Belinda White lives in the remote village of Yeller, a place where she desires greatly to break free from. As a child she grew up with stories of "The Beast", a horrific monster her Papa encountered in his youth. But life has changed since then, Papa is dead and Mother is off with her own interests and agenda and Belinda isn't one of them. When a mysterious young man comes one night with a letter from Mother telling Belinda that "John" is going to be working in their empty blacksmith workshop her whole life changes. And "The Beast" returns with a vengance.

Lia's new neighbor is a thorn in her side. He has a beautiful house that she's watched fall further into disrepair, there are horrible rumors that paint the man in a sinister light, he gets on her very last nerve, and to top it all off her dog loves him. It has been almost a year since the end of her engagement, and she has enjoyed the single life. At least she thought she had until all of her senses went on high alert when he was near. Ben was wrapping up a new novel, he knew the rumors, and he didn't care, never had, but the rumors were starting to wear on his family. When his nosy neighbor started banging on his door insisting he fix up his house, he was annoyed, when she started to fix it herself, he was mad, but then he had a brilliant idea, one where everyone got what they wanted.

Erika Lovet is used to being in the background, always in her sister's shadow. Since she was a child, her parents have always doted on Alice, have always wanted the best for her, while Erika, the other child, is always thought of second, but still expected to be like her sister. So, it's a surprise to everyone when the dashing Prince asks for Erika, and not her sister. Who knew that the only person to notice Erika first, just happens to be the one that every other girl in the land desires?