A mysterious bequest sends the outspoken and vivacious Lady Ivy St. Clair on an errand to the wilds of Wales and into the lair of the Monster Earl. Good thing she doesn't believe in fairy tales.

Aware of the moniker the ton has given him, Auburn Seaton, Earl Tamberlake, embraces the rumors and the darkness. When Ivy disrupts his world, he is forced to confront the shadows she reveals and face the light—the light she embodies.

But she has a duty to her family that doesn't include him. Besides, no one expects her to choose a monster. Can they?

This award-winning novel is a paean to the gothic mysteries of old. A tale of beauty and the beast. With a touch of humor. And pets.