A Scandal to Remember

Starred review from September 15, 2014
It isn't really a lie. The Royal Society expedition sailing on the H.M.S. Tenacious is expecting noted conchologist J. E. Burke as part of the party. Jane Elizabeth Burke did all of the illustrations in Conchology of Britain, despite the fact that her father, James Edward Burke, has chosen not to give her rightful credit as coauthor. So when her father decides at the last minute not to join the expedition, Jane decides to come in his place. After all, she is J. E. Burke as much as he is. Lieutenant Charles Dance has enough problems trying to get the Tenacious shipshape. The last thing he needs is a lady on board, but then again, Jane is no ordinary lady. With an academic background in shipwreck archaeology, Essex (Scandal in the Night, 2013) really knows her stuff. And a flawlessly executed plot, strongly defined characters, plenty of sizzling sexual chemistry and scintillating wit, and a delightfully exotic setting provide Essex with all of the literary building blocks she needs to turn the fifth in her Reckless Brides series into a knockout romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)