The princess and the rogue

Bateman's captivating third Bow Street Bachelors romance (after To Catch an Earl) begins when Russian Princess Anastasia Denisova declines to marry the odious Vasili Petrov. But Vasili refuses to take no for an answer, and Anya fakes her own death to evade him. She flees to London where she takes the name Anna Brown, finds lodgings next door to a brothel, and gains employment as a companion to the eccentric dowager Duchess of Winwick. It's while offering reading lessons at the brothel that Anya meets the rakish Sebastien Wolff, Lord Mowbray, one of the Bow Street investigators and, unknown to Anya, the dowager's great-nephew. He's immediately smitten and offers an exorbitant sum for one night with Anya. When she refuses, Sebastien only grows more intrigued. Sebastien and Anya meet again when he rescues her and his great-aunt from an attempted kidnapping and the dowager, knowing Anya's true identity, persuades Sebastien to protect her from a ring of Russian criminals recently arrived in town--though she's careful not to give away Anya's secret. A mutual attraction ignites as they spend time together. Sebastien is drawn to Anya's beauty, intellect, and independence--but unconvinced by her masquerade. The steamy love scenes are enhanced by the protagonists' genuine friendship and admiration for one another, while the elements of suspense and mistaken identity keep the pages flying. This smart Regency romance and its resilient heroine are sure to win over readers. (Dec.)