London’s Wicked Affair

This entertaining Regency romance throws together a brooding lord in self-imposed exile and a willful lady looking for excitement, piling on scandalous adventures and arguments that end with passionate embraces. Lunden Beckford, the Duke of Scarsdale, hasn’t been in London since his brother’s death, but he reluctantly returns to deal with some estate business, at which point he encounters the whirlwind known as Amelia Strathmore. Amelia says she will obey her parents’ wishes and marry, but she then resists because she still wants a love match. She tells her best friend, Charlotte, what to do, but doesn’t listen to anyone else’s advice; her brother calls her Troublemaker because she repeatedly challenges him; and she forces Lunden out of isolation. Amelia is an exciting distraction for Lunden, who’s dealing with guilt over what happened the night his brother died. Her stubbornness sometimes feels more like petulance, but those who enjoy headstrong heroines will appreciate her story and eagerly anticipate Charlotte’s turn in the spotlight. (Sept.)