A Hint of Wicked
Sophie, Duchess of Calton, is widowed at a young age when her husband, Garrett, disappears following the battle at Waterloo. After several years of mourning, she marries her childhood friend, Tristan and starts a new life with him. When Garrett returns to England and demands that his wife’s second marriage be annulled, Sophie is torn between the two men she has loved since her youth. Can Sophie choose between her two husbands, and can the three weather the scandal?
In her debut Haymore deftly handles several romance novel conventions that a lesser author could easily turn into clichés. Though Sophie’s situation is difficult, there’s a surprising lightness and tenderness to the love story. There is a subplot involving Garrett’s mysterious servant, Mr. Fisk, who manages all of the Calton assets and romances. Garrett’s niece, Becky, adds tension to the plot outside of the love triangle. Recommended for readers who enjoy steamy Regency-era romance.
