Alexandra Vasti brings readers back to 19th-century England with Ladies in Hating, the third title in her Belvoir's Library series. Lady Georgiana Cleeve, acclaimed gothic novelist and former diamond of the season, is in quite the tough spot: another novelist has repeatedly published books nearly identical to her own. Then Georgiana discovers the perpetrator is none other than Cat Lacey, the butler's daughter, whom she secretly yearned for as a teen. The novelists are soon trapped together in Renwick House, a haunted manor, and must work together to discover its secrets.
Ladies in Hating contains plenty of family drama (although consistent to the world, none of it involves whether they accept the sapphic pairing or not), intrigue, and a little dog named Bacon. Readers will be drawn in by Renwick House and its mysteries. As is typical of series romance, Ladies in Hating can be read on its own, but those who have read Ne'er Duke Well and Earl Crush will be particularly satisfied with how Georgiana's story develops. And, of course, the lead couples from both previous novels make numerous appearances.
Though Georgiana and Cat are from different backgrounds, they find they have plenty in common. For one, they are well matched in their pining for each other. The pair's transition from verbally sparring to exploring the hidden corners of Renwick House feels natural and makes both women the better for it. Vasti creates a wonderful, intelligent, heartfelt resolution for Georgiana's story, and in doing so, cements herself as a star of historical romance. --Alyssa Parssinen, freelance reviewer and former bookseller