Fortune Favors the Duke

Grief, illness, and schemes unite a duke and his late brother’s betrothed in the endearing Regency romance that launches Vayden’s Cambridge Brothers series (after The Temptation of Grace). Following the death of Quinton Errington’s older brother, Avery, Quinton must leave his job as a Cambridge professor to reluctantly become the new Duke of Wesley. Catherine Greatheart, Avery’s fiancée, grieves the loss of her love, but she’s thankful she has her grandmother to lean on—until tragedy strikes. When her grandmother has a stroke, Catherine’s cousin, Lord Bircham, whom she hasn’t seen since childhood, is dispatched to take over as trustee of her estate, a blow to Catherine who has been overseeing everything for years. Hoping to ease Catherine’s mind, Quinton agrees to investigate Bircham’s character—but the real concern is their growing feelings for each other. Quinton worries that, because Avery died before he could make Catherine a duchess, London’s gossipmongers will assume Catherine only wants him for his title, and Catherine fears her feelings are inappropriate. But, with the meddling of his mother and friends, their union soon seems inevitable. A scheming companion adds a bit of suspense to this otherwise sweet and tame romance. Readers looking for light Regency fare will be pleased. Agent: Latoya Smith, LCS Literary Services. (Dec.)