Imposter

Imposter is a historical fiction novel set in Naples in 1760. Celeste Carducci is living at the Santa Patrizia convent being mentored by Sister Assunta when she discovers that her uncle Camillo Custozi has betrothed her to Count Ferrante degli Spini. Ferrante has a reputation of having a bad temper and she does not want to marry him. Pursuant to Ferrante's agreement with her uncle, Celeste must undergo a physical examination before the marriage can proceed. The physician examining her determines that she is pregnant. Celeste keeps this a secret, staying in bed for 2 weeks with depression. When her best friend Valentina Gaetani next visits her Celeste and Sister Assunta ask Valentina to take Celeste's place at her wedding so that Celeste can be whisked off to another convent. Valentina is poor. She will not have good marriage prospects so she agrees to this arrangement.  Valentina becomes Celeste and marries Ferrante who is none the wiser since he did not meet Celeste before the wedding.

This was just the beginning to a well plotted love story. The pace was quick so it was a fast read. With its captivating plot, I was able to read this book in one sitting.  Most of the drama involved the relationship between Ferrante and the new Celeste. He avoided her and she was afraid to upset him. However, everything she did seemed to upset him. She would play with his daughter from his first marriage outdoors, walk the grounds of the property and go into rooms that he forbade her to enter such as the library. While he married her to get a male heir, Ferrante never touches Celeste. They had many hits and misses early in their marriage. Then the real conflict between them begins.

I usually don't like romance stories but this one was enjoyable. I couldn't put the book down.  The Valentina character was an awe inspiring woman. While her husband was ignoring her, she began performing science experiments in her studio to find the philosopher's stone. She read many books on chemistry and other sciences as well.  Ferrante on the other hand was damaged goods. Raised by an abusive father, he became unable to communicate with others. As for the real Celeste, she was described as this devout girl in a convent but I thought that she was ugly personality wise. Who asks a friend to marry their betrothed so you don't have to? That put a lot of pressure on Valentina to know Celeste's family history and to act meek and mild as though she grew up in a convent.

Christine De Melo is now one of my favorite authors. Check this book out.