In Bed with the Devil by Lorraine Heath

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Ridiculously Short Plot
Lady Catherine Mabry strikes a bargain with Lucian, the Devil Earl to have someone killed and they fall in love in the process.

Main Characters
Lady Catherine Mabry
Lucian Langdon, Earl of Claybourne

Themes
Oliver Twist
Murder plots
Amnesia/PTSD

Setting
London, England – 1851

MY THOUGHTS

I haven’t read this book in quite a while and re-reading it again made me fall in love with Lucien all over again! I felt that this book was fresh (even though I had read it before) and perfect for my mood last week (which is why I am currently re-reading the Scoundrels of St. James series).

I just want to say that this is my second favorite Scoundrels of St. James book (my fave in the series is Between the Devil and Desire… ❤ Jack Dodger). I also felt that the backdrop was perfect of the Oliver Twist theme and despite not having read and seen the movie in awhile, I was brought back to Dickens’ world. The parallels where there and despite having some of the characters based on Dickens’ Oliver Twist, I enjoyed reading it.

Lucian Langdon, the Earl of Claybourne grew up in the rookeries and despite being the current Earl, he felt that he was playing a part and did not belong with the ton. It was rumored that he had killed someone, his own uncle and the heir of Claybourne, and has been known as the Devil Earl. During the time that he was caught by the authorities, the current earl identified him as his long lost grandson and the true heir of the Claybourne and he took him and his friends in from the rookeries. Upon the earl’s death, Luke tried to claim his rightful place in society but it was a disaster.

Fast forward a few years and Lady Catherine Mabry approaches him with a proposition to kill someone. Luke agrees in exchange for her teaching Frannie, his future fiancé (who he grew up with in the rookeries), in the ways of being a lady. During their nightly interactions and even daytime meetings, Catherine and Luke start to fall in love

I loved that Catherine and Luke’s relationship and how it blossomed slowly into love. I felt that Luke really redeemed himself and I felt that he was the right man for Catherine. I also liked that he was portrayed as a scoundrel but the author wrote in his insecurities and uncertainties. The amnesia was a nice touch to the whole thing. Despite it being a little bit unbelievable, I felt that it did add another element to the story.

Since this book is the first in the series, we get to be introduced to the other scoundrels and Fanny (who I cannot picture as a scoundrel) who will have their own stories. Personally, I love the interaction between Catherine and Jack Dodger (he IS my favorite scoundrel!).

I am writing this review, having read the whole series and I love it! Each of the books can be read as a stand alone but books two and three kind of overlap but I love that the author does not give anything away in each book and we are still left guessing.