The Lie and the Lady

With a delightfully daring, tongue-in-cheek sense of both humor and romance, Noble continues where The Game and the Governess left off, this time following the exploits of Letitia, the widowed Countess Churzy, and John Turner, a commoner she thought was the Earl of Ashby, in 1820s England. Letty embarked on a somewhat controversial first marriage to an Austrian count, followed by an even more scandalous escapade in England (during which she met John) after her husband’s death. Now she has only her title and wedding ring to her name. After some time abroad, she returns to England as the fiancée of a somewhat older, titled widower—only to find out that her new home is right in John’s backyard. Building on the strength of the main plot, Noble’s secondary characters almost steal the show with their vulnerability and quirks. The relationship between John and Letty feels, at times, contrived and almost Shakespearean, and the book starts painfully slowly, but the addition of an over-the-top villain is just enough to tie the tale into a heartwarming whole. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Literary Agency. (Jan)