The Devil You Know by Liz Carlyle

THREE STARS

I carried on my Liz Carlyle stretch this week with The Devil You Know, Frederica and Bentley's story.

Goodreads:

From acclaimed author Liz Carlyle comes a spellbinding new novel in which the ton's most charming ne'er-do-well meets his match in a most unexpected fashion and discovers the true meaning of desire....

The Devil You Know

Frederica d'Avillez is sure she will never marry. She's had a disastrous London season, and now her longtime beau has thrown her over for a more eligible miss. But if Freddie can't have a husband, she's hell-bent on experiencing at least one night of unforgettable passion. Where better than in the arms of the dashing rogue Bentley "Hell-Bent" Rutledge? So what if he's a rake, scoundrel, and all-round devil?

Scandal trails in Bentley's wake and fair maidens usually steer well clear of him -- and vice versa. But when the opportunity presents itself, Bentley can't resist Freddie's exotic beauty. When their wild, reckless passion has dire consequences, Bentley is forced to choose between honor and freedom. And Freddie soon realizes that Bentley's devil-may-care façade is just that -- for she has unwittingly unleashed his dark secrets...and secret desires.

My Review:

As before, I greatly enjoyed Ms Carlyle's style of writing, and I was swept away (although not to the same extent as in Wicked All Day) by the world she created for us, her readers. At the end of the book it becomes apparent that she has been approaching a rather sensitive subject (which I shall not spoil here), and this was gently handled. Unfortunately, just because a book keeps you up into the small hours, doesn't mean that it is perfect. I felt the ending for Freddie and Bentley was a little quick (if one discounts the + 7 or so months time leap of the epilogue). We never got to see them interact independently, as a couple, in their own home. What kind of a life will they have together beyond their honesty, love, devotion etc. Freddie comes from such an eccentric background, there was soo much promise there... As always, I am looking for what I want to see rather than what was there, but reflection in critic is necessary I think. Especially when dealing with high calibre writers like Ms Carlyle - how do you tell between them enough to rate one book differently from another otherwise? Something to ponder perhaps.

http://www.lizcarlyle.com/