Never Dare a Wicked Earl

December 11, 2017
Miller makes a lackluster debut with the first Infamous Lords novel, set in Victorian London. Hayden Milton, Earl of Westfield, has worked hard for his reputation as a wicked man, starting by abandoning his wife and their newborn child in favor of having indiscreet affairs. The party ends when his latest ex-lover shoots him. Sophia Camden is the third person hired to care for him during his recovery and the first to stick around. She dares Hayden to give her a trial period: if she lasts 10 days, Hayden must support her quest to change the laws so women can become doctors. What begins as a rambunctious battle of wills grows into an accidental flirtation, but it becomes a meandering mess when Hayden and Sophia both chase flimsy schemes and pointless miscommunications down a frustrating path to final understanding. There’s potential for the series to grow into something fun and charming, but this introduction fails to deliver on much of its opening promise. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary.

December 15, 2017
An injured nobleman and his nurse clash in this Victorian melodrama.Sophia Camden is the third attendant hired for Hayden Milton, Earl of Westfield, in a matter of days. The earl, shot in the leg by an estranged lover, is not an easy patient, but Sophia plans to do the work she was hired to do. What neither expects is the attraction that blossoms between them almost immediately. When Hayden tries to fire Sophia, she offers him a dare: that she can last 10 days as his nurse. To make it more interesting, he accepts her dare and turns it into a bet: if she doesn't resign, he'll give her a bonus, but if she does, he'll want...something from her. As neither can back down from a challenge, the battle of wits and wills begins. Unfortunately, the battle is cut short by misunderstandings galore, and sexual assault and the re-emergence of the earl's former girlfriend change the tone of the novel. The book is full of familiar romance tropes: the widowed Hayden has a cherubic and precocious daughter, meddling friends and family members, and a hidden heart of gold as well as the aforementioned crazy ex-girlfriend. In addition to small continuity issues, Miller's debut has a pacing problem, with certain questions being drawn out too long and others answered with little fanfare or difficulty.A compelling but uneven debut.

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