Beauty — Susan Wilson

When Alix Miller takes off for a remote spot in New Hampshire to paint a portrait of the reclusive aristocrat Leland Crompton, nothing has prepared her for what's in store. The housekeeper is unnerving. The castle-like house -- with its massive chimney, mullioned windows, and ironwork gate with wrought-iron roses -- gives her chills. And Lee himself is disfigured by a rare genetic disease.

In the long hours of work that follow, deep in the wintry woods, Alix discovers that beneath Lee's exterior lies a remarkable man, a man she could come to love. The problem lies in convincing Lee...