In Bed with the Devil

by Lorraine Heath

Book Overview

They call him the Devil Earl--a scoundrel and accused murderer who grew up on the violent London streets. A proper young lady risks more than her reputation when consorting with the roguishly handsome Lucian Langdon, but Lady Catherine Mabry believes she has no choice. To protect those she loves, she would do anything--even strike a bargain with the devil himself. Lucian desires respectability and a wife above all else, but the woman of his choosing...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061355577
• ISBN13: 9780061355578
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Very good read

Despite the silly title and sleazy cover, this is one of Lorraine Heaths better books. Well written. Interesting and engaging characters who do not talk in cliches. Good storyline, well narrated. A keeper.

one of her best

In Bed With the Devil has to be one of Lorraine Heath's best books. I think it harkens back to her earlier books and I feel it is a definite keeper. The main characters, Catherine and Luke, were fantastic. I know I read romance for the fantasy and Heath hit it out of the ballpark with her characterization of Luke. He is the quintessential romance hero--will do anything to protect those he loves, has a heart of gold, and of course comes with jet black hair and silver eyes to go along with his tall, muscular frame!! He was great and I really liked his counterpart, Catherine. Too often, the heroine ruins a book for me, but I really liked her. She was spunky and stood up for herself without being obnoxious about it. And the way she looked after her friend Winnie was wonderful. I can't say enough about the secondary characters. They were spectacular and I think they each deserve their own book. I guess Jack's book will be next and I am ready for it. One of the most important reasons I liked this book is the writing. Lorraine Heath is one of the most evocative writers today. There were several scenes that really moved me in this book. I don't want to give anything away, but there was a very moving scene with Catherine and her father in the garden that brought tears to my eyes. And the final paragraph in the epilogue beautifully summed up this book. There was never a question that Luke was not the devil he was perceived to be and LH made the story of his redemption a truly magnificent one. The next book I read has a very hard act to follow.

Enjoyable Victorian romance

So. Another paperback with a picture of a woman whose clothes appear to be falling off, a manly man whose clothes have already fallen off, author's name and title written in a curly font, pastel background colours and a cheesy title. Nothing unusual here, dozens of books that look just like this one are published every month. Most are fairly mediocre with little characterisation and a scanty plot. But not this one! 'In Bed With The Devil', despite the rather corny title (which, for once, was actually reflected by the content of the book), is a very good story. It has elements that most other historical romances set in Victorian times have - nobility, country estates, seedy parts of London, etc - but what marked this story out was its convincing characterisation. The plot isn't particularly complex - the Earl of Claybourne, a boy who lived as a thief on the streets of London as a youth before being found by his grandfather after killing a man who turned out to be his uncle, wants to marry his childhood love, Frannie, who worked in their thieving gang. However the inconvenience of Lucien Langdon's title means that Frannie feels she's not able to marry him as she doesn't know how to behave as a Countess. When Lady Catherine Mabry, daughter of a Duke, comes to Lucien to ask him to carry out a murder for her, they establish an unusual wager; Catherine will teach Frannie how to be a Countess and then Lucien/Luke will kill the mystery person for her. Luke finds himself spending a great deal of time with Catherine and comparing her to Frannie. These two women are very different and yet there's something about Catherine that draws Luke. However he can't get too close to her, partly because of Frannie but also because he is shortly going to have to commit murder for her and he knows that will mean the death of his soul. As we the readers discover who Catherine wants killed and why, as Luke starts to discover more about the mystery of his origins, as both Luke and Catherine begin to understand the nature of love and of trust and fidelity, it seems their lives might be in danger. Can they keep themselves safe? Can they be happy? The strength of this book is in the characterisation, not just of Luke and Catherine but also of many other people. For once this was a story where the central love affair was believable and grew organically, rather than just being presented as a fait accompli. It was also interesting to learn of Luke's character, initially presented as a murdering devilish man but slowly being proved to be quite different. Catherine was a great heroine, a strong but feminine woman who didn't spend her time simpering and whining but who got on with life, despite its difficulties for her. This was a book in which the reader could believe absolutely in the happy ever after for these two characters. Historical detail was reasonable in this book although the dialogue slipped occasionally into Americanisms. The story, however, carried this reader alon

Another emotionally satisfying story from Lorraine Heath

When I pick up a Lorraine Heath book, I know I'm in for a well written, emotionally satisfying story. In Bed With the Devil is exactly this . . . in spades! This is book one in Ms. Heath's new Scoundrels of St. James series. He is called the Devil Earl. Lucian Langdon, Earl of Claybourne, grew up differently than other members of the aristocracy-he was raised on the rough London streets. At the age of six, he was taken in by and became one of `Feagan's lads', a group of misfits trying to survive the best way they could. At fourteen, Luke was captured and accused of murder, but was spared the hangman's noose by a gentleman who claimed that Luke was his long lost grandson and heir. Luke didn't believe that he's the rightful heir, but didn't deny it and went along with the old gent. He isn't comfortable with nor accepted into society and for those reasons he doesn't attend social functions. That is until the night he attended a ball and saw Lady Catherine Mabry. While there, he couldn't take his eyes off of her and was impressed that she boldly returned his gaze. Catherine was shocked, but intrigued . . . and is still intrigued five years later. It is Luke's dangerous reputation combined with her need for help that prompts her to seek him out. She would do anything to protect those she loves-even make a deal with the devil. I absolutely loved Luke. He is a tortured hero that I completely sympathized with. He has flaws, but it is those flaws and how he handles/reacts to them that makes him incredibly endearing. He struggles with inner demons because he believes he's not the real earl, but says he is because he didn't want to let down the man who saved his life-a man who truly believed Luke was the rightful earl and who took care of the rest of Feagan's lads. Luke is fiercely loyal to his friends and vice versa. They depended upon each other for everything when they were children and are still there for each other as adults. Catherine is a strong, willful heroine whom I admired very much. She is the sole caretaker of her ailing father, the Duke of Greystone, while her brother is off gallivanting around the continent. She is completely devoted to her friend, Winnie, Duchess of Avendale, who is abused by her husband. Her desire to help her friend and stop the abuse is what prompts her to visit Luke and beg for his help. She is fascinated by the wickedness associated with the Devil Earl, but after spending time with him soon discovers that he's not what others perceive him to be. I like that Catherine challenges Luke at every turn and speaks her mind without being over the top. In Bed With the Devil is a beautiful redemption story. It is darker and grittier than any of Ms. Heath's previous books, but it needs to be to fit the feel of the story. I must say that I was captivated by the secondary characters-Winnie and the rest of Feagan's lads-and wonder which of them will be featured in the next book in this series. This book is another keeper from Lor

Starts Out a Little Slow and Dumb But Wildly Improves!

Having read most of this author's books, I trust her both with my $$$ and my time. So when this story started with an overly repetitious "image" of the lead male character as "a devil", "evil", "black-hearted", etc. I become a little disappointed. Alright, already--we got it! Still I read on and was completely rewarded. This story nicely shows how sometimes the heart knows much more than the mind and the struggle between the two impulses is both charming and highly romantic. Secondary characters add the perfect spice because this time, the "ton" is less represented and we hear words from the streets of London. There is the tension of the "two" worlds of the aristocracy and the real Londoners as well as great history in the punishment practices of errant, orphaned children as well. Just a solid effort done with a forgiveable weak start.