What's a duke got to do with it

Worthy characters get a second chance in Britton's masterful second Synneful Spinsters Regency (after Some Dukes Have All the Luck). Katrina Denby's hopes for more than flirtation with the rakishly charming Sebastian Thorne, Duke of Ramsleigh, are dashed when she is accosted by the amorous Lord Landon, ruining her reputation. The scandal forces her into exile on the Isle of Synne, where, four years later, she works as a companion to the prickly Lady Tesh. Katrina's life is again interrupted when Lord Landon pursues her once more--only to fall to his death while trying to climb through her bedroom window. Though her friends stand behind her, others hold her responsible for Landon's death and treat her as an outcast. Things become even more complicated when Sebastian (who is just as dashing as ever) arrives on the Isle as part of an elaborate plan to marry an heiress and save his dukedom--only to be distracted by his lingering love for Katrina. Britton creates high stakes and deep emotion by demonstrating the dangers and constraints of women's day-to-day lives at the turn of the 19th century and then soothes aching hearts with a swoonworthy love story. Readers won't want to put this down. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds Literary. (July)

Gone are the days when Katrina Denby and Sebastian Thorne were society darlings, a seemingly perfect pair on their way to happily ever after. Though time has seen Katrina reduced to a life of service, and Sebastian raised to the title of duke, they both now know the repercussions of shame and scandal and feel a need to atone for the errors of others. Seeking advantageous marriage matches to save their fortunes and reputations, they are reunited by fate, which rekindles their passion. Will obligation force them to overlook their feelings, or can they see past their circumstances to find the truth of their desires? In the second installment of her "Synneful Spinsters" saga (following Some Dukes Have All the Luck), Britton returns readers to the Isle of Synne and its formidable inhabitants. This fast-paced Regency romance features both a sweet love story and steamy love scenes, and a compelling cast of charismatic characters rounds out the engaging and alluring narrative. VERDICT This novel will appeal to readers seeking a well-developed and heartwarming historical romance about reputation, responsibility, and redemption. Recommended for fans of Sabrina Jeffries, Lenora Bell, and Anne Gracie.--Lauren Hackert

One lord flattens her life and the next one restores it. Katrina Denby's life has been ruined twice by the same man. Four seasons ago, Lord Landon tried to climb into her window, despite her complete lack of interest in him. Now, he's tracked her down to the sleepy seaside resort on the Isle of Synne to do it again, and the problem is that, this time, he's fallen out of the window and died. Even though she's been living quietly with her beloved dog, Mouse, as a companion to a dowager viscountess, her already-tenuous reputation is suddenly in tatters. She's accepted the fact that at this point, she just needs to marry any man who'll have her to avoid being completely shunned, but that changes when she learns that Sebastian, Duke of Ramsleigh, is in town. Both are shocked to see each other again, as their flirtations were on the verge of becoming more serious just before Lord Landon ruined her season. Unfortunately, Sebastian has had a rough few years as well and is now practically engaged, desperate to marry an heiress to save his bankrupt dukedom. He's only on Synne at his future father-in-law's request, charged with helping his soon-to-be fiancee's brother, but both he and Katrina quickly forget the depths of their despair when they feel the flame they were stoking four years ago flare back into life. Though their chemistry is instantly obvious to everyone they know, there are real obstacles between them, so their connection is the driving force of the plot, giving the story an almost naïve sweetness through some difficult circumstances and a few steamy moments. Katrina and Sebastian are easy to root for, and the small-town setting provides a Regency backdrop that shows life at the beach could be as cruel as society in London--readers are advised to check the content warnings at the start of the book. Though the ending is almost unbelievably tidy, devoted historical romance readers will enjoy another trip to the Isle of Synne. A charming and thoughtful Regency romance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.