The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere

A confirmed spinster falls for a roguish earl in Bradley’s immersive third Swooning Virgins Society Regency romance (after The Virgin Who Vindicated Lord Darlington). Georgiana Harley, a teacher at London’s Clifford School, whose residents specialize in exposing aristocratic corruption among other investigations, instantly despises Benedict Harcourt, Earl of Haslemere, who she meets after Benedict and his drunken friends pay two of her students to compete in a footrace so they can bet on the outcome. Months later, the pair are thrown back together when Benedict’s sister, the Duchess of Kenilworth, turns to the Clifford School for help finding her missing friend, Clara Beauchamp, whom she hasn’t heard from in six years. Georgiana’s investigation leads her down a rabbit hole—and grows even more complicated when a rumor circulates to discredit the Duchess by claiming she cheated on her husband. Benedict and Georgiana team up to get to the bottom of the rumors and sparks soon fly, with Benedict becoming enamored of Georgiana’s caustic wit, and Georgiana discovering the surprising layers beneath Benedict’s devil-may-care facade. Flirtatious banter and intelligent characters fill the pages of this sensuous novel. Historical romance fans will be delighted by Bradley’s clever combination of mystery and romance. [em]Agent: Marlene Stringer, Stringer Literary. (June) [/em]