Trial by Desire

December 6, 2010
In 2010's Victorian romance Proof by Seduction, Ned Carhart was a deluded youth. He married the lovely Kathleen and promptly abandoned her to investigate the opium trade in China and try to prove himself to be a mature, trustworthy man. Three years later, strong-willed Kate has stopped looking for him, choosing to build an independent life instead. Ned's return inconveniently coincides with Kate's daring attempt to rescue a friend from an abusive husband—a man who has been a lifelong companion of Ned's. Ned knows he has failed Kate, and knows, too, that she's hiding something. Her secret is revealed early on; mutual trust takes much longer. Where Proof was an over-plotted romp, this tender, thoughtful romance is a deep examination of what responsibility and trust really mean in a partnership when desire is a complication rather than the raison d'être.

Starred review from September 15, 2010
Readers will be blown away by Milans second historical romance, following her excellent debut, Proof by Seduction (2010). At the outset, Lady Kate Carharts marriage is perfect in every way except one: her husband, Ned, doesnt love her. Ned is always the perfect gentleman, but Kate wants a bit more passion and a lot less politeness from her new spouse. Just as Kate is about to set her plan to seduce Ned into motion, however, he announces that he is leaving the country on business. Now, after three years apart, Kate is certain that she has successfully gotten Ned out of her system; but when he unexpectedly returns home, Kate discovers she isnt quite as over him as she believes. Milan deftly incorporates realistic historical grit in her coverage of the Opium Wars, social candor in her treatment of domestic violence, and stunning emotional depth in the mesmerizing plot, and the result is an exquisitely sensual and unforgettable romance by one of the genres incandescent new stars.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)