After years of being simply viewed as a possession by her millionaire father and a foil for her mother's beauty, Diantha Quinn found her own little ways to keep her sanity as her parents strove to fit her spirited self into the demure and proper young lady expected by their New York set in 1875. But, on this night before her wedding that was to send her far from home, Diantha really needed to do some uncorking to let off steam!

Oh yes, her brothers and her parents were just tickled that they were marrying her off as they said to a British peer with nary a concern for her feelings! Not much choice either had been accorded her future husband to be, Lord Kieran Rossburn, a Scottish noble whose royal ancestry flowed back to the mists of early Scottish times. Blindsided by Mr. Quinn who threatened to use his power against him and needing funds to buy boats for his villagers, Kieran had to connect himself to this self- aggrandizing and boastful American family by marriage to get the money he needed.

As Kieran returned James, Diantha's drunken brother, to the house, he happened upon Diantha in her father's library. With a tongue loosened by quality cognac, Diantha blithely prattled on to him about banisters, her family and all that bothered her, not realizing that it was her fiancée carrying her to her bedroom. For his part, Lord Rossburn enjoyed a laugh and felt there might be some potential with his new bride that he didn't expect to find.

Despite their agreement about how they would handle this marriage of convenience, feelings between Diantha and Kieran start to deepen. But, will the seeds of distrust and discord from their families keep them uncertain about the other? Would tragedy and the evil actions of others prevent Diantha from expressing the love she had dreamed of all her life?

Ann Stephens has written a very witty and captivating romance with a fresh and intriguing take on the American heiress marries nobility theme. Stephens is particularly talented in her strong character development and historical sense of the time as Daintha struggles to find a way of expressing herself within the confines of society's expectations of marriage and appropriate roles. Kieran is a dreamy hero worthy of the name as he struggles with his pride and passion for his new bride. This is one transatlantic treat you are sure to relish with delight!