Sometimes the devil is disguised as a gentleman…Viscount Ludovic, “The Devil” DeVere is accustomed to taking what he wants heedless of the cost, until he encounters a woman who won’t be had at any price.
She Found Heaven in the Devil’s Arms… Beautiful, respectable, and dutiful, Lady Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley has long resigned herself to her twelve-year loveless marriage to a feckless … feckless gambler. Her marriage is a mockery and she feels unfulfilled and undesirable which makes her all too vulnerable to DeVere’s dangerous charm. From the first meeting, DeVere makes his interest in Diana acutely known. While she is equally clear that she has no intention of becoming another notch on his bedpost, DeVere still fascinates her. Although outwardly arrogant, ruthless, unpredictable, and manipulative, the private man is quite another creature—intensely loyal and fiercely protective of those few he cares about.
When Dealing with the Devil, it’s Easy to Get Burned… When Diana discovers a secret that shatters the carefully built façade concealing her private pain, she seeks comfort and affirmation from the most unlikely place. In the devil’s arms, Diana’s most erotic fantasies become reality, but little does she know that the fire DeVere ignites within her will burn long after she leaves Woodcote Park.
Library Journal Best E-book Romance, The Romance Reviews Best Historical Romance nominee, Love Romances Cafe Best Historical Romance Nominee, IND’Tale magazine Best Historical RONE Nominee
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Oh yes, its quite obvious this series is headed into the homestretch as this story both answered and created a lot of mystery in the main story thread that has been tying the series together. It is book three in the series, but chronologically it falls before book one because it takes the story back to the time hinted at in the first two books when the reader is given broad hints of a past history between DeVere and Diana involving the death of her husband and a clandestine passionate interlude. It tantalized me for so long and here, in this book, I finally got to the bottom of it.
In this installment, there is first the usual prologue, but this one is about a younger DeVere. The short piece is a splendid revelation into the making of the older, jaded version of DeVere. Then fast forward a few years. Diana, Edward, and Amalee (yes, sweet Amalee is alive and a delight to know in this her swan song story) are en route to enjoy the hospitality of Edward’s friend Lord DeVere during the race meet. Diana’s husband has gone on ahead of them with the race horse from their stable and her own mare that they are hoping to entice someone to use for stud. Diana has time to reflect on the reasons for her husband’s absences from her side and is not blind to her empty marriage particularly when she has the evidence before her eyes of a loving marriage between her cousin and her husband.
On arrival, Diana is surprised by the appearance of DeVere and highly aroused though she pretends not to be by his immediate interest in her as a woman. But other matters start to distract her when she discovers that her husband never arrived though the horses and grooms did and when she discovers that a sour jealous woman who currently warms DeVere’s bed looks on her as a rival. DeVere himself gets bolder with his interest and invitations, but she resists.
Even while DeVere plots to have the enticing Diana in his bed, he is busy trying to pluck her worthless husband out of trouble at a gaming party hosted by DeVere’s shady neighbor at the same time that he must give Caroline, his current fling, her conge. Caroline proves tenacious and doesn’t plan to be turned aside.
And the plot just keeps on getting better when murder, blackmail, usury, dark secrets, and betrayal become part of the game. I don’t wish to spoil it for anyone so I’ll stay silent about the details regarding all that. Suffice to say, it was an engrossing plot that was full of excitement and intrigue.
Now the part of the plot I will speak to is Ludovic and Diana’s passionate affair. There is much tension while she keeps herself under restraint, but when a terrible secret is revealed it gives her the impetus to go with her desires for once. Their passion is five alarm fire hot. Though he holds a vast deal of experience and she very little, it is these refreshing differences that serve to give them both the most pleasure. Somehow, in the process of sating their physical needs, they both discover a deeper connection and contentment together. It was one of those horrid moments when I realized that it wasn’t going to be enough because of the jealousy and greed of another. I was warmed to know the truth and was sad that Ludovic had to keep the truth from Diana and let her think the worst of him to protect her.
So what with the strong regrets for what couldn’t be between DeVere and Diana and with the unsolved mystery of the murder (yes, it remained unsolved though everyone was pointing fingers), I am dying to read the next installment. I love how the story arc of DeVere and Diana in this series just keeps getting drawn taunter and tighter so that I am left in anticipating and wanting more.
I recommend this novella, which should be read in order for optimum enjoyment, for those who love their historical romance on the erotic side.