Book review
Series: Devil You Know #1
Publication Date: 8/27/19
Number of Pages: 448
I LOVED this book, but I want to start my review by telling you that if you have triggers to which you are sensitive, you might want to skip at least the prologue because it is quite graphic. It is very well written, gripping, intense, and breathtaking, but it is also graphic and heart-wrenching. I’m mentioning the trigger because it is not mentioned in the blurb as I believe it should be.
You’ll love the characters in this book. They are so real, so sharply defined, you’ll feel as if you know them: Emotions are so well described that you don’t feel as if you are reading them – you feel as if you are experiencing them: It is wonderfully written with descriptions so crisp and clear that you will feel the fear, anger, heartache and love yourself. The book perfectly sets up the series and introduces the characters for future books while focusing intensely on the mystery and romance of the current stars. The heroine is exceptionally well done. She’s strong, intelligent, and resourceful without being selfish and self-centered.
The Red Rogues Society was formed by three very intelligent, strong-willed, and adventuresome young ladies who were attending the Ecole de Chardonne for girls. They chose Red because each of them had some shade of red hair. Being unhappy with the limitations of the education girls were given, they would hide away and read materials (like war reports and lascivious poetry) they weren’t supposed to read. They taught themselves Latin, algebra, and other subjects they were normally denied. They were sworn friends forever and would protect each other no matter what. These young ladies were Francesca Cavendish, Cecelia Teague, and Alexandra Lane.
Each of the young ladies of the Red Rogues Society has ample reason to distrust men and each has her own secrets to protect. They share those secrets with each other, but with no others. Alexandra has been paying a blackmailer to keep her secret for the last ten years. She has no idea how they learned her secret, but she has to pay to protect herself as well as all of those she holds dear. Her family has lost all of its wealth and she has no idea how she’ll manage to pay the blackmailer – until the opportunity presents itself just perfectly – IF she can manage to swallow down her fear and seize that opportunity.
Piers Gedrick Atherton, The Duke of Redmayne, the Terror of Torcliff, is a scarred and flawed man. He’ll never, ever trust another woman and love is something that is totally foreign to him. Others view him, and he views himself, as a monster – scared on the outside and the inside. As a duke, he finds himself in need of an heir because there is no way he wants his cousin, Patrick Atherton, to inherit. His parents set up a betrothal for him when he was a child and he now intends to implement that betrothal. It will be two people living their own separate lives except to create an heir. He has no desire for love, affection, or caring – he doesn’t even have to particularly like her. Then, he meets her friend and wishes things could change.
Excellently written and filled with drama, excitement, danger, and love, this book will provide you with several hours of highly emotional entertainment. It reaches out and pulls you in and absolutely will not release you until long after you’ve read the last page. Speaking of that last page – the Epilogue is absolutely wonderful and gives you a very small peek at the characters for the next book.
This is definitely a book I can highly recommend.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
- Goodreads rating – 4.15
- REVIEW – Barbara Rogers