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In Bed with the Devil

Book 1 in the series:Scoundrels of St. James

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In "In Bed with the Devil," Lady Catherine strikes a bargain with Luke, known as the 'Devil Earl,' to have her friend's abusive husband murdered in exchange for her teaching his friend how to be a lady. The book delves into the complexities of their relationship as they navigate secrets, dark pasts, and societal expectations. The plot unfolds with a mix of romance, intrigue, and suspense, set against a backdrop of historical London with characters entangled in a web of emotions and moral dilemmas.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed with contrasting backgrounds; Lucian represents the tortured hero while Catherine embodies strength and independence, enriched by a cast of secondary characters that enhance the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is engaging and detailed, well-suited for historical romance while allowing for character depth. Though some find flaws in its logic, the overall storytelling is compelling.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a morally complex arrangement where two main characters navigate love, duty, and dark pasts, with an overarching theme inspired by Dickens's classic. Key events drive their relationship amid scandal and suspense.

Setting:

The setting captures the Victorian era, illustrated through vivid portrayals of both high society and the protagonist's difficult upbringing, grounding the narrative in a rich historical context.

Pacing:

The pacing strikes a balance between character introspection and plot advancement, keeping readers engaged despite some critiques of occasional slow moments.
It was common knowledge that one never spoke of the devil for fear that in so doing one would attract his ardent attention. So it was that few among the aristocracy spoke of Lucian Langdon, the Earl o...

Notes:

The title "In Bed with the Devil" refers to a character known as the Devil Earl, Lucian Langdon, who is rumored to have committed murder but was never charged.
The story is set in the Victorian era and revolves around themes of romance, scandal, and class structure.
Lady Catherine Mabry seeks the help of the Devil Earl to assassinate her friend's abusive husband.
Lucian gives Catherine a deal: she will teach the woman he loves how to be a proper lady in exchange for helping him with the assassination.
The book intertwines elements from Charles Dickens's "Oliver Twist" and adds humor to a dark plot.
The chemistry between Lucian and Catherine is described as sizzling, with a strong emotional connection.
Catherine is portrayed as a strong, independent woman who takes care of her ailing father while managing the family estate.
The narrative includes topics of spousal abuse and the societal challenges women faced during the Victorian period.
Readers note the uniqueness of the plot, with both characters initially having different romantic interests before developing feelings for each other.
Heath's writing style combines suspense with romance, keeping readers engaged throughout the story.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include domestic abuse, references to murder, and themes of emotional trauma.

Has Romance?

The romance is a central theme, with high levels of tension and chemistry between characters.

From The Publisher:

They call him the Devil Earl-a scoundrel and accused murderer who grew up on the violent London streets. A proper young lady risks more than her reputation when consorting with the roguishly handsome Lucian Langdon, but Lady Catherine Mabry believes she has no choice. To protect those she loves, she would do anything-even strike a bargain with the devil himself.Lucian desires respectability and a wife above all else, but the woman of his choosing lacks the social graces to be accepted by the aristocracy. Catherine can help Lucian gain everything he wants. But what she asks for in exchange will put their very lives in jeopardy. When danger closes in, Catherine discovers a man of immense passion and he discovers a woman of immeasurable courage. As secrets from his dark past are revealed, Lucian begins to question everything he knows to be true, including the yearnings of his own heart.

Ratings (4)

Loved It (2)
Liked It (2)

Reader Stats (11):

Read It (5)
Want To Read (4)
Not Interested (2)

2 comment(s)

Loved It
1 month

I enjoyed this one, but there was something... I can't put my finger on it, but something about the writing felt... I don't know. Overly casual for the era, maybe? But I'm not a stickler for historical accuracy, so that's not exactly it. All I can say is there was some *thing* about the narrative tone that kept taking me out. No idea what.

The only other complaint is that it was a little too... coincidentally perfect.

Basically, we had two villains - Luke's uncle and the abusive dickbag duke - who seem to be responsible for, like, everything horrible over a 15 year span.

It was a little too neat for me.

In the end, though, those were minor concerns. I liked the plot, I liked Luke and Catherine, and I liked their selflessness. I liked that, from page 1, the hero thought he was in love with someone else - it is something I haven't seen before in HR, and it made an interesting dynamic.

 
Loved It
7 months

This was my first book by Lorraine Heath. I've heard a lot of good things about it, so I expected to like it. And I was right. I was also in the right mood for the story.

I liked these main characters. Catherine is a very strong woman who not only knows what she wants, but also does not hesitate to take drastic measures to help those she loves. I liked how she takes care of Luke. He is a strong man, but he can appreciate her support. And there is something heartbreaking about his loneliness.

The plot is pretty interesting. From the outset, I suspected how Luke's legacy thread would end, but found it satisfying anyway. I believe the reason Catherine is seeking Luke's help makes a really good plot. It not only shows where the heart of these characters lies, but also makes the stakes high.

I had no doubts about the feelings between Luke and Catherine. You can easily see that they share not only passion, but also some deeper emotions. They really respect each other and they are friends. It is easy to envision them as a couple in the years to come. Although the sex scenes somehow lacked the passion and perhaps even a little of these deep feelings they have for each other and that you will easily find at other times.

This whole thing with Frannie, in my opinion, took a little too long to be comfortable for me. But overall it was fine. I really liked the other characters we met in this book and am curious about their stories. I will definitely read more books in this series, and I won't even be surprised if that comes soon.

 

About the Author:

Lorraine Heath wrote her first story at seven, and it involved a fisherman who fell in love with a mermaid. She has since moved on to writing about sexy cowboys and dashing English lords-sometimes, cleverly, within the same book. Publishers Weekly says she is a master of her craft. She is, indeed, and along with being a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, she has won the Rita Award and three RT Reviewers' Choice Awards, as well as the RT Career Achievement Award.

 
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