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Regency Noblemen #2
The Devil's Delilah
Hot-tempered and unpredictable, Delilah Desmond was indeed the Devil's daughter. "Devil" Desmond, to be exact, society's most infamous rogue who had just completed his scandalous memoirs. A great many dreaded the tell-all publication, including his daughter, for it meant certain social ruin.
282 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
143 people are currently reading
958 people want to read
About the author
Loretta Chase
52 books3,662 followersLoretta Lynda Chekani was born in 1949, of Albanian ancestry. For her, the trouble started when she learned to write in first grade. Before then, she had been making up her own stories but now she knew how to write them down to share. In her teenage years, she continue to write letters, keep a journal, write poetry and even attempt the Great American Novel (still unfinished). She attended New England public schools, before she went off to college and earned an English degree from Clark University.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
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October 19, 2023
I’m officially a Loretta Chase fan now. I picked this book up after scouring Namera’s extensive and extremely helpful shelves (thanks Namera, you’re the best) for books with soft but strong heroes. It did not disappoint.
The Devil’s Delilah has an awesome hero. He first appears in another connected standalone of the author’s (Viscount Vagabond) as a sort of second male lead who doesn’t get the girl that time. Jack is quiet, reserved, bookish, and sweet-tempered. I loved him in that book, but we get to see an even better side to him in Devil’s Delilah. Jack is also fiercely loyal, cunning, open-minded, and not afraid to stand his ground. Perfect hero material.
The heroine, Delilah, is a great match for Jack. She’s fiery and quick to anger, but just like Jack she’s fiercely loyal and willing to sacrifice for the people she loves.
Delilah is having a rough time on the marriage market because of her parents; her father is known as Devil Desmond, a scoundrel and a genteel criminal, and her mother was a title-less actress before marrying the Devil. Therefore high society expects Delilah to be as rough and uncivilized as her parents are rumored to be, and shuns her. However, the family is running out of money, so she has to find a husband soon.
What’s worse, her father’s plan to bring in more money is to publish his racy memoirs and make a fortune—but if the stories of his life get out to the public, Delilah’s reputation will be permanently ruined.
Into this mess steps Jack, who accidentally stumbles upon Devil Desmond’s memoir manuscript and becomes entangled in Delilah’s problems, first as a perceived enemy and then as an ally and friend. The relationship built at a believable pace and there was good chemistry between the leads.
Yes, it’s a regency romance from the 80s, so there’s some kinda iffy stuff in there, but that’s to be expected. Considering that pretty much every romance book written in that era contained some instance of dubcon or straight-up rape, this book is actually really unproblematic in comparison.
The Devil’s Delilah has an awesome hero. He first appears in another connected standalone of the author’s (Viscount Vagabond) as a sort of second male lead who doesn’t get the girl that time. Jack is quiet, reserved, bookish, and sweet-tempered. I loved him in that book, but we get to see an even better side to him in Devil’s Delilah. Jack is also fiercely loyal, cunning, open-minded, and not afraid to stand his ground. Perfect hero material.
The heroine, Delilah, is a great match for Jack. She’s fiery and quick to anger, but just like Jack she’s fiercely loyal and willing to sacrifice for the people she loves.
Delilah is having a rough time on the marriage market because of her parents; her father is known as Devil Desmond, a scoundrel and a genteel criminal, and her mother was a title-less actress before marrying the Devil. Therefore high society expects Delilah to be as rough and uncivilized as her parents are rumored to be, and shuns her. However, the family is running out of money, so she has to find a husband soon.
What’s worse, her father’s plan to bring in more money is to publish his racy memoirs and make a fortune—but if the stories of his life get out to the public, Delilah’s reputation will be permanently ruined.
Into this mess steps Jack, who accidentally stumbles upon Devil Desmond’s memoir manuscript and becomes entangled in Delilah’s problems, first as a perceived enemy and then as an ally and friend. The relationship built at a believable pace and there was good chemistry between the leads.
Yes, it’s a regency romance from the 80s, so there’s some kinda iffy stuff in there, but that’s to be expected. Considering that pretty much every romance book written in that era contained some instance of dubcon or straight-up rape, this book is actually really unproblematic in comparison.
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March 30, 2021
⤅ Considering I've read this at least three times now, it's about time I reviewed it.
It's been a long time since I've been able to enjoy a historical romance. Ever since I did my second-yeaar uni dissertation on Georgette Heyer, all other writers - even ones I used to enjoy - have paled into insignificance for me. All the errors jump out at me. This morning, I tried to start Lorraine Heath's latest, and I had to abandon it FIVE PAGES IN because the hero - son of a duke - tells the heroine, an earl's daughter whom he barely knows, that men 'want a wanton in bed'. In front of his sister. And another woman. No, just no!!! In the Victorian era, this is absolutely not something he would have said to a gently-bred lady he doesn't know in front of multiple witnesses including his own sister!!!!!
But I was able to summon up all my old enjoyment for The Devil's Delilah, partially because I already loved it and partially because it's a traditional Regency romance. So it's clean, witty, and much better at pretending to be historically accurate than 90% of the HRs published today.
The premise is insanely fabulous. Delilah Desmond is the daughter of an an actress and a notorious ex-rake named 'Darryl 'Devil' Desmond, the sort of wicked gambler and hell-raiser who's usually the hero of other books. She's come down to London with her father because she's looking to get married. Unfortunately, her infamous parents mean that most men think she's ripe to be their mistress, rather than a wife.
On the very first night she runs into trouble when the Earl of Streetham mistakes her for his mistress and almost rapes her. Luckily, she's more than capable of looking after herself, but in the process appears Jack Langdon, a friend of Streetham's son Viscount Berne, who assumes Delilah is a criminal attacking Streetham and tries to stop her. But anyway, eventually everything is all straightened out and they part. Then they keep getting thrown into each other's paths when they realise they're neighbours.
Most of the drama comes from the fact that Devil Desmond is about to publish his scandalous memoirs. Streetham is determined to get his hands on them, because he knows he won't come off well in them, so he dispatches Berne to seduce Delilah and obtain the memoirs through her. Berne - a glittering, witty rakehell who's classic hero material - is more than willing to seduce her, but soon realises he's lost his heart more than he anticipated. Meanwhile, Jack is being tormented by his attraction to a total harridan of a woman, while Delilah blithely storms through both men's lives.
I was stunned to see that this book is peppered with one-star ratings. IT'S SO GOOD. Jack is mostly a nerdy, gentle guy who prefers books to people and brains over brawn. But he develops an alpha streak whenever he's kissing Delilah, and to be perfectly honest that's a combination I'm more than here for.
Delilah is fabulous. She's mercenary - perhaps that's why people don't like; she desperately wants to make a good marriage. But I don't fault her for it. She's cool, calculating, but passionate when she has to be. In short she's a typical Heyer heroine - Sophy from The Grand Sophy is the one who springs to mind here.
I'm not sure there's a Heyer parallel for Jack. But Berne is undoubtedly Dominic Vidal from Devil's Cub, and watching Delilah manage him was awesome. I don't think there's a love triangle; her choice is always obvious. But I have tagged this OM drama because, well, there's an Other Man and he causes some drama.
Jack was actually reportedly in love with the heroine from the book before this one. I tried reading it, but it's not very good. Anyway normally I hate reading the story of the 'spurned suitor' but I ended this convinced of Jack's love for Delilah and that all he felt for Catherine (other heroine) had been affection.
I can't finish this review with a mention of Devil Desmond and his wife Angelica, who are the BEST PARENTS EVER. I would 1000% read their story. But I suppose that's the whole point of this book: seeing their story from someone else's eyes, because we get enough books with a devilish hero anyway.
It's been a long time since I've been able to enjoy a historical romance. Ever since I did my second-yeaar uni dissertation on Georgette Heyer, all other writers - even ones I used to enjoy - have paled into insignificance for me. All the errors jump out at me. This morning, I tried to start Lorraine Heath's latest, and I had to abandon it FIVE PAGES IN because the hero - son of a duke - tells the heroine, an earl's daughter whom he barely knows, that men 'want a wanton in bed'. In front of his sister. And another woman. No, just no!!! In the Victorian era, this is absolutely not something he would have said to a gently-bred lady he doesn't know in front of multiple witnesses including his own sister!!!!!
But I was able to summon up all my old enjoyment for The Devil's Delilah, partially because I already loved it and partially because it's a traditional Regency romance. So it's clean, witty, and much better at pretending to be historically accurate than 90% of the HRs published today.
The premise is insanely fabulous. Delilah Desmond is the daughter of an an actress and a notorious ex-rake named 'Darryl 'Devil' Desmond, the sort of wicked gambler and hell-raiser who's usually the hero of other books. She's come down to London with her father because she's looking to get married. Unfortunately, her infamous parents mean that most men think she's ripe to be their mistress, rather than a wife.
On the very first night she runs into trouble when the Earl of Streetham mistakes her for his mistress and almost rapes her. Luckily, she's more than capable of looking after herself, but in the process appears Jack Langdon, a friend of Streetham's son Viscount Berne, who assumes Delilah is a criminal attacking Streetham and tries to stop her. But anyway, eventually everything is all straightened out and they part. Then they keep getting thrown into each other's paths when they realise they're neighbours.
Most of the drama comes from the fact that Devil Desmond is about to publish his scandalous memoirs. Streetham is determined to get his hands on them, because he knows he won't come off well in them, so he dispatches Berne to seduce Delilah and obtain the memoirs through her. Berne - a glittering, witty rakehell who's classic hero material - is more than willing to seduce her, but soon realises he's lost his heart more than he anticipated. Meanwhile, Jack is being tormented by his attraction to a total harridan of a woman, while Delilah blithely storms through both men's lives.
I was stunned to see that this book is peppered with one-star ratings. IT'S SO GOOD. Jack is mostly a nerdy, gentle guy who prefers books to people and brains over brawn. But he develops an alpha streak whenever he's kissing Delilah, and to be perfectly honest that's a combination I'm more than here for.
Delilah is fabulous. She's mercenary - perhaps that's why people don't like; she desperately wants to make a good marriage. But I don't fault her for it. She's cool, calculating, but passionate when she has to be. In short she's a typical Heyer heroine - Sophy from The Grand Sophy is the one who springs to mind here.
I'm not sure there's a Heyer parallel for Jack. But Berne is undoubtedly Dominic Vidal from Devil's Cub, and watching Delilah manage him was awesome. I don't think there's a love triangle; her choice is always obvious. But I have tagged this OM drama because, well, there's an Other Man and he causes some drama.
Jack was actually reportedly in love with the heroine from the book before this one. I tried reading it, but it's not very good. Anyway normally I hate reading the story of the 'spurned suitor' but I ended this convinced of Jack's love for Delilah and that all he felt for Catherine (other heroine) had been affection.
I can't finish this review with a mention of Devil Desmond and his wife Angelica, who are the BEST PARENTS EVER. I would 1000% read their story. But I suppose that's the whole point of this book: seeing their story from someone else's eyes, because we get enough books with a devilish hero anyway.
June 11, 2013
I find reading reviews of romance novels especially fascinating, because we all have our own personal preferences and pet peeves; the same tropes and styles that particularly delight some of us manage to profoundly annoy others. So I understand that this book won't be a favorite for everyone, but it was an immediate favorite of mine---an endlessly delightful collection of nearly everything I love about romance novels and mercifully devoid of most of what I don't!
What I loved:
1) Sometimes it seems like pretty much every historical romance hero is either a brooding, brutish, bitterly broken man who needs the heroine to 'fix' him (many of these types would be mandated to anger management courses in modern times!) or a slick, excessively 'charming' rake who's slept with pretty much every pulse-having female on the planet before deigning to settle down with our heroine. (The regency equivalents of hard partying frat boys.)
So I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that Jack Langdon is one of my very favorite heroes ever. He's so unique---and, to me, uniquely lovable---among Regency heroes: one of the few who's a genuinely intellectual, sweetly shy and unabashedly gentle, kindhearted man. Rest assured, though, that he's got a fiery, intense masculinity underneath. I could write several paragraphs on how ardently I adore him, but I'll spare you the agony :)
2) I found the heroine eminently lovable as well, albeit not as unique a 'type' as the hero. She's spirited and witty and very much alive, someone I rooted for but who's also relatably and interestingly flawed...her temper is amusingly atrocious. A book where I truly love both the hero AND heroine this much is a sad rarity for me!
3) Style and tone are always highly subjective, but Loretta Chase's clicked for me perfectly in a 'ah, yes, THIS is what my book-loving heart has been looking for!' way. This is just personal preference, but I like my romances to be high energy, witty and more fun than angst-drenched. If you're looking for something very angsty and (melo)dramatic, this is probably not the book for you, but I found it an endlessly clever, funny, mood-lifting joy!
4) While I'll read anything and everything as long as I like the characters and writing style, I'm generally in the 'less is more' camp when it comes to love scenes. I totally respect those who prefer their romances to be as steamy as possible, but I actually find it sexier when the author leaves something to our imagination. Weirdly enough, I found Jack and Delilah's chemistry stronger and more believable than the couples whose *very* detailed sexual exploits we're privy to, as the writer focused more on how they connected in other ways. And, for me, sexual tension is often more powerful before it's consummated (over and over and over again!) I get that this is probably old-fashioned of me, but I like stories that focus more on love than lust. :)
While I can very easily see how some found this book deeply imperfect---(suffice it to say the plotting and pacing could have been a whole lot tighter!)---it turned out to be perfect for ME. I was left with that giddy, swoony feeling of having fallen truly in love with a new book, which doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like. And let's pretend that swoony is a word :)
What I loved:
1) Sometimes it seems like pretty much every historical romance hero is either a brooding, brutish, bitterly broken man who needs the heroine to 'fix' him (many of these types would be mandated to anger management courses in modern times!) or a slick, excessively 'charming' rake who's slept with pretty much every pulse-having female on the planet before deigning to settle down with our heroine. (The regency equivalents of hard partying frat boys.)
So I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that Jack Langdon is one of my very favorite heroes ever. He's so unique---and, to me, uniquely lovable---among Regency heroes: one of the few who's a genuinely intellectual, sweetly shy and unabashedly gentle, kindhearted man. Rest assured, though, that he's got a fiery, intense masculinity underneath. I could write several paragraphs on how ardently I adore him, but I'll spare you the agony :)
2) I found the heroine eminently lovable as well, albeit not as unique a 'type' as the hero. She's spirited and witty and very much alive, someone I rooted for but who's also relatably and interestingly flawed...her temper is amusingly atrocious. A book where I truly love both the hero AND heroine this much is a sad rarity for me!
3) Style and tone are always highly subjective, but Loretta Chase's clicked for me perfectly in a 'ah, yes, THIS is what my book-loving heart has been looking for!' way. This is just personal preference, but I like my romances to be high energy, witty and more fun than angst-drenched. If you're looking for something very angsty and (melo)dramatic, this is probably not the book for you, but I found it an endlessly clever, funny, mood-lifting joy!
4) While I'll read anything and everything as long as I like the characters and writing style, I'm generally in the 'less is more' camp when it comes to love scenes. I totally respect those who prefer their romances to be as steamy as possible, but I actually find it sexier when the author leaves something to our imagination. Weirdly enough, I found Jack and Delilah's chemistry stronger and more believable than the couples whose *very* detailed sexual exploits we're privy to, as the writer focused more on how they connected in other ways. And, for me, sexual tension is often more powerful before it's consummated (over and over and over again!) I get that this is probably old-fashioned of me, but I like stories that focus more on love than lust. :)
While I can very easily see how some found this book deeply imperfect---(suffice it to say the plotting and pacing could have been a whole lot tighter!)---it turned out to be perfect for ME. I was left with that giddy, swoony feeling of having fallen truly in love with a new book, which doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like. And let's pretend that swoony is a word :)
February 23, 2024
This story dealt with a game of hide and seek concerning a book of memoirs. The same could be said about feelings and true love.
While it should have been my kind of catnip, it was ho-hum. DD came along at the wrong time for me. My library suddenly added a copy while everything else was on hold. I borrowed it but could not get into it. The editing didn’t help. Switches in POV were as haphazard as a flea having the time of its life with a litter of puppies. Scenes transitioned abruptly without page breaks.
Anyway, Delilah and Jack were adorable as were their friends and family members. The humor was highlightable. I only wish the story went into more depth.
Quibble: Chase juggled British spellings with Americanisms. Among “travelling” and “labour” there was “ass.” 🤷🏻♀️
While it should have been my kind of catnip, it was ho-hum. DD came along at the wrong time for me. My library suddenly added a copy while everything else was on hold. I borrowed it but could not get into it. The editing didn’t help. Switches in POV were as haphazard as a flea having the time of its life with a litter of puppies. Scenes transitioned abruptly without page breaks.
Anyway, Delilah and Jack were adorable as were their friends and family members. The humor was highlightable. I only wish the story went into more depth.
Quibble: Chase juggled British spellings with Americanisms. Among “travelling” and “labour” there was “ass.” 🤷🏻♀️
November 29, 2015
What was I thinking, giving this 4 stars?!?!?!??!
This book is bloody ridiculous. The heroine is one selfish, stupid little bitch who, even at the 90% marker (!!!!!) allowed herself to elope with another man. I repeat, she was okay with another man bedding her as long as he marries her.
Um, girl, what the fuck? This was already near the end of the book, for fuck's sake!
This book is bloody ridiculous. The heroine is one selfish, stupid little bitch who, even at the 90% marker (!!!!!) allowed herself to elope with another man. I repeat, she was okay with another man bedding her as long as he marries her.
Um, girl, what the fuck? This was already near the end of the book, for fuck's sake!
April 1, 2013
I was going to write a really scathing review of this, but, frankly, I've complained about this one to a group of my friends, and I am purely exhausted.
So. First. The good points. Loretta Chase writes clear prose, snappy dialogue, and well-fleshed out characters. The pacing of the book is good, and the caper plot is handled tolerably well.
The bad points?
I was drawn into reading this by a glowing review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. In which the reviewer praised the hero to the skies for his nobility and compassion and his way of going above and beyond for the heroine despite the cost to himself. Given the prevalence of alphaholes out there... this sounded like a sure thing. Here's an excerpt:
What this passage does not tell you is that, right before the kiss they're describing, Jack THROTTLES Delilah out of anger, and the kiss is an extension of that, done forcefully and coercively and in a manner he admits was meant to make her feel like a whore. "Poor manners on the part of a gentleman" is one hell of a way to describe ASSAULT.
And then Delilah spends a lot of time blaming herself for provoking him, and having a great deal of difficulty distinguishing between arousal and love. As she's physically inexperienced, this is plausible, but it's painful to see such a strong-willed heroine follow those lines of thought.
That's not the only time he lays violent hands on her, either. There's another scene where he yanks her head back by the hair, shortly followed by another aggressive kiss -- and later, when they discuss it, he says that kisses like that are the only thing he's ever found that will subdue her. EW.
There were a number of historical infelicities, which I won't go into great detail about. I know I'm very demanding on that level, and most people wouldn't read about a "small pistol in her reticule" and go "wait, this predates the derringer by a couple of decades, I'm not buying that she could have fit one in there." Some of her historical details are pretty good, after all.
So. If you like your heroes with a streak of violence, and don't mind ones who abuse the concept of consent and disrespect the heroine's autonomy, you might enjoy this book.
But I didn't.
So. First. The good points. Loretta Chase writes clear prose, snappy dialogue, and well-fleshed out characters. The pacing of the book is good, and the caper plot is handled tolerably well.
The bad points?
I was drawn into reading this by a glowing review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. In which the reviewer praised the hero to the skies for his nobility and compassion and his way of going above and beyond for the heroine despite the cost to himself. Given the prevalence of alphaholes out there... this sounded like a sure thing. Here's an excerpt:
Jack is often shy and unsure of himself, but not when he kisses Delilah. He is overwhelmed by his feelings for her - both physical and emotional - and he does not like the tumult she inspires in him. When he realizes he's kissed her in a way that would be considered poor manners on the part of a gentleman, he doesn't blame her for being a temptation, and lay the responsibility on her. He is mortified at his lack of control, and apologizes very humbly. Jack has a tremendous moral compass.
What this passage does not tell you is that, right before the kiss they're describing, Jack THROTTLES Delilah out of anger, and the kiss is an extension of that, done forcefully and coercively and in a manner he admits was meant to make her feel like a whore. "Poor manners on the part of a gentleman" is one hell of a way to describe ASSAULT.
And then Delilah spends a lot of time blaming herself for provoking him, and having a great deal of difficulty distinguishing between arousal and love. As she's physically inexperienced, this is plausible, but it's painful to see such a strong-willed heroine follow those lines of thought.
That's not the only time he lays violent hands on her, either. There's another scene where he yanks her head back by the hair, shortly followed by another aggressive kiss -- and later, when they discuss it, he says that kisses like that are the only thing he's ever found that will subdue her. EW.
There were a number of historical infelicities, which I won't go into great detail about. I know I'm very demanding on that level, and most people wouldn't read about a "small pistol in her reticule" and go "wait, this predates the derringer by a couple of decades, I'm not buying that she could have fit one in there." Some of her historical details are pretty good, after all.
So. If you like your heroes with a streak of violence, and don't mind ones who abuse the concept of consent and disrespect the heroine's autonomy, you might enjoy this book.
But I didn't.
November 22, 2021
Delilah and Jack. A fun, charming story that I really enjoyed. Devil (Delilah's father was a hoot).
November 2021. Reread AGAIN. Bumped up the rating from 4.5 stars to 5 stars. Loved it especially since the hero is a bookworm. This one is a clean read expect only kisses. Sometimes less is more. HA!
November 2021. Reread AGAIN. Bumped up the rating from 4.5 stars to 5 stars. Loved it especially since the hero is a bookworm. This one is a clean read expect only kisses. Sometimes less is more. HA!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2013
This is early LC, so we're not in Lord of Scoundrels territory yet. At times it felt more like The Importance of Being Earnest or some other Oscar Wilde romp, for the story is more farce than romance. As such, I found it quite delightful.
October 20, 2014
I GAVE A LORETTA CHASE NOVEL 2 STARS THE SKY IS FALLING.
Delilah is the Devil's daughter. She'd like to get married--mostly for money, it sounds like. Jack is a bookworm. He'd like to stay away from ladies for the time being. Except Delilah's dad's memoirs are about to drop a Scandal on everyone's head and Jack can't decide if he wants to shake Delilah or make out with her face.
1. I just didn't care very much. Delilah's biggest flaw is that she...doesn't fit society's norms. She's too brash! Too smart! Too sassy! Too prone to inappropriateness! Too beautiful! She's just too modern, y'see, and so she suffers terribly for it. Except I got real bored with her real fast.
2. The fact that the secret plot is all throw-away makes me super sad. :( I LOVE HEISTS AND THIS WAS THE PERFECT SET UP FOR A DELICIOUS HEIST.
3. The banter took off in the last 1/6 of the book but it was not enough to truly save this thing.
4. I loved the idea of Jack as a bumbling bookworm, but in actuality there's very little to prove that character trait. He's too busy yelling at Delilah, ferociously kissing her face off, throwing her onto horses, threatening to spank her, thinking terribly lusty thoughts...etc. Although I did love how he keeps reverting back to his stupid honor.
5. Whoever is republishing Chase's novels as ebooks needs to edit them a bit better. Too many mis-transcribed words!!
Delilah is the Devil's daughter. She'd like to get married--mostly for money, it sounds like. Jack is a bookworm. He'd like to stay away from ladies for the time being. Except Delilah's dad's memoirs are about to drop a Scandal on everyone's head and Jack can't decide if he wants to shake Delilah or make out with her face.
1. I just didn't care very much. Delilah's biggest flaw is that she...doesn't fit society's norms. She's too brash! Too smart! Too sassy! Too prone to inappropriateness! Too beautiful! She's just too modern, y'see, and so she suffers terribly for it. Except I got real bored with her real fast.
2. The fact that the secret plot is all throw-away makes me super sad. :( I LOVE HEISTS AND THIS WAS THE PERFECT SET UP FOR A DELICIOUS HEIST.
3. The banter took off in the last 1/6 of the book but it was not enough to truly save this thing.
4. I loved the idea of Jack as a bumbling bookworm, but in actuality there's very little to prove that character trait. He's too busy yelling at Delilah, ferociously kissing her face off, throwing her onto horses, threatening to spank her, thinking terribly lusty thoughts...etc. Although I did love how he keeps reverting back to his stupid honor.
5. Whoever is republishing Chase's novels as ebooks needs to edit them a bit better. Too many mis-transcribed words!!
April 30, 2023
First, let me give a round of applause for Loretta Chase for including the phrase “heaving bosom.” I thought that was an apocryphal phrase used to mock romance novels, but no!
Anyway, I very much enjoyed this 1990 Regency by Baby Loretta Chase. You can see a) how much of an influence Georgette Heyer was on her and b) the beginnings of her own style.
Delilah was a divine heroine who really felt like a YOUNG woman with hormones surging, rather than a preternaturally self-possessed figure. Her dad was, despite pushing 60, someone I’d very much like to get to know, hur hur - and his wife, who makes a brief appearance, seemed like a classy broad.
Our hero, Jack, was hilariously bookish and seemingly scatterbrained, but his alpha came out in force when Delilah was around. Delightful.
Note that there are a few iffy consent moments, this being written in basically the 80s.
I would class this as a “clean” romance BUT there is an extremely sexy moment near the end that involves eyes only. 👀
EDIT: I just read Viscount Vagabond, which (unbeknownst to me) is where we meet Frank Langdon. I thought he was so charming in that book, so I’m glad he got his own.
Anyway, I very much enjoyed this 1990 Regency by Baby Loretta Chase. You can see a) how much of an influence Georgette Heyer was on her and b) the beginnings of her own style.
Delilah was a divine heroine who really felt like a YOUNG woman with hormones surging, rather than a preternaturally self-possessed figure. Her dad was, despite pushing 60, someone I’d very much like to get to know, hur hur - and his wife, who makes a brief appearance, seemed like a classy broad.
Our hero, Jack, was hilariously bookish and seemingly scatterbrained, but his alpha came out in force when Delilah was around. Delightful.
Note that there are a few iffy consent moments, this being written in basically the 80s.
I would class this as a “clean” romance BUT there is an extremely sexy moment near the end that involves eyes only. 👀
EDIT: I just read Viscount Vagabond, which (unbeknownst to me) is where we meet Frank Langdon. I thought he was so charming in that book, so I’m glad he got his own.
March 13, 2024
Fun, light Georgette Heyer-style Regency with a nerdy hero and a heroine who enjoys shooting. Rather skimpy on plot, but readable. No sex, just passionate kissing.
November 5, 2013
A hero who can't get his head out of a book, looking for a nice quiet girl. A heroine who's quick with her words and her gun who's looking for a boy who's tough and fierce like her father- a man the people call Devil.
They weren't looking for each other but they can't seem to stay away. She thinks he's stuffy and weak and he thinks she's wild and outrageous. She keeps finding trouble and he keeps rescuing her.
I love me a beta hero who knows his stuff. He's so utterly adorable to me I just wanna eat him up. I have a thing for nerds can you tell? The heroine is the perfect balance of feisty and smart and, like many other of Chase's heroines, she's not an idiot.
This series seems like early work from Loretta Chase, and you can tell maybe a little from her writing style. I loved both books in this series and I think they will be ones that will go on my re-read list because they're fun and the characters where perfect.
They weren't looking for each other but they can't seem to stay away. She thinks he's stuffy and weak and he thinks she's wild and outrageous. She keeps finding trouble and he keeps rescuing her.
I love me a beta hero who knows his stuff. He's so utterly adorable to me I just wanna eat him up. I have a thing for nerds can you tell? The heroine is the perfect balance of feisty and smart and, like many other of Chase's heroines, she's not an idiot.
This series seems like early work from Loretta Chase, and you can tell maybe a little from her writing style. I loved both books in this series and I think they will be ones that will go on my re-read list because they're fun and the characters where perfect.
August 25, 2019
Gorgeous story, with a bookworm H, who really doesn't understand himself, and a clever h, who really isn't that clever, nor does she have much self control. It's all very silly, the H's friend might be the evil OM and the friend's father might be the h's father's arch enemy, and the h's father might be a rake, and her mother seems to be little better than a ….well, lots of hints but we don't know until we meet her towards the end of the adventure. It is all fantastic fun, extremely clean unfortunately but I loved it anyway.
August 10, 2025
hilarious, full of intrigue, like a Heyer with more intense yearning. loved every minute
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July 14, 2011
My reviews are mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...
Delilah's father 'Devil' Desmond, the notorious libertine, just wrote his memoir and gives it to the scholarly Jack for editing. Jack is just his polar opposite, books are his world. Delilah is her father's daughter, at least in her spirit. They're attracted to each-other when a rakehell (he was awful, I mean leaving bastards here and there awful) Berne comes in the story. But he was titled! You'll read what I felt about that in my comments following this paragraph. I though Delilah was a TSTL and Jack deserved a better heroine since I liked him. He was brilliant and a good guy. He was Max's, (the hero of the 1st book) friend.
It is slow IMO. The pair is giving me mixed feelings :/ I mean I started to like Delilah, then she feels happy cause a pooh-pooh like Berne wrote a moronic letter saying he misses her (when she knows about his scintillating character) and I'm like whattttt...! Grrrr I just want Jack to stand up a bit more! I'd like to kick Berne up his arse and throw the shoes away as well! He's just ... arghhh!! :@ [read: the species I dislike a.k.a rake! Berne was one yukky guy]
***************
Grrr, Delilah and Berne do deserve one another! Poor Jack definitely deserves better. I thought Delilah will show some brain but ultimately she disappointed me. When someone repeatedly trusts (and she doesn't even love him!) someone like Berne (a SOB in all possible angles; I mean I really really hated him, I don't care whose fault was it!), I'm bound to question her sanity! Really, Jack maybe wasn't one of those alpha males but he was good. And, the book IMO had much better prospects but just didn't amount to it. I'll give it a 3 star only for Jack and the fact I like Ms. Chase's writing style, otherwise it would be 2. :/
Delilah's father 'Devil' Desmond, the notorious libertine, just wrote his memoir and gives it to the scholarly Jack for editing. Jack is just his polar opposite, books are his world. Delilah is her father's daughter, at least in her spirit. They're attracted to each-other when a rakehell (he was awful, I mean leaving bastards here and there awful) Berne comes in the story. But he was titled! You'll read what I felt about that in my comments following this paragraph. I though Delilah was a TSTL and Jack deserved a better heroine since I liked him. He was brilliant and a good guy. He was Max's, (the hero of the 1st book) friend.
It is slow IMO. The pair is giving me mixed feelings :/ I mean I started to like Delilah, then she feels happy cause a pooh-pooh like Berne wrote a moronic letter saying he misses her (when she knows about his scintillating character) and I'm like whattttt...! Grrrr I just want Jack to stand up a bit more! I'd like to kick Berne up his arse and throw the shoes away as well! He's just ... arghhh!! :@ [read: the species I dislike a.k.a rake! Berne was one yukky guy]
***************
Grrr, Delilah and Berne do deserve one another! Poor Jack definitely deserves better. I thought Delilah will show some brain but ultimately she disappointed me. When someone repeatedly trusts (and she doesn't even love him!) someone like Berne (a SOB in all possible angles; I mean I really really hated him, I don't care whose fault was it!), I'm bound to question her sanity! Really, Jack maybe wasn't one of those alpha males but he was good. And, the book IMO had much better prospects but just didn't amount to it. I'll give it a 3 star only for Jack and the fact I like Ms. Chase's writing style, otherwise it would be 2. :/
April 28, 2012
It was not a bad book per se,but it lacked that certain something that makes a good read.It does have hints of Ms Chases later books. This one felt rushed and could have benefited from some more fleshing out.
As it was I never warmed up the hero and heroine and didnt really get what attracted them to each other.The hero was constantly repelling the heroine with his bookishness,and those times he kissed her he suddenly transformed into this this masterful person.It grated on me.
The author should be commended for trying to write a schoolarly hero though,but I felt that Jack remained a bit of a mystery throuhgout the book.
I think that there was hinting that certain aspectes of Jacks personality was the cause of something that happened in his pst ,but it wasnt explored properly.It should have been fleshed out more.
Then the heroine,Delilah was one of those insanely feisty heroines that are a staple of historical romances.Her spiritedness started to become annoying after a while.She kept shifting between personalities also in one instance she is ruthlessly calculating how to hook a man for marriage in the next shes this free spirited person who cant be contained by societys strictures.
Delilahs parents,Devil and Angelina was very entertaining though. Maybe the best part of the whole book. Would have loved to read about their story. :)
As it was I never warmed up the hero and heroine and didnt really get what attracted them to each other.The hero was constantly repelling the heroine with his bookishness,and those times he kissed her he suddenly transformed into this this masterful person.It grated on me.
The author should be commended for trying to write a schoolarly hero though,but I felt that Jack remained a bit of a mystery throuhgout the book.
I think that there was hinting that certain aspectes of Jacks personality was the cause of something that happened in his pst ,but it wasnt explored properly.It should have been fleshed out more.
Then the heroine,Delilah was one of those insanely feisty heroines that are a staple of historical romances.Her spiritedness started to become annoying after a while.She kept shifting between personalities also in one instance she is ruthlessly calculating how to hook a man for marriage in the next shes this free spirited person who cant be contained by societys strictures.
Delilahs parents,Devil and Angelina was very entertaining though. Maybe the best part of the whole book. Would have loved to read about their story. :)
February 11, 2020
Disappointing
This COULD'VE been good, but at the 70% mark, the hero tries to throttle the heroine, and then blames her for it. This was sweet, and I loved Jack, and how he was an awesome beta hero...until that. I shouldn't have been surprised, given the previous book, but...I was disappointed.
This COULD'VE been good, but at the 70% mark, the hero tries to throttle the heroine, and then blames her for it. This was sweet, and I loved Jack, and how he was an awesome beta hero...until that. I shouldn't have been surprised, given the previous book, but...I was disappointed.
September 17, 2013
There are some expectations that come with reading a Loretta Chase novel. Good characters, good writing, and an occasional witty line but also an iffy plot. It’s too bad that this book focuses on the plot build around Devil Desmond’s memoirs at the expense of the characters. And this is coming from a plot girl.
The first half of the book is dedicated to Jack Langdon, the dull bookworm, who is somewhat an exceptional hero. He’s not the the type to whisk his intended to Gretna Green or lure her between the bushes and away from the chaperones, though he’s not above stealing the occasional kiss and offering heartfelt apologies later—right before he steals another kiss. But he devious and worms his way into Delilah’s heart and thoughts.
The problem is I’m not quite sure what Jack sees in Delilah. His infatuation is too superficial and focused on her beauty rather than her magnificent linguistic skills. There’s a monologue where he explains himself towards the end but it’s hardly as memorable as all the things he does for Delilah that show exactly why she’d fall for him.
Speaking of Delilah. She’s another wonderful Loretta Chase heroine. She’s headstrong, opinionated, and highly spirited woman. Yes, I just typed up a clichéd list, but the difference is in the writing. Delilah gets her chance in the second half of the book and her irrational behaviour starts to make sense. Not much, but some.
Another strong voice in the book is the Devil Desmond himself. He’s supposed to be a notorious rake from years back but by the time the reader is introduced to him, he’s merely a devoted, although an unconventional parent. He’s the paragon of what many romance authors hope to write—and fail miserably—as a scoundrel redeemed by love. And he’s merely a secondary character.
As I said, the book is build around searching, finding, and stealing the Devil Desmond’s memoirs. It offers a wonderful excuse for Jack and Delilah to keep meeting each other but it also limits the depths of their discussions. Instead of taking a moment or two to show the young couple to do more than quip at each other, Chase brushes the in depth philosophical discussions aside as mere distractions from THE dilemma of an inconvenient expose book.
That makes this a strong three star meh-read but I’m rounding up the rating because of the ending.
Now, I wonder what Anachronist would think about this.
The first half of the book is dedicated to Jack Langdon, the dull bookworm, who is somewhat an exceptional hero. He’s not the the type to whisk his intended to Gretna Green or lure her between the bushes and away from the chaperones, though he’s not above stealing the occasional kiss and offering heartfelt apologies later—right before he steals another kiss. But he devious and worms his way into Delilah’s heart and thoughts.
The problem is I’m not quite sure what Jack sees in Delilah. His infatuation is too superficial and focused on her beauty rather than her magnificent linguistic skills. There’s a monologue where he explains himself towards the end but it’s hardly as memorable as all the things he does for Delilah that show exactly why she’d fall for him.
Speaking of Delilah. She’s another wonderful Loretta Chase heroine. She’s headstrong, opinionated, and highly spirited woman. Yes, I just typed up a clichéd list, but the difference is in the writing. Delilah gets her chance in the second half of the book and her irrational behaviour starts to make sense. Not much, but some.
Another strong voice in the book is the Devil Desmond himself. He’s supposed to be a notorious rake from years back but by the time the reader is introduced to him, he’s merely a devoted, although an unconventional parent. He’s the paragon of what many romance authors hope to write—and fail miserably—as a scoundrel redeemed by love. And he’s merely a secondary character.
As I said, the book is build around searching, finding, and stealing the Devil Desmond’s memoirs. It offers a wonderful excuse for Jack and Delilah to keep meeting each other but it also limits the depths of their discussions. Instead of taking a moment or two to show the young couple to do more than quip at each other, Chase brushes the in depth philosophical discussions aside as mere distractions from THE dilemma of an inconvenient expose book.
That makes this a strong three star meh-read but I’m rounding up the rating because of the ending.
Now, I wonder what Anachronist would think about this.
April 23, 2013
This one didn't work at all for me. Never could see what attracted Jack to Delilah. Devil was supposed to be a rake with a scandalous history but was simply portrayed as a devoted and loving father and husband with a great sense of humour. Hence the plot, based around the publication of Devil's scandalous memoirs, made no sense at all. It was also way too convoluted and silly to work in a book of this length. The other characters besides Devil, Delilah and Jack are just one-dimensional cliched caricatures, and the Tony character could have been dispensed with completely - he just made me cringe (and Delilah's behaviour with him was pretty cringe-worthy too).
June 6, 2017
I was in the mood for a Loretta Chase book, and it is still six months before her new one will be released. It has been a while since I reread this one, an old favorite. This reread--my fourth, I believe--was as delightful as the first read. I adore Jack, a most heart-stealing beta hero, more fervently than ever.
January 18, 2016
I was looking forwArd to Langdon's story since he was such a book worm. It starts slowly and almost lost my interest, but then the fun characters that Loretta Chase created came alive with humor and mischief. Not as good as the first, but still fun.
February 19, 2010
This was a nice clean regency romance. I would probably give it more stars, but I just wasn't able to get into it right now. I'll try again another time.
December 18, 2012
Always a good storyteller but I admit I didn't like the heroine enough to bump this up to 4 stars (= worth a re-read for me)
January 20, 2013
It's rare for me to not finish a book, but I found this one to be more of a chore than a pleasure to read.
February 10, 2024
„Eine teuflisch verführerische Lady“ von Loretta Chase dreht sich um die turbulente Jagd nach einem verhängnisvollen Manuskript.
Delilah Desmond kam von Schottland nach London, um sich einen respektablen Ehemann zu suchen. Doch leider könnte dieses Projekt ausgerechnet von ihrem geliebten Vater, dem berüchtigten Gentlemen Gauner Devil Desmond, zunichte gemacht werden. Ihr Vater hatte vor einiger Zeit seine Memoiren verfasst, die einige brisante Geheimnisse des Adels enthüllen könnten. Sein Verleger drängt auf eine Veröffentlichung, aber dadurch wäre Delilahs Ruf endgültig zerstört. Ein wildes Versteckspiel um das begehrte Buch beginnt, in welches auch der schüchterne Bücherwurm Jack Langdon verwickelt wird. Jack ist fasziniert von der temperamentvollen Delilah, aber diese nimmt seine unbeholfenen Annäherungsversuche gar nicht ernst, obwohl auch sie sich stark zu ihm hingezogen fühlt.
Jack und Delilah sind zwei großartige Hauptfiguren, die mir beide auf ihre Art schnell ans Herz gewachsen sind. Der abrupte Einstieg hat mir gut gefallen, aber trotzdem hatte ich diesmal beim Schreibstil einige Probleme, so richtig in einen Lesefluss zu finden. Ich kann gar nicht genau sagen, woran das lag, aber es zog sich fast durch das gesamte Buch.
Die Handlung an sich ist abwechslungsreich und unterhaltsam, aber die eigentliche Lovestory baut sich ganz langsam und gemächlich auf. Delilah ist dank ihrer unkonventionellen Eltern keine typische junge Lady und so bleibt sie in der adligen Gesellschaft leider eine Außenseiterin. Käme jetzt noch der Skandal um ihren Vater hinzu, würden ihre Heiratsaussichten bei genau Null liegen.
Jack ist loyal und zurückhaltend und verzieht sich lieber mit einem Buch in eine stille Ecke, als mit jungen Damen zu flirten. Das macht ihn auf eine nerdige Art liebenswert, aber man darf auch seine andere selbstbewusste Art kennenlernen, mit der er Delilah durchaus beeindruckt. Die beiden sind wirklich ein schönes Paar und es ist amüsant, ihr hin und her zu verfolgen.
Mein Fazit:
Ich gebe gern eine Leseempfehlung!
Delilah Desmond kam von Schottland nach London, um sich einen respektablen Ehemann zu suchen. Doch leider könnte dieses Projekt ausgerechnet von ihrem geliebten Vater, dem berüchtigten Gentlemen Gauner Devil Desmond, zunichte gemacht werden. Ihr Vater hatte vor einiger Zeit seine Memoiren verfasst, die einige brisante Geheimnisse des Adels enthüllen könnten. Sein Verleger drängt auf eine Veröffentlichung, aber dadurch wäre Delilahs Ruf endgültig zerstört. Ein wildes Versteckspiel um das begehrte Buch beginnt, in welches auch der schüchterne Bücherwurm Jack Langdon verwickelt wird. Jack ist fasziniert von der temperamentvollen Delilah, aber diese nimmt seine unbeholfenen Annäherungsversuche gar nicht ernst, obwohl auch sie sich stark zu ihm hingezogen fühlt.
Jack und Delilah sind zwei großartige Hauptfiguren, die mir beide auf ihre Art schnell ans Herz gewachsen sind. Der abrupte Einstieg hat mir gut gefallen, aber trotzdem hatte ich diesmal beim Schreibstil einige Probleme, so richtig in einen Lesefluss zu finden. Ich kann gar nicht genau sagen, woran das lag, aber es zog sich fast durch das gesamte Buch.
Die Handlung an sich ist abwechslungsreich und unterhaltsam, aber die eigentliche Lovestory baut sich ganz langsam und gemächlich auf. Delilah ist dank ihrer unkonventionellen Eltern keine typische junge Lady und so bleibt sie in der adligen Gesellschaft leider eine Außenseiterin. Käme jetzt noch der Skandal um ihren Vater hinzu, würden ihre Heiratsaussichten bei genau Null liegen.
Jack ist loyal und zurückhaltend und verzieht sich lieber mit einem Buch in eine stille Ecke, als mit jungen Damen zu flirten. Das macht ihn auf eine nerdige Art liebenswert, aber man darf auch seine andere selbstbewusste Art kennenlernen, mit der er Delilah durchaus beeindruckt. Die beiden sind wirklich ein schönes Paar und es ist amüsant, ihr hin und her zu verfolgen.
Mein Fazit:
Ich gebe gern eine Leseempfehlung!
April 30, 2019
The dialogue in this novel often sparkles, especially between Delilah and Jack. And Jack is a treasure; he's not a brooding, broken man or the cosmopolitan rake-hell. He's studious and intelligent, a bit bashful and genuinely kind to others. Even though he's recently been crushed by an unsuccessful love triangle with one of his best friends, Jack is not morose.
Delilah is almost as charming; she's intelligent, a bit worldly and looking for a husband. She's in a hurry to find someone before her father's memoirs are published. She is convinced that the uproar over her father's life (after all, his name is Devil Desmond), will turn her into a pariah to the ton.
Perhaps this novel might have been called, FATHER KNOWS BEST because, after all his subtle machinations, he's the one who comes out smelling like a rose. This is a light-hearted romp. Enjoy.
Regency Noblemen
1. Viscount Vagabond (1989)
** 2. The Devil's Delilah (1989)
Delilah is almost as charming; she's intelligent, a bit worldly and looking for a husband. She's in a hurry to find someone before her father's memoirs are published. She is convinced that the uproar over her father's life (after all, his name is Devil Desmond), will turn her into a pariah to the ton.
Perhaps this novel might have been called, FATHER KNOWS BEST because, after all his subtle machinations, he's the one who comes out smelling like a rose. This is a light-hearted romp. Enjoy.
Regency Noblemen
1. Viscount Vagabond (1989)
** 2. The Devil's Delilah (1989)
March 12, 2021
This book was published in 1990, and it's interesting how much writing/prose/style has changed since then. The point-of-view was more "omniscient narrator" than I'm used to. All in all, this book took a little extra brainwork for me to read.
Plus it seemed the formatting in my ebook was wonky, because often there was NOTHING to indicate a scene change (like usually there's an extra line break or some typographical doohickey). That made for a sometimes jarring, whiplash-inducing reading experience!
I read this for the shy/anxious/awkward beta hero, Jack Langdon. Poor boy had his nose stuck in a book most of the time-- love it! There's a sorta love triangle thing going on that I was not expecting. I didn't super-love that, because I didn't know how to feel about the other guy.
Delilah was a fun character... sassy, confident, impulsive.
I read this a week ago, and I've already forgotten most of it. 😬
Plus it seemed the formatting in my ebook was wonky, because often there was NOTHING to indicate a scene change (like usually there's an extra line break or some typographical doohickey). That made for a sometimes jarring, whiplash-inducing reading experience!
I read this for the shy/anxious/awkward beta hero, Jack Langdon. Poor boy had his nose stuck in a book most of the time-- love it! There's a sorta love triangle thing going on that I was not expecting. I didn't super-love that, because I didn't know how to feel about the other guy.
Delilah was a fun character... sassy, confident, impulsive.
I read this a week ago, and I've already forgotten most of it. 😬
November 20, 2017
This wasn't perfect, but it was a good read. I hadn't read much of Chase's earlier work, and this was nice. It's a chaste Regency romance with a stock of well-developed characters. It appears to be a series, but I didn't feel like I was missing much from not having read the prior book.
Chase writes from multiple POVs. I liked it; it felt like I was reading the book equivalent of a soap opera. I enjoyed that you could see the character's motivations and could predict what was going to happen...even when they seemed oblivious to their own actions.
The H/h were fine enough, but I mostly continued reading for all of the secondary characters. I was a little irked by Jack's forgiving nature. He was a little too quick to stay friends with Lord Berne.
Chase writes from multiple POVs. I liked it; it felt like I was reading the book equivalent of a soap opera. I enjoyed that you could see the character's motivations and could predict what was going to happen...even when they seemed oblivious to their own actions.
The H/h were fine enough, but I mostly continued reading for all of the secondary characters. I was a little irked by Jack's forgiving nature. He was a little too quick to stay friends with Lord Berne.
June 6, 2022
The plot, revolving around a stolen manuscript changing hands, is dizzy enough to irritate but not dizzy enough to rise to the farce it wants to be. I really, really wanted to like the sweet, bookish hero. But while he struggles to break free of the old school alpha male role, he keeps falling back in because the author doesn't seem to be able to think of a hero as sexy unless he's lost control with lust or is secretly masterminding while refusing to give the heroine useful information. Which means that the poor dude keeps breaking his own character.
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