I am going to give this book props for its depiction of OCD. I think that a lot of depictions of OCD tend to focus on the compulsions and not the obsessions, and the way the hero's obsessions were depicted ran particularly true. The hero is convinced that he is sexually deviant, and I think that it is strange that his rakehell brother did not acknowledge that he wasn't so much sexually deviant as much as he was socially anxious and didn't get out much. If he had, he would know that liking threesomes and consensual binding is pretty tame as far as kinks go. I also like like that it was acknowledged that the heroine couldn't "cure" him of his OCD, but instead had to learn to accept it. ( )

It was a rather odd book with Merryton supposedly having a combination of disorders. I think the part i didnt like was maybe the author getting OCD, nymphomania all confused and alternating the symptoms. Due to the the nature of his affliction, this book reads more like a porn book than a historical romance. If cant abide by graphic content give this one a miss. That said the author does have a style that keeps you engaged. ( )

... a tangled web indeed!

...and now it's Grace's turn. Grace and Honor Cabot are determined to establish a sanctuary for their mother who appears to be sinking into dementia, and for their two sister who are yet to come out. When Prudence and Mercy's turn comes there needs to be no hint of scandal about madness in the family.
Honour attempted her grand plan in The Trouble with Honor.
Grace? Well trapping a man into marriage might not be the done thing but, desperate times call for desperate measures! Grace sets her sights on the diverting Lord Amherst brother to the brooding Earl of Meryton.
So, Grace sets up the perfect, 'what could go wrong' scenario, attempting to lure Lord Amherst into a revealing position from which he would not be able to retreat. Et voila, mission accomplished!
What can we say!
Oh dear! The best laid plans of mice and men etc. etc! Grace ends up in a situation, entirely of her own making and entirely short of where she aimed.
In this she more than meets her match, carves out an understanding with a man bedevilled by his own demons and embraces an unusual but eventually satisfying relationship.
All is needed is a little understanding and a whole lot of persistence.
The story of Grace's affair is well honed, very risqué and an interesting turn about in the continuing sagas that the Cabot's girls lives seem to enact, or attract!
An occasionally amusing, sometimes puzzling and frequently steamy read.

A NetGalley ARC ( )

The Devil Takes a Bride is a terrific historical romance. Both the hero and heroine are complex and compelling, the setting gorgeous and the story itself un-put-down-able. I loved the well-developed chemistry between Jeffrey Earl of Merryton and Grace Cabot, how it takes them by surprise and turns believably into a love which heals both of their wounded souls. Highly recommended. ( )

Grace Cabot is in a fix, she needs a wealthy husband as quick as possible before the news about her mothers madness leaks out, if she could to be safely married her younger sisters would be looked after and her mother well cared for. She's in Bath and decides on a plan, she asks a handsome young lord she knows to meet her in an empty shop, where she plans for them to be discovered by others, thus forcing them to marry. Not a very nice plan, but what else can she she do?. Everything goes well until she discovers the young man in the shop with her, and in her arms, is his starchy brother, the Earl of Merryton, and they've just been discovered as planned, and Grace has just found her husband.

Grace was not to happy about having to marry Jeffrey, the Earl of Merryton, but as the saying goes " she made her cake, now she has to eat it", she was very brave in away, willing to sacrifice herself and her reputation to save her family from ruin.
Jeffrey was a very difficult man to understand if you didn't know what was happening in his mind, as he seemed to suffer from OCD. He also thought himself to be too rough and violent for any gently bred lady which terrified him.
These two people had a lot to talk about and when they did they learned they made a perfect couple together. Jeffery's disabilities were very frustrating, Grace helped with her faith and trust in him. They just had to be honest with each other and trust.

This has to be my favourite 'Cabot Sisters' novel so far, and Jeffrey is my favourite hero. I really felt for his problems, and struggles, he was always so gentle and apologetic to Grace, I just loved him. And Grace is a go getter type gal, she was wonderful.
A great story. I highly recommend this book! ( )