Falling into Bed with a Duke

Heath’s first Hellions of Havisham Victorian romance is wonderfully entertaining. The unexpected demise of the Duke and Duchess of Ashbury left their three sons—all now saddled with hefty titles—in the care of an indifferent guardian mourning the long-ago death of his wife. Alarmed by this display of romantic grief, the oldest brother, Nicholas, opts to skip getting married and instead spends his nights at the Nightingale Club, where society’s women find lovers anonymously and with no strings attached. Minerva Dodger (whom dedicated fans will recognize as the daughter of Jack Dodger, from 2008’s Between the Devil and Desire) has spent six years on the marriage mart without finding love, and the outspoken heiress is ready to experience sex; she gleefully turns to the club and to Nick. But she has second thoughts when he asks her to pose for a risqué photograph, still a new art form. Meanwhile, he’s wondering how to court her when she’s already graced his bed. Heath adeptly juggles numerous new and familiar characters as she sweeps fans of her Regency novels into the Victorian era. (Nov.)