The Beast of Ravenston — Kelly Martin

Elizabeth Adams, a former maid of the evil sin-collector, Frederick Dodsworth, is sent to the isolated town of Ravenston to be the servant of notorious duke, Nicholas Wellington -- nicknamed The Beast because of his bad temper and the disfiguring scars caused by a fire. Nicholas makes a deal with Mr. Dodsworth: the name of the person who set the fire in exchange for making Elizabeth's time at Ravenston a living hell. After seeing what he's capable of, Nicholas fears he has truly become the beast he is rumored to be and tries to make up for his horrible actions toward Elizabeth somehow. Spending time with her revives feelings he'd long forgotten, and he finds himself falling for the gentle beauty. He can't let that happen, however, because he has to know who set the fire. He must know whom to punish. And he wants to atone for his part in his wife's death. Years-old lies are revealed. Secrets are uncovered. And one man has to choose between the family he desires and the revenge he's waited so long for. After all, a beast is always a beast.