In the Barrister’s Bed

Strong-willed lovers clash over the ownership of an estate in Gabrielle’s second Regency Barristers novel (after In the Barrister’s Chambers). When barrister James Devlin discovers he is the new duke of Blackwood, he immediately repurchases his childhood home, only to find himself the victim of a scam: the house is already occupied by the attractive widow Bella Sinclair, who has a deed to the property as good as his own. In a setup strongly reminiscent of Mary Balogh’s No Man’s Mistress, they are forced to share a home, and attraction immediately flares between them, even as Bella must cope with the unpleasant aftermath of her abusive first marriage. While Gabrielle provides satisfyingly steamy encounters, the distinctiveness of her well-researched barrister theme is mostly lost when the hero acquires a title, and her feel for period custom is limited outside the legal arena. Intriguing teasers involving James’s fellow barristers will leave series readers hoping for better in future installments. Agent: Stephany Evans of FinePrint Literary Management. (July)