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Hidden Treasures
First published 1986 · 256 pages
A breezy, vintage marriage-of-convenience romance set against the cozy backdrop of a dilapidated Cape Cod house.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage 1980s romance feels like wrapping yourself in a cozy, slightly chaotic blanket on a breezy Cape Cod afternoon. The narrative moves at a brisk, dialogue-driven pace, pulling you into a playful yet earnest dynamic between a wary runaway heiress and a protective, demanding lawyer. The atmosphere is distinctly coastal and intimate, centered around shared bowls of canned soup in a dilapidated house that slowly transforms into a sanctuary. It is a story steeped in the classic marriage-of-convenience trope, exploring the emotional weight of trust and the burdens of unwanted wealth. Fans of old-school category romance will delight in the witty banter, the slightly melodramatic family conflicts, and the deeply satisfying journey from isolation to secure, loving partnership.
- Mood
- cozy
- coastal
- breezy
- romantic
- Tone
- playful
- earnest
- witty
- melodramatic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- marriage of convenience · finding sanctuary · trusting a stranger · burdens of wealth
- The writing
- Dialogue-heavy and straightforward, carrying the distinct, breezy charm of 1980s category romance.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from wary, exhausted isolation to a secure and trusting romantic partnership.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love vintage marriage-of-convenience tropes and quirky, dialogue-driven romantic dynamics.
Content notes
- family conflict
- financial manipulation
About the book
They married for money neither of them wanted. From the moment Frank Corey stepped into her dilapidated Cape Cod house, Penny Harris was confused. Was he devil or hero, gangster or lawyer?
But after months of hiding out to evade her money hungry family, the five-foot-ten heiress was ready for some help. Over bowls of canned soup, Penny gradually fell in love with the homely (or was he handsome?) demanding lawyer.
Frank offered advice, protection--even marriage--to his "little love." But forty million dollars threatened to keep them apart.
Description from Open Library.
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