England, 1856. Idealistic heiress Letty Leighton dreams of building a self-sustaining community to lift the poor out of misery—but her father's will dictates that only marriage can unlock her fortune. She proposes a bargain to a penniless explorer bound for Africa, expecting a husband conveniently absent for years. When he returns early, wounded, Letty must defend her fragile experiment, her reputation, and her heart against a ruthless rival. A warm, clean historical romance about class, courage, and finding one's place. Downton-era England meets utopian idealism: one woman's daring social experiment. “Someday, poppet, you will learn there is a time when you must not do as you're told, but stand up and speak out for what you think is right, no matter the consequences.” Perfect for a reader who loves clean Victorian romances with a spirited, socially-conscious heroine, a slow-burn marriage-of-convenience arc, and a touch of gothic mystery.
