Certain that she would easily get her father’s property back, Lady Kendra St. James brazenly went down to the docks and onto Captain Ash’s ship. Her brother, Quinton, who accompanied her, had lost the precious watch in a game of poker to an American privateer. A sequence of unfortunate events saw the pair leave the port on Captain Ash’s vessel, headed for America.

Kendra knows that it is her fault that she is in such a difficult situation, but she vows to make the best of it, even to go as far as wearing cabin boy’s clothing and scrubbing the deck. It is her frequent confrontations with the handsome, completely irresistible Captain Ashton that unnerve Kendra. She is promised to a man back in England. Her intended, Richard, is a straight-laced man who is nothing like the bold privateer that she cannot take her eyes off. Kendra knows that she must keep away from the charming Captain Ash, yet each day she finds it harder to keep him from her thoughts.

Wounded by love, Ash has no intention of touching the naive, innocent and prissy Lady Kendra whilst she is on board his ship. Quinton makes him promise to keep his hands to himself and it is easy, until that first, accidental, kiss…

Kendra’s brush with Captain Ashton will leave her spoilt for any other man, and torn because the man that she loves is unwilling to ever love again. Kimberly M. Nee successfully maintains the tension in this romance and keeps readers riveted. Although there are some scenarios that avid regency fans may question, I found Shelter from the Storm to be an enjoyable read. The characters are easy to relate to, and many of Ash’s very masculine thoughts will leave readers smiling. Kendra goes through many changes as she learns about life outside of the ton and the benefits and values of her upbringing. Ash is character that I found to be delightfully full of surprises.

Shelter from the Storm is an enjoyable romance; it will suit readers who love the Regency period and those interested in the Early American tales.

Reviewed by: Naomi