Asher Wellingham, Duke of Carisbrook, was drawn toward Lady Emerald (known as Emma) Seaton, the Countess of Haversham’s niece. She was nothing like the woman society expected him to court, but he was also not a usual kind of man. He has a built in guilt because of Taris, his younger brother.

Lady Emma wore old gowns long out of date and it was obvious she had no hair stylist. Even that hadn’t stopped many of the single men in society, stop by to chat.  Asher had the feeling they’d met before, but it puzzled him as to when and where. When she accepts an invite to his country estate, he’s not sure if she’s a thief or something more sinister. She intrigues him like no other and his sister has befriended her.

Emma has recognized him from her less ladylike days, and believes he has some thing she needs to keep a home over her sister’s head. Sneaking around after dark becomes far more intriguing than she’d anticipated, as Asher doesn’t sleep well. When he catches her swimming naked, her secret other life is slowly revealed. After all what kind of high born lady bears the marks of sword fighting? 

HIGH SEAS TO HIGH SOCIETY, is a tale of intrigue and also what you see isn’t always what you get. Passion, suspense, distrust and intrigue follow Asher and Emma on their journey through life. Their motivations are sometimes very odd, but it flavors the story well. 

A lady pirate and a buccaneer seem unlikely members of high society, and this makes the book very interesting. Both main characters hide secrets of their past and present, neither stop delving into each others lives. They clash with words, not the swords of the past, neither willing to give in to the passion that is building between them.  Emma longs for the freedom she had in her Caribbean home, but begins to realize it would be a hard life, even with her two faithful followers. Her father’s legacy of wine, loose women and piracy isn’t what she wants for her younger sister. All the characters have been brought to life in different ways, giving the book depth and meaning. The tone becomes darker in places, but the inner and outer conflicts were always believable. The ending is clear and satisfying, and this reviewer looks forward to reading Taris Wellingham’s tale.

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