Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half

April 2, 2012
Grace follows Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel with a twisty, delightful Regency romance. Amelia, Lady Audley, and Jake Hillary fought their feelings for one another for years while she was married to his best friend. Now widowed, she is free to take a lover, but Jake has other intentions: marriage. Distracting from the main story is Amelia’s concern that associating with her dearest friend, the outrageous Lady Kennell, could be devastating to her reputation and her chances with Jake. Faced with the choice between love and loyalty, Amelia is rocked by yet another shocking discovery that could keep her and Jake apart forever. The story is fresh and romantic, but the focus is somewhat scattered, and the dialogue never quite reaches the snappy wit of the first book. That’s a high bar, though, and this installment is still charming, sensual, and altogether enjoyable. Agent: Nephele Tempest, the Knight Agency.

May 15, 2012
When it comes to Lady Amelia Audley, Jake Hillary has horrible timing. Jake fell in love with Amelia the very first time they met, but Amelia was engaged to Jake's best friend. Several years later, when Jake encountered the widowed Amelia again, he mistakenly harbored the impression that she was a wanton trollop and let her know his feelings in no uncertain terms. Now, just when fate seems to be giving Jake another shot with Amelia, he discovers his brother, rakish Captain Daniel Hillary, is determined to beat him to the punch for the opportunity to become Amelia's new lover. But Jake is equally determined that Amelia will be his, and he begins mapping out a campaign that will keep Daniel as far from her as possible while at the same time putting him in Amelia's path at every opportunity. Graced with a colorful cast of characters and imbued with plenty of sexy chemistry, Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half is an ideal choice for readers who relish smartly written, splendidly sensual Regency historicals.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)