Innocence

In contrast to her wild and unmanageable sister Breanna, Mary Francis Murphy is the picture of innocence. And while Breanna becomes a prostitute at a house of ill repute called Cherries, Mary Francis follows her father's wishes and enters a convent. But before she takes her vows, an erroneous claim of moral indiscretion forces her to leave the order. Although never close to her sister, Mary Francis is distraught to find out she was mysteriously murdered and when the suspected killer requests an ""innocent"" from the infamous house, Mary Francis consents to play the part in hopes of apprehending him. She quickly realizes she's in over her head in international intrigue and espionage and with the man calling the shots: drop-dead-gorgeous antiquities dealer Webb Caldron. Forster writes sensual romances (as anyone who's read Blush or Shameless would know), but for those who aren't made skittish by the abundance of erotica, she also offers fine writing and a propulsive plot. (Feb.)