A Clever Ruse by Angela E. Johnson: Book Review (ARC)

Details

• Genre: Historical fiction
• Series: Madcaps of Mayfair (Book #3)
• Length: 344 pages (EPUB)
• Publication Date: August 4, 2026

Tropes

• Forced proximity
• Faking dating
• Friends to lovers

My Rating

Book Description

“She agreed to the ruse. Love was never part of the bargain. 

Miss Rose Astley has never been engaged — secretly or otherwise. Unfortunately, the Duke of Pembroke announced her as his secret intended, and now all of Society is congratulating her on an engagement she most definitely did not accept.
Pembroke claims it was necessary to escape an unwanted arrangement. Rose admittedly understands his reasons but cannot fathom how she became his only solution.

The duke is far too charming for his own good, flirting as easily as he breathes, and blurring the lines between pretense and reality. With every dinner party, trip to the theater, and breathless waltz, Rose reminds herself of the rules they set. Even still, she did not anticipate how difficult it would be to keep her heart out of the arrangement discovering that in the Marriage Mart, nothing is more dangerous than a pretend arrangement that begins to feel too entirely real.”

— from Goodreads

My Review

She fell through his roof.  Now, they’re falling in love.

Rose never saw herself as being worth a duke’s attention.  But the more time she spends with the Duke of Pembrooke, the more she starts to fall for the man behind the flirting and the title.

Bash never pursued a serious relationship with a woman. Now faced with the prospect of marriage, he realizes the idea of making Rose his duchess isn’t unpleasant at all.

(As someone who gets nervous performing music in front of others, my heart ached for what he went through as a child.)

They both want to avoid unwanted engagements and make it through this ruse with their hearts intact.

The blackmail plotline added just enough intrigue to keep things unpredictable. While I could sympathize with the blackmailer’s hurt feelings, stooping that low was too far.

I thought Juliana and Lucian had some great banter, but Bash and Rose may have surpassed them in that regard. Their back and forths were so entertaining!

However, sprinkled in with the banter were some wonderfully sincere moments between Bash and Rose which proved their ruse had become reality long before either of them realized it. 

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Favorite Moments

🍊falling through the roof
🍊making up their love story
🍊nervous habits
🍊gazing
🍊Rosie and Gracie
🍊Lady Charrington’s musicale
🍊billiards at Montrose Hall
🍊Epilogue

Favorite Quotes

“He leaned close to her ear and whispered. ‘You are a vexatious woman.’

‘I do my best, Your Grace.’“

Angela E. Johnson

“‘I have enough experience with fumbles and danger. They only prove to make you appear a madcap in the eyes of Society.’

‘And a lovely madcap you are, Miss Astley.’“

Angela E. Johnson

“‘You are intolerably dramatic.’

‘Only when confronted with a lady of dangerous wit.’“

Angela E. Johnson

“She swatted his sleeve. ‘You are impossible. We agreed, no flirting.’

‘And yet here you are, in a carriage allowing me unlimited time to practice my skills and throwing out witty little comments to make me blush.’“

Angela E. Johnson

“‘You are enjoying this far too much.’

‘I dare say I am, Miss Astley. For you have the prettiest eyes I have ever beheld.’“

Angela E. Johnson

“‘Am I recipient of that smile, or were you charmed by someone else?’

‘You may claim it, Your Grace.’

‘I hardly deserve the honor, but I shall treasure it all the same.’“

Angela E. Johnson

“‘We have a deal, Pembroke. No flirting.’

‘Ah yes, the agreement. Although,’ he said, lowering his voice, ‘you seem to forget about it more often than I do.’“

Angela E. Johnson

“‘What are you doing?’ she asked, laughing out of necessity since the situation was far more dire than Pembroke knew. ‘Playing the hero with your pressed silk cravat?’

He beamed at her. ‘I am happy you noticed.’

‘You will stay by my side.’

‘Until the very end.’“

Angela E. Johnson

“‘Sebastian Penrose, you truly are a prince of a man.’

‘Only when I am saving my duchess,’ he whispered.“

Angela E. Johnson

“‘I want all of this to be real. For us to be Rosie Posey and Charming forever, because I love you, Bash.“

Angela E. Johnson

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