Good book. I especially enjoyed that the setting and characters are outside the usual London during the Season location. This book takes place in Bath, and the two main characters are a shopkeeper and a naval officer. Both have aristocratic blood, but it is more of a hindrance than a help in their eyes. Samuel is a Royal Navy captain, a veteran of Trafalgar, who is home recuperating from an injury. Though recovered, he is stuck waiting to find out if he will inherit an earldom. He doesn't want it but may have no choice. Samuel's father was disowned and disinherited by his family because of his profligate ways, and Samuel was ignored along with him. He is somewhat bitter about being expected to give up the life he loves for a family that didn't want him. Bored with inactivity, he accompanies an old school friend to a local biscuit shop. He is to distract the owner while his friend flirts with her assistant.

Anna is the owner of the biscuit shop. Her parents started it, and after her father's death, Anna took over. She spends her days working in the shop and caring for her widowed mother. She is not happy about the men's arrival as she has a low opinion of "gentlemen." Her mother is the daughter of a duke and was disowned by her family when she married a footman. Anna is angry over the way her mother was treated. She also has a more direct reason for her attitude thanks to poor treatment by a supposed gentleman when she was younger.

I liked the first meeting between Anna and Samuel. She suspects his motives but drawn to him anyway. At the same time, she intrigues Samuel. She's sassy and smart and says what she thinks. They connect over his naval service as he answers her questions about what life is like for her brother, a lieutenant in the navy. After hearing Anna's concerns about his friend and her assistant, Samuel feels a bit guilty about his part. That guilt comes into play a little later when Anna requests his help to protect Henrietta from making a mistake. This scene is highly entertaining, as Samuel recruits his grandmother, Lady Jarrow, to deter the ill-intentioned suitor.

This begins a series of events that throw Anna and Samuel together. Anna doesn't trust easily, and Samuel makes a couple of missteps that reinforce her feelings. As they spend time together, they have a chance to get to know each other and discover that they have more in common than they knew. Anna and Samuel each recognize and understand the other's inner turmoil, which draws them even closer. There are some marvelous scenes of them together, from sharing of their pasts to teasing to unexpected flares of attraction. Anna is especially resistant to the idea of a relationship, believing that Samuel's possible elevation to earl puts him too far above her. Samuel, however, is confident that she can handle anything. There is one misunderstanding near the end caused mostly by Samuel's insecurity, but some well-timed advice from Lady Jarrow helps them get past it. I liked their big moment at the end. The epilogue was a terrific lead-in to the next book. I can't wait to see what happens there.

The secondary characters were great. Anna's assistant, Henrietta, comes across as a bit flighty initially, but she quickly wises up. I liked seeing her growth through the book and her maturing into much more than Anna's assistant. Anna's mother was sweet but also had a strong will. She survived and thrived in unusual circumstances for one of her class. I enjoyed her part of the story and the unexpected twist that Lady Jarrow brought to her life. Lady Jarrow was a force to be reckoned with. She has definite opinions and voices them whenever she wants. She also meddles when she believes she knows best. I enjoyed watching her "guide" Samuel and Anna where she wanted them to go. I also liked how she reunited Anna's mom with her family. ( )

This was a delightful start to a new series. I loved all of the characters, especially the main characters, Anna and Samuel. There is a wonderful chemistry between them and you just know that they belong together. The story was well-written, well-plotted, and fun to read.

Annabelle (Anna) Claudia Teresa Fortini is famous – in Bath – and well – actually it is her biscuits that are famous. Her biscuit shop, Belle’s, was started by her mother (the daughter of a duke) and father (a footman). The shop prospered and they did well for themselves. They weren’t rich, but they weren’t wanting. Anna spent many very happy hours with her father – baking the biscuits. After her father passed away and her mother couldn’t work in the shop anymore, it all fell on Anna’s shoulders. She’s happy with her life and has no intention of changing it.

Anna isn’t a fan of the aristocracy. Her mother is the daughter of a duke who totally disowned her when she married the footman. There was never any contact between them again. Anna doesn’t trust anyone in the aristocracy – especially the males. When a ‘gentleman’ starts paying attention to Anna’s young assistant, Anna does what she can to keep them from interacting – and she does a pretty good job of it. At least she does a good job of it until the day when the ‘gentleman’ comes into the shop with a friend. She knows the friend is there to distract her, but she has no choice, he’s a customer and she has to spend the time to serve him.

Captain Samuel Delaney is the gentleman who was enlisted to distract Anna while his acquaintance flirted with the shop assistant. It doesn’t take long for Samuel to begin to feel guilty about what he’s done because he realizes that his friend doesn’t have good intentions toward the young lady. He’s also intrigued by the woman he’s supposed to distract. She is plain-spoken, intelligent, and curious and makes no secret of it.

Samuel’s life is in limbo at the moment. He ran away and joined the navy when he was sixteen and now, ten years later, he is a Captain. One of the youngest in the fleet. He was recently injured in the battle of Trafalgar and is confined to land and at the same time, he’s been informed that he may be the next Earl of Staunton. The former earl has died, but the wife is expecting. If the child is a girl, Samuel will inherit the title. Samuel doesn’t have any more use for the aristocracy than Anna does even though he is the grandson of a baron and an earl. His father’s family disowned and disinherited his profligate father and included Samuel in that even though he was only an innocent child. Samuel has made a life for himself – he’s successful and prosperous – he has no desire to become an earl.

I love how Samuel and Anna came to trust each other, but it wasn’t easy. Anna was super mistrustful and Samuel did some things that cost him Anna’s trust. While their relationship moved steadily forward, they had many setbacks and obstacles to overcome. It was lovely to watch them come to their HEA.

I really loved Samuel’s maternal grandparents – his grandmother was a force all to herself. I also loved the setup for the next book which will feature Anna’s brother Sebastian.

I hope you’ll enjoy the read as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )