The Merchant and the Rogue

London, 1865 Vera Sorokina loves reading the Penny Dreadfuls, especially the romantic ones, that are so popular on the London streets. As the daughter of a Russian immigrant, Vera is cautioned from mingling with anyone besides the customers who visit their tiny stationery shop. With such a strict father, Vera wonders if she'll ever have a chance to be courted, let alone fall in love. Still, the shop offers her the freedom and income to employ and protect the poverty-stricken Londoners she's come to care about. Brogan Donnelly was born and raised in Ireland, but has lived in London for several years, where he's built a career as a Penny Dreadful writer. He has dedicated himself to the plight of the poor with the help of his sister. His membership in the secretive Dread Penny Society allows him to feel he isn't entirely wasting his life, yet he feels dissatisfied. He sees his fellow Dread Penny members making matches, and he wonders what it would be like to fall in love. When Brogan meets the fiery Vera, sparks fly. Despite being from different countries and backgrounds, they feel an immediate attraction to each other, particularly because of the social issues they both feel passionate about. When the growing criminal enterprise run by the elusive and violent Mastiff begins targeting their area of London, Brogan and Vera work together in order to protect the community they've both grown to love. But that means they'll need to learn to trust each other with dangerous secrets that have followed both of them from their home countries.