In Bed with the Devil

Catherine Mabry is desperate, after finding out that her closest friend is being abused, she is at her wits end. Her friend has no choice but to bear the abuse and put a smile on her face, but Catherine has different ideas about getting rid of this tormentor. She goes to the "Devil Earl" Lucian Langdon who is rumored to have killed, so she knows that he is the perfect person on the job. However when she sneaks into his residence but after sharing a sensual embrace, things start to heat up between the two. Lucian is curious by this woman's proposition which has nothing to do with satin sheets and heated nights of passion, but to kill someone, whom he has no idea who this man is or what he has done to deserve such a thing. However he makes a deal with her, one that she won't be able to refuse. Lucian desires the one woman he has loved all of his life to be his wife, but he needs someone to teach her to be a Earls wife and to be accepted into society, and Catherine is the perfect tutor for the job. But as things progress, dark secrets will come to life as well as a deep desire that both these two will discover, one where will help them down the precarious road of love and need.

I have just loved this series, its a favorite of mine by Lorraine Heath. In Bed With The Devil is the first installment of the Scoundrels Of St James series. We have Lucian who was found at a young boy by a man called Feagen and showed him the ropes of the streets which included pick pocketing and stealing. However his grandfather found him and he learned how to become the Earl which is his heritage as well. However he has never had much interest in Society then he meets the beautiful creature Catherine who comes to him with a dangerous proposition. But what he learns is that he is falling in love with a woman he has only known a short time, alot more than the one woman he has vowed to marry. This love story is definitely filled with mystery and conflict and a heated passion that we see grows between these two characters. The interaction between these two are very amusing at time, but connect for the reader. In Bed with the Devil is a engaging read that will swirl you among a deep mystery of secrets, witty interaction, and a love story that will tie up knots in you and leaving you purely satisfied. Lorraine Heath surely delivers!!! ( )

Not bad, but this didn't really capture my interest like Lorraine Heath's Westerns. This is the story of Lady Catherine Mabry, an aristocratic daughter of a dying duke who is fascinated by the ne'er do well Earl of Claybourne who's life mirrors that of Oliver Twist. She seeks out the earl because of his notorious background from the streets of London to ask him for a favor - to kill her best friends abusive husband. They make a bargain. Catherine will school Annie, the girl the earl grew up with on the streets whom he intends to marry. But soon it's Catherine that he dreams of and lusts over. It gets complicated and farfetched, but I kept with it. ( )

One of the best romance novels I have read in a long time, this one is a keeper. Very well crafted story with wonderfully developed characters you come to care about. It kept me up late wanting to finish the story. ( )

cliched, unsatisfying and badly written. A bit like after Oliver Twist grows up, then what... Lucien Langdon was seperated from his parents and had to make do on teh streets from age 6 or so. Then through a totally contrived event, he meets with his grandfather and is reinstated (after killing his uncle? unclear on that plot point) Anyways, he is pained and wants to marry the familiar Fannie, a fellow urchin and now working at the casino he's set up. Then he meet Catherine, so good, so pure, so blagh... I didn't believe either of them and was disappointed with the book. ( )

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Aug08

Yes, I’m still on the historical spree. One or two more and I’ll swap genres for a bit to keep my brain fresh! Lorraine Heath turns up the heat in her latest Victorian era romance, “In Bed with the Devil”. At first I wondered if this would be a combination historical, paranormal story because of the title; however, the devil in said title refers to the Devil Earl, an Earl guilty of murder yet not charged with his crime. How delicious! Devout historical romance readers are aware that the peerage could get away with pretty much anything, but murder? I was quickly pulled into the book as I was hungry to learn the Devil Earl’s story.

Lucian is the Devil Earl. He doesn’t believe he’s the rightful Earl, but he’s not about to step aside either. He’s well aware of his black reputation amongst the ton, but even he is surprised when he receives a visit from a lone ‘Lady’ late one evening. He’s not so much surprised by the visit, but rather by her request…Lady Mabry wants to hire him to kill someone! How scandalous for anyone to say anything to his face, much less a titled lady! He’s intrigued by her and decides to make a devil’s bargain (horrible pun I know): Lady M will provide lessons for the woman he loves, Frannie, and make her feel more at home in society. Once her training is complete, he will then do away with Lady M’s target. Unfortunately, the more time he spends with Lady M, Catherine, the closer the two become and the once the antagonism is gone, all that’s left is the fire.

Catherine, Lady M, is a strong woman. She’s pretty sure that’s why she’s still unmarried. Well, that and because she hasn’t found someone she’s willing to marry. She is currently taking care of her terminally ill father and their estates while her brother has been off gallivanting for years after arguing with her father. When her longtime best friend’s husband becomes even more violent and begins to beat her severely, Catherine decides to hire the Devil Earl to do away with him. Pretty bold, eh? All she knows of Lucian is the gossip and stories that appear in the scandal sheets. When she agrees to tutor his intended, Catherine and Lucian are forced to spend time together and she discovers that his fierce demeanor hides a protective and generous soul. Pretty soon, Catherine will have to choose…her reputation or her friendship with Lucian.

Even though I’ve read several books utilizing different pieces of Ms Heath’s plot, I hadn’t read one that intertwined all of them in quite the same way. And even though I knew what the ending would be, she did a good job of maintaining the suspense via her unfolding plot actions and there were a few surprises. There’s quite a bit of artistic ‘borrowing’ from “Oliver Twist”, which only added to my enjoyment and did provide quite a bit of humor in a plot that at times was very dark. The love scenes were steamy and yet still tasteful, the urgency and time constraints in their relationship was almost palpable. And maybe most importantly, I finished the book with a smile on my face.

“In Bed with the Devil” provided me with a couple of hours of escapist reading. I don’t expect I would particularly want to reread this one, but I certainly don’t regret the time I spent in Lorraine Heath’s world either. If you’ve ever read “Oliver Twist” and tried to imagine a truly happy ending, you should pick this book up. I think you’ll be happy with the author’s take on an old favorite.

Til next time
JJ ( )