Customer Reviews

Devil to Pay

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This is my favorite JAK book under the name James. It left me either grinning or laughing the entire way through it.

Emelina Stratton's brother is being blackmailed. In an effort to save him, she turns the tables and does a little spying to try and get some bargaining info on the blackmailer. The darkly handsome Julian Colter (who is a rumored mob boss) agrees to help Emelina in her scheme, but will demand a payment from her when all is said and done. Emelina is nervous about what the payment will be, having no idea Julian intends for the payment to be herself...

This book left me in stitches. From Emelina faking an orgasm--and getting caught!--to Emelina's overactive imagination concerning Julian's "occupation", I couldn't stop grinning. Don't miss this one while it's still in print.

(sexual content R = consummation scenes described in lots of detail)

In "The Devil to Pay", Jayne Ann Krentz clearly shows the foundations of her trademark style. Emmy Stratton and Julian Colter strike sparks from their first meeting (and we have to love Xerxes the dog). Written in the mid '80's, Jayne reaches a point where she allows her heroines to be feisty, opinionated and to take risks - some with the hero - there is much less surrendering here and much more mutual satisfaction. The dialogue is delightfully witty (another soon-to-be-Krentz trademark) and the plot is carefully crafted as always. If you are looking to spend some time watching two lovers stumble into their future together, this is the book for you.

Writer Emelina Stratton is determined to help her brother who is being blackmailed. Her search for the blackmailer leads her to Oregon where her attempt at breaking and entering is called to a halt by Julian Colter who is rumored to be a part of the Mafia that is in hiding. Julian is willing to help Emelina catch her blackmailer for a price. Initially, he longs for the type of loyalty and trust she bears for her brother. Instead, he finds himself longing for her heart as well.

Stephanie James is the pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz during an earlier period of writing and there is much about this story to recommend. The humor surrounding the local lore about Julian's true occupation becomes a source of contention between Emmy and the locals when she gets fed up with their warnings and innuendoes. Julian pragmatically defies Emmy's vivid imagination when it comes to handling the blackmailer. There is a thread of suspense but it doesn't pan out and the plot involving the blackmailer proves to be anti-climatic. But as the story mainly focuses on Emmy and Julian's relationship, it is not much of a disappointment or even a mystery. This is a story well worth reading and there are clear hints of Krentz's present style and characterizations in this story. What is interesting in reading this book is seeing how far along Krentz has come as a writer.

Emelina "Emmy" Stratton's brother, Keith, was being blackmailed by an old college friend, Eric Leighton. Keith wanted to turn the situation over to the police. Knowing Keith's career would be forfeited if he did so, she asked for time to find proof that Leighton was doing something illegal so Keith could blackmail the blackmailer into leaving him alone.

Julian Colter was vacationing on the beaches of Oregon. When he and his Doberman, Xerxes, found Emmy attempting to break into one of the beach cottages, he confronted her for answers.

Most believed Julian was connected to the mafia and was keeping a low profile for a bit. Emmy made a deal with the devil. If Julian helped her try to prove the owner of the cabin, Leighton, was doing something illegal at the cabin, he could name his reward. Julian intended for Emmy to be the reward he demanded!

**** Not this author's best work, but still wonderful! It kept my eyes glued to the book from page number one. Well worth your time and money! ****

This is an early Silhouette Desire of JAK writing as Stephanie James, and is JAK as her best. Re-released at a promo price, which is in keeping with the small size of the book, it is a good find for JAK collectors.

Emelina Statton is about to break into a breach cottage when Julian Colter and his dog appear out of the night fog and stop her. She is aware that Julian is renting a cottage not far away. Rumours and gossip from the small, sleepy village says he is a gangster hiding out until his 'troubles' cool down. But someone with dubious ties is exactly what Emelina needs. Her brother is being blackmailed and she is there to find some means to put a stop to it before it ruins his career.

Julian has been watching her, and decides he will help her, but for a price. Emelina will do anything to save her brother, including making a pack with the Devil - or a mobster in this case.

It is good fun, start to finish!!

I picked up this book at the library because I regard Jayne Ann Krentz as the best writer of romantic suspense on the market today. If you've read many of her books as I have you'll agree that her writing has matured since her Stephanie James period. There are a few elements in this story that found their way into later novels: the hero with a large dog (Smoke in Mirrors), the hero's obsession with good coffee (Eye of the Beholder), and the hero who fails to tell the heroine who he really is at the beginning of their relationship (Grand Passion; Deep Waters; Obsidian Prey).

However, those elements can't save this story, which is too surreal to be believed. Julian becomes obsessed with a stranger in town (Emelina), then stalks her, virtually kidnaps her and comes close to raping her. Oh, yeah, it's supposed to be seduction, except that his sex dialog sounds too much like a horny teenager instead of a 40-year old executive. Feminists would probably consider this novel a "bodice ripper," since the plot is so much like that genre. This novel depicts an almost D/s kind of relationship, except without the collar and chains. That Krentz would write a story in which a total stranger highjacks a woman and takes over her life without one word of explanation of who he is seems incredible. And, of course, the heroine is too subject to her own confused emotions and passions to tell Julian to go screw himself. Maybe Emelina was simply a victim of the Stockholm Syndrome and five years into the marriage she's going to wonder what she has done to herself. In my view their beginning does not bode well for a long-lasting happy marriage.

Writer Emelina Stratton is determined to help her brother who is being blackmailed. Her search for the blackmailer leads her to Oregon where her attempt at breaking and entering is called to a halt by Julian Colter who is rumored to be a part of the Mafia that is in hiding. Julian is willing to help Emelina catch her blackmailer for a price. Initially, he longs for the type of loyalty and trust she bears for her brother. Instead, he finds himself longing for her heart as well.

Stephanie James is the pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz during an earlier period of writing and there is much about this story to recommend. The humor surrounding the local lore about Julian's true occupation becomes a source of contention between Emmy and the locals when she gets fed up with their warnings and innuendoes. Julian pragmatically defies Emmy's vivid imagination when it comes to handling the blackmailer. There is a thread of suspense but it doesn't pan out and the plot involving the blackmailer proves to be anti-climatic. But as the story mainly focuses on Emmy and Julian's relationship, it is not much of a disappointment or even a mystery. This is a story well worth reading and there are clear hints of Krentz's present style and characterizations in this story. What is interesting in reading this book is seeing how far along Krentz has come as a writer.