Emily Beauregard arrives in Devon with counterfeit references proclaiming her more than able to take charge of the local inn. Nearly broke, Emily needs this job to provide for her siblings. She has a dual purpose in choosing Devon. All of her life she has heard tales of the Coylton treasure buried somewhere in Devon. Armed with a riddle, Emily plans to transform the inn and locate the treasure, securing her family's future. With her fake references in hand, she approaches the owner's estate expecting to find an older country squire. Shocked into almost speechlessness, Emily lays eyes on a handsome young gentleman. Emily gathers her courage and convinces him to give her the job.
Jonas Tallent, Lucifer Cynster's brother-in-law, left London bored with his life. He returns home to manage the estate while his father is gone, which leaves Jonas time for some introspection on what he wants to achieve. His reflection fades when a beautiful young woman appears applying for the position of innkeeper. Jonas' interest is peeked. She is definitely a wellborn lady but desperate if her fake references are any indication. Her lies intrigue him and he is challenged to uncover her secrets.
It becomes evident that Emily is seeking something. She searches for information about the village and old homes in the area. Emily's hunt continues to be interrupted by a persistent Jonas. He uses her attraction to distract her. When she demands to know if he is only toying with her, Jonas takes a step back to consider where their mutual desire and attraction could lead. Emily is a woman straddling the social line between being a lady and working a trade. In addition, there's the secret that Emily is not sharing with him.
Ms. Laurens jumps into a treasure-hunting tale with one of the Cynster men in a fun-loving and entertaining read. The likable characters, especially Emily's 10-year-old angelic- demon twin sisters, are delicious as they keep Jonas on his toes. This review is from a previous edition.
Handsome, wealthy, and well-born, Jonas Tallent has everything a gentleman needs to enjoy London society to the fullestβand he has. He's played cards until dawn, flirted with eligible young ladies, and made love to some ineligible ones.
But now he's restless and bored with the mindless frivolity and careless pleasure, so it's with a sense of relief that he takes up the reins of his family's estate in rural Devon. His most pressing need is to hire a new manager for the innβthe center of village life. Such a small task, yet he discovers few decent applicants are willing to live in a quiet country backwater.
Then genteel but impoverished Miss Emily Beauregard applies for the position. Jonas's initial response is an emphatic "no!" Ladies, especially one as attractive as Emily, belong in the ballroom or the bedroom, not running an inn. But with no alternatives, he grudgingly allows Emily to try, and she rapidly proves herself worthy, resurrecting the inn with tact and skill.
But Emily has a secret. It's not only the need to provide for herself and her orphaned siblings that has brought her to Devon. She's surreptitiously searching for a family treasure hidden in the village, the only clues to its location a cryptic rhyme handed down through the generations. Emily is determined to solve the puzzle, find the treasure, and reinstate her family to its rightful place in society.
But Em hasn't bargained on Jonas. His experience is temptation, his attentions irresistible, and he's determined to aid her in her quest. He eventually persuades her to trust him, and together they unravel the clues. But someone else is watching, waiting, and once the family legacy is unearthed, the villain strikes, threatening Em, her family, and the love she and Jonas have discovered in each other's arms.
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