The Devil Earl

Rating:
Summary: A cute, quick read....
Review: "The Devil Earl" was such fun! I absolutely loved Sebastian...he could be difficult at times, but I adored him anyway. I definitely feel that this was Sebastian's book. Though he and Pru were both well drawn, I felt that he was a bit more fleshed out. I enjoyed reading his point of view and getting to know him throughout the book. My one complaint here is that the mystery is solved when there is still a bit of reading to do. It made it drag a little towards the end...the last 20 pages or so felt unnecessary. Other than that..A fast fun read.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointment
Review: I have read many romance novels and having read Simmons' other book The Last Rogue, thought it would be up to par with that book's comedy and bittersweet wit. This was an absolute mess of a novel. Let me just say no proper young lady worth her salt as Prudence makes herself out to be would ever consent to accompanying a gentleman to his house! Even though the chaperone is dragged along, she is conveniently absent when Prudence and Sebastian want to be alone for their first time. The utter lack of disregard for her lost virtue is a disappointing character flaw. I know this is just a romance novel, but isn't a heroine supposed to be virtuous? There are some redeeming qualities, such as Sebastian's need for redemption and the way he notices her ink-stained hands, which is the first thing that he notices, and ultimately draws him to her. Otherwise the remaining characters are nothing but filler and a total waste of paper. The love scenes could have been more sutle and perhaps, a little more tender. I'm lucky I got this at a used bookshop. One of these days I'm going to write my own. These quick and easy romances are killing me!

Rating:
Summary: Not bad
Review: I thought this book was pretty good. Prudence is a writer of gothic novels and is taken by surprise when she meets the "Devil Earl" a man that in no little way resembles a gothic hero. Unfortunately many believe that the Devil Earl killed his brother and it is up to Prudence to clear his name.

I liked the gothic elements found in this novel. I do however feel that the characters could have been better developed. Overall this is a relatively light, quick, and fun read!

Rating:
Summary: Delightful romance with gothic flair
Review: The lair of the Devil Earl, perched precariously on a sea cliff like the castle in Dark Shadows. A night filled with tempest-tossed seas and the crackles of thunder. A tall and brooding hero, accused of murder.

These sound like the perfect ingredients for a gothic novel, right? Well, those elements are in place, but what's purposely missing is the damsel in distress.

The damsel not-in-distress is Prudence Lancaster, a bespectacled author with ink-stained hands. She is strong, level-headed, intelligent and determined. She is also on the shelf, never having noticed her body beyond the fact that it is unfashionably tall, bronzed, and leggy. Her face? She has never noticed its beauty behind the glasses her sister, "the pretty sister," has her constantly wear.

The Devil Earl is the hero. Dark, intense, with brooding gray eyes, Sebastian Ravenscar has been a party to all sorts of carnal debauchery in the past. He has never met a woman who could satisfy him in body and mind...until he meets Prudence. She alone is not afraid of him - she sees him as a pagan god capable of providing the thrills she has only written about.

Prudence and Sebastian fit together in body, mind, and soul. Sebastian's discovery of the delights of Prudence are many and filled with loving humor. It's such fun to read Sebastian's erotic musings -- he lusts after her ink-stained hands and delights in removing her spectacles. It's so enjoyable to have a heroine reach out and literally grab (ahem) what she wants.

Deborah Simmons has accomplished in this regency-set historical a gentle parody of a gothic novel. There are enough superficial similarities to Amanda Quick's Ravished that I feared The Devil Earl would be a clone. Happily, the books are not so similar after all. And Simmons' book is actually better -- the heroine and hero are more attractive and believable, and there are secondary characters who grow to become enjoyable as well.

What's more, this author has fashioned wonderfully erotic love scenes - no doubt Sebastian's early lessons from his debauched youth will provide a life-time of bliss for Prudence. And she, with her ink-stained hands, imagination, and loving soul, will stimulate his mind, body, and heart forever.

Deborah Simmons has followed up the wonderful The Vicar's Daughter with another Regency-era historical that is easy to read, funny, and sexy. Those of us who have been disappointed by the latest works of our favorite authors need not fear the same with this author. It's not a perfect book, there is no earth-shattering intensity, but it is such a delightful romp - who cares?

TTFN, Laurie Likes Books

Publisher, All About Romance

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I ever read!
Review: This book realy holds your intrest. once I started reading it I found it very hard to put it down. I love the way the Auther keeps you in suspence, just woundering what will happen next. It is one of the best Mistery/Romance Novels I have ever read. I like it so much, I have read it at least 4 times!

Rating:
Summary: Charming Read
Review: This was a very fast read for me - mainly because I couldn't put it down!

Upon her first glimpse of the Earl of Ravenscar, he was certainly living up to his namesake, namely the Devil Earl. He came rushing into the Abbey, in a black coach on a dark and stormy night. And, so Prudence Lancaster, the gothic author, was gaining more fodder for her novels. She had lived in Cornwall all her life and had never seen the 'Devil Earl' - only heard the stories, and though he was very dark and mysterious, he was also the handsomest man she had ever seen.

At five and twenty, Prudence was consigned to living in the world of her imagination - the world she created in the novels she wrote - But, since she met the Devil Earl - her imagination would never be so exciting and passionate as the situations she would be in with him.

Very passionate,sensual and romantic trysts. A most exciting read and well worth finding a copy of this book. Great!

Rating:
Summary: Charming Read
Review: This was a very fast read for me - mainly because I couldn't put it down!

Upon her first glimpse of the Earl of Ravenscar, he was certainly living up to his namesake, namely the Devil Earl. He came rushing into the Abbey, in a black coach on a dark and stormy night. And, so Prudence Lancaster, the gothic author, was gaining more fodder for her novels. She had lived in Cornwall all her life and had never seen the 'Devil Earl' - only heard the stories, and though he was very dark and mysterious, he was also the handsomest man she had ever seen.

At five and twenty, Prudence was consigned to living in the world of her imagination - the world she created in the novels she wrote - But, since she met the Devil Earl - her imagination would never be so exciting and passionate as the situations she would be in with him.

Very passionate,sensual and romantic trysts. A most exciting read and well worth finding a copy of this book. Great!