“I spent most of my youth hauling sides of beef and pork to my father's shop. Carrying you is far more enjoyable.""How sweet," Annabelle mumbled sickly, her eyes closed. "Every woman dreams of being told that she's preferable to a dead cow.”

Lisa Kleypas is an American author of historical romance novels. She is best known for her Regency-era series, beginning with *The Duke and I*, which blends wit, passion, and social intrigue. Her work often explores themes of second chances and societal constraints.