The Wayward Duke

In Kendrick’s sexy fourth Private Arrangements Victorian (after A Touch Wicked), an estranged aristocratic couple are brought back together to serve their country. Caroline, Duchess of Hastings, has barely seen her husband, Julian, since the early days of their marriage. She sent him away while devastated by grief and has sought escape in painting in the intervening nine years. When the dark, moody, and handsome duke returns to London, the pair must stay in close quarters again. To stave off the gossips, Caroline suggests they show a united front while he is in town. His reason for returning? The Home Office has enlisted his cryptological skills to decode a series of threats. Recognizing that Caroline’s skill with puzzles would make her a valuable asset, Julian pulls her into his secret assignment. Their old attraction quickly reawakens, but a true reconciliation means overcoming their emotional baggage as well. Kendrick makes the reunion a bit too fast-paced, speeding through the relationship’s redevelopment. The central couple has serious chemistry, however, and the espionage plot adds suspense. Readers looking for page-turning second-chance romance should check this out. (Jan.)