A Pretend Betrothal

The Mayfair Literary League #2

by Lana Williams

Bonded by books and united by a purpose, The Mayfair Literary League has taken on a new mission—For Better or Worse. The bachelors of London won’t know what hit them when these bookish ladies set their sights on the men in their lives who don’t see them for who they truly are—yet.

Can she reclaim her childhood best friend AND convince him to love her?

Lady Tabitha Malton spends her days caring for her mother who feigns illness to keep Tibby at her side. Tibby can’t bring herself to protest until The Mayfair Literary League proposes a new agenda—perform a bold act to catch the notice of their secret crush.

Michael Shaw isn’t the same man who left England’s shores a decade ago to serve in the military, but his well-meaning mother doesn’t seem to understand. Her insistence that he take a wife is driving him mad. How can he consider marriage when he feels broken and battered inside?

A pretend betrothal might be the perfect solution for them both.

Tibby isn’t the same person either. She’s grown into a beautiful woman whose intelligence and grace intrigues him at every turn. A “pretend” kiss upends his world until he’s no longer certain what he wants with one exception—her.
Tibby knows she’s in over her head and has already lost her heart to the handsome captain. Will her bold move lead to love or heartache?

Join the ladies of the Mayfair Literary League as they pursue their happily ever afters:
A Matter of Convenience, Book 1
A Pretend Betrothal, Book 2
A Mistaken Identity, Book 3

Genres: Romance, Historical, Adult, Historical Romance

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2023

About the author

Lana Williams is the USA Today Bestselling and Amazon All-Star Author of over 55 historical fiction novels filled with mystery, romance, adventure, and sometimes a pinch of paranormal to stir things up.

She spends her days in Victorian, Regency, and Medieval times, depending on her mood and current deadline.

Lana calls the Rocky Mountains of Colorado home where she lives with her husband and a spoiled rescue dog named Sadie. Connect with her at https://lanawilliams.net/, find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lanawilliamsbooks, or on IG @authorlanawilliams.

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the next meeting of the Mayfair Literary League, Lady Tabitha Malton volunteers as the next lady to instigate her plan FOR BETTER OR WORSE. Captain Michael Shaw has recently returned to England after ten years with Her Majesty's Army. No longer interested in staying in the army, he sold his commission. What to do to fill in his days? He's definitely not interested in marriage. Tabitha has loved Michael for a long time. With a demanding mother, Michael is her last hope of marriage.
Her plan is to get Michael to agree to a pretend betrothal. Insecurities and misunderstandings are giving them second thoughts about the betrothal. Her mother is a major pain in her demands to control Tabitha's life. A slow pace when I wanted them to stop beating around the bush. Some open bedroom door.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book gifted by the author.

[Samantha Heuwagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn’t like a secret love turned fake betrothal turned happily ever after?

The slow burn of the lovers finding their way to each other was very cute and rooted in their friendship. I enjoyed watching as they each took time to feel each other out (after so much time away!) and get to know each other again, but you know, sexier 😅 Their love story is warm and inviting— just the thing we all need in these crazy times.

One thing that made me hesitate with the book was her mother—she’s just down right annoying but I get it I do! I was just like girl get you sh*t together and let your child live! 😅

Another addition to the series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fun to return to The Mayfair Literary League for Tibby & Michael's story. Each character was dealing with difficult circumstances in their lives and seeing them grow and look at themselves with different eyes was very inspiring. I love all the side characters throughout the novel and I look forward to reading their stories in the future.

[Robin Nolet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in Lana William’s new Mayfair Literary League series did not disappoint. In both stories we meet members who take up the League’s ‘For Better or Worse’ challenge which dares them to find a way to make themselves visible to the gentleman they hold a ‘tendre’ for. These women might be unkindly thought of as ‘wallflowers’, being just a bit late for marriage, or just a bit too shy or scholarly or any of a number of things the ‘ton’ finds less than acceptable in a bride. And so, they’ve gone unnoticed by the men they most crave attention from.

But this challenge gives them the opportunity to make one last effort, before it’s too late and they’re left ‘on the shelf’, so to speak. Now it is Tibby’s turn. What is she willing to do to make her dreams come true, to make Michael, newly returned from the military, see her not as the girl she was during their shared childhoods, but as the woman she’s grown into during his absence.

I’ll leave the particulars up to the book, but for this review let me say that so far this series has been a lot of fun to read. Though the challenge may be the same, how each woman in the League goes about it differs. But in each case the goal is the same, to lift the veil that has kept their heart’s desire from seeing them as more than society does. To see them as someone to love and be loved by, but in the process, helping these women to see themselves as so much more deserving than society deems.

This is a delightful story and I look forward to seeing what the other members come up with!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

An all night binge read! That is just simply filled with love.

Tibby and Michael are both are incredible characters.

She needs to be bold by getting his attention and she also needs to figure out a way to get her mother back into society so she can also have a life, what better way to do both by asking him to pretend to be her betrothal?

He is back from the war, he is feeling restless, unsure of how to adjust to civilian life, his mother and grandmother want to see him married. But when she suggests a pretend betrothal he sees a solution to get his mother and grandmother to not only leave him alone about marriage but figuring out about his future in the meantime.

What neither of them saw coming was that they would not only grow to love each other but they would build their own confidences along the way by building each other up.

What turned out to be pretend turned out to be something very real.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end.

I look forward to the next book in this series.

I received this as a gift from the author in exchange for a voluntary review and these are purely thoughts and no one else's.

[Linda J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 STARS

I like the theme of the storyline. Women who've had at least 5 seasons decide to venture from being a book club, to taking their futures into their own hands.

They decide to change things up and have the men who they have feelings for notice them. The last part happened the same as in book 1. The H discovers what the league was about by the same person in book 1. The H can't believe she only came after him to keep the pact of the league. As in book 1, he doesn't give the h a chance to explain. Thankfully this doesn't last long and he comes to his senses and finally allows her to explain. I would think after the upheaval from what happened in book 1 word would have spread to the men what the league premise was - obviously not. I hope the other books don't follow the same path.

Romance builds slowly. Foreplay prior to marriage - heat level 3 out of 5. One lovemaking scene after marriage, heat level 2.5 out of 5.

I felt so sorry for the h and how her mother acted. She finally has a stern talk with her mother and I was glad she found her voice.

No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, romance and a tad of steam. Even though book 2 of the series it can be a stand alone. Nice epilogue 5 years in the future.

I received ARC and all opinions are my own and freely given. (ljb)

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Tabitha “Tibby” Malton has loved Michael Shaw for as long as she can remember, but her relationship with Michael is firmly in the “friend zone” and he shows no signs of seeing her as anything more than a friend. To complicate matters, Tibby’s mother has become increasingly needy and socially withdrawn, yet she demands Tibby's attendance. Tibby fears if she doesn’t do something soon, she will spend the rest of her life as her mother’s companion with no chance of love or a family of her own. So when her friend Pheobe from the Mayfair Literary League suggests that they each should make a bold move to capture the attention of their secret crush, the “For Better or Worse” agenda is launched and Tibby vows to be brave enough to follow her heart. She approaches Michael and asks if he would be willing to engage in a pretend betrothal with her, she tells him she hopes that the thought of Tibby marrying might encourage her mother to rejoin society and be less dependent on Tibby, she also thinks it will stop Michael’s mother from pressuring him to marry. At first, he refuses, but later agrees, so now she has to make him fall in love with her.

Michael Shaw is the second son of an earl and has recently sold his commission in the military after spending the last ten years in service. He has returned home but feels a bit lost and not sure what to do with the rest of his life. He is surprised by Tibby’s proposal and declines because he worries that it could ruin her reputation, but with his mother pressing him to marry and Tibby assuring him she isn’t worried about her reputation, he agrees and soon he is seeing his dear friend in a new light and discovering that he can’t seem to stop kissing her. He is wondering if she would consider a true betrothal, but before he can broach the subject, he learns of the Mayfair Literary League’s mission and feels betrayed. Can they overcome her deception or has she lost her chance at HEA?

I enjoyed this well-written, nicely paced story, it was easy to sympathize with Tibby and root for her HEA. Likewise, Michael was also easy to like, and his struggle to find a new purpose in life was entirely relatable. The bond between them was clear from the start, but it seemed to take Michael a long time to figure out and accept his new feelings for Tibby, and I didn’t quite understand why Tibby had such a low opinion of herself. Together these two bring out the best in the other and they share a true friendship, add to that, a great supporting cast of characters, secrets, kisses, and forgiveness and you have a delightful read. I did think the ending was a bit similar to the previous book, but overall the story was completely different and a joy to read, I would however have liked to know the outcome of his botany experiment (just saying…). This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't go wrong with a friends-to-lovers fake engagement, amirite?

I'm really enjoying the Mayfair Literary League Ladies' determination to take control over their own love lives--and so far, they're 2 for 2! Unorthodox? Sure, but it's hard to argue with results. The way their secret plan keeps getting leaked to sections of society, though, I'm starting to get worried there won't be any potential spouses left who don't already know about their For Better or Worse plan--though maybe that's not a bad thing? Maybe those oblivious guys will get their heads out of their butts faster if they have an inkling of what's coming? ;)

A Pretend Betrothal did not disappoint. Tibby is a delightful and relatable heroine, and I loved watching it slowly dawn on Michael that gosh, it's no longer *just* friendship that he feels for her. I was a teensy bit aggravated over how long it took him to admit as much to Tibby, but he makes up for it in the end. Their HEA was well deserved, and the epilogue was *chef's kiss* perfect.

Bring on book 3!

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Shaw has returned home and neighbour and childhood friend Lady Tibby wants him to see her in a new light, but how to do so? After five failed seasons she knows that men don’t see her and her mother uses feigned illness and guilt to restrict her social life still further. Once Michael has recovered from his war experiences and found a purpose in civilian life, he will start attending events, the eligible ladies will swarm on him like bees on clover and he’d never see Tibby. And so she asks for help. A pretend betrothal will benefit him by getting his mother off his back, her by hopefully shocking her mother into Society again and, she hopes, but this of course is secret, give Michael the opportunity to be in her company and fall in love with her. From the very first things do not go to plan…
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[BookishMya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tibby & Michael are wonderful together. Who better to set her sights on then her childhood friend. How better to get him to look closer than a pretend betrothal. The struggles of course come in when trying to tell the difference between pretend and real emotions. Add to that a mother who refuses to leave the house and resents Tibby leaving as well. The result is an entertaining mix of events. These two are so supportive of each other and truly the perfect match. I love the friendships in this series most of all, the literary league and their challenge to make a bold step out of the shadows of their secret interests. Though Society always seems to misunderstand their mission, it is truly the best example of friends supporting each other and inspiring them to do more. This was another great story and I can’t wait for more.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tabatha (Tibby) Malton is a member of the Mayfair Literary League. She has embraced the For Better or Worse challenge put forth by the league's founder, Phoebe. She hopes to capture the romantic interest of her childhood friend, Michael Shaw, who has returned to England after years spent abroad in the army. Neither Tibby nor Michael are the same as they were before he left. Tibby's mother has practically become a recluse with imagined illnesses since the death of her husband and Michael's mother and grandmother think that it is time that he find a wife. Tibby hopes that a pretend betrothal might solve both of their problems--but can she convince Michael that they would both benefit.

This is another great book by Lana Williams. As always it is very well written and a joy to read. I highly recommend it.

[Doris Studer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guilt – the big manipulator

I thank Mrs. Williams for the possibility to get a copy in advance.
This book made me reflect about the correlation between guilt and manipulation and in some cases even love. But these reflections have grown in my own soil and shall not be treated extensively in a review.
The book is not a gloomy love story but sometimes a bit stressful for my poor nerves as I am a rather angsty person – and you may be the opposite! I prefer tenderness, honesty, care, love – all these soft emotions and you will find them, too!
What I got from this book is the deep insight that “I am enough”, something which can be used as a daily mantra. Perhaps this sentence might induce you to read “A Pretend Betrothal”?!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I read the first one of the series, so was excited to read book 2. The author does a great job of mixing in relatable life challenges. Even if you haven't helped a parent go through the loss of a spouse as in this story, you can really empathize with Tibby. I find the idea behind the "For Better or Worse" agenda made by the Mayfair Literary league to be interesting and different from other romance novels.

I also enjoyed the mix in of real historical events, like Michael having served in New Zealand and what he would have done as part of the British navy during that period.

It usually takes me awhile to get through books, but a flew through this one! Can't wait for the next one to come out!

[Trisha Preece · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and is such a perfect addition to "The Mayfair Literary League" series. I wasn't disappointed!

I fell in love with both of the main characters Lady Tabitha and Michael. Their love story enfolds in such an interesting way leading a bit of unsure footing for both of them. I loved watching the growth of both characters into the people they were meant to be.

Taking a chance on love Lady Tabitha uses a little duplicity to get Michael Shaw to see her as more than just a friend that he grew up with. They don't even realize how very perfectly suited they are.

This a fun book to read and was very difficult to put down.

[Theresa25 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. I actually cried a couple times as I felt for Tibby’s plight. She loved Michael so much and all she wanted was his love in return. Michael wasn’t sure he could love anyone after his time in the military. He came back a different person from when he left. But Tibby was a soothing influence on him, and his feelings started to change for her after he agreed to their pretend betrothal. But could family derail their plans for a possible real engagement or will they give it a try. I highly recommend this book for others. Even though it’s part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

[Beverley Wyld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful addition to the Literary series. This second book is as enjoyable as the first, and I can’t wait to continue the series. Characters are fun, Tibby’s mother is totally believable- I know someone just like this, so, as usual, Lana has the balance exactly right. Don’t miss this book!

[Angela Harriman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely

I am loving this series more and more. I thoroughly enjoyed Tibby and Michael's story. Old friends who grow into partners and lovers. Very nice. A little sappy but nice just the same. Good pace and even flow. The ending was very enjoyable. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming story with well developed primary and supporting characters! This love could really happen!

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.08★
Theme: 4
Writing: 3
Plot: 2.5
Pacing: 3
Character/s: 2.5
Entertainment: 3.5