In Bed With the Devil

By Lorraine Heath

They call him the Devil Earl—a scoundrel and accused murderer who grew up on the violent London streets. A proper young lady risks more than her reputation when consorting with the roguishly handsome Lucian Langdon, but Lady Catherine Mabry believes she has no choice. To protect those she loves, she would do anything—even strike a bargain with the devil himself.

Lucian desires respectability and a wife above all else, but the woman of his choosing lacks the social graces to be accepted by the aristocracy. Catherine can help Lucian gain everything he wants. But what she asks for in exchange will put their very lives in jeopardy. When danger closes in, Catherine discovers a man of immense passion and he discovers a woman of immeasurable courage. As secrets from his dark past are revealed, Lucian begins to question everything he knows to be true, including the yearnings of his own heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Oct 6, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061983368

Lorraine Heath

Lorraine Heath always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals, press releases, articles, and computer code, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she not only became hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She’s been writing about them ever since. Her novels have been recognized with numerous industry awards and have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists.

Reviews for In Bed With the Devil

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Bed with the Devil
3.5 Stars

Notorious in society for his dubious origins and reputation as a killer, Lucian Langford, or the Devil Earl, is astounded when he is approached by Lady Catherine Mabry with an outrageous request. Nevertheless, he is willing to come to her aid on the condition that she return the favor. As the two set about fulfilling their respective parts of the bargain, they realize that they are bound by more than their agreement.

An enjoyable historical romance although there are some contrived situations and predictable developments. For instance, the references to Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist are obvious, unimaginative and trite.

While the mystery is intense and suspenseful, the resolution is not as satisfying as it could have been, and it is clear that this is not the last we've seen of the villain.

In terms of the romance, the story contains a trope that does not usually appeal to me, i.e., the hero believes he is in love with another woman. However, Heath handles this aspect very well and the hero and heroine are both very likable as individuals and as a couple.

All in all, a light and entertaining read and I will continue with the series possibly due to the fact that the hero in the next book, Jack, is quite the anti-hero.

[gazalanargis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it. Great book. I loved the character of hero and heroine.

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5 rounded up because it brought me joy. =) Sometimes the characters were a little slow on the uptake, which is a bit tiring, but I could live with it. Heath did a marvelous job setting up the other books in this series, we got a nice introduction to all of Feagan's children (and some of their future spouses), most with interesting clues about their own backstories. I want to know all about each of them right this moment! ;) And I am already anticipating their own happily ever afters!

[aneris-3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5

I am confused. Considering this story has one of the tropes I really hate, I shouldn't have loved it this much. I seem to like how Lorraine Heath writes her characters and the problems they face. This is her second book I've read and it definitely won't be the last. As I said before, I only started reading historical romances three or four years ago, so I am glad I have so many books and authors to discover.

As for that trope I mentioned, it's not cheating. I don't think even writing I like could make me enjoy that particular trope. In Bed with the Devil has a triangle of sorts. I'm not calling it a love triangle since it isn't really one. That could be the main reason why I could get over it easily. None of the characters involved in it is bad so you can't hate anyone (except the truly despicable ones, of course), although I didn't quite understand Frannie's reasoning. I'm guessing her story will tell me more.

[pamelad_570511 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Lucian Langdon now an earl, was saved from the streets. The ton thinks he's an impostor and a murderer, and so does he, but the old gentleman who saved Lucien, and believed the boy was his grandson, had no doubts. This book is Victorian, not Regency, but you can barely tell because there's almost no historical detail. Lucius and the heroine, Lady Catherine Mabry, almost met years ago at a ball, and meet again when Catherine seeks him out to persuade him to murder a man who deserves to die. He agrees, if Catherine will promise to train his intended bride, a friend from his days on the streets, to fit into the ton.The plot is ridiculous but there is no humour, so this book's a failure.

[Shoregirl2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really like this author's writing style, I felt L. Heath did a great job giving you a good sense of the characters and making you feel apart of them. I really like this story and I never felt it dragged or got boring. I enjoyed both main characters as well as some of the others. I definitely want to read more of the series.

[deleine-4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Believe it ot not my first book I read in almost a month and half.

I am starting off with a HR I love them. This book I read plus minus 6 times the last years reason I love HR.

The book is about a boy who only knew hardship and all he wants is respect and a wife.

Catherine can help him, but in exchange what she ask will put their lives in jeopardy.

As secrets from his dark past is revealed, Lucian begins to question everything he knows to be true.

[Deb Crowder · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was the first book of Lorraine Heath's that I read. I was entranced...she is a story teller of extraordinary talent...she brings her characters to life with such glowing detail of their personalities and the vivid imagery of the time period and location. I devoured the rest of her books and eagerly await publication of her next one.

[dawn772 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This historical romance had a good plot and plenty of action but it was so heavy with characters ruminating that I skimmed a lot. Luke is known as the 'Devil Earl' accused of murder and Lady Catherine strikes a bargain with him believing she has no choice.

[addictofromance · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Catherine Mabry is desperate, after finding out that her closest friend is being abused, she is at her wits end. Her friend has no choice but to bear the abuse and put a smile on her face, but Catherine has different ideas about getting rid of this tormentor. She goes to the “Devil Earl” Lucian Langdon who is rumored to have killed, so she knows that he is the perfect person on the job. However when she sneaks into his residence but after sharing a sensual embrace, things start to heat up between the two. Lucian is curious by this woman’s proposition which has nothing to do with satin sheets and heated nights of passion, but to kill someone, whom he has no idea who this man is or what he has done to deserve such a thing. However he makes a deal with her, one that she won’t be able to refuse. Lucian desires the one woman he has loved all of his life to be his wife, but he needs someone to teach her to be a Earls wife and to be accepted into society, and Catherine is the perfect tutor for the job. But as things progress, dark secrets will come to life as well as a deep desire that both these two will discover, one where will help them down the precarious road of love and need.I have just loved this series, its a favorite of mine by Lorraine Heath. In Bed With The Devil is the first installment of the Scoundrels Of St James series. We have Lucian who was found at a young boy by a man called Feagen and showed him the ropes of the streets which included pick pocketing and stealing. However his grandfather found him and he learned how to become the Earl which is his heritage as well. However he has never had much interest in Society then he meets the beautiful creature Catherine who comes to him with a dangerous proposition. But what he learns is that he is falling in love with a woman he has only known a short time, alot more than the one woman he has vowed to marry. This love story is definitely filled with mystery and conflict and a heated passion that we see grows between these two characters. The interaction between these two are very amusing at time, but connect for the reader. In Bed with the Devil is a engaging read that will swirl you among a deep mystery of secrets, witty interaction, and a love story that will tie up knots in you and leaving you purely satisfied. Lorraine Heath surely delivers!!!

[ladywesley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Imagine Feagan's tribe from Oliver Twist growing up and becoming respectable adults. This is Lorraine Heath's clever premise, and it works quite well in this book, featuring "Oliver" (here known as Lucien Langdon, the Earl of Claybourne). He's an anguished hero who falls in love with a most proper daughter of a duke. There's love, sex, a little adventure, and a bit of a mystery.

The narration of the audiobook by Susan Ericksen was very good. She handled all of the characters quite well. Antony Ferguson read several entries from the earl's journal, and I would love to hear him do an entire book.

[ktleyed · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not bad, but this didn't really capture my interest like Lorraine Heath's Westerns. This is the story of Lady Catherine Mabry, an aristocratic daughter of a dying duke who is fascinated by the ne'er do well Earl of Claybourne who's life mirrors that of Oliver Twist. She seeks out the earl because of his notorious background from the streets of London to ask him for a favor - to kill her best friends abusive husband. They make a bargain. Catherine will school Annie, the girl the earl grew up with on the streets whom he intends to marry. But soon it's Catherine that he dreams of and lusts over. It gets complicated and farfetched, but I kept with it.

[amf0001 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

cliched, unsatisfying and badly written. A bit like after Oliver Twist grows up, then what... Lucien Langdon was seperated from his parents and had to make do on teh streets from age 6 or so. Then through a totally contrived event, he meets with his grandfather and is reinstated (after killing his uncle? unclear on that plot point) Anyways, he is pained and wants to marry the familiar Fannie, a fellow urchin and now working at the casino he's set up. Then he meet Catherine, so good, so pure, so blagh... I didn't believe either of them and was disappointed with the book.