Books like 'Is This Real or Just Pretend?'
Readers who enjoyed Is This Real or Just Pretend? by Emily Sullivan also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical romance victorian industrial-era historical-fiction fake-relationship lgbtq friends-to-lovers class-difference female-mc
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The Hathaways Complete Series by Lisa Kleypas
Rated: 4.62 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsHere together for the first time in a convenient ebook bundle, the five books from The Hathaways series by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas: Mine Til Midnight , Seduce Me at Sunrise , Tempt Me at Twilight , Married by Morning , and Love in the Afternoon...Categorized as:
family historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult anthologies fiction historical -
![The Slum Angel by AnneMarie Brear]()
The Slum Angel by AnneMarie Brear
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPerfect for the fans of Anna Jacobs and Dilly Court. Orphan, Victoria Carlton is brought up by her uncle, a banker, to be a lady and make a good marriage. Yet, she is drawn to help the poor families in the slums, much to her family’s disgust. When her uncle dies suddenly, her cousins blame Victoria, and she is thrown out of the house with nothing... -
![Hallam Square by Anna Jacobs]()
Hallam Square by Anna Jacobs
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this saga set in 19th-century Lancashire and featuring the Gibson family, Annie is now happily married to mill-owner Frederick Hallam, but a threat from the past emerges to cause her anxiety... -
![Lord of Vice by Erica Ridley]()
Lord of Vice by Erica Ridley
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsAppearances can be deceiving… Vice merchant Maxwell Gideon is wickedly handsome, sinfully arrogant, and devilishly ruthless. Rumor has it, his gaming hell has the power to steal souls and grant miracles. Truth is, Max only owns half of The Cloven Hoof. He’d buy out his silent partner if he knew the man’s identity...Categorized as:
class-difference family female-mc historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult alpha-mc -
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![Augusta by Carolyn Brown]()
Augusta by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAugusta "Gussie" Dulan is the only Dulan sister to make it all the way to California on the wagon train for brides. Each of her four sisters has taken off along the trail to marry up with a man they fell in love with and now Gussie is hoping to find a man to love here at the end of the trail...Categorized as:
family female-mc historical-fiction industrial-era action-adventure adult book fiction -
![The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano]()
The Love Note by Joanna Davidson Politano
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFocused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1859 when she discovers a never-opened love letter in a crack of her old writing desk. Compelled to find the passionate soul who penned it and the person who never received it, she takes a job as a nurse at the seaside estate of Crestwicke Manor...Categorized as:
female-mc friends-to-lovers historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult book christian -
![Ridge Hill by Anna Jacobs]()
Ridge Hill by Anna Jacobs
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThis 3rd book in the Gibson saga is set in a Lancashire mill town in the 1850s. Annie Gibson gets married to wealthy mill owner, Frederick Hallam. But several people from her past resent her good fortune, and will stop at nothing to get revenge... -
![Once Upon a Devastatingly Sweet Kiss by Bree Wolf]()
Once Upon a Devastatingly Sweet Kiss by Bree Wolf
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this opposites-attract Regency romance by USA Today bestselling and HOLT Medallion winning author BREE WOLF, an untamed lady and a proper duke are put to the test when they fall in love against all odds.An untamed lady.A proper duke.And a love that goes against all the rules.England 1803: LADY HARRIET BEAUMONT, daughter to the Earl of Whickerton, is a free spirit, always has been...Categorized as:
family female-mc friends-to-lovers historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult book -
![Kitty McKenzie's Land by AnneMarie Brear]()
Kitty McKenzie's Land by AnneMarie Brear
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratings1866 Kitty McKenzie path has taken her from the slums of York to the inhospitable bush of colonial Australia. Yet, when she believes her dreams will never be attained, she is shown that sometimes life can be even better than what you wish for. Kitty McKenzie is gifted land in the far north of New South Wales... -
![Falling for the Marquess by Alexa Aston]()
Falling for the Marquess by Alexa Aston
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA war hero who returns to a title. A lady making her debut into Polite Society. Two people drawn together, yet others think them better apart . . . Second son August Holt is serving as a captain in the Peninsular Wars when he is gravely injured. August loses an eye and also bears a hideous scar running from his brow to his cheek from a saber wound...Categorized as:
family industrial-era historical-fiction victorian romance regency historical fiction -
![The Doxy and the Duke by Caroline Lee]()
The Doxy and the Duke by Caroline Lee
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLady Raina Prince might be the daughter of a powerful Highland earl, but polite society wants nothing to do with her, thanks to the illegitimate son she bore five years ago... -
![From Wine to Water by Carolyn Brown]()
From Wine to Water by Carolyn Brown
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAll Tyrell Fannin and his cousins Isaac and Micah Burnet want is to get out of a Texas jail and go home to Mississippi. Delia Lavalle didn't need three outlaws to escort her and her sisters to Louisiana but she doesn't really have a choice. The outlaws aren't happy about escorting nuns, but figure they might bring them luck, because not even Santa Anna would harm a holy woman... -
![Debating with the Duke by Alexa Aston]()
Debating with the Duke by Alexa Aston
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFirst sons inherit all. Third sons are promised to the church. Second sons do their duty and serve in the military—unless fate intervenes and turns their lives upside down...Categorized as:
friends-to-lovers historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult book fiction historical -
![Wilder than the Rest by Shirleen Davies]()
Wilder than the Rest by Shirleen Davies
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“A captivating historical western romance set in the burgeoning and treacherous city of San Francisco. Go along for the ride in this gripping story that seizes your attention from the very first page.” “If you’re a reader who wants to discover an entire family of characters you can fall in love with, this is the series for you...Categorized as:
family female-mc historical-fiction industrial-era victorian 19th-century action-adventure adult -
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![The Making of a Gentleman by Kathleen Ayers]()
The Making of a Gentleman by Kathleen Ayers
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsMiss Olivia Nelson has never done anything reckless in her life.Determined to be the perfect young lady amongst a field of wild Barringtons, Olivia strives for politeness. Modesty. Restraint. But when Lady Phaedra Barrington declares her to be boring and goads her into venturing to Elysium, Olivia reluctantly agrees...Categorized as:
class-difference family historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult book fiction -
![Nicola's Virtue by AnneMarie Brear]()
Nicola's Virtue by AnneMarie Brear
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn 1867 Nicola Douglas attends a London lecture given by Miss Maria Rye, the founder of the Female Middle Class Emigration Society, which inspires her to change her life. With no family, but a good education, she boards a ship to Australia with high hopes of a fresh start in a new country as a governess. But Sydney is full of young women with similar hopes and equally poor prospects...Categorized as:
victorian class-difference industrial-era historical-fiction romance historical fiction book -
![Catrina's Return by AnneMarie Brear]()
Catrina's Return by AnneMarie Brear
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Scottish Highlands, 1899. A life altering event led Catrina Davies to hide from her family and society. Alone in The Highlands she exists in a lonely world cared for only by her savior, a kind old gentleman. When she receives a surprise visitor, Travis Millard, the man she used to love, her head and heart are thrown into turmoil... -
![A Matchmaker for a Marquess by Christi Caldwell]()
A Matchmaker for a Marquess by Christi Caldwell
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBe prepared to smile, swoon, and sigh in Christi Caldwell's latest 'Heart of a Scandal' installment where a matchmaker firmly on the shelf is about to fall head over heels for her best friend's younger brother. She lived by a strict set of rules… Meredith Durant believes those who won’t marry, matchmake, and she’s made a notable career for herself helping young women find the perfect mate...Categorized as:
female-mc friends-to-lovers historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult book fiction -
![Isabelle's Choice by AnneMarie Brear]()
Isabelle's Choice by AnneMarie Brear
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHalifax, 1876. On the death of her mother and sister, Isabelle Gibson is left to fend for herself and her brother in a privately-run workhouse. After the matron's son attacks her, Isabelle decides to escape him and a life of drudgery by agreeing to marry a moorland farmer she has never met. But this man, Farrell, is a drunkard and a bully in constant feud with his landlord, Ethan Harrington... -
![Diana by Alexa Aston]()
Diana by Alexa Aston
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA woman whose reputation was destroyed. A powerful earl who longs for children. Can they ignore the raging gossip and find happiness together? Lady Diana de Wolfe's curiosity about kissing led to her ruin before she ever made her come-out in London... -
![Deadlier Than the Rest by Shirleen Davies]()
Deadlier Than the Rest by Shirleen Davies
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“A passionate, heartwarming story of the iconic MacLarens of Fire Mountain. This captivating historical western romance grabs your attention from the start with an engrossing story encompassing two romances set against the rugged backdrop of the burgeoning western frontier.” Connor MacLaren’s search has already stolen eight years of his life...Categorized as:
family historical-fiction industrial-era victorian action-adventure adult book fiction -
![Stronger than the Rest by Shirleen Davies]()
Stronger than the Rest by Shirleen Davies
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Smart, tough, and capable, the MacLarens protect their own no matter the odds. Set against America’s rugged frontier, the stories of the men from Fire Mountain are complex, fast-paced, and a must read for anyone who enjoys non-stop action and romance.” Drew MacLaren is focused and strong...Categorized as:
family historical-fiction industrial-era victorian action-adventure adult book fiction -
![The Coal Miner's Daughter by Maggie Hope]()
The Coal Miner's Daughter by Maggie Hope
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA wealthy landlord’s son and a coal miner’s daughter . . . Growing up in poverty, one of six siblings, Hannah Armstrong never thought she’d know anything other than her little mining town. But then she falls for Timothy Durkin, a wealthy Oxford student. Following her heart, Hannah sacrifices everything she holds dear and follows her new husband to Oxford...Categorized as:
historical-fiction industrial-era victorian family romance historical 20th-century fiction -
![The Wolf and the Wildflower by Stacy Reid]()
The Wolf and the Wildflower by Stacy Reid
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsUSA Today bestselling author Stacy Reid’s addictive tale of two lost people who are found…by each other.London is buzzing with the news that James Winters, the Duke of Wulverton—thought lost at sea a decade ago—survived in the harsh wilderness of the Yukon. Now he’s been returned to his family, his responsibilities, and a nightmarish world of artifice and noise...Categorized as:
class-difference family friends-to-lovers historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult book -
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![The Jarrow Lass by Janet MacLeod Trotter]()
The Jarrow Lass by Janet MacLeod Trotter
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBrought up on her parents' smallholding in Jarrow in the harsh years of the 1870s, selling vegetables to poverty-struck Irish labourers such as the unruly McMullens, Rose dreams of the world beyond the grime of the town, a world she glimpsed at a fairytale wedding on the Ravensworth Estate as a child... -
![Tempt Me, If You Dare by Alyssa Clarke]()
Tempt Me, If You Dare by Alyssa Clarke
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIf there is ever a time to be wicked, it is when a lady is considered an unmarriageable wallflower… Firmly regulated on the shelf as a wallflower, Miss Felicity Harrington has little hope for her future. Unwilling to remain as a lady’s companion forever, she accepted a devilish earl’s outrageous offer that she pretends to be his fiancée for a few weeks...Categorized as:
class-difference fake-relationship historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult book fiction -
![Scandal's Daughter by Emma V. Leech]()
Scandal's Daughter by Emma V. Leech
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsSebastian Grenville, The Duke of Sindalton, known as Sin to the ton, has had his fair share of scandal. His father's involvement in what became referred to as 'The Scandal of the Century' plunged him into the spotlight at the tender age of twelve, and he's been there ever since. Egged on by his best friend, Beau - The Marquis of Beaumont, his life is one of dissipation and ease...Categorized as:
class-difference historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult book fiction historical -
![The Moonstone Duke by Meara Platt]()
The Moonstone Duke by Meara Platt
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhat happens when a steamy duke who has never lost in battle meets the innocent young lady determined to conquer his heart? When Lady Henley Killigrew’s father dies and his title of earl passes to a not so friendly cousin who wants her and her two younger sisters out of their elegant London townhouse, she takes them to Moonstone Cottage, a lovely manor house they inherited from a maiden aunt in...Categorized as:
historical-fiction industrial-era family victorian romance historical regency fiction -
![Into the Lyon's Den: The Lyon's Den Connected World by Jade Lee]()
Into the Lyon's Den: The Lyon's Den Connected World by Jade Lee
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEnter the world of the most notorious gambling den in London, where matches are made... unusually. Welcome to the world of THE LYON'S DEN: The Black Widow of Whitehall Connected World, where the underground of Regency London thrives... and loves. From USA Today Bestselling author JADE LEE, a lush tale from the greatest, most notorious gambling den in London... -
![An Agreement with the Soldier by Sadie Bosque]()
An Agreement with the Soldier by Sadie Bosque
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA broken soldier... John Godfrey, the Baron of Ashbury, has spent most of his life as a soldier. He was never meant to become a baron. But circumstances have changed and now that he's back home, he has to face another battle - saving his failing estates. Marriage to an heiress seems like the simplest solution and finding a lady of his heart turns out to be an easy task... -
![His White Wager by Tammy Andresen]()
His White Wager by Tammy Andresen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe’s no lady...Rebecca White makes her own way. She’ll dress as a man to support her mother if she chooses, she’ll participate in illegal gaming if it pleases her, and she’ll even cheat a lord now and then if the idea catches her fancy. But what she didn’t count on was an entire family of White’s tracking her down and being just as stubborn and independent as—well—herself... -
![The Potential for Love: A Regency Novel by Catherine Kullmann]()
The Potential for Love: A Regency Novel by Catherine Kullmann
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsWhen Arabella Malvin sees the figure of an officer silhouetted against the sun, for one interminable moment she thinks he is her brother, against all odds home from Waterloo. But it is Major Thomas Ferraunt, the rector’s son, newly returned from occupied Paris who stands in front of her.For over six years, Thomas’s thoughts have been of war... -
![Hidden Hart by Emily Royal]()
Hidden Hart by Emily Royal
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA lasting friendship, a dream sacrificed, a life destroyed. Major Devon Hart, the ultimate rake, had women flocking to his bed, until a street brawl four years ago left him scarred, inside and out. His once-handsome face now damaged beyond recognition, he remains hidden, except at night, when he dispenses his own brand of justice on the streets of London...Categorized as:
victorian industrial-era friends-to-lovers family historical-fiction historical regency fairy-tale -
![The Earl and His Lady by G.L. Robinson]()
The Earl and His Lady by G.L. Robinson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCan a country girl adapt to life as a Countess in London?When Sophy Hawthorne married the fifth Earl of Hale, she had no idea what she was letting herself in for. She is thrust into a society riddled with jealousies, infidelities and gossip. The Earl is used to it all, and assumes his wife will always know what to do. They both make mistakes...Categorized as:
industrial-era historical-fiction class-difference victorian female-mc romance regency historical -
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![Why I Caught the Duke by Eva Devon]()
Why I Caught the Duke by Eva Devon
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLady Agatha has always loved life. Ever since she was a small girl, and witnessed the struggles of her mother, she decided to choose joy. Most of all, she knew she was going to catch a husband she could love with all her heart. When she meets the Duke of Talbot, she knows that he is the one she has been waiting for and nothing will stand in her way. . .The Duke of Talbot only has one goal...Categorized as:
historical-fiction family industrial-era victorian romance regency historical fiction -
![Indecently Daring by Emma V. Leech]()
Indecently Daring by Emma V. Leech
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA frosty reception… Staying with her Aunt Harriet and Uncle Jasper at the beautiful Holbrook House seems the ideal place for Alana Cadogan after breaking things off with her best friend and long-term fiancé, Oliver Cootes. All of Alana’s plans for the future have come to naught and the horrifying prospect of the season and the marriage mart looms large on her horizon...Categorized as:
historical-fiction industrial-era class-difference victorian romance historical regency small-town -
![The Duke Always Wins by Jessie Clever]()
The Duke Always Wins by Jessie Clever
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLady Anna Elmont, the dowager Countess of Wexford, has only one to remain safely a widow. Having spent two years under the control of her manipulative husband, Annie plans to enjoy widowhood and discover who she might have been had she not wed.If the Duke of Grimsby will let her... -
![Too Deep for Tears by Kathryn Lynn Davis]()
Too Deep for Tears by Kathryn Lynn Davis
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA rare, exquisite novel of courage and passion, betrayal and love. Dashing English diplomat Charles Kittridge relished the abundant pleasures of the world...and in his far-flung wanderings, he left behind three remarkable daughters: Ailsa Rose, a beauty of the Scottish highlands, endowed with her father's lust for adventure. She betrays her heart to follow the one man who promises her the world... -
![Governess to the Duke's Heir by Maggi Andersen]()
Governess to the Duke's Heir by Maggi Andersen
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsGet Book Four in the Dangerous Lords series! Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Andrew, the Duke of Harrow, has returned to his Oxfordshire estate after years away in Vienna on a diplomatic engagement. He left England after losing his beloved wife in childbirth. But his children consider him a stranger, and the new governess disapproves of him... -
![A Secret Surrender by Darcy Burke]()
A Secret Surrender by Darcy Burke
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestselling author Darcy Burke, your next Regency obsession: The Pretenders! Set in Burke's popular world of The Untouchables, indulge in the saga of a trio of siblings who excel at being something they're not... -
![The Marquess She Loved by Jessie Clever]()
The Marquess She Loved by Jessie Clever
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLady Adaline Atwood is the most beautiful wallflower in London. Cursed with beauty but no dowry, she has remained on the fringes of every ball for the four seasons she’s been out. It needn’t matter though as she has loved her best friend, Ashfield Riggs, since she can remember. The problem is Ash only has eyes for another... -
![Miss Martha Mary Crawford by Catherine Cookson]()
Miss Martha Mary Crawford by Catherine Cookson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAt the Habitation, a large and decaying riverside house, the Crawfords were on the verge of bankruptcy - and when Martha Mary was obliged to take on the responsibility for her family, a series of dramatic events occurred that would test her indomitable fortitude...Categorized as:
family historical-fiction industrial-era victorian book fiction historical young-adult -
![The Baron's Dangerous Contract by Kate Archer]()
The Baron's Dangerous Contract by Kate Archer
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn audacious lady and an adventurous lord. Miss Penny Darlington, daughter of the famed horseman Lord Mendbridge, has spent the past two seasons happily flirting with Lord Cabot. On the night of the Tudor ball, all of her ideas are crushed. The lord showed her, in no uncertain terms, how inconsequential she really was...Categorized as:
female-mc friends-to-lovers historical-fiction industrial-era victorian adult alpha-mc book -
![A Duke By Any Other Name by Eva Devon]()
A Duke By Any Other Name by Eva Devon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAre you ready to romp with The Dukes' Club? Her dance card is nearly full. The only sister of the Duke of Hunt, Lady Gemma, is finally ready to settle down. After all, she's spent too many of her days frolicking all over town. As an Eversleigh, she's ready for an excellent match. Desiring a serious, reserved, and strong husband who can handle her antics, Gemma handpicks Captain Duke... -
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![Ante Up by Caroline Lee]()
Ante Up by Caroline Lee
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRiver "Hart" Hartwell was raised by his Crow grandfather to do the right thing…even when it's none of his business.For several years, the town of Black Aces, Montana has been under the control of a nasty piece of work, Mr. Augustus King. He's got the brains and the muscle to keep the townspeople cowed, so no one stands up to him.Except The Black Ace... -
![His Lady of Fire by Charlotte Jardine]()
His Lady of Fire by Charlotte Jardine
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA feisty nurse, mistress of her own destiny. A silver fox, who’s done with love. And a hotel mix-up that ignites their romance!When thirty-eight-year-old nurse Mary Stanfield—a lover of extravagant bonnets and brightly-colored clothing—travels to the spa town of Buxton, it’s to escape the trials of establishing a private London nursing agency in a society that judges women incapable of business...Categorized as:
industrial-era victorian historical-fiction fake-relationship romance historical fiction religion -
![For Letter or Worse by Esther Hatch]()
For Letter or Worse by Esther Hatch
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEvery word in his letter spells mortification.There was only one reason young Harrison Chase moved away from his idyllic country upbringing to the long dark hours of working in a London factory—he was bound and determined to make his fortune and deserve a chance to court Christine Stone...Categorized as:
industrial-era historical-fiction friends-to-lovers victorian romance regency historical fiction -
![Jilted in January by Cara Maxwell]()
Jilted in January by Cara Maxwell
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNo. Absolutely not. Persephone Cuthbert would rather walk over hot coals than say one word to the man who broke her heart—let alone help him. The author of The Rake Review may have declared him the most marriageable man in London, but Persephone knows the truth. Edward Johns is the cold-hearted bastard who broke her heart... -
![The House at Sunset by Norah Lofts]()
The House at Sunset by Norah Lofts
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSpanning a period from the eighteenth century to the mid 1950s, this is the impressive concluding volume in Norah Lofts' 'House' trilogy. A period in history is brought alive through the perspectives of seven characters who tell the story. Felicity Hatton's life in 1740s London and Mary Crisp's experience of the First World War are two of the tales... -
![Love and a Promise by Lyn Andrews]()
Love and a Promise by Lyn Andrews
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMaddy Kiernan knows her situation is desperate. With her parents dead, her brother Thomas is left as guardian to her and her sister Carmel, and Thomas, Maddy is all too aware, only cares about himself. When his plans to marry the daughter of the Protestant canal agent backfire Thomas takes off to Liverpool, leaving the girls to fend for themselves...
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