Sandy M’s review of Surrender to the Devil (Scoundrels of St. James, Book 3) by Lorraine Heath
Historical Romance published by Avon 30 Jun 09

I absolutely adore Lorraine Heath’s books. And after reading this third book in her latest series, I have to say it’s a very close second to her Texas trilogy, my all-time favorite. This addition to the series is also my favorite. But each of these scoundrels have been wonderful to read about, finding love when they thought they didn’t deserve it, so therefore they didn’t want it. But when the time came, they each fell very, very hard.

The series revolves around the street kids who grew up together under the direction of Faegan, who taught them how to steal in exchange for food and a place to live. They’ve, of course, come a long way since then, making better lives for themselves, even becoming part of the nobility in a couple of cases. Frannie is the only female of the group, and the scoundrels all look after her like brothers. She currently works as the bookkeeper for Jack Dodger’s gaming hell and has an orphanage for street kids in the works. She’s trying to give back to make up for the crimes she committed all those years ago.

Frannie meets Sterling, Duke of Greystoke, at the wedding of his sister to Luke, another of Frannie’s lads. They’re drawn to one another immediately, Frannie becoming bold enough to introduce herself to him, leading Sterling to attempt to seduce her into one night of pleasure. They both know he can never marry her because her bloodline is nothing compared to his ancient one. But that doesn’t stop either one of them when it comes to the desire that courses through them when they’re together.

Sterling is of the opinion he will not make a good husband, one fiancee leaving him behind when his secret is revealed is proof enough. However, knowing he has to marry to keep the ducal line prosperous, his efforts in that vein are doomed to fail with Frannie on his mind at all times. They’re thrown together when helping a young boy who has been forced to steal for a dangerous man Frannie knew during her days on the streets, and their attraction only grows each time they come together.

It’s Sterling’s change through the course of knowing Frannie that’s at the heart of this book. He’s groomed to be duke, a man who wants his pleasures and takes them where and he can. He looks beyond his perceived problem only to know he’ll be no good for anyone in his life. But it’s Frannie’s goodness, her selflessness, her heart that change him. No matter what is thrown at the woman, she finds the positive side of life and gives of herself despite being hurt or injured in any way, and that’s what Sterling longs for when he finally sees how he’s chosen to live his life. He gives generously to her orphanage when seeing her with the boys she’s taken in. In the end, he’s willing to give Frannie up, though, just to make sure she’s not burdened with what he believes his life will become.

The next book, Midnight Pleasures with a Scoundrel, is due out in a couple a weeks. This is Jim’s story, the one scoundrel who loves Frannie, would marry her if she’d give the word, but she never sees his feelings for her until it’s too late. It will be interesting to see what kind of heroine Ms. Heath has in store for Jim, who is broken hearted at the end of this book. And it’s always fun to find out what the other scoundrels are up to.

Grade: A+

Summary:

A Devilish Duke on a Quest for Pleasure . . .

Frannie Darling was once a child of London’s roughest streets, surrounded by petty thieves, pickpockets, and worse. But though she survived this harsh upbringing to become a woman of incomparable beauty, Frannie wants nothing to do with the men who lust for her, the rogues who frequent the gaming hall where she works. She can take care of herself and feels perfectly safe on her own—safe, that is, until he strides into her world, and once again it becomes a very dangerous place indeed.

To bed her but not wed her. That’s what Sterling Mabry, the eighth Duke of Greystone, wants. But Frannie abhors arrogant aristocrats interested only in their own pleasure. So why then does the thought of an illicit tryst with the devilish duke leave her trembling with desire? Her willing body begs for release . . . and a wicked, wonderful surrender.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series

Sandy M’s review of Between the Devil and Desire (Scoundrels of St. James, Book 2) by Lorraine Heath
Historical Romance published by Avon 30 Dec 08

These scoundrels of St. James are so far leaving me emotionally exhausted after reading their stories. This second book in the series features Jack Dodger, a nimble-fingered facsimile of the Artful Dodger, thus the name he chose after being sold by his mother. What happened in those ensuing years, of course, shaped him into the man he is today, but he’s also a man who still remembers and relives those horrible times while doing the best he can to help youngsters who remind him of himself years ago. Ms. Heath uses Jack to pull your heart strings until you think they’re going to break.

Jack is summoned to the reading of the will of a man he barely knew. What his bequest is totally surprises him, but because there is money involved, Jack doesn’t hesitate. He’s to be the guardian of the man’s son, the next Duke of Lovingdon, and, if he does this, he will have the nobleman’s house and all unentailed items in it. A deal as far as Jack is concerned. He grew up on the streets under the teachings of Feagan, a man who took in aimless children and taught them to steal to survive. Money is life to Jack, and the more he has, the better off life will be. So no way in hell he’s going to turn down this out-of-the-blue offer, even though he doesn’t know a thing about children.

Stunned at the news that her husband has given guardianship of her son to a man known in her circles as the devil — the paltry amount he left her doesn’t matter a bit — Olivia, the Duchess of Lovingdon, does her best to get rid of Jack or even to rid herself of his company, but he won’t allow her and her son even a trip to the country. What starts out as a battle of wills ends up being an enlightening experience for Olivia the more she gets to know Jack. After a bit he doesn’t seem to be all that devilish — well, except when he’s trying to seduce her. He’s a man with honor, even though polite society wouldn’t understand his particular brand of honor.

For both of them it becomes a struggle to keep away from the pleasure that can be had in each other’s arms, and that doesn’t last long at all, as Olivia succumbs and ends up in Jack’s bed. Jack begins to learn to love again. Olivia learns Jack is the kind of man she does want raising her son and the kind of man she needs and wants in her life. There’s still the mystery of why the late duke chose Jack to watch over his son, and I have to admit that I didn’t see the curveball Ms. Heath throws out at us when it finally came.

My favorite scenes are those with Jack and Henry, Olivia’s son. The boy is always afraid, stutters, and Jack teaches him confidence and patience, giving him the knowledge that those who love him will always stand by his side. The scenes where we find out what happened to Jack as a child are also quite emotional and Ms. Heath does a terrific job of allowing Jack to grieve for that lost little boy but still maintain his dignity and honor as the man he’s become. I like the inclusion of Jack’s friends from his street days. We get to see how far they’ve come and what they’ve made of themselves and how they’re always there for one another.

This is a great addition to the trilogy and I’m looking forward to Surrender to the Devil, which I have in my hot little hands right now!

Grade: A

Summary:

Once a pickpocket and thief, Jack Dodger is now the wealthy owner of one of London’s most exclusive gentlemen’s clubs.

But after one of his patrons bequeaths him his London residence, Jack finds himself dealing with the man’s lovely widow.

When Olivia, Duchess of Lovingdon, is forced to share her beloved home with the notorious–and deliciously wicked–Jack Dodger, she quickly discovers that between the devil and desire, the only choice is surrender.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Sandy M’s review of In Bed with the Devil (Scoundrels of St. James, Book 1) by Lorraine Heath
Historical Romance released by Avon 24 Jun 08

If you want a beautifully written book with strong characters who push all your emotional buttons and an intriguing storyline every time, you have to read Lorraine Heath. It doesn’t matter what era she chooses as the backdrop for her books, you will lose yourself just in the writing alone and you will fall farther still when her characters entrance you and give you their all.

Lucian Langdon is one of those heroes who wants everything he’s never really had. A home, a wife, love, a family, the respect of the aristocracy. He is an earl, at the top of the social hierarchy, but his past and his reclusiveness has painted him as black as the devil. Even the way in which he became the Earl of Claybourne is under suspicion and no one dares socialize with him and thus put their reputation at risk. Luke himself is guilt ridden after so many years of usurping an old man’s kindness and gullibility, but now that he’s had the luxury his lifestyle gives him, it’s hard to give it up, even if it’s the right thing to do. He’s determined to have what he’s never had the guts to reach for before and has finally decided to ask his long-time friend to marry him, to give him the peace and stability he longs for.

I absolutely adore Lucian. He had a horrendous childhood, orphaned and on the streets, taught how to pick pockets and otherwise steal to stay alive. When the previous Earl gives him the opportunity to stay out of prison for a crime of protection, he grabs on and doesn’t let go. Although he is confident in his abilities and station in life, it’s fascinating to watch him hesitate and let his vulnerability show when he finally does propose marriage.

And then the one woman who has been the only person to have the courage to look him in the eye when everyone else shunned him comes back into his life. He subtly begins to change when he begins to know her better, but he never sees the changes coming until it’s nearly too late. Lady Catherine Mabry is a woman who is quite independent, running her father’s household since his incapacitation sometime ago and with her brother off traisping around America. She’s beautiful, witty, and intelligent – just the kind of woman Luke truly needs. The fact she’s been fascinated with the man for a number of years, ever since the ball where she was the only one in the room with a backbone to acknowledge his presence, helps her go to him with a request that will change them both in a way that could break their spirits if he accepts her bargain.

Lucian, of course, accepts that bargain in exchange for Catherine’s help in teaching his almost-fiance the finer points of aristocrtic life, something the girl doesn’t want, along with not wanting to marry Lucian. The more time they spend together, you see them fall for one another, but whereas Catherine confronts her feelings for Luke to herself, he keeps his denial right up front in the guise of still wanting to marry his lifelong friend and start a family. He holds out so long that I started to get that feeling in the pit of my stomach, that feeling when you know something is wrong and will there be a way to make it right before irreparable harm is done.

The secondary characters are very well written, with most of them being friends of Luke’s from his days on the street, including the woman he intends to marry. The mystery surrounding his past and the way he came into the earldom is intriguing and does keep you guessing for a while. I really enjoyed Luke and Catherine together. She never kowtowed to him, always held her own in every situation, even when she knew it would break her heart. I kept telling Luke to stop looking at Catherine as a means to an end, to see her as the woman she is, the woman for him, but he wouldn’t listen to me for the longest time! Men! Despite all that, he’s now one of my favorite heroes that I’ve read in quite some time.

Ms. Heath strikes with a pretty wicked and emotional pen. This is only my fourth book of hers that I’ve read, the first three being her Texas trilogy, one of which brought forth tears a few times, something very few authors can do when I read. I became an instant fan then. In Bed with the Devil only solidifies my conclusion she’s one of the best out there.

Grade: A+

Summary:

“I’ve always been of the opinion that a woman would be far more satisfied lying in bed with the devil than with a saint.” —Lady Catherine Mabry

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 lacks the social graces to be accepted by the aristocracy. Catherine can help Lucian gain everything he wants. But what she asks for in exchange will put their very lives in jeopardy. When danger closes in, Catherine discovers a man of immense passion and he discovers a woman of immeasurable courage. As secrets from his dark past are revealed, Lucian begins to question everything he knows to be true, including the yearnings of his own heart.

Read an excerpt.