The Plain Bride

A Regency Romance of Scandal, Second Chances, and an Unlikely Love

Sinclair Wortham, Lord Mayville, is no stranger to regret. Haunted by his family’s dark past and the rejection of the woman he once adored, he seeks solace in the haze of cheap brandy and fleeting company at the local tavern. But one fateful, drunken mistake changes everything. Instead of returning to the inn and the willing barmaid waiting for him, Sinclair stumbles into the wrong house—the vicarage next door—and into the bedchamber of Althea Parker, the vicar’s quiet and unassuming daughter.

Althea Parker has spent her life in the background, used to being overlooked and forgotten. But she has always harbored a secret admiration for the handsome and brooding Lord Mayville—a man she believed would never notice her. When Sinclair’s late-night blunder lands him in her bedroom, her world is turned upside down. Her scream brings the entire village running, and in the blink of an eye, they are caught in a scandal that leaves them no choice but to marry.

What begins as a marriage of obligation soon takes an unexpected turn. Forced into each other’s company, Althea and Sinclair uncover truths about themselves and each other that challenge their assumptions. Sinclair finds himself drawn to Althea’s quiet strength and sharp wit, while she discovers the vulnerable, honorable man hidden beneath his brooding exterior.

But old wounds, family secrets, and society’s scorn threaten to tear them apart. Can a union born of scandal transform into a love that defies all odds? Or will the shadows of the past keep them from finding the happiness they never thought they deserved?

Perfect for fans of marriage-of-convenience, brooding heroes, and wallflower heroines, The Plain Bride is a heartfelt and steamy journey of unexpected love, redemption, and the beauty of finding your perfect match in the most unlikely of places.