Dearest Max

At her home in the English countryside in the early 19th century, Lady Veronica Strake is uncertain of her future. Since her father's death a few months earlier, the family has been awaiting the return of a distant cousin, Max, who is due to inherit the property, and Veronica expects to be thrown off the land. When Max finally arrives and he and Veronica see each other for the first time in nearly 12 years, they at first deny their strong mutual attraction but eventually succumb to their feelings. Meanwhile, Max starts his own investigation into the death of Veronica's father, suspecting that he was murdered. Veronica is uneasy with her burgeoning sexuality and is suspicious of Max's fidelity, especially after the arrival of a woman who claims to be Max's fiancee. Through various plot twists, Max solves the murder mystery, which reveals disappointing facts about his own family, but in the process proves his love for Veronica. In her debut romance, Miller includes just enough detailed hints about what's going on between the bedsheets to intrigue romance readers who want more than a standard Regency tale. (Feb.)