Hawkins concludes her sensual Just Ask Reeves Regency series (following Her Master and Commander
) with a hint of mystery. Former highwayman Christian Llevanth, Viscount Westerville, is determined to discover who falsely reported his mother as a traitor, leading to her imprisonment and untimely death. Convinced that the duke of Massingale was his mother's betrayer, Westerville plans his revenge, deciding to gain entry into the duke's household by romancing the duke's granddaughter, Lady Elizabeth. But Lady Elizabeth is an enigmatic woman, a forward thinker who doesn't wish to marry and even affects a stutter to discourage would-be suitors. Neither Westerville nor Lady Elizabeth expect emotions to become involved during their saucy, witty flirtation, but as they join forces to unearth the mystery behind the fate of Westerville's mother, excitement and passion bring them closer together. While the novel lacks the emotional intensity and taut romantic tension found in the best of this genre, the protagonists' frank, intelligent dialogue and a twist of suspense carry the novel through to a well-plotted conclusion. (June)
