8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Additional comments..., June 4, 2002
This review is from: The Devil's Bargain (Mass Market Paperback)
I need to add a few things to clarify what I said earlier. Firstly, although this is a great book, from the point of view of a reader who dislikes dialogue, this is a book to avoid. A lot of time is spent reading dialogue - between the hero and his friend, between the hero and heroine, between the heroine and her friend, and between other persons. I happen to love both the fact that such dialogue exists, and that it is intelligent and credible (that is to say, in keeping with the period, the situation, and the characters of the hero and heroine). Others will find pages of dialogue boring.
Secondly, as someone pointed out to me on a board, this book is essentially about Revenge (with a capital R). It reminds me of other revenge-oriented books that I love - These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer, By Arrangement by Madeline Hunter, among others. Keep in mind however (and this is a bit of a spoiler), that the hero does not allow his love for the heroine to distract him from his ultimate vengeance, even though he does make a couple of compromises here and there. If you loved the Duke of Avon in These Old Shades, this will be right up your alley. [And Katherine comes off better than does Leonie in the Heyer book]. If you believe that love completely or partially changes a man, and that love should definitely allow the hero to give up his plans for revenge (especially if they hurt other people), you might be put off. I don't think it is fair to compare this book to Mary Jo Putney's Silk and Shadows, because in that book, the hero's revenge is hurting other people, not just the heroine - and in very material and physical terms. In this book, Alasdair's revenge nearly hurts the heroine badly (when she is kidnapped) but he makes every effort to rescue her. It is true that he contemplates his revenge all through his subsequent courtship of the heroine, and that his need to revenge himself could have had a disastrous effect on his marriage. [For which and other minor flaws, I do take off one point here].
On the other hand, Alasdair is also keeping secrets from his wife, at least until their wedding night when, after the ultimate intimacy, he will tell her all his secrets. [Compare this with Heyer's Duke of Avon who keeps secrets from his wife all his life]. If you don't like books where a major secret is sprung on you nearly at the end, avoid this book. That secret goes a long way along with his professed reasons to explain why Alasdair is so driven by the need for revenge.
I still think this is a great book, an unusual one for Layton, and a clear homage to Heyer in more ways than one. But, if Revenge Plots trouble you, and a hero like Alasdair (who nearly allows his desire for revenge to consume him, and who refuses to give up that long-withheld desire for love) repels you, avoid this book. I am not usually fond of Revenge Plots, unless very well-done, but I happen to consider this well-done. This is a story of a man who finds love at the same time that he finds the opportunity for revenge, and who satisfies both his need to love and be loved at the same time that he tries to carry out his revenge. If you like the Duke of Avon in THESE OLD SHADES, you may enjoy this book (although Alasdair is of course not omniscient!).
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Regency with stronger emotions, July 17, 2002
This review is from: The Devil's Bargain (Mass Market Paperback)
Edith Layton continues to do good work in the Regency era presenting solid novels with powerful ideas and emotion. The Devil's Bargain has some weak points in keeping up the tension and maintaining a strong historical feel, but it also has a pair of fascinating lovers and deep and believable emotions.
Tall and well-built (if not handsome) Sir Alasdair St. Erth is working through the endgame of vengeance. He has built up a fortune abroad in mysterious ways and has an uncivilized habit of pulling a gun when startled. Now he just has to work out how to force a confrontation with his foes - a couple called the Scalbys. Hunting for a way to do that he starts to mingle with society and is rescued from a social trap by Katherine Corbet, who just happens to be a cousin of the Scalbys.
Poor and pretty young Katherine Corbet has come to London to visit with her cousins the Swansons, and has been kept hidden away (along with the youngest sister) while the Swansons try to marry off three more of their many rich but ugly daughters. Watching the crowd from a hidden way Katherine and her friend Sibyl Swanson overhear the plot to compromise Alasdair into marriage, and Katherine pops up in the correct room at the right moment. Little does she know that Alasdair will latch onto her as a perfect key to his scheme and insist on plotting a way to bring her and Sibyl out into society where the Scalbys will certainly hear rumors about Alasdair and Katherine.
The plot grows more complicated with more parties who wish to harm Alasdair appearing, a deadly street fight, and an abduction. But it all boils down to : will Alasdair continue to hold vengeance as his highest priority, or will love change everything?
Amidst the improbabilities and melodrama of the plot, Alasdair and Katherine shine as flesh-and-blood human lovers. You will cheer for them in their successes and fear for them in their troubles. Recommended.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
strong Regency, May 10, 2002
This review is from: The Devil's Bargain (Mass Market Paperback)
Sir Alasdair St. Erth spent numerous years on the continent with one goal in mind: vengeance on the Sealbys for what they did. He has the evidence and he has insured that his intended targets know what he possesses. Now he is back on English soil ready to complete his life's quest the fall of the house of Sealby.
At the Swanson Ball, country mouse Katherine Corbet shows the strength of a lioness protecting her cubs when she helps Alasdair escape the machinations of a marriage minded woman. Though he realizes she is an innocent, Alasdair decides she is the perfect pawn to enable him to complete his personal mission. However, as he begins to fall in love with his sacrificial lamb, he starts questioning his desires because he knows when he gains checkmate he loses everything.
Though the theme of revenge and romance has been used numerous times in novels and movies, Edith Layton provides Regency readers with a strong tale due to a delightful cast. The lead couple is wonderful as Alasdair struggles between love and revenge knowing he needs the former, but remains obsessed with the latter though the presence of Katherine has weakened his resolve. Ms. Layton provides her usual exciting novel starring two strong protagonists that will leave fans satiated and new readers as fans.
Harriet Klausner
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