A Captain Comes to Hawthorne

Captain Richard Langford is accustomed to being admired, obeyed, and-most importantly-rarely contradicted. Hawthorne is about to correct that.

Returning to town for Sophia Fairchild's wedding, Captain Langford expects a pleasant visit among old friends. Instead, he meets Miss Beatrice Pembroke, an intelligent and independent woman who appears entirely unimpressed by his uniform, reputation, confidence, or carefully practiced charm.

Their first conversation becomes an argument.

Their second becomes a challenge.

Before long, Captain Langford discovers that Beatrice can defeat him at archery, question his advice, expose his pride, and make him laugh when he would much rather remain offended.

Meanwhile, Eleanor and Julian Hartley insist they have retired from matchmaking. Unfortunately, their suspicious dinner invitations, carefully arranged seating plans, charity committees, and "accidental" opportunities for conversation suggest otherwise.

As Hawthorne begins whispering, an innocent walk beneath an umbrella turns into a supposed engagement, jealousy creates misunderstandings, and Beatrice receives an opportunity that could take her away from Hawthorne altogether.

For the first time, Captain Langford must decide whether protecting his pride matters more than admitting what everyone else has already discovered.

Warm, witty, clean, and filled with sharp dialogue, social gossip, matchmaking disasters, friendship, and old-fashioned romance, A Captain Comes to Hawthorne is a story about discovering that sometimes the person who challenges you most may also understand you best.

Book Three of The Hawthorne Romances.