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Regency Rogues #1
The Devil in Disguise
Filled with espionage and intrigue, Stefanie Sloane’s witty and sexy debut is a Regency historical—the first novel in a back-to-back Regency Rogues trilogy that features seductive spies and the ladies they must protect.
Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, is a rake with little regard for society—a most unlikely suitor for Lady Lucinda Grey. But his latest assignment for the Young Corinthians, an elite spy organization, involves protecting her from a kidnapping plot. To do this, the notorious “Iron Will” must use his devilish charm to seduce Lucinda and convince her he’s worthy of her attention. William never planned to become enthralled by the lovely Lady Grey—or to lose his own heart in the bargain.
Beautiful and fiercely intelligent, Lucinda has managed to gracefully sidestep even the most persistent suitors. Until the Duke of Clairemont, that is. She’s tempted by his sinfully sensuous mouth and piercing eyes, and finds it hard to resist the champion thoroughbred he offers her in exchange for the honor of courting her. Can she keep him at arm’s length when his touch begs her to let him so much closer?
Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, is a rake with little regard for society—a most unlikely suitor for Lady Lucinda Grey. But his latest assignment for the Young Corinthians, an elite spy organization, involves protecting her from a kidnapping plot. To do this, the notorious “Iron Will” must use his devilish charm to seduce Lucinda and convince her he’s worthy of her attention. William never planned to become enthralled by the lovely Lady Grey—or to lose his own heart in the bargain.
Beautiful and fiercely intelligent, Lucinda has managed to gracefully sidestep even the most persistent suitors. Until the Duke of Clairemont, that is. She’s tempted by his sinfully sensuous mouth and piercing eyes, and finds it hard to resist the champion thoroughbred he offers her in exchange for the honor of courting her. Can she keep him at arm’s length when his touch begs her to let him so much closer?
296 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 24, 2011
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June 5, 2011
3 stars – Historical/Regency Romance
I was really looking forward to this, but unfortunately it’s just an okay/average romance that didn’t meet my expectations. I liked the storyline...a notorious, devilishly sexy rake who’s really a spy in disguise uses a prized stallion to entice a rich, beautiful, willful debutante into a courtship so he can protect her from an assassin’s kidnapping plot...but I definitely had issues with the poor editing, lukewarm passion, and overall delivery.
The scene and chapter transitions are very abrupt and jarring, and at times I even wondered if there were missing pages. The kissing and love scene(s?) are somewhat strange, written rather poorly, are much too short with barely any detail, and feel extremely, confusingly rushed. . The romance was lacking and it just didn’t feel genuine or believable.
So although I liked the interesting premise and there are some witty, charming moments, it’s really disjointed and just a decent, not great, Regency romance. I’m not sure at this point if I’ll read the next book, The Angel in My Arms, but I’ll probably wait for reviews first.
I was really looking forward to this, but unfortunately it’s just an okay/average romance that didn’t meet my expectations. I liked the storyline...a notorious, devilishly sexy rake who’s really a spy in disguise uses a prized stallion to entice a rich, beautiful, willful debutante into a courtship so he can protect her from an assassin’s kidnapping plot...but I definitely had issues with the poor editing, lukewarm passion, and overall delivery.
The scene and chapter transitions are very abrupt and jarring, and at times I even wondered if there were missing pages. The kissing and love scene(s?) are somewhat strange, written rather poorly, are much too short with barely any detail, and feel extremely, confusingly rushed. . The romance was lacking and it just didn’t feel genuine or believable.
So although I liked the interesting premise and there are some witty, charming moments, it’s really disjointed and just a decent, not great, Regency romance. I’m not sure at this point if I’ll read the next book, The Angel in My Arms, but I’ll probably wait for reviews first.
August 13, 2011
I should start out by saying that I won this book through goodreads.
Is it a romance novel...
Is it original
Is it entertaining
It isn't your typical romance novel where there are a ton of steamy sex scenes. In fact the books has quite a bit of good story line to it. You see Will is a spy slash playboy who has been assigned to keep Lucinda safe since there is an assassin out to kill her. She is a highly sought after woman and has no shortage of admirers. Her friend has been setting her up with "dates" in hopes that Lucinda will settle down and marry, which she has no intention of doing. So Will takes this opportunity to court her as a way to be close to her and keep her safe. Now I should also mention that Will was abused as a child and therefor has hardened his heart to the world and doesn't believe in love. So you have two main characters that are skeptical on the concept of love and marriage.. hmm I wonder how this ends.
My favorite part of the book is him adjusting to her world. He may be a Duke but he doesn't attend the fancy dinners or balls and he certainly isn't one to court a lady. So it was fun watching him struggle though being polite and acting proper at the dinner parties and gatherings. It is also interesting to see him begin to soften his heart and have feelings for Lucinda.
Favorite quote...
"Of course I want to bed her. A man would have to be dead and buried not to. No, I want to talk to her. I like talking to her. Dammit, the bedding part is natural. Wanting to spend time with her outside the bedchamber is not." - Will
For more reviews check out Book Sniffers Anonymous
Is it a romance novel...
Is it original
Is it entertaining
It isn't your typical romance novel where there are a ton of steamy sex scenes. In fact the books has quite a bit of good story line to it. You see Will is a spy slash playboy who has been assigned to keep Lucinda safe since there is an assassin out to kill her. She is a highly sought after woman and has no shortage of admirers. Her friend has been setting her up with "dates" in hopes that Lucinda will settle down and marry, which she has no intention of doing. So Will takes this opportunity to court her as a way to be close to her and keep her safe. Now I should also mention that Will was abused as a child and therefor has hardened his heart to the world and doesn't believe in love. So you have two main characters that are skeptical on the concept of love and marriage.. hmm I wonder how this ends.
My favorite part of the book is him adjusting to her world. He may be a Duke but he doesn't attend the fancy dinners or balls and he certainly isn't one to court a lady. So it was fun watching him struggle though being polite and acting proper at the dinner parties and gatherings. It is also interesting to see him begin to soften his heart and have feelings for Lucinda.
Favorite quote...
"Of course I want to bed her. A man would have to be dead and buried not to. No, I want to talk to her. I like talking to her. Dammit, the bedding part is natural. Wanting to spend time with her outside the bedchamber is not." - Will
For more reviews check out Book Sniffers Anonymous
September 24, 2011
Note: This review, and all my reviews, comes from my blog - Romantic Rose's Bookshelf (http://romantic-rosesblog.blogspot.com)
Book 1 in the Regency Rouges series
The first quarter of this book, I really enjoyed. Our heroine, Lady Lucinda Grey, was sharp and pretty. She had three sarcastic, very funny aunts I was looking forward to getting to know (Bessie, Victoria, and Charlotte). Our hero, Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, is a rake of the first order – we meet him while he’s in bed with his mistress. He was a good rake, and I think I liked him best in the beginning than throughout the rest of the book. Which is sad. Continuing on, when he firsts meets our heroine, there’s a fun little challenge issued, the beginning of their romance. Everything was all set up for some wonderful fun. Then, the book turned into an Apollo 13. The characters, the plot, the entirety of the rest of the book pretty much sucked, plain and simple.
My first complaint was that, after the first 80 pages or so, everyone lost their character. Lucinda stopped acting like a lady or like herself and turned unto a nitwit, with seemingly no motivation, William stopped acting the part of the rake both with her and without her. The funny aunts disappeared (not completely) from the story, which was a crying shame because I was looking forward to their role in the book. The characters were so flat they wore training bras. The characters were just going through the motions of a romance book with a 'mysterious, dangerous plot'. Nobody was actually feeling anything or staying true to their character. It was a mess. I couldn’t feel the love growing between our hero and heroine either, which really bothered me. It was: we meet, we fuck, we fight, we make up, we get little babies. No falling in love. Lucinda throws away the innocence she's kept intact for years for a few kisses, and is seemingly ready, willing, and able to dance the bedroom dance for the first time in a closet at Almacks. No. Just no.
The plot also went to kaputz. I bought this book really looking forward to the ‘Young Corinthians’ plot. In the beginning of the novel we learn that our hero, Will, is part of this elite spy group, the Young Corinthians. Will is assigned by his boss, Carmichael, the duty of protecting Lady Lucinda Grey from a kidnapping plot. To get close to her, he’s going to have to use his charm to convince this notoriously elusive, cold, beautiful Lady to let him court her. He does this by offering her his horse (King Solomon’s Mine) whom she loves to pieces. The plot seemed really interesting at first, but ended up being really stupid. The one kidnapping attempt that occurs, when there were like ten men from the Young Corinthians on horseback to rescue her back? Alright, if you’ve got so many men assigned to protect her, waiting in the shadows, then why do you need Will? Why is this whole courting thing even necessary? Also, our kidnapper clearly has a gun but never seems to use it until the very end. If I were a crazy kidnapper, I’d just shoot the bodyguard in the beginning and spirit the girl away. It was supposed to build suspense or whatever, I know, but Sloane did a terrible job with the plot. Really. It was awful. Also, the reason for the kidnapping was never really explained beyond the simplest ‘they want money’. If you want money, rob a carriage or something. Why would you kidnap the woman? Who are you going to blackmail to get her back? Wouldn't you kidnap the woman's aunt or dog or something, not the woman herself?
My main qualm: Our heroine was TSTL. The scene at the end, where she charges into the fray on a horse to save Will is really dumb. I wish she’d gotten shot, because it would’ve shown there was some sort of reality in the world Sloane created. Also, she throws a temper-tantrum when she learns that Will didn’t originally want to court her, but was assigned to protect her. Yes, fault the man for risking his life every day to protect you, and don’t give him the benefit of the doubt at all, even a little, because clearly he's not noble or trustworthy or anything. I’m used to unreasonable temper tantrums in romance, on the part of the hero or heroine, but the sheer stupidity of this one hit me hard and made me want to scream.
Finally, there were so many ‘little’ loose ends that didn’t fit in – like Will’s drama with his family. Where’s that going? Is there some resolution that will take place in a later book? Yes? No? Goodness, there were so many things left hanging. I like my books to be neatly tied off, a little package all tidied up. Not so in Sloane’s story. The epilogue did nothing to satisfy me or make me feel the book had reached its conclusion. All in all, it was an amateur’s novel, with average writing, an average hero, a TSTL heroine, confusing chaos regarding the characters of our protagonists, and a worse than mediocre plot. This is not a book I’d recommend - but maybe the next book will be better.
“Sexy”ness rating: Sex included.
Overall Rating: D-
Bottom Line: Part of the reason this book got such a low grade was because it started off so well. The characters, the plot, the humor, the everything then fell significantly short of expectations towards the end and I wanted to throw the book against the wall. *BAM*
Book 1 in the Regency Rouges series
The first quarter of this book, I really enjoyed. Our heroine, Lady Lucinda Grey, was sharp and pretty. She had three sarcastic, very funny aunts I was looking forward to getting to know (Bessie, Victoria, and Charlotte). Our hero, Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, is a rake of the first order – we meet him while he’s in bed with his mistress. He was a good rake, and I think I liked him best in the beginning than throughout the rest of the book. Which is sad. Continuing on, when he firsts meets our heroine, there’s a fun little challenge issued, the beginning of their romance. Everything was all set up for some wonderful fun. Then, the book turned into an Apollo 13. The characters, the plot, the entirety of the rest of the book pretty much sucked, plain and simple.
My first complaint was that, after the first 80 pages or so, everyone lost their character. Lucinda stopped acting like a lady or like herself and turned unto a nitwit, with seemingly no motivation, William stopped acting the part of the rake both with her and without her. The funny aunts disappeared (not completely) from the story, which was a crying shame because I was looking forward to their role in the book. The characters were so flat they wore training bras. The characters were just going through the motions of a romance book with a 'mysterious, dangerous plot'. Nobody was actually feeling anything or staying true to their character. It was a mess. I couldn’t feel the love growing between our hero and heroine either, which really bothered me. It was: we meet, we fuck, we fight, we make up, we get little babies. No falling in love. Lucinda throws away the innocence she's kept intact for years for a few kisses, and is seemingly ready, willing, and able to dance the bedroom dance for the first time in a closet at Almacks. No. Just no.
The plot also went to kaputz. I bought this book really looking forward to the ‘Young Corinthians’ plot. In the beginning of the novel we learn that our hero, Will, is part of this elite spy group, the Young Corinthians. Will is assigned by his boss, Carmichael, the duty of protecting Lady Lucinda Grey from a kidnapping plot. To get close to her, he’s going to have to use his charm to convince this notoriously elusive, cold, beautiful Lady to let him court her. He does this by offering her his horse (King Solomon’s Mine) whom she loves to pieces. The plot seemed really interesting at first, but ended up being really stupid. The one kidnapping attempt that occurs, when there were like ten men from the Young Corinthians on horseback to rescue her back? Alright, if you’ve got so many men assigned to protect her, waiting in the shadows, then why do you need Will? Why is this whole courting thing even necessary? Also, our kidnapper clearly has a gun but never seems to use it until the very end. If I were a crazy kidnapper, I’d just shoot the bodyguard in the beginning and spirit the girl away. It was supposed to build suspense or whatever, I know, but Sloane did a terrible job with the plot. Really. It was awful. Also, the reason for the kidnapping was never really explained beyond the simplest ‘they want money’. If you want money, rob a carriage or something. Why would you kidnap the woman? Who are you going to blackmail to get her back? Wouldn't you kidnap the woman's aunt or dog or something, not the woman herself?
My main qualm: Our heroine was TSTL. The scene at the end, where she charges into the fray on a horse to save Will is really dumb. I wish she’d gotten shot, because it would’ve shown there was some sort of reality in the world Sloane created. Also, she throws a temper-tantrum when she learns that Will didn’t originally want to court her, but was assigned to protect her. Yes, fault the man for risking his life every day to protect you, and don’t give him the benefit of the doubt at all, even a little, because clearly he's not noble or trustworthy or anything. I’m used to unreasonable temper tantrums in romance, on the part of the hero or heroine, but the sheer stupidity of this one hit me hard and made me want to scream.
Finally, there were so many ‘little’ loose ends that didn’t fit in – like Will’s drama with his family. Where’s that going? Is there some resolution that will take place in a later book? Yes? No? Goodness, there were so many things left hanging. I like my books to be neatly tied off, a little package all tidied up. Not so in Sloane’s story. The epilogue did nothing to satisfy me or make me feel the book had reached its conclusion. All in all, it was an amateur’s novel, with average writing, an average hero, a TSTL heroine, confusing chaos regarding the characters of our protagonists, and a worse than mediocre plot. This is not a book I’d recommend - but maybe the next book will be better.
“Sexy”ness rating: Sex included.
Overall Rating: D-
Bottom Line: Part of the reason this book got such a low grade was because it started off so well. The characters, the plot, the humor, the everything then fell significantly short of expectations towards the end and I wanted to throw the book against the wall. *BAM*
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April 23, 2017DNF at 42%, so no rating
There was nothing wrong with this book. I've read a novella by the author and really loved it, so I wanted to check out some of her books. This one just didn't work for me. I didn't hate it, it just left absolutely no impression on me, so I'm not going to rate this book seeing as it's just me and my pet-peeves that kept me from enjoying this. I'm pretty sure this would've been an "okay" book for me if had finished it but I just couldn't get into the story and ultimately abandoned it. Please, this does NOT mean I think this is a bad book, I just don't feel like reading it right now. I'm still planning on checking out other books by this author!
Some things that didn't work for me:
- the premise: the hero is a member of a spy group called "The Corinthians". Their spymaster received information that someone against whom the hero has a personal vendetta wants to hurt one of the richest women in London (the heroine) and tasks the hero with keeping her safe. He approaches her by dangling something she wants more than anything in front of her- a horse. If she lets him court her for three months and still refuses to marry him, she'll get the horse, if she marries him, it's hers as well. For some reason, I just couldn't get into this story...
- the hero: I'm not against Rakes per se, I like a good reformed rake as much as anybody. But this one... I just didn't care about. We meet him screwing someone else's wife - yet he left one of his past lovers the minute she got married; he says stuff like "Dammit, the bedding part is natural. Wanting to spend time with her outside the bedchamber is not." - and yet he is a complete sweetheart around the heroine, laughing and teasing without a hint of malice. He forbids the heroine to go riding on her own by haughtily saying "as your suitor, I do have some say in the matter" - and yet he usually treats her well. I just couldn't figure out what he wanted. One minute he was proud of himself for not taking the heroine's virginity (really, am I supposed to applaud him for that?), the next minute he was sure he was in love and he just wasn't good enough for her. He just made no sense to me. He kept insisting that his "cover" as a rake and an ass was just so convenient for his spy-work, so he never bothered to be anything else.
- the "love": By 30%, both of them are convinced that they are in love with each other. And I just didn't get why... There's nothing really wrong with either of them, I just didn't care enough to keep reading.
- the villain: I absolutely HATE it when a villain is a central figure and we get chapters from their point of view. This time, the villain was a bad guy who liked killing off members of the hero's spy group. For some reason he has decided to hurt the heroine (really, why kidnap HER if she has all the money? Why not go after her aunts or the freaking horse, so she would have to pay the ransom) and the hero is sent out by his boss to protect her, so he pretends to court her. What didn't work for me was the fact that the villain was so present, you had to read about the pounding ache behind his eye he gets whenever his plans don't work out. Which sometimes leads to impetuous rabbit killing; I'm not kidding, at some point he's outside, one of his plans is foiled, and he kills a rabbit that is just innocently sitting there. I guess that was supposed to convince me that he is truly EVIL, but all it did was make me roll my eyes really hard. He's also super-skilled with disguises; so much so that he can infiltrate a party where the entire spy gang AND their boss are in attendance and not one of them recognizes him. Sure...
Trigger warnings (I don't care about any of these. But for some of my GR friends these are dealbreakers, so I decided to include them):
There was nothing wrong with this book. I've read a novella by the author and really loved it, so I wanted to check out some of her books. This one just didn't work for me. I didn't hate it, it just left absolutely no impression on me, so I'm not going to rate this book seeing as it's just me and my pet-peeves that kept me from enjoying this. I'm pretty sure this would've been an "okay" book for me if had finished it but I just couldn't get into the story and ultimately abandoned it. Please, this does NOT mean I think this is a bad book, I just don't feel like reading it right now. I'm still planning on checking out other books by this author!
Some things that didn't work for me:
- the premise: the hero is a member of a spy group called "The Corinthians". Their spymaster received information that someone against whom the hero has a personal vendetta wants to hurt one of the richest women in London (the heroine) and tasks the hero with keeping her safe. He approaches her by dangling something she wants more than anything in front of her- a horse. If she lets him court her for three months and still refuses to marry him, she'll get the horse, if she marries him, it's hers as well. For some reason, I just couldn't get into this story...
- the hero: I'm not against Rakes per se, I like a good reformed rake as much as anybody. But this one... I just didn't care about. We meet him screwing someone else's wife - yet he left one of his past lovers the minute she got married; he says stuff like "Dammit, the bedding part is natural. Wanting to spend time with her outside the bedchamber is not." - and yet he is a complete sweetheart around the heroine, laughing and teasing without a hint of malice. He forbids the heroine to go riding on her own by haughtily saying "as your suitor, I do have some say in the matter" - and yet he usually treats her well. I just couldn't figure out what he wanted. One minute he was proud of himself for not taking the heroine's virginity (really, am I supposed to applaud him for that?), the next minute he was sure he was in love and he just wasn't good enough for her. He just made no sense to me. He kept insisting that his "cover" as a rake and an ass was just so convenient for his spy-work, so he never bothered to be anything else.
- the "love": By 30%, both of them are convinced that they are in love with each other. And I just didn't get why... There's nothing really wrong with either of them, I just didn't care enough to keep reading.
- the villain: I absolutely HATE it when a villain is a central figure and we get chapters from their point of view. This time, the villain was a bad guy who liked killing off members of the hero's spy group. For some reason he has decided to hurt the heroine (really, why kidnap HER if she has all the money? Why not go after her aunts or the freaking horse, so she would have to pay the ransom) and the hero is sent out by his boss to protect her, so he pretends to court her. What didn't work for me was the fact that the villain was so present, you had to read about the pounding ache behind his eye he gets whenever his plans don't work out. Which sometimes leads to impetuous rabbit killing; I'm not kidding, at some point he's outside, one of his plans is foiled, and he kills a rabbit that is just innocently sitting there. I guess that was supposed to convince me that he is truly EVIL, but all it did was make me roll my eyes really hard. He's also super-skilled with disguises; so much so that he can infiltrate a party where the entire spy gang AND their boss are in attendance and not one of them recognizes him. Sure...
Trigger warnings (I don't care about any of these. But for some of my GR friends these are dealbreakers, so I decided to include them):
June 1, 2012
Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont is a member of the Young Corinthians, a secret spy organization whose primary objective is to serve and protect those in distress. But his work in this line of business, requiring a cool head and focus, coupled with a harsh upbringing from a tyrannical father, has made Will's heart impenetrable.
Lady Lucinda Grey, is not only beautiful and intelligent - she has also turned away each and every one of her suitors. But when William proposes a courtship in order to better protect her from a kidnapping plot, he makes her an offer that she finds impossible to refuse - a thoroughbred champion that will be the crowning glory for her breeding program.
Each is confident that they can resist the other - after all, William has guarded his heart for so long, and Lucinda has easily avoided marriage, so really, what could possibly be the problem with a courtship? Surely there's no danger for either one of these people to fall in love? Preposterous! But as you well know, friendship can turn to affection, and affection to so much more, and before you know it...well, love can simply sneak up on people and catch them completely by surprise =)
This is the first book I've read by Stefanie Sloane, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. She has such a delightful way with words, painting a picture of the setting and the characters and drawing you in to make you a part of the whole experience. The dialogue was fresh and amusing throughout - a definite keeper that I would highly recommend. I look forward to reading about her other 'Regency Rogues'.
Lady Lucinda Grey, is not only beautiful and intelligent - she has also turned away each and every one of her suitors. But when William proposes a courtship in order to better protect her from a kidnapping plot, he makes her an offer that she finds impossible to refuse - a thoroughbred champion that will be the crowning glory for her breeding program.
Each is confident that they can resist the other - after all, William has guarded his heart for so long, and Lucinda has easily avoided marriage, so really, what could possibly be the problem with a courtship? Surely there's no danger for either one of these people to fall in love? Preposterous! But as you well know, friendship can turn to affection, and affection to so much more, and before you know it...well, love can simply sneak up on people and catch them completely by surprise =)
This is the first book I've read by Stefanie Sloane, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. She has such a delightful way with words, painting a picture of the setting and the characters and drawing you in to make you a part of the whole experience. The dialogue was fresh and amusing throughout - a definite keeper that I would highly recommend. I look forward to reading about her other 'Regency Rogues'.
May 9, 2011
Note: I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book free through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Our heroine, Lady Lucinda Grey is beautiful and intelligent and besieged by suitors because she is also incredibly rich. Our hero, Will, the Duke (10 points!) of Clairemont, is a rake and a spy! But that is not all, oh no, that is not all. He has received the sobriquet of "Iron Will" because he when he gets really angry he goes to the boxing ring and beats people up; also he breaks furniture. I'm not sure how you get "Iron" from that, but the nickname sounds formidable. At any rate, his mysterious spy agency--mysterious because exactly how the need for an unofficial spy agency embedded within a gentlemen's club arose and developed is completely unexplained--discovers that a notorious French assassin is plotting to kidnap Lucinda for her money (the assassin is working for Fouche, supposedly, but again, it is unexplained why Fouche would find using a murderous psychopath to kidnap an English heiress essential to protecting the national security of France). Will is assigned to guard Lucinda under the guise of courting her. This goes awry, as things will do, when they start falling for each other for realz.
Overall I thought this book was a pleasant, light read, but with some issues that I hope will not be in the other books in the series, like the unexplained plot points. Also there is a lot of "telling, not showing"--we know Lucinda is witty and intelligent because the author and other characters say she is witty and intelligent, not because she actually says or does anything witty. She does do some brave things, particularly at the end, though, which almost makes up for it. Will's character interested me and I would have liked to see it more fleshed out. Sloane is also better at building sexual tension than resolving it, alas, and the book, like the tension, shows more promise more than fulfillment.
Our heroine, Lady Lucinda Grey is beautiful and intelligent and besieged by suitors because she is also incredibly rich. Our hero, Will, the Duke (10 points!) of Clairemont, is a rake and a spy! But that is not all, oh no, that is not all. He has received the sobriquet of "Iron Will" because he when he gets really angry he goes to the boxing ring and beats people up; also he breaks furniture. I'm not sure how you get "Iron" from that, but the nickname sounds formidable. At any rate, his mysterious spy agency--mysterious because exactly how the need for an unofficial spy agency embedded within a gentlemen's club arose and developed is completely unexplained--discovers that a notorious French assassin is plotting to kidnap Lucinda for her money (the assassin is working for Fouche, supposedly, but again, it is unexplained why Fouche would find using a murderous psychopath to kidnap an English heiress essential to protecting the national security of France). Will is assigned to guard Lucinda under the guise of courting her. This goes awry, as things will do, when they start falling for each other for realz.
Overall I thought this book was a pleasant, light read, but with some issues that I hope will not be in the other books in the series, like the unexplained plot points. Also there is a lot of "telling, not showing"--we know Lucinda is witty and intelligent because the author and other characters say she is witty and intelligent, not because she actually says or does anything witty. She does do some brave things, particularly at the end, though, which almost makes up for it. Will's character interested me and I would have liked to see it more fleshed out. Sloane is also better at building sexual tension than resolving it, alas, and the book, like the tension, shows more promise more than fulfillment.
November 2, 2017
Iron Will is one hot Duke. Yep ! I haven't read anything else by this author - at least I think so - but I'm on a binge reading spree of regency novels that contain a Duke hero. Lucinda is a wonderful heroine. She's independent and strong willed without being a neurotic bitch, unlike many other heroines plus she's beautiful even if she is a bluestocking. She chooses to be single because she thinks all the guys she meets are silly and foolish. To be honest, they are stupid. There's this early scene where she's being wooed by a dandy gentleman of the Ton and his poetic comments and compliments are the height of idiocy. She hasn't met any really manly guys in the Ton and has refused many marriage proposals. The hero, "Iron Will" just shakes up her world with his sexiness and strong willed seduction/courtship. Their dialogue is funny at times, because Will has never had a woman treat him in such an offhand manner before. Lucinda's widowed aunts are really funny too. They also give Will a run for his money. The storyline about Lucinda's kidnapper is quite good too. This was a good regency romp.
January 26, 2014
Short Review:
I have always adored spy regency romances, it adds a bit more spice than what regular regency romances offer. Ever since I first noticed the covers of this series, its been on my list. I have heard some many great things about this series. And so since my local library has all of them, I decided I could start from the beginning of the series. So With The Devil In Disguise, we see a story that begins with Lucinda looking for a husband, and then William displays some real interest that she reciprocates. William is part of the "Young Corinthians", a network of british spy's. I enjoyed seeing these two begin a courtship, even though at first William's intentions is strictly professional and all about completeing his mission. The Devil In Disguise was a sensual read that is packed with a witty dialogue, a plot full of intrigue and mystery, and a romance to captivate hearts!! REMARKABLE!
I have always adored spy regency romances, it adds a bit more spice than what regular regency romances offer. Ever since I first noticed the covers of this series, its been on my list. I have heard some many great things about this series. And so since my local library has all of them, I decided I could start from the beginning of the series. So With The Devil In Disguise, we see a story that begins with Lucinda looking for a husband, and then William displays some real interest that she reciprocates. William is part of the "Young Corinthians", a network of british spy's. I enjoyed seeing these two begin a courtship, even though at first William's intentions is strictly professional and all about completeing his mission. The Devil In Disguise was a sensual read that is packed with a witty dialogue, a plot full of intrigue and mystery, and a romance to captivate hearts!! REMARKABLE!
July 31, 2017
Slightly better than a Harlequin, but with a really absurd level of typos (the villain's name is particularly beset by misspellings) and a is-she-modern-Miss heroine, with the added difficulty that apparently everyone in the Regency period was a spy. The worst sin is a pair of characters with nothing much to like and a lack of realistic tension. A hero who acknowledges his love for the heroine but mysteriously refuses to acknowledge it to her, not for any coherent reason but just to move along the plot, and a villain who ought to be creepier but whose motivations are insufficient to explain his fixations. Who is paying him to kidnap the heroine? Why does the hero focus on him so doggedly? Argh,there were so many possibilities here but shallow characters killed my interest.
January 4, 2012
bacaan di awal tahun 2012...sungguh mengecewakan....
alur cerita lambat..chemistry nya gak dapet...
dan ce nya...berurai air mata mulu...tipe yg selalu nunggu di selamatin co...ah malesnya dakuuuu ....
begini ceritanya ...
lady lucinda ini cantiiiiiik sekali...kaya sekaliiii...
trus dia selalu nolak suitor yang mau melamar dia...why ? soalnya dia sama 3 org bibi nya yg eksentrik pengen bikin apa tuh...pembibitan kuda acuan unggulan....
co nya..Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont dan sering juga disebut 'iron will' karena terkenal gagah, rake dan bikin ce patah hati....
apa hubungan lucinda sama iron will ?
si will ini spy...kerja di conthian club apa gitu.....dan dia bertugas melindungi lady lucinda dari penjahat yang mau menculik dia....namanya garenne.
garrene ini terkenal sadis dan suka membunuh korban2 nya...pokoknya di takutin banget...
gimana supaya iron will bisa courting lucinda dan di terima ?
corinthian tau kalo lady luycinda naksir kuda yang namanya 'solomon mine' (sol)...which is...punya nya si will....
soooo...will deketin lucinda...bilang kalo dia dikasih izin buat courting lucinda dan after 3 bulan lucinda gak bersedia jadi istri nya..si sol boleh buat lucinda...
di mulai lah courtingnya....
will yang (katanya) anti menikah dan anti monogami ternyata pas liat lucinda langsung tertarik karena cantik, sexy bla-bla-bla...
dan lucinda juga liat will dia suka...yaiya lah...will gfanteng banget gitu..semua ce ngiler liat dia :p
biasa deh....will nya jadi kepelet (cepet banget)...apalagi lucinda ini hobby banget berurai airmata....
(kan co kalo liat ce cantik kayak gitu biasanya lemah hati :p)
begini-begitu sampe 3/4 buku.....gak nyadar gw...kok garrenne nya gak nyulik2 lucinda juga...(capek nungguin)
en then...kuda kesayangan lucinda mati...lucinda sedih....saking sedih nya dia memberikan keperawanan nya pada will ...uhuk2 lah mereka.....(gak inget juga gw,,,bener2 gak memorable :p)
abis gitu apa yaaa....(tuh kan lupa lagi....)
ngg....oh ya....lucinda bilang 'i love u' ke will...
trus will gak bales tuh...kata will dalam hati....dia akan memberikan tubuh dan hati nya tapi gak bisa bilang 'love; ke lucinda (dasar co !!!!)
soalnya (katanya) tugas dia gak membolehkan dia terikat dengan seorang wanita....(spy ceritanya)
so lucinda kecewa...
beberapa halaman kemudian....(duh bosen bacanya)....
di pesta lucinda pake baju yang sexy banget...dia mau merayu will biar bilang i lop u itu....
tapi walo udah kissu2 di taman tetep will bilang gak bisa mengucapkan 3 kata itu (please deh :( )
trus lucinda yang tau will sebenernya mata2 yang ditugaskan melindungi dia jadi kecewa (lagi!)
jadi dingin deh ke si will...tapi tetep lucinda mau jadi bait buat menangkap garrene....walo will nya menolak ide itu..
so di pesta itu lucinda berhasil di culik garenne...
kalangkabutlah will dan corithian agents lainnya....
after berhasil mengiterogasi org suruhan garrenne...will dll menolong lucinda..
will berhasil membunuh garrene (iiih gampang banget sih mati nya..katanya penjahat sadis dan susah di tangkep..cuma beberapa halaman udah mati...)
abis gitu will bilang ke lucinda kalo dia cinta lucinda...gak mau kehilangan lucinda bla-bla...lucinda berurai air mata lagi...
trus mereka menikah dan punya anak...
gitu aja....capek baca nya...akhirnya tamat juga....semoga seri lainnya gak membosankan...
May 23, 2011
Lord William Randall works for the Young Corinthians, a British spy organization. He has cultivated his reputation into that of a rake, in the eyes of the ton, and uses that as his cover as he goes on dangerous spy missions. His latest mission however, is going to be a tricky one. They have learned that a very dangerous, and wanted man, Garenne wants to kidnap the extremely wealthy Lady Lucinda Grey. In order to protect Lucinda and capture Garenne once and for all, Will is told by his boss that he is to court Lucinda. Now, Lucinda has refused more proposals than anyone can count, so courting her is not going to be easy. But, Will has something Lucinda wants dearly – a horse. This horse was beloved by Lucinda before being lost in a card game by a family member – to Will. So Will proposes this to Lucinda – let him court her for three months (under the guise that his mother wants him to do his duty and marry) and after those three months, if she still refuses him, she can have the horse.
The Devil in Disguise is the debut book by Stefanie Sloane and is very much a lighter historical with some cute moments. But overall, I had some problems with it. I think it is a combination of too much telling and not enough showing in the love department, along with certain areas of the book not fleshed out enough.
The conflict starts with Will, having to pretend to court Lucinda, all while keeping the threat on her life a secret. And Lucinda is very well known for not dallying with any men. But they come together and fall for each other so quickly. I think by page 100 or soon after the “L” word creeps into both of their thoughts. For Will, who is this supposed hardened spy who has killed, maimed and worked hard to get where he is, to swoon over a woman he barely knows and contemplate not performing his job anymore seemed rushed. And Lucinda has never fallen for anyone, and she falls for Will by the early part of the book? Then the conflict becomes, they each love each other but don’t want to tell the other one. It all seemed to happen too quickly and made me lose interest.
Their very first love scene, also gets cut off and I feel like we missed out on some big information. During their first physical encounter, lust overcomes them in a field and Will pushes her to the ground, undoing her buttons and then all of a sudden the chapter ends and Lucinda is shopping. We never find out how the encounter ends. Are they both happy with this step? Embarrassed? Regretful?
Towards the end, when the eventual secret comes out that Will is a spy, Lucinda feels betrayed and pushes Will away. But I question this. Their romance starts with a bargain. Lucinda under the impression that Will needs a wife for duty. With the ruse that if she doesn’t marry him, she gets his horse. It is not like the relationship started out with romance. It starts out with a silly wager, so I felt her hurtful reaction was too over the top.
There are some cute moments in the book. Lucinda’s three aunts, “The Furies” are meddlesome and adorable and were a nice addition to the book. I actually like each character separately – just didn’t quite buy into the romance in this one.
Rating: C
The Devil in Disguise is the debut book by Stefanie Sloane and is very much a lighter historical with some cute moments. But overall, I had some problems with it. I think it is a combination of too much telling and not enough showing in the love department, along with certain areas of the book not fleshed out enough.
The conflict starts with Will, having to pretend to court Lucinda, all while keeping the threat on her life a secret. And Lucinda is very well known for not dallying with any men. But they come together and fall for each other so quickly. I think by page 100 or soon after the “L” word creeps into both of their thoughts. For Will, who is this supposed hardened spy who has killed, maimed and worked hard to get where he is, to swoon over a woman he barely knows and contemplate not performing his job anymore seemed rushed. And Lucinda has never fallen for anyone, and she falls for Will by the early part of the book? Then the conflict becomes, they each love each other but don’t want to tell the other one. It all seemed to happen too quickly and made me lose interest.
Their very first love scene, also gets cut off and I feel like we missed out on some big information. During their first physical encounter, lust overcomes them in a field and Will pushes her to the ground, undoing her buttons and then all of a sudden the chapter ends and Lucinda is shopping. We never find out how the encounter ends. Are they both happy with this step? Embarrassed? Regretful?
Towards the end, when the eventual secret comes out that Will is a spy, Lucinda feels betrayed and pushes Will away. But I question this. Their romance starts with a bargain. Lucinda under the impression that Will needs a wife for duty. With the ruse that if she doesn’t marry him, she gets his horse. It is not like the relationship started out with romance. It starts out with a silly wager, so I felt her hurtful reaction was too over the top.
There are some cute moments in the book. Lucinda’s three aunts, “The Furies” are meddlesome and adorable and were a nice addition to the book. I actually like each character separately – just didn’t quite buy into the romance in this one.
Rating: C
May 29, 2011
I have eagerly been anticipating the debut novel of Stefanie Sloane ever since I saw the gorgeous covers for all three back to back releases and then Julia Quinn added her recommendation of her to the mix as well. And I have to say, after months of waiting, I wasn't too disappointed. Yes, this is a storyline line that has been used often before...the secret spy, Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont is tasked to protect Lady Lucinda Grey and the easiest way to go about this is to pretend to court her. But Clairemont has developed quite a rakish reputation through the ton (due to his work) and Lucinda has already turned down numerous suitors, who seem to mainly be after her for her fortune. Lucinda has a hard time believing that this rake is ready to settle down but Clairemont has the one thing that she most desires....a horse. He strikes a bargain with her and the courtship begins.
Lucindas three aunts, the Furies as they are known, add some wonderful fun characters to the book! They each have there own styles and give Clairemont quite the run about when they first meet him. They too have a hard time believing this rake is reforming but as they all want his prized stallion for their horse breeding business, they agree to let Lucinda entertain his courtship. Of course as the story progresses, the truth about Clairemonts "courtship" comes to life and Lucinda leaves him, breaking both of their hearts in the process, though Clairemont believes he is unlovable due to his rough childhood. Lucinda offers him her heart and he throws it back in her face, believing it is for the best.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book that was face paced with some danger and great characters. It just didn't have that 'wow' feel that I wanted. I didn't love Clairemont but thats ok, he did redeem himself. I didn't really like the ending that much...I mean, I'm glad Lucinda got to be the strong one but it did not feel totally right for me. I would have liked to seen a bit more of her aunts and I would have liked a bit more of Clairemonts history and his work with the Young Corinthians. But still, I enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to the next two books and many more from Ms Sloane!! 3 1/2 stars
(On a total side note, I was really disappointed with the editing of my ebook. I mean, I paid $7.99 for this thing and I wish there had not many so many errors. I wish I would have kept track when I was reading it, rather annoying)
Lucindas three aunts, the Furies as they are known, add some wonderful fun characters to the book! They each have there own styles and give Clairemont quite the run about when they first meet him. They too have a hard time believing this rake is reforming but as they all want his prized stallion for their horse breeding business, they agree to let Lucinda entertain his courtship. Of course as the story progresses, the truth about Clairemonts "courtship" comes to life and Lucinda leaves him, breaking both of their hearts in the process, though Clairemont believes he is unlovable due to his rough childhood. Lucinda offers him her heart and he throws it back in her face, believing it is for the best.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book that was face paced with some danger and great characters. It just didn't have that 'wow' feel that I wanted. I didn't love Clairemont but thats ok, he did redeem himself. I didn't really like the ending that much...I mean, I'm glad Lucinda got to be the strong one but it did not feel totally right for me. I would have liked to seen a bit more of her aunts and I would have liked a bit more of Clairemonts history and his work with the Young Corinthians. But still, I enjoyed reading this and am looking forward to the next two books and many more from Ms Sloane!! 3 1/2 stars
(On a total side note, I was really disappointed with the editing of my ebook. I mean, I paid $7.99 for this thing and I wish there had not many so many errors. I wish I would have kept track when I was reading it, rather annoying)
April 27, 2011
Although one of the most sought after ladies of the ton, Lady Lucinda has no desire to trust her future to a man. She has seen the consequences of hitching your star to the marriage train and she doesn't want to take that ride. Lord William Randall is only tolerated in polite society because of his title. His flaunting of the ton's rules and morality have all but ostracized him. As a member of the Young Corinthians, Lord William has worked very hard to maintain his rakish lifestyle and to establish the persona of "Iron Will". When the agency learns of a french plot to kidnap Lady Lucinda, he is asked to pose as a suitor for her hand. Can you already see the train wreck coming? Be sure you have a front row seat.
The Devil in Disguise is a prime example of what a good historical romance should be. It was engaging and pulled the reader into that time period with an authenticity often lacking in some of the more cookie cutter novels.From the first paragraph, I was intrigued by the heroine, Lady Lucinda Grey, and her modern views on independence and feminism. She had already discarded most of England's eligible bachelors and isn't looking to restock the shelves. Lord William is a big, hulking brute of a fellow, but he is damaged and vulnerable. His parents had a miserable marriage and he has no faith in any of the gentler emotions, even though he longs for a real home and someone to come home to. He does pull at the heartstrings. The secondaries are divine. Lucinda's aunts, also known as the Furies, are the stuff of legend. Funny, yet wise and outspoken. Will's fellow Corinthians, all heroes in their own right, add much to the macho quotient of this book. The story line was interesting and with enough twist and turns to keep me turning the page long after I should have been asleep. I wish their had been a stronger sexual component, which is why I did not give it 5 stars. I still will jump on the next book in this series.
The Devil in Disguise is a prime example of what a good historical romance should be. It was engaging and pulled the reader into that time period with an authenticity often lacking in some of the more cookie cutter novels.From the first paragraph, I was intrigued by the heroine, Lady Lucinda Grey, and her modern views on independence and feminism. She had already discarded most of England's eligible bachelors and isn't looking to restock the shelves. Lord William is a big, hulking brute of a fellow, but he is damaged and vulnerable. His parents had a miserable marriage and he has no faith in any of the gentler emotions, even though he longs for a real home and someone to come home to. He does pull at the heartstrings. The secondaries are divine. Lucinda's aunts, also known as the Furies, are the stuff of legend. Funny, yet wise and outspoken. Will's fellow Corinthians, all heroes in their own right, add much to the macho quotient of this book. The story line was interesting and with enough twist and turns to keep me turning the page long after I should have been asleep. I wish their had been a stronger sexual component, which is why I did not give it 5 stars. I still will jump on the next book in this series.
August 20, 2011
So, I just figured out that I really like a spy theme in my historical romance reads. Therefore this book was right up my alley. I truly enjoyed the Young Corinthian’s organization and the mystery plot in this novel, although the reasoning behind the kidnapping plot could’ve been better explained and expounded on. I also liked all of the characters but I did especially like Iron Will. Truth be told, I love an alpha male who doesn’t think he deserves the heroine’s love. And Will certainly didn’t think he deserved Lucinda’s love, but I did! And I considered Lucinda a fairly strong heroine who thought she knew exactly what she wanted in life. But her heart obviously had other ideas.
The attraction for these two was instant but I liked the way Will had to talk her into their “courtship” with the use of his horse. The heat level was a little mild and I would’ve enjoyed a few more sex scenes between our hero and heroine. And I just loved the aunts (“the furies”), though I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more banter with them. They added a nice little spark to the story.
Fortunately this book grabbed me from the beginning. I say fortunately because there were quite a few typos. Even though I was prepared for these typos (based on the other helpful reviews) it was still jarring and pulled me out of the story. I did like the story though and I really would’ve liked to have given it 5 stars, but 4 stars it has to be.
The attraction for these two was instant but I liked the way Will had to talk her into their “courtship” with the use of his horse. The heat level was a little mild and I would’ve enjoyed a few more sex scenes between our hero and heroine. And I just loved the aunts (“the furies”), though I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more banter with them. They added a nice little spark to the story.
Fortunately this book grabbed me from the beginning. I say fortunately because there were quite a few typos. Even though I was prepared for these typos (based on the other helpful reviews) it was still jarring and pulled me out of the story. I did like the story though and I really would’ve liked to have given it 5 stars, but 4 stars it has to be.
October 16, 2011
I liked this book... the thing that bothered me is that it had SO MANY TYPO'S!!! gaaaaaa! I liked the idea of the book, and I hope that the next two that I have in the Regency Rogue series tie in to this book, using the same characters etc.. I just wish that there had been a little more care done to the finished product... I found myself with pen in hand, correcting as I went along, lining out duplicate lines, correcting the spelling... it was annoying! Hard to stay engrossed in a book when in the middle of a love scene you have to stop and figure out what a word is... go to the computer and see what letter is next to the ones typed... It was a puzzle. It was especially fun at a dinner scene when they were eating hame.... ahhhh game! Hopefully they have hired a better editor for the next book in the series! I did like the characters and the story though. I would just have liked a little more time with our Hero and his brother and mom working things out...maybe later? The other thing that bothered me was that there was a kidnap plot... someone was hired to kidnap someone... that person was never "discovered" yet the book went on as if all was well... it left me wanting...
February 7, 2014
While purging some books at home I happened to come across the 3rd book in this series (still don't know where/how I got it), and while I'm not really getting into new-to-me authors I decided to give the series a try. I read this 1st book via the library and surprisingly enough I enjoyed it a lot, in spite of the Julia Quinn encorsement (I am NOT a JQ fan, at all, never will be). There were a couple of anachronistic moments in TDID but overall I zipped through it in three days. I have #2 on hand, also from the library, and will probably read through them all.
But shame, shame, shame on the person who previously checked the book out and defaced it. Yes, there was poor typesetting (if they call it that these days, showing my age) - lots of typos but you, dear defacer, didn't have to circle and underline them all. Who named you the typo police? Shame, shame, shame. Defacing a book.
But shame, shame, shame on the person who previously checked the book out and defaced it. Yes, there was poor typesetting (if they call it that these days, showing my age) - lots of typos but you, dear defacer, didn't have to circle and underline them all. Who named you the typo police? Shame, shame, shame. Defacing a book.
June 10, 2011
I had received an advanced copy of this book from Goodreads. This book is pretty predictable, but awesome all the same. Lucinda is funny and witty and Will is like the jerk you secretly had a crush on in high school.You know they are going to end up together, but path in which they get there makes all the difference. The story was great with not a lot of steamy sex scenes. This story is great the way it is. The author got me into the story and kept my attention there. I hardly wanted to put it down. I definitely would recommend this book.
Read
March 29, 2011I love to read debut authors, this was recommended by Ms. Julia Quinn so I know it will be good
Want to read
March 30, 2011Ha! I already have this in my to-read shelf... ;)
September 23, 2019
Lady Lucinda is a prize catch of the season (beautiful, virtuous, and very wealthy) who refuses to be caught (why turn over the control of your life to a husband?). William Randall ‘Iron Will’ is the wealthy Duke of Clairmont with a reputation as an irredeemable rake and a heart breaker. He is also a Young Corinthian, a spy for the Crown, assigned to get close to Lady Grey to protect her. One of the Young Corinthians’ major foes, Antoine Garenne, is plotting to kidnap Lady Lucinda and hold her for ransom. The Crown wants to protect her and keep her fortune from the French.
Lady Lucinda is impressed by Will’s charm and looks, but not at all by his reputation. She fends him off until he offers his stallion King Solomon’s Mine as an inducement. Lucinda and her aunts have been trying to find a way to acquire Sol for their breeding program. Lucinda agrees to be courted.
Of course, the two fall in love, but when Lucinda discovers that she was an assignment, troubles abound. Likable and believable characters eventually achieve HEA, and the aunts are a stitch. There are plots, kidnap attempts, and suspense. This is a good addition to any collection and any romance TBR pile. There are lots of other handsome Corinthians which leads to at least five more titles in the series. Recommended.
Readalikes:
Mary Balogh – Then Comes Seduction; Julia Quinn – Mr. Cavendish, I Presume; Johanna Lindsey - The Devil Who Tamed Her; Amanda Quick – The Paid Companion; Kathleen E. Woodiwiss – The Reluctant Suitor; Judith McNaught – Whitney, My Love; Georgette Heyer – The Unknown Ajax; Karen Robards – Shameless; Stephanie Laurens – The Taste of Innocence.
Pace: Fast
Characters: Strong women; good secondary cast
Story: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging
Tone: Upbeat
Frame: London; 1811
Theme: Opposites attract
Lady Lucinda is impressed by Will’s charm and looks, but not at all by his reputation. She fends him off until he offers his stallion King Solomon’s Mine as an inducement. Lucinda and her aunts have been trying to find a way to acquire Sol for their breeding program. Lucinda agrees to be courted.
Of course, the two fall in love, but when Lucinda discovers that she was an assignment, troubles abound. Likable and believable characters eventually achieve HEA, and the aunts are a stitch. There are plots, kidnap attempts, and suspense. This is a good addition to any collection and any romance TBR pile. There are lots of other handsome Corinthians which leads to at least five more titles in the series. Recommended.
Readalikes:
Mary Balogh – Then Comes Seduction; Julia Quinn – Mr. Cavendish, I Presume; Johanna Lindsey - The Devil Who Tamed Her; Amanda Quick – The Paid Companion; Kathleen E. Woodiwiss – The Reluctant Suitor; Judith McNaught – Whitney, My Love; Georgette Heyer – The Unknown Ajax; Karen Robards – Shameless; Stephanie Laurens – The Taste of Innocence.
Pace: Fast
Characters: Strong women; good secondary cast
Story: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging
Tone: Upbeat
Frame: London; 1811
Theme: Opposites attract
February 11, 2022
I wanted to like this book so badly, I loved the idea, but oh my God it was so poorly done. Take away the HORRIBLE editing (no joke spelling was wrong, punctuation was wrong, there were passages that were repeated word for word in the next paragraph I mean it was a wholllleeee hot mess) and that leaves you with unbelievable characters with no consistent personality traits and some of the WORST most confusing pacing I've ever read in a book. There were times when things were so drawn out and other things went way to fast, it jumped from one scene to the next in a completely illogical pattern that left me with whiplash, and the characters were really really lacking for me. I'm giving it a two instead of a one because I blame the editor, not the author, for a LOT of these issues that could have been hammered out during the draft processes. I would be willing to try out another Sloane book if it was done by a different publishing company or with another editor.
July 30, 2018
Who edited this book?! There are so many mistakes and typos that distracted from a decent book. I would have given 4 stars if it weren’t for the typos. I will say that i felt like this book started in the middle of an established plot. I kept double checking to make sure I wasn’t accidentally reading book 3 in the series...
June 6, 2023
DNF. I just could not get into it. Will was an unlikeable rake. Lucinda was too beautiful, too rich, too perfect and too old for no good reason other than she didn’t want to get married, didn’t like her options, or something unmemorable. Insta-lust. The villain reminded of that awful romance novel I read where everyone was violently raped or killed with lots of gore.
September 15, 2023
Ok, nothing horrible but not really engaging either. It should have been more interesting but I really didn't care about either H or h.
Also didn't have enough to make me be vested into the evil spy or the idea of the "Corinthians" group. Not sure I'll pick up anymore of the series.
Also didn't have enough to make me be vested into the evil spy or the idea of the "Corinthians" group. Not sure I'll pick up anymore of the series.
May 26, 2011
I love historical romances! And while most historical romances have the same themes you can usually find something about the story that makes it unique and different from all of the other ones you've already read. Unfortunately, I don't think Devil in Disguise really had that "something special" that distinguishes it from all of the rest.
Heroes will make or break a romance for me, and while the Hero in Devil in Disguise has promise, he doesn't really live up to the potential that the story held. William, the Duke of Clairemont was raised by a controlling and abusive father and learned at a very early age to repress his feelings for the people and things that he loves in order to protect them. He is a natural protector, so when asked to join a league of special agents named the "Young Corinthians" he sees it as his life calling, and is assigned to protect the heroine from the the villain that is endangering her life.
Lady Lucinda Grey is a twenty six year old wealthy spinster who believes that there really isn't such a thing as love and happy endings. She relates love with the stories of Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra; love and romance with tragic endings. Therefore, love is not not worth the emotional pain, that is until her best friend married for love...and is shockingly happy. She lives with her Aunts, who are dubbed "The Furies" by the Ton and she secretly breeds race horses. Lucinda is content with her life, and while constantly being approached by suitors she doesn't see the need for marriage. Until she meets "Iron Will", the Duke of Clairemont, an infamous rake who mysteriously decides to court her with marriage in mind. What she doesn't know is that he has been sent to protect her and the only way a rake with his reputation can court a respectable woman like Lucinda is to "court" her.
The Devil in Disguise had lots of promise. I loved the idea of the "Young Corinthians" unfortunately you don't really learn much about the men that make up this secret group of agents. I think this part of the story really lacked depth, especially since the series is based on other agents. I didn't feel like I got to know any of the other future heroes in the series beyond their names, which doesn't leave you desperate to know the next hero's story in the series.
I also loved "The Furies", Lucinda's Aunts. They were an interesting mix of women and experiences. Unfortunately they play a very small part in the book. I wish they would have played a larger role somehow in the story. There was also promise in the villain. I just wish more of his evilness would have been pitted against the Corinthians since they were opponents on several other occasions.
One of the biggest things about the story that didn't really work for me, were the relationships between the characters. For instance, the believability that Lucinda so easily and quickly fell in love with Will. While he is supposed to be undeniably irresistible, our heroine is somewhat skeptical of love, the benefits of marriage, and is very independent. I didn't believe that within just a few days of courtship that she changed her opinion about love and marriage. Will was charming, but not to the extent to justify her about face and willingness to give up her freedom. In fact many of the relationships between the characters seemed very superficial without a lot to support them...Will and his mother and brother, Will and the other "Young Corinthians" and especially Will and Lucinda.
Another disappointment was the ending to the story. Devil in Disguise is very much a plot driven book that relies on the danger revolving around the heroine and the hero's need to save her. So when the heroine saves not only herself, but also the hero from the villain, it kind of made the hero seem somewhat impotent and negated the need for his role in the book. Don't get me wrong, I love a strong heroine, especially in historical romances, but this time I felt that it came at the expense of the hero being "heroic" and that I didn't like.
I can't say that I didn't enjoy reading the book because, while The Devil in Disguise is not original, it was interesting enough to want to keep reading until the end. I don't consider reading it time wasted, but it more than likely could have been spent on a better romance. Because in the end, Devil in Disguise was just... ordinary. Like so many other books that I have already read with nothing really special about it to make it stand apart. And when the plot is something historical romance readers have read before, and possibly even done better, then the relationships between the characters really needs to be stellar to rise the book from the average/ordinary, to something special, and I didn't really believe in Lucinda and Will's love.
The second book comes out in June and involves another Young Corinthian, but I think I will wait to see what kind of reviews it receives before deciding whether or not to pick it up.
Ratings:
Overall: 3.25 stars
Sensuality level: 2.75 sensuality (one very brief love scene that lacked emotion)
Heroes will make or break a romance for me, and while the Hero in Devil in Disguise has promise, he doesn't really live up to the potential that the story held. William, the Duke of Clairemont was raised by a controlling and abusive father and learned at a very early age to repress his feelings for the people and things that he loves in order to protect them. He is a natural protector, so when asked to join a league of special agents named the "Young Corinthians" he sees it as his life calling, and is assigned to protect the heroine from the the villain that is endangering her life.
Lady Lucinda Grey is a twenty six year old wealthy spinster who believes that there really isn't such a thing as love and happy endings. She relates love with the stories of Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra; love and romance with tragic endings. Therefore, love is not not worth the emotional pain, that is until her best friend married for love...and is shockingly happy. She lives with her Aunts, who are dubbed "The Furies" by the Ton and she secretly breeds race horses. Lucinda is content with her life, and while constantly being approached by suitors she doesn't see the need for marriage. Until she meets "Iron Will", the Duke of Clairemont, an infamous rake who mysteriously decides to court her with marriage in mind. What she doesn't know is that he has been sent to protect her and the only way a rake with his reputation can court a respectable woman like Lucinda is to "court" her.
The Devil in Disguise had lots of promise. I loved the idea of the "Young Corinthians" unfortunately you don't really learn much about the men that make up this secret group of agents. I think this part of the story really lacked depth, especially since the series is based on other agents. I didn't feel like I got to know any of the other future heroes in the series beyond their names, which doesn't leave you desperate to know the next hero's story in the series.
I also loved "The Furies", Lucinda's Aunts. They were an interesting mix of women and experiences. Unfortunately they play a very small part in the book. I wish they would have played a larger role somehow in the story. There was also promise in the villain. I just wish more of his evilness would have been pitted against the Corinthians since they were opponents on several other occasions.
One of the biggest things about the story that didn't really work for me, were the relationships between the characters. For instance, the believability that Lucinda so easily and quickly fell in love with Will. While he is supposed to be undeniably irresistible, our heroine is somewhat skeptical of love, the benefits of marriage, and is very independent. I didn't believe that within just a few days of courtship that she changed her opinion about love and marriage. Will was charming, but not to the extent to justify her about face and willingness to give up her freedom. In fact many of the relationships between the characters seemed very superficial without a lot to support them...Will and his mother and brother, Will and the other "Young Corinthians" and especially Will and Lucinda.
Another disappointment was the ending to the story. Devil in Disguise is very much a plot driven book that relies on the danger revolving around the heroine and the hero's need to save her. So when the heroine saves not only herself, but also the hero from the villain, it kind of made the hero seem somewhat impotent and negated the need for his role in the book. Don't get me wrong, I love a strong heroine, especially in historical romances, but this time I felt that it came at the expense of the hero being "heroic" and that I didn't like.
I can't say that I didn't enjoy reading the book because, while The Devil in Disguise is not original, it was interesting enough to want to keep reading until the end. I don't consider reading it time wasted, but it more than likely could have been spent on a better romance. Because in the end, Devil in Disguise was just... ordinary. Like so many other books that I have already read with nothing really special about it to make it stand apart. And when the plot is something historical romance readers have read before, and possibly even done better, then the relationships between the characters really needs to be stellar to rise the book from the average/ordinary, to something special, and I didn't really believe in Lucinda and Will's love.
The second book comes out in June and involves another Young Corinthian, but I think I will wait to see what kind of reviews it receives before deciding whether or not to pick it up.
Ratings:
Overall: 3.25 stars
Sensuality level: 2.75 sensuality (one very brief love scene that lacked emotion)
February 1, 2019
This was one of the worst regency romance books I've ever read and the editing was atrocious. It deserves less than 0.5 stars.
February 14, 2021
A bit too much tell.
March 15, 2021
Lucinda and Will (Iron Will) were interesting. I feel like everything was a bit surface level though... I didn't feel their love story a ton.
September 27, 2021
Can't put it down, sick a good story that keeps your attention throughout.
January 11, 2026
So bad
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