Beauty and The Beast meets The Bachelor and The Selection.

Aeryn is hungry, perpetually exhausted, and short on hope. Ever since her merchant father lost everything to pirates, the 22-year-old has worked endlessly to meet the needs of her impoverished family. But it's never enough.

That all changes when a mysterious faerie invites her to a competition hosted by a Fae beast looking for a wife. Tor, the castle-dwelling creature, is wealthy enough to provide for Aeryn's family, and she's desperate enough to say yes.

The castle is beautiful, straight out of Aeryn's dreams. Tor is more suited to her nightmares, with his red eyes, long claws, and rat-like tail. But looks can be deceiving....

Then there are the other contestants, nine powerful faerie females. Aeryn is a mortal. How is she supposed to compete with their otherworldly beauty—and thwart the curse magic some of them wield?

The complicated situation quickly turns impossible for Aeryn. As her romance with Tor progresses, she also finds herself drawn to Wyatt, the castle gardener. He's nothing like the powerful Tor, yet Aeryn's feelings for him keep blurring the lines between friendship and attraction.

Winning Tor's heart is the only way Aeryn can save her family. But can she fend off the attacks of powerful faerie females, ignore her growing desire for Wyatt, and let herself fall for a monster?

If you like fairytale retellings, bookish heroines, love triangles, and a little bit of steam, you'll love Beauty and Deceit.

This story is romantic with mild steam. The intimacy is open door, but with minimal explicit detail. Written for NA (new adult) audiences, appropriate for ages 16 and up.