The dueling Duchess

Spencer's alluring second Wicked Women of Whitechapel novel (after The Boxing Baroness) stars Cecile Tremblay, one of four owners of Regency England's first all-women circus, Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre, who also performs as a crack shot in one of the circus's most popular acts. When Cecile's former lover Guy Darlington shows up at her circus pleading for a job as Cecile's assistant/drudge after losing his fiancée and his dukedom to his long-lost cousin, Cecile reluctantly takes him on. She has not forgotten how Guy previously insulted her with an offer to install her as his mistress while he went on to wed a more suitable woman. As the pair spend more time together, however, Cecile sees that he truly regrets his previous behavior and he confesses he's never stopped loving her. But can guarded Cecile tear down her walls and open up about her mysterious past enough to return his feelings? The unusual backdrop of the circus continues to set this series apart, and the resilient female supporting cast add both charm and humor to the sensuous romance. Readers won't want to put this down. (May)

Expert markswoman Cecile Tremblay, a French expat in Regency England, is the new owner of Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre, an all-women circus. It's a far cry from the life she imagined while growing up in France, but after the French Revolution took nearly everything from her--and an unscrupulous relative in England finished the job--she's not unhappy with the life she's made for herself. Her only regret is the brief affair she had with Gaius Darlington, the darling of the ton, which ended disastrously. Then Guy's life takes a turn when a long-lost relative strips him of his title, and he turns his attention to winning her back--the only woman he's ever loved. Cecile's not about to forgive and forget, though; she's going to make Guy work to earn her love. VERDICT Readers who enjoyed The Boxing Baroness won't want to miss Spencer's sequel. Indeed, anyone who appreciates strong, unconventional heroines--and the Regency-era heroes who know (or at least manage to learn) better than to take them for granted--is likely to relish this novel.--Rebecca Moe

A skilled markswoman becomes the target of an impoverished duke. As the daughter of a gun manufacturer patronized by the nobility, Cecile Tremblay was forced to flee France in the wake of the revolution. A teenager when she lost both home and family, Cecile has survived through sheer grit. She has gone from working at Farnham's Fantastical Female Fayre as an adept and entertaining shooter to co-owning the circus. While she doesn't allow herself to think of her distant past, her recent encounter with Gaius Darlington, a duke who frequently appears in gossip columns as an inveterate skirt-chaser, refuses to leave her mind. After several passionate weeks together, the insolvent duke makes Cecile an insulting offer she cannot help but refuse. While Cecile is seething over Gaius' treatment, he regrets that he cannot offer her more than a role as his mistress; the responsibilities he has toward his dukedom mean that he must quickly marry an heiress. But things change when a new claimant to his title causes Gaius to lose both position and fiancee, and he suddenly finds himself free to pursue Cecile. While Gaius is chasing a future with Cecile, trying to convince her of his feelings, Cecile's past threatens to upset their dynamic once again. In this second installment of the Wicked Women of Whitechapel series, Gaius and Cecile's story of reconciliation is peppered with spunk, angst, heat, and wit. Cecile's talent with guns, which extends beyond an ability to unerringly hit a target, is juxtaposed intelligently with her vulnerability to emotions and circumstances. Although the repercussions of Gaius' abrupt descent to penury remain underexplored, his emotional struggles and determination to win Cecile back inspire empathy. An entertaining and heartfelt ode to the potential of second chances in love and life. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.