Secrets of a Proper Countess

Cornwall's luscious Regency romance has just the right blend of mystery, manners, and passion. Isobel Maitland, the countess of Ashdown, is the epitome of a respectable widow, but at a masked ball, she takes the name Yasmina and allows herself to dally with Phineas Archer, the notorious marquess of Blackwood. A spy for the English crown, Phineas has perfected his reputation as a rogue, but soon he's seeking "Yasmina" as desperately as he seeks a smuggler with ties to Napoleon, while Isobel endures her wicked, social-climbing relatives and tries to control her passions. Once Phineas discovers Yasmina's identity, he resolves to find a way to convince her they must marry—unless she's conspiring with the smuggler. Though Isobel is at first frustratingly passive, she becomes a spirited leading lady. With truly nefarious villains, plenty of action, and a dash of glamour, this tome is a seductive read. (Apr.)