To Marry the Devil

Finders Keepers #2

by Terri Mackenzie

“I ruin everything I touch. That has been my curse since the day I was born.”

Lady Annabelle Beaumont prefers books to ballrooms. With her elder sister married, she intends to avoid men until she’s old enough to be put on the shelf along with her favourite novels. Unfortunately, when she’s inadvertently discovered alone with notorious rake Jacob Barrington, she has two choies: enter an engagement with a man she loathes or be ruined forever.

Jacob Barrington, newly minted Marquess of Sunderland and the “Devil of St James”, plans to destroy his family’s reputation in the most licentious way possible. An engagement is not on the agenda, especially to someone he detests. Instead, he offers to spend their fake engagement finding Annabelle a husband she prefers.

But as their desire deepens into something more, she ends their deal and leaves London entirely. Alone, Jacob comes to a realisation: the devil does possess a heart.

And she’s just run away with it.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Regency, Historical, Historical Fiction, Enemies To Lovers

ebook

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

A long-time lover of historical romance, Terri Mackenzie knew from an early age that she wanted to write romance, and from a slighter older age that she wanted them spicy. Now she’s a ghostwriter and author of steamy historical romances, and has never once looked back.

In her books, you will find witty, often wilful heroines, and emotionally complex heroes*. Love always wins out—though sometimes it’s a rocky journey to get there.

*That or an emotionally stunted rake with commitment issues. Take your pick.

Reviews

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (There is an additional scene with a newsletter sign up
Humor: A bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in, about 11%
More character focused or plot focused? Lots of character focus
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, it’s in a newsletter grab and a few months in the future. You can get it here
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy from the author (through Book Sirens)
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
You could because Theo and Nathanial are the mains from book 1 and they have a bit of page time here (Theo is Annabelle’s sister) but I do think this one is okay to pick up alone if you’d like to.

Basic plot:
Lady Annabelle is determined not to marry, but when rumors swirl about what she was doing in the garden during a ball, she finds herself engaged to a notorious rake.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (1814)
- London setting
- wallflower and the rake vibes
- hero is a boxer and brother to a Marquess
- bit of bargain feel – Jacob will teach Annabelle how to flirt and get her married to someone else to break their engagement
- fake engagement
- compromised heroine
- angsty
- character focused and without a mystery/villain
- medium steam – 3 full scenes with a bonus steamy scene in the epilogue (but it’s a newsletter grab!)

Ages:
- Heroine is 19, hero is around 26

First line:
“Enter.”

My thoughts:
OH how much I adored this book! I just loved it so, so much. It had so many little romance things I adore reading and I had such a grin on my face while reading it. And it gave me butterflies and made me feel giddy. This is absolutely a new favorite of mine.

We get to meet our heroine hiding behind some potted plants, reading, at her own ball. She’s absolutely adorable but relatable, at least to a book loving, shy, introvert like me. I loved Annabelle’s character. She’s young and uncertain, but also strong and determined. Annabelle gets some anxiety about social activities and balls. She’s rather shy and quiet. She doesn’t have a problem learning to parry with our hero’s sass though.

Let’s be clear, this hero is a bottom of the barrel jerk when we first meet him. Jacob grew up knowing nothing he did would be good enough and that made him go the opposite route and try to keep lowering the expectations. I loved how we got a decent amount of time in his head to really feel his growth as a character. Share his feelings he keeps inside that show us as readers what he’s hiding from the world. We see his longing, his angst, and his desperate desire for approval and love.

This book had SO many scenes that I just adored. So many little things that I chase in romance. Things that might not even get a mention they seem to inconsequential to note but are everything to me. Watching one another across a room. The dark longing unfurling and the almost kisses, the almost touches, almost….almost. Ugh it’s just the best to me!

I was taking so many quotes with this one. I found Mackenzie’s writing style in this one to be so lovely. So many lines had me sighing in the best way and rereading passages. I will absolutely be following Mackenzie’s future releases.

Endearments
The hero calls the heroine ‘little bird’

Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own. There are also some quotes under steamy locations at the end.

While the heroine flees a groping companion in the gardens...

There was a sigh of resignation, then the Marquess stepped closer, positioning himself so his body was directly in front of hers. And close, so close, one hand braced against the tree, the other up by her waist. Not touching, not quite, but still close enough that she could sense what his touch would feel like. The searing heat of his palm.
“Do not make a sound,” the Marquess whispered, bending closer. “If you value your reputation at all, that is.”
Her entire body vibrated from the force and speed of her heartbeat.
“Come out, Annabelle,” Lord Helmsley called plaintively. “Enough is enough. I will find you.”
For a moment, darkness crossed the Marquess’s face like a shadow over the moon, but a second later, it was gone. He lowered his head to hers, crowding her in. At this angle, he was so large and all-consuming, he blotted out the bare branches above them. All she could do was try to remember how to breathe. “If you know what is best for you, you will trust me,” he murmured against the line of her jaw. She felt the rush of his breath, felt the proximity of his lips, but he did not touch her. This was no kiss; it was a disguise. Her head was spinning, caught between run and freeze. The footsteps grew even closer. “Keep your head down,” he breathed, the hand by her waist finally landing, just as hot as she had imagined. And larger, too; his thumb pressed against her stomach. “When Helmsley sees me, the last thing he would assume is that I’m here with you, so play along, little bird. Can you be coquettish?” That was the very last thing she was capable of. Her hands came up to his lapels in a silent plea, and he stiffened. The gesture wasn’t designed to bring him closer, but after a moment, it appeared to; his nose nudged her earlobe and her breath stuttered. There was something illicit about the darkness, the way his breath grew heavier, his head dipping lower, his lips just grazing the corner of her mouth.
---
“If you have not found her despite all that abominable noise, I suspect she doesn’t want to be found,” the Marquess said, and turned back to Annabelle, crushing her so firmly against the tree, she would have been unable to breathe if he’d tried. The hand cupping her neck tilted her head, and his mouth came within half an inch of hers, his breath hot and steady. She opened her eyes and looked into his face. His eyes were dark holes, shadowed voids, a honey trap. She was the fly.
---
“Why, because you might be expected to marry her?” she demanded. “Something like that.” “Well, it’s lucky I have no intention of marrying, then.” She folded her arms. She still ought to thank him, but there was something about him that made her wary, the way she imagined she might feel when confronted with a panther. Unpredictable. Hungry.
----
“I won’t do it,” she repeated. Velvet darkness, his hand on her waist, his lips grazing her ear. Hot breath and burning skin and that head, endless sensation of being wanted. No. She most certainly could not marry him.
----

While in a broom closet

“Jacob,” she whispered again.
“I take it back. I don’t want you saying my name.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes me want to do this.”
The moment his mouth crushed hers, Annabelle knew she had been lying to herself. All those times she had told herself she didn’t want the Marquess to kiss her again had been a delusion. Every moment she had convinced herself that because she disliked him, she didn’t want him, had been a fabrication.
There was no denying she wanted this.
He pushed her until her back collided with the wall. Something clattered to the ground beside her, but with his mouth hot on hers, his tongue sliding inside her mouth with practised sensuality, there was nothing else that existed in Annabelle’s world. Of their own accord, her hands reached up and gripped his lapels, holding him closer, drinking him like a fine wine. He nipped at her lip, and foreign heat spread through her. She had never felt so alive.
She had never felt so much like she was falling.
----
The Devil of St James. And she had almost let him ruin her, too.
He felt her hesitation and pulled away, one hand at her throat, fingerings lightly pressing, the sheer possessiveness of the gesture making her head spin and her core throb with need.
----
She jolted and looked up, and he saw with a lurch that she had been crying.
All other thoughts left his head. She had been crying…because of him.
“Leave me alone,” she said, turning back to her book. “I don’t want you in here.”
He dropped to his knees in front of her.
----
“Annabelle.” “Annabelle,” he repeated, tongue curling around her name in a way that sounded almost obscene. Their eyes locked and the air was sucked from the room, nothing in the space between them but desire that sizzled like a flame.
----
“We’ve started afresh,” she reminded him. “No more apologies.”
“Just friendship?” he asked, eyes burning into hers.
This was no closet. Weak sunlight streamed in through the windows. The tension between them crackled with intensity and purpose.
“If you only came here for friendship, Annabelle, you should leave.”
“Why?”
“Because you asked me not to touch you again, and I’m a man of my word.” His gaze dropped to her mouth before he wrenched it back to her eyes with a vehemence that shocked her
----
She would be his every undoing.
----
His eyes searched hers, and she twisted her other hand in his grip—it was loose enough to do so now—so she could link her fingers through his.
“Forget our deal,” she said forcefully. “Forget about tomorrow. I want you now.”
His fingers were feather-soft as they brushed her cheek. “I can’t marry you.” His voice cracked on the last word.
“Then don’t,” she said even as her heart cracked. “Just want me. Just for now.”
Still he hesitated, and she thought he would never give in. Then, with a curse, he tugged her face to his, claiming her mouth with his own. There was nothing tender about this kiss— it was bruising in its intensity, his need a feral thing that fought against her own. His other hand found her waist, sliding along to the small of her back, then down to her backside. He squeezed, pressing her against him, his arousal evident even though her skirts. She was dizzy with want.
----
“Tell me again,” she said, her voice thick. “Tell me you love me.” He smiled and smoothed away the tears on her cheeks. “I love you with every broken piece of me. My heart is a blackened, imperfect thing, but it is yours to break if you wish. You have that power, Annabelle.” He searched her shimmering eyes, needing her to hear him, to understand him. “With just a word.”



Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- hero lives in an abusive and neglectful home (told he should have never been born, punished repeatedly, no love from either parent or sibling) including physical abuse
- carriage accident – book opens to the aftermath without major injuries for humans or horses
- hero takes kisses without permission (it’s pretty clear the heroine doesn’t want to kiss him the second time)
- heroine slaps the hero after the second kiss
- the hero has purposefully seduced the hero’s betrothed in the past
- remembered murder of a significant other
- assault of the heroine – a side character starts groping her leg at a recital




Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

Safe sex: The hero pulls out as a method of child prevention
Pg 36/314 – kiss (the hero believes she is his married paramour) that picks up again a few pages later
Pg 139/314 – kiss in a broom closet
Pg 211/314 – 🔥 kisses, fingering/oral for her in the library

“Quiet, sweetheart.” Her head fell back as she bit her lip, stifling the cries he was drawing from her, and damn him to hell, if this wasn’t the most arousing sight he’d ever witnessed.

Pg 235/314 – 🔥 kisses, bj that leads to fingering for her and her on top sex in the parlor

“Yes.” The word came out husky and deep. “Good girl. Take me in deep. Just like that. That’s right.”

Pg 292/314 - 🔥 kisses, her on top in a carriage

“Annabelle.” Jacob’s voice was hoarse, and when she collected herself to look into his eyes, they were dark and wild. He was breathing heavily, on the brink of control. “Arms around me, sweetheart,” he said, guiding her arms from his shoulders to his neck. “Hold on tight. Tell me if it’s too much.”

If you sign up for Terri Mackenzie’s newsletter, you can get a bonus epilogue that includes a 4th scene – against the bookshelves in the library





Extra stuff like what my review breakdown means, where to find me, and book clubs


Full break down on what my ratings above mean here:
Overall: How I felt about it everything considered!
Readability: How ‘readable’ was the book? Did I fly through it? Did I have to tell myself to pick it back up repeatedly? Were any passages confusing? (I will probably score like (1) is literally unreadable due to formatting/typing errors, etc (2) There were lots of errors that made it difficult to read OR It was extremely confusing and I had to reread passages to make sense of it OR I disliked it so much I had to bribe myself to keep reading (3) I didn’t really want to keep reading and would have preferred to abandon the read and start something else OR some minor continuity issues/confusion (4) I liked it fine, maybe a minor error or 2. I was happy to pick it up when I had time. (5) I never wanted to put this down. I thought about it when I wasn’t reading it. I hid in the bathroom from my kids to read. I threw inappropriate food at my children for dinner so I could read instead.)
Feels: Totally subjective to each person but did the book give me any tingles? Any butterflies? Did it rip my heart out (in a good way?)
Emotional depth: How well do I feel I know the characters at the end? How much did I feel their emotions throughout the story?
Sexual tension: Again, subjective, but how strong was the wanting and longing to me between the characters? A book might have strong sexual tension without a single touch.
Romance: Was there romance? Did romantic things happen? This can be actions/words/thoughts of the characters and again is subjective.
Sensuality: This is how the intimate scenes are written. Kisses and sexual scenes – how sensual were they? Were they on the mechanical side? Was there emotional pull tied in? Were the details explicit or flowery? These are subjective but generally (1) too short to get a good judgement (2) not all what I'm looking for - very vague or flowery prose (3) either not explicit enough or not enough emotional pull (too mechanical/physically descriptive without the emotions) (4) what I love in a scene (5) absolute perfection - perfect balance of emotional longing and explicit descriptions
Sex Scene Length: How long the bedroom scenes are (generally (1) is 1-3 sentences (2) is a few paragraphs to a page-ish (3) is about average, a few pages (4) more well developed scenes, quite a few pages with descriptions (4) the majority of the book takes place in the bedroom. This is always hard to tell for me on audio!
Steam Scale: Generally, each flame is a scene. If scenes are super close together I sometimes combine them. If a scene is super short or so vague I don’t know what’s happening, I don’t count it. There’s some levels of grey but generally the number of flames is how many sex scenes there are (I max out at 5 so I’ll put a + after if there’s more than that)


Find me
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Book Clubs
The Ton and the Tartans (Historical Romance)
Upturned Petticoats and Undone Cravats (Historical Romance with Steam Requirements)
A Love Less Ordinary (Science Fiction, Paranormal, Monster, Fantasy)
Modern Manuscripts (Contemporary Romance)
Words for the Wicked (Contemporary Romance with Steam Requirements)
Vintage Romance (Old School Romance – published 2000 and prior)

[♥ℳelody]

DNF @ 13%. No Rating.

Might be premature on my part but I started this last month and can't bring myself to go back to it. The hero is an uninspiring ass and a pathetic one at that. The whole seeking revenge on his father and brother by sleeping around with women and sleeping with his brother's fiance as payback just wasn't really something to gloat about (the writing is also very confusing in revealing that part, it's alluded to that he did it to more than one engaged girl?). He's one of those "I had a shitty childhood let me take it out on everyone and blame everyone else for my current behavior" heroes. Grow up, dude. I normally love morally grey anti-heroes but this guy is pitiful. The heroine felt very cookie cutter and one dimensional. She's a sniffy wallflower bookworm who prefers books to people. She reminds you of that on every. single. page. Literally. Also, I thought this would be a marriage of convenience but it's an engagement of convenience that covers most of the book until it's called off (I skimmed ahead). That was the deciding factor for me.

[GigiReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This feels like it was inspired by the Netflix Bridgertons (not to be confused with the actual book Bridgertons) in that it was very much a wallpaper romance. Oh sure there are mentions of balls and gowns and waistcoats but that's about the extent of the setting. The FMC is a sweet bookish girl who Does Not want to marry she just wants to read. Don't we all honey 🙄 The hero is a tortured rake and that's about the extent of his personality. It started out so well, I was hoping for a wallflower plus rake emotional roller coaster ride a la Devil in Winter but instead I got a slow burn, emphasis on slow, badly paced book where absolutely nothing happens until about 60ish percent in and then it's just then banging and the MMC whining about how he cannot marry her because he's so emoooo. Actually I have no clue what happened in the last 20% or so because I skimmed until I was freed from this eye crossing nightmare. Loved the set up, hated the execution.

🌟.5/ 5
🔥🔥/5

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read: 11/25/23
3.5 stars

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brand new author for me. I am always looking for new authors to read, especially when I am in between my regular authors new releases. I am very picky so I do a lot of research. Since I am in a few steamy FB groups, I see recommendations from there that I can follow up and research on. This is one of those authors. It helps that she is KU. I am sometimes reluctant to try a new author that isn't KU because I don't want to buy a book that I don't know if I'm going to like or not. I picked up book 1 in this series and really couldn’t put it down. She had me from the beginning. I am really looking forward to book 2.

Not a sophomore disappointment at all. I liked this book just as much or maybe a bit better than Book 1. I did feel the sex was a bit heavier in this one. I loved Annabelle and Jacob. What a great story and great personalities. I am really looking forward to more of her books.

[Fatiha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am incoherent with the love that I have for this book.
The writing was lush, the descriptions gorgeous, the character arcs natural, the dynamic between the characters both witty and intense. Their banter was so much fun to read. The story was set up really nicely and felt really well plotted as a whole.
I knew three chapters in that I wanted to put this book into my all-time favourites. The story follows debauched rake Jacob intent on ruining his family name and bookish Annabelle as they grow from hating each other, to relying on each other as friends, to a steam-filled heart-aching love. There were two things that I was absolutely sold upon starting the book and that was Jacob (he’s one of my absolute favourite character types and seeing this type in all his glory and angst in a romance novel was more than my heart could take) but also his inferiority towards his older brother due to past trauma and abuse. His voice was rich and immersive on the page and definitely drew on my sympathy and made the romance better.
I am full of incandescent love for Jacob. But I also really loved Annabelle. She loves books, but there’s an inner strength that she has that makes her really endearing as a character. She wasn’t the typical innocent, inactive character but rather she had a lot of gumption and she responded to things quickly and proactively. There was also a lot of commentary about women and their place that came in her voice and it was done really naturally, so I especially loved that too!
I’ve read Terri Mackenzie’s work in the past, but she’s really outdone herself with this novel. I love this novel so much. The tension and steam between Annabelle and Jacob was incredible and their romance full of sparks. There were so many moments where I was just clutching my chest in pain. They are so in love with each other, they’re beautiful.
For me, this was a romance that topped all romances in my eyes. It was just so SO GOOD.

[Grisette · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars

This one had been sitting on TBR for quite some time. I saw several recommendations but I am rueful to say that for a long time I had my doubts only because of the sedate cover. I was obviously wrong because the story was not sedate at all.

I enjoyed the first third a lot, in part because I was agreeably surprised by the rich characterisation, and also because the plot felt fresh under the very good prose of TM. Many times, TM had these little turn of phrases that were simply too beautiful in meaning. The middle part of the story was a little less well done imho, mainly because (a) I have never been too fond of the My-Fair-Lady trope, and (b) the reasons for pressing Annabelle and Jacob into an engagement were quite too much of a stretch for me (based on one fleeting rumour started by a suitor who did not even realise that there were some truths to the lie he was inventing). It could have worked better if the successive changes in opinion of the leads for getting involved with each other had been supported by stronger insights into their psyche. Things picked up again in the last third of the book and the ending was very sweet.

The romance between Annabelle and Jacob was overall cute and would have benefitted yet more from swifter pacing and tighter character development in the middle part. One big cookie point for Jacob going down so easily on his knees to grovel.

After this first book, I agree that TM is a very good writer of the genre and deserves more limelight. I will certainly be checking out her other titles!

[Stacie Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author, and it won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of Annabelle and Jacob’s relationship. I think Jacob was one of my favorite scoundrels. By actions in the story, you can see how callous and awful he was as a man and brother. He was totally cringeworthy. He comes across Annabelle by mistake and their adventure begins. His progress and growth throughout the story is gradual and believable. I appreciate the time and effort in writing the change.
As for Annabelle, she is attracted to Jacob from the start, but she hates his reputation and tactics. I like how she struggles with these two feelings as things progress.
I highly recommend this story filled with regret, trauma, sadness, grief, but so much passion, hope, and love.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Margerm, Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book it feels like the H especially is unraveling the past rather than dealing with present problems. There really aren't many problems in his present. Fortunately he has a lady who is truly his friend and not his lover to advise him and help him understand himself. Both the H and h do not see marriage as a path to the future. Minimal conflict with villainous characters in the present. More internal conflict.

[readwithk · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️’s

🌻historical romance
🌻fake engagement
🌻opposites attract
🌻enemies-to-lovers (ish)

[Anja Schindlatz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐

[karinocapipoca · Rating 2 out of 5]

i never learn

[Nazmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Marry The Devil is the first book I’ve read by Terri Mackenzie and I loved it. It is the second book in the series but it can be read completely as a standalone.
Jacob Barrington has spent much of his life cultivating his reputation as a rake and a disgrace to his family name. Having had a terrible childhood suffering abuse from his father and his elder brother Jacob is determined to care for nothing in this world. When he is caught in a compromising position with the bookish wallflower and reluctant heiress Lady Annabelle Beaumont Jacob is furious. There is no way he will ever marry and so he proposes a bargain. They will carry on a fake engagement whilst finding a suitable gentleman for Annabelle to marry. But when Annabelle starts to burrow beneath the surface and sees the man he really is Jacob pushes her away. Can Jacob overcome his demons and find a life of happiness with Annabelle.
Lady Annabelle is happiest with a book in her hand. She does not want to marry and dreams of a life of simple spinsterhood. Unfortunately when her sister marries a duke who settles a large dowry on her she has no place to hide. Her mother is determined she marry and marry well. The only problem is that Annabelle just cannot speak to men or anyone in a social setting naturally. She completely freezes up when she tries.
Inexplicably, the only man she doesn’t freeze up with is the obnoxious ‘Devil of St James’ Jacob Barrington and Annabelle just cannot understand why. When forced by circumstance to agree to a fake engagement Annabelle finds herself discovering that Jacob has his reasons for why he behaves as he does. For the first time Annabelle can see herself settled with a husband – it’s just unfortunate that the man she wants is intent on marrying her off to another.
This follows some of my favourite tropes – the Rake and the Wallflower, fake engagement – but Terri really adds a layer of depth to all the characters with all their flaws and foibles. When we first meet Jacob as an adult he really is the very definition of a dissolute scoundrel and not immediately likeable. He is charming, cynical, selfish and self-destructive. But you always see his potential and knowing his sad backstory he tugs at your heartstrings. I loved seeing how meeting Annabelle really changes him in both thought and behaviour. He learns to let go of his anger at the world and embrace love and happiness.
Annabelle is hugely relatable as a heroine for me. Her awkwardness and inability to be comfortable in society and her general wish to just ignore the world and curl up with a good book is very familiar. She is shy and can be naïve but she has an inner strength and I loved watching her flourish and blossom under Jacob’s treatment of her.
I received an advanced review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I loved Jacob and Annabelle and definitely recommend this to all.

[Tanya H · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review for Terri Mackenzie's sweet Regency novel "To Marry The Devil"

If you're in the mood for a comforting, familiar, and sweet romance, this is the book for you. Our main female character is bookish wallflower Annabelle, who is obliged to have a Season by her well meaning family, but she is very socially anxious and wishes for nothing but peace and quiet in a library for the rest of her days.

Any introvert nerds in the audience who felt that like a punch in the gut??

Her fellow protagonist is total opposite, rakish and self-destructive Jacob, who has had a painfully crushing upbringing due to his father's belief Jacob is not his son, and the contentious relationship with older brother Cecil. He is lonely and angry and intends to wreck the title he has unexpectedly inherited.

Jacob and Annabelle are caught in a compromising situation when Jacob rescues her from an assault, and they are forced to enter into a fake engagement, which neither of them are happy about! Jacob intends to teach Annabelle how to flirt and attract the opposite sex, and to find her a suitable alternative husband.

What could possibly go wrong!?

Oh this was an easy and sweet read. All the fun tropes that make me smile fondly - fake engagement/forced proximity, a "She's All That" style makeover, rake/wallflower, enemies to lovers, tragic MMC backstory of a lonely loveless childhood.

I found Jacob to be a compelling hero. His backstory, self destructive chaotic psyche, and relationship with Cecil were fascinating and nuanced. I adored him and was rooting for him from page 1. He needed a grand love story (with Annabelle!) to heal his sad heart ♥️ I wish there was more Cecil, I found him an interesting character worthy of exploration (and maybe his own very tragic love story).

Annabelle reminded me so much of my younger self - socially awkward and wanting to disappear into books to escape real life expectations, but with a core of steel. She was by turns cripplingly shy and inadvisedly blunt, and the way she disarmed Jacob at every altercation was fun to see!

Mackenzie has a delightful easy prose style, and I gobbled up this book in two days. The steam scenes were wonderful and natural, and the HEA made me smile with glee. My only criticism is that I wish Jacob had more gumption to get his girl, but his actions were probably in character. I also would have liked to see Annabelle's character developed beyond "introverted bookworm". I also wasn't fond of the book cover, a minor issue but it did not gel with my personal imaginings of the characters.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable story. 4/5 stars from me!

[Sarah L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series by Terri Mackenzie, however, it could be easily read as a standalone as there is no prior knowledge required. We meet Jacob, who has been atrociously treated by his family and left with both physical and emotional scars. He goes out of his way to destroy his family name in the way that only a second son can. After a second accidental clandestine meeting between bookish Annabelle and Jacob, they are forced together by an initially unseen force of nature.

I keep flipping my rating between three and four stars, unable to make a decision. It is a well written book and the attraction between the two is not laboured. I think my main issue is that I don’t get why Annabelle wanted Jacob to teach her to flirt to find a more suitable husband. She didn’t want to marry anyone so I don’t get why she would have wanted to be taught how to be more coquettish. At the time, she wasn’t particularly keen on him either so wanting to be around him doesn’t make sense.

There is also the issue of Henry - the older brother returned from war- obviously he had to return to set up book number three of Henry and Lady Bolton but his addition felt lumpen too. I feel the book would have had better balance if there had been a seemingly more suitable suitor than Jacob. Supposedly, Henry is also the favourite child of the mother but she is such a non-entity in this book that it falls flat.

The best part of this book was Lady Bolton (Louisa). She was Henry’s love prior to his going to war and married another on his insistence. She is fabulous from start to finish in this story. A good friend to those who know her and a force to be reckoned with. The moment she rescues Jacob from his pit of despair to find Annabelle is amazing and easily my favourite part of the book. I will definitely be reading her story but Henry needs a huge kick up the bum before he deserves that goddess!

I was sent this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nabilah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw this book being recommended quite a few times on the Facebook group that I'm in. I like trying out new authors, but have been leery recently (the new HR novels are more like wallpaper than true 'wallpaper historicals').

So, I read the sample, and only one chapter in, I quickly hit the 'Purchase' button. The writing is excellent (not a hint of American slang or Americanisms in sight - 'Yaay!'). The story has familiar tropes (fake engagement, abused hero, heroine refusing to be married, absent parents, etc.).

I loved the writing; unfortunately, the execution... not so much. The book feels too modern for my liking. In an era where women had limited employment options, the heroine, Annabelle's refusal to marry seems unbelievable. She's bookish and has social anxiety. She'd rather be locked away in the countryside reading all day long (Well, that's my dream too, but as a 21st-century woman, I can make my own way, so no biggie). The problem for women in those days was the scarcity of choices in employment. Though she's an earl's daughter, her father is a gambler who squanders away the family fortune, and I simply couldn't see how she could fend for herself. Being a governess or a companion isn't very pleasant, and I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have much time to read!

The hero, Jacob unfortunately falls into the trap of believing he's unlovable. He's a bit too wimpy for my tastes. I felt like shouting 'Man up!' at him a couple of times.

I appreciate that the author included notes acknowledging liberties taken with the time period, so thanks for that.

I suppose I'm not the intended reader. While this book may be better than some of the new historical romances out there, I'm just tired of the modern heroines and sensitive/new age heroes in most of them. I think I'll stick to the oldies.

[Mihwa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had known that reading Amber Night and Terri Mackenzie back to back would make me this horny, I would have gotten an extended warranty on my vibrator. The boxing scene alone got me hot and bothered and there wasn't even any sex involved. I could smell the sweat, hear the noise, and feel the anguish that the heroine felt.
The storyline overall felt familiar as did Jacob's reason for not jumping into the marriage with Annabelle. But something about the writing made me want to read every single word. I agree with Becky R's earlier review that there are gems hidden in the story that I was picking out gladly and putting in my treasure box. The introspections weren't overdone and the language was just poetic enough that it gave me a pause without boring me to death. The writing was expert, seamless, and flowed like a calm stream without any jagged rocks. This lady was born to write.
And that is obvious not only in the quality of her writing but a side love story between Annabelle and books/library, which I loved. I imagine the author has infused her love of books into the story. If her husband is anything like Jacob, life is really unfair.
IMO, this is a quiet, warm-breeze-on-a-spring-day kind of love story to be enjoyed with a cup of coffee or a glass of champagne. It's not the chugging-vodka-to-dampen-the-anguish kind of book.
Except during the boxing and sex scenes. Feel free to go crazy with a drink of your choice. Annabelle is bold for a newbie and I love the things Jacob says during sex. It's not too much or too little. It's just right. Everything in this book is just right.

[Sarah Ess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Jacob Barrington is a big angry wastrel who becomes a big angry lord with the sudden passing of his brother, making him the new Marquess of Sunderland. But Jacob’s bad behaviour hides a person who is hurting from having been rejected by his family, and now he’s in a situation where he constantly stoops to meet society’s expectations of him, and they are pretty darn LOW.

He’s got one friend in his corner, Lady Louisa – and I really enjoyed that instead of the usual bro posse our MMC had a female BFF who was sick of his crap, and ready and willing to tell him so. Jacob needs at least one person who believes in him! AT LEAST one, but two would be better…

Enter Annabelle Beaumont, a young miss with influential relations who is forced to do the rounds of London’s marriage mart when she’d rather be reading. Same girl, same.

Themes of social anxiety and self-loathing are explored while this story uses the trope of a fake engagement to bring Annabelle out of her shell, and to help Jacob become a better person.

For me, this is a case of don’t-judge-a-book-by-its-cover because I really don’t find this cover appealing but the story inside is a good read! Now excuse me, my standards in a partner now require the design and construction of a private lakeside library!

[Rachel Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redeeming the rake is one of my favourite historical romance tropes, especially when combined with a wallflower heroine, and Terri Mackenzie’s To Marry the Devil delivers in spades. Our hero Jacob is a dark, bitter soul dedicated to ruining his family's name - and having a fair bit of debauched fun in the meantime. But Terri gives us an insight into what has made Jacob the way he is. And my heart ACHED. I fell so hard for this gorgeous, hurting man. Our heroine Annabelle at first seems like the typical shy, bookish wallflower. But Terri writes her with such depth and skill that we quickly realise there is more to her than meets the eye. She has an inner steel and emotional awareness that was refreshing to read. I LOVED watching this unlikely couple come together and seeing all the ways that they were exactly what the other needed. And the chemistry was intense! Their draw to each other was so strong and believable. And the spice totally delivered - scorching, raw, emotional and very, very hot. Read it!

[PleaseGoAwayImReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! I was already a fan of the first book in the Finders Keepers series— Nathaniel and Theo’s journey was so enjoyable— that I just had to read this one to see what happens to the characters.

Annabelle is very sweet, but cripplingly awkward in social situations. I admired her conviction that she was perfectly happy to NOT get married, and in equal measure felt bad for her every time the Dowager Duchess insisted she talk to another eligible male in social situations. Ugh!

Jacob might just be my newest book boyfriend! Equally sardonic and rakish, his aggressive flirting and the way he taunts his brother masks childhood trauma and, actually, a pretty good heart.

I loved watching both Annabelle and Jacob in their social encounters— both with others as well as themselves— the banter in general was so entertaining. The spicy scenes were well done, also.

If you like Regency romance, with a fake dating trope, you may like To Marry the Devil!

[Gloria Pastorino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m really, really happy to say that this new author has finally found her feet. This book is a huge improvement over the previous one I read, In Search of a Hero, even if the writing was already very good. But here everything is perfect: the plot, the pacing, the angst, the feelings. My heart ached for Jacob and for his loveless life, for his anger, his self-destructive behavior, even his stubbornness at not wanting to change and let go of his past. And Annabelle is so sweet with her anxiety and lack of self-confidence, but she reveals quite soon a core of steel, a fierce determination to live the life she wants. I really LOVED this book very much and already look forward to reading the next one, because Louisa is really an intriguing and gorgeous character in this book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cad, rogue, rake, all other adjectives to describe a man like Jacob. Oh yeah, he is definitely one and I love how Terri wrote him. No “well, they call him that but he is really very nice”. So Jacob is really nice but bless his heart he does not believe in love. Well, Terri has news for him, because he will believe. This enemies to lovers is just that and Terri has written these characters in such a way that I believed they were enemies. No playing around. Their journey to a HEA is eventful and sometimes a little heartbreaking but so totally worth it. I think this is Terri’s second book and I loved every single bit of it. I read this as part of KU.

[Yajaira Diaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

it started excellent

This book start very good! I was hooked for the first half of the book but then it went down hill for me. The heroine was a helpless little girl with no backbone on her except for the MC. The MC has too much trauma that in my mind he wouldn’t be able to be happy no matter what. He’s Too damage, specially with the physical abused he received as a child and his heavy drinking. The author made it seem like it was easy for him to give up his alcoholism due to love. But we all know it’s never like this. I wish there was a period in which he worked on himself and showed him progressing into healing.

[Rachel Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob Barrington. Dark, bitter, brutal…wickedly handsome. Yes please! He is an excellent rake and watching his character arc as he learns to let go of his hatred and love again was just perfection. And I loved Annabelle’s journey - how she discovered her strength and courage and learnt to stand toe-to-toe to Jacob. They were absolutely perfect for each other. Throw in a generous sprinkling of excellently written spice and this was a total delight to read.

I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Daron · Rating 1 out of 5]

My kingdom for a wallflower/rake romance where:

1. The wallflower is both an actual wallflower and an interesting person
2. The rake is fun but also full of angst for how he must keep himself removed.

I thought I might find that here, since the description promises such, but these two barely qualified as characters. Holy cow was this disappointing. I don't know why they liked each other and I know even less what I was supposed to like about either of them! It's been a minute since I've come across characters so empty. Goodness.

[Cathy Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could not put this down.

This hooked me almost instantly. I loved how it went right into action without spending chapters to set up the plot and characters. The dialogue was often amusing, but authentic. The flawed heroine and hero were believable and it was impossible not to root for them. The only reason this is a four and not a five is that it started to feel a bit long and the sex scenes were more explicit than I like, but that's just personal preference. Other readers probably prefer the sexual action.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm was thrilled to be able to pick up this book by the author. Her writing speaks to me, and honestly I don't read regency romances, only hers. Her ability to capture emotions and build tension is inspirational. I knew from the opening chapters, where we read from Jacob's childhood perspective, that I would love this book, and it did not disappoint. I read the first book in the series, and I actually think this one was better. A well-deserved 5 stars.

[Lwalalba · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Jacob and Annabelle's story

This was a wonderful story, more than just a reformed rake and innocent girl. Jacob is scarred, mentally and physically and hides his torment in drink and women. Annabelle is shy, bookish and innocent. When the two unexpectedly come together, sparks ignite. Highly recommended.

[Aspoon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started off interesting and by chapter 10 I realized these characters have absolutely no chemistry and I rather read more about Jacob and his brother animosity towards each other and them reconciling but the author killed off the brother way too soon. No romance really here, just repetitive "I don't want to marry you" drivel. It was said 100 times...like OKAY we get it.

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second book in the Finders Keepers series was an engaging, well written fake engagement, enemies to lovers historical romance. The characters were interesting, conplex, and likable. I enjoyed this slow burn love story with delightful twists, emotions, and a strong love that overcame everything. I highly recommend reading!