To the Duke, with Love

A duke and a lady determined to see their younger siblings happily married find unexpected romance for themselves in Grey’s fun second Rakes of St. James Regency romance (after Last Night with the Duke). Sloane “Hawk” Knox, Duke of Hawksthorne, hopes to see his younger sister, Adele, betrothed to a decent man before the social season begins in London and the gossips start spreading stories about his involvement with the notorious Rakes of St. James. He’s selected 23-year-old Paxton Quick, nephew of the Earl of Switchingham, as a likely fiancé, but Paxton’s older sister, Loretta, is having none of it—she remembers her horrible uncle’s plans to marry her off to Viscount Denningcourt all too well. She defied them both and ended up exiled to her uncle’s country estate, leading her to distrust all marriage schemers. Despite Loretta’s scorn for Hawk’s betrothal plans, neither of them can ignore their own immediate mutual attraction. Lively dialogue and stubborn protagonists make this story work, though a subplot about an abandoned street urchin is more melodramatic distraction than necessary component. Romance fans will enjoy Hawk and Loretta’s low-key courtship. (Dec.)