To Love a Wicked Lord

Starred review from October 15, 2009
Left in social limbo when her fianc, Noel Nicholson, disappeared seven months ago, Pippa Carstairs enlists the aid of arrogant Maxwell Sutton, Lord Montrose, to get some answers. Initially annoyed by Montrose's dismissive attitude, Pippa soon suspects that he is anything but the dandified fribble he appears to be. Mentally brilliant and physically lethal, Max is secretly a reluctant spy for the Crown, and, in this particular instance, he smells a rat. A restless, magnetic hero, a smart, outspoken heroine, and a dotty grandmother join forces to find the elusive Noeland some totally unexpected surprises. VERDICT With a nod to "The Scarlet Pimpernel", Layton quickly lures readers with a mesmerizing mix of appealing, exceptionally well-delineated characters, witty, engaging dialog, sexual electricity, and a nonstop pace that keeps the pages turning until the end. Layton ("A Bride for His Convenience"), who died in June, was one of the most admired romance writers, particularly noted for her traditional Regencies and Regency-set historicals. Her death is a great loss to the genre.

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.