The Prince: A Devil’s Duke Novel

Ashe strikes gold in her fourth Devil’s Duke Regency (after The Duke), giving minor characters from earlier books their own sensuous story. Twenty-year-old Miss Elizabeth “Libby” Shaw, adamantly determined to become a surgeon despite strictures against women practicing medicine, convinces exiled Mediterranean prince and portrait artist Ziyaeddin Mirza to let her board with him so that she may attend surgical school disguised as a man. Although her successful ruse, skill, and dedication catapult her to the head of the class, she makes no headway convincing Ziyaeddin to allow her to construct a suitable prosthesis for his amputated foot, and he cannot persuade her to remain silent while she sits for him, the one form of payment he requests. Stakes run high for each of them—Ziyaeddin will soon be called home to run his small kingdom, Tabir, and Libby knows a discovery of her secret will cost her the career she yearns for. Ashe allows desire to build slowly between the two, giving them time to demonstrate goodness, honor, and love before they act on their long-simmering passions. A subplot involving murdered women and grave-robbing adds mystery to this thoroughly pleasurable historical. (May)