When You're Desired (Zebra Books)
Lejeune's latest Regency offering pairs an English lord with a beautiful actress in a romance fraught with untruths and misunderstandings. Celia St. Lys is the toast of Drury Lane, but her carefree attitude hides shrewd business sense as she seeks to preserve her status. Lord Simon Ascot steels himself to approach her after three years apart, hoping to have her return a necklace to the peer who gave it to her. Their mutual dislike is balanced by mutual desire. A subplot involving Celia's acquaintance with Simon's older brother, the duke of Berkshire, adds depth. Witty repartee and clever character development fill the pages, making this romance read more like historical fiction as lovemaking takes a backseat to the creative banter. (Dec.)