Lola Montez and the Poisoned Nom de Plume — Kit Brennan

Kit Brennan's frothy, sexy second in the Whip Smart series opens with the gorgeous, ever-headstrong Lola Montez careening around Europe, on the run from the haunting memories of Spain and the wild adventure that nearly cost her life.

It is 1844. Lola encounters celebrated pianist and composer Franz Liszt, who encourages her to set her sights on Paris to establish her dancing career. The night that Lola performs her racy Spider Dance at the Paris Opera, she meets quite possibly the man of her dreams: Henri Dujarier, co-owner of La Presse newspaper. Lola seems on the verge of breaking Victorian tradition and actually having it all, but forces are at work to keep Lola and Henri apart.

Deadly threats and rumors turn into reality, as shadowy figures stop at nothing to sabotage Lola's new endeavor (unheard of for a woman): to pen an adventure novel, using a nom de plume, about a feisty female character.