A Most Reckless Lady

Shades of Anastasia haunt Hingston's lengthy but lively debut for Dell, a historical set in war-torn Russia and Regency England. Lucas Strathmere, earl of Somerleigh, honors his dying friend's cryptic request that he find a Russian girl named Tatiana. She's beautiful, but Lucas is baffled by the point of his mission. When Tatiana's village is burned and her parents and fianc killed, Lucas is clear on only one thing--someone else wants Tatiana dead. Now responsible for Tatiana's welfare, Lucas returns to Dorset and turns Tat over to his mother, who passes her off as a long-lost relative. The events following their arrival, such as preparing for a season with the ton, attending opulent balls, and deception, are standard Regency fare. Still, while building to her satisfying conclusion involving the discovery of Tat's true parentage, Hingston strikes a perfect balance of history, modulated characters and snappy dialogue that is what all romance should aspire to be--transporting. (June)