A duke by any other name

Althea, sister to the Duke of Walden, has decided that after five social seasons, she is done trying to impress the ton in London. She stays on the country estate her brother gave her, and thinks about how she can find the husband and family she's always wanted. Nathaniel, Duke of Rothhaven, lives behind covered windows with family secrets and elderly staff, visiting only with the local vicar to play chess. Only Althea has been able to break his reserve and inspire him to want a different future through a meeting she orchestrates involving trespassing pigs. Burrowes sets up a seemingly insurmountable conflict with Nathaniel's family, and the resolution at a ball where bullies are trying to humiliate Althea is especially satisfying. The latest in Burrowes' Rogues to Riches series, following Forever and a Duke (2019), is is a slow-burn, rather than an all-out sexy romance, kindled between two smart and well-matched people who struggle with family issues. The setup for the next Walden sibling will have readers eagerly waiting for the next installment.

Burrowes showcases her talent for combining smart Regency romance with modern sensibilities in the fourth Rogues to Riches novel (after Forever and a Duke), which follows the newly titled Wentworth siblings as they fight for society's acceptance. Duke Quinn Wentworth's sister, the competent, forthright Lady Althea, retreats from the brutal gossip and bullying of the London season to Yorkshire, where she provokes a visit from her neighbor Nathaniel Rothmere, the Duke of Rothhaven and an "intimidating sort of eccentric," by letting her wandering hogs trample his gardens. Having captured his attention, Althea entreats Nathaniel to mentor her in refining her social skills. He agrees and they strike up an unconventional friendship, though Nathaniel fears growing too close, lest Althea discover a secret he's protecting. But as their attraction deepens, so too does their connection, and they bond over their shared experiences with abusive fathers and resilient disabled siblings. All of Burrowes's secondary characters shine with wit and personality, and her sensitive development of two characters living with disabilities in the unaccommodating Regency era is particularly notable. This sparkling romance does not disappoint. (May)

Althea Wentworth refuses to be the laughingstock of polite society for another London Season. Despite her brother's ducal title and wealth, she still has not risen above her status as a street beggar with a mean drunkard of a father. Licking her wounds in Yorkshire, she strives to be neighborly and visits the reclusive Nathaniel Rothmere, Duke of Rothhaven. If anyone knows how to ascend the gossip and claim his place in society, it's Nathaniel. Upon first meeting, Thea finds the duke not only helpful in dealing with judgmental busybodies but also kind and burdened with secrets. Masquerading as the duke to protect his older brother, Robbie, Nathaniel knows his developing relationship with Thea threatens exposure. Yet with Thea by his side he wouldn't face society alone. As emotions soar and passions ignite, the couple grapples with whether to continue the charade and be miserable or risk revealing all and possibly find happiness. VERDICT The latest in Burrowes's stunning "Rogues to Riches" Regency-era series shines as a standout in the historical romance subgenre but is also a powerful story all on its own. The determined Althea charms readers right alongside the taciturn yet deep down tender Nathaniel. Highly recommended.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati Blue Ash