Published under the Dreamspun Desires banner, Clare London’s latest is Romancing the Wrong Twin. When gruff, career mountaineer Dominic Hartington-George needs money for his next climb, his agent persuades him to get sponsorship from an outward bound equipment company. The company champions diversity in sport, so to snag the deal Dom is persuaded to get some good publicity on the arm of modelling sensation Zeb Z. Zeb is managed by the same PR company and for the usual fee, agrees to play the part of Dom’s ‘boyfriend’ in public. It is all rather cynical and matter of fact, but Dom is not a publicity seeker and it all sits badly with him.
Unbeknownst to most Zeb (Sean) has an identical twin, Aiden, so when Zeb is unable to attend the first ‘date’ with Dom, he begs Aiden to go and pretend to be him. Aiden is a struggling playwright and a very different person to his flamboyant twin, but they are very close. Aiden goes along with the plan to be Zeb for this date, to help his brother out and to obtain some much needed funds provided by Zeb’s fee. The publicity date does not turn out as anticipated, but then neither Dom nor Aiden are quite as the other expected.
Sexy times, misunderstandings and paparazzi chases ensue …
Obviously, this is not a complex plotline and is reminiscent of comedies of error stretching back to Chaucer and beyond, but it is all done with such good humour it won me over. I really think if I were to write down all the things I generally dislike in romances this would tick most of those boxes, but Clare London is a very canny writer. The book is well written, and while it doesn’t take itself seriously, it takes the reader seriously. By this I mean a lot of the situations and banter, even the characters - are presented as rather tongue in cheek, but the descriptions are crisp and accurate, and the plot, although a comedic farce, is totally believable in its presentation. As a reader of her work, this author will make you smile but she will never make you feel patronised or as though she has rushed a book out.
In Romancing the Wrong Twin, the characters are adorable, the comedy and writing is crisp and the good humour that shines throughout will make you feel as though you have been hugged whilst drinking a mug of hot chocolate. Oh and there is a particular scene with some tiny, blue men’s briefs that will stay with me for some time!
Sensuality: Warm
Publication Date: 11/2016
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