cover image Fortune Favors the Wicked

Fortune Favors the Wicked

Theresa Romain. Kensington/Zebra, $7.99 mass market (368p) ISBN 978-1-4201-3865-8

Inspired by a real-life 19th-century lieutenant, Romain (A Gentleman’s Game) takes off on a delightful flight of fancy that puts visually impaired Royal Navy Lieutenant Benedict Frost in search of a fortune in stolen gold in the first of her Royal Reward series. Should he find it, the reward will be the basis for the dowry of his sister, Georgette. The hunt brings him to the doorstep of Charlotte Perry, the prodigal daughter of Rev. John Perry, in Derbyshire, England. She’s abandoned her position as a London courtesan and returned home in search of the stolen loot, planning to use the reward to start a new life. Charlotte has her own suspicions about the treasure’s specific location, and the identity of the thief as well. The duo quickly decide that their combined nine senses make them a stellar team in pursuit of riches and, later, love. Romain exercises her flair for unconventional Regency characters with this intriguing couple. Agent: Paige Wheeler, Folio Literary Management. (Apr.)