Twice the Temptation

Enoch fans will get a satisfying fix from her latest, a highly enjoyable double-feature about two couples living centuries apart, linked by their struggles with the same cursed diamond. In 1814, Evangeline Munroe must keep safe a storied family heirloom, the 169-carat Nightshade Diamond. Logical Evangeline dismisses her aunt's warnings—that the bauble brings bad luck to whoever holds it, good luck to whoever sets it aside—and feels vindicated when, sans jewel, her carriage crashes into another. But when the party of the second carriage, the marquis of Rawley, repeatedly turns up—with increasingly thrilling results—she begins to see the crash as anything but unlucky. Then, in 2007, Samantha Jellicoe and Rick Addison (series leads last seen in Billionaires Prefer Blondes ) stumble upon the Nightshade while preparing Rick's estate for a jewel exhibit. Like Evangeline, Rick shrugs off stories of the curse—until a figure from Sam's past emerges, looking to make off with the jewels and Sam both. Enoch's crisp dialogue, smart characters and brisk plotting make this a solid, well-rounded read sure to please fans of both contemporary and historical romance—and perhaps give them a taste for the other side. (Aug.)