The Naked Earl

February 5, 2007
MacKenzie continues her spicy Naked series (following last year's Naked Marquis
) with another ribald Regency, this time centering on a country house party full of the punch-drunk loveless. When voluptuous, overbearing Lady Felicity Brookton wakes Robert Hamilton from a sound sleep, he knows his bachelorhood is in danger. In no time, he's up and out the window—without a stitch of clothes—and ducking into the quarters of Lady Elizabeth Runyon—also, coincidentally enough, entirely in the nude. Robert knows Elizabeth as the little sister of his best friend, and therefore off limits, but he doesn't yet know about Elizabeth's long-simmering infatuation with him. As Robert seeks to avoid temptation, as well as the further advances of Felicity, other romantic entanglements wind through the crowd. Desperate to produce a male heir before her elderly husband dies, the duchess of Hartford seeks the services of handsome young Lord Peter, arousing jealousy in party host Baron Tynweith. Further complications arise when Felicity and one of Elizabeth's rejected suitors join forces; will Robert be able to protect Felicity and redeem himself, despite his guilt, doubt and mortifying erectile dysfunction? Providing plenty of heat and hilarity, MacKenzie has great fun shepherding this boisterous party toward its happy ending; readers will be glad they RSVPed.