The Duke's Counterfeit Wife

To protect a fellow passenger from the pirates who commandeer their ship, duke Nicholas pretends that lady's companion Sarah is his wife. He quickly comes to respect her intelligence and the clear head she keeps during their captivity. Back in the real world, though, social expectations interfere with their burgeoning love—while old betrayals pose threats of their own. I'm not a huge fan of pirate stories, but I loved this one. The piracy is more of a setup than the main story. The plot is clever and exciting, yet the characters are the best part of the book for me. It's fun to watch how Sarah, Nicholas, her maid, and his valet conspire to outmatch their captors. Neither Nick nor Sarah is particularly sentimental, yet their measured approach to their love affair is warm and endearing. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.