One Night in London

The hero and heroine of this lighthearted Regency meet in an unusual way: they both want to hire the same lawyer. Edward de Lacey, a duke's second son, has just found out that he and his brothers may not be the legitimate heirs, while Francesca, the widowed Lady Gordon, wants custody of her orphaned niece. Edward secures the solicitor's services, but can't escape the gossips. Francesca squelches the rumors in exchange for Edward's assistance with her custody case. She's clever but prone to emotional outbursts, he's all business but loves a good quarrel, and it's only a matter of time until they fall wildly in lust. Francesca's sensibilities are exceedingly modern and both legal cases sputter out by the end, but these are mere quibbles beside the vividly drawn characters, engaging plot, and wonderful chemistry between the leads. (Sept.)