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Julia London

The Devil Takes a Bride (The Cabot Sisters, 2) Mass Market Paperback – January 27, 2015

by Julia London (Author)

284 ratings

Book 2 of 3: The Cabot Sisters

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To save her family from the poor house, Grace Cabot, once the toast of the ton, sets out to seduce a wealthy viscount into marriage, but her plans go passionately awry when a stolen embrace with the wrong man leads to the unexpected. Original.

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368 pages
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January 27, 2015
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4.21 x 0.94 x 6.58 inches
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0373778902
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978-0373778904
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Julia London writes vibrant, emotional stories and sexy, richly-drawn characters."--New York Times Bestselling author Madeline Hunter

"London knows how to keep pages turning." -Publishers Weekly

"Julia London writes vibrant, emotional stories and sexy, richly-drawn characters." -New York Times Bestselling author Madeline Hunter

"The Last Debutante is another successful merger of witty writing and passionate romance that gracefully delivers everything romance readers could want." – Booklist

"...London's story is satisfying as it builds on the excellent chemistry of the leads, gracefully unfolding with the perfect amount of tension."- Publishers Weekly review of The Revenge of Lord Eberlin

"Exceptionally entertaining...sinfully sexy." - Booklist on The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount

"As London explores the intricate, authentic-feeling relationships blossoming among the players, her masterful ability to bring characters to life makes this romance entirely absorbing."- Publishers Weekly on The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount

"London's love story is tense and tender, held aloft by endearing, dynamic characters."- Publishers Weekly review of The Perils of Pursuing a Prince

About the Author

Julia London is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over fifty novels of historical and contemporary romance. She is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award. She lives in Austin, Texas. Find her at www.julialondon.com.

Or visit Julia online:

www.julialondon.com/newsletter

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www.twitter.com/juliaflondon

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Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Spring of 1812

The Franklin sisters of Bath, England—one a widow, the other a spinster—presided over a small tea shop on the square near the baths and the abbey. It was their pleasure to serve tea and fresh-baked pastries to the denizens and visitors to their fair town. They knew most everyone by name. They lived above their shop and were open every day, without fail.

The sisters reasoned that, being as close to the abbey as they were, they might offer up their daily prayers in a more official manner than in their rooms, and every evening, at precisely six o'clock, they closed their shop. Those who resided near the abbey knew that they were so exact and so regular that even the abbey's grounds-keeper had noticed and had quite literally set the abbey clocks by them.

Once their daily prayers were offered, the sisters returned to their shop, lit a pair of candles and shared tea or soup and nattered on about their day. On certain special occasions, such as those evenings when a chorale was sung in the abbey, Reverend Cumberhill accompanied them back to the shop, and a bit of brandy was poured into the tea.

Grace Cabot was depending on the sisters' routine. A routine she was confident went undetected by most of the fashionable people in Bath, as the fashionable people in Bath were not in the habit of attending evening prayer. She knew this because she was one of that set that spring, and she was in the habit of attending one soiree after the next along with the rest of them.

Had it not been for a chance call to her old friend Diana Mortimer, who lived near the abbey, Grace wouldn't have known about the sisters' routine. But she had made that call, and Diana had remarked upon it.

Diana Mortimer was also the one to tell her about the famed Russian soprano's upcoming performance at the abbey. "The Prince of Wales has favored her," Diana said. "And you know very well that if the prince has favored her, there won't be an empty seat."

That was the moment Grace hit upon the perfect plan to lure Lord Amherst into her trap.

She risked everything to set her plan in motion on the night the Russian soprano sang. It all hinged on the Franklin sisters arriving at the precise and most inopportune moment.

Grace did not think she was the sort to be annoyingly proud of her accomplishments, but this meeting with Lord Amherst, on this night, had taken exceptional cunning to arrange. She'd come to Bath a month ago after hearing his lordship had come for the waters, for the sole purpose of convincing him that she was quite sincere in her esteem of him, without appearing too wanton. But Grace had made her social debut at the age of eighteen, and in the three years hence, she'd learned her lessons in the finest salons of London and knew a thing or two about how to entice a gentleman, especially one like Amherst.

And yet, Amherst had surprised her. In spite of his reputation for being a randy and rambunctious rake, in spite of declaring his esteem for her more than once, he'd not been persuaded that a private meeting with Grace was the thing to do.

Grace had not anticipated his reluctance when she'd devised her plan. On every occasion they'd met in London, Amherst had been attentive—one might even say eager—to please and charm her. He was forthright about his esteem for her, and Grace had been certain his affection would lend itself to a clandestine meeting. Indeed, when Grace had arrived in Bath, and made the necessary rounds to the necessary parlors, Lord Am-herst had not been the least reluctant to whisper in her ear during the Wickers' soiree. Nor had he been reluctant to walk with her in the park near the Royal Crescent or keep his hands from her as they strolled.

But he'd absolutely refused to meet her in private when she'd first suggested it.

She had wondered if he had suspected her and her motives, but quickly dismissed that notion—she'd been too clever in her deceit. Having three sisters and a stepbrother had taught her how to connive. Then perhaps she'd not been conniving enough, and in the privacy of the room she'd taken in the home of her mother's dear friend Cousin Beatrice she'd thought hard about what she must do.

One night, it came to her—no one could resist a secret. Not even Amherst. She'd told him that she had something very important to tell him, something that no one else could hear. And Grace had been right— Amherst couldn't resist and had agreed to meet her.

One might assume that Grace wanted to seduce Amherst for her own pleasure, but nothing could be further from the truth. This scheme had become necessary because her stepfather, the Earl of Beckington, had recently died. Grace, her mother, Lady Beckington, and her sisters Honor, Prudence and Mercy had been completely dependent on the earl. Completely. Now, her stepbrother, Augustine, was the new earl, and every day that passed with her mother under Augustine's roof was a day that her mother's terrible secret could be discovered: Lady Beckington was going mad.

That secret would ruin the Cabot sisters, for if it were known among the ton that Lady Beckington was mad, and her four unmarried daughters now had modest dowries instead of generous ones, no one would have them. No one. There wasn't a gentleman in London who would chance introducing madness into his family's lineage, especially without the incentive of grand wealth. More important, Grace had two younger sisters who were not yet out. They would have no opportunity to make a good match.

She and Honor had worried over it for weeks now, and while Grace didn't like that it had come to this, that she should find herself in a position of having to conspire to something so morally reprehensible, she could see no other viable or expeditious solution. She must marry Amherst before her secrets were discovered.

Everything was set. The little tea shop across the square from the abbey was closed at six o'clock. There was quite a crowd gathered at the abbey this evening to hear the Russian soprano. Grace knew the Franklin sisters would return after the chorale with Reverend Cumberhill. She'd even stood across from the tea shop, watching when the Franklin sisters departed for the abbey at six o'clock, then testing the door herself. It was open. It was always open—the abbey was only steps from the shop.

Tonight, Grace's life would change forevermore. She would suffer a great scandal, would no doubt be made a pariah among polite society. She was prepared for it—at least her younger sisters would have what they needed.

At the chorale, she caught Amherst's twinkling eye. Just as they'd planned, she stood and walked briskly from the abbey's sanctuary before the chorale was ended. She knew that Amherst would be right behind her, unsuspecting that the Franklin sisters and the reverend would be right behind him.

A light rain had begun to fall, and that worried Grace. A few moments too early, a few moments too late, and everything would be ruined. She pulled the hood of her cape over her head and hurried across the abbey courtyard to the tea shop. She had a moment of breathlessness at the realization she was actually stooping to such wretched manipulations—up until this moment, it had been nothing but a scheme—but that was followed by an exhalation of desperation. She had never in her life been so desperate as this.

At the door of the tea shop, she pushed her hood back to look around her before she opened the door. There was no one about—everyone was in the abbey, hearing the last stanzas of the chorale.

Grace reached for the handle and pushed. She knew a moment of panic when the door would not open—but she put her shoulder to it and it opened with a creak so loud she expected the entire town of Bath to spill out of their doors and accuse her of thievery. Grace slipped inside, leaving the door slightly ajar so that Amherst would know it was open, and paused, listening for any sounds that would indicate she'd been seen.

She couldn't hear a thing over the pounding of her heart.

The room was very dark; the embers at the hearth were so low she could hardly see her hand before her. Another bolt of panic hit her—she hadn't thought of the dark. How would Amherst find her? She was too fearful to speak. She'd stand near the door; she'd reach out and touch him when he entered.

Grace began to feel about for the furnishings. She'd been in this tiny tearoom many times, and knew there were two small tables just at the door, a desk to her right. With her hands sweeping slowly in front of her, she brushed against the back of the chair at the desk.

All right, then, she had her bearings. She knew where she was standing, where the door was.

Grace removed her cloak and dropped it somewhere nearby, then nervously smoothed her hair. Her hands were shaking; she clasped them tightly together, waiting. A clock was ticking somewhere, and every second that ticked by, her heart beat harder.

She heard the footfall of Amherst as he strode across the abbey courtyard. He was walking quickly, purposefully, and suddenly Grace's breath deserted her entirely. She gulped for air, straining to hear. She heard Amherst pause just outside the door and swallowed down a small cry of tension. It sounded as if he was moving about, and Grace imagined Amherst was having second thoughts. He moved away from the door, and she gasped softly.

But he came back almost at once.

A silence followed, and Grace could not quell the shaking in her. Why did he not open the door? When he did, pushing the door so that it swung open, a rush of cool damp air swept across Grace's face. Her breath was so shallow she felt faint; her hands were so tightly clasped that she was vaguely aware of her fingernails digging into her skin.

Amherst stepped cautiously over the threshold. He looked taller than he normally seemed, which Grace attributed to the bit of light outside that framed him in the doorway. He turned his head to one side, as if he were listening for her.

Her nerves would strangle her. "Here," she said.

His head snapped around to the sound she'd made, and in a moment of sheer panic, Grace launched her body at him. She expected him to say something, but he froze, as if she had startled him. She threw her arms around his neck; he caught her by the waist with a soft grunt, and stumbled backward to keep them from falling. Somehow, Grace found his mouth in the dark. It was much softer than she would have thought. It was lush, wet and warm, and—

And he was suddenly devouring her lips. Hungrily. Grace hadn't expected such a powerful kiss. She couldn't say what exactly she'd expected, but it wasn't this. Her blood felt hot in her veins, sluicing through her. She was a pot boiling over, and she liked it. His tongue swept into her mouth, and she was rocked by the prurient sensation of it. She felt strangely free and anonymous in the dark, not like herself at all. Not a debutante with at least some sense of propriety. His kiss was stunningly arousing, and Grace pressed against him without regard for herself or her reputation, feeling the hard length of him—

He suddenly picked her up by the waist, and Grace cried out with surprise against his mouth. He knocked into the chair at the desk, and she heard it crash to the planked floor. He sat her on the desk, and something there dug into her back, but Grace didn't care—his tongue was stroking her mouth and driving her wild. He nipped at her lips with his teeth, drew them into his mouth, and Grace realized now exactly how Amherst had derived the reputation for being something of a rake, for his kiss was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to her.

She was sliding down a very sensual path. She felt too damp, too hot in her clothes, pushed to the edge of reason by every stroke of his tongue in her mouth, every bite of her lips.

He suddenly moved, and his mouth was on her decol-letage, his fingers digging into the fabric of her gown. Grace thought she should stop him before this game went too far, but his hand had found her leg, was under her gown! And his fingers were tracing a burning path up her leg.

Stop him, stop him now! She wanted to be discovered in a fierce embrace, not in the full throes of lovemaking. Where were the Franklin sisters, for God's sake? Grace couldn't find her voice—rather, she didn't want to find her voice. She much preferred to close her eyes and feel the extraordinary sensations. She dropped her head back and allowed herself to experience every moment of this carnal onslaught. His fingers dug into the meaty part of her thigh, and she gasped with the tantalizing sensation of a man's hand between her legs. She sank her fingers into his hair as his lips closed around the hard tip of her breast through her gown. She could not believe she had accomplished it! She would be happy with him, if this is what she might look forward to.

He freed her breast with a yank to the fabric of her gown. He took it in his mouth, suckling it, and the sensation was so shocking, so arousing, that it pooled in her groin.

Amherst growled against her breast, a guttural, animal sound of desire, and Grace's body reverberated with it. When his hand moved deeper between her thighs, Grace brazenly lifted her leg. His fingers slipped into the folds of her sex. She gasped for breath, lifting off the desk. She hardly knew herself!

"I wasn't sure you'd come," she whispered into his ear.

His hesitation was so slight she wasn't sure it was real. But he said nothing as he moved to her other breast and pressed an erection against her that both alarmed and incited her. She'd never felt a man's desire, had never seen it. It felt mysterious and hard against her leg, and the lusty image of how it would fit inside her filled her head as a strong current of desire skated down her spine, overwhelming her senses, tingling in every patch of her skin.

Everything began to fall away. Grace forgot her deceit, or even where she was. She forgot everything but the way he was making her feel, the way her body was responding, wanting more, craving more. So when a lantern of light suddenly filled the room, she was startled and cried out.

Amherst whirled about, spreading his cloak to cover Grace while she desperately sought to cover herself.

"My lord!" Reverend Cumberhill cried, his voice full of censure and alarm. "God in heaven, what have you done?"

Grace frantically tried to remember her part in this theater. "Please," she said. Please what? She looked down and realized that Amherst had actually torn the bodice of her gown. She held the fabric together with her hand, and cast frantically about for her cloak.

"My lord, this cannot stand!" the reverend cried. "You have taken cruel advantage of this girl!"

"Young lady, are you harmed?" one of the sisters demanded, and suddenly light was shining on Grace. She heard the Franklin sisters' twin cries of shock at her appearance. Grace spotted her cloak and dipped down for it.

"Miss Cabot!" one of them cried. "Come, darling, let me help you," she said, and Grace felt her hands on her shoulders, felt her pulling the cloak around her neck.

"By God, Merryton, I never thought you capable of rape! I will call the authorities!"

Rape! Merryton?

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HQN; Original edition (January 27, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0373778902
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0373778904
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.21 x 0.94 x 6.58 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #682,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,585 in 20th Century Historical Romance (Books)
- #7,921 in Victorian Historical Romance (Books)
- #11,611 in Regency Romances

Customer Reviews:
284 ratings

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Julia London

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Julia London is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the popular Secrets of Hadley Green series, the Cabot Sisters series and The Highland Grooms historical romance series. She also wrote the Pine River and the Lake Haven contemporary romance series. She is a six time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction, and RT Bookclub award recipient for Best Historical Romance for Dangerous Gentleman. She lives in Austin, Texas.

Visit Julia on the web:

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4.3 out of 5

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Jadie

My Kindle literally didn't leave my hand until I read every last word.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 9, 2015

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This book kept me awake all night. I guess that's my punishment(?) for starting it at 10:30 pm? Well I ain't even mad.

As if it wasn't enough that Miss Grace Cabot is the second of the beautiful, scandalous Cabot sisters, the circumstances of her marriage make her altogether the most inappropriate bride imaginable for Jeffrey Donovan, the Earl of Merryton.

Sunny, irrepressible Grace is in a bit of a bind. Her mother is slowly going insane and she and her eldest sister fear their stepbrother's fiancée plans to retire them all to the countryside leaving their mother forgotten, the older girls banned from society and no opportunity whatsoever for their younger sisters to make good marriages. Destitution is imminent. This is what leads Grace to be discovered (by her own engineering) in tea shop in a passionate embrace with a total stranger. Of course they are forced to marry.

Grace isn't shocked that her plan worked, but she is shocked to discover that stranger she lost control with in the dark isn't her original target but her target's older brother. And he's quiet, gruff, intimidating - hardly even civil. Grace makes a concerted effort to get to know him but she encounters wall after wall.

Jeffrey is not happy to be saddled with a wife who wasn't of his choosing, but now that he has Grace he supposes he will make do. He suffers from what we today recognize as OCD. It keeps him ensconced in his country home where he can control his environment and limit interaction with the chaotic outside world. He also understandably lacks social skills, constantly fearing he will say or do something offensive or wrong or expose his madness to the world. Gradually Grace begins to reach him. She really has to fight for him, but once Jeffrey finally frees himself, revealing his secret once and for all, he begins to fight for her as well. These two definitely became a favorite romance couple. They were fantastic as single characters but together they shined. Two is better than one; isn't that why we read romance?

Things I loved about this book:
1. The relationship between Grace and her sisters, in particularly her eldest sister (and closest in age), Honor. It was funny and heartwarming and entirely realistic. The Cabot girls are definitely 21st century women, and I appreciated that beneath the fluff and innocence how smart and strong they are, but most of all how they care for each other.

2. Grace reminded me a lot of Karen Marie Moning's urban fantasy heroine, MacKayla Lane, from her wildly popular Fever series. These two leading ladies are certainly alike in their naiveté, but the comparison stems more from the fact that Grace does some pretty foolish things that could have greatly harmed multiple people yet I couldn't help but love her, pushing TSTL at times and all. She also has Mac's penchant for pretty things. Because this is Romancelandia, of course everything worked out okay, but Grace examines her actions and the multiple consequences of them more than once, and she is suitably horrified at how things *could* have turned out. She also tries to make amends. She feels guilt. She certainly grows as a character.

3. Jeffrey is a classic tortured hero but he's not the kind of tortured hero who holds onto grudges. He isn't angry at the world, he doesn't have a chip on his shoulder. If you love tortured heroes but are looking for something a bit less cliche look no further. Jeffrey's struggle with OCD was very real. As a reader I was almost annoyed by the repetition of his obsessions (specifically unwanted sexual thoughts, fear of harming others, particularly Grace and perfectionism) and compulsions (always the number eight) but his illness would not have been believable otherwise. Jeffrey really doesn't have time to hate the world because he's under a constant struggle to control himself and keep that world from learning his shameful secret. I thought this was very well done, although the portrayal of how he begins to get a better at handling his disorder could have been more developed. Julia London also maintained a precious balance; Jeffrey was very sexy yet his disorder was never glorified or objectified, a mighty feat indeed. The one thing I really would have appreciated is an Author's Note detailing her research for this book because I wanted to learn more.

4. The examination of mental illness only started with Jeffrey. It seems that Grace's mother has Alzheimer's, judging by the rapid growth of her symptoms although it was some time after suffering a head injury that her symptoms appeared, so dementia is suspect as well. I look forward to reading about the younger Cabot sisters because I would like to learn more about their mother. We definitely feel how they are already mourning her loss despite her being right there. It is heartrending. In a lot of ways, besides the fact these girls are sisters, their mother's illness is the connecting, overarching story in this series.

5. Grace and Jeffrey's romance definitely punched me right in the chest. This story was darker and made me sad at times, but Grace was so full of hope and every time Jeffrey let a little more of her in I was absolutely touched. This book showed how much work a relationship really is. It takes place almost entirely during their marriage, so if you appreciate an after-the-wedding romance you'll like this book. If you've actually read this whole monstrosity of a review you may guess this is a very character-based romance. There really was no villain, no bad guy trying to ruin our couple's day. What makes this book so great is that main conflict is internal but kept me turning the pages like I was reading a thriller; I could not put it down without knowing what happened next.

If there was one thing I didn't care for it's the title. Jeffrey is not a 'devil' nor do the characters consider him one. He is an enigma and a shut-in who has demons. I can easily overlook the title. As much as I love titles and covers, it's really what's between the pages that counts. Anyway, the takeaway: Julia London hit it out of the park with this one. I was so invested in a happy ending for these characters, which is the whole point of romance, I think. If you're on the fence about reading this one I'm here to tell you go for it!

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Lover of Romance

... Grace Cabot and her sisters are put in a horrible position, and she knows that she will need ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 27, 2015

Verified Purchase

Summary
Grace Cabot and her sisters are put in a horrible position, and she knows that she will need to marry before all of England learns that their mother is mad. Their mother suffered an accident a couple of years previous, and her mind has deteriorated, and it is growing steadily worse. Now she has decided that she needs to take matters in her own hands. So she plans on seducing a scoundrel, that would make an amiable husband. But her plan goes awry, when she seduces his older brother, the Earl of Merryton. Now they are forced to wed, and Grace realizes how wrong she was, and she starts to realize the consequences of the scandal, married to a man who is proper and firm in his orderly life. At first she doesn’t know what to make of her husband, who is aloof and withdrawn, and is obsessed with the number eight, and everything in their estate, has to run with perfect order. And there is nothing to do, Grace is used to do the frivolities of London and the entertainments, not being left alone and missing her family more than ever. But Grace is determined to find the truth behind Geoffrey, but will she stand by him when she learns his secrets…

The Hero
Geoffrey, the Earl of Merryton, grew up with hard childhood. He was painfully shy and reserved, and his father was cruel and harsh on his expectations. Then when he evolved into a young man, he started to suffer from images that aren’t normal, images that haunt him, and only counting with his numbers helps maintain his control. He travels to Bath often, hoping that he can find something to help heal what is wrong with him. But when he finds himself married to Grace, his control is slipping more than ever, and he wonders if he can keep the ‘beast’ contained, for his lovely wife who deserves an honorable husband and got Geoffrey instead. What I loved about Geoffrey, was how human he came off to appear…not perfectly fake. He had real challenges, he has many faults, but we see him change and you see how love changes him slowly…into a man who is strong and determined to be better.

The Heroine
Grace, is used to a busy life, and a chaotic one at that. She finds herself facing consequences of a scandal. Grace is the second in her family, and always felt she was never good enough for her family…it was always Honor who was great at everything, and the only thing Grace can do is make conversation and small talk. Grace finds herself living in a cold household with a cold husband and she is determined to know him and see what is beneath that aloof exterior. Grace is bold and is willing to take matters in her own hands…which creates problems and stress for her husband and their staff who are used to order and NOT chaos. Grace bothered me at times, she seemed not to care about consequences of her actions very non chalantly, and that bugged me, but I liked her character other than that. She is lively and energetic, and is protective of animals and takes in strays all the time. I love her caring and gentle nature….its needed to aid in her husbands problems.

Plot and Story Line
The Devil Takes A Bride is a riveting tale of how healing love can be. I was not sure how I would handle this story or how much I would enjoy it…but I liked it way more than The Trouble With Honor…maybe because Grace seemed more engaging than Honor. I liked Grace way more than Honor. She takes crazy risks that results in horrid scandal, but unlike Honor, she feels the repercussions more, and admits that she was wrong. This story was much more emotional as well and really tugged at my heartstrings at times. I don’t want to reveal too much about the problems that Geoffrey is suffering from, but its something that would be quite scandalous back in the day. So you see how real his trauma is, and how it’s affecting him emotionally and mentally. Its straining him, and soon you see how close he is to breaking…and that just about broke my heart…seeing how much he needed to be accepted and loved for who he is. He has never known love or a gentle hand since he was a boy with his governess. What was even better…was seeing how Grace fully accepts him, knowing everything and how willing she is to be open to him and love him unconditionally. This is a story that is one of the best of Julia London….provacative, riveting in emotion, and strong in plot and building of characters.

The Cover
I have to say I love poses like the one we have here…I adore red covers,,,a very bold and sensual color, and it works great with this one.

Overall View
The Devil Takes A Bride is a truly sensational tale of the power of love….how it can heal and give one strength and provoke sensation. A Sensual tale that will sweep you away. A SPLENDID TALE!!

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britgirl

Fantastic book. Loving the hero!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 23, 2015

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In order to save her family, Grace Cabot decides to set her sights on Lord Amherst. Her mother is going mad, and despite she and her sisters getting male attention, there have been no offers of marriage. She feels herself getting closer to Amherst, so tries to lure him into a trap by arranging a private meeting. In a dark, quiet room, she hears his footsteps and sees the dark figure enter. Believing it to be her man, she leaps on him for a kiss. The kiss intensifies, and soon Amherst is trying to get closer to Grace than she'd originally planned! But she is so caught up in this, that they are interrupted (as she had believed would happen), by the reverend. But with the lights on, she realises that she hasn't been trysting with Amherst, but his older, dark, brooding and unusual brother, Lord Merryton! The reverend is outraged and insists he pays for his crimes, despite Grace's protests that he's innocent. Merryton says little, other than he will marry her.

Jeffrey Donovan, the Earl of Merryton is rarely seen in society. He has an anxiety issue (something unknown in Regency England), that started when he was a child, after his father's strict and often ruthless upbringing. He often has to count or tap out the number eight, and has thoughts in his head that he believes are not pure. He has acted out these thoughts on willing women before, but knows he cannot inflict this on his young, innocent bride. But when he takes his wife to bed, he doesn't know how to control himself and Grace doesn't understand why he treats her thus. She apologises several times, much to his annoyance, but it doesn't stop his behaviour. He also doesn't want to be around her too often, for fear that he could hurt her. But Grace is determined to find out more about her husband, and soon picks up on things, including his counting/tapping. Jeffrey is beginning to unravel the longer he is with his wife, but as they grow to care for one another, Grace has a hard time owning up to her own problems in her family, namely her 'mad' mother, who nowadays we would know her madness is in fact dementia.

This is a beautiful story, and the first I have read by the author. It was Jeffrey's 'condition' that lured me into wanting to read this book, just like a Jennifer Ashley book did with her autistic hero. My only bug bear was the way Amherst's role was carried out. He was apparently aware of Grace's designs, which is why he didn't meet her at the tearoom. But he had a secret, despite the author making you believe he was just an inconsiderate rake, and redeems him in the end. The way it was carried out didn't make sense to me, and seemed out of character. But I ignored it, and consider this book to be a keeper.

5/5

2 people found this helpful

beryl cliffe

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 4, 2015

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loved it

Shelagh

Sexy and Satisfying

Reviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on February 1, 2015

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The Devil Takes A Bride is a much more complex story than I thought it would be when I first started reading it. Grace Cabot is trying to save her family from ruin with a plan to trap Lord Amherst into marriage by arranging to get caught in a compromising position with him. Unfortunately for Grace she ends up being compromised by Amherst's very proper brother Jeffrey Lodr Merryton.
Jeffrey has had a very difficult childhood and believes himself to be mad. He needs rigid order to help maintain some semblance of sanity and keep his mind from straying to thoughts he considers to be sexually depraved in the extreme. When he finds himself married to Grace his world is turned upside down but it isn't long before he grows to love her.
As for Grace, well once she's broken through Jeffrey's ordered exterior she can't help but be captivated by the man behind the mask.
This book will not suit some. There are a lot of sexual references and let's face it, a lot of sex too. The sexual references are not clean and neatly tied up but messy and possibly shocking to some, however they fit this book and they are in context.
Julia London has addressed some challenging topics in this book, creating talking points about things that we as a society too often sweep under the carpet. At the same time she has written a love story that is touching and that I found myself thinking about more and more as I progressed through the book.
I will be rereading this book, and soon. I enjoyed it very much but it challenged me to think as well and that is a rare thing with a romance novel these days. Well worth reading!

4 people found this helpful

Kindle Customer

very different very interesting

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 29, 2015

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very different plot with an interesting look at near madness and madness, what we would call today OCD and dementia. The Beckington family settles one more sister and the hero of the story, or the devil as the title suggests does battle his own demons as he tries to rethink what he had been taught about familial responsibility and how a family can weather scandal. i found the book fascinating as it quite different from the usual love stories one encounters in romantic fiction and from harlequin

Sandra R

but I would recommend reading book one first for the background and family ...

Reviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on April 19, 2015

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Fabulous !! Now I have to read book 1 in the series. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading book one first for the background and family introduction. 5 stars

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The Devil Takes a Bride (The Cabot Sisters, 2) Mass Market Paperback – January 27, 2015

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Buy new:

$7.99

FREE delivery: Monday, Feb 6 on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon.

Ships from: Amazon.com

Sold by: Amazon.com

Buy used:

$7.18