Twenty years ago, Ripley Fox’s entire family was killed in a fire. After years in the foster care system and trying to rebuild her life, she’s once again confronted not only with the horror of what happened that night, but also with the truth about who was responsible. Kenna Crawford is the very definition of a hard-nosed reporter. She always gets her story, never takes no for an answer and never lets go once she’s got something or someone in her sights. When she comes across the story of Ripley Fox, she’s not only intrigued by it but also by Ripley herself.

Emma Colton left her life behind when she moved from Chicago to San Francisco. She has a new job at the Health Department, a tiny apartment, and has dealt with being unlucky in love for most of her adult life. She’s hoping a new city and a fresh outlook will help her find the woman she’s been waiting for.

Small-town girl Jade Fisher has sacrificed everything for her dream of a high-powered career in Los Angeles. Fresh out of grad school, she’s one step away from landing the perfect job as executive assistant to Simone Weiss, LA’s hotel queen. So when her friend invites her to the opening night of Club Velvet, a luxury club for women to explore their wildest desires, Jade decides to let loose a little, just this once.

Alyssa Masters had been accused of a horrible crime she didn’t commit and was now the most hated woman in America. She’d lost people she’d loved, her credibility, and a part of her life. To get it back on track, she returns home to live with her mother, and has all but given up on any hope at a normal life.

Ellie Fisher loves most things about being a nurse in the emergency department . . . just not working with Regina Novak, an icy attending physician who acts as if she's God's gift to medicine. The dislike is completely mutual. Regina thinks Ellie is a starry-eyed romantic with a sentimental attitude that has no place at work. When Regina gets talked into volunteering at a singles auction, Ellie accidentally bids on her—and ends up winning. Oops! Since the money raised is for a good cause, they reluctantly decide to go through with the dates.