The Duke Is but a Dream

The second Debutante’s Diaries Regency (after First Earl I See Tonight) matches a duke with a gossip columnist in a solid story that makes the best of its amnesia gimmick. Lily Hartley, the anonymous author of the controversial Debutante’s Revenge column, disguises herself to deliver her latest piece. Then she goes to a tavern, where she becomes the victim of thieves and suffers a head injury. Eric Nash, Duke of Stonebridge, rescues her and takes her back to his place, where they determine she has amnesia. Lily bonds with Eric’s sister, Delilah, and soon sparks are flying between Lily and Eric. But with no idea who Lily is or whether she’s promised to another, they feel constrained from pursuing a romance. Eric believes that he could never give his whole heart to a woman, but Lily’s patience with Eric helps him overcome his fears. The pace of their story is steady and the flow is smooth, with plenty of chemistry and passion. Fans of pining and sexual tension will find this a deeply satisfying tale of love persevering despite social constraints. Agent: Helen Breitwieser, Cornerstone Literary. (Aug.)