THE GILDED HEIRESS

A biracial American railroad heiress and an English Lord burn up the pages in Viktoria’s steamy 19th-century-set romance novel.

Theodora Dumont has just returned to New York after three years in Paris. With her recently deceased mother’s guidance, she is prepared to take her place in society, although New York society is not prepared to welcome the biracial beauty. On her first night home, her father, William Dumont, confesses to her that his railroad has been under attack by a competitor, Thomas Caldwell of Caldwell Rail, who wants to control the western lines. To make matters worse, William is carrying a heavy financial burden resulting from Theodora’s mother’s illness, and with rumors being spewed by Caldwell, he is having difficulty obtaining new funds for his company. But he has a plan: Handsome (“everything about him fit together just right”) Lord James Harrington is in town, searching for a wealthy American bride. The Harrington fortune has flagged, and the estate is in great need of repairs, but Lord James has a title that still garners great respect. Theodora’s dowry would solve James’ financial problems, and the connection to royalty would open doors to European investors for Dumont Rail. A bonus for Theodora is that ‘society,’ especially that of Caroline Astor and her upper-crust crowd, would be starstruck by any royal connection and welcome the dark-skinned beauty into their fold. Viktoria wraps business intrigue around the new couple’s personal drama, which includes copious, graphically depicted sexual activity. The erotic details of their liaisons are predictably similar, the only novelty coming from the assortment of precarious locations they choose for their assignations, including the Astor’s Newport boathouse and William’s corporate office. Family secrets are revealed, romantic jealousies cause turmoil, and the battle between Caldwell Rail and Dumont Rail turns deathly dangerous. Despite an abundance of repetitive descriptions of apparel and decor, the skewering of the hypocritical Social Register coterie adds light fun, and Theodora is a delightfully formidable protagonist.

Engaging business intrigue and drama, but overly repetitive.