Another Liz Carlyle book I enjoyed. I loved the idea of Sidonie (heroine) leading a double life, like a female Robin Hood with her original ways. Known to few as the mysterious "Black Angel", things got more interesting when she stumbled with Devellyn, and when he swore he'll get back at her. The plot thickens when Sidonie met with Devellyn as her original self since they were neighbors. There was a lot of tension until truth was revealed. The love scenes were definitely sizzling and passionate, another Liz trademark. She's one of those authors who have book-hopping characters , which were really likeable. I loved the humor she injected, and as far as her works I've read are concerned, this is the only book with a lot of it. I would definitely read this again and recommend it to those who love romance with a bit of a good laugh. ( )

Sidonie Saint-Godard lives a double life. By day, she is a meek and respectable widow. But by night, she disguises herself as a prostitute to steal from wealthy aristocrats and gives to those women who they exploit and mistreat. She has become notorious and has been dubbed the Black Angel by her victims, kind of like a female version of Robin Hood. Sidonie carries wounds from her childhood. Her mother was impregnated by one of these a**holes while working as a governess and was eventually forced to become his mistress because no other options were open to her. Sidonie still carries a huge amount of resentment towards her aristocratic father for how he treated her mother.

But Sidonie makes a big mistake when she targets Aleric, the Marquess of Devellyn as her next victim. Disguised as Ruby Black, she seduces him, ties him up, then steals his most prized possession. Devellyn vows revenge, tells her that she'll have the devil the pay (nice tie-in to the title) and determinedly sets out to find her. At first Dev seems like your typical rake who drinks, gambles, and whores too much, but later we see that he is fighting his own demons and guilt, and seeks to punish himself and his father.

All the characters were well drawn and engaging. Sidonie's brother, George Kemble, who we know from other Carlyle books, makes another appearance and I hope he eventually gets his own story. The writing was crisp, and the mystery had just the right touch without overwhelming the romance. It was fast-paced and a quick read. Their first love scene was powerfully intense and emotional. Initially I was a bit torn as to whether he actually forced himself on her. You'll have to read it yourself to form your own opinion. Carlyle writes wonderful steamy love scenes and TDTP had many of them.

Usually I despise heroines as thieves (e.g. Honest Illusions by NR) and dissolute rakes who are on the road to ruin with their drinking, gambling, and indiscriminate sex. But Carlyle has taken these irritating character types and made them sympathetic and interesting. This book was not a keeper but still thoroughly enjoyable. (Grade: B+) ( )

Sidonie Saint-Godard by day, the Black Angel by night, the heroine of The Devil to Pay is caught in a thrilling game of intrigue and revenge - a game that almost catches up with her when she targets Aleric, the Marquess of Devellyn.

Carlyle offers a rare blend of humor and the darker tinge of poignancy with her two original and engaging characters. Sidonie is great - a woman who takes risks and can take care of herself, who walks the fine line of her double life with flair. Part of her reason for dressing up as the Black Angel has to do with an admittedly misguided desire to save the fallen women of the world. But thankfully the book addresses the misguided nature of her philanthropy so that her bleeding heart didn't get on my nerves. And even if she wants to be an avenging angel on behalf of wronged women everywhere, her reasons for doing so are genuine and understandable – and the way she goes about it is such fun after all : ) Though the book doesn't try and convince the reader that Sidonie's double life is a complete lark either - it's dangerous and Sidonie knows it, and keeps at it anyway - as much for the danger as for her Robin Hood mission.

Devellyn isn't your typical rake either - he's gone through a slew of mistresses, but they're the ones who have left him - one scorned mistress is absolutely hilarious, as is Devellyn in enduring her assaults with beleaguered good humor and resignation that he’s a lost cause. He's more large and rough around the edges, at times clumsy with his words, always self-deprecating, than he is charming and refined, as one might expect. Because of a terrible event in his past, he goes through life dulled by alcohol and exiled from his family and polite society. Despite and/or because of his flaws, Devellyn is strong, compelling and entirely sympathetic. Fortunately, he doesn’t have to bend over backwards to atone for his disreputable past, so the book is about his falling in love, rather than his sob story.

He and Sidonie are both damaged characters who are such perfect fits for each other - I know it sounds cheesy, but there it is. I'm happy to succumb to the cheese if it's the price to pay for gushing about true love. Sindonie and Devellyn's interactions as he's tormented by the two seemingly irreconcilable women, sexy, unscrupulous Ruby Black, who stole from and humiliated him, and pristine, pedestal-appointed Sidonie, who lives next door, were particularly well handled. Another blow to the whore/Madonna complex! Devellyn might have reacted strongly (some would say overreacted) upon discovering Sidonie's deceit, and sure he was dramatic, but what's romance without a little drama? And he comes around soon after Sidonie justly and awesomely defends herself. I only wish that the Black Angel could have gone out with a bang instead of a whimper – she's curtailed a bit too much for my liking in the end. Apart from that, and the last few chapters, which I was bemused to find dragged interminably, the romance is wonderfully developed. Every encounter between the hero and heroine was searing in its intensity, sexual and emotional. A very hot book that also works through the complexities of its characters' interiorities as they brave deceit and dangers, reconciliations and heartbreak. In short, I highly recommend The Devil To Pay. A very satisfying, well written book that won me over from the first page. ( )