The Aristocrat

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.




The one that got away. Every girl has one, right?

Mine was a charming, British aristocrat who turned my world upside down one summer.

From the moment I first spotted Leo in the distance through my binoculars, I'd been captivated. I certainly never expected to find a man showering outside of the property across the bay in his birthday suit.

Then I noticed his housemate staring back at me with binoculars of his own-watching me watching Leo.

That made for an interesting conversation starter when I inevitably ran into them.

Turned out, the handsome Brits were only renting that house for the summer in my seaside town.

Leo and I formed an instant connection, even though we were technically opposites by all appearances. I taught him how to dig for clams, and he taught me that not all wealthy and powerful guys are pretentious.

Despite knowing he was totally wrong for me, I couldn't seem to stay away.

It was a wild and crazy few months. And before I knew it, we'd fallen in love.

We both had one wish: more time together.

But Leo had obligations back home. He lived a life I'd never fit into. And I was going to law school. So, we decided to end it and never look back.

A part of me always felt like I'd let my soulmate walk away.

I believed our story was over.

Until five years later when he sent me a letter that shook me to my core.

I'd thought my world was turned upside down that first summer?

Well, I knew nothing yet.