When Tess Essex's carefully laid marriage plans crumble spectacularly—complete with a runaway sister and an equally runaway fiancé—she finds herself in the most unlikely position: engaged to Lucius Felton, London's most notorious rake and a man his own mother has given up on. Between managing her three sisters' romantic disasters and bracing herself for a marriage she insisted was purely practical, Tess discovers that the infuriatingly charming rogue she swore to avoid might be far more than the sum of his scandalous reputation. Eloisa James serves up pure witty delight with this Regency romp that proves sometimes the worst choice in husband material makes for the very best love story. Get ready for sparkling banter, delicious tension, and a heroine who's about to learn that duty and desire don't have to be enemies.

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wittytension-filledcharmingromanticdefiant

Witty banter meets simmering tension in this Regency-era romance. Blend classical strings with sultry indie-pop—think cheeky charm, stolen glances, and slow-burn passion. Include artists like Florence + The Machine, The Lumineers, and Hozier for that balance of playful defiance and undeniable chemistry.