In her new historical, The Designs of Lord Randolph Cavanaugh, Stephanie Laurens pairs an upstart investor and unlikely inventor on a mission to build an engine to power a horseless carriage. When Rand doesn't hear from his star inventor in a while, he travels to Throgmorton Hall to investigate, and finds the late inventor's son and daughter at work. Felicia Throgmorton is Not A Fan of inventors: They focus too much on their work to the exclusion of all else — like, say, families or finances. Her point is proven when it is revealed that the family is living off of Rand's investment, not royalties. They need to successfully build this engine and fast, or the family will be destitute.

Funny, then, that she ends up being the one with the intellect and insight necessary to complete the engine. Though the explanation for her hidden genius is somewhat implausible, it's refreshing to see an intelligent heroine who isn't labeled a Bluestocking or Smarty Pants Spinster. Better yet is the support she gets from Rand and her brother, William John. These men are grateful for her brains, not threatened by them. Swoon!

Rand proves himself to be everything a hero should be: handsome, protective without being possessive, an alpha male without being an alphahole. While the novel feels light on the romance — Rand recognizes that Felicia is the ideal wife for him, and she agrees, and so they make love and plan to marry — the villain's story adds an excellent sense of intrigue and danger before resolving with a surprising twist.