Moonlight on My Mind

The path to true love is anything but smooth in the serviceable third book of McQuiston’s Victoriana Affairs by Moonlight trilogy (after Summer Is for Lovers). Patrick Channing becomes the Earl of Haversham as a result of two suspicious deaths. The nearsighted Miss Julianne Baxter believes she saw him murder his older brother in late 1841, and 11 months after he hies off to Scotland to escape the law, his father is killed. The impetuous Julianne realizes she erred and chases him down, and by the time they return to England, they’re married—to protect her reputation and prevent her from being forced to testify against him—and he is wanted for both murders. The newlyweds frustrate and hurt each other with poor communication as they try to save Patrick’s neck. Winning leads gradually lose their luster, and the otherwise strong series ends on a sour note. (Mar.)