The Rake and the Reluctant Heiress

By Polly Elizabeth

He kissed her once in a rose garden. Now he's back-to steal her fortune... and maybe her heart.

Lady Helena Ashcroft has spent years building a quiet life from the ashes of scandal. Heiress to her late uncle's estate, she has no intention of sharing power-especially not with the roguish scoundrel who disappeared after one reckless kiss.

Sebastian "Ash" Deverell is out of luck, out of funds, and entirely out of patience. When a hidden clause in the will grants him half of Ashcroft Hall, he returns to the countryside in a cloud of smirks and scandal. He's not here for love-he's here to collect what's his and be gone by Michaelmas.

Too bad Helena is just as clever, just as stubborn, and just as kissable as ever.

With the estate trapped in legal limbo and the scandal sheets watching their every move, they strike a dangerous deal: a fake engagement, strictly for appearances. No feelings. No touching. And absolutely no reminiscing about rose gardens.

But hearts rarely follow contracts-and when betrayal threatens everything they've rebuilt, Helena must decide whether to risk ruin... or trust the rake who just might be her match.

A sizzling, enemies-to-lovers Regency romance full of biting banter, hidden inheritance, and scandal sheet drama.
Perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean, Tessa Dare, and Bridgerton-style slow burns.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FL7HFD57
• ISBN13: 9798296537096
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 108 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"