What do you think?
Rate this book
Sins of the Duke #1
In the Devil's Bed
A Soldier Driven By Revenge:
Captain Jack Hazard was raised in the slums of the East End. He’s clawed his way to the top of London commerce as the owner of the most powerful bodyguard service in the country. With such achievements, he should be happy. But Jack will never know happiness until he destroys the Duke of Chiles, the man responsible for his only friend’s brutal death. There’s just one thing. The easiest way to destroy the duke is by ruining his granddaughter, Lady Regan. Can Jack do whatever it takes for revenge, or will Lady Regan’s strength and determination reawaken his heart to love.
A Lady Who Won’t Back Down:
Lady Regan is nothing like her grandfather, the powerful and infamous Duke of Chiles. In fact, instead of oppressing the poor she, in the footsteps of her murdered father, is determined to help them any way she can. When Regan starts receiving death threats, she knows she needs help. Captain Hazard seems the perfect choice. But Captain Hazard is a dangerous man. A man who seems the opposite of all her pacifist principles. Will she harden herself to the rough man he presents or discover that loves exists even in the darkest of hearts?
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2016
136 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 7, 2023
Interesting premise with a Dukes granddaughter working towards improving the conditions of the poor following in the footsteps of the father that was murdered. Captain Hazard owns a bodyguard service and has agreed to protect Eva as several threats and attempts on her life have been made. Jack has all the ingredients for me to love..but I found the writing never drew me in..it was just ok. The plot was good, the twists and turns were good. It never really hooked me, so it gets a 3.5*
February 15, 2016
I love Eva Devon’s books but I also enjoy the dark, intense and compelling romances she writes as Máire Claremont. Her Mad Passions series is one of my favourites and I’m delighted that this is the first book in a new series.
War hero Captain Jack Hazard is a powerful, ruthless, ambitious, self-made man and one of the richest in London. He is runs Hazard’s Outriders, the most illustrious bodyguard service in England, whose clients come from the highest echelons of society. But, however polished his speech or immaculate his dress, a man like Jack, who grew up in the slums of London, will never be accepted within their ranks, not that he has any desire to be. Everything that Jack has achieved has been driven by his desire for revenge against the Duke of Chiles, the man he holds responsible for the torments of his past and his friend’s death.
He would do everything to avenge Devlin and his own life. And if the rage growing inside him would help. . . He’d welcome it in. Without regret.
When, Lady Regan Chance, the duke’s granddaughter, hires Hazard’s Outriders to protect her, Jack sees this as the perfect opportunity to gain access to the Chance household, and search for evidence that will bring about the duke’s downfall.
Jack certainly satisfied my love for tormented heroes. Knowing all that the young Jack suffered made it easy to understand how those experiences had forged the man he had become…hard, cynical and ruthless. All his pent-up anger and hatred is a darkness in his soul which threatens to destroy any shreds of humanity.
Lady Regan Chance is in mourning for her beloved father, who has been brutally murdered. She feels the pain of losing her father deeply; theirs was a loving relationship and she had been truly happy.
Regan closed her eyes. Good God, would it never go away? The need to wrap her arms around her father. To pretend for one moment, that she could rest her head on his chest and feel at home again.
Both her grandfather and her uncle vehemently disagreed with her father’s philanthropic works among the poor of Whitechapel. Despite her grandfather’s efforts to stop her, Regan is determined to continue her father’s charitable works and fulfil his wish to provide schools for the poor. She is fully aware that only her spotless reputation has enabled her to continue her work independently and any hint of scandal would jeopardise everything. While visiting Whitechapel to see the progress being made with the school, she is the victim of a terrifying attack. Although a pacifist, Regan realises that her life is in danger and is forced to compromise her principles and seek the services of Hazard’s Outriders.
I found it easy to sympathise with Regan and feel her pain for the loss of her father. I admire her determination to see her father’s wishes fulfilled and her genuine compassion for those less fortunate than herself.
I love how Jack and Regan’s romance is a journey of discovery about each other. At first, Jack sees Regan as simply a means to an end in his pursuit of revenge against her grandfather but gradually, seeing her bravery, compassion and optimism, she comes to mean more to him.
The woman was slipping into his blood like wine and if he didn’t watch himself, she wouldn’t be leaving.
Regan sees Jack as the epitome of everything she hates…rough and violent. However, as she discovers things about him that seem to belie her initial opinion, her feelings start to change.
She liked him. Too much. Far too much. Regan let out a breath of air. He was a fascinating combination of violence and kindness. And she wanted to understand him in a way she never thought to understand a man.
It is also a story of danger, betrayal, passion, redemption and ultimately love. It is Regan’s love that dispels the darkness from Jack’s soul and makes him realise that hate has no place in his life.
Jack’s fingers tightened around hers and they left together, silently, as if they both knew that together they were entering a new life. One without the shadows of the past and nothing but a future together.
The secondary characters play an important role in the story, none more so than the hateful Duke of Chiles. The lengths to which he is willing to go to protect the social and political status quo is truly shocking. I found Jack’s friend Adam Ashecroft, the Earl of Easton, intriguing as there is the hint of mystery surrounding him and I’m hoping he may be the hero of the next book. I like the scandalous Countess Sylvia Chance, Regan’s aunt-in-law, who is her only ally in the Chance household. I also enjoyed the banter between Jack and Thomas O’Malley, his assistant, which provides some much-needed light relief.
I like how Ms Claremont highlights the darker aspects of Regency society…the plight of orphaned children exploited for monetary gain and the determination of the upper class to keep the lower class “beneath their shining boots”. Fortunately, there were those like Regan with a social conscience, willing to help the less fortunate.
MY VERDICT: If you are in the mood for a dark, intense romance with a suspenseful plot and compelling characters, then I can definitely recommend IN THE DEVIL’S BED.
REVIEW RATING: 5/5 STARS
This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
War hero Captain Jack Hazard is a powerful, ruthless, ambitious, self-made man and one of the richest in London. He is runs Hazard’s Outriders, the most illustrious bodyguard service in England, whose clients come from the highest echelons of society. But, however polished his speech or immaculate his dress, a man like Jack, who grew up in the slums of London, will never be accepted within their ranks, not that he has any desire to be. Everything that Jack has achieved has been driven by his desire for revenge against the Duke of Chiles, the man he holds responsible for the torments of his past and his friend’s death.
He would do everything to avenge Devlin and his own life. And if the rage growing inside him would help. . . He’d welcome it in. Without regret.
When, Lady Regan Chance, the duke’s granddaughter, hires Hazard’s Outriders to protect her, Jack sees this as the perfect opportunity to gain access to the Chance household, and search for evidence that will bring about the duke’s downfall.
Jack certainly satisfied my love for tormented heroes. Knowing all that the young Jack suffered made it easy to understand how those experiences had forged the man he had become…hard, cynical and ruthless. All his pent-up anger and hatred is a darkness in his soul which threatens to destroy any shreds of humanity.
Lady Regan Chance is in mourning for her beloved father, who has been brutally murdered. She feels the pain of losing her father deeply; theirs was a loving relationship and she had been truly happy.
Regan closed her eyes. Good God, would it never go away? The need to wrap her arms around her father. To pretend for one moment, that she could rest her head on his chest and feel at home again.
Both her grandfather and her uncle vehemently disagreed with her father’s philanthropic works among the poor of Whitechapel. Despite her grandfather’s efforts to stop her, Regan is determined to continue her father’s charitable works and fulfil his wish to provide schools for the poor. She is fully aware that only her spotless reputation has enabled her to continue her work independently and any hint of scandal would jeopardise everything. While visiting Whitechapel to see the progress being made with the school, she is the victim of a terrifying attack. Although a pacifist, Regan realises that her life is in danger and is forced to compromise her principles and seek the services of Hazard’s Outriders.
I found it easy to sympathise with Regan and feel her pain for the loss of her father. I admire her determination to see her father’s wishes fulfilled and her genuine compassion for those less fortunate than herself.
I love how Jack and Regan’s romance is a journey of discovery about each other. At first, Jack sees Regan as simply a means to an end in his pursuit of revenge against her grandfather but gradually, seeing her bravery, compassion and optimism, she comes to mean more to him.
The woman was slipping into his blood like wine and if he didn’t watch himself, she wouldn’t be leaving.
Regan sees Jack as the epitome of everything she hates…rough and violent. However, as she discovers things about him that seem to belie her initial opinion, her feelings start to change.
She liked him. Too much. Far too much. Regan let out a breath of air. He was a fascinating combination of violence and kindness. And she wanted to understand him in a way she never thought to understand a man.
It is also a story of danger, betrayal, passion, redemption and ultimately love. It is Regan’s love that dispels the darkness from Jack’s soul and makes him realise that hate has no place in his life.
Jack’s fingers tightened around hers and they left together, silently, as if they both knew that together they were entering a new life. One without the shadows of the past and nothing but a future together.
The secondary characters play an important role in the story, none more so than the hateful Duke of Chiles. The lengths to which he is willing to go to protect the social and political status quo is truly shocking. I found Jack’s friend Adam Ashecroft, the Earl of Easton, intriguing as there is the hint of mystery surrounding him and I’m hoping he may be the hero of the next book. I like the scandalous Countess Sylvia Chance, Regan’s aunt-in-law, who is her only ally in the Chance household. I also enjoyed the banter between Jack and Thomas O’Malley, his assistant, which provides some much-needed light relief.
I like how Ms Claremont highlights the darker aspects of Regency society…the plight of orphaned children exploited for monetary gain and the determination of the upper class to keep the lower class “beneath their shining boots”. Fortunately, there were those like Regan with a social conscience, willing to help the less fortunate.
MY VERDICT: If you are in the mood for a dark, intense romance with a suspenseful plot and compelling characters, then I can definitely recommend IN THE DEVIL’S BED.
REVIEW RATING: 5/5 STARS
This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
February 1, 2016
WOW! What an intriguing tale!
#1 in a new and intriguing series "Sins of the Duke".
Fast paced tale from the first page to the last. This is one of those stories that lingers long after the last page.
Filled with danger, passion, the despair of homeless children, betrayal, revenge, romance and finding a HEA.
Emotional and powerful! A very intense story, one that is well written with compassion and intense emotions. The reader can feel the angst, the selflessness of some of the characters, the helplessness, and the danger. Intriguing, with a simplicity that captures the readers heart and holds them in awe. An absolutely amazing story! I can't wait to read more from this author. A must read! Fans of Regency Romance, Historical Romance or just an intriguing tale will enjoy "In The Devil's Bed", I certainly did. Pick this one up for your reading pleasure.
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR
#1 in a new and intriguing series "Sins of the Duke".
Fast paced tale from the first page to the last. This is one of those stories that lingers long after the last page.
Filled with danger, passion, the despair of homeless children, betrayal, revenge, romance and finding a HEA.
Emotional and powerful! A very intense story, one that is well written with compassion and intense emotions. The reader can feel the angst, the selflessness of some of the characters, the helplessness, and the danger. Intriguing, with a simplicity that captures the readers heart and holds them in awe. An absolutely amazing story! I can't wait to read more from this author. A must read! Fans of Regency Romance, Historical Romance or just an intriguing tale will enjoy "In The Devil's Bed", I certainly did. Pick this one up for your reading pleasure.
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR
October 14, 2016
This is the first book in a new series by Ms. Devon, and the first book I ever read by this author. I picked this book because it’s the monthly – modern – pick of a book club I’m in. My usual approach to these picks is to just start them without reading blurb or reviews. And… based on the 2 star rating, you already know this was not a good match for me. This of course doesn’t mean this book can’t be a good fit for you.
Why is this not a good fit for me?
First: the writing style, to me, felt kind of bombastic, old school type of over the top flowery with at times too much description.
Second: the romantization of violence is not my thing.
To illustrate both: sentences like “He was a fascinating combination of violence and kindness. And she wanted to understand him in a way she never thought to understand a man” do not make me go ‘sigh’, but make me think: ‘yuck’.
Third: my main problem: not enough care for GMC (goal, motivation and conflict). And this should have been fixed by the writer and/or the editor and/or the publisher. And since they didn't, they, to me, didn't care enough about me, the reader, which I do take personally. But, without it, a story can be an ok read, maybe while lying on a beach.
To explain what I mean I will first give credit where credit is due: the book ‘Goal, Motivation and Conflict’ by Debra Dixon. I read this a couple of days ago and somehow it suddenly made all the things I had read about conflict in books before, click. And, sadly for Ms. Devon’s book, I now see what could (and should) have been done to make this a much more memorable (and to me that’s a better) book. It’s not lack of idea, its lack of skill or attention with respect to goal, motivation and conflict (GMC). So for you who do not know what I mean, I’ll provide a small introduction (in my own words, so if I don’t get this right, it’s on me). Ms. Dixon showed that in order to get a believable HEA, you need believable and grand conflict, which you do by creating (for each main character: hero, heroine and villain) enough motivation for a clear set of external and internal goals and have the romance be counterproductive to achieving those goals. So in order for the hero and heroine to get together, they would have to give up the thing they want, which will hurt them and which will in turn make the reader shift on her seat doubting they will ever get together. And that’s the goal of writing a story: enthrall the readers. Because let’s be honest, it’s not much fun reading about a hero and heroine just doing ‘stuff’ and then agree to a HEA.
So let’s talk GMC for the hero and heroine. And if someone reading this has another view: please let me know. I have skipped some pages which might have contained valuable clues. And I could interpret this all wrong. In both cases I would love to be convinced to change this review and rating. (And if you do agree with my reasoning, I would like to know too.)
The hero wants to protect the heroine (external goal) and have revenge on the Duke (internal goal). His motivation for the protecting is the reputation of his business, but it’s also his means to getting his revenge. Because by ruining the heroine, he will hurt the Duke’s pride. I’m not going into the motivation for the revenge which is mostly told, and not shown enough for me. So… how is his growing attraction messing with his goals? It’s not. By marrying the heroine he will achieve both. So, no conflict or giving up what he wants most. Oh, there was something about him not believing in happy families. But not believing in something like that is not the same as actively wanting to not marry. And it wasn’t set up in a way that I saw the cost for the hero in having to let that conviction go. I probably would have cared about that more if the hero would have written a paper on (or otherwise publicaly declared) the impossibility of love.
The heroine’s GMC, to me, had the biggest holes. She wants to build a hospital and schools for the poor (external goal). Her internal goals are not very clear to me and could be either ‘world piece’ because she is such a pacifist (but that’s also her external goal and her reason for building the hospital) or to get away from the influence of her grandfather the Duke and her uncle. The only thing that works as a barrier between getting a HEA with the hero is the pacifist-thing, because a HEA with the hero would solve her other goals. How? The hero obviously supports the need for a true free hospital and schooling for the poor: he knows what it’s like to not have that. The hero also, based on the elaborate description of his grand mansion, has the money to accomplish that. And by marrying the hero, she will get away from the Duke and her uncle. So, she is such a convinced pacifist, although she hasn't joined any groups, doesn't make public declarations, she just quietly builds her hospital. But... if she is such a pacifist, she should know that in order to prevent violence, you have to understand people with different views and not have preconceived notions about them… which she does with respect to the hero: because he is an army captain and has distinguished himself in the war and has a company with men handling guns… he is not a pacifist. So, he is not striving for world piece based on that? How would she know? Then there was something about needing to be proper, and fighting her attraction to the hero, because otherwise she wouldn’t be able to finish the hospital (which we already established, would serve her goals just fine). But why would society have such a big say in it? Was the hospital funded with public money? I don’t know. The money obviously didn’t come from the Duke, because then he could have just withdrawn the funds. But is it in the book? No. And if she somehow found her own private money (through an inheritance that was not entailed) she wouldn’t have been so dependent on society and could have already moved out of the home of her uncle. So that source of money could be important motivation for her need to act proper. But that money source doesn’t play a big role in this book. If it would, there should have been threats to stop the flow, or replace her as manager of the project or something. And then another thing: if being proper for society was so important, how then did society in that period of time approve of her, an unmarried woman, being in charge of building that project in the first place? And if she truly didn’t want to be living with her uncle, surely, if the money source for the hospital wasn’t tied to the Duke, she could have found a way? What was the hold her uncle and grandfather had over her? I do not know. And it’s vital to know in order to understand why she was fighting her attraction to the hero.
The villain. The Duke. He just wanted to stop his niece from doing ‘stuff’ that would harm the reputation of the Dukedom. Why was that so important for him? Why did he go to such lengths and commit these crimes for it. If he was so powerful, he could surely have weathered the silly actions of his granddaughter. The actions of his heir, the heroines father would have been a bigger problem, but only if he was using funding of the estate or not caring about the estate and was willing to sell everything and give it to the poor. Was that the case? I do not know? But his granddaughter wouldn’t be a real problem. She wasn’t going to inherit it, and she could always have been made fun of with his peers: end of the problem.
You see where I’m going? The basic idea for the plot was ok. If society truly had a say in the hospital, marrying the hero could be a problem. But the motivation for that conflict just wasn’t put into the book (at least not in a way that I could see and feel). And without that motivation, it made the conflict nothing more than silly conflict just for the sake of adding conflict and being able to write more pages without the hero and heroine together. To me it resembled the heroine saying ‘no’ while meaning ‘yes’. I had no doubt they were going to be together just because of their own misunderstandings. I did doubt if the Duke would manage his unmotivated violent actions. So I did read on to see how that would work out.
Why is this not a good fit for me?
First: the writing style, to me, felt kind of bombastic, old school type of over the top flowery with at times too much description.
Second: the romantization of violence is not my thing.
To illustrate both: sentences like “He was a fascinating combination of violence and kindness. And she wanted to understand him in a way she never thought to understand a man” do not make me go ‘sigh’, but make me think: ‘yuck’.
Third: my main problem: not enough care for GMC (goal, motivation and conflict). And this should have been fixed by the writer and/or the editor and/or the publisher. And since they didn't, they, to me, didn't care enough about me, the reader, which I do take personally. But, without it, a story can be an ok read, maybe while lying on a beach.
To explain what I mean I will first give credit where credit is due: the book ‘Goal, Motivation and Conflict’ by Debra Dixon. I read this a couple of days ago and somehow it suddenly made all the things I had read about conflict in books before, click. And, sadly for Ms. Devon’s book, I now see what could (and should) have been done to make this a much more memorable (and to me that’s a better) book. It’s not lack of idea, its lack of skill or attention with respect to goal, motivation and conflict (GMC). So for you who do not know what I mean, I’ll provide a small introduction (in my own words, so if I don’t get this right, it’s on me). Ms. Dixon showed that in order to get a believable HEA, you need believable and grand conflict, which you do by creating (for each main character: hero, heroine and villain) enough motivation for a clear set of external and internal goals and have the romance be counterproductive to achieving those goals. So in order for the hero and heroine to get together, they would have to give up the thing they want, which will hurt them and which will in turn make the reader shift on her seat doubting they will ever get together. And that’s the goal of writing a story: enthrall the readers. Because let’s be honest, it’s not much fun reading about a hero and heroine just doing ‘stuff’ and then agree to a HEA.
So let’s talk GMC for the hero and heroine. And if someone reading this has another view: please let me know. I have skipped some pages which might have contained valuable clues. And I could interpret this all wrong. In both cases I would love to be convinced to change this review and rating. (And if you do agree with my reasoning, I would like to know too.)
The hero wants to protect the heroine (external goal) and have revenge on the Duke (internal goal). His motivation for the protecting is the reputation of his business, but it’s also his means to getting his revenge. Because by ruining the heroine, he will hurt the Duke’s pride. I’m not going into the motivation for the revenge which is mostly told, and not shown enough for me. So… how is his growing attraction messing with his goals? It’s not. By marrying the heroine he will achieve both. So, no conflict or giving up what he wants most. Oh, there was something about him not believing in happy families. But not believing in something like that is not the same as actively wanting to not marry. And it wasn’t set up in a way that I saw the cost for the hero in having to let that conviction go. I probably would have cared about that more if the hero would have written a paper on (or otherwise publicaly declared) the impossibility of love.
The heroine’s GMC, to me, had the biggest holes. She wants to build a hospital and schools for the poor (external goal). Her internal goals are not very clear to me and could be either ‘world piece’ because she is such a pacifist (but that’s also her external goal and her reason for building the hospital) or to get away from the influence of her grandfather the Duke and her uncle. The only thing that works as a barrier between getting a HEA with the hero is the pacifist-thing, because a HEA with the hero would solve her other goals. How? The hero obviously supports the need for a true free hospital and schooling for the poor: he knows what it’s like to not have that. The hero also, based on the elaborate description of his grand mansion, has the money to accomplish that. And by marrying the hero, she will get away from the Duke and her uncle. So, she is such a convinced pacifist, although she hasn't joined any groups, doesn't make public declarations, she just quietly builds her hospital. But... if she is such a pacifist, she should know that in order to prevent violence, you have to understand people with different views and not have preconceived notions about them… which she does with respect to the hero: because he is an army captain and has distinguished himself in the war and has a company with men handling guns… he is not a pacifist. So, he is not striving for world piece based on that? How would she know? Then there was something about needing to be proper, and fighting her attraction to the hero, because otherwise she wouldn’t be able to finish the hospital (which we already established, would serve her goals just fine). But why would society have such a big say in it? Was the hospital funded with public money? I don’t know. The money obviously didn’t come from the Duke, because then he could have just withdrawn the funds. But is it in the book? No. And if she somehow found her own private money (through an inheritance that was not entailed) she wouldn’t have been so dependent on society and could have already moved out of the home of her uncle. So that source of money could be important motivation for her need to act proper. But that money source doesn’t play a big role in this book. If it would, there should have been threats to stop the flow, or replace her as manager of the project or something. And then another thing: if being proper for society was so important, how then did society in that period of time approve of her, an unmarried woman, being in charge of building that project in the first place? And if she truly didn’t want to be living with her uncle, surely, if the money source for the hospital wasn’t tied to the Duke, she could have found a way? What was the hold her uncle and grandfather had over her? I do not know. And it’s vital to know in order to understand why she was fighting her attraction to the hero.
The villain. The Duke. He just wanted to stop his niece from doing ‘stuff’ that would harm the reputation of the Dukedom. Why was that so important for him? Why did he go to such lengths and commit these crimes for it. If he was so powerful, he could surely have weathered the silly actions of his granddaughter. The actions of his heir, the heroines father would have been a bigger problem, but only if he was using funding of the estate or not caring about the estate and was willing to sell everything and give it to the poor. Was that the case? I do not know? But his granddaughter wouldn’t be a real problem. She wasn’t going to inherit it, and she could always have been made fun of with his peers: end of the problem.
You see where I’m going? The basic idea for the plot was ok. If society truly had a say in the hospital, marrying the hero could be a problem. But the motivation for that conflict just wasn’t put into the book (at least not in a way that I could see and feel). And without that motivation, it made the conflict nothing more than silly conflict just for the sake of adding conflict and being able to write more pages without the hero and heroine together. To me it resembled the heroine saying ‘no’ while meaning ‘yes’. I had no doubt they were going to be together just because of their own misunderstandings. I did doubt if the Duke would manage his unmotivated violent actions. So I did read on to see how that would work out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2016
Whether Eva Devon or Maire Claremont's name is on a book you know that it will be worth reading. This is the first book in a new series and I loved it. Maire's stories are more intense and this one is no exception. Jack is a man on a mission. Destroy the Chance family, especially the Duke who was responsible for his hellish childhood and the death of his best friend. Regan is the Duke's grand daughter who is in mourning for her father who was murdered. Regan is finishing what her father started, helping those less fortunate than her. She has taken over the project of building a hospital in the poorest of neighborhoods and a clean, happy place for children who are homeless to grow up. Her father never got along with his father the Duke because of his belief that all human beings have a right to a decent life, not just the rich and titled.
This is a story of what happens to the homeless children who have no one to look out for them and how they survive. A glimpse into the poverty and the struggle to stay alive. A story of vengeance, redemption, love and laughter. The growth of Jack and Regan and how they learn about each other and what they lived thru to become the people they realize they want to be. Not only is this an Historical Romance, it is also a raw and truthful look into the emotions that most would like to be kept hidden from the light of day. Maire gives you a look into the dark side of life in Regency England. This is an incredible story and you will be enthralled from beginning to end!!!
Received Complimentary copy for honest review.
This is a story of what happens to the homeless children who have no one to look out for them and how they survive. A glimpse into the poverty and the struggle to stay alive. A story of vengeance, redemption, love and laughter. The growth of Jack and Regan and how they learn about each other and what they lived thru to become the people they realize they want to be. Not only is this an Historical Romance, it is also a raw and truthful look into the emotions that most would like to be kept hidden from the light of day. Maire gives you a look into the dark side of life in Regency England. This is an incredible story and you will be enthralled from beginning to end!!!
Received Complimentary copy for honest review.
January 23, 2016
I received thus book for an honest review. We receive our values at an early age, though right or wrong those are not truly our values completely. As we grow they take shape and change to our own self beliefs. Eva Devon has done a magnificent job of doing this in her story for Jack and Regan. Regan,while grieving for her father, has held a strong belief that equality is for the best. She goes about making changes in a passive way. To show what most think of as the lower class that not all nobles are bad. She is building a hospital and schools to help educate all that want and need it most. Jack grew up in an orphanage, thrust into work as a very young child and then sold into the military at age 11. He has not know love, comfort, kindness, or trust. Regan's grandfather believes in just the opposite. Will old misguided beliefs ever be changed or will change be seen? To give you more is to give away this wonderfully poignant story. I believe that what Regan and Jack accomplish together will make you want to read this endearing story that is sure to open your eyes even with what needs changed today and that with love, patience, and vitality anything is possible.
February 15, 2016
This is a book you can read fairly quickly. I found it a little slow at first, but it got really interesting and I read it without stopping. No plot spoilers follow.
Lady Regan is still mourning her father's death and is determined to continue his work helping the poor, against the wishes of her family. Her main project is building a hospital for the people who live in Whitechapel. Someone does not want her to do this and is threatening her. She goes to Hazard's Outriders, a bodyguard service, for help. When her first guard is hurt, Jack Hazard, owner and former soldier, decides to guard her himself.
Jack has his own reasons to guard her. It involves her grandfather, the powerful Duke of Chiles. He also works for the Duke and is not the only one looking into the Duke's dealings. I can't write any more because you'll really like this complex story as it evolves.
I do hope Jack's friend, Lord Ashecroft gets his own story and HEA. There is more to him than meets the eye.
Lady Regan is still mourning her father's death and is determined to continue his work helping the poor, against the wishes of her family. Her main project is building a hospital for the people who live in Whitechapel. Someone does not want her to do this and is threatening her. She goes to Hazard's Outriders, a bodyguard service, for help. When her first guard is hurt, Jack Hazard, owner and former soldier, decides to guard her himself.
Jack has his own reasons to guard her. It involves her grandfather, the powerful Duke of Chiles. He also works for the Duke and is not the only one looking into the Duke's dealings. I can't write any more because you'll really like this complex story as it evolves.
I do hope Jack's friend, Lord Ashecroft gets his own story and HEA. There is more to him than meets the eye.
August 3, 2023
Between 3,5 and 4 Stars.
January 30, 2016
I received this book in exchange for my review.
Lady Regan is not like the other members of the ton or anything like her own family. After her father is murdered she determined to complete his dream of building a hospital for the poor of London. The only problem is someone wants her dead now because of it. With her life threatened she has no choice but to hire a bodyguard, enter Captain Jack Hazard. Captain Jack is not by any means a member of the ton but he hovers on the outsides. He knows then and hates them but is hired by them to provide his services.
Captain Jack agrees to protect Lady Regan but gets much more than he bargained for in return. He does not want to believe that Lady Regan is as kind and generous to the poor like she is because she is a member of one of the most powerful families in London, but he finds himself more and more intrigued by her. Lady Regan does not want to do anything to jeopardize her reputation because it could hurt the building of her hospital but she finds that although she may be naive there is something about Captain Jack that is irresistible!
These two character are not only on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to society but they have completely different views of the world. Lady Regan is a pacifist and does not believe in revenge or violence even when she is attacked and her life is threatened. Captain Jack's life has depended on nothing but violence and revenge has become his motivator. Jack and Regan become close and it becomes clear that there is one thing they have in common. Jack finds that he is overcome with the need to protect Regan even when he may be the one that she should be protected from. Regan has found herself falling for Jack but will she be able to recover from a deep painful betrayal that Jack is involved in?
Through it all Regan and Jack do find that they can complete each other and find love in the most unexpected people. This story has some amazing scenes of love, sex, and times of heart break. It makes you believe that anyone can be saved from themselves.
Lady Regan is not like the other members of the ton or anything like her own family. After her father is murdered she determined to complete his dream of building a hospital for the poor of London. The only problem is someone wants her dead now because of it. With her life threatened she has no choice but to hire a bodyguard, enter Captain Jack Hazard. Captain Jack is not by any means a member of the ton but he hovers on the outsides. He knows then and hates them but is hired by them to provide his services.
Captain Jack agrees to protect Lady Regan but gets much more than he bargained for in return. He does not want to believe that Lady Regan is as kind and generous to the poor like she is because she is a member of one of the most powerful families in London, but he finds himself more and more intrigued by her. Lady Regan does not want to do anything to jeopardize her reputation because it could hurt the building of her hospital but she finds that although she may be naive there is something about Captain Jack that is irresistible!
These two character are not only on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to society but they have completely different views of the world. Lady Regan is a pacifist and does not believe in revenge or violence even when she is attacked and her life is threatened. Captain Jack's life has depended on nothing but violence and revenge has become his motivator. Jack and Regan become close and it becomes clear that there is one thing they have in common. Jack finds that he is overcome with the need to protect Regan even when he may be the one that she should be protected from. Regan has found herself falling for Jack but will she be able to recover from a deep painful betrayal that Jack is involved in?
Through it all Regan and Jack do find that they can complete each other and find love in the most unexpected people. This story has some amazing scenes of love, sex, and times of heart break. It makes you believe that anyone can be saved from themselves.
October 20, 2016
I tried but I just couldn’t like this book. A large part of my dislike is due to my preference for angsty, intense stories rather than action-filled ones. On the other hand, I’ve read and loved books full of action and violence, so clearly other things must have bothered me about this one.
The writing isn’t bad at all, even if it can be quite detailed. I actually skimmed through most of this book. Because of the writing and the focus on action I never felt invested in the characters and the romance. It all stayed on the surface, and I just like the emotional part of the romance much more than kidnapping, death threats, (attempted) murder, arson etc. etc.
I also had a problem with Regan. She’s involved in improving the slums and lives of the poor It’s not just donating money for her, she really believes in reform. It’s really unfair, but characters that are so good, are often so incredibly boring. She’s very well-rounded and basically perfect, and I just couldn’t care for or about her. Jack has some more layers, but again, I just didn’t feel any of it. I can sort of see why he wanted revenge, but he didn’t have the single-mindedness of a vengeance-seeker; there was no plan or plot behind his actions. In fact, he didn’t really seem to actively do much to achieve revenge, apart from spying on the duke.
Something else that bothered me about this book was that it was clear from the start who the villain was. I think that a book high on action, should have some sort of mystery as well, and there wasn’t any whatsoever. The only thing we didn’t know was the motivation of the villain, and that was actually such a weak motivation in my opinion that it didn’t improve matters at all.
There were so many little things that didn’t seem to make sense (or that I didn’t understand). This book just didn’t work for me at all.
The writing isn’t bad at all, even if it can be quite detailed. I actually skimmed through most of this book. Because of the writing and the focus on action I never felt invested in the characters and the romance. It all stayed on the surface, and I just like the emotional part of the romance much more than kidnapping, death threats, (attempted) murder, arson etc. etc.
I also had a problem with Regan. She’s involved in improving the slums and lives of the poor It’s not just donating money for her, she really believes in reform. It’s really unfair, but characters that are so good, are often so incredibly boring. She’s very well-rounded and basically perfect, and I just couldn’t care for or about her. Jack has some more layers, but again, I just didn’t feel any of it. I can sort of see why he wanted revenge, but he didn’t have the single-mindedness of a vengeance-seeker; there was no plan or plot behind his actions. In fact, he didn’t really seem to actively do much to achieve revenge, apart from spying on the duke.
Something else that bothered me about this book was that it was clear from the start who the villain was. I think that a book high on action, should have some sort of mystery as well, and there wasn’t any whatsoever. The only thing we didn’t know was the motivation of the villain, and that was actually such a weak motivation in my opinion that it didn’t improve matters at all.
There were so many little things that didn’t seem to make sense (or that I didn’t understand). This book just didn’t work for me at all.
February 3, 2016
OH, DAMN THAT DUKE!
Give me the devil instead.
I'll start with this: I had to wait a bit between reading a preliminary version of this and the final version. I love this author, and I'm always honored if she gives me a chance to read and give feedback.
The hero (the devil) is a dark character. Indeed, the entire book is delightfully dark. Murder, death, and suspense abound. The characters seem to thrive on that.
The villain is dark, malicious, and capable of almost anything. There was a space where he seemed a little human, but he soon evolved past that.
There was pain aplenty, but it is a standard happy ever after. I love it.
Give me the devil instead.
I'll start with this: I had to wait a bit between reading a preliminary version of this and the final version. I love this author, and I'm always honored if she gives me a chance to read and give feedback.
The hero (the devil) is a dark character. Indeed, the entire book is delightfully dark. Murder, death, and suspense abound. The characters seem to thrive on that.
The villain is dark, malicious, and capable of almost anything. There was a space where he seemed a little human, but he soon evolved past that.
There was pain aplenty, but it is a standard happy ever after. I love it.
April 5, 2016
I enjoyed Jack so much that even though I didn't like Regan very much, I rated this book high and recommend it to fans of both Eva Devon and Maire Clairmont. Jack is a self-made man who has risen from the slums, served in the infantry and is set to destroy the man he blames for his friend's death. It is Regan who gives him that opportunity as the man's grand daughter. As they begin to know each other, a bond between them grows, but it is not until her life is in danger that Jack recognizes how much he cares for her. I am looking forward to more books in the series.
February 4, 2016
I loved this novel! The characters were so well developed and complex. Regan and Jack were so special and lovable, each in their own way. Jack being the tortured hero that dreams are made of and Regan having her own strong, intelligent and compassionate nature. They were a couple made for each other and the chemistry and connection between them was palpable. I loved the twists and turns in the plot and I was riveted from start to finish. I can't wait to read more from this author.
February 23, 2016
Loved It! Wonderful Story!
August 28, 2023
5⭐️
Jack Hazaard is a man out for revenge. After witnessing the death of his only friend during the war, Jack is desperate to kill the man responsible for forcing him into the war to begin with, the Duke of Chiles. Soon after, Jack manages to become a self made man and business owner of a bodyguard service. Everything that Jack has achieved has been driven by his desire for revenge.
Lady Reagan Chance, granddaughter to the Duke of Chiles, is still mourning the loss of her wonderful father. His dedication in philanthropic work has inspired Reagan to continue in his footsteps. Her next project is creating a hospital for the people in the slums of Whitechapel and next a school. After getting anonymous threats to stop her work, Reagan is rightfully frightened and has decided to hire a bodyguard for her protection. Jack sees this as a perfect opportunity to for access into her family’s household. Determined to find anything that could bring the horrible Duke of Chiles down.
At first Jack only sees Reagan as a means to an end, but as they both work together, their love for one another starts to blossom.
I really did love this one! It was a lot of fun!
Jack Hazaard is a man out for revenge. After witnessing the death of his only friend during the war, Jack is desperate to kill the man responsible for forcing him into the war to begin with, the Duke of Chiles. Soon after, Jack manages to become a self made man and business owner of a bodyguard service. Everything that Jack has achieved has been driven by his desire for revenge.
Lady Reagan Chance, granddaughter to the Duke of Chiles, is still mourning the loss of her wonderful father. His dedication in philanthropic work has inspired Reagan to continue in his footsteps. Her next project is creating a hospital for the people in the slums of Whitechapel and next a school. After getting anonymous threats to stop her work, Reagan is rightfully frightened and has decided to hire a bodyguard for her protection. Jack sees this as a perfect opportunity to for access into her family’s household. Determined to find anything that could bring the horrible Duke of Chiles down.
At first Jack only sees Reagan as a means to an end, but as they both work together, their love for one another starts to blossom.
I really did love this one! It was a lot of fun!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2024
Good read, again. I'd been waiting to get this complete series, but gave up. I did find the 2nd book in PDF form, I finally have it. I really liked this story, the characters and the plot. It's a bit darker than her newer work, but just as good. Looking forward to reading the next installment of this series.
Read
December 19, 2021DNF.
NO FEELS. I've read stories with this similar troupe but this one lacked layers and failed to intrigue despite me being a fan of the plot. For me, while the characters were attracted...they just didn't simmer. In other words - flat - compared to my favourite authors.
NO FEELS. I've read stories with this similar troupe but this one lacked layers and failed to intrigue despite me being a fan of the plot. For me, while the characters were attracted...they just didn't simmer. In other words - flat - compared to my favourite authors.
July 18, 2019
Romance
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you
February 7, 2020
Written to perfection
A great read of mystery and love. Sexy good guys and ugly villains with a side of lusting. A great combo
A great read of mystery and love. Sexy good guys and ugly villains with a side of lusting. A great combo
December 1, 2020
Great love story
This was a good story, I have read most of your books but I keep finding some I haven’t read.
This was a good story, I have read most of your books but I keep finding some I haven’t read.
April 21, 2022
WHO KILLED HER FATHER - WILL HE TELL HER THE TRUTH ?
Jack Hazard on a mission to wipe out the entire Chance family who he held responsible for his friends death and hundreds of other.men who died in the war ( in order to do this he had to work for the Duke) get close to his family.
Lady Regan Chance was Granddaughter to the Duke, who hired Jack Hazard as a bodyguard for his granddaughter.
LOTS of action in this who can you trust.
LOVED THIS LOTS OF TWISTS LOVED JACK GREAT CHARACTERS .
Jack Hazard on a mission to wipe out the entire Chance family who he held responsible for his friends death and hundreds of other.men who died in the war ( in order to do this he had to work for the Duke) get close to his family.
Lady Regan Chance was Granddaughter to the Duke, who hired Jack Hazard as a bodyguard for his granddaughter.
LOTS of action in this who can you trust.
LOVED THIS LOTS OF TWISTS LOVED JACK GREAT CHARACTERS .
February 3, 2016
Sexy, romantic story about two lovers from the wrong side of the tracks.
Capt. Jack Hazard hates the nobility, titled, and the entitled rich, and for good reason; as far as he is concerned they have no respect nor care for the less privileged. He also blames them for the death of one very dear to him so when he meets the granddaughter of the infamous Duke of Chiles, he sees her as a means to take revenge against those that hurt him.
It was sweet to see how Regan and Jack fell in love with each other but there were times I was a bit confused with Jack’s feelings. Was he in love or was he still thinking about his revenge? Nevertheless if I didn’t think too much about that, these two made a lovely couple from the get-go.
The second characters added plenty to the plot and the fact that the villain was of all things a titled man *gasp* (they’ve been leading the romantic regency trope for a while) was a refreshing change.
If anything, my only cavil was that for some reason the writing felt a bit too modern compared to other stories by the same author or her other nom the plume, not the dialogue or the story, but the actual prose. At any rate it was still a very unique story with plenty of romance and secrets to uncover.
3.5 rounded up stars.
** I was gifted a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review **
Capt. Jack Hazard hates the nobility, titled, and the entitled rich, and for good reason; as far as he is concerned they have no respect nor care for the less privileged. He also blames them for the death of one very dear to him so when he meets the granddaughter of the infamous Duke of Chiles, he sees her as a means to take revenge against those that hurt him.
It was sweet to see how Regan and Jack fell in love with each other but there were times I was a bit confused with Jack’s feelings. Was he in love or was he still thinking about his revenge? Nevertheless if I didn’t think too much about that, these two made a lovely couple from the get-go.
The second characters added plenty to the plot and the fact that the villain was of all things a titled man *gasp* (they’ve been leading the romantic regency trope for a while) was a refreshing change.
If anything, my only cavil was that for some reason the writing felt a bit too modern compared to other stories by the same author or her other nom the plume, not the dialogue or the story, but the actual prose. At any rate it was still a very unique story with plenty of romance and secrets to uncover.
3.5 rounded up stars.
** I was gifted a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review **
February 29, 2016
Really liked
I didnt expect this to be as good as it was. I waited a few months before finally buying this book, and Im glad I finally did because it is a very good read. I was so glad that this wasnt another book where the secrets come out and the couple goes through half the book in animosity and angst and unrequited love. At last, they love and listen. I highly recommend this one. I enjoyed Devon's writing..to the point. I thought the captain a bit lily livered, but sexy!
I didnt expect this to be as good as it was. I waited a few months before finally buying this book, and Im glad I finally did because it is a very good read. I was so glad that this wasnt another book where the secrets come out and the couple goes through half the book in animosity and angst and unrequited love. At last, they love and listen. I highly recommend this one. I enjoyed Devon's writing..to the point. I thought the captain a bit lily livered, but sexy!
June 30, 2016
Enjoyable and engaging, yet for me, it was missing something that would have put this story out of the ball park. I felt that in some parts the story went too slow while in others, too fast. I connected with the characters, yet it wasn't this great connection. I guess that's the lacking elements right there, the flow, the depth was a bit off and yet I really enjoyed this story.
June 11, 2016
The book was just okay. I felt that there were missing sections. There was a lot of unanswered questions at the end. Overall not a bad read but not sure it was good enough to try and read the second one in the series?
February 6, 2016
Loved it! A thrilling story, with an exceptionally clever plot and extremely likeable H & h.
Very classy writing. A most enjoyable read.
Very classy writing. A most enjoyable read.
February 17, 2016
4.5 stars.
May 7, 2018
Wow.
I liked the suspense and how understanding the heroine was. She was perfect for Jack although not one her would have guessed he would end up with.
I liked the suspense and how understanding the heroine was. She was perfect for Jack although not one her would have guessed he would end up with.
Read
March 5, 2017I got tired of reading this. Nothing seemed to be happening but emotions were stirring. Might revisit.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews