He was behind bars. She fell in love.

Their names are as varied as their professions: prison guards, students, special educators, nurses. Some are married, some have children; some have ideals, some love cats. Here are profiles of women who have all fallen for criminals. Passionate and discreet, they rarely talk about their offbeat, often frowned-upon relationships. Through the story of their romances—from the unlikely first meeting to the possibility of building a life together, early emotions and guilt over attraction to painful soul-searching and disappointments and others' judgment—these women open up to readers, affording a glimpse into their attachment to these sometimes monstrous men. A fascinating and poignant dive into the private lives of unusual couples and the souls of women who love to the point of losing their minds.