A very charming and straightforward romance. A bit too chaste for my usual taste, but the plot and storytelling more than made up for the lack of sexy bits. Tales about the Newport social scene in the late 1800s is usually overshadowed by the more popular regency era, so this one was fresh for me. Gannon, an impoverished earl, was both suave and sensitive--and desperate to marry an heiress to save his estate. What started out as a secret agreement at an attempt for both he and Audrey to get what they wanted eventually developed into deeper feelings. I enjoyed their romance but especially how Gannon easily welcomed his growing love for Audrey. But Audrey had dreams and aspirations of her own, and the wonderful Gannon let her dream. How lovely! A fast and easy read at 3.5 stars.
