This earl of mine

Bateman's scintillating first Bow Street Bachelors Regency is full of intense emotions and dramatic twists. Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed, desperate to avoid marriage to her cousin Josiah, procures a husband, Benedict Wylde, from Newgate Prison, thinking she's saving him from being transported to Australia. The two are hastily wed but have no plans to live as husband and wife. But Benedict is actually the younger son of the Earl of Morcott and has gone undercover at Newgate to track down a traitor. When Georgiana sees Benedict at a ball and discovers his true identity, the two must decide how to proceed with their marriage. Determining that divorce and annulment are not options, they decide upon a public courtship and public marriage ceremony, after which they can live apart. Attraction and friendship blossom between Benedict and Georgiana as they see each other at social gatherings, and soon she's helping with his spy work, as well. Intelligent, affable characters make this fast-paced novel shine, especially for fans of clever women and the men who sincerely admire them. Future installments will be eagerly anticipated by Regency readers. (Oct.)

Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is tired of fending off fortune hunters, most notably her odious cousin Josiah. As a way out, she will marry a random convict the day before his hanging--instantly gaining the freedom of widowhood. Unfortunately, the chosen criminal is actually Benedict Wylde--the younger brother of a penniless earl working undercover to expose a plot to rescue an exiled Napoleon. When Georgie and Benedict meet for the first time at a ball the following week, a new arrangement is made, but even that will have to be revised when real feelings start to develop. In this first book of a series that will eventually focus on Benedict's friends, Bateman (The Devil To Pay) mixes a marriage of convenience with fake dating while exploring class differences. Georgie and Benedict have instant chemistry, and their growing respect as they get to know each other adds depth and emotion. Several secondary characters (including a humorous subplot with Georgiana's younger sister and the vicar's son) further complement the layered and well-crafted main story line. VERDICT Bateman applies subtle twists on favorite tropes in a story filled with humorous banter and unexpected plot turns. An exciting series opener.--Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington Cty. Pub. Libs., VA

An heiress and a penniless war hero enter into a secret marriage of convenience in the first book in a new Regency romance series.To protect her shipping fortune from her greedy cousin, Georgiana Caversteed devises a desperate plan to marry a condemned prisoner. She does not realize that the prisoner is Benedict Wylde, second son of the late Earl of Morcott and a Bow Street Runner who was working undercover at Newgate Prison on assignment, until she sees him alive and well at a ball a few weeks later. Georgiana recovers quickly from the shock and convinces Benedict to pretend to court her until they can "marry" in public, saving her reputation, after which they can go their separate ways. Having served in the Rifles for three grueling years during the Peninsular War, Benedict and his two best friends opened the Tricorn Club, a casino in London, to make their fortunes and provide cover for their work on behalf of the crown. Benedict's main preoccupation is paying down his family's mountain of debt, but he is intrigued by the "vibrant, multifaceted" Georgie, whose "business-like brainsharp wit, andfearsome intellectchallenged him on so many levels." When thwarting a treasonous plot requires both Benedict's military skills and Georgie's knowledge of ships, they become partners with benefits, most memorably in the close quarters of a tiny dry-docked submarine, where he raggedly confesses: "Every minute of the day. You make me crazy with wanting." Bateman quickly dispenses with her protagonists' antagonism in favor of genuine romance that shines through the many tired plot points.Delightful leads and sexy capers tip the balance in favor of giving this one a try despite its predictable elements. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.