Good Earl Gone Bad

Expertly crafted characters and a fast-paced plot are the highlights of Collins’s second Lords of Anarchy Regency (after A Good Rake Is Hard to Find). Just as Lady Hermione Upperton is celebrating her induction into the exclusive Lords of Anarchy club, her father loses her beloved coach horses in a game of chance. Determined to get her horses back, Hermione decides to confront Lord Saintcrow, the man who won them, only to find him dead. She flees, fearing that she may be a suspect in his murder. Meanwhile, her father has also gambled away something even more precious—her hand in marriage—to Jasper Fawley, Earl Mainwaring, an operative for the Home Office. Fortunately, having recently shared a sizzling kiss with Jasper, Hermione isn’t totally averse to the match. As their mutual attraction grows, Jasper must solve a mystery involving horse thieves. Collins craftily combines sensuous romance with a touch of suspense, creating a delightful novel that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavall. (Oct.)