Book Review for Counterfeit Commoner by Kelle Z. Riley

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review.

Counterfeit Commoner, by Kelly Z. Riley, is a riches to rags fairytale about a young noble woman who falls in love with a man who is trying to leave his past behind. Lady Sophia de Lyons had just gotten off scott-free after being “ousted” out of her marriage to King Constantine Philippe Ramon D’ Malia by American Jill Bradley to her marriage. After agreeing to switch places with Grace Bradley, Jill’s sister, Sophia is suddenly thrusted into a life of freedom, only to end up alone, somewhat broke, and stranded in America. After an unlikely meeting with James “Mike” Michael Maguire, owner of the struggling pub Maguire’s Irish Pub and Grill, Sophie slowly learns how to be more independent, and to find happiness even in the struggle.

I think I enjoyed Counterfeit Commoner a lot more than I thought I would. It was charming, seeing Sophie try to get accustomed to American culture, thinking she’s making a mistake when in actuality everyone loves her. I love her interactions with the three Marys, and when Sophie’s family gets involved, I especially liked how Stephan bonds with Mary Margaret. It shows that, despite the disconnect Sophie has with her uncle and country, her family still cares for her and loves her. The same could be said for Mike; even though Mike’s previous choice in careers and lifestyle came back to bite him in the ass, he was still able to ground himself and protect his family. I loved how protective he was of his nieces and his sister and, to a certain extent, his dad.

However, what won me over was Sophie’s dedication to, not just Mike’s family, but his community as well. She was so friendly with the staff at the pub, and she was able to orchestrate an entire festival to promote Maguire’s and bring people together. I loved how Riley showed readers how Sophie was genuinely a sweet person, and how a relationship isn’t just about two people falling in love, although that is a big part of it. I suspect that this is the relationship Jill Bradley had with King Constantine, as well as Mike’s dad with Destiny, were just as charming, if not downright wholesome. It’s about two people falling in love and getting to know each other. As my father once said, love comes softly, and I feel that this is true for these two.

That being said, I was a little worn down by Mike’s perspective. We know you feel guilty about lying to your love. But you still did it, and I’d prefer if you’d own up to it. But what offset this was his romantic internal dialogue; then again, he is a writer, and I can certainly appreciate his sentimentality. Other than this, I enjoyed this book, and would give it a 4.5 out of 5 stars.