Bridgerton meets Jane Eyre in this spicy, slow-burn Regency romance written with humour and wit. A strong yet vulnerable hero who feels he's unworthy of love, a feisty governess who has sworn off marriage, and a world of heartache and longing between them.

John Thornton’s past has left him a damaged man—both inside and out. After John inherits his father’s estate, he finds himself gifted an opportunity for redemption through the care of his young half-sister Molly and her very stubborn governess Miss Serafina Edgemont. When confronted with her new employer—a gentleman who wears a mask over half of his damaged face—Serafina must concede that despite his irregular and sometimes rude manner, there is something about him that drives her to distraction.

John, for his part, finds Serafina to be a most defiant and protective governess, but his irritation with her begins to melt away as she demonstrates an openness and honesty with him he has never known before. Faced with the temptation she presents, John only hopes that he can control both his mind and his body so that he does not betray her trust. When rumours threaten to destroy everything Serafina holds dear, she must decide whether she can truly trust John with her life.