Verity and the Villain

A girl disguised as a boy. A villain with a brothel to fill. A hero wondering why he's in love with a lad in breeches. Serving murder, mayhem and pies, Verity and the Villain is a romantic adventure set in 1889—on the eve of the Great Seattle Fire, when more than a city is set on fire. After a night of terror, Verity Faye flees New York. Disguised as a boy, she sets sail for a new life in Seattle, but her nightmare, Mr. Steele, follows close behind. Armed with only her chocolates, laced tarts, and wits, Verity sets out to destroy Mr. Steele and his Lucky Island brothel. Trent Michaels is searching for his missing cousin. He can't afford complications - or romance - yet, at every turn he finds Verity Faye. The night before the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, flames spark between Verity and Trent leaving the life they know and the city they love in ashes. Their story reaches forward through time to Bette Michaels, a genealogist, struggling with grief after the sudden death of her husband. Although generations apart, as Bette unravels Verity's story, she learns that a life can be rebuilt - even after everything is lost. Through Verity, Bette discovers that sometimes the only way to find happiness is to steal it.