The Reluctant Duchess by Sharon Cullen

After the horrific murder of her cousin, Meredith, Lady Sara Emerson begins receiving chilling, anonymous letters. Since the murderer was never discovered, Sara decides to seek aid from Meredith's former betrothed, the Duke of Rossmoyne, hoping he will help solve the riddle of the mystery writer. In the two years since Meredith's death, Rossmoyne has been stationed in India, keeping his mind off of Meredith and her family. But now he has been summoned home to London by the queen and must adjust to Sara's determination when she refuses to allow him to investigate alone. Working together, Sara and Ross come to see each other in a new light. Ross understands that Sara, the quiet country wallflower, is actually a woman with steely resolve and a debilitating shyness in social situations. Sara realizes Ross is no longer a gregarious, party-loving duke bur rather a passionate, serious man. They find themselves falling in love, but the unnerving letters continue, and the threat to Sara's life escalates.

Verdict Cullen (Sebastian's Lady Spy) allows the suspense to ebb and flow naturally between finding clues and hitting dead ends. She wisely uses the downtime to develop two strong main characters. Ross' ability to see past Sara's shy reserve and his admiration for her courage and strength will have readers rooting for the couple's success. Highly recommended for historical romance buffs who prefer a little mayhem in the mix.

This review was originally published in Library Journal Xpress Reviews: E-Originals, October 1, 2015.