A marriage forged in a business deal becomes a battleground for love and loyalty. Serena Winslow Wright, a woman of impeccable Old Boston lineage, finds herself bound to John Bourque, a charismatic outsider whose success is matched only by his outsider status. Their union, orchestrated by a pact between John and Serena's father—Bourque's wealth for the Wright name and connections—is a hollow arrangement, a farce even to John. Yet, Serena remains, torn between her duty to protect her father and her enduring love for her husband, a love that complicates the transactional nature of their marriage.

The premise of 'Last Summer's Girl' sets up a classic conflict between societal expectations and personal desire, characteristic of historical romance novels. The narrative likely explores themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the possibility of genuine love emerging from a calculated arrangement. The focus on a protagonist caught between familial duty and romantic feelings suggests a character-driven plot with emotional depth. The historical setting of Old Boston implies a rich backdrop of social customs and class distinctions that will influence the characters' choices and the unfolding drama.