A FISHERMAN’S DAUGHTER

Miss Poppy Summers is determined to keep her family’s fishing business afloat. Her poor widowed father has fallen ill, and her foolhardy brother has moved to London, leaving her precious little time to read or pursue her own dreams. But she’ll do anything for her family, so she cheerfully spends mornings in her rowboat, casting her nets. The very last thing Poppy expects or wants to find tangled in them is a dangerously attractive man. Especially one with a head wound—who’s convinced he’s a duke.

AND A DUKE OUT OF WATER

Andrew Keane is the Duke of Hawking, but he’s having the devil of a time convincing his wary, fiery-haired rescuer of that fact. The truth is he came to the seaside resort of Bellehaven Bay to escape his life in London. Unfortunately, someone in Bellehaven wants to kill him—and he intends to find out who. He implores Poppy to tend to his injuries and hide him on her beach, reasoning it will be easier to find his attacker if that man assumes Keane is already dead. She wants no part of the scheme but can’t refuse the generous sum he offers in exchange for food and shelter while he recovers. It’s a mutually beneficial business arrangement…nothing more.

ARE ABOUT TO MAKE WAVES

Under Poppy’s care, Keane regains his strength—and a sense of purpose. As they work together to solve the puzzle of his would-be murderer, he’s dazzled by her rapier wit and adventurous spirit; she’s intrigued by his mysterious air and protective streak. Though Poppy’s past gives her every reason to mistrust someone like Keane, the seawalls around her heart crumble in the storm of their passion. But when clues hint at the prime suspect in Keane’s attempted murder, Poppy must decide where her loyalties lie. Torn between the world she’s always known and the one she’s always dreamed of, she’ll need true love for a shot at her fairytale ending.

When Poppy Summers finds a man tangled in a fishing net on her beach, the last person she expected it to be is a Duke.

With a gash on his head and his clothes torn up, Andrew Keane, the Duke of Hawking does not look the part. It takes some convincing for Poppy to agree to seek out his valet for confirmation. Once she’s validated his identity, Keane convinces her to help him find his attacker so he can be brought to justice.

Poppy gets to explore some fun activities with him as they work through his list of possible suspects. As the Duke hides in her reading shack, they share meals and discuss many things. The Duke is impressed by her wit and intelligence so it’s not surprising to him that he’s falling for her.

Poppy’s family has always had their eyes wide open with regard to the nobility. Mostly she’s found them to be callous and uncaring of anything that doesn’t apply to them directly. Not to mention a family that hurt someone she loved dearly.

I love the way this story unfolds. From the beach to the ballroom this was a delightful read. There’s even a bit of excitement when the truth comes out.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

5 Contented Purrs for Anna!

Anna Bennett

Anna Bennett started swiping romances from her mom’s bookshelf as a teenager and decided historicals (with their balls, dukes, and gowns) were the best. So, when she had the chance to spend a semester in London she packed her bags—and promptly fell in love with the city, its history, and its pubs. She dreamed of writing romance, but somehow ended up a software analyst instead.

Fortunately, a few years and a few careers later, Anna found her way back to writing the stories she loves and won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® for Regency Historical Romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children, who try valiantly not to roll their eyes whenever she quotes Jane Austen. Her weaknesses include reality TV, cute shoes, and coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.