True love must break the curse of madness in this dark, emotional Gothic Regency Romance...
When Lady Claire Deering's mother enters an insane asylum, society is quick to scorn her, dubbing her the Mad Daughter. But Claire's tattered reputation is the least of her worries, as those rumors hold a horrible, terrifying truth: the Deering women are victims of a dark witch's curse. If Claire marries her true love, she'll spend the rest of her life under the thrall of madness.To save herself, she remains isolated...until a will reading at a mysterious castle on All Hallows Eve places her in close confines with her dearest friend and secret love.
Bashful, scholarly Teddy Lockwood has never met a rule he didn't rejoice in following. When he unexpectedly inherits the Ashbrooke earldom, he's determined to turn over a new, more courageous leaf--starting with telling Claire that he's loved her since they were children. The will reading presents the perfect opportunity to win her heart, even if he's vastly out of his element at this enigmatic, shadowy Cornwall castle. Soon, the simmering passion between them becomes unstoppable. Now, to save the love of his life, Teddy will do whatever it takes to break the dark magic's hold on Claire. Will Claire spend her life within the grips of strange delirium, or will love prove the strongest of all?
This novella was previously released in the Mystified anthology.
Jennifer Hayes on Jenerated Reviews wrote:"Teddy is someone you fall in the love with from the start. He is not your typical hero: he has many fears, loves to learn, and when he sets his mind to something he does it. I loved everything about him from the way he did things to the openness of his heart."
"Wonderfully descriptive, the details incorporated by Ms. Monroe into her work were not only bountiful but interesting. This author conveys emotions at a basic level so convincingly it is hard not to know where the characters feelings end and your feelings begin. The evolution of love between lifelong friends from the innocence of childhood to the passion of adulthood was beautifully portrayed by Ms. Monroe. The Mad Countess is the kind of work that will leave readers wanting to hug each and every one of its words close as not one of them is without merit and sincere sentiment!"