AN IMPROPER ARRANGEMENT – Kasey Michaels
The Little Season , Book 1 of 3
HQN Books
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-77906-2
January 2016
Historical Romance

Autumn in Regency England

Gabriel Sinclair, heir of his uncle the sixth Duke of Cranbrook, had been captured by the French in February1814 and held as prisoner until Napoleon's first abdication. He was with a part of the British forces allied to the Russians. It looked as though the war would soon be over…but maybe not just yet. Gabe was on patrol with his three best friends and a young recruit when they saw someof the French gathering. He sent the youngster back to request help from their sergeant major and to inform the Russian general. Young Miles Neville should have been back with help in twenty minutes or so, but they waited and waited. He never came back. Gabe and his friends were captured by the French and held until Napoleon's first abdication. Gabe and Jeremiah were relatively unscathed other than for the cold and hunger, but Cooper was wounded in the side, and Darby lost an eye. After their release, they learned that Miles was dining with generals and given a medal for his “heroism”…it helps to have a powerful earl for a father. Gabe aches for revenge…

Meanwhile, Gabe is presently at his uncle's country house where the duke has sequestered himself to await his death…again. He gets these fits of doom every so often. His sixtieth birthday is coming in November, and no Duke of Cranbrook, even hale and hearty ones, has ever lived to turn sixty. His wife, Gabe's Aunt Vivian, is about to arrive from America bringing Gabe a surprise, sure to be another useless oddity. Surprise! It turns out to be a tall, beautiful, smart and outspoken young lady from Virginia named Dorothea Neville! And she has the Neville eyebrows. Could she be the instrument of revenge against the Earl of Broxley, Miles's conniving father?

Gabe loves his uncle and aunt and will do nearly anything for them. Aunt Vivian persuades the duke to get out of bed and travel to London for the Little Season. Gabe must come along to chaperon her and Thea to all the parties and balls, oh, my! In spite of the clash of their personalities, Thea and Gabe find each other and their verbal wrangling oddly stimulating. And one more thing: they are both keeping secrets.

Kasey Michaels can always be counted on to deliver a book with great characters, heart and wit; in short…with lots fun. Add in passion and plot, and you have a winner.

Jane Bowers