Devilish
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4.7 • 61 Ratings
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
A RITA award-winning novel from the New York Times–bestselling author of An Unwilling Bride.
“Today’s most skillful writer of intelligent historical romance” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) takes readers into the heart of the most mysterious, most powerful, most seductive Georgian aristocrat of them all: the Marquess of Rothgar.
Two of the strongest wills in England clash when Lord Rothgar is commanded by the king to escort the fiercely independent Diana Westmount, Countess of Arradale, to London. Though Rothgar has become a master at resisting temptation, Diana proves a challenge to his steely resolve. A moment of peril—and a night of passion—melt his icy self-control, and he must find the strength to surrender his heart to another...
“Jo [Beverley] has truly brought to life a fascinating, glittering, and sometimes dangerous world.”—New York Times–bestselling author Mary Jo Putney
“Beverley beautifully captures the flavor of Georgian England. . . . Her fast-paced, violent, and exquisitely sensual story is one that readers won’t soon forget.”—Library Journal
“Another triumph.”—Affaire de Coeur
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Beverley (Secrets of the Night) will delight readers with the fifth installment in her series of historical romance novels centered around the Mallorens, a dashing, aristocratic English family. Bey Malloren, the Marquess of Rothgar (who was introduced previously in the series), finds his match in the forward-thinking, sharpshooting Diana Westmount, Countess of Arradale. The wealthy heroine has voluntarily relinquished a future as wife and mother in order to keep control of her money and fully realize her power and rank in 18th-century Yorkshire. When King George III learns of her desire to take a seat in Parliament, he orders her to London with the intention of forcing her into wedlock with an appropriate suitor. Diana finds a traveling companion and unlikely ally in the powerful "Dark Marquess," and her resolve against family life falters. Though Rothgar is mightily attracted to Diana, he has sworn off marriage for fear of passing the curse of his mother's murderous insanity to his own children. The romantic tug-of-war is set against a lively backdrop of international intrigue, although an assassination subplot plays out unevenly. The love story fails to burn bright with emotion, but the intelligence and large-scale appeal of Beverley's characters ensure a satisfying escape.
Customer Reviews
A masterpiece
This book is the masterpiece of a prolific and accomplished author. The whole Malloren series is a classic in the Historical Romance genre, and this book is the crowning glory of the series. First of all, it is set in the Georgian period (1760’s) not the Regency or Victorian periods like many other historical romances. That alone makes it unique and worth reading because Jo Beverley creates such a vivid picture of the world in which her stories are set. On top of that, the characters! Bey and Diana are two of my favorite protagonists of all time. And I have read over a thousand historical romance novels! Bey (Lord Rothgar) is cool, logical, powerful and ruthless, but then humor, tenderness, weaknesses and longing are woven in to make him irresistibly human. Diana (Lady Arradale) is strong, courageous and impetuous, but not in the “spunky” somewhat annoying childish ways these type of heroines are sometimes portrayed. She is intelligent, mature, a woman with a lot of responsibility and power herself that is also vulnerable and feminine.
The story is riveting. A total page turner. The tension and emotional charge go in crescendo until at the end you don’t want the story to end. Luckily there are several other books set in this world featuring Bey and Diana, so you can keep taking glimpses into their lives, because these are characters that will stay with you.