From the Back Cover:
A MAN POSSESSED
If there was ever a devil who could lure and seduce the innocent, Lord Sloan Treveryan is that man. Captain of the Sea Hawk and bound to the king’s business, Treveryan may be a lord but he is no gentleman. He carried Brianna off to America and branded her with a love she could never forget, never escape, yet he refused to take her as his wife.
A WOMAN WHOSE BEAUTY DROVE MEN TO MADNESS
Bewitched by Brianna MacCardle’s beauty, Scottish inquisitors have called her the devil’s own. Though Treveryan saves her from the witch-hunter’s clutches, how can she be grateful? He'd claimed her as his own and taken her innocence. She vowed he wouldn't take her heart. Defiantly, she fought him. Against her will she loved him, swearing to reap revenge against the arrogant lord who made her...
THE DEVIL'S MISTRESS.
My Thoughts:
This one started out well, very exciting with Brianna running from witchcraft accusations in Scotland and finding safety and the delicious Sloan onboard his ship. They get hot and heavy right away, but Sloan's keeping something from Brianna. I guessed his secret early on, but it was still a good, angsty plot twist. And then another twist follows soon after and Brianna runs away to America. But then she discovers that Salem, Massachusetts wasn't the wisest place for an accused witch to set up a household and a whole other set of problems develops. This final part of the book should have been the best, especially when Sloan came looking for Brianna, but I thought it really started dragging at this point. Brianna started behaving stupidly, and even the long-awaited lovers' reunion was underwhelming. Not my favorite Heather Graham romance, but still an interesting read with a little more historical depth than the average.
Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5
From the Back Cover:
HOW CAN THIS PASSIONATE KNIGHT...
Renowned beauty Lady Linnet is torn between two desires: revenge on those who destroyed her family or marriage to her childhood sweetheart Sir James Rayburn. One fateful night, she makes a misguided choice: she sacrifices Jamie's love for a chance at vengeance.
TRUST A BEAUTY WITH A PAST?
Jamie Rayburn returns to England in search of a virtuous wife-only to find the lovely Linnet as bewitching as ever. Their reckless affair ignites anew, even hotter than before, although Jamie vows to never again trust her with his heart. Then just as Linnet begins to make amends, she's tempted by one last opportunity to settle old scores. But a final retribution could cost her Jamie's love - this time forever.
My Thoughts:
I really liked the setting of this one: England, 1425, shortly after the death of Henry V with Linnet as lady-in-waiting to Katherine Valois; the Duke of Gloucester and the Bishop of Winchester grappling for control of the infant King Henry VI, and featuring quite a few historical players, like Owen Tudor and Eleanor Cobham. Not your typical romantic setting and the political strife plays a large part in the story. I liked the characters and I thought the plot was well-developed, with Linnet navigating the queen's court, the growing power of the merchant guilds, and rumors of sorcery and witchcraft as she searched for the men who ruined her grandfather. I was prepared to rate this higher, but then the devil worshipers showed up and the big climactic scene was just too over-the-top for me. But it's tastefully steamy throughout, and Jamie's a big sweetie-pie, and it was a nice way to spend a rainy day. I'll definitely read more from this author.
Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5
Let me start by saying that these covers are fantastic. Yes, I do like them.
ReplyDeleteI never read any books written by Heather Graham, but THE DEVIL'S MISTRESS sounds like an okay read. Great two reviews.