The Scoundrel’s Pleasure: The MacNeil Legacy, Book 2

Bonander’s second MacNeil Legacy historical (after The Pleasure of the Rose), set in 1850s Scotland, outshines the first with smooth plotting and appealing characters. Duncan MacNeil returns home to the island of Hedabarr and learns that he fathered a son with Isobel Dunbar during their single sexual encounter nine years prior. Duncan is the only man Isobel has ever been intimate with, and the hurt of being abandoned immediately after she’d given him her virginity comes back to the surface the moment she sees him again. In order to protect her son, she’s fabricated a story of being a widow, and she sends her son to school on the mainland to prevent anyone from recognizing the MacNeil resemblance. However, that story unravels when Duncan learns of the truth and demands to be a part of his son’s life. They both agree marriage is the best solution; however, Isobel—whose uses cynicism as a defense mechanism—fears falling in love with Duncan, whom she doubts has any romantic feelings for her despite his caring and attentive behavior. Bonander addresses some unanswered questions from the first novel, smoothly tying the stories together. New characters are refreshing additions to the already charming ensemble, and the introduction of another potential love match is a nice setup for the next book in the series. Agent: Katie Kotchman, Don Congdon Associates. (Feb.)