London's Wicked Affair

July 2, 2018
This entertaining Regency romance throws together a brooding lord in self-imposed exile and a willful lady looking for excitement, piling on scandalous adventures and arguments that end with passionate embraces. Lunden Beckford, the Duke of Scarsdale, hasn’t been in London since his brother’s death, but he reluctantly returns to deal with some estate business, at which point he encounters the whirlwind known as Amelia Strathmore. Amelia says she will obey her parents’ wishes and marry, but she then resists because she still wants a love match. She tells her best friend, Charlotte, what to do, but doesn’t listen to anyone else’s advice; her brother calls her Troublemaker because she repeatedly challenges him; and she forces Lunden out of isolation. Amelia is an exciting distraction for Lunden, who’s dealing with guilt over what happened the night his brother died. Her stubbornness sometimes feels more like petulance, but those who enjoy headstrong heroines will appreciate her story and eagerly anticipate Charlotte’s turn in the spotlight.

Narrator Victoria Aston gives voice to the first audiobook in a new historical romance series. The Duke of Scarsdale unwillingly returns home to London to quietly deal with some family business. First, he must fulfill a promise to procure a husband for his friend's sister, the free-spirited Amelia, who wishes to marry for love, as her parents did. Aston gives distinct voices to each of the characters, nailing the posh British accents of the ton. However, her quick pacing makes the transitions between scenes often difficult to follow. Rather than an immersive audio experience, listening requires some attention. A.L.S.M. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine