I really liked Thea as a character - she is smart, resourceful, and takes action rather than waiting to be saved. Shay is an interesting character himself, he had a rough upbringing and carries a doozy of a secret (there is also a surprise twist involving him that I did not see coming). I really liked that these two characters start as strangers and are given the opportunity to develop their relationship slowly. Shay immediately proves to Thea that she and her secrets are safe with him which was why I was a little disappointed with Thea when she does not give him an opportunity to explain everything after she finds out about his business in London and allows herself to think the worst of him. This was an easy read because I found myself pulled in right from the start and the pacing kept me interested at every turn.

Thea Rockledge has a secret life as a successful writer. Unfortunately most of the money she's made is to pay off her brother's gambling debts. He's sold everything in the house for more money. In fear of what her brother will do next, she flees to Scotland. Shay Buchanan wasn't expecting a lady using his cottage separate from the castle. Once he learns who she is, he can't let her go. When her situation becomes desperate, the only solution is to marry. But Shay carries a lot of guilt and secrets. Full of angst, nightmares and unexpected revelations. Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Her escape from a dire situation landed her into a friendship that turned into something more. He is a man full of secrets but is kind, generous and supportive. I love how the two found each other and then some!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and leaving my enthusiastic review voluntarily.

Thea has to run away from her brother or she would be sold off to pay her brother's debt. She had to quickly form a plan to get away from her brother and the only chance possible is to flee north. Thea I would say, a bright and intelligent woman for sure. She knew her brother was not in her right mind so she came up with the idea to find her own funds and manage it without her brother knowing. For sure, she would be able to survive without the need of the support of any gentlemen. Thus, marriage has never come to her mind with her age and situation on hand. Getting to know Shay, she might ponder her decision to marry. And that's not her conflict alone, Shay thought the same upon meeting Thea.

I feel like some little conflict feels unnecessary (as an outsider) but I get it sometimes people in love have the weirdest conflicts in mind. But overall, I enjoy their love encounter and I absolutely love the tiny details of them slowly falling in love with each other. When they show instead of realizing they both fall deeper to each other.

And I like to give credit to Allison because I think it's not easy to write as an author. Okay, maybe you can write about an author but convey it as a good plot story is not easy. The way she goes all the way to experience things to write is just an author thingy but Allison putting this one characteristic into the plot makes the story even better. And Thea definitely can write. Maybe I don’t read enough of author main character, but they just don’t convey as well as this story did (to my standard at least).

Thea is an author but her brother is a dedicated and poor gambler.
He plans to sell her off to pay his debts so she flees to Scotland to the dower house of Shay the Marquess.
As she quietly writes to finish her book, Shay returns home to find this stranger in his house.
They bond over her story and writing and fall in love.
Some secrets are revealed which affects their future.
A beautiful love story, wonderful epilogue.
Enjoyable read.

Thea has been fending for herself by secretly writing novels, whilst her brother sells off everything of value to feed his gambling habit. But what happens when the only thing of value he has to sell is his sister? Overhearing a conversation between her brother and his friend, Thea flees as far from London as she can, taking up temporary lodging in a furnished but unoccupied dower house. She doesn’t expect the Marquess at the nearby Castle to return before the end of the Season when she will be long gone. Her information is incorrect but when Shay meets the unknown woman who has appropriated one of his properties, he finds himself letting her stay…
An enjoyable story with an unexpected twist at the end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With twists and turns aplenty, and a good deal of romance, this story is a delight from start to finish.