Though I started this read initially thinking it was going to be a light hearted, sensual romance between a prim governess type girl and the dashing Marquess, this was anything but.

It came as a surprise that within the romance that evolved between an understanding woman and a much maligned man (Marquess though he was), the real story is about mental asylums in Britain where a soul could be thrown into and completely forgotton as it was an embarrassment to the family to have anyone even tainted with the slightest hint of madness as they called it.

Devlin was found covered in blood - and the murder was most gruesome. He has also lost his memory and so his father as a form of treatment has assigned him to Dr. Hives at his establishment to try to "cure" him and bring him back to sanity. In shackles, purged, bled and drugged Devlin does not know most of the time what he is, where he is or what he did.

The arrival of Anne Winton is the turning point in both their lives. She herself has had a very raw deal. Orphaned and then in an orphanage where she bore the brunt of bullying just because she was different she is aware that the slightest bit of showing that she is "different" would mean that she will be thrown out of this establishment as well. She has to tread very carefully amongst many treacherous staff and also try to effect some form of healing for its inhabitants. Her gift of healing can be a two edged sword and despite healing many, she can also be called out as a witch with its own horrors.

The story outlining treatment of the insane, the mentally depressed and also the homosexual was very depressing but factual. Sadly you realise that so many would have just faded away in these institutions forgotten by all and ultimately becoming raving mad through no fault of theirs.

The romantic part of the story however was quite interesting and very sensual which added a certain amount of piquancy to an otherwise brutal story.
Goodreads and Amazon reviews are up on 20/7/2017. Review on my blog are up on 6/11/2017. Also linked to my FB page.

This was a much darker book than I anticipated, but I enjoyed every minute of it! The first half is a struggle, if you're not used to books with serious subject matter. The reader gets a fairly detailed look at asylums in the late 1800s, which, if you know anything about how mental patients used to be treated, is very brutal and inhumane in many circumstances. I liked how the author took the modern-day PTSD and applied it to a situation outside of war as well. Many historical books only apply PTSD to war veterans, when in fact many people with PTSD have not gone through war but rather other traumatic experiences.

Anne Winton is a young, gifted woman who has been sent to Ballencrieff Hall to care for the the patients there. Upon arrival, she quickly find herself in the grasp of a madman who is introduced to her as the Mad Marquess, otherwise known as James Drake, Lord Devlin. Thought to be a madman in league with the devil, he certainly seems it at first glance. However, as Anne gets to know him, she finds herself falling in love with the tortured soul beneath the mask. While the circumstances aren't ideal for a romance, Anne and James find themselves helpless to stop their growing attraction. But the question remains: will James be able to fight his madness long enough to gain his freedom?

Anne was a fascinating character from the start. She was innocent but also seemed to be unafraid to act on her sensual impulses. In addition, the author added an element of the supernatural in giving Anne the ability to literally heal with her hands. It seemed a bit out of place, but not so much that the story lost flow or interest. Quiet, generous, and kind to her core, Anne was a character I had no problem supporting fully. James was a bit of a conflict for me at first, because I didn't understand where his madness was coming from. It was very disconcerting hearing the story from his point of view when he was battling his inner demons. However, as the story progressed and he became more lucid, I really liked James. He had a good heart and while he had made poor decisions in the past, he learned from them. His devotion and gentle handling of Anne was heartwarming and made the romance in the story blossom.

This was my first book by this author and I greatly enjoyed it! It was a unique, thrilling story that held my attention from start to finish.