When You Wish Upon a Duke

Bradford (a new pseudonym for longtime romance author Susan Scott) enlivens 18th-century arranged marriages with lust at first sight for the first Wylder Sisters romance. Lady Charlotte Wylder and James “March” FitzCharles, duke of Marchbourne, have been betrothed since childhood. Though their first meeting, complete with Charlotte rescuing a cat from a tree, reveals Charlotte’s hoydenish behavior, March is enchanted by his witty and unconventional bride-to-be. A brief private encounter becomes the subject of gossip, so March and Charlotte wed quickly to avoid scandal. Their chance at happiness is marred by March’s memories of his parents’ fractured relationship, leaving it up to Charlotte to balance playing the role of duchess, exercising her independence, and reassuring her husband that he doesn’t share his father’s less savory qualities. This well-plotted novel is steeped in realism, with meticulous attention to historical detail that never overwhelms the romantic tension. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Literary Agency. (Aug.)