Though romance is impossible-she is his brother's future wife-Gabe promises he will keep her safe, no matter what. Gabe knows he defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the orphan girl has stolen his heart. When a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, Sophie sees her chance for freedom. It is up to her to save her father, Colin, and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook’s wicked plot.Sophie has long wished to escape her stepmother's jealous anger. And only Margaretha-one of the few who speaks his language-understands the wild story.

But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. The Princess Spy: Margaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten is everything she hoped he would be. To her surprise, she catches Valten’s eye. The Captive Maiden: When Gisela learns the duke’s son, Valten-the boy she has daydreamed about for years-is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it’s only for a taste of a life she’ll never have. Before long both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them, they must also protect their hearts. Though romance is impossible-she is his brother’s future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else-the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven to find help. The Fairest Beauty: Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother’s jealousy, and receives her chance when Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle to rescue her, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother. Then Annabel becomes involved in a situation that could possibly lead to Ranulf’s demise. She soon finds he is actually very kind and caring, and the two strike up a friendship that could soon become more. The Merchant’s Daughter: Annabel is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. As Rose’s life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny. But Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to fall in love, and wonders if he feels the same. The Healer’s Apprentice: Rose has been appointed as a healer’s apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, and when Lord Hamlin-the future duke-is injured, it is Rose who tends to him. Romance, intrigue, and danger abound in this five-book bind-up of Melanie Dickerson’s bestselling fairy-tale retellings.

The fairest beauty