The Rebel Heir

Starred review from July 18, 2016
Michels’s delicious second Spare Heirs Regency (after The Infamous Heir) unites a proper lady and a swindling gentleman in an unlikely romance. Lady Evangeline Green is determined to be the perfect debutante and land a husband to escape her demanding mother’s tutelage. What she doesn’t expect is a second encounter with Ash Claughbane, who kissed her and left her waiting a year before and who’s now calling himself Lord Crosby. Ash set out to destroy Evie’s father, Lord Rightworth, because Rightworth engineered the financial ruin of Ash’s family, but he didn’t count on meeting Evie again. He becomes completely entranced by her—even after learning that she’s Rightworth’s daughter. When their mutual feelings develop, Evie’s hopeful that she’ll be able to convince Ash to remain in London. Ash and Evie will leave readers mesmerized and the evolution of their relationship is real and believable. Michels expertly delivers a heart-wrenching romance that will leave the reader eagerly anticipating future installments. Agent: Michelle Grajkowski, 3 Seas Literary.

July 1, 2016
A con artist falls for the well-behaved daughter of the man he's trying to swindle, but who is the real imposter?Ashley Claughbane is a spare heir. As the youngest son in a wealthy family, he must make his way in the world on his own, without an inheritance. There wasn't much left for him to inherit anyway, as his father was left destitute by the time of his death. Determined to punish Lord Rightsworth, the man responsible for his family's misfortune, Ashley trains himself to be a con artist, starting small by selling love potions and youth tonics. Now he's ready for the swindle he's been waiting for. Under the fake name of Lord Crosby, he heads to London and, with the help of a mysterious secret organization called the Spare Heirs Society, sets up a phony company selling portable steam. His first potential client is none other than Lord Rightsworth, but due to a previous encounter, Lord Rightsworth's daughter, Evangeline Green, already knows Lord Crosby under a different name and figures out quickly that he's a fraud. Trained mercilessly by her mother to be a proper debutante, Evangeline finds herself unable to resist this Lord Crosby, even with her family's fortune and reputation at stake. As much as she tries to strictly adhere to the rules of proper society, Evangeline is a rebel at heart. Playing with the themes of deception and authenticity, this romance delightfully emulates a Jane Austen-ish comedy of manners. There is an easy chemistry between Ashley and Evangeline, with a great mixture of wit, gamesmanship, sexual innuendo, and warmth. It's a genuine pleasure to watch their masks fall away as they become friends and lovers. The lively plot and vivid characters are as well-drawn as the sex, offering satisfaction on many levels.

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