{"id":9417,"date":"2025-12-11T08:00:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T13:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/susannaives.com\/wordpress\/?p=9417"},"modified":"2025-12-14T22:51:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T03:51:34","slug":"pretense-my-lovely-regency-k-drama-and-a-glimpse-into-old-korean-pastimes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/susannaives.com\/wordpress\/2025\/12\/pretense-my-lovely-regency-k-drama-and-a-glimpse-into-old-korean-pastimes\/","title":{"rendered":"Pretense \u2014 My Lovely Regency K-Drama (and a Glimpse into Joseon Korea Pastimes)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s here! My new book, Pretense<\/strong><\/em>! Buy from Amazon<\/strong><\/a> and Other Sellers<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Two enemies pretending to get along\u2014only their hearts forgot the \u201cpretending\u201d part.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miss Daphne Dearborn has been wishing Lord Brimley to the devil ever since an embarrassing incident involving a clothespress, a scandalous letter, and Brimley himself wearing not a stitch. No need to speak of it. It was years ago. She is no longer that mischievous young lady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well\u2026 perhaps still a little mischievous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because when she learns Brimley will be in Bath during her well-earned holiday with her dearest friend, May Allen, she must act. Knowing that man is lurking about would ruin everything. And what is a little harmless mischief if it keeps him far, far<\/em> away?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being an exotically handsome rake, war hero, and single man in possession of an alarmingly good fortune, Brimley is accustomed to women tossing themselves at him. But nothing prepared him for that cracked chit from the clothespress incident suddenly appearing at his table in a coaching inn, proclaiming her undying love and naming their future children. He was icily polite then, but should he see her in Bath, he intends to show her no civility. Whatsoever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He discovers that his closest friend, Colonel Louis Fielding, has fallen secretly in love with Miss Allen\u2014just as, to Daphne\u2019s shock, she learns May quietly yearns for the colonel in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear God! To bring their two hopeless friends together, must Daphne and Brimley do the unspeakable, pretend to get along?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All their holiday aspirations for rest and happiness shatter into chaos, comedy, and confused feelings. (Love. They fall in love. It\u2019s not pretty.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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From the blurb, Pretense<\/em> may seem like a typical Regency romance\u2014ballrooms, pretty gowns, a rigid social hierarchy, an arrogant rake, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is<\/strong> typical \u2026 but of another genre entirely<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After years of watching K-dramas, I decided to write one in book form\u2014except set in Regency England, a historical period I\u2019m far more comfortable writing about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I borrowed the character arcs, the emotional scaffolding, the initial setup, the secondary couples, the weavings of comedy and drama\u2014all of it<\/strong>\u2014from K-drama storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t reveal every trope woven into Pretense<\/em> (spoilers!), but here are a few of the vibes you\u2019ll feel while reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 The Veteran War Hero<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Descendants of the Sun<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A decorated soldier with emotional wounds beneath the surface\u2014competent, restrained, and deeply loyal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Reluctant Hero<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guardian<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reliable but weary. This hero always saves the day, even if he\u2019s not happy about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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