Two things consume beautiful, unconventional Mary Gates: her passion for turning her late father's rundown estate into the best stud farm in England and her rivalry with Tye Barlow -- the third generation of a bitter feud between their families. As a confirmed eccentric who dresses like a man, swears like a sailor, and knows as much about horseflesh as anyone, it galls Mary to the core to admit that only Tye is her equal when it comes to running a breeding program. When she has the chance to outbid him for a famous stallion, she rashly offers much more than she can truly afford. Refusing Tye's insulting offer that they pool their resources and own the horse jointly, Mary sets off for London, planning to find herself a rich husband within the two months before her debt comes due. While it seems her beauty will be enough to bring her suitable offers, she's astonished to discover that the only man who really engages her interest is Tye, who has come to town with his own agenda. Mary is a great character, prickly on the outside, passionate and loving on the inside. And her hero, Tye, is a true diamond in the rough. Their funny, heartwarming love story, set in the horse world of Regency England, is a delightful revel in this couple's astonishment as they discover that they are made for each other.