Three years ago, antiquarian book hunter James Winter lost everything when a scandal his employer caused brought him down with it.  Now James is stuck working at Barnes and Noble and only disreputable clients will hire him, clients like Mr. Stephanopoulos.  Mr. S has a lead on a previously unpublished book by Charles Dickens and he wants James to get it before its owner, chemistry professor Sedgwick Crisparkle, puts the book up for auction.  Mr. S doesn't care how James convinces the good professor to sell him the book, so long as James doesn't reveal that Stephanopoulos is the buyer.  James needs the paycheck, but more than that, the prospect of holding a previously-unheard of Dickens story in his hands tempts him like nothing else...except, perhaps, the book's owner.  Sedgwick Crisparkle looks more like a bookish angel than a nutty professor, and the attraction between book hunter and book owner is too much for either to resist.  But when Sedgwick discovers who James's employer is, it'll take a Christmas miracle like Dickens would write to keep these two men together.