cover image Felice

Felice

Kathleen Bittner Roth. Zebra, $7.99 mass market (376p) ISBN 978-1-4201-4208-2

Forbidden romance between the heiress to a shipping fortune and a Cajun man drives Roth’s beguiling Bayou Bad Boys series debut (after Josette). In 1859, Felice Andrews returns to New Orleans after years abroad accompanied by Mayhew Rutherford, Marquess of Ainsworth, who intends to ask her father for permission to marry her. Upon arrival at her brother Michel’s shipping office, Felice encounters René Thibodeaux, the man who broke her heart three years before and now works for Michel. The attraction between Felice and René reawakens as Felice assists her brother with the company’s bookkeeping. Though René is proud of his business accomplishments, having risen above his humble beginnings as the illegitimate son of a voodoo priestess, he still believes that Felice is too good for him. But as the relationship between Felice and Mayhew crumbles, Felice seeks solace in René’s arms and discovers that their time apart has not lessened the fire between them. The world of antebellum New Orleans is well-rendered and immersive, and will draw readers in from the very first page. With its strong heroine and themes of enduring love, this sweet story will appeal to fans of historical romance who want a break from Regency England. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (May)