In the first in a dazzling new quartet of Regency novels, Mary Balogh invites us into a special world – a select academy for young ladies – a world of innocence and temptation.

Synopsis

They meet in a ferocious snowstorm. She is a young teacher with a secret past. He is the cool, black-caped stranger who unexpectedly comes to her rescue. Between these two unlikely strangers, desire is instantaneous…and utterly impossible to resist. Stranded together in a country inn, Lucius Marshall - the Viscount Sinclair - and Frances Allard share a night of glorious, unforgettable passion. But Frances knows her place – and it is far from the privileged world of the sensual aristocrat. Due to begin her teaching position at Miss Martin’s School in Bath, Frances must try to forget that one extraordinary night – and the man who touched her with such exquisite tenderness and abandon.

But Frances cannot hide forever. And when fate once again throws them together, Lucius refuses to take no for an answer. If Frances will not be his wife, he will make her his mistress. So begins an odyssey fraught with intrigue – one that defies propriety and shocks the strait-laced ton. For Lucius’s passionate, single-minded pursuit is about to force Frances to give up all her secrets – except one – to win the heart of the man she already loves.

Reviews

‘Balogh's protagonists are complex and charismatic - the kind of people you hope to be sitting next to at a party. With its impeccable plotting and memorable characters, Balogh's book raises the bar for Regency romances.’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

‘a powerful love story with the special touch only Mary Balogh can bring.’ JO BEVERLY

About the Author

Mary Balogh is a New York Times bestselling author.  A former teacher, she grew up in Wales and now lives in Canada.   More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation