Hellion's waltz

Waite's charming third Feminine Pursuits historical romance (after The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows) combines a fun caper plot with a grounded sapphic love story. Sophie Roseingrave and her family move from London to Carrisford after being preyed on by a scam artist who cost them their home, their music shop, and, in Sophie's case, her faith in her abilities as a piano player. The Carrisford Weavers' Library is about to pull off a con of their own, led by Maddie Crewe. Tired of being exploited by greedy shop owner Mr. Giles, they resolve to swindle him out of the earnings he's long denied them. When Sophie catches wind there's a con afoot, she's determined to stop it--but her efforts to confront Maddie always seem to end in kissing. This cat-and-mouse dynamic dissipates disappointingly soon as Maddie lets Sophie in on the righteous motivation for her crime and Sophie agrees to help. The ensuing romance is sweet, steamy, and surprisingly straightforward. With few bumps in the relationship, the plot is instead driven by the increasingly complicated con and Sophie rediscovering her love of music. The attention to historical detail, diverse supporting cast, and heartening sense of queer comradery create a delightful backdrop. Waite's fans will not be disappointed. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary. (June)

A pianist, who has recently been destroyed by a con, falls for a weaver who is working on a swindle of her own, in this third novel from Waite's "Feminine Pursuits" series (following The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows). Sophie Roseingrave and her musical family have fled London for Carrisford after their unwitting involvement in a devastating scam. When Sophie overhears a shopkeeper tricking Maddie Crewe into a bad sale, she feels compelled to keep Maddie from a similar fate--but Sophie quickly senses that Maddie is savvier than she's made herself out to be. Their mutual attraction is as immediate as their mutual distrust. As Maddie and her fellow weavers conspire to thwart the dishonest shopkeeper, Sophie realizes that she wants to lend her own skills to the cause. Sophie and Maddie get together early in the book and build trust over time, leaving plenty of space in the plot for a theatrical hustle that verges on stage magic. VERDICT A good pick for fans of the series, who will recognize nods to past protagonists. It's also an accessible starting place for those who like their romance with a side of textile arts or covert Georgian-era trade unionism.--Katelyn Browne, Rod Lib., Univ. of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls

Instantaneous attraction drives the latest romance from the author of The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows (2020) and The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics (2019). Sophie Roseingrave and her family are forced to leave London when a dishonest business partner ruins her father's piano shop and her dreams of becoming a concert pianist. In the mill city of Carrisford, Sophie encounters the most beautiful woman she's ever seen. It's immediately clear to Sophie that Maddie Crewe is up to no good, but she ultimately learns that Maddie is up to no good for a good cause. She and her fellow weavers have hatched an elaborate plan to get even with a local merchant who's been cheating them for years. This scheme is pure screwball comedy, and it sets the tone for a lighthearted story in which there are no barriers to love. Waite's Regency England is placidly multicultural and liberal minded. The Roseingraves befriend a Black father and son. An Indian immigrant and a Jewish merchant seem to be close to an engagement by the end of the novel. Maddie shares a house with a polyamorous mélange. No one is the least bit perturbed by the idea of an affair between women. In fact, Sophie's parents actively support her relationship with Maddie. Some romance fans may be dissatisfied by the speed and eagerness with which Sophie and Maddie become sexual partners, but others will likely be willing to trade the pleasures of the slow burn for heroines who experience neither confusion nor shame nor hesitancy in their intense mutual desire. This book is a bit lighter than the first two installments in the Feminine Pursuits series, but there are some tender moments that are truly affecting, and Waite's prose is often quite striking. Consider, for example, this arresting image: "It gave Sophie a queer feeling in the core of her, as though she were trying to remember tomorrow night's dream." A disarmingly sweet Regency romp. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.