36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 1/2 stars -- Wonderful, slightly darker romance!, January 8, 2005
I will admit that I was a little bit leery of the plot-line of this book because it sounded somewhat contrived (widowed gentlewoman masquerades as dockside prostitute/woman of loose virtue in order to rob rich, upperclass men targeted because they have exploited weaker women), but the story in Liz Carlyle's hands is *very* well done and the characterizations excellent!
The heroine, Sidonie Saint-Godard, is refreshingly unusual and very well-drawn. Sidonie's motivation for her dangerous behavior is complex and rooted in her resentment of her powerful father's treatment of her mother. She is a very independent, intelligent and imaginative woman, but she is far from perfect. Sidonie is a risk-junkie and driven by demons from her past--some of which she does not even acknowledge to herself. She is headed for trouble when she selects the cynical and dissolute Marquess of Devellyn, Aleric Hilliard, as her next target.
The Marquess is called "The Devil of Duke Street" (but don't hold that against him--he is a much less hackneyed character than that name might suggest to historical romance aficionados.) He is a wealthy, dissolute rake, but he is not the standard-variety polished, charming "romance novel" rogue. Aleric is a man *literally* wasting his life on drinking, gambling and meaningless relationships--thereby punishing himself and his father for mistakes made in the past. He is very rough around the edges but he has a good heart, as Sidonie comes to realize only *after* she has victimized him. Aleric finds himself becoming obsessed with both Sidonie, his elegant widowed neighbor, and her alter-ego, the Black Angel, without realizing that the women are one in the same (somewhat similar to the theme of Connie Brockway's excellent "All Through the Night".)
The development of Sidonie and Aleric's relationship is very well done, and the plot is interesting (although it does bog down just a little at the end) and the romance is edgy and hot (as usual for a Liz Carlyle novel.)
In summary, this is a well-written historical romance with unusually good character development and a unique, compelling plot. Highly recommended, especially for those who like slightly darker, more complex, character-driven romance!
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!, December 27, 2004
It's hard to explain just why Liz Carlyle's writing captivates me so. Is it the finely drawn characters with their complex emotions? The incredibly hot men and strong women who feel intensely and obsessively? The way she makes 19th century England come alive with smell and sound? The beautiful prose, or the way there isn't a superfluous chapter or scene to be found?
Maybe it's the tension that radiates from each book. Maybe it's because her stories are just a bit darker, a bit more suspenseful and a lot more seductive than most other romance novels?
I'm not sure, all I know is that ALL of her novels have grabbed me in a way most others can't, no matter how much I enjoy them.
THE DEVIL TO PAY is no exception!!
The storyline seems simple, but the story is not.
Sidonie Saint-Godard, sister of the fascinating George Kemble whom we know from previous novels, teaches deportment by day but isn't quite as respectable as she outwardly seems.
As the Black Angel she takes revenge on less than honorable men who've hurt women in one way or another.
When she sees how the Devil of Duke street, Devellyn, casts off yet another one of his mistresses who live across the stree from her, she decides he will be her next victim.
When the Black Angel leaves him tied naked to the bed in a seedy bar, Devellyn is livid. He vows he'll find Ruby Black and take what she cheated him out of.
In the meantime, he is forced to take up residence in his former mistress's house and meets his neighbor, the lovely French widow Sidonie. While he is still obsessed with earthy Ruby, he becomes fascinated by feisty Sidonie.
Sidonie is equally intrigued by Dev and soon starts to realize she might have made a mistake...
There are so many elements in this story I loved, but I'll try to keep it simple.
Aleric, the Devil Duke is my favorite kind of hero - a seriously tormented, big, brawny man. He is convinced his soul is "just a shade from black", and with good reason. This doesn't keep him from being honest about his feelings though. And he feels deeply. He's a complex character who's both cynical to the marrow and yet surprisingly open.
Sidonie/Ruby is a strong, independent woman with a mind of her own. She knows what she wants and acts without hesitation. Like Devellyn she has demons of her own that have shaped her.
Both Dev and Sid/Ruby were real persons to me. Fleshed out, with substance. I completely understood Dev's fascination, or obsession, with Ruby from the minute she opened her mouth. I thought they were perfect for each other.
While this is an intense and sexy read, there are lots of laugh-out-loud moments. I was giggling when Sid and Aleric first "officially" met, I laughed out loud at their second conversation and the scene when they got together after that was just plain hilarious. I won't get into what else made me sputter, but you'll know when you read it *eg*.
Buy this book, get comfortable and enjoy!
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a good read, December 26, 2004
Everyone knows that the Black Angel (so named because of a tattoo located on her left breast) has an agenda: to take from the blue-blooded rakish cads and to give to the women (discarded mistresses, raped housemaids, etc) they have wronged. Many of the "gentlemen" she has robbed have sworn to bring her down, but so far none have had any success. It is almost as if no one in London's great underworld knows who the Black Angel is. And then Black Angel decides to take down the Marquess of Devellyn, unwittingly setting in motion a series of events she never anticipated. For Devellyn is unlike her other marks. To begin with he's not the cad she thought he was, and then there is the fact that she is rather attracted to him. In the greater scheme of things, the Black Angel's feelings for the Marquess of Devellyn shouldn't matter, for a thief and a lord are unlikely to mix socially. But the Black Angel is actually a lady; a lady moreover who has recently acquired Devellyn as a neighbour -- a neigbour who seems quite intent on getting to know her intimately. And while Sidonie Saint-Godard (her identity is revealed in the plot synopsis on the backcover) quite enjoys the attentions, part of worries about what will happen if Devellyn ever discovers who her alter-ego is. And part of her cannot help but be jealous by Devellyn's obsession with the Black Angel...
If you're looking for a compelling read, complete with two angst filled principal characters and a few highly sensual love scenes, "The Devil to Pay" has your name on it. Well written and briskly paced, this was a fast and completely absorbing read. Liz Carlyle did a wonderful job of "fleshing" out her heroine and hero and making them seem like real (with both good points and hang-ups) and likable (in spite of Devellyn's rather over the top reaction when he discovers who the Black Angel really is). Some readers, however, may feel a little leery about the hero and heroine's first sexual encounter which starts off with the hero more or less forcing himself on her. I'll admit I'm still of two minds about that scene, in spite of the fact the author did salvage that scene completely. All in all however, a really good read.
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