Rosemary Fitzpatrick has a problem. It's 1859 in New York and F.P. Elliott has to meet the new owner of the publishing house that publishes his very successful dime novels. And therein lies the problem, because Rosemary and Mr. Elliott are one and the same. Even though her family support her completely in her decision to be an author, it is a time when not everyone is as enlightened. Deciding to disguise herself as Phoebe Wyatt, F.P. Elliott's niece and secretary, Rosemary feels she can dupe the new guy in charge. But her life changes the instant she meets Mr. Henry Cooper.

Henry has been sent to New York to run this branch of the publishing house that is owned by his father, Maxwell Cooper. They have an extremely fraught relationship, as Henri believes he was shipped off to his Uncle in New Orleans directly after his mother's death, because his father was ashamed of both him and the marriage to his mother. Henry felt not only abandoned but separated from his only sister Margeurite, when they needed each other the most. Anger and hurt seeps through their relationship and Henry is determined to make this business a success, in spite of his father.

When Henry meets 'Phoebe Wyatt' he is instantly attracted to her and over the course of two meetings, their attraction starts to grow. Deciding to take part in New York society, Henry arrives at the cotillion, only to meet 'Phoebe' debuting as Rosemary Fitzpatrick. Realising that she must come clean, in part, Rosemary tells him that 'Phoebe Wyatt' was just a ruse but holds back on explaining the whole truth. Deciding to court each other, their romance flourishes. As their passionate embraces grow ever stronger, can she trust him with the knowledge that she is F.P. Elliott, or has she left it too late to be honest about her career, and her love for him? More importantly will he still have feelings for her when he learns she has hidden the truth from him again? Or will the arrival of Henry's father destroy everything?

I really enjoyed reading THE DUPLICITOUS DEBUTANTE by Becky Lower. It had a different twist to other regency romances, and I loved Rosemary's spunk and determination to follow her own path, and to have a career that she loves. The character of Henry is everything a girl could ask for - tall, dark, handsome, and intelligent! I found Rosemary's family extremely entertaining, especially Charlotte, Rosemary's mother. An enchanting story filled with hopes and dreams, and plenty of passion of course!

Book Summary

In 1859, ladies of New York society are expected to do three things well: find a husband, organize a household, and have children. But despite her mother’s best intentions, making her debut is the last thing on Rosemary Fitzpatrick’s mind.

Writing the popular Harry Hawk dime novels as F.P. Elliott, she’s too busy hiding her female identity from her new publisher, Henry Cooper. To protect her clandestine career, she ends up posing as the enigmatic author's secretary.

Henry is not the typical Boston Brahmin, nor the typical publisher, and Rosemary entrances him from the moment they meet. As they work together and grow closer, he wonders how his traditional-minded father will react when he brings her into the family, because Henry firmly intends to marry the working-class woman.

But when her deception begins to unravel at the cotillion ball, will Henry be able to forgive her or has deceit cost her the man she loves?

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