Devil's Desire

Chapter 1

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair.
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.
—Tennyson

High in a cloud-laden afternoon sky, a free-spirited skylark soared gracefully; its spread-winged shadow traveling swiftly over the colorful autumnal countryside below. Its song pierced the primeval silence of the forest below as the cheerful cry carried through the chill air; the clear notes penetrated beneath the thick canopy of branches, and reaching the soft, loam-covered forest floor the sound was absorbed by the bright carpet of fallen leaves.

The woods seemed to come to life, humming with the chirpings and chatterings of busy forest creatures contentedly gathering food for the oncoming winter, until another sound intruded into the aimless animal chatter and sent a hush over the clearing. An uneasy silence hung over it as the threatening sounds of baying hounds and pounding horses' hooves echoed in the distance.

The gossiping birds took wing and the bushy-tailed squir­rels scurried into safe nests as a figure emerged from the trees, twigs snapping sharply as it moved into the clearing.

"Tally-ho!" Ribald laughter followed the cry of the hunt. "Where is that foxy wench? Damnation! Don't lose sight of her now, man!"

The excited voices drifted to a still figure, galvanizing it into action, and the raised voices became louder as the riders moved closer. Then the voices merged into one menacing sound as they intermingled with the snorting of their mounts.

As they came closer, Elysia could almost feel their hot breath against the back of her neck, as she held up her skirts and hurriedly climbed over a fallen tree. She stopped, pausing to catch her breath, panting heavily as she leaned against another tree for support. She could hear the raised voices of the men as they searched about the undergrowth, not far off, beating it back to find her hiding place. She shivered as she heard the throaty yelping of the dogs, and saw movement through the trees as the horsemen pressed on toward her; each passing second bringing them closer.

She stood still, frozen with fear, her eyes darting about like those of a trapped animal seeking safety. Suddenly, she noticed the hollowed out trunk of the fallen tree, the opening partially concealed by the full-fronded ferns and wild weeds that grew about the gaping mouth. She moved quickly into the cool, concealing darkness. Crawling past the thick ferns, she pulled them back into order as she stretched out full length on the rotted and damp bottom. She shivered as she felt the little crawling inhabitants of the decayed tree about her. Elysia's breath caught painfully in her throat as she heard the pounding of the horses' hooves coming straight towards her; shaking the earth beneath her body until she thought she would be trampled to death beneath them.

"Bloody fool. You've let her flee," said a petulant voice, startling Elysia by its closeness.

"Damn it all, it's you who slowed me up—thought you saw her in a dozen different places," another voice complained.

"First decent bit o' muslin I've seen in this damned county, and what happens?" demanded the first voice, self-pityingly. "She gets away. Did you see that glorious hair? A real little fox she was—and those long legs. By God, I'll not be cheated out of my prize after going to the trouble of giving chase."

Elysia heard the creaking of his saddle as the rider shifted impatiently, and the ominous snapping sound of a riding crop being tapped angrily against gloved hands.

"Where are those cursed hounds? We'd have had her flushed out by now if those hounds were on her scent. Could've sworn I saw something over here."

"Sounds like they've caught scent of something over that way," the other man spoke as the distant sound of raised voices and barking reached them.

"Damn! It'd better be the wench. I'll beat their hides off if they've cornered a bloody hare. I'm going to have that maid to warm my bed this eve. It's too damned cold in this blasted place to sleep alone." He sighed in exasperation. "We'd better find her soon, because I'm played out; too damned tired to even breathe, much less enjoy the wench. Wish I were back in London—don't have to hunt for my pleasures there. Plenty of high-steppers just begging for my favors," he boasted.

"You're getting soft, my friend. The hunt adds spice to the victory, but we'd best be off, or you'll only have your old housekeeper to warm your bones this eve," his friend snickered.

"I'll be warming myself against that red-haired wench. You can have my housekeeper, or one of the scullions—more your style," he said laughing loudly.

"You don't have her yet, and who knows, she might prefer me after she's caught a glimpse of you."

"Damned if she will," he answered rising to the bait. "I'll wager my team of blacks she begs me to take her back to London before the night's out."

Elysia heard their laughter, and then trembled as she felt the fragile walls of her sanctuary shake as the riders urged their mounts over the fallen tree, and moved off into the trees toward the excited barking of the hounds.

Elysia waited, scarcely breathing as she listened to the retreating hoof beats. Breathlessly, she peered out between the lacy, interwoven fronds, seeing only emptiness in the clearing beyond. At last, they were gone.
Slowly, like a hunted animal, she crawled from the safety of her hole and paused, as if sniffing the air for the scent of an enemy, poised for flight at the first sign of danger. As she made her way through the trees Elysia felt tears of rage and fright well up in her eyes.

Her lips quivered as she thought of herself like some animal being hunted for pleasure. No wonder the villagers kept their young daughters close to their sides when the wild bloods,  the fancy London gentlemen, paid their irregular visits to their estates in the country. Attired in their finely cut coats and lacy cravats, jewels glittering from their long white fingers, they demanded, and expected, anything they wanted, causing havoc the few days they took up residence on their country estates. They abused their landlordly rights by browbeating their tenants, and seducing their daughters. From upstairs maid to milk maid—not one comely face was safe from their lust.

And now she, Elysia Demarice, daughter of aristocratic parents, was humiliated and reduced to cowering like a fright­ened beast afraid for her life. She had to suffer the indignity of being pursued by fun-seeking young bloods from London, out to satisfy their carnal desires. Were she still under the protec­tion of her father's house, they would not dare to approach her; she was their equal—in name and position. Possessing beauty was a liability when one did not have the protection of one's family.

But a far greater outrage, Elysia thought, was her aunt's perfidy. She had sent her out here to the north end of the property, well aware that young Lord Tanner was visiting with a party of his disreputable friends. The possibility of their paths crossing while she innocently searched for acorns, had probably wriggled in the back of Aunt Agatha's mind like a worm in a rotting apple.

Aunt Agatha seemed to derive some sadistic pleasure in reducing her to the lowest level of human existence. What sin had she committed? What gods had she angered to deserve such a fate, Elysia wondered despondently. If only she could turn back the clock and return to happier days. The happier times, the innocence of her childhood—those were the things of which she dreamed.

As a huge fan of historical fiction and romance novels I was really looking forward to reading this book and it did not disappoint.

Elysia Demarice, the protagonist in the novel is an enlightening character whom I adored straight away. An orphan after her parents’ untimely death, Elysia displays all of the characteristics of a fairytale heroine; headstrong, beautiful and determined to take control of her own life after the tragedy and virtual imprisonment that has befallen her by her evil Aunt Agatha. Elysia and Lord Alex Trevegne are fatefully pushed together in a revengeful plot and despite initial disgust and fear on Elysia’s part they’re surprised when sparks seem to fly between them after their unpredicted marriage.

I loved Elysia’s character, she is the ultimate heroine. However, I found myself disappointed by the character of Lord Alex Trevegne, I thought that he was just too mean and arrogant at points! I also found that some parts of the story particularly concerning Elysia’s brother Ian seemed a little far fetched and perhaps unnecessary.

The setting of the novel couldn’t be more fitting with the Cornwall landscape reflecting the devilish temperament of Alex, adding to what I felt was a gothic element of the story. The plot is quite slow to begin, but soon picks up speed and becomes quite captivating with many elements of surprise along the way. My only real negative comment would be that I did find a few parts, particularly concerning Elysia’s brother and her horse to be a little far fetched.

VERDICT:
Overall, ’Devil’s Desire’ is full of adventure, suspense and surprise. I found I had to just keep on reading. If you like happy endings and ‘love conquers all’ stories then you will love this book.

Also, this book was first published in 1975 and I felt that the age was apparent. It was also quite slow to start off with, but really picked up after the second chapter. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading ’Devil’s Desire’ and I would recommend it to other fans of romance novels.


Elysia Demarices was living a comfortable and pleasant life with her family until the day her parents died in a carriage accident. The very next day, she received the news that her brother, while in the military, was pronounced missing in action and presumed dead. In the midst of all the heartbreak, Elysia must sell the estate and all her belongings to pay off the family debt and move in with her only surviving relative, her aunt.

Life for Elysia only goes downhill from there as her aunt treats her worse than the lowliest servant and she is given more work than the three maids combined. To add salt to the wound, she is told that she is to be married off to an unpleasant old man. Instead of accepting her terrible fate, Elysia chooses to run away and find employment in London. Through a set of confusing circumstances, she is forced to wed a man she despises en route to the city.

Lord Alex Trevegne, the Marque of St. Fleur, has quite the reputation. The seductively dark and handsome man has a way with the ladies and is rumoured to be the Devil himself. He has stolen many wives away from their husbands, and barely knows a lady for a fortnight before tossing her aside like dirty laundry. On his way to London after his latest liaison, Lord Alex finds himself in a compromising position with a green-eyed vixen. Rather than let her have the upper hand, he forces her into a marriage regardless of the fact that he feels nothing but disdain for the lady.

Devil’s Desire was originally published in 1975 and picked up by a new publisher in 2010. Normally, I don’t much care for the books labeled as romance novels, but this one was quite intriguing. I enjoyed that fact that both Alysia and Alex were arrogant, stubborn, and unwilling to compromise no matter the situation. The unplanned marriage was an interesting twist and it kept me sitting on the edge of my seat.

I loved watching the story unfold and I couldn’t wait to see if or when the two characters would finally crumble and admit how they felt. I think you’d have to be slightly interested in romance novels to end up in the appropriate aisle, but if you find yourself meandering in that direction, Devil’s Desire is a definite must read.



Lord Alex Trevegne has a reputation as a man who is not only used to getting what he wants, but once he does, it does not take long for him to lose interest. While this should put marriage-minded mamas off, the rake is one of the biggest catches in London.

Elysia Demarice knew nothing but love and kindness throughout her childhood until the untimely death of her mother, father, and brother. Soon after her step-aunt came to claim her and she found her idyllic world turned from a magical time to a nightmare.

On the run from her crazy aunt, Elysia finds herself in a predicament when she is caught in bed with Alex and no memory of how it came to pass. Unwilling to play the games of his arch nemesis, he convinces her to marry him and thwart the other man’s plan. As their hot-blooded tempers collide time and again, Alex and Elysia find themselves passionately embracing their sense of uniqueness and lust for each other. But in a time of turmoil and betrayal, both will have to learn to trust each other or suffer the consequences.

Devil’s Desire is a fantastic, fast-paced tale that leaves your heart racing and your palms sweating as you wait to see what will happen next between these two volatile characters. Laurie McBain gives us a story that allows our minds to go wild with imagination as we are thrust into a time when England was on the brink of war. I had a hard time with how easily Alex and Elysia doubted each other and wished there would have been more trust. Also, I would have loved to see Elysia’s aunt get her comeuppance, but that is just one of my personal wishes. I adore historical romances and this one will definitely be kept on my bookshelves so I can go back and reread this novel purely for the pleasure of it.



Good characters - to like or not - and engaging writing make this interesting.

I have to admit that I liked Elysia’s character through most of the book. She is strong minded but nice and down to earth. She doesn’t put on airs and is kind to the servants. I felt for her hardship and was waiting for her vicious Aunt to have a comeuppance later in the book. I was a bit disappointed that she didn’t fight harder later in the story.

Alex was a little more difficult to like. He is extremely arrogant and seemingly shallow in his feelings toward his mistresses and companions. Although he does have feelings for his brother and ultimately for Elysia, he doesn’t show or express them much. He is good to his servants and animals so he can’t be all bad. However, he does have a mean and cruel streak in his arrogant and dictatorial dealings thus hurting Elysia rather than offering kindness to her or even a good does of seduction other than ravishment. I found this difficult especially considering the age difference with him being a seasoned rogue in his 30s and Elysia being a naive innocent barely 18.

I thought the story was a bit disjointed as it moved from the focus of Elysia and Alex’s conflicts to a new plot thread fairly late in the book. We meet an important new character a good two thirds into the story and then get some tense action in the new plot. This line kept my attention fixed for the remainder of the book which was a good thing as I had not been fully engaged at the beginning.

That is the basis for my saying I had mixed feelings about the book. I really liked the premise and I liked the ending. I wish it had flowed a bit better and that loose ends had been dealt with. I will want to read more by this author and see if other books have the same good intensity with better flow. This book still worked for me as good entertainment even with the disjointedness.


In Devil’s Desire Laurie McBain is not afraid to have her romantic lead go through a tortuous path of trials and tribulations.

It opens with Elysia after she’d been orphaned and been taken advantage of by an aunt that she’d had no previous contact with. As the nonstop abuse is destroying her spirit, Elysia takes matters into her own hands and runs away. Her first attempt at freedom shows how unprepared she is for the world. But she’s smart, beautiful and in the right place at the right time - and we all know how that last one is key. Alex, the man she meets during her first adventure has the worst reputation but he takes her under his wing, offers her protection.

They’re both surprised at how quickly they bond. Although there are obstacles to their happy ever after, such as jealous former mistresses, the usual hurt feelings and misunderstandings, Devil’s Desire is a fun romantic escape with its likable characters, plot twists and satisfying ending. I think it’s a keeper.


Having read Sweet Savage Love and The Flame and the Flower as well as a few of the other big 1970s/1980s historicals, I picked up Devil’s Desire with some trepidation. Would this be another purple-prosed, rapey tale of stupid misunderstandings or would it be as good as I had remembered it when I stumbled across it in a UBS back in college? Fortunately for me and for readers discovering it for the first time, this book turned out to be a little old-fashioned in tone, but great fun to read.



Anyone who has read enough historicals will recognize the plight of Elysia Demarice. She’s innocent, beautiful, and orphaned. Naturally, she doesn’t have much by way of family and what she does have is out to screw her over royally. Following the death of her parents, she now lives with an embittered aunt who treats her like Cinderella. Seriously. Elysia’s glorious redheaded beauty is hidden in rags and she spends her days doing heavy housework. I kept waiting for the mice and birds to sing, but no such luck.

Now on to our erstwhile hero. If Elysia shows us the roots of our modern put-upon Regency heroine, Alex, Lord Trevegne, is definitely an earlier version of the rakes that populate the current Regency historical garden. Nearly everyone who encounters him has heard of his wild reputation and they express concern over it. Though we don’t get endless details about his mistresses and wild goings-on, there is a villainous widow waiting in the wings and we get enough hints of his past for it to seem believable. Unlike many of the good-natured frat boy rakes of today, this hero has an edge of danger to him. Because of that, I could readily believe that he’d go out and tear up London until late in the evening and that men really would think twice about dueling with him. He is not always likable or cuddly and he is certainly not politically correct, but he manages to believably come back from being an utter jackass more times than I can count.

At any rate, the general plot of the story is this: Elysia’s demonspawn aunt has plotted to marry her off to someone truly disgusting. Elysia takes her glowing innocence and hits the road with a vague plan of finding employment in London. Not surprisingly, she doesn’t make it there. Upon taking shelter in an inn for the night, Elysia meets Alex. Through some more melodramatic plotting, the two wind up in a very scandalous situation that occurs shortly after page 100, and the book takes off noticably from there.

It’s all very over the top and the prose is a little violet-tinged, but Laurie McBain can tell a story. Even though some of the dramatic flourishes made me snicker every now and again, the promise of the storytelling kept me going through the early chapters of the book. The characters can be maddening and the setup that ultimately throws hero and heroine together is nothing short of insane, but I still couldn’t help reading. I also couldn’t help remembering that in my teens and early 20s, I ate this kind of stuff up without being nearly so cynical and jaded about it.

Though things remain a little purply around the edges, both the story and the romance really seem to hit their stride after the hero and heroine are brought together and the action shifts to Cornwall. Far from being wallpapery, the background hints of French traitors, smuggling, and war add greatly to the atmosphere of the story and it really is a fun read. Not only do Alex and Elysia get to know and trust one another (though not without Alex being truly nasty to her first), but readers really do get a picture of a very interesting world with an almost Gothic feel to it. Some aspects of the story, such as the various misunderstandings between hero and heroine, may feel a little cliched, but I thought the author handled them well and the pacing of the various revelations in the book worked for me.

Alex is quite the alpha hero and more domineering - even borderline disturbing - than most I’ve read recently, but he is not unfeeling when it comes to Elysia. I could have done without some of their bickering, punishing kisses(ick) and scenes of Alex ordering Elysia around, but their pairing worked in the end. I think this happened at least in part because Elysia does a little more than just toss her curls and stomp around. She starts off too close to feistiness and petulance, but in some of her later dialogue with Alex, she challenges him in more intelligent fashion, and I found their dialogue and the chemistry between the two reminiscent of an old movie. Think high drama a la Rhett and Scarlett. While it’s not the type of healthy romantic relationship I would want for myself, I could certainly enjoy reading about it and this was largely because it was well written.

The style of Devil’s Desire is rather different from most modern romances. The story relies more heavily on cliches and farfetched coincidences than many books today, and it does so without the least touch of irony about it. In addition, one will find more paragraphs of description and narrative. Even so, when the characters speak, the reader can almost hear them in one’s head. They may not be 100% historically accurate, but they do feel authentic, and that’s enough to bring the story to life.

If you’re curious to read one of the classic historicals, this would be a good one to pick up. Some of the big historicals of the 1970s are heavy on bodice ripping and stupid antics that might leave you wondering why the hell romance ever became so popular. However, it’s the books like this that help to explain it. Devil’s Desire has its eyeroll-inducing moments and you have to suspend disbelief for portions of the plot, but the writing flows smoothly and the fantastical scenes spring to life in a way that kept me turning pages. Though a little old-fashioned in feel for my tastes today, it’s still a solid read and it was fun to revisit.


I have been reading Laurie McBain’s books since I was a child. I used to pilfer them from my mother’s bookshelf. Probably not the best reading material for a child but at least I was reading…a lot. All of my mother’s copies were lent out and never returned (another reason I do not lend my books to anyone). I am so happy that these books are being reissued because I have been wanting to reread them for quite some time. Devil’s Desire was one of my favorites- it’s about a marriage of convenience of sorts—my favorite romance novel plot.

This is my favorite type of regency. The heroine is very, very good and the hero is very, very bad. Elysia was the type of heroine I can only take so much of before I have to put the book away. She was way too good and prim but I also loved that she had quite a bit of spunk too. Alex was quite the highlight of the book for me. He was true rake in every sense of the word. He was badly behaved, a bit of a manwhore and quite snarly most of the time. But I still loved him. He was the epitome of what I think a regency hero should be.

This one of those typical regencies that no matter how many times you see it, it never gets old at all. As a matter of fact, it just gets better and better every time you read it. Devil’s Desire contains all of the tension and conflict that you would expect from a well-crafted regency with the great writing of Laurie McBain.


Elysia Demarice has been left in the hands of her aunt that for some reason enjoys making Elysia’s life miserable but with no where to go she must endure and deal as best she can. When she decides she would be better off on her own she heads for London and all her troubles begin.

Lord Alex Trevegne is in need of escape so he leaves for his country estate when he stops for the night at an inn he finds even bigger problems when he awakens with a beautiful woman in his bed and not just any woman but an innocent one. He does the only thing he can he marries her.

Elysia gradually finds herself falling in love with her husband but when rumors begin to find their way back to her that he still has a mistress what is she to believe. It soon becomes apparent to her that there are people who want to destroy what they have together and now she must convince Alex that they belong together and can be happy but will it all fall apart before she has a chance to prove her love.

Originally written in 1975 DEVIL’S DESIRE is still a book for the ages. Although there were times when I would find I was not overly thrilled with Alex and his treatment of Elysia I would not change a thing about the book, it kept me turning the pages to see if Alex would ever realize how much he had going for him and that he had the unconditional love of a wonderful woman.



At 389 pages this is no small task or afternoon read. The blurb grabbed me and made me crave this story. After cracking the cover I began to read. And read....and read. Though the story, for me, started off slow, after about page 60 it really started picking up speed. And let me tell you that once the story got moving....it really got moving :)

I felt, tasted and smelled. My heart wrenched, my gut turned and my mind reeled. And I loved every second of it. I got so involved in the story at one point I told hubby to go away and leave me alone so I could read :) There is no doubt that I would read this story again and had it not been for the slightly slow paced begining, I would have read the book straight through in one sitting :)

Wonderful story that just jumped off the pages with characters so likeable....even when they weren’t...that I was almost sad to see it end.

SNAPS Ms McBain on a truely wonderful job :)

First things first. I was so excited to be able to review this book. I have heard so many great things about this author and this book in particular, and I have to say that I was not disappointed. Devil’s Desire is very well crafted. I felt that the author included a great deal of detail, which enhanced the quality of the book. Oh, and I cannot leave out the characters, while I have heard that many have found Alex to be unlikable and hard to read, I found that in his own right he was highly interesting and highly entertaining to read. Whereas most of the other romantic hero’s have are charmingly irresistible from the start, Alex takes a bit of warming up too, if one truly can. For me while read Alex, my mind kept wondering to Timothy Dalton’s portrayal of Edward Rochester (Jane Eyre, BBC 1983). I also enjoyed Elysia, she was strong willed and ready to face anything or anyone life threw at her. She was the embodiment of a romantic heroine. I just wished that this book would have been a bit longer.

Devil’s Desire was originally published in 1975, yet the writing has a fresh feel to it that engrosses the reader.



A Night Owl Reviews Top Pick!

A timeless historical romance that Stephanie Laurens or Rosemary Rogers would have wished they had written.

Elysia lost both her parents and her brother within days of each other. She is taken in by her aunt, a hateful and vindictive old shrew. Everything that she held dear has been stripped away from her. Two years of this woman’s abuse has taken a toll on Elysia physically and mentally. When her aunt announces to Elysia she is to be wed to an old piggish neighbor that she cannot stand, Elysia has had enough. She flees into the night heading to London to hopefully find employment.

A chance meeting one, dark damp night at an inn on the way to London changes Elysia’s life forever once she encounters the rakishly handsome Lord Alex Trevegne. Circumstances throw these two strong-willed individuals together and Alex takes advantage of the situation. He may not have been looking for a wife but Elysia intrigues him and he has to have her. Alex soon finds out Elysia is no pushover and the sparks start to fly.

Devil’s Desire is by author Laurie McBain. I have to say I did not know this book had been previously released by Avon back in nineteen seventy-five because it reads like a romance written yesterday. It is timeless and filled to the brim with historical richness and sexual tension that would rival any historical book on the shelves today.

Ms. McBain is a true master in her field. I could pick this book back up and read it all over again, it is that great a novel.

Every historical lover needs to get their hands on a copy of Devil’s Desire by Laurie McBain today!


What a fantastic read! Devil’s Desire is a Regency era novel with all that makes that genre exciting and appealing to readers. A strong heroine, a rakish hero, a little mystery, sensuality, strong conflict and character growth.

Elysia is a heroine who has had a tortured past few years, and you truly sympathize with her when confronted with her evil aunt and her destitute situation. But she rises up. She is strong, she is smart and she is taking charge of her life. Until she meets the hero, Alex Trevegne, a rake of the first order! He’s sleeping his way through the London elite and tossing women aside like used tissue.

And then he meets Elysia... she’s a woman who won’t bat her eyes at him, and has no interest in him whatsoever. She’s on a mission to get her life in order and to be in charge of her future. But a villain gets in the way of things and messes up her goals as well as those of Alex. Meddling miser! In the end however, ironic as it is, the meddling of the villain ends up being a good thing.

I will admit to being put off a little with a forced sex scene, which seems to be more popular with older books, and the heroines relection on how she wasn’t really forced was a bit irritating, but other than that, the book itself was very enjoyable, and subsequent love scenes were passionate and two sided. I was also extremely ruffled with some of Alex’s antics with his previous mistress... but I don’t want to give too much away.

Definitely a book to read if you are a fan of Regency romance. I also look forward to reading more of McBain’s re-releases with Sourcebooks.

Devil’s Desire was a wildly popular romance novel that was first published in 1975. It was author Laurie McBain’s first novel, and she continued on to have a very successful career as a romance novelist in the 1970’s and 80’s. Sadly Devil’s Desire had gone out of print, but Sourcebooks has published a new edition of this novel this month.

Elysia Demarice is the beautiful daughter of aristocratic parents that has fallen on hard times since her parents’ untimely death in Regency England. When Elysia’s evil Step-Aunt tries to force her to marry an odious man, she runs away to London. On her way, she crosses the path of Lord Alex Trevegne. Known as “the Devil,” Alex has a temper and is a known seducer of women. Elysia is not impressed by Alex, and he finds himself attracted by the only woman who dares to talk back to him. When scandal forces them together, will Elysia and Alex be able to find true love and happiness?

I liked the Cinderella aspect of this story and loved heroine Elysia. She has grit and beauty. Elysia starts the book with nothing but the rags on her back, but is able to rise above it all to find love.

My only problem with this novel is the hero, Alex. Alex is a vintage 1970’s hero that takes what he wants and is not a very nice guy. He is handsome, but he spends his time misunderstanding Elysia and being cruel to her all in the name of love. I just wanted to yell at Alex, “Just talk to her you idiot!”

Devil’s Desire had romance, adventure, a great heroine, and a fantastic secondary romance story (Louisa and Ian). The only drawback for me was that I didn’t really like Alex and I also thought the ending was a bit abrupt.

Format: Paperback

Dimensions
Length: 8 in
Width: 5 in
Weight: 8.00 oz
Page Count: 312 pages