Her Adventures in Temptation

Frampton continues her School for Scoundrels series (after His Study in Scandal) with a rollicking Victorian romance. After Lord Richard Allen’s wife drunkenly comes onto Simeon Jones, the artist hired to paint her portrait, Richard fires Simeon and he flees to London. Hitching a ride is Myrtle Allen, Richard’s mathematically minded sister, who’s desperate for some freedom. Richard follows them, however, and allows Myrtle to stay in London in return for chaperoning his daughter, Lilah, during her coming-out season. Myrtle agrees, but only if Simeon can help her in “navigating Society”; she’s afraid that her blunt, forthright manner would otherwise ruin Lilah’s chances at making a good match. The pair spending so much time together starts a scandal, and Richard, worried about the family name, insists Myrtle and Simeon pretend to be engaged to lend an air of propriety to their connection. As their fake relationship progresses, Simeon envisions a life with Myrtle, who would use her brilliant mind to advise society ladies on financial matters while he paints his masterpieces, but he worries the distance between their stations is insurmountable. Myrtle’s refreshing candor about her intellect delights, as does Simeon’s quick-thinking to cook up lies about their relationship. Historical romance fans are sure to fall in love with Frampton’s forward-thinking protagonists. Agent: Louise Fury, Bent Agency. (Jan.)