Enticing the Devil

Wright Bastards #2

by Amy Sandas

He'll never belong in her world. Beynon Thomas might have agreed to spend time in England with his recently discovered half siblings, but home will always be his farm in Wales. Being the illegitimate son of an earl doesn't mean he belongs in high society, and it's never been more evident than when he's paired with the gentle Lady Anne at a country house party. She represents everything he disdains about London's pampered daughters. Yet, he can't resist being drawn by the storm he glimpses beneath her temperate disposition. She's more than what they see. Lady Anne Humphries is known throughout the ton for her modest manner and exemplary decorum, yet she's gone three seasons without a single offer of marriage. She's finally contented herself to life as a spinster when she is partnered with the glowering Mr. Thomas for her friend's summer games. Something about the man's dismissive attitude provokes her into behaving in ways she wouldn't have thought herself capable. The broody Welshman ignites a fire within her. Her only hope now is that she won't get burned. When losing isn't an option. Though their partnership starts out contentious, passion quickly takes over between a woman tired of being overlooked and a man filled with contempt for a society that mocks him. To the casual observer, the pair couldn't be more opposite in appearance or manner. One so elegant and refined. The other, brawny and unsophisticated. But when desire overrides pride and ignores the rules of propriety, two people from disparate worlds have a chance to win the greatest prize of all.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Forced Proximity, Regency, Marriage Of Convenience

324 pages, Paperback

Published June 14, 2022

About the author

My love of romance began one summer when I was thirteen and complained of boredom. I ended up with one of my mother's Barbara Cartland books and an obsessive interest that expanded from there. My affinity for writing began with sappy pre-teen poems and led to a Bachelor's degree with an emphasis on Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota--Twin Cities.

I love pizza, wine, and dark brooding heroes! With a husband, three kids, and two dogs at home, it can be difficult to find the time (and the motivation!) to write. But somehow the words keep showing up on the page. I am endlessly grateful to the many wonderful readers who enjoy my books and ask for more!

Reviews

[ChasingLeslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welshman Beynon Thomas is reluctantly spending time in England with his recently discovered half siblings. But participating in games at a country house party was not what he had in mind. He's paired up with demure Lady Anne Humphries, who is approaching spinsterhood after three seasons without a single offer of marriage. Beynon's attitude is vexing, so why does Anne find herself intrigued? Their relationship only becomes more contentious after a compromising situation leaves Anne with no choices.

This is the second book in the Wright Bastards series. It can be read alone, although the family is detailed in the first book and appear in this one. The Chadwick sisters from the Fallen Ladies series also show up.

I loved this book! It was very emotional and engaging. Anne was a sympathetic character who tried very hard to follow the rules of society and had nothing but a few friendships to show for it. Her father was a piece of you-know-what who always made her feel disposable...and Beynon, unknowingly, makes her feel the same. As an illegitimate son of an earl, Beynon has a lot of hang ups. He doesn't belong in the ton, and certainly not with a lady like Anne.

This pair couldn’t be more opposite, yet they manage to see each other. When their attraction explodes into a fiery encounter, Beynon leaps ahead with decision making without giving Anne any chance for a say. Beynon continues to make the situation worse because, in his mind, Anne could never love the man who ruined her, trapping her in a marriage and life unlike what she had always expected. So, he stubbornly keeps his distance until she's had enough and takes matters into her own hands!

(Side note: This book reminded me a little bit of another book I absolutely adore, Cathy Maxwell's The Marriage Contract).

Tropes: House Party/Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract, Compromised

Steam: 4.5

* I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest review.

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have liked Amy Sandas since the first book I've read of hers. I like her writing, love her stories and sex is well written. I am so glad she has this new series out.

I loved this story. Loved the characters. Just all around good read.

Definitely recommend.

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the lonely heroine, who had been ignored by men. Women liked her, as did the H but his self doubt caused him to be mean to her. He compromised her, she only accepted her fate because her father disowned her. The angsty H acted like a grumpy child and the h is the hero who saved him.

[Bookfreak OHearn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had hope

I have loved every single book she has written except for this one. I just did not like either main character. The only part of this book I enjoyed was literally Roderick and when it was over.🤦🏼‍♀️

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woooow this book. It had everything I love! A big, gruff, surly man and a dainty, pretty girl he’s completely obsessed with but pretending not to be. Beynon and Anne were just too hot to handle!
So much happens in this book, I suggest anyone reading this just take my word for it and go read it!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catnip. I always want more. I absolutely loved the plot of this book. Enemies to lovers and I don’t mean, “I don’t like you, blah blah blah”. It was contentious and bloody hell, so well written. It was “I have to have you but I can’t stand you”. I am laughing writing this because this is seriously my favorite. I also loved the fact that Beynon was a big guy (yes, drawn to them also) but still underneath all his exterior gruffness he is kind. He just does not know how to show it. Oh, and Anne, she is a spitfire who does not put up with Beynon antics. But I digress. Just like the first book in this series, I honestly felt like a voyeur watching these people’s lives and peeking in the “bedroom”. Amy, hot under the collar does not express how your writing made me feel. Get out the fan my dears because you will need it. If you have not tried any of Amy’s stories, get any of her books. You will not be sorry.

I received a complimentary copy from the author.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

haven’t been starting out well with the romance genre this year :(

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/3 Stars

I can't help feeling disappointed with the direction of this book. Likely because I was so looking forward to Beynon's story. And while I DID enjoy it I couldn't help but feel frustrated and disappointed by the authors choices.

Particularly this need they had to drown us in the inner thoughts of both MCs but specifically the heroine Anne's. And while I understood the need for introspection and dissecting ones thoughts I feel it overpowered the entire story.

What could have been a beautiful love story about two people from two entirely different worlds who remarkably did have some common ground to bond over became a muddled mess of endless inner dialogue, lack of communication and miscommunication.

Frustrating was what it was. I could have overlooked Beynon's behavior and decisions when Anne and him are forced to marry. I even understood Anne's stance regarding marriage and him taking the decision out of her hands even if it wasn't intentional on his part. But to have them so disconnected following the marriage was just disappointing. Yes, I know Beynon essentially put up a wall between them and began the distance. And I did understand why he did so, despite it being a poort attempt to assuage his guilt for taking her choices from her. More to the point, the fact NONE of this was communicated or explained at all in the weeks that followed their marriage was beyond ridiculous. Beynon, like any ill informed man who can't handle his own emotions and drowns in his own suppressed feels continued to avoid his own wife. He did quite literally everything wrong the moment they were married. Which rather surprised me because I didn't take him to be such a blind idiot to his own surroundings and the people in his life. But that's what he was. And worse, Anne doesn't attempt to communicate HER feelings or worries. Nope. She follows his lead by remaining silent and distant from him as well.

And because the book didn't annoy me enough with this sort of blatant lack of communication we also have to endure the fact both MCs can only communicate with their bodies. Yes, I think Beynon and Anne did have some beautiful chemistry together. And I did understand why it was easier to reach for the physical side of their marriage more than talking. However, it did absolutely nothing to provide a proper foundation to make either one of the MCs believable when they finally admit their love for one another by the end. Considering we spent nearly ten percent (70-80% ish) with them finding one another in the dark still not speaking or running one from another...and admittedly though both were at fault for that Beynon was the main offender by running away in avoidance.

I know Beynon admired Anne greatly for her strength and pride. He loved her inner fire. But he never tried to get to know her once they married. So he still knew literally nothing about Anne the woman. Same could easily be said about Anne knowing Beyond as well. And Beynon became so frustrating to read as the author simplified the inner workings of their marriage by somehow fixing all their issues by having Beynon finally pull his head out of his ass and actually express himself to his wife. That might've been the most the man spoke throughout the entire book tbh.

Which is a bit hilarious and ridiculous when you think about it. Because I'm not exaggerating when I say Anne and Beynon barely had one full conversation the entire book. How the author managed to try and build a romance around that is baffling to me. I just so wanted them to stop being so silent and actually speak up and talk to one another.

Lastly, I think the most frustrating aspect of this entire book came in the final chapter before the epilogue. Where we jump a few weeks ahead to Michaelmas and hear about all the preparation the family has been doing on the farm. This is where Anne simply tells us how great her relationship with Beynon has become. How he finally gave her a personal tour of the farm, showed her all his favorite spots and clearly alluded to all the private intimate moments that occurred in between. So, we didn't get to actually SEE their relationship grow and evolve instead we got to experience all their angsty non-communicative silent lust for one another for an entire month but get a quick summary of how they finally did allt he important parts to build their relationship into something better. Wonderful. 🥴

So while yes, I did enjoy this book (and I actually did despite my ranty review) it also frustrated me and disappointed me greatly. I wasnt expecting so much drawn out inner dialogue or angst from the MCs. Especially all the blatant lack of communication, obvious miscommunication and misunderstanding each others actions was just so overpowering it nearly ruined the story for me. Basically I blame the author for choosing the wrong aspects to focus on if the plan was to have thr couple be so lacking in basic communication that they barely interacted with one another only to have sex and somehow fall in love...if so then they succeeded. It just felt like this could have been SO much more than it was IMO. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖼 Enticing the Devil 💐
Wright Bastards Book 2
✒️ Amy Sandas
https://www.facebook.com/AmySandas/
Release Date 06/14/2022
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q6J3CRQ/...

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

He’ll never belong in her world.
Beynon Thomas might have agreed to spend time in England with his recently discovered half siblings, but home will always be his farm in Wales. Being the illegitimate son of an earl doesn’t mean he belongs in high society, and it’s never been more evident than when he’s paired with the gentle Lady Anne at a country house party. She represents everything he disdains about London’s pampered daughters. Yet, he can’t resist being drawn by the storm he glimpses beneath her temperate disposition.

She’s more than what they see.
Lady Anne Humphries is known throughout the ton for her modest manner and exemplary decorum, yet she’s gone three seasons without a single offer of marriage. She’s finally contented herself to life as a spinster when she is partnered with the glowering Mr. Thomas for her friend’s summer games. Something about the man’s dismissive attitude provokes her into behaving in ways she wouldn’t have thought herself capable. The broody Welshman ignites a fire within her. Her only hope now is that she won’t get burned.

When losing isn’t an option.
Though their partnership starts out contentious, passion quickly takes over between a woman tired of being overlooked and a man filled with contempt for a society that mocks him. To the casual observer, the pair couldn’t be more opposite in appearance or manner. One so elegant and refined. The other, brawny and unsophisticated. But when desire overrides pride and ignores the rules of propriety, two people from disparate worlds have a chance to win the greatest prize of all.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

Will they be able to see their true difference are what they make of them …

What a wonderful story the author gifts us, even if quite angsty compared to the previous book. Anne and Beynon are their worst enemy, they misinterpret, misunderstand and see what is not by fear of accepting an other outcome. Their uncertainties lead them on wrong paths and while Anne tries despite all to reach him, he instead chooses to keep her at arm-length.
They both come from a sad childhood story, in part for Beynon. They grew up without a parent, and while Beynon’s first ten years were tainted by his illegitimacy, after his mother’s marriage, he found a true family, with new siblings and a father’s figure in the man who shared with him his name. Anne instead, had what wealth could pay, nurse, nanny, governess and servant but a family, never. Her father has been a distant figure, never finding contentment in her accomplishments. She was never good enough, talented enough, just a failure in her sire’s eyes.
So when they are paired for the party games, they are like moth and candle, he can’t stop to want her, to be drawn to her but he fears the result if he gives in their chemistry.
Beynon is a man of few words, he is ill at ease among his half-siblings peers, and if not for a sense of not rejecting what he does not know, he would not have attended this party.
Anne after three years of being overlooked by the ton and discarded as useless by her father, she decided to for once enjoy the games, to find her inner voice and let it come out. Of course she won’t throw her shoes out and dance on tables but if there is a way, she wants to make her participation in the week’s revelries matter.
So together they are to partake and try to earn as many points as possible as the days pass.
But when confronted to their attraction, they are lost, reading wrong hints and assuming inaccurate ideas.
While they are able to see when they hurt or pain the other, still they are unable to communicate their feelings until they only have one road to follow.

The author paints much damaged characters, not in the way they physically broken, but their past experiences shadow their view of life. Beynon fears he will never have enough to offer to a lady, that she would come to ressent him when Anne just longs to be cared, to be someone’s world instead of the one always put aside.
How many roads and missteps did they go through before finally are being able to open to the other. If not for Anne’s resilience and tenacity, Beynon would have let go of the best gift life was ready to offer him.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 hot hot hot

I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

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[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

TLDR - Hang in there's it's not as boring as is seems

Anne is a refined high society lady who has been neglected by her abusive father and left largely to her own devices since she was a child. Beynon is the bastard son of the late Earl of Wright - a large, hardened, intense Welshman and farmer staying in England only to get to know his other half siblings.

Anne and Beynon meet at a friend of his family's garden party and immediately their interactions are fraught with awkwardness, misunderstandings and tension. Anne's trying to be nice and Beynon's on edge and grumpy since he's very much out of his element. They're thrown together at the party when the host plans a series of games ending in a competition and they're listed as partners and they have to work things out.

I had high hopes for this one after the first book, but it was slow to start and that threw me off. It was SO BORING at the beginning I almost DNF'd. HANG IN THERE GUYS it does get better. Once they finally talk and all the smoldering feelings come out it really gets much better and I started rooting for them as a couple. They come from different places and have different backgrounds so the communication definitely needed to be worked on and was a main source of strife. I enjoyed seeing them come together but I do wish Beynon hadn't been such a boneheaded idiot who hurt her feelings half the time!

[Dini - dinipandareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

It's been a minute since I read this but I do remember after the first book, highly anticipating the romance featuring this MMC. I'm a sucker for those stoic, grumpy MMCs who are secretly wicked, especially in the bedroom, and Beynon fits the bill. I also loved how these opposites attracted, as Anne was the sweet-tempered sunshine to His Gloominess, and of course, they brought out the best in each other, even if neither thought so in their heads. What was lacking, IMO, was more time spent with them together. ✨ Oh, and the lack of communication! ✨ If only they had been open with each other about how they felt (about themselves and each other), it would've made this a much stronger story. We'd have them spend more time getting to know each other post-marriage because even though they grew as individuals following the event, we could've then seen them grow as a couple. As much as I loved them together and the steamy moments their undeniable chemistry led to, I just wanted more of them together instead of avoiding each other thinking it's for the best without actually confirming it to be so. You know, as silly couples tend to do in romances, lol. 😂 Still, I really enjoyed it and would be keen to keep reading the series to see how the others get their HEA.

[❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re someone who enjoys angst you’ll probably love this.



* spoilers below, duh.


This is my personal preference. There was too much angst due to misunderstandings/lack of communication. It’s hard to believe they love each other when it’s made clear the H does his best to ignore the h unless they are having sex, which is very frequent. h has enough of being ignored and leaves and the family is the one who has to push the H to go try to get her back, and there’s no grovel after he realizes how much of an ass he has been. h obv goes back to the H and once they’ve made up he mentions there are ways to avoid pregnancy if she doesn’t want children, this was mentioned AFTER weeks of unprotected sex ???? Whaaaaat.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beynon Thomas is the illegitimate son of an earl. He travels to London to spend time with his half-siblings. Beynon just wants to return to his family farm in Wales. Beynon is paired with Lady Anne Humphries for a series of games. After a lifetime of being ignored and neglected by her father, Lady Anne is determined to win to prove to herself that she is capable. A series of miscommunications leads Beynon to think that Anne looks down upon him, and Anne thinks that Beynon sees her as helpless. When they finally take things too far, Beynon has no choice but to marry her.

This can be read as a standalone. (Although, as a reader who jumped into the series with book 2, I wish I had read everything in order.) I really liked this fun play on the forced proximity trope. It was interesting to see the main character end up on a farm in Wales. I thought the chemistry between Beynon and Anne was great, and they were both likable characters.

Spice rating: 3.5 out of 5 🔥

[Sandy N · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series. The story flows through two locations, England and Wales. The first part is in England where our two Leads are paired up together in a country games where they get to meet. The second part in Wales (no spoilers here).
This is another great offering by Amy Sandas. You get to learn more and more about this complex family. I can't wait for book 3.
This is my honest opinion from reading this ARC.

[Avril Hemingway · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another great book in this series. You get to learn more and more about this complex family and the character's are so lovely and vivid especially Lady Anne who isn't interested in status but just wants to be loved and Beynon doesn't think he's good enough for a Lady. It was lovely to see their relationship building at the house party. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Daffodil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a limited dialogue between the main characters. Despite that, the story is gripping and makes me want to root both of them. My most favourite part is when Anne decided to leave Beynon which makes him to admit his feelings and not wallowing in self-negative. This novel teaches me on how you are perfect as you are as long as you embrace your weakness and flaws. I wanted more scenes between them after they reconciled since they started to face each other properly.

[Kathryn Redmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked to read an Advanced Reader Copy of Ms. Amy Sandas 'Enticing the Devil' and in turn write a review.

Once again, Amy Sandas, creates a bold and inspiring love story. The rich, vivid characters and twists in the plot will keep the audience (readers) breathless in anticipation in wanting more. I can never get enough of Ms. Sandas stories as I am swept up in the emotional vortex.

[Miss Conception · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author that I read. I really enjoyed the beginning, it had so much potential but then it just fell flat. It became too wordy, with too much inner dialogue instead of the H/h just talking like two grown ups. I swear they barely exchanged ten full sentences, let alone had a normal conversation. That didn't allow for much character growth unfortunately.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

great Storyline!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story so I gave it 5 stars. However, there were many typographical errors including misspelled words and missing or added words in sentences. Yes, you can figure out what it should say, but it does ruin the flow and some enjoyment. Looking forward to the next story!

[Hasnamezied · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books for this year.

[Marika · Rating 1 out of 5]

⛔️(in notes)