One Whisper Away

A part-Iroquois nobleman inherits an earldom and the guardianship of his half-sisters in Wildes's strong Regency series starter. From their very first encounter, the idealistic Lady Cecily Francis, daughter of the duke of Eddington, and Jonathan Bourne, the unconventional and exotically biracial new earl of Augustine, are caught up in a scandalously public exchange of whispers and caresses. Though he hates London and longs to return to America, Augustine is uncontrollably attracted to the very English Lady Cecily and soon joins her scheme to prevent her expected marriage to dull Lord Drury. Given the historical era, it's not surprising that "sexy savage" stereotypes abound ("He was... untamed. Exotic. Perhaps even uncivilized"), but Wildes (Our Wicked Mistake) perpetuates them rather than undermining them. Despite this failing, readers will love the strong cast of intriguing supporting characters and the passionate and well-balanced central romance. (May)