A Breath of Scandal: The Reckless Brides
*Starred Review* Isn’t it bad enough that Antigone Preston is named for a heroine in a Greek tragedy? Did her life have to resemble one as well? Immediately after her father’s untimely death, Antigone discovers her mother is trying to marry her off to the very wealthy and ancient Lord Aldridge. Antigone can’t understand why the ever-so-refined and aristocratic Aldridge would want to marry a notorious hoyden such as herself, but she agrees to go along with her mother’s matchmaking scheme long enough for her sister, Cassandra, to  find a suitable husband of her own. Unfortunately, at the ball celebrating her engagement, Antigone punches out a gentleman she is dancing with when he refuses to heed her warnings and keep his hands to himself. The resulting scandal nearly derails her engagement to Lord Aldridge, and Antigone is socially censored by everyone, with the exception of Commander William Jellicoe, who thinks she is the first truly interesting woman he has met. In the second installment in her Reckless Brides series, Essex tempers her graceful writing with tart wit, while the swoonworthy chemistry she creates between her refreshingly outspoken heroine and wonderfully honorable hero is perfection. --John Charles