Can a timid librarian and a bold engineer save a castle's toppling tower of books? The stereotypical reserved librarian, Lydia Wystan has only one true love, the books that whisper to her. But unless she can understand the whispers, she cannot become what she wants to be more than anything-the Malcolm Librarian. Maxwell Ives has a disastrous gift for attracting women, a trait that has resulted in three sons and a desire for solitude. Returning to England to find a school for one of his boys, Max seeks privacy in the isolated Malcolm library. But to Max's dismay, the old librarian dies, leaving Miss Wystan, a female , in charge. Before he can run far, far away, he learns the library tower is in danger of toppling, and his cousin is stealing from his mother's School of Malcolms. To save the library and Max's family funds, Lydia must claim to be what she is not-a real librarian. Fascinated that his magnetism doesn't affect the one woman who can help him, Max must choose between his freedom and his family.

In the process of helping others, Max and Lydia just might learn that sometimes, love is the secret that makes magic happen.