Book excerpt: Ladies adore him. Gentlemen despise him. But everyone is dying to learn the identity of the anonymous male romance author known as LORD LOVELY. “How lovely” sigh the ladies of Regency London as they read Lord Lovely’s books, thus giving him his popular (and somewhat ridiculous) name. Who is this gentleman who writes such splendid stories of love? He has to be young, handsome, witty and able to fulfill any woman’s sexual fantasies. “No!” Shout the gentlemen. Any man who writes about love affairs must be too unattractive to have one of his own. He’s probably old, fat, bald and missing a few teeth. At least they hope so. Ladies in a tizzy, gentlemen ready to commit murder, London aquiver with controversy. Lord Lovely’s fame and book sales increase by the hour. The gentleman known as Lord Lovely scratches his head. How could his books touch off such a conflagration? Male romance authors are a rare breed, but not entirely unknown. The problem is how to reveal himself. Or should he? He welcomes his books’ earnings, but the disclosure of his identity could destroy his non-book career. The widowed Bel, forced to marry another, hasn’t seen the gentleman in question in ten years. The best of friends in their childhood, they might have become more, but her father forced her to wed elsewhere. Perhaps they’ll pick up where they left off. But not if a scheming temptress who has her eye on Lord Lovely has her way. And not if a mysterious, unknown nobleman puts an end to both the author and the man. Sweet Regency historical fiction with romantic comedy and mystery. 119,000 words, about 430 pages. 1800s London romance, beta hero, Regency mystery, scholar hero, widow heroine, second chance at love, stolen inheritance, contested inheritance, poor gentleman hero, rich widow heroine, big secret, comedy, sweet romance, British historical fiction, aristocrat, love triangle, secret identity, danger, scandal, rebound hero, murder attempt, scheming woman