A struggling would-be writer who can't seem to get her life together, Grace avoids daily frustrations by disappearing into the pages of her book. There the characters she's created have become so real to her that she can no longer believe they're fictional. After all, she's lived with them since she was thirteen and one of them —a lusty, blue-eyed, accident-prone pirate— appears to have escaped into her world, set on causing trouble.As true life begins to mimic the plot of her novel and the edge of reality blurs, Grace knows she can't live in both worlds forever. Sooner or later she'll have to face reality. If only she can figure out which is hers.

Persephone "Persey" Foyle, the Dowager Marchioness of Holbrooke, leads a happy, busy existence, tending her garden, overseeing her charitable missions, feuding with her stepson's wife and vetting potential suitors for her stepdaughter. As far as this lively widow is concerned, her life lacks nothing.But when a young, famously-talented designer is hired to "improve" the grounds of Holbrooke estate—a task she has managed for eight years—Persey's comfortable world is threatened. It doesn't help that he's hired by her nemesis, the new marchioness, or that his talents are all the mode among England's Georgian aristocracy. He has no chance of impressing Persey. No chance at all.Josias Radcliffe has worked hard for his success, and although he's been warned about the dowager, no "meddlesome old crone" will stand in the way of his latest triumph. Until he runs into a pretty maid on his first day and talks her into showing him through the Holbrooke maze. Soon his course is altered, his...

True Deverell has decided it's time to set the record straight. He means to dictate his memoirs to this little widow who, according to the instructions he sent to his solicitor, should merely be plain and have a neat hand. He doesn't want any distractions and has endured his fill of scandal. But when Mrs. Olivia Monday arrives on his doorstep, True realizes that perhaps his story isn't over yet.