Devilish

Rating:
Summary: A very fine story indeed!
Review: Handsomely written, and quite riveting! Ahh, and Diana, our wonderful heroine, is very refreshing and well-developed. A strong countess, who knows she wants Rothgar as a lover despite the dire consequences if she allows herself even one night of passion with our wonderfully dark hero. Read on, you won't be the least disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: This was my first Jo Beverley, the story was well written and I am sure the facts are perfect. She knows the English time period well. Unfortunatly I found it very mechanical and found no magic. It would put me to sleep, so it was easy to put it down and go back later. I find that people who write period romances get so caught up in their research they lose the magic of the hero and heroine. However in a study of Regency times I found it quite interesting. As a Romance I did not find any. Dry and drawn out.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Read!
Review: Jo Beverley does it again! She has done it again! Written a book that I just could not put down until every word was devoured! I am so glad that I discovered this wonderful author! I have read some of the other books in this series - but now I need to go re-read them. I cannot wait for another Jo Beverley book. Please keep these wonderful stories coming.

Rating:
Summary: What happened to Rothgar?
Review: Don't get me wrong I love the Malloren series, but I was disappointed in how boring Rothgar was in this one. Yes,we know he is afraid of marriage, but you would think that since he has been alone for so long he would be more passionate when he falls in love. Diane was a good character but it seemed that Rothgar was more interested in protecting the crown than exploring the mystories of love. To me he became tame and boring Ms. Beverly built him up so much in the previous books that in the end he wasn't as interesting as his other siblings. Although there could have been more in the romance department I enjoyed the part when Rothgar's brother finally confronts him about his madness.

Rating:
Summary: Rothgar's story is excellently told.
Review: I'd read my way through My Lady Notorious, Something Wicked (I read them out of order, so read about Elf and Fort before Bryght and Portia), and Tempting Fortune, with increasing dissatisfaction, and hadn't intended to read Secrets of the Night or Devilish. However, a friend with whom I often share books recommended Devilish to me, so I felt oblighed to give it the old college try.

I blazed my way through it in one night (by no means a record, but uncommon with books I don't feel strongly about) and when I was done I wished there were more. Ah, Bey. Sigh, drool, melt. What a hero.

But I've been surprised and confused by the amount of negative reviews of the book, to the point of wondering if I read the same book everyone else had. Bey cold? Diana whining? Bey disappointing? Perish the thought.

But then again, the Marquess of Rothgar has been a presence in the entire Malloren series, from My Lady Notorious onward, leaving plenty of fertile ground for readers to build their own idea about him (indeed, part of my dissatisfaction with the other three books that I read stemmed largely from the fact that Rothgar consistently overshadowed the heroes). So it's not really surprising that the book might not have lived up to what many readers hoped for Bey.

The other complaints (dealing largely with two issues; Diana's suitability as a heroine and the lack of sex scenes) are largely a matter of taste. I don't like the heroines of the books I read to be sweet, simpering virgins with hearts of gold (another problem I had with some of the Malloren books, particularly Tempting Fortune); I like them to be strong, stubborn, and independent, which Diana was. I don't think that a gentle, delicate, naive young woman could have had the courage or the resolve to keep pushing Bey until he had to give up some of his control.

Nor do I read this sort of book for the sex scenes; I read it for the plot, and for the romance. Therefore I wasn't disappointed with the lack of sex, and I feel that much more would have been hard to justify, considering that Rothgar's determination not to have children has been well-established.

As for what I liked about the book--most everything. I appreciated that Jo Beverley didn't resort to tired old cliches (silly misunderstandings keeping hero and heroine apart, etc). I heartily approve of the fact that Bey acknowledged his love for Diana relatively early on in the book, instead of holding out until some great crisis puts her life in danger and forces him to admit how he feels. Bey and Diana had rational (if occasionally misguided) reasons for staying apart, a nice change from many romance novels. Diana made a solid, if largely unremarkable, heroine; Bey carries the book, walking the line between strength and romance. All of the parts of the book that melted my heart centered around him and were usually from his point of view.

Devilish is a book I'll keep and read over and over again, a sure sign of a good, satisfying read.

Rating:
Summary: More Satisfying than one could have imagined!
Review: While I loved all the Malloren tales, Rothgar's story ran as a thread throughout the saga, for he is the backbone of this family. I opened this book with great anticipation and much trepidation. Jo's excellent track record not withstanding, there is always the potential for great disappointment when one has had to wait so long for a much desired story. Had Diana had to win Rothgar's love, or had he discovered after great peril that he couldn't live without her, I would have been sorely disappointed. Mallorens choose, they can't be won, and once having chosen they are as constant as the sun. However the two acknowledged their feelings from the start. The battle is within Rothgar himself to conquer his demons (as it should have been). I found myself saying "exactly" repeatedly. I also loved that Rothgar has finally become Bey, an approachable human man with frailties like every other human being, though it doesn't by any means diminish him as the "eminence noire". Brilliantly handled, if ever I doubted for a minute that the characters talk to Jo, I will not make that mistake twice!

Someone wants Rothgar dead. An uneasy peace hangs between the British and the French. Bey finds himself a part of a contrived duel to avenge an insult to Chastity Malloren (Cyn's wife). Bey and Bryght suspect the expert duelist is in league with the French who would benefit by putting him out of commission for the Marquess has the ear of the king in these matters. His advice does not coincide with their plans in the least. Having dispatched the offender, the family prepares to attend the wedding of Brand and Rosa in Yorkshire where Rothgar is once more brought into the sphere of the Countess Arradale, Diana.

No fool, Rothgar has acknowledged his attraction to the countess but as he has firm intentions never to marry (due to his mother's madness) he has wisely limited his stay to three days. Diana for her part is just as determined to remain free of entanglements, though she is just as intrigued by the enigmatic Marquess. A missive from the king, commanding Rothgar to escort Diana to court, thwarts their good intentions. The very thing that makes Diana Bey's equal has won her disfavor with the king. In the unique position of being a female peer of the realm she has petitioned the king for the right to hold her seat Parliament. This has alerted the king to her "unnatural" leanings and he is determined to wed her to someone who will keep her in line. Bey advises Diana to act the proper young lady for fear she will be thought mad if she expresses her true nature but promises to support her to the point of offering a marriage in name only if the situation becomes untenable. By now Diana is aware that her feelings for Bey run deep and is certain they are reciprocated. She agrees to follow his advice for though a true marriage to the man would be heaven; a marriage in which they would lead separate lives would truly be hell.

Those good intentions are thwarted as well as the plot continues to remove Rothgar from the king's sphere. They are attacked along the road. The attack is not unexpected, however the situation requires Diana to use her considerable skill with pistols to save the life of her beloved. Shaken by the encounter the drop their guard and celebrate life in the time-honored manner. The armor cracks a bit more.

It had seemed that the king had accepted the Marquess's determination never to marry, but once Diana arrives at court she is plied with unacceptable suitors and it becomes obvious that the king wishes a match between Diana and Bey. The king has put a deadline on her choice of mate. She must choose immediately following a masquerade thrown by the Marquess. Should she fail to choose he would choose for her. Diana does her best to ensure that Bey is not ensnared in the trap, but she relishes his visits and he cannot seem to stay away. To deflect attention she inadvertently over encourages one of her suitors who unwittingly becomes caught up in the plot to eliminate Rothgar. She is kidnapped. Bey barely rescues her in time. Another chink in the armor.

It has become apparent to Bey that he can not let Diana go to another but an incident at the Queen's house reinforces his fears about his suitability to father the next heir to the Malloren line.

The plot shifts to his internal struggle. He retreats into himself and as the masquerade begins his family is greatly worried for him. Will this man of power and courage find the strength to let his heart rule his head? As the event begins Diana searches the room for him, but he finds her. It appears as if all that is well will end well, but it is too much to ask that the French will not make a move this night. Will love make the Marquess vulnerable or strong? Will Bey's strong protective streak cost the pair their hard fought happiness or will Diana risk all to defend her beloved?

This was a marvelous ending to Rothgar's story but hopefully not the last we see of the Mallorens. Young Victor Ware (brother of Fort, Verity, and Chastity) is due to arrive home from his Grand Tour. Dare we hope he will be hero material? It was a true delight to find at last that Rothgar has found the love he so richly deserved and with a woman who deserved him. "The gods were indeed exceedingly kind!" --Leslie Tramposch Copyright © 2000 ~ Paranormal Romance Reviews (Not Paranormal, but Too Good to Miss)

Rating:
Summary: Even better than I hoped it would be
Review: If you, like me, have been waiting for Rothgar's story and wondered if this book would be as magnificent as we hoped, the answer is: Better! Order it now.

If you haven't read Jo Beverley's other Malloren stories and wonder who Rothgar is, please allow me to introduce you:

Bey Malloren, Marquess of Rothgar, has been head of his household and self-appointed protector of his siblings since he was nineteen years old. Now that they are all happily married, can Rothgar relax and enjoy his own life, perhaps enter wedded bliss himself? Of course not... not only does his have his duties to his tenants, he is one of King George's most trusted advisors, and even though the war with France is officially over, there are still many who need his skills and protection. Besides, his blood is tainted and he's vowed never to marry.

Diana Westmount is Countess of Arradale in her own right, inherited through her father's line in one of those rare and ancient decrees that allows the title to go to a female. She, too, has duties to her people and knows that if she ever marries she will lose her independence and power to help others--not to mention some of her unusual hobbies, like honing her shooting and fencing skills.

Diana has petitioned the king to allow her to take the Arradale seat in Parliament along with the other peers--but King George is aghast and realizes he must get this strange, headstrong woman married off so that a man will be legally in control of her.

These strong characters are complemented by Ms. Beverley's equally strong storytelling skills, including realistic historical background that isn't sugarcoated; intrigue that rounds out the plot but doesn't overpower the love story; and, perhaps her greatest gift, depth of emotion. We readers slowly learn the hearts and minds of the people in this novel, even as they are learning and growing themselves. We can identify with the feelings of honor and responsibility as well as the yearnings for friendship, love, and belonging--oh yes, and passion--not just sex, not just lust, but true passion of the spirit. Reading DEVILISH is several glorious hours of immersion in Georgian England, and Jo Beverley is a tour guide like no other. After you emerge from DEVILISH, you will want to read the other Malloren books, whether for the first time or the tenth--and you will thank the gods that the journey isn't over yet; there will be more.

Kimberly Borrowdale, Under the Covers Book Reviews

Rating:
Summary: All things are not possible
Review: Like everyone else I have been waiting for Rothgar and I was a bit disappointed. I expected the romance and passion to overwhelm all that cold and cynical attitude. When he battled against falling in love like we knew he would, I expected an inner struggle, not a constant whining about seeing his mother kill the baby sister. And Diana was a little too concerned about her estate. When she feared she might be pregnant, she was all ready to give the child to a peasant on her estate to raise. I thought with a Malloren all things were possible (An all-knowing Rothgar would have stepped in, even knowing his child mihgt carry bad blood-somewhere along that path he would have given up his attitude toward children). The last book had those characters doing the same thing with their baby, although there were extenuating circumstances. I was disa ppointed that they spend their time thumbing their noses at others, and when they could really use their power and influence, they fall through. I'm glad I read it, but Rothgar and Diana didn't measure up.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I missed the first two installments of the Mallorens' but now I have them on order. I eagerly awaited Rothgar's story after reading Secrets of the Night, and it was everything I'd hoped for. My theory is, if you fall a little or a lot in love with the hero while reading a romance novel, it has got to be good. How could you not find this man fascinating? Anyway, I also agree with other reviewers who said that the author did a great job of presenting the Georgian era without overloading us with historical material.

Rating:
Summary: Very, Very Disappointing--Boring
Review: I am truly sorry to give this book such a low rating, but it's really not worth reading. I can see the influence of Georgette Heyer, here, but without the charm or wit. I can see the possibility of a gothic hero, but without the romance and mystery of Jane Eyre; I can see the need to make it intelligent by quoting the classics, but quotes alone and obvious symbolism doesn't bring it all together. Also, the sex is much, much too sophisticated and "cold"-and the reference to Sapho just makes it off-putting (if I wanted that sort of thing, there are some fairly specific sites on the Internet-it simply doesn't appeal to bisexuals who buy romantic novels). I once had a professor, who explained why realism just wasn't a good venue for the rich and privileged, and he was right-it's like an orchestra where the viola section is off key. Realism is a good way to explain the poor folk, but when used with the privileged classes, it's more like whining than living. I read the other reviews which is what prompted me to buy the book. OK. I'll admit she's intelligent to a certain extent, but if I want to read "intelligent", I read Dostoyefsky or Solzhenitsyn or Shakespeare or Joyce or even George B. Shaw. I buy romances for the same reason I watch comedies. They are a titillating escape, and if they pretend to have depth, they should be more like a soap opera than an opera. In short, the emotions should be involved here, and her characters don't have emotions. (Sort of like Bill and Hillary) Rothgar would be a very proper preacher or politician-can you imagine having sex with General Robert E. Lee? Same thing. All duty, all sophistication, no sweat (literally). (I think she based him on the hero in Heyer's book, "These Old Shades," but the reason Heyer's character was lovable and interesting was because he was, well, wicked and forbidden and innocence conquered him.). The heroine is also very unlovable. She would make a great congresswoman, but a lousy companion. (I know congresswomen and congressmen-and I don't know one who I would put in a romantic novel.) Don't get me wrong. I like strong women characters, but this one is also too good to enjoy knowing (I'd never go to lunch with her, let alone happy hour). She's so caught up in her earldom (and she is NOT Elizabeth I) and its attendant power; I wonder why she doesn't continue to just have sex with herself (which she apparently does--and which some of us also find off-putting); she is admirable, but dull. She has no verve, no life, and no passion.

I can't really find an exact reason why I dislike this book. Maybe it's because neither hero nor heroine has a sense of humor. Also, the political intrigue was boring-and I mean deathly boring. I skipped pages in this. Also, the book didn't even get started until page 166-before that, you read synopses of her other books.

She understands the idiosyncrasies of the Georgian period, but it's purely factual-there is no love or affection for the period and its mannerisms, and it comes across. Again, I refer to Heyer who could draw you into the period she was writing about and make you want to experience it. Beverley makes you feel like you're taking a tour with the docent of a museum. Sort of interesting, but boring (that word just keeps coming up!).

This book was above all, frustrating. The lady can write. She could probably be very good, but there is no emotion in her book; there is no fun, no acceptance that she is a writer of romance not classics. She needs to relax and enjoy her genre, and not try to be what she is not.