At fourteen, Janine Simm's rosy family life turns for the worse when her mother dies of cancer. She is left to alone with her baby brother and her drunk abusive father. We become witness to the rising perversity of the father as Janey's body begins to mature.
A young woman lets her boyfriend talk her into a scheme to roll drunk guys at the local clubs, but one night she gets much, much more than she ever expected when the mark turns the tables on them.
Duke Gerhardt had a problem - or, rather, the country he ruled had a problem - his solution was not politically correct, and shocked his advisers. If you're used to my writing, this one may shock you, too, so check the codes carefully. Some relate to later chapters. This is not romantic, though there is a little romance here or there.
What happens is all irrelevant if you're not completely aware of your surroundings. Joshua Smalls is about to learn this lesson in spades as he is hit with a situation that will forever change his life.