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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
an excellent read, August 30, 2001
Here's what I hope will be a helpful hint: while it is not absolutely necessary to have read "An Unwilling Bride" by Jo Beverly, it really does help if you're very familiar with the plot and characters of that book. I read "An Unwilling Bride" many years ago, and while some things were familiar, I had forgotten a lot of what occurred in that novel, and as a result, was sometimes completely at sea in "The Devil's Heiress" because quite a few incidents from the former were referred to in the latter, and while everything was explained (eventually) I spent much of the book feeling as if I had wondered in the middle of a rather disconcertingly familiar play, and this kept distracting me, at times, from enjoying this otherewise rather excellent novel. The Napoleonic Wars are over, and Major George Hawkinville ("Hawk") has returned home hoping to find peace and solace. Not that he has much hope to achieving this, for home also means coming face to face with his selfish and caddish father. As usual, Hawk's fears prove well founded, for his father has borrowed heavily against Hawkinville Manor in order to prove his right to the now dead Viscount Deveril's title and wealth. Unfortunately, the dead viscount had bequeathed his wealth to his erstwhile fiancee, Clarissa Greystone. So currently, Hawk's father has a title but no money, and with the need to repay the loan of twenty-thousand pounds hanging over their heads. Hawk's father's solution is for Hawk to court Clarissa and to marry her for her money, eventhough he thinks that Clarissa had murdered Deveril. Hawk however decides to try and find the evidence that Clarissa had indeed murdered Deveril, rather than marry that murderous young lady. And so he sets out for Gloucestershire, to the seminary that Clarissa is currently residing in. Where he finds that Clarissa, far from being a deadly femme fatale, is actually a very plain looking but rather witty young woman. Dicovering that Clarissa is about to spread her wings and make for the festive town of Brighton, Hawk follows her there, where he begins his slow but determined pursuit for Clarissa's heart and hand, all the while trying to discover if she had had anything to do with Deveril's death. Clarissa Greystone is a young woman full of secrets and fears. (This is where if you're unfamiliar with "An Unwilling Bride" the plot can become increasingly frustrating.) From the first few chapters, the reader will be able to glean that there was something fishy about Deveril's death, and that Clarissa did somehow figure into this, and that the merry band of noblemen, known as 'The Rogues' also had something to do with his death, and that Clarissa is actually rather fearful of, (and angry at) the Rogues. Although Clarissa is rather plain in appearance, she's always dreamed of being courted by a handsome and dashing young gentleman. Certainly Hawk fits the bill. And although she suspects that Hawk is a fortune-hunter, she is beginning to fall in love with him. But what is she to make of his frequent references to murder, and his claims at being very good at ferreting out the truth? Can she trust Hawk with the truth of how Deveril died? And what will happen when she discovers who Hawk really is? "The Devil's Bride" is actually a really fun read. Hawk and Clarissa seem ideally suited to each other in character, intelligence and spirit. And it made for satisfying reading to see them grow closer and closer together, eventhough you could guess what would happen once Clarissa realised the truth about Hawk's interest in her. I also enjoyed reading the bits that dealt with Clarissa spreading her wings and coming into her own, and enjoying life. Another thing I did like was that the Rogues were painted in almost sinister terms for quite a bit of the novel, which fits in with Clarissa's fearful attitude towards them, and with Hawk's feelings of suspicions where they were concerned. "The Devil's Heiress" also sees the resurrection of one of the Rogues's most dangerous of enemies, and the ending promises that there will be another Rogue novel in the offing in the near future. In spite of my nitpicking, I really enjoyed reading "The Devil's Heiress." I think that Jo Beverly truly created something special in Hawk and Clarissa, and this made the hapily-ever-after ending all the more satisfying. A truly fun read.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thrilling, romantic - a must for Company of Rogues fans!, October 28, 2001
This book is the third and final in Beverley's 'Three Guys Named George' series; but it's also in many ways a direct sequel to An Unwilling Bride in the 'Company of Rogues' series. So if you've ever wanted to know what happened to shy Clarissa, the very unwilling fiancee of the evil Lord Deveril, after Deveril was killed by Blanche (and the murder was covered up by the Rogues) in An Unwilling Bride, here's all those loose ends brilliantly tied up. Clarissa, now a year or so older and quite a bit wiser, is the ward of the Duke of Belcraven, a considerable heiress, and about to make her second attempt to enter society. She wants to strike out on her own; fond though she is of Beth Arden, Lucien, the Marquess, scares her. This, for critics of one element of An Unwilling Bride, is the legacy of Luce's one moment of lapse of control. It wasn't all over and forgotten with after all! Hawk, returned at last from the war, finds unwelcome news. His father is deep in debt and has mortgaged the manor to an appalling developer - all the quest for the family title. The title? That of Viscount Deveril. So his father is about to become Lord Deveril, and he wants Deveril's fortune. Hawk's duty is to obtain it, either by proving the will a forgery, or by marrying the Devil's Heiress. But Clarissa is obviously no murderer, nor a fraudster. Instead, she's a fairly plain and shy young woman, but as Hawk gets to know her, he sees that she's beautiful, and intelligent, and fiercely determined to combat the prejudice she encounters as Deveril's heir. Despite himself, he is intrigued. Clarissa knows that Hawk is after her money; but she also knows that someone as plain as her is only going to attract suitors who want her money. And, since she's resigned herself to that eventuality, why not marry someone she *likes*? For she likes Hawk, very much. Too much... And so the game begins, with guilt and lies on both sides, but with a stirring, sensual attraction between Clarissa and Hawk which simmers off the pages. Familiar characters from other books return: Francis Middlethorpe's Aunt Arabella, who is sent by Nicholas to chaperon Clarissa; Nicholas himself, along with Eleanor and Amabel; Therese Bellaire, Con and Susan; Van and Maria; Hal and Blanche (now, there has to be at least one more Rogues book, simply to complete their story!), and, of course, Lucien and Beth. And the Duke and Duchess of Belcraven! And there is also a welcome appearance from one very unexpected character indeed! This is an unmissable, unputdownable book. Don't miss it!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderfully clever historical, August 6, 2001
In 1816 England, Clarissa Greystone is known as the Devil's Heiress, as her former betrothed, Lord Deveril, left her the bulk of his estate when he died. Though Clarissa despised Lord Deveril, her inheritance has given her some independence, which enables her to go to Brighton upon her departure from Miss Mallory's School in Cheltenham. It is not pure chance, which causes Clarissa to go to Brighton but a memorable encounter with a Major George "Hawk" Hawkinville at a parade in Cheltenham. At Hawk's suggestion, Clarissa was prompted to choose Brighton as a temporary place of residence with hopes of encountering the dashing officer again. And encounter Hawk, Clarissa does, as she enjoys flirting with him and even visiting his family home. Though Clarissa believes Hawk to be a fortune hunter, she is certain he cares for her, but is a little disconcerted when he probes her about the mysterious death of Lord Deveril. Even though Clarissa is falling in love with Hawk, can she trust Hawk with the events surrounding Deveril's death? And will Hawk reveal to Clarissa the true nature of his interest in her even as his passion for her gets in the way of his original purpose? THE DEVIL'S HEIRESS, the third installment in Ms. Beverley's series of the George's is an even juicier read than the previous work, THE DRAGON'S BRIDE. The development of Clarissa's character is a joy to behold, as she emerges from a dreary schoolgirl to a clever and engaging woman. The repartee between Hawk and Clarissa is incredibly clever with enough undertones to keep the reader's constant attention. And the inclusion of the rogues, former heroes in Ms. Beverley's prior works, adds much to the intricacies of this plot. A truly delightful read, THE DEVIL'S HEIRESS will make the reader's keeper list.
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