For years, Beth Bingley has devoted her life to caring for Jane, her ailing mother. But now the long-awaited hope of a recovery has come true and Beth finds herself faced with a challenging question: What role does she have in the family if she is no longer needed?
Just as she is grappling with this unsettling problem, her headstrong young sister Sophia causes an enormous upset. She has become engaged to Roderick Lennox without her parents’ knowledge, now regrets her impulsive decision and wants Beth to rescue her from this unwanted attachment.
Beth, determined to save her sister’s reputation, agrees and, pretending to be Sophia, meets Roderick’s guardian, the battle-scarred Captain Taylor Lennox, a man who has long since sworn off love and mistrusts all women. Stubborn, scarred by his wounds and overprotective of his young cousin, the Captain accuses her of having ulterior motives. Yet amidst prejudice and deceit, a bond begins to form that allows them to turn away from conflict towards love.
Amidst the beautiful Derbyshire hills and the glittering social life of London and Bath, Beth must navigate her way between family expectations, hidden truths and the quiet stirrings of her own heart.
A heart-warming Regency romance full of family, friendship, second chances and a love that unfolds slowly, proving that even the most closed-off hearts can find their way home. Perfect for fans of Jane Austen and Bridgerton.
Trope: Family Secret, Forced Proximity, Grumpy x Sunshine, enemies/rivals to lovers
