Seduction

Prolific Joyce (Deadly Vows) opens her French Revolution series with a tale of two lovers who treasure politics over romance. Dominic Paget has been spying in France for the British government. Near death after an assassination attempt, he is smuggled back to England and left in the care of Julianne Greystone. Julianne, sympathetic to the revolutionaries, believes Dominic is a heroic French army officer and falls for him. Dominic coldly seduces Julianne, leaving her heartbroken when she discovers he’s the earl of Bedford—his wealth and title represent everything she’s been fighting against. After they part, Dominic ends up saving Julianne from danger, but they don’t pick up on their second chance at love until it’s almost too late. In-depth historical detail supports the characters’ motivations, but unsympathetic personalities (especially fluttery, weak-willed Julianne) keep the reader at arm’s length, and only Joyce’s dramatic prose keeps things moving. Agent: Aaron Priest Literary Agency. (Feb.)