Dearest Aisling

Aisling O'Shea hates Conrad Roth, and he's not fond of her either.

New York City, 1815

All Aisling wants is for her women's fashion boutique to survive the economic aftermath of the War of 1812 and to spend her evenings immersed in the romances she has given up experiencing herself. Unfortunately, Conrad Roth is interfering with both. After discovering costly errors made by his property manager, Aisling's landlord hires the socially awkward Conrad to rectify these blunders by collecting the additional rent owed by his tenants. Aisling is outraged at the injustice of being charged more due to a clerical error, but what can she do? Her business depends upon having a shop. The only solace she can give herself is that she finally has her long-awaited copy of Pride and Prejudice. Except this, too, has not gone her way. Instead of her prized purchase, she receives a collection of German folk and fairy tales. She decides to make do and spends the whole night reading the book. When she returns the folk tales to the shop from which she ordered Pride and Prejudice, the owner encourages her to write a letter to the reclusive bibliophile whose book she received. What she hopes will be a casual exchange of literary discussions via anonymous letters soon develops into the romance she has always yearned for. The only problem is that her anonymous pen pal is none other than the man threatening to destroy her business: Conrad Roth.

Readers who love the films The Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summertime, and You've Got Mail will love this historical spin on a beloved and cozy tale of enemies to lovers.