This Much Is True: A Novel

by Vivienne Lorret

Overview

USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret returns with the third book in her Liars’ Club series with a sexy and hilarious romance about a thrill-seeking debutante and a highwayman who is more than he seems on the surface…

Althea Hartley has lost her spark. As the youngest daughter of an eccentric family, playwrighting is in her blood. But two failed Seasons have left her disenchanted. In desperate need of inspiration, she takes matters into her own hands by creating a tale of a dashing highwayman. What could possibly go wrong?

But her stories prove to be a little too true for the actual highwayman living beneath the tons’ nose.

Jasper Trueblood, Viscount St. James, needs to put an end to the bewitching Miss Hartley’s incriminating tales. Society can never suspect that he isn’t the clumsy oaf he pretends to be. Or that, under the cover of darkness, he greets scoundrels and lightens their purses. Not too much. Just enough to keep those closest to him safe from his menacing uncle.

Then sparks fly when this unlikely pair meets one perfect night. And while she is eager to unmask him, he is determined to stay hidden. But there’s no denying the chemistry that neither of them are able to resist…

The only thing for certain is that Thea needs to guard her heart before the highwayman steals it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063352506
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/01/2025
Series:	The Liars' Club , #3
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	4.20(w) x 6.60(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret writes fun and steamy Regency historical romances. She lives in the Midwest where she coaxes words out of giant mugs of tea and attempts to jot them down before they can escape.

Editorial Reviews

Lorret launches the Liars’ Club series with a scintillating fake fiancé romance in Regency England...With big emotions, sensual love scenes, and endearing protagonist, this is sure to win hearts.”  — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on It Had to Be a Duke

“[A] sprightly and fun fake-engagement tale…It is a lovely tumble.” — Library Journal on It Had to Be a Duke

“I love this delightful historical romance, Vivienne Lorret is one of my favorite authors and It Had to Be a Duke is a fun romp. The fake betrothal trope has honestly been done so many times but somehow Lorret manages to make it fresh. It’s probably because on top of the fake betrothal trope, Verity and Magnus are enemies-to-lovers, my second favorite trope.”  — Fresh Fiction on It Had to Be a Duke

“In this fast-paced romance with a bit of mystery, [...] Lorret alluringly creates passion between the protagonists, and readers will be excited to watch their love story develop.” — Library Journal on The Trouble with Inventing a Viscount

“Lorret strikes the right balance of humor and swoony romance. The pages fly as this unlikely couple work for their happy ending.” — Publishers Weekly on The Trouble with Inventing a Viscount

From the Publisher

2025-04-19
A lady playwright finds inspiration on the marriage market.

Miss Althea Hartley is in her third Season, but she’s not really looking for a man to marry this year—she’s far too preoccupied trying to find her muse. In her previous Season, the fellow playwright she thought she might marry not only broke her heart, but destroyed her confidence in her writing ability as well. Even though she’s looking for inspiration everywhere, she’s still surprised when her muse seems to take the form of Jasper Trueblood, Viscount St. James, a silent giant of a man. Jasper has his reasons for preferring to be seen rather than heard; to avoid the wrath of his cruel uncle, who controls his life, he pretends to be “an addlepated clod” in public, and knows how to disappear when needed. But Althea sees him for who he is, and, after she realizes he inspires her to write, wants to see more of him. As her creativity returns, she starts telling tales of a dashing highwayman, though she almost thinks twice about that after a real highwayman stops the carriage she’s riding in. But after she realizes that Jasper is in fact the highwayman—and for very good reasons, at that—the two of them are pulled closer, even though it appears that they’re star-crossed lovers who can’t have more than a few stolen nights together. The third volume in Lorret’s Liars’ Club series ushers another Hartley sister forward to take her turn in the spotlight, and fans of the theatrical clan will be happy to see them reappear throughout the story. And indeed, melodrama abounds, as do several heated encounters between Althea and Jasper. Lorret’s funny and clever writing shines throughout, with a particular highlight being the unique puppet-centered sex education provided for Althea by her mother. Unfortunately, the plot is fairly repetitive before an abrupt shift to an overly eventful conclusion, but Lorret’s fans will easily overlook that, thanks to Althea and Jasper’s intense chemistry and clear affection for each other.

A solid Regency featuring a highwayman and the woman who steals his heart.

Kirkus Reviews