The duke in question

With this spirited Victorian romance, a loose sequel to 2021's Rules for Heiresses, Howard constructs a vibrant, witty adventure whose undercover leads enjoy sizzling chemistry under the covers. Retired spymaster Valentine Medford, Duke of Thornbury, is called back into service to track down the mysterious Kestrel--not realizing the "rogue operative" is hiding in plain sight. It's Lady Bronwyn Chase, sister to the Duke of Ashvale, who's determined to use her privilege to help the oppressed and disenfranchised. As she sets sail to Philadelphia bearing secret documents to aid the North in the U.S. Civil War, she's distressed to encounter Valentine aboard the same ship. She's so eager to allay suspicion that Valentine comes away from their first interaction thinking her an "avaricious nitwit." Even so, there's an undeniable mutual attraction that only grows as their travels take them to America and back to Europe. Caught in a web of intrigue and desire, Valentine and Bronwyn become reluctant partners in espionage--and rather less reluctant lovers--as they plunge into ever deeper danger. Howard touches upon the social inequalities and marginalization of the time, adding nuance and depth to this witty, suspenseful romance. By turns playful and tense, it's a thoroughly entertaining romp. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Nov.)

Lady Bronwyn Chase has accidentally, but happily, become a spy, working as the "Kestral" under the direction of a minor figure in the UK government. On her heels is Valentine Medford, the Duke of Thornbury, a royal agent with orders to apprehend the Kestral. While they have similar values, they are pitted against each other since the Kestral has stolen important documents Valentine must retrieve. Thrown together on an ocean liner bound for the States, the two trade barbs but eventually work to uncover a plot to end the Lincoln presidency. Howard excels in quips and wit and has a deft hand with characterization. Some readers might find that the abundance of sex scenes defies the logic of the danger that the two face, but others will just be happy to read another of Howard's smart, steamy, and on-point stories. VERDICT Perfect for fans of Howard's "Daring Dukes" series, but those who haven't read Rules for Heiresses and The Princess Stakes shouldn't start with this installment, which assumes knowledge of characters' backstories.--Neal Wyatt

A top-secret mission leads to danger and love. Lady Bronwyn Chase may appear to be a spoiled, flirtatious heiress, but it's a facade to hide the truth: She's traveling to Philadelphia with sensitive documents that will aid the Northern states in the American Civil War. Her haughty mother thinks Bronwyn's only aspiration should be to marry someone with wealth and a title, but Bronwyn has a "goal of helping the oppressed to lift the yoke of subjugation." When she discovers Lord Valentine Medford, the Duke of Thornbury, is also aboard the ship, her ruse becomes riskier. Not only is he a friend of her brother, but he's also a former British undercover agent. Valentine has his own secret agenda: He's looking for a rogue operative known as the Kestrel. He does not at all suspect the aggravating and all too attractive Bronwyn and is blindsided when the truth comes out. Even then, she still keeps secrets. Pursued by nefarious men from Philadelphia to Paris to London, the pair may be at odds, but that doesn't prevent their fiery chemistry. Although an intriguing premise, the plot feels muddled and the characters aren't developed beyond their archetypes. There are some fun action scenes of both the perilous and sexual varieties, but it fails to coalesce into a captivating whole. Howard succeeds in incorporating elements of racial prejudice and examples of allyship relevant to the modern reader into the historical story, but the core romance is humdrum. Falls flat. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.