Unmasked at Midnight by Collette Cameron

A former naval officer’s meticulously planned life is thrown into disarray by the arrival of a vicar’s daughter with a scandalous secret…

Darius Westbrook seeks the tranquility of a well-ordered life after bidding adieu to his naval career and embracing the challenge of a bookstore proprietorship. Yet, his serene existence is disrupted when he meets Araminta Weldon, the reverend’s vivacious daughter, and her mischievous pet goose. Despite his resolve to focus solely on his business, Araminta’s infectious zest for life and her audacious proposal to incorporate a lending library into Darius’s establishment captivate his attention.
Araminta, known for her unwavering kindness and dedication to caring for her younger sisters and widowed father, harbors a secret passion as a successful romance author. As she endeavors to set up the library within Darius’s bookstore, she finds herself drawn to his magnetic charm, even as she watches him court the village’s most coveted belle.
With the grand opening of the bookstore looming, Araminta faces a pivotal choice: reveal her hidden identity as an author or remain cloaked in anonymity. Darius is torn between his carefully crafted plans for his future and the unexpected stirrings of his heart. Will Darius and Araminta pen their own happy ending, or will their differences and fears keep them apart?