The Devil You Know rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Release Date: July 27, 2012
The Devil DeVere series rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
"The Devil You Know" is novella #3 in this novella series and
its events take place prior to the events of novellas #1 and #2.
(Technically this novella can be read first.)
This can be read as a stand-alone novel.
its events take place prior to the events of novellas #1 and #2.
(Technically this novella can be read first.)
This can be read as a stand-alone novel.
How are the sex scenes?
Full of angst and very, very lustful.
How are the story lines?
They read like a full length novel, with one main plot and several smaller ones.
Would you read it again?
Yes and I can't wait for the next installment, The Devil's Match.
Summary
The Devil You Know is a Georgian historical romance based in Surrey, England. It prologues in 1768 then jumps to 1779, telling the unvarnished story of Ludovic "The Devil" Lord DeVere.
The Devil's to-be fiance tosses him aside for a man of higher rank and after she marries he decides to take her as his mistress. There is no greater revenge.
Baroness Diana, accompanying her cousin Annalee and her husband Sir Edward Chambers, expects to meet her husband at The Devil's residence after journeying apart for some time.
To Diana's dismay, her husband has gambled away all their assets and is now relying on a horse race to set their finances right. The Devil steps in to assist matters and pursues Diana earnestly, claiming he wants to "make amends for [her] husband's disgrace and fuck [her] senseless."
Review
Ms. Vane has transformed one of my least favorite characters into my favorite heroine of the entire series.
Diana is steadfast and strong, accepting her fate with quiet dignity and doing everything possible to save herself from ruin. Except for selling her body to DeVere.
"There is something you clearly do not yet understand, my lord. My virtue is neither for sale, nor for barter - under any circumstances."
This historical heroine has brains, backbone and doesn't resort to snarkiness in hopes of gaining the upper hand (which never works). Finally. Historical is a favorite genre for many, but the whiny, needy and over-the-top sassy heroines are used too often.
Women can be subtly strong and firmly polite. Thank you, Ms. Vane, for proving it.
We also get to meet the lovely Annalee, Sir Edward's deceased wife in the first two novellas. It was sad to read her - and to like her - because I knew she would be dead before the year was out. But I enjoyed getting to know her. May she rest in peace.
Confession: I never liked The Devil DeVere before this novel. He seemed too self-centered and destructive to everyone around him - completely irredeemable. While he still may be those things, now we know why. Which, surprisingly, makes him entirely redeemable. I almost sympathize with him.
Almost.
Vane warns readers that The Devil You Know is darker than the first two stories. She is right, it's darker. Not so dark that you should pass it up, however. The "darkness" can be found in references to painful sodomy experiences and a description of cold blooded murder.
The Devil You Know is a bit disturbing, offering up the right amount of sinister to make it my favorite novel of the series.
You liked it. Why didn't it get 5 stars?
I felt the carriage ride in the beginning was too drawn out. The information unveiled was already used in earlier novels so the reader learned nothing new. Yes the characters had to learn it, but the scene could have been shorter. Also, I would have preferred for the murder scene to be longer. Grotesque? Maybe. But it makes one hell of a story.
Do you prefer your Georgian romances dark and dirty or light and happy? Please share!
Learn more about Victoria Vane and her upcoming titles on her webpage, Facebook and romance review site Romantic Historical Lovers.
Read The Devil DeVere series:
A Wild Night's Bride (released April 27, 2012);
The Virgin Huntress (released June 29, 2012, read Sallie's review);
The Devil You Know (released July 27, 2012); and
The Devil's Match (released August 24, 2012).
Published by: Breathless Press
Disclaimer: No compensation was received for this review. eARC courtesy of Victoria Vane.
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