Surrender to the Earl

Callen’s solid follow-up to Return of the Viscount continues the stories of three former soldiers in Victorian England who are determined to make amends for a poor military decision. Audrey Collins was blinded by scarlet fever as a child. Longing for freedom from the family that kept her locked away, she accepted Martin Blake’s proposal, only to have him buy a commission in the army with her dowry as soon as they were wed. She was once again trapped—until Robert Henslow, Earl of Knightsbridge and Martin’s fellow soldier, brings the news of Martin’s death. Desperate, Audrey begs Robert to help her travel to her husband’s estate, Rose Cottage, where she can live on her own terms. To pull off the escape, Robert tells her father he intends to marry Audrey, creating new problems as the two try to deal with their mutual fears and their growing attraction to each other. The engagement-of-convenience story delivers few surprises but will keep fans of independent heroines engaged. (June)