The Last Light of Dusk

Australian author Lockyer’s refreshing debut historical abandons the fainting flowers of London’s ballrooms in favor of Rachel Cavanagh, a privateer’s granddaughter determined to make her own way in repressive 1816 England. The ship Castalia sinks in the English Channel, and the only survivors are Rachel and the blind, dashing Marquess of Rossum. Both are pulled aboard another ship by a mysterious man named Jonathon Lecky. Rachel is hit hard by the deaths of her aunt and maid, but she lifts her chin and plans to continue to live an unconventional life. The London papers, shared grief, and Rachel’s title-hungry mother all push her toward a romance with her new friend Rossum, but when fate drops Lecky back in her path, Rachel has a risky opportunity to abandon a life of duty and explore the world. Two great love interests and excellent characterization are supported by Lockyer’s smooth style, and love-triangle skeptics will appreciate that Rachel’s choice never feels forced, contrived, or arbitrary. [em](BookLife) [/em]