The return of the duke

Heath's brilliant third Victorian-era Once Upon a Dukedom romance (after The Duchess Hunt) follows Marcus Stanwick, heir to the Duke of Wolfford--until his father is stripped of his title and hanged for an assassination attempt against Queen Victoria. Now Marcus is determined to get to the bottom of his father's alleged crimes and restore his family's place in society. Though thoroughly disdainful of his father's former mistress, Esme Lancaster, Marcus hopes she may have information about who else was involved in the assassination plot. Their strained first encounter leads Marcus to dub Esme the "Ice Princess," but he soon learns that the woman he believes to have destroyed his parents' marriage is not the evil vixen he's imagined her to be; Esme is actually an agent for the Crown, and she's also seeking information about Wolford's coconspirators. As the pair join forces to investigate, romantic tension simmers. Heath slowly peels back the layers of her complex protagonists, making their forbidden attraction all the more intense and believable. With just the right blend of romance and mystery, this proves un-put-downable. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House. (July)

Marcus Stanwick, the would-be heir to the Duke of Wolfford, has lost everything, but he is pleased to know that his siblings have found love and happiness in their new lives. His investigations into his father's ill-fated assassination plot have endangered his life and he's finding more dead ends, which force him to reach out to the last woman he would ever want to speak to: his father's ex-mistress. Esme Lancaster is not what she seems, and she has her own reasons for wanting to find the same men Marcus is looking for. When he arrives on her doorstep unannounced, they are both surprised by the flickers of attraction they feel; they cannot resist seeing each other again, even if they excuse it as using each other for their own gain. The danger they find is not only from their investigation, but also to their hearts. VERDICT In Heath's third installment to the "Once Upon a Dukedom" series (following The Duchess Hunt), readers can finally enjoy Marcus's story, and it is well worth the wait for those who love a strong heroine who breaks down all the preconceived notions that the hero has of her. Hand to readers who already love Heath, as well as fans of Stephanie Laurens and Lisa Kleypas.--Morgan Lockard

A man tries to exonerate his father and reclaim his title. Marcus Stanwick was next in line to the Dukedom of Wolfford when his father was arrested and executed for plotting to kill Queen Victoria. The family is stripped of their land, wealth, and titles, leaving Marcus and his siblings disgraced and penniless. A year later, Marcus begins to investigate his father's crimes, determined to restore the family's name. He contacts his father's mistress, Esme Lancaster, certain she has information about the extent of his father's involvement in the conspiracy. Marcus cannot trust this independent, strong-willed woman who is definitely keeping secrets, and he's horrified by his attraction toward the woman who was his father's lover. When Marcus follows her one night, they have a dangerous altercation with criminals that injures them both. Esme has no choice but to tell Marcus the truth: She's a spy for the Crown, and she believes that Victoria's life is still in danger. Heath has always been a master of the romance genre, and in this novel, she provides the added bonus of a Victorian-era James Bond plot. Marcus and Esme's adventures are full of danger and intrigue--not to mention spy gadgets, mysterious operatives, and political intrigue. Their affair is full of angst and longing, their different places in the social stratosphere making a future together seem impossible. An impressive end to a series that explores the ways women subvert societal norms and expectations in Victorian London. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.