Once Upon a Devastatingly Sweet Kiss

She's the scandal he never planned for.

England 1803: Meet Lady Harriet Beaumont, known affectionately as "Harry" in the circles that dare speak her name with a chuckle. Daughter to the Earl of Whickerton, Harriet is a breath of fresh air—or a whirlwind of chaos, depending on whom you ask. A self-proclaimed spinster and savior of the animal kingdom, her heart is reserved for the wounded and the wild. From Sir Lancelot the rabbit to King Arthur, a parrot with a penchant for being called Biscuit, her life is a parade of rescued creatures. But her latest project is her most challenging yet: a two-legged, rather dashing specimen known as the Duke of Clements, whom she has cheekily dubbed Sweet Jack.

His world was orderly until her whirlwind arrived.

For Bradley Jackson, the Duke of Clements, life is a series of meticulously planned events. That is until he encounters a most peculiar lady in the woods. Lady Harriet, with her untamed spirit and disinterest in propriety, is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, turning his orderly world upside down. Tasked with selecting a suitable duchess, Bradley finds himself hopelessly distracted by the one woman who insists she will never wear the title.

A duke's dilemma: the woman who won't be won.

As Harriet continues to invade his space—and slowly, his heart—Bradley faces an unforeseen dilemma. How does one court a woman who is determined to remain unattached? With each passing day, the idea of anyone else by his side seems more absurd, yet the more he learns about Harriet, the more he realizes just how formidable a task winning her heart will be.

Rules for a perfect life: 1. Meet her. 2. Forget all other rules.

Caught between the pull of desire and the push of duty, Bradley and Harriet must navigate the complexities of their positions and their passions. Can a lady who vows never to marry and a duke desperate to claim her heart find a common ground? Or will Harriet's menagerie of misfits be the only hearts she's willing to mend?

This lady is not to be won, but to be reckoned with.