Spurred by the steamy memoirs of an anonymous mistress, young widow Carolyn Turner falls for the sensual promise of rakish Daniel Sutton, Earl Surbrooke, in this winning but uneven historical romance from D’Alessandro (Never a Lady
). With visions of clandestine trysts planted in her head, Carolyn feels, despite herself, a powerful draw toward the disreputable Daniel; the conflicted feelings, it turns out, are mutual, but soon they decide to become lovers, if only to work the desire out of their systems. Meanwhile, Daniel’s former lovers are being murdered one by one, and he’s the primary suspect. As the real killer draws closer, Daniel must protect Carolyn, clear his name and try not to lose his heart in the process. Though the murder plot proves dispensable, the dialogue between Daniel and Carolyn is charming, and they’re allowed plenty of space to grow as characters. Supporting characters are forgettable, but the love story makes a pleasant diversion that should satisfy fans of the genre. (Jan.)
