Set in London in 1906, Feather's latest (after Venus
) touches on a topic that is near and dear to many romance readers' hearts—women's right to vote. Constance Duncan, the eldest of three headstrong sisters, throws down the gauntlet to handsome member of Parliament Max Ensor when she declares that women's suffrage is the driving force of her existence. In return, Max makes no bones of his opinion that women shouldn't vote, a stance firmly backed by his powerful friends. When Max and Constance's prickly verbal battles flare into hotly sexual encounters, both seize the chance to do behind the scenes (or beneath the covers) scouting for their respective parties, even as they wonder what falling in love with the enemy will do to their careers. Though Feather's story stumbles out of the starting gate, it hits a smooth roll when the couple's duels ignite. Constance's sneaky maneuverings, however, undermine her credibility, and the sisters' tendency to think that women who don't demand the vote are merely mindless sheep makes them seem shallow rather than sympathetic. All in all, Feather's attempt to illuminate women's struggles in early 20th-century London is laudable, but many readers will end this tale with doubts that the protagonists' happy ending will be everlasting. (Feb.)
