Lizzie is the sixth and youngest daughter of the late Sir Beverley, the patriarch who gambled away their beloved estate, Mannerling. Each of Lizzie's sisters had been entrusted by their ambitious mother to cast lures for the various owners of their former home. Instead, each one happily married for love. Now it's Lizzie's turn to save Mannerling. Yet the new owner, the Duke of Severnshire, is far too arrogant for Lizzie's heart. And while the duke has no intentions toward the saucy chit, her curt dismissal of him is perplexing--for no woman has ever refused him! Now, as his lavish house party to select a bride becomes a whirlwind of mismatches and scandal, lovely Lizzie is turning the duke's own thoughts away from a suitable marriage--to the wonders of falling in love!
M.C. Beaton
M.C. Beaton, whose real name was Marion Chesney Gibbons, was a Scottish author best known for her cozy mystery novels. She is most famous for her two long-running series, Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth, which both feature clever and charming amateur detectives solving crimes in the English countryside. Beaton's writing style is characterized by its humor, wit, and engaging characters. Her contributions to the cozy mystery genre have made her a beloved and influential figure in the literary world. Her most famous work is likely the first book in the Agatha Raisin series, "Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death." Beaton's prolific output and enduring popularity have cemented her legacy as a master of the cozy mystery genre.