That Scandalous Evening
Christina Dodd brings fresh ideas to the often-used Regency world in  which she sets this sprightly, sexy story of a statuesque spinster who returns  to London, the site of her disastrous Season years ago, to chaperone the "coming out" of her dangerously beautiful niece. Jane Higgenbothem was ruined when the nude statue she made of Ransom Quincy, Marquess of Blackburn, was exposed to public view. Now Ransom, working undercover to expose a traitor to the Crown, decides he'll deliberately renew the old scandal by courting Jane,  as a diversionary tactic for his investigation. But the truth is, his desire for Jane is raging out of control and he means to have her--even though she herself may be the spy he's seeking. Subplots involving Jane's niece and Blackburn's best friend offer surprising delights, while the inventive and humorously timed lovemaking between Jane and Blackburn ratchet up the heat index. Dodd's witty, affectionate depiction of human foibles makes this battle of the sexes highly entertaining.--Ellen Edwards