cover image That Scandalous Evening

That Scandalous Evening

Christina Dodd. Avon Books, $7.99 (400pp) ISBN 978-0-380-79091-3

Miss Jane Higgenbothem was ruined and sent home in disgrace when her youthful adoration for the rakish Ransom Quincy, Marquess of Blackburn, was exposed--along with the nude statue she made of him. Now 11 years later, she tries to keep a low profile on her return to London as chaperon to her young niece. Unfortunately, she immediately bumps into Ransom again, who has never forgotten his humiliation at her tendre or the undersized statue of him. His revenge, he decides, will be to court her--not only will it irritate her, but, the war hero believes, it will distract gossipy polite society and the French from his search for a ring of spies. But both of them have grown up, and the stuffy Ransom has not counted on the mature Jane's resistance nor on his growing attraction for her. Dodd (A Well Pleasured Lady) combines the ambience and majesty of Regency England with witty dialogue, a fun cast of characters and plenty of plot twists. (Sept.)