Strangers at Dawn

Thornton's (Dangerous to Hold; Whisper His Name) Regency matches passion with intrigue when heiress Sara Carstairs is acquitted in the murder of her brother-in-law, William Neville. However, Lord Maxwell Worthe, owner and special correspondent of the Courier in Winchester, England, taunts her with reminders of the crime. Even more upsetting, someone is sending her threatening letters. Sara's plans to marry, break her father's trust, distribute the family funds and go to America are postponed after a chance midnight meeting with Max. At first Max doesn't recognize the woman he's been writing about, but once he realizes her identity, he can't decide whether she's a cold-blooded murderer or a fragile victim. Unfortunately, after Max makes his decision, Thornton's passionate story digresses into a traditional and tired romance, as evidenced by themes of mistrust and miscommunication. (Nov.)