A Beauty for the Brute by Felicia Greene

It takes courage to navigate the Regency marriage market, but it takes even more courage to refuse it. When five spirited young ladies send a letter to the papers informing the ton of their decision to remain single, there’s no small uproar – but Arabella, Grace, Rose, Bertha and Susan are determined to claim independence. Of course, their rejection of marriage feels set in stone at the time… but once the ladies meet their chosen gentlemen, even the strongest principles can waver in the face of true love!

Susan Blake is desperate. Driven to despair by her father’s excessive cruelty, she’s been forced to be patient, silent and submissive for far too long. But now that she’s finally squirrelled away enough money, she’s going to disappear from her father’s life entirely – and despite misgivings, she’s found the perfect man to do it.

Jack Witt is a criminal. A man with a childhood of poverty and a dark upbringing on London’s ruthless streets, he’s made helping people disappear his specialty. When Susan comes to him, so full of courage despite her clear fragility, he can’t help but be struck – and even though he usually helps men beyond redemption, he agrees to help Susan immediately.

Such a tense situation is bound to give rise to unexpected passions. Desires that Susan is astonished to feel, and Jack knows are too dangerous to indulge. Can Susan be brave enough to ask for what she wants from her hulking, tattooed saviour – and can Jack, so used to living in darkness, find enough courage to reach for the light?