*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

The third book of the series brings us finally the story of Sir Hilary St. John, a kind of Sherlock Holmes, who is the most misterious of the Devils and also their lider. Misterious because not even his closest friends, Alasdair and Roger, know much about his past and his origins. In the previous books it was plain that he has a misterious past and powerful connections, but only now do we get to see how far his connections spread and why.

The story begins with Harry's sister arrival at hers and Roger's place. Similarly to her sister, Eleanor Enderby has also not had a happy marriage and, having escaped his husband at last, disguised as a boy, and her sister is her last hope. Her plan is a simple one, even though perhaps maybe too hopeful... Eleanor intends to keep hidden until her husband, a poweful man in the region and desperate to produce an heir (that Eleanor cannot bear), declares her dead and remarries. Only then can Eleanor live a semi-normal life, under a false identity.

Her plan works faster than expected for, not only did her husband declared her dead only a few months after her disappearing, he also recognized a body as being hers. Since he has remarried and his new wife is pregnant, Eleanor assumes the identity of a supposed widow cousin of Harry and is introduced into London society.

Eleanor is a very intelligent woman whose spirit has not been broken even after all she's been through at the hands of her husband, and she is the only woman who is capable of intelectually challenge Hill which, of course, makes her extremely attractive at his eyes. The scenes when they both quote Shakespeare by heart are fantastic! But Eleanor is also not indifferent to the amateur detective and they both give in to the desire they feel for each other. After all, what do they have to lose? To all effects, Eleanor is a widow, so the scandal cannot be that grand...

But the past always catches up with us and when Eleanor's husband gets back in the scene, all the characters' lives are irrevocably altered. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll only mention there is a trial, a life on the line, Hil's past is revealed, Roger reveals himself to be an excellent attorney, Willey proves his value once more, this time as a detective, and the value of friendship is proven yet again.

Of all the Devils, Hil is the one who changes the most for love. Always reserved (possibly because of living with a secret past) and the first to consider appearances and the consequences in the previous books, Hil reveals himself a passionate man, desperate and incapable of considering what other people will think... Luckly his friends are there to help!

I am going to miss these characters and I would love it if the author continued the series. Wiley could have his book. Or Alasdair's cousin, the Count of Throckton. Or his sister, Lady Anne, because if there ever was a woman deserving of being a Devil, it was her. Or even Roger's collegue, Edward Little, several times refered as having also been one of the Devils in their school days...

A series that really surprised me in a positive way and that yielded me a few hours of delighting and compulsive reading.

I would just like to refer that the cover, unlike the previous ones, doesn't represent the main couple, since Hil has red hair (or auburn according to himself) and Eleanor should have short hair, since she maintained the cut throughout the story... ( )

Third in a series, a review intrigued me and the sample pages hooked me, so of course, I'm reading these out of order. I was easily able to follow the connections but as soon as budget allows, I'll read the other two for sure!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters. Societal expectations was a quiet backdrop instead of a glittery framework. Conflicts were circumstance and event based, relying on the premise a widow had more freedom but less grace if she fell. I thought the family handled things plausibly as well as compassionately, even if it did feel like a spork in the eye several times. Her instinct to run was not too stupid to live, though a little tardy, but she was living on the assurances of others while trying to re-develop her own.

The writing was sharp, dialog engaging and intelligence celebrated in a manner that was not "rebellion" or "anti-society" for a refreshing change. I was delighted characters that were supposed to be brilliant actually fulfilled that expectation for the most part. St. John was believable and his gentling, not humbling, came from his own recognition, not at Eleanor's expense or prodding. She wasn't trying to change him; he wasn't trying to fix her or the world. Remarkable! The secondary characters supported the story without taking over. Scenes in the courtroom were fascinating and seemed reflective of the time. The villain and machinations were poignantly believable. The secret St John kept was dark enough to qualify him for the rakehell title without all that messy ex-mistress' swanning about cwap.

Focus was determinedly on the present and future. While that will surely work for most readers; I personally felt disappointed by this. It was not enough to count it a quibble. Enough to wish for a bit - just a wee bit - more of how a woman locked up and deprived of every comfort and many necessities for ten years managed to cope so very well in society with little more than a few months spent in the country. She struggles with closed doors and windows but that is the only lingering difficulty we really see. How her mind wasn't mush from the deprivation of books, friends, even interaction with servants ... and could match wits with a brilliant intellectual wasn't really covered except by the hand wave of determined, valiant and brave spirit. Okay, maybe it is a quibble, but a mini one. There was a great deal packed in to this book and for the respect to time that Ms. Kane gave the couple, allowing friendship and romance to develop, instead of overwhelm, I shall let my mini-quibble go.

Those that prefer a more involved plot can find it here; those that prefer more witty dialog and humor can also find that. It is a very satisfying blend of the two. I recommend this book for an enjoyable afternoon or early evening read. Do Not start this book an hour before bed time and think you won't be roughing it the next day at work!

Read my complete review as well as others at Page Traveler E-Book Reviews on Blogspot ( )

Scandalous charm!

Lately there has been quite a swathe of regency romances that are taking on issues to do with the treatment of women at that time. Particularly to do with wives as property and no rights, leaving them open for domestic abuse.
This novel is another such using this background for the story's thrust.
Eleanor Enderby flees from her abusive husband not once, but three times. In her latest attempt she hides out for three months before landing on her sister's doorstep dressed as a youth. She arrives at the same time as Sir Hilary St.John, a suave man about town and entirely eligible parti.
Hil actually spends his time covering up for the Prince Regent when necessary, helping out the Bow Street Runners and at times and taking on investigative requests when interested enough in the problem to seek out the information needed. Eleanor and Hil's attraction is immediate. The relationship that develops between them is not approved of by society. Indeed it fast approaches scandalous and is mentioned in the gossip rags.
However, there is more immediate danger afoot. Eleanor's husband declares her dead and produces a body as proof. He remarries. Is Eleanor safe or will her dreadful, abusive husband find her? What then?
I really liked the lead characters. Hil is a delightful and intelligent leading man. Eleanor is a determined soul looking to make herself anew. I love their frequent quoting of sonnets and ridiculous little by-plays with each other. Their very passionate relationship is decidedly a centrepiece of the story and we are often silent witnesses in the boudoir. I should take a leaf out of Hil's loyal staff's book and not comment.
An intoxicating and enjoyable read.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

I've been waiting to see what kind of woman would catch Sir Hillary St. John and finally with this book I found out and she wasn't exactly what I thought she would be. I pictured some gorgeous, smart, young privileged girl. Yeah, I was so wrong. Eleanor was a passably pretty (Hil's own words), older runaway wife. She's also Harry's sister from the previous book in the series. I know when I read Samantha Kane's books I'm not going to be disappointed and with this one I was once again immersed in the decadent 1820's London environment that completely baffles me because of all the strict rules that they lived by, but at the same time I really want to see it for myself. With these books I can and Ms. Kane's writing helps capture at least a little of everything. I see the ballrooms and the gowns. The seedier side of London along with the people. The Ton along with the servants. And in this one, the justice system. So, well done Ms. Kane. Recommend this book and series to anyone who loves the historical romance genre.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. ( )