A duchess by midnight

An aspiring finishing school instructor must practice what she preaches in Michaels's appealing third Awakened by a Kiss Regency romance (after When You Wish upon a Duke). Enterprising Drewsmina "Drew" Trelayne sets out to make a living "coaching young debutantes through their coming-out Season," hoping one day to start her own finishing school, and, more importantly, move out of her sister's home. Despite Drew's awkward first meeting with the Duke of Lachlan--during which she inadvertently insults him--Drew is eager to take on his twin nieces as her first clients. But when timid Ivy and the wild child Imogene catch Drew in a compromising position with their uncle, Drew's own rules about being discovered alone with a man--which she has drilled into her charges' heads--mean that she and the duke must marry. While Lachlan is secretly pleased about his duchess-to-be, he's preoccupied with clandestine business dealings, and Drew tries to protect her own heart by not allowing herself to get too invested. Michaels's female characters are delightfully complex, and the strange behavior of Ivy, Imogene, and their mother adds intrigue as Michaels slowly peals back their traumatic history. This delivers all the elements Regency fans long for. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary. (July)

Reformed evil stepsister Drewsmina Trelayne has learned a lot from her wicked ways and has vowed to help future debutantes do the same. When Ian Clayback, the reclusive Duke of Lachlan, seeks her services for his twin nieces, Drew suddenly has her hands full. So distracted is she by the young ladies that her feelings for the duke take her quite by surprise, resulting in a compromising moment of passion that becomes a hasty engagement when they are discovered. Can they turn their ill-advised assignation into a lifetime of love, or will secrecy and scandal halt their happy ending before it begins? In this third installment of the "Awakened by a Kiss" series, Michaels (The Earl Next Door) continues her playful twists on classic fairy tales with a Cinderella spin. The well-crafted dialogue is amusing, and the love scenes are alluring. Fans of the series will recognize narrator Morag Sims's lyrical lilt, while newcomers will be drawn in by her delightful delivery. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking flawed, but likable, characters finding fairy tale romance, with a side of scandal and sensuality. Recommended for fans of Eloisa James, Grace Burrowes, and Sabrina Jeffries.--Lauren Hackert

In this fairy tale--inspired romance, a wicked stepsister finds her happily-ever-after. Drewsmina Trelayne used to be a terror, but now she is reformed and aspires to help girls who are outsiders and outcasts like she once was by training them for a London season. Ian Clayblack, the Duke of Lachlan, known for his scandalous involvement in his tenants' riots, recently had his eccentric sister and her teenage twin daughters move in with him. He hires Drew because he wants to give the girls a coming-out season, but they are not at all fit to mingle with society, as they've been part of a strict religious commune for the past five years. Drew has her work cut out for her--and she also finds herself pining for the duke. He returns her desire, but when they are caught in a compromising position, they must marry. The attraction is there, but Drew soon yearns for love. With nods to "Cinderella" and "The Ugly Duckling," the story maintains a fairy-tale feel through its infusion of royalty and enigmatic characters. Other plot points, like the economic hardships of craftsmen and the rigors of preparing for a season, add a realistic balance. Sometimes, though, it feels like there is too much extra plot that detracts from the central romance and isn't fleshed-out enough to be fully compelling. Still, Drew is engaging and interesting, the nieces are a hoot, and Ian's journey to better communication with the people he loves is commendable. An overabundance of side plots, but the core characters shine. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.