Lessons After Dark

The Grenvilles, protagonists of 2011’s No Proper Lady, know magical war is coming, so they found a school to train young agents to fight against dark magic. Their first hire is Dr. Gareth St. John; the second is magic instructor Olivia Brightmore, who posed as a medium to make money after her husband’s death and was surprised to develop true talents. When standoffish, meticulously moral Gareth recognizes Olivia as a former charlatan, he isn’t inclined to let her forget—even when dark magic threatens the school and sizzling chemistry threatens Olivia and Gareth’s composure. Though the stakes are lower than in the first book, sexual tension propels the story forward, and Cooper’s demon-haunted Victorian England is enticing and well-built. Fans will be eager for more. (Apr.)