As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities. And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one....Now Izzy's given up yearning for romance. She'll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished 26-year-old woman who's never even been kissed?

Lord Thornby has been trapped on his father's isolated Yorkshire estate for a year. There are no bars or chains; he simply can't leave. His sanity is starting to fray. When industrial magician John Blake arrives to investigate a case of witchcraft, he finds the peculiar, arrogant Thornby as alarming as he is attractive. John soon finds himself caught up in a dark fairy tale, where all the rules of magic - and love - are changed.

My story? It’s wrought with violence. Strewn with blood. Dominated by desire. My stepmother, the evil queen, hates me. She wants me dead but hasn’t killed me yet. At her insistence, a never-ending line of repugnant suitors vie for my hand, but when I decline each and every one, the evil queen punishes me...severely. She will stop at nothing until I’m sold or dead.

A Libertine... Jeremy Greymont certainly qualifies. "Sex rough and women loose" is his credo - one he's always taken very seriously, with no deference whatsoever to the society into which he's been born. He's been perfectly content milling along through life on an existence of courtesans and fine Scotch whisky...that is until his grandfather lets him know he's out of time, and his station in life comes with duties attached. Jeremy must produce an heir - posthaste.

When Sir Alan Watleigh goes searching for sex, he never imagines the street rat he brings home for one last bit of pleasure in his darkest hour will be the man who hauls him back from the edge of the grave. A single night of meaningless sex turns into an offer of permanent employment. Jem acts as Alan's valet, but offers him so much more than polished boots and starched cravats.

Annabelle's fondness for exploring the outer limitations of propriety does not imply that she has no desire to find someone in her life strong enough to take her in hand when she has gone too far. Jumping onto the wrong train, and then travelling alone with a handsome stranger to a house party is bad enough behaviour to get her into all sorts of trouble with the people who are putatively in charge of her. In this man's company, can Annabelle maintain the image of the demure young lady that society demands?

Ruby Jacobson was going to have a new life, but it seemed fate gave her a twisted version of it. She is taken from her bed and given to a man that calls her his. Gavin Darris has always desired the darker pleasures in life. He sees Ruby, and he wants her like he has never wanted anything else before. She has a determination in her eyes, and is exactly what he is looking for.

When Carter Thomas discovers the elaborate clockwork door in the Dupre Mine, he seeks out Etienne Dupre, the sheltered son of the mine’s owner, for answers. Both young men have long secretly loved one another from afar. But even as their summertime love affair flames hot and forbidden, they discover secrets about Etienne’s heritage and the dark plan Armand Dupre has in store for his son. If the door is opened then Etienne - and perhaps the world - will all be sacrificed to Armand’s lust for power. Can Carter and Etienne stop Armand or has their fate already been written in stone?

Marcus Stenhill, Viscount of Westwood encounters a pack of young bloods beating a man senseless. Westwood's duty and honor demand he save the man, but he's taken aback to find the man is Robin Harris, a young inventor indirectly responsible for the death of Marcus's father. Robin devotes his life to easing others' pain, even though his creations are considered mechanical abominations. Robin expects the viscount to run as far as he can - and is amazed when Marcus reaches for him instead.

Strong-willed Miss Mary Dunaway had a plan for her future and she would stop at nothing to reach her goal of working with the poor in London. She was even willing to ask a gentleman, a stranger, to help her. Twelve years later, the same gentleman reappears in her life. Although he doesn't seem to recall her, she remembers every detail of the kisses they shared. The attractive Lord Fellington apparently sees her as the saintly, nun-like matron of the foundling asylum.