cover image The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter

The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter

Jillian Stone. Kensington, $9.95 trade paper (304p) ISBN 978-0-7582-6900-3

Stone’s third Phaeton Black, Para-normal Investigator alternate-historical caper (after The Moonstone and Miss Jones) is an arousing erotic romance wearing a skimpy steampunk dress. Dr. Asa Exeter’s ward, Anatolia “Mia” Chadwick, is a bewitchingly beautiful young woman with an unfortunate tendency to become a panther. Exeter attempts to discourage her youthful crush on him so he can do his proper duty and marry her off. When he learns that the solution to Mia’s unpredictable shape-shifting requires intense sexual release, Exeter’s attempts to stay emotionally distant while providing physical intimacy only heighten their mutual frustration and desire. As Mia acquires control of her inner cat, Exeter is ever more deeply enthralled by her. A subplot regarding missing investigator Phaeton Black is more of an afterthought, but tension-filled sex scenes in a variety of unusual locations will satisfy readers who like to dog-ear the pages. Agent: Richard Curtis, Richard Curtis Associates. (July)