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Jack Caldwell #2
Devall's Angel
A Reputation for Ruin
With money scarce, Angela Warren was all too aware that her family could afford just one London Season for her to make a match. A single misstep would destroy her chances; an entanglement with a social outcast like Devall Blackthorn, a reputed scoundrel and womanizer, would be a disaster.
Yet from the moment Angela spied Blackthorn giving aid to the poor, she believed the ton had grievously wronged him. His tender, heartfelt kisses soon had her convinced. Then she began to be courted by dashing widower Gabriel Atwater, society's darling and a most magnificent catch. Now, amid balls and routs, Angela was being swept into a dangerous crosscurrent of passion, torn between social acceptance and her heart, and forced to face a shocking truth that could bring her ruin ... or a lifetime of glorious love.
With money scarce, Angela Warren was all too aware that her family could afford just one London Season for her to make a match. A single misstep would destroy her chances; an entanglement with a social outcast like Devall Blackthorn, a reputed scoundrel and womanizer, would be a disaster.
Yet from the moment Angela spied Blackthorn giving aid to the poor, she believed the ton had grievously wronged him. His tender, heartfelt kisses soon had her convinced. Then she began to be courted by dashing widower Gabriel Atwater, society's darling and a most magnificent catch. Now, amid balls and routs, Angela was being swept into a dangerous crosscurrent of passion, torn between social acceptance and her heart, and forced to face a shocking truth that could bring her ruin ... or a lifetime of glorious love.
128 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1998
10 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Allison Lane
40 books36 followersAllison Lane is the author of 20 Regency novels and 6 novellas. She is a Holt Medallion Winner and the 2005 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award Winner, as well as National Readers' Choice Awards Finalist for three books.
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
Notes from Allison Lane:
I am not one of those who always wanted to be a writer, though I suspect I wanted to be just about everything else -- doctor, astronaut, artist, scientist, and concert pianist, to name only a few. My actual careers were not quite so exciting. Designing computer software and running horse shows gave way to motherhood, home improvement projects, and teaching piano. But books have always been one of the cornerstones of my life.
When I was growing up in the mid-west, reading and music kept me sane through frequent changes of address. As an adult, books offered a respite from the strain of daily living. Often I would finish the last page with the thought, I wish I were that creative. Occasionally it would change to, Surely even I could do better than this! So one day I tried. But this is not a fairy tale, folks. My first book was less than stellar. In fact, it stunk. Good writing is hard work. But I enjoyed the process (or maybe I just enjoy playing God) so I tried again. By the third tale, I had a publishable story.
Where am I headed in the future? I don’t yet know. For now, I write Regencies. It is a fascinating period and an entertaining genre. My work is classed as traditional though I don’t consider it in quite that way. I try to avoid clichés -- except for happy endings, of course; those are what offer us respite from that daily crisis. But I like to pose universal problems to my characters and then watch them find solutions. I have long been fascinated by how people surmount problems to find the happiness that we all deserve.
These days my spare time is limited. Writing consumes most of my day. I still read as much as ever and keep up with the world of science. And everyone knows better than to step between me and a TV during football season -- it somehow takes an extra month to complete fall manuscripts.
From: Regency Reads
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 30, 2017
I hadn't read a trad. Regency in many years! In this one, the story was quite good.
Angela must find a husband this season and she is doing her best to be a dutiful daughter and follow her mother's advice. However, she feels very uncomfortable around Lord Atwater, the suitor that Angela's mother favors for her. Angela finds herself liking the notorious Lord Blackthorn much better.
However, some of the characterizations were rather one-dimensional; the villains were completely evil and the heroine was portrayed as angelic as the title suggests. I did like the character of Lady Forley, the h's selfish, greedy mother - she was quite believable. Likewise, the character of Lord Blackthorn was well drawn and complex.
Angela must find a husband this season and she is doing her best to be a dutiful daughter and follow her mother's advice. However, she feels very uncomfortable around Lord Atwater, the suitor that Angela's mother favors for her. Angela finds herself liking the notorious Lord Blackthorn much better.
However, some of the characterizations were rather one-dimensional; the villains were completely evil and the heroine was portrayed as angelic as the title suggests. I did like the character of Lady Forley, the h's selfish, greedy mother - she was quite believable. Likewise, the character of Lord Blackthorn was well drawn and complex.
January 9, 2016
4.5 stars
A really well written Regency Historical romance in the traditional style with involved and intricate plotting. This book has a very realistic feeling, with lots of characters (so you have to keep up) and lots of things going on - eg gossip, on-dits, balls, etc -so you must concentrate to follow along.
There is quite a distasteful scene near the end (no spoiler) and I thought the author did a great job both writing and handling this. Also the nastier, sadder and poorer side of London life after the war with France is not glossed over in this book.
There is lots of sensual tension but no actual sex scenes in this particular book. I don't think it needed them as the story was very gripping. I hated the nasty mother. I am reading all this Author's back-list as time permits. Excellent job !
A really well written Regency Historical romance in the traditional style with involved and intricate plotting. This book has a very realistic feeling, with lots of characters (so you have to keep up) and lots of things going on - eg gossip, on-dits, balls, etc -so you must concentrate to follow along.
There is quite a distasteful scene near the end (no spoiler) and I thought the author did a great job both writing and handling this. Also the nastier, sadder and poorer side of London life after the war with France is not glossed over in this book.
There is lots of sensual tension but no actual sex scenes in this particular book. I don't think it needed them as the story was very gripping. I hated the nasty mother. I am reading all this Author's back-list as time permits. Excellent job !
January 23, 2015
With only a single London Season to become betrothed, a young woman begins a passionate affair with a known scoundrel and social outcast, while at the same time being courted by the dashing darling of legitimate high society. Torn between society's demands and her heart, she must risk a lifetime of ruin for a lifetime of love.
Overall, I liked this story and Allison Lane's writing style. I was bothered by some of the anachronisms, however. For example, Angel's character speaks of Jane Austen writing Pride & Prejudice, but as the story is set before the end of the Napoleonic campaign, Austen's name was not known. "Sense and Sensibility" was written "by a Lady," and Pride & Prejudice is by the author of Sense & Sensibility. There are similar historical gaffs within the story.
Overall, I liked this story and Allison Lane's writing style. I was bothered by some of the anachronisms, however. For example, Angel's character speaks of Jane Austen writing Pride & Prejudice, but as the story is set before the end of the Napoleonic campaign, Austen's name was not known. "Sense and Sensibility" was written "by a Lady," and Pride & Prejudice is by the author of Sense & Sensibility. There are similar historical gaffs within the story.
April 21, 2012
Another good story, but the best I can figure is that Jack Caldwell is the only connection between the first two books. I still like the way Ms. Lane subliminally educates us without us knowing it..it's all in the dialog between the characters. Also, I had a had time keeping track of all the characters and how they related to the H/H. The last of the trilogy is all about "Jack Caldwell". We'll see if his old friends appear or disappear from his story!
September 25, 2009
Regency
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews