Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
A ruined reputation, a monstrous secret, and a love story as old as time¿ Gossip is one of Charlotte's favorite pastimes-until she finds herself its target. Nearly a year into widowhood and newly with child, Lady Charlotte James finds herself rejected by her lover. She must find a new husband or face ruin. Leopold Bennet, Earl of Champaign, shuns society and his own reflection. Hidden away in the country, he is free to spend countless hours in his observatory with the stars. They don't judge him for the occasional, all-consuming attacks, nor do they stare in horror at his scarred face. But, the anonymity of a masquerade proves too tempting, and Lee braves the crush. With golden curls and a quick wit, Charlotte instantly captivates him. But the midnight unmasking sends him fleeing back to the shadows. Unwilling to accept defeat, Charlotte presents Lee with a scandalous proposition. To her astonishment, he agrees with a caveat of his own-one year in the country in exchange for the protection of his name. A Properly Conducted Sham is a heartfelt twist on "Beauty and the Beast." This marriage of convenience brings together two lonely, broken souls underneath the stars.
Tags
Properly Conducted Sham: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This Regency romance includes pregnancy outside of marriage, moderate sexual content between married partners, and themes of physical trauma and societal rejection. Appropriate for mature readers.
What to know going in
This book has no graphic violence, steamy sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include pregnancy, abandonment, and body image issues (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Adult readers will appreciate this heartfelt Beauty and the Beast retelling set in Regency England with emotional depth and romance.