Lady Penelope Campion is beautiful, kind and compassionate. She takes pity on lost or wounded animals from abandoned kittens to goats and parrots. Her home is full of animals that she loves to dote on. By society’s standards Lady Penelope is strange and thus she has the reputation of a spinster despite her young age and decent standing.
Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the horrors of a workhouse to become a handsome, wealthy young man with the reputation of being the Duke of Ruin. He despises high society and he wants to get even. When he stumbles across his new and utterly gorgeous neighbour, Gabriel is bewitched by her beauty. He also sees an opportunity to make an immense profit on his new property, after all, people would pay a pretty penny to live next door to a Lady.
An unannounced visit from Penelope’s aunt, however, turns not only her life upside down but threatens to ruin Gabriel’s plan because such are the concerns of the older woman at Penelope’s way of life, she sets certain conditions for improvement, or , Penelope’s older brother will collect her, and return her to the family home in Cumberland. Penelope has just 3 weeks to introduce her aunt’s conditions: a new wardrobe, attend social events such as the opera and – to be rid of all her animals.
Penelope ropes in the help of unenthusiastic Gabriel, but if she has to leave, he realises his potential for making money based on the fact that Lady Penelope Campion is a neighbour will be over.
What will happen? Will they truly fall for one another, will the truth of Gabriel’s plan be revealed or will he change his mind? Will she be dragged off home as the family spinster, strange in her ways? Is there a solution to it all?
A beautiful and sexy read, as an animal lover I could completely relate to Lady Penelope and her devotion to animals. I enjoyed the writing style of Tessa Dare I was absolutely absorbed in the lives of both Lady Penelope and Gabriel.
A must read for fans of Jodi Picoult and those that have enjoyed previous books by Tessa Dare
Published 5th September 2019
Paperback £7.99