow!! He’s a beta-hero that is totally swoon-worthy. Gotta love the intellectual type... and I do!! They have a quiet strength about them... and that’s totally Peter.

Isabelle is such a wonderful free-spirited heroine. I love her playfulness and vulnerability. Her spontaneity is the perfect pairing for Peter’s seriousness. She also has a toughness about her, especially when her world is turned upside down and she leaves everything that’s familiar. I love that she comes into her own.

I absolutely adored Peter and Isabelle... they gave me all warm giddy feely-feels. They are officially my second favorite Ava Devlin couple (Heloise and Callum from The Hero and the Hellion have the top spot). Honestly, I was cheering for them from the first second they met.... and squeeeeeee’d when they got their HEA. Loved it!!!

There are two other characters that absolutely stood out. First, there’s Yves Monetier, Isabelle’s adopted father. He had my heart from the moment he was introduced. I wanted to constantly hug him. Thank goodness he decided to raise Isabelle as his own. Yves did a wonderful job making her the amazing woman she turned out to be.

Then there’s Mathias Dempierre, Peter’s unwanted sidekick. He’s absolutely adorable and unapologetic about his devil-May-care attitude. He made me laugh out loud constantly. I can’t wait for his book to come out.

This is the second book in the Silver Leaf Seduction Series. Ava Devlin continues to keep me glued to these wonderful characters. Can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series.

Ps. There’s bonus material that’s a “Must read”. Walter Atlas’ letters. That made me Ugly cry AF, y’all!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily review it and the comments are 100% my own.

My star rating: 5 stars x 100!!!
Ugly cried AF. Major book hangover. Characters and storyline were amazing. Made me wanna hug the author for writing a book that gave me all the feels!! Will be re-reading this story over and over and over again!!

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

📜📜ONE SPECTACULAR TREAT📜📜
Sensational! Ava delivers one enchanting delight with all the action, heat and magic, blazing a path laying it out for this perfectly paired, matched up team, raising the stakes and keeping it real, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Vexing exigency and dubious events, swirl with the taxing trials and heartfelt triumphs, spinning alongside the intriguing twists and intricate turns, blasting this jewel to life flawlessly. Tempting, tangled and tightly entwined, baring the crazy quirks and defying bents, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they could have never envisioned. Restrictions are heightened and exploited, exposing the fervent facts, fiery feels and fierce fiascos, kicking this jewel into a tailspin with an astonishing realization. Sparks fly as drama, secrets, intrigue, turmoil, misgivings, electrifying suspense and delightful situations along with a boatload of revelations, you have one incredible adventure. The attraction and chemistry collides with such intensity, exposing profound emotions, drawing our characters closer, binding them to one another beautifully. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, adding depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions, as to give you a full understanding and realism that flows smoothly. Amazing job Ava, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, Well-Told Story

I wasn't particularly wild about the first book of this series, but I had enjoyed other books by this author, so I continued to stick with the series. I am so glad I did. I enjoyed this book very much. The opening scene is startling and pulls you right into the story. I love it when an author can do that! Things change up rather quickly as we fast forward to the present in the book, some 20 years later after the initial scene. I loved the characters in this book: the heroine, her secret adoptive father, and of course, the hero. The hero the author has created here is my favorite type, this scholarly beta hero, one who deeply cares but is willing to be supportive in the background and not forcing himself into issues. The heroine has quite a journey in this novel, understanding her roots when her world gets turned upside down when she finds out the man she has called Father all her life is not her biological one. I like that the author made her twin roots equally important, both the love shown to her over her life by her secret adoptive French father and the love and hope of the English family she was born into, which they continue to have despite all odds. Parts of this journey were just so beautiful and heartfelt. The author did an exceptional job, and I highly enjoyed this wonderful tale.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Joyce Fredlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prologue started out on a happy note -- an Uncle being returned to his Family after being imprisoned -- which turned violent in a matter of seconds. It set the stage for the introduction of the two major characters -- Yves and Isabelle(Alice Atlas) Monetier and Charles Monetier(nephew/cousin).
Twenty years later, unbeknownst to Isabelle, events started which would lead her to her HEA. The Silver Leaf Company -- a smuggling operation of both contraband goods and people -- had been initially involved in the events occurring in the prologue. Two members -- Mathias Dempierre and Peter Applegate -- were tasked with the job of finding Alice Atlas(aka Isabelle Monetier) and returning her to her unknown Family. These two characters were involved in finalizing Isabelle's HEA.
This is the story of Isabelle and Peter managing to prevail and obtain their EA despite the perilous journey between France and England and the meeting between Isabelle and what was left of her Family.
I enjoyed this book which started out with suspense and ended with happily ever after and would recommend this to anyone wishing for an easy read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[sherri jones-teachout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story. Several love stories past, present, and future. So much love. Twenty years ago during war, something happened that changed many lives. In a prisoner exchange between the French and British, the French gentleman went back on his word and murdered several people causing everyone involved in the exchange to be killed, himself also. The only ones remaining alive were the younger brother he was rescuing, his young son and the baby of the couple he murdered. This sets the stage for the events that occur twenty years later. Isabelle, the young baby, has been brought up loved and beloved by her adopted father and cousin, not knowing that she is really English. And the cousin she grew up with and loved as a brother, doesn’t know that Isabelle’s mother killed his father, after his father murdered her real father. What will happen when the secrets are revealed? And Isabelle has a family in England who thought she was dead and recently found out she is alive. They have been looking for her. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unveiling the Counterfeit Bride can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading it in conjunction with Unmasking the Silver Heiress. In the first book you learn about the Silver Leaf Society, a secret society of smuggling and espionage. At the end of the first book you learn of a prisoner transfer that went wrong leaving an English baby in the hands of the French. That baby is now grown and her name is Isabelle Monetier. Isabelle's father, Yves, sends a letter to the Silver Leaf Society telling them where Isabelle is and they send Peter Applegate to rescue her. Isabelle and Peter are total opposites. Isabelle sets out on a journey to find out who she is, where she came from, and who her family is, without forgetting herself. This is a definite must read book! I love this book and I reread the first book before reading this one. I still loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who is Isabelle Monetier?
The arrival of two mysterious men in an idyllic French village has thrown Isabelle's identity into question and her life into chaos. To find herself and uncover the secrets of her past, she will have to cross enemy lines, posing as the bride of an intriguing Englishman.
Peter Applegate has always considered himself bookish and unassuming, so how did he end up so far from home and so deeply out of his element? Alongside a rakish smuggler on the high seas, Peter must find the mysterious Miss Monetier and confront the dangers of land and sea to bring her back to England, where her long lost family eagerly awaits her arrival. aa
Isabelle is his responsibility to keep safe, not only as his mission, but as his "wife."
Peter and Isabelle are an excellent couple. Their only way to be together is to have been able to make an excellent match.

[Judith Eiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all yearn to know our home and our history.
Ava Devlin has woven an exquisite story of romance and discovery of self. Every page delivers more of the story and of the awakening of love between Isabelle/Alice and Peter (who has really needed a love interest since the prior book in this series). Every great romance needs twists and turns and “Unveiling” does twists, turns,summersaults, cartwheels and the added attraction of sword play! I wondered if Isabell, whose birth name is Alice was channeling the beloved Alice of Wonderland fame, but no, she is well grounded in reality. She is, however, unable to stopper her curiosity once it has been uncorked. Ava, write more stories...Mathias needs (deserves) a love interest!

[Avid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book carries on directly from "Unmasking the Silver Leaf Heiress". It could be read as a standalone but is so much better reading the series in order. Isabelle has been brought up in France believing she is the daughter of a Frenchman only to learn she is the missing child of an English family. Peter a scholar and nephew to the head of the Silver leaf group is sent to bring her to England accompanied by Matthias Dempierre a roguish captain. Lots of action, intrigue, humour, soul searching, story telling, love and animals. Another great book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracy Tiscareno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest book! This author uses amazing descriptive language to weave her tales. She compares the scents of the summer to the colors of a sunset so vividly, that I will never look at a sunset the same. Her characters are lovable and believable. I love that Peter is an unlikely hero. He doesn't have money or a title. He isn't the handsomest guy in the room, but he is caring and considerate and there when it counts. Isabelle is spunky, energetic, and quite able to take on her new circumstances. I highly recommend this book and am already pining for the next one. I was given this book as an ARC on condition I leave an honest review.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unknown family found.
It would appear that even after 20 years the Silver Leaf Society was alive and well and will play a big part in this piece. Isabelle knows in her heart that she would not be staying where she was that there was something else. When the two strangers came to her small village fate seem to open a door for her. While Charles may want her for wife it will be Peter who will take center stage. I loved the wordplay in this piece the author is so talented. The characters were great and the storyline splendid. I highly recommend this one it is so good. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Tale of Two Countries At War🔪🔫
ADULT Regency Era Epic Romance💕 and Adventure.🔪🔫

As an infant, Isabelle💃💋 survives the murder of her English mother and father on a French beach, in a prisoner exchange gone wrong. Her father's brother, Yves, says he's her French father and raises her as his own. The book follows their lives as they flee France for England with a fake English husband as her rescuer and a smuggler aiding their departure. Most of the book takes place in France as the three walk, ride, and take coaches across the country in an effort to escape the authorities. Great world building!

ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱.
I also got this ebook with KU.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Silver Leaf Seductions series. I would recommend reading the 1st book Unmasking the Silver Heiress before reading this book. This book is about Peter who is a bookish, patient, and calming man and Isabella (Alice) who is very spirited and loves adventure. They meet when Peter and his friend goes to retrieve his Brother in Law’s sister who has been missing. This is a book with some mystery, some adventure and of course love, which is not rushed. Ava Devlin always writes a story which I get so involved I do not want to put it down. PS I love Isabella’s relationship with Yves.
I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Silver Leaf Seductions series. Although you can read this as a standalone, I recommend you read the first book to get a better understanding of the story. Not to mention, book 1 was a great book as well! And this book also did not disappoint! I got pulled into the story right from the start. Secrets, mystery, and full of emotion this book had me hooked till the very end. The characters were all wonderful and endearing with great personalities. It was a beautiful and heartfelt story, and I had a wonderful time reading it. Definitely recommend!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anita Fuhrmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful second book that takes the reader back to how the events all began for Isabelle and Peter and we get to meet a totally different type of alpha male. One that uses his brain more and brawn less to achieve the maximum effect. So many questions get answered and I hope that this series will continue with maybe Mathias finding his true love next. I loved Isabelle/Alice and Peter so much as well as the whole storyline and I am so glad that this author was brought to my attention simply because her writing is something that any reader of historical romance will truly enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diana (DomesticGoddess) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Decent enough, and well written, but lacking in drama.

He had never lived anywhere with mountains. Even visiting the northern reaches of Britain did not come close to what he was seeing here tonight, surrounded on all sides by alpine giants, each with a spray of brilliantly bright stars seemingly bursting from their peaks. It made him feel small, he realized, but in a lovely way, as though all of his worries and woes were irrelevant amidst the towering eternity of a place like this.

Yves himself was frowning, but seemed otherwise unharmed, which led Peter to determine that the conspicuously absent Charles Monetier had been the one to strike Mathias. He rather resented that he had missed it.

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding who you are

I absolutely loved Isabella’s and Peters story. She was raised by a French father even though they were no blood relations. Peter was sent to find Isabelle aka Alice 20 yrs after she was thought dead. When Peter arrives in her small town he comes upon Isabella by accident and asks to see her papa and all would be revealed.
When Isabella finds out that she is actually English and rescued by Yves and raised as his daughter, she knows she must return to England if only for a short time and find answers to who she is. Peter and Isabella never expected to fall in love.
A beautifully written story with a wonderful ending.

[Letha Bullard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advance copy of this book for review. If you like this genre, you will love Ava Devlin’s work! Ms. Devlin writes lovely stories, her characters are endearing, the storylines are captivating, and the romance gets steamy. I appreciate that she weaves recurring characters throughout her books; the reader “gets to know” all the characters eventually, although it occasionally takes a bit to remember who’s who. While the individual books would be great read in any order, reading them chronologically is better! Looking forward to the next installment in this series!

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the series, it did not disappoint. Isabelle is a very independent young lady raised up in France. Peter is a true gentleman raised up in England. Together Isabelle and Peter walk a journey finding themselves and each other. Once I started reading their story, I could not put the book down. I cannot wait to here more about the characters in the series in the next installment.
I received a free copy through the author's ARC team and I am leaving a voluntary and completely honest review.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story of Peter and Isabella (I was hoping for their story). There is not a lot of angst but there is action. I love the action scenes. Peter is an beta hero but he definitely holds his own. Isabella is a sweet woman who likes to see what she can get away with and loves adventure. She is not malicious, just very inquisitive. I thought the dynamic between the two characters was point on. The love between her and Yves is a wonderful father/daughter relationship. A wonderful addition to the Silver Leaf Society.

I received a complimentary copy from the author.

[Kety · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unveiling the Counterfeit Bride is the second book in the "Silver Leaf seductions" series and can be read as a stand-alone.
Isabelle believe she is the daughter of a Frenchman but in thrut she is is the missing child of an English family. Who she is in thrue?
Peter, an Englishman and scholar is sent to bring her back to England...
A lovable couple with differences and sparks...
A story full of action, intrigue, love and suspences...
A story for all...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.