Isadora Peabody is an ugly duckling misfit in her beautiful, accomplished, slim family. Socially awkward, plump, and too intelligent for her own good, poor Isadora feels desperately unloved, completely unwanted and totally unappreciated. The man she loves doesn’t know she exists and her family is embarrassed by her.

Determined to escape this perfect family and impress her beloved, Chad Easterbrook, at the same time, she talks her way onto his father’s cargo ship, the Silver Swan, as translator for a trip to fabled Rio. Even on board she’s unwanted. The rough and ready crew and their tough sea captain, Ryan Calhoun, are astonished and resentful a woman has invaded their domain. She’ll bring bad luck. She’ll interfere. The sea is no place for a woman!  Drama queens, the lot of them!

Not being wanted is nothing new for Isadora, but her vulnerable inner core aches for the ‘what-might-have-been’s’, even at sea. Then, slowly but surely, she starts to fall in love with life on board. Not even sea-sick for one day, she glories in the freedom of the sun on her face and the wind in her hair, and marvels at the awesome power of the ocean. Ryan is the mesmerized observer as Isadora becomes Izzie, a slim, vibrant, transformed woman. Her stiff, starchy attire and tightly laced boots give way to comfortable, practical clothes and shockingly daring bare feet. She makes friends with the crew, who find she gradually works her way into their hearts. The sweetest thing is watching this motley assortment of men instruct her in the ways to become a lady – the ‘charm school’!

But most shocking of all is the improper thoughts and attraction she has for Ryan, a hardened man who’s walked away from his family name and position in society to recklessly sail the waves. Little does she know he’s driven by his own personal demons to fulfil a dangerous secret quest: to buy his life-long best friend’s freedom from cruel slavery. Falling in love with a woman has no place in his plan, and he fights the attraction for all he’s worth. Neither expect their union at a magical waterfall in Rio. How can they ignore the power and the passion that explodes between them! What if there are consequences? And what will Izzie do when she has to go home? How will she live, when she once again, has to adhere to society’s rules and will the newly discovered passion between her and Ryan survive?  Don’t miss the incredibly funny scene where Izzie accidentally gets stoned! Tender, romantic and surprisingly humourous, The Charm School is a feel-good book that we love to revisit.  An absolute riot as this most unlikely pair discover love.