I have this book on my mind that I've read a loooong time ago (probably 3-7yrs). It's a historical, I can't remember what exact time period though.  The thing is I can't remember much about it, the title, or the author. So, I'm going crazy trying to remember more about this book in order to read it again. Here is what I do remember:

The heroine is from america, she has a sister and is trying to save her father's shipping company. The father of course has met some untimely death.  She meets up with an ex-fiance in London or family friend, not real for sure? I think it's ex fiance, but it might be family friend. I think the guy has blond hair.   One particular scene keeps coming up, they run into him outside a taverns by the docks I think and and he is really shocked to find the girls there.  Turn's out he's the bad guy.

The Hero is seasick and a spy. He's actually really more of a dandy.  His cousin is his partner in crime and more the aplha male type. At the end of the book the girls leave for some reason, I can't remember if they saved the company or what.  Well, anyway, the hero actually braves a boat, his cousins or friend's yacht,  to go after the heroine and confess his love.

And that's all I've got. I hope someone can help before I go insane. I would greatly appreciate it. 

I will think about it, I'm pretty sure I have read this one too.

wasn't there a Jo Goodman book with this, or similar plot? A trilogy? I'll go look at my notes for the series I'm thinking of...

ETA: I was thinking it might have been My Reckless Heart, but no, I don't think that is it. But the plot is familiar, so I'll keep thinking! Yes, a sister, and a fiance in America who doesn't wait for her (and isn't the hero) - is that part of it? She's waiting for him, but his mother sends her a letter saying he already got married - she and the sister go to England after their parents' deaths but maybe stay with different relatives? Is this ringing a bell for you?

ETA #2: The book I was thinking of in ETA#1 was Judith McNaught's Once and Always.

either of those fit your description??

This sounds familiar, but criminy, how many books have I read with American heiresses in the shipping business?  Hundreds.  Or maybe it just seems that way:P

I can't remember about the Jo Goodman book, I'll check it out.  It's the first lead I've gotten in 2 months on the name of this book.   Everyone say it seems familiar and they have to think on it.    As for Once and Always, it remains on my shelf as one of my keepers it's my favortie book, so it's not that one.   Thanks for the help, hopefully we can pinpoint the title.   I'll get back to you on the Jo Goodman one. 

Okay I checked out the Jo Goodman book and it wasn't that book either.    I really appreciate all the help, I hope we can get a title or an author. 

Was there anything about the heroine making perfume?  A book with that scenario keeps coming to mind.  Or maybe it is even part of that same series.  I can't even remember the author of the book I am thinking of and i went throught my whole transaction archive looking for it. 

Hopefully someone can figure this one out :-)

Oops, I'm pretty sure the perfume thing is from a Kleypas book.  All of the books are running together in my head.

The heroine didn't make perfume in this book.   She actually got quite tangled up in the spying that went on with the hero and his cousin.   I think they ended catching a huge ring of smugglers maybe, something of that sort.   The ex fiance/family friend was the leader of the group that the hero and his cousin caught.  

Wasn't the spy and the perfume lady a Putney book?  Boy, talk about confusing things even more:P  I know I read a book with an American shipping heiress with a little sis, and while I don't remember a lot about the villain, etc. I do recall the hero following her back to America.  For the life of me though, I cannot recall who the heck wrote the blasted thing.  I thought maybe Carlyle at first, but no.  Kleypas?  No.  Enoch?  Nada.  Laurens?  Oh, forget that...  Cynsters don't marry American shipping heiresses:P  Beverley?  Nyet.  Maxwell?  Martin?  Camp?  Can't figure it out, but I know it wasn't one of the heavyweights like Kinsale or Ivory, no on Brockway, and no way in hell was it a Canham:P  In short, I'm almost positive I've read it, but I don't have a clue what it was.  Celeste Bradley maybe?

Okay, I am now sure it was none of the aforementioned authors.   But since I've been browing their websites and all this talk is jogging my memory some.   I think the title had the word Angel in it, or he called her angel.    Thanks guys so much for the help, hopefully we can figure it out. 

Kim, I've read the book with the 2 chits going to the perfumery for a love potion. I've read that book, so it wasn't a Putney (I've never read any of hers).

Leslie - I think I've read the book you're looking for. Is one of the girls held captive by the bad guy in a shed near the waterfront?

Here is a list of the regency authors I've read: Lisa Kleypas, Madeline Hunter, Cheryl Holt, Mary Balogh, Jane Feather, Liz Carlyle, Sophie Jordan, Julia Quinn, Stephanie Laurens.

Now I'm racking my brain. This is so mean to have such a puzzle! Sometimes all the books I've read run together in my mind. Like sidewalk chalk in the rain.

Colleen

It's not Kleypas, I've only read the Wallflowers by her.   Not Hunter, only the Easterbrook series there.  Never read any Holt, Balogh, or Jordan.   Not Jane Feather, Laurens or Quinn.   I have checked the backlist of all the regulars that I've read and no luck. 

Colleen, I think one of them was held captive, all I remember really is that the hero and cousin were in a serious hurry to bring the bad guy down.   So maybe that was the reason.    Normally I like puzzles but this one is a killer.  

Oops! I forgot. Couple of more authors to add to the possibilities: Gaelen Foley, Kat Martin.

Colleen

I might be getting my storylines all mixed up... was there a grandmother in Baltimore?

hey Colleen,

 I am a Grandmother in Baltimore.  lol.       I know the feeling I am also trying to find a book with no luck at all.

Kat Martin was a no go.   I'll try Galen Foley and get back with you.   As far as I can  remember there wasn't a grandmother in Baltimore, but I think the girls were from the Virginia area.   

Lucy Monroe wrote some historicals that feature a shipping company, IIRC. Though I can't see her doing a dandy hero.

Did you try Celeste Bradley?  Gah, that storyline sounds like Celeste Bradley:P 

Colleen - The perfume lady & the spy book I'm thinking of, I had stuck in my mind as a Putney for a long time, but I know it wasn't one.  I'll post it & ask for help finding it one of these days, just for grins, but I know it's not the one you're thinking of.  This heroine either is or was married to the villain, hero is a spy - I think - she makes perfume, teaches hero about basic scent ingredients for men's cologne's blah-blah-blah...  Ack!  Ignore me, I'll just confuse everyone more now:P

The two chits/perfume shop thing almost sounds like It Happened One Autumn by Kleypas, but the two sisters are American scent & soap heiresses and mom and pop are alive & well.

The only seasick hero I can think of is the pirate hero in The Gift by Julie Garwood.

Okay I have dutifully checked all books by Lucy Monroe, Julie Garwood, and Celeste Bradley and all were a no go.  Oh, I also tried Galen Foley and no luck there either.   : (