Lady Be Good

Love transcends the limits of wealth and social rank in the smart, likable third Rules for the Reckless historical (after Fool Me Twice). In 1882 London, young Lily Monroe is an unwilling thief under the tutelage of her crooked caretaker, Uncle Nick. Once she’s old enough to reinvent herself, she becomes respectable Lilah Marshall, auction house hostess at Everleigh’s. But Uncle Nick threatens to expose her background unless she commits one last theft—from her employer. She is caught red-handed by war hero and self-described rogue Christian Stratton, Viscount Palmer, who blackmails her into spying on auction house owner Catherine Everleigh. Christian is after Catherine’s elusive client Bolkhov, who tortured him, murdered his brother, and is stalking his family. Amorous trysts and slowly developing honesty between Lilah and Christian make it clear that they’re kindred spirits. Duran gives her characters depth: Christian grapples with his desire for revenge and anxiety over unexpectedly becoming his father’s heir, and Lilah is a pawn who fears exposure and ruin. Readers will especially look forward to Catherine finding her own romance in a future installment. (Aug.)