A Duke by Any Other Name

Burrowes showcases her talent for combining smart Regency romance with modern sensibilities in the fourth Rogues to Riches novel (after Forever and a Duke), which follows the newly titled Wentworth siblings as they fight for society’s acceptance. Duke Quinn Wentworth’s sister, the competent, forthright Lady Althea, retreats from the brutal gossip and bullying of the London season to Yorkshire, where she provokes a visit from her neighbor Nathaniel Rothmere, the Duke of Rothhaven and an “intimidating sort of eccentric,” by letting her wandering hogs trample his gardens. Having captured his attention, Althea entreats Nathaniel to mentor her in refining her social skills. He agrees and they strike up an unconventional friendship, though Nathaniel fears growing too close, lest Althea discover a secret he’s protecting. But as their attraction deepens, so too does their connection, and they bond over their shared experiences with abusive fathers and resilient disabled siblings. All of Burrowes’s secondary characters shine with wit and personality, and her sensitive development of two characters living with disabilities in the unaccommodating Regency era is particularly notable. This sparkling romance does not disappoint. (May)