To Heist and To Hold

Britton (The Duke’s All That) launches her Wimpole Street Widows Society series with this scintillating Regency. When Heloise Marlowe’s sister-in-law asks for help recovering jewels her employer was cheated out of at the Dionysus gaming club, Heloise, a widow and former blacksmith’s apprentice, agrees. With assistance from her charming group of widowed friends, Heloise launches an elaborate plan: fellow widow Laney, a former boxer, will come out of retirement for a match at Dionysus. Posing as Laney’s manager, Heloise will search the place for the missing jewels. To access the club’s inner sanctum, however, Heloise will need to seduce part owner Ethan Sinclaire. She’s not anticipating falling in love with her mark. Ethan rose out of poverty to become a successful businessman without ever losing his sense of compassion. He’s also just as determined as Heloise to get to the bottom of the cheating rumors that plague Dionysus. As the pair grow closer, Heloise fears what will happen to their budding relationship when Ethan discovers her true motives. Britton propels the plot forward at a page-turning clip while introducing an enchanting ensemble of progressive widows whose love stories readers will look forward to following in future installments. Add in sensual romance and a dollop of mystery and this proves impossible to put down. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds Literary. (Sept.)