Whisper of Scandal

Desperate to deflect an unwanted suitor, widowed Lady Joanna Ware plants a passionate kiss on her husband's best friend and fellow adventurer, Alex Grant. Within an hour, rumors are flying that she's his mistress. Cornick steers this standard Regency plot into uncharted waters when Alex and Joanna head off to the Arctic Circle in search of her husband's bastard daughter. Drawing on the history of Arctic travel, Cornick gives the reader a compelling landscape as backdrop to the burgeoning romance, along with wonderful scenes such as a London ball celebrating Alex's exploits with ice sculptures, white satin waterfalls, and an artificial version of the Northern Lights. Several of the lively side characters will presumably feature in the planned sequels, currently set for release in November and December. (Oct.)