First published 2025
Euphemia Flite receives her most dangerous assignment from the Academy, a covert institution that trains women to undermine powerful men who threaten women's rights. She must penetrate a corrupt viscount's inner circle and destroy him from within. Success means earning her long-sought freedom from the Academy's control. But Gabriel Royce, who runs betting shops in London's underworld, needs that same viscount alive. The politician serves as Gabriel's shield against government crackdowns on his illegal enterprises. Gabriel will not let Euphemia ruin his protection, even though her bold defiance captivates him. Their conflict plays out across London, from the dangerous rookeries of St. Giles to the elegant ballrooms of Mayfair. Euphemia and Gabriel match each other move for move, their strategic battle intensifying as unexpected attraction grows between them. Euphemia discovers that betraying her Academy sisters may be the least of her worries. The real threat comes from Gabriel's effect on her guarded heart.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adult, adult-fiction, historical-romance, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, intense, passionate, strategic, suspenseful
Tropes: conflicting-loyalties, enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, slow-burn
Setting: London, St. Giles, Mayfair
Period: 19th century
400 pages · Paperback · Berkley
Content warnings: violence