Once Swindled

From New York Times bestselling author Laura Sebastian comes a swoony, second-chance romance set in a magical Gilded Age world, where a con artist targets her biggest mark yet--and unexpectedly reunites with the one who first stole her heart.

The Ryskamp family fortune is in trouble. And Arden's gift for invisibility can't stave off his creditors...or the shame of catastrophic courtships. His only recourse is to marry a highborn Luster girl of his great-aunt's choosing. But when Arden goes to meet her, another woman catches his eye: the copper-haired beauty who ran away with his heart. And engagement ring.

Newly betrothed to yet another wealthy bachelor, Mavis has gone by many names--Arabella then, Delphinia now. Unlike the Lusters, however, Mavis lacks magical abilities, relying instead on her charms and her cons to get by. But no amount of money can repay her debts. And no amount of distance could prepare her for a reunion with her first mark.

Thrown together by fate, Arden and Mavis put aside their past to pull one last con that could save them both. The only price may be falling in love again. This time, for real.

(c) 2026 by Laura Sebastian, all rights reserved.

Laura Sebastian grew up in South Florida and attended Savannah College of Art and Design. Now, she lives and writes in London, England, with her two dogs, Neville and Circe. Her work includes the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series (Ash Princess, Lady Smoke, and Ember Queen) as well as the Castles in Their Bones series (Castles in Their Bones, Stardust in Their Veins, and Poison in Their Hearts). Laura is also the author of Half Sick of Shadows, her first novel for adults, and Into the Glades, aimed at middle-grade readers.