Unexpected Pleasures

Starred review from April 30, 2012
The court of Henry VIII is ripe with treachery and intrigue in Wine’s third Tudor-era offering (after My Fair Highlander and Improper Seduction). Widowed Lady Justina Wincott’s guardian, Viscount Biddeford, has promised to allow Justina’s young son to stay in England as long as she sleeps with various lords to gain influence for Biddeford. Justina can’t forget her previous encounter with a noble knight, Synclair, whom she believes is as honorable as she is ”scarlet with sin.” Synclair returns to court, determined to win Justina’s heart and her hand in marriage and protect her from Biddeford. Justina is a complex woman who has learned to use the pretense of meek submission to secure a better future for her son. Her initial lack of trust in Synclair creates tension in their relationship, which adds allure to their scintillating romantic trysts. The inclusion of actual historical figures adds substance and depth to a gripping tale that will hook the reader from the very first page. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.