A grieving widower. A strong lady. And a little girl who needs them both.

After losing his wife in an accident, Graham Astor, Duke of Kensington, decides that love is not worth the risk of having his heart broken all over again. Even his little daughter he keeps at a distance, afraid to hurt her with the darkness that now lives in his heart. Since he is unable to be the father she deserves, he vows to find her a mother who will heal her little heart.

At a garden party, Graham spots a young woman with a shy smile tending lovingly to her little cousins...and he knows his duty.

As the black sheep of her family, Rosabel Lander has no illusions about love. After her parents' deaths, her aunt and uncle reluctantly took her in, demanding nothing short of complete obedience. Unable to live down her past, Rosabel only wishes for one thing: freedom.

However, before she dares to take the first step toward an independent future, a cold-hearted stranger asks for her hand in marriage...and as the obedient niece, Rosabel cannot refuse.

Will Rosabel find love after all? Or will the memory of Graham's late wife keep them both from finding happiness?

This Beauty and the Beast story by a USA Today best-selling author proves that the past can never be forgotten, but its regrets can be forgiven.