Lorraine Heath really knows how to write a romance hero, Lucian Langdon, the Earl of Claybourne, is splendidly charming, a little wicked, noble and really sexy. It was very easy to like him. Heroine Lady Catherine really is in his shadow, it wasn't that she was a bad heroine it was just she lacked that special charisma that Luke possessed.

Admittedly, I was not sure if I was going to like Lady Catherine. She invites herself to Luke's home in the middle of the night and calmly asks him to murder someone for her. It was insulting that she would think Luke would have no scruples and would agree to her request because of his childhood in the rookery.

Luke did have an awful life as a child and was facing the gallows when he was saved by the old Earl of Claybourne who was convinced he was his grandson. The old Earl saved him despite the fact Luke had killed is son (Luke's uncle) for a heinous crime. Like jumps at the chance to escape his horrible life at fourteen but he has never been accepted by the ton.

Luke at first balks at the idea of doing Lady Catherine's bidding but decides that he will if she will tutor the woman he wants to marry in the world of the ton. They come to an agreement and so begins their acquaintance.

Lady Catherine is at first distant with Luke and hides behind her properness. Luke likes her despite the fact hat she is strong willed, opinionated and not marriage minded. Lady Catherine began to grow on me in the second half of the book and this was mainly because she allowed herself the opportunity to know Luke. She found him utterly delightful but she also worries about her growing feelings for him, he claims to love another, albeit even he questions his feelings for his almost fiance.

For his part Luke is wonderful with his almost fiancé from the rookery, and his friendships with Dodger and the other thieves who lived with him. (There is a lot of Oliver Twist in this novel). He is wonderful in action when it comes to Lady Catherine. There are some very sweet and also awkward moments in this novel. For instance, I had a hard time imagining that the french kiss that Catherine and Luke share with a doctor less than a foot away to be really be all that consuming. The sexual tension was on low till the end of the novel for me.

This is a good novel but could have been better if Lady Catherine's personality was as expansive as Luke's. She was loyal and committed to her friends but wavered in her all out commitment to Luke. I thought she should have fought for him tooth and nail. The ending for me was okay but not fantastic, I have never been a big fan of non-communication (Catherine does this more than Luke does), especially on life changing events.

I must agree with most of my fellow reviewers. This was a great book! You should get it!

Wow, this lady really knows how to tell a story, with great characters. This is the first book I've read by Lorraine Heath, I can't believe it took me so long to discover her books. I found her thru reading a best of list somewhere. I now plan to check out all her books.

I really loved this book. The character development really pulls you in at many levels. Once begun I could not put it down. The only thing I didn't like was that at times the Dickens references were too overwhelming -- I felt like I'd been hit over the head with a hardback of Oliver Twist.

This was my first Heath book. I couldn't put it down. a very good read.

I love the suspense in this book, all of the little hints kept me guessing. I also liked the way the hero's wonderfulness was learned a bit at a time. The plot was very creative and both the hero and heroine are extremely loveable. Great dialogue.

meet the devil himself. When Catherine asks him for a favor it turns there both lives around and they fall in love. this is a good read as always.
Lucian is very sexy. Catherine is a very strong woman.

Another magnificent book by Lorraine Heath, I'm really starting to wonder if she can even write a bad paragraph. Well done, can't wait to read Jack's story!!

This is my first book by Lorraine Heath and I must say it was very well written. Obviously this is the kind of book suited for those looking for some romance and it will sure keep you entertained. Having said that, this book does not offer any new topic or element, but it is just as enjoyable!

I was a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. I know I've read at least one other book by Lorraine Heath. The only thing I remember about that previous experience was I wasn't inclined to repeat it. I didn't think she was a bad writer or storyteller. I just didn't remember the book as being particularly enjoyable. This one, however, was a pleasure to read.

I like the 'devil earl' type books, to begin with. So it was the title and the description of the hero that got me to fork over the cash (I bought the book in a brick and mortar). I ended up reading it in one sitting. This was a really sweet romance novel. There's sex, for sure. But I felt Heath gave us a sweet, well-matched romantic couple. Each of them has their own story in the book, and it's the relationship they create throughout the book that helps each of them find the answers they were seeking. You see them come to genuinely like and care for the other person (as well as being crazy sexually-attracted to them, of course).

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book, and I will definitely now give all Lorraine Heath's books a second look.

Lady Catherine Mabry is on the hunt for a man more vindictive than her hated guardian -she has no choice. Someone very close to her is being harmed daily and Catherine has to find someone with a ruthless reputation in order for her to make a bargain. Who does she turn to? The Devil Earl himself, Lucian Langdon, the Earl of Claybourne.

Lucian's reputation is that of vile murderer and womanizer. Barely tolerated in polite society, he is on the outskirts of acceptance and knows that the only way to be acknowledged is to find a wife and attain his goal via her. The woman he wants, however, is not schooled in the ways and running of the ton and Lucian knows that he must enlist the help of a society miss in order to teach her. Lucian and Catherine negotiate a bargain in which Catherine will teach his intended the ways of polite society and Lucian will help Catherine with her quest - however, Catherine's bargain is much more dangerous than both thought possible.

Catherine and Lucian enter their endeavor with their eyes wide open and their hearts closed to the other. Suspicions aside, neither of the two realizes that in making a simple bargain will become a lifetime of love.

Lorraine Heath is an automatic read for me simply because every historical romance I have ever read from her is outstanding. In Bed with the Devil is no exception. Lucian and Catherine are ill prepared for the love that comes their way and they are hesitant to break their bargain. Catherine's role in society is such that she cannot act alone and it is only after much soul searching that she accepts and realizes that while she loves Lucian, his heart belongs to another. She was wrong and I am glad for it.

In Bed with the Devil is a splendid tale of bargains and love and acceptance. I cherished every word and continue to stand in awe of anything written by Lorraine Heath.

Talia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Until this book, I have only read one other Lorraine Heath book and I couldn't finish it. I found it incredibly boring. I decided to try this book because of all the glowing reviews. I am so glad that I took the chance and read it. I absolutely loved it. I loved the characters and the plot. It is a very well written story with my favorite type of hero and heroine. I am hoping that I will enjoy her future books just as much.

This book was excellent! Lucian grew up on the streets until his grandfather saved his life and declared that he was long lost grandson a Earl. Lady Catherine was always fascinated by Lucian and decided to ask him to help her murder someone because of his history. I loved all the characters and the plots had lots of great twist.Enjoy!

Can't wait for book 2 Scoundrels of St. James Series Between the Devil and Desire (Jack Dodger story) due out December 30, 2008.

Very, very enjoyable book. I've read a previous book by this author and also liked that one a lot. She's a good writer and tells a compelling story. Well worth your time. Excellent beach or plane read. (I read it at home since I can't afford a plane ride LOL) Looking forward to her next book.

Totally awesome!!! Fun, enchanting read! Her books are always wonderful and this was no different! Passionate characters coupled with a very moving storyline! Definitely a keeper!

I thought this story was so touching and poignant and I absolutely could not put it down. I was enthralled by all of the characters and I loved the loyalty and strength of the heroine. I agree that the hero was called "devil" a little too often initially, but that was so minor in the context of the whole story. I cared so much for Winnie's plight and was touched by the help given...so often many struggle to help themselves and they just need amazing friends to help them through the tough times. That was a major theme you see throughout this book with all of the characters...deep loyalty and friendship. Great story and worth the read.

Let me start out by saying that this is one of the most beautifully written historical romances I have ever read and I have read a lot. I don't understand why some were saying how it started out slow and dumb. It never struck me that way ,but, it did strike me as an incredibly beautiful love story that is for sure. The author took her time in bringing these two people together ,but, the journey along the way was nothing short of magical as we are allowed to experience their growing friendship and the building attraction between them and that always takes time. It was a gorgeous and sacrificial love that you feel will be unending through time. The depth of both characters unfolds wonderfully as well as the growing love that forms between them both. There are very interesting secondary characters who we want to learn about ,but, they never overtake the main story. They are necessary though to the story as we learn more about Luke and what brings him and Catherine together. I just couldn't put this book down and when I had to all I could think about was how much I wanted to pick it back up again and read some more. This story will resonate with me for a long time and I will always remember these characters. You may cry close to the end ,but, you eventually will scream with joy and happiness for them. I was so captivated and moved and touched and that to me is what a great love story should do for its reader. Lorraine Heath this was a magnificent effort and I cannot wait to read your next in this series. It will be hard to top. This definitely will go in my top 10 lists of all time favorites! Well done Ms. Heath.....well done!

I was very glad to see that others enjoyed this story as much as I did.

The characters were very likable. The story has romance, danger, friendhip and loyalty, its the perfect feel good story for a rainy afternoon.

The secondary characters played a big role in the book and most were every bit as likable as the two main characters, in fact I would love to read more on the good Doctor Graves.

From early on you just feel that Luke and Catherine are meant to be but honor and possible misguided, misplaced loyalty to a friend threatens to prevent these two people from their destiny together. Very sweet storyline, the characters are very intertwined and enjoyable.

I read this book in one afternoon because I could not pace myself and put the book down, I will re-read later so that I can slowly enjoy both the friendships and the love that occur among this rag tag group of friends.

In Bed With the Devil has to be one of Lorraine Heath's best books. I think it harkens back to her earlier books and I feel it is a definite keeper. The main characters, Catherine and Luke, were fantastic. I know I read romance for the fantasy and Heath hit it out of the ballpark with her characterization of Luke. He is the quintessential romance hero--will do anything to protect those he loves, has a heart of gold, and of course comes with jet black hair and silver eyes to go along with his tall, muscular frame!! He was great and I really liked his counterpart, Catherine. Too often, the heroine ruins a book for me, but I really liked her. She was spunky and stood up for herself without being obnoxious about it. And the way she looked after her friend Winnie was wonderful. I can't say enough about the secondary characters. They were spectacular and I think they each deserve their own book. I guess Jack's book will be next and I am ready for it.
One of the most important reasons I liked this book is the writing. Lorraine Heath is one of the most evocative writers today. There were several scenes that really moved me in this book. I don't want to give anything away, but there was a very moving scene with Catherine and her father in the garden that brought tears to my eyes. And the final paragraph in the epilogue beautifully summed up this book. There was never a question that Luke was not the devil he was perceived to be and LH made the story of his redemption a truly magnificent one. The next book I read has a very hard act to follow.

I won't bother with the story because other reviewers have done that already. I also agree with other reviewers that this is a great story and a promising start to a new series. The start of the book was slow which is the main reason why I have dropped the ratings down to 4 stars. But I am very intrigued with all the secondary characters and am keen to find out what happens to them all.

So. Another paperback with a picture of a woman whose clothes appear to be falling off, a manly man whose clothes have already fallen off, author's name and title written in a curly font, pastel background colours and a cheesy title. Nothing unusual here, dozens of books that look just like this one are published every month. Most are fairly mediocre with little characterisation and a scanty plot. But not this one!

'In Bed With The Devil', despite the rather corny title (which, for once, was actually reflected by the content of the book), is a very good story. It has elements that most other historical romances set in Victorian times have - nobility, country estates, seedy parts of London, etc - but what marked this story out was its convincing characterisation. The plot isn't particularly complex - the Earl of Claybourne, a boy who lived as a thief on the streets of London as a youth before being found by his grandfather after killing a man who turned out to be his uncle, wants to marry his childhood love, Frannie, who worked in their thieving gang. However the inconvenience of Lucien Langdon's title means that Frannie feels she's not able to marry him as she doesn't know how to behave as a Countess. When Lady Catherine Mabry, daughter of a Duke, comes to Lucien to ask him to carry out a murder for her, they establish an unusual wager; Catherine will teach Frannie how to be a Countess and then Lucien/Luke will kill the mystery person for her.

Luke finds himself spending a great deal of time with Catherine and comparing her to Frannie. These two women are very different and yet there's something about Catherine that draws Luke. However he can't get too close to her, partly because of Frannie but also because he is shortly going to have to commit murder for her and he knows that will mean the death of his soul. As we the readers discover who Catherine wants killed and why, as Luke starts to discover more about the mystery of his origins, as both Luke and Catherine begin to understand the nature of love and of trust and fidelity, it seems their lives might be in danger. Can they keep themselves safe? Can they be happy?

The strength of this book is in the characterisation, not just of Luke and Catherine but also of many other people. For once this was a story where the central love affair was believable and grew organically, rather than just being presented as a fait accompli. It was also interesting to learn of Luke's character, initially presented as a murdering devilish man but slowly being proved to be quite different. Catherine was a great heroine, a strong but feminine woman who didn't spend her time simpering and whining but who got on with life, despite its difficulties for her. This was a book in which the reader could believe absolutely in the happy ever after for these two characters.

Historical detail was reasonable in this book although the dialogue slipped occasionally into Americanisms. The story, however, carried this reader along at all times and it was always enjoyable to follow the lives of Catherine and Luke.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

I finished this book in one night. I love this author and she always puts out great books!

Ms. Heath is clearly demonstrating that she is trying to write something out of the ordinary and having read as many romance novels as I have this is much appreciated. A lot of good authors are tying this route with varied results. Ms. Heath had definitely succeeded. There's nothing ordinary about In Bed with the Devil.

The Devil Earl, Lucian Langdon, is ostracized from London society, even though his Grandfather, who he calls the Old Gent, has persuaded the authorities, including the King, that Lucian was definitely his long lost grandson. And this, even though he knew that the boy had killed his own son. Everyone else, though, including Lucian himself, is sure he's an imposter. If a woman even talked to him her reputation would be in tatters. Therefore, when he met Lady Catherine's Mabry's eyes from across a ballroom floor and she stared back, it made an impression. On him and on her. Nothing comes of it then and Catherine doesn't see him for several years. Not until she has need of services she thinks only he can provide. Services that will change everything. For all of them.

This starts the book which is the first in the series The Scoundels of St. James. And while I love it, there are a few implausibilities. One of the things it was a little hard for me to swallow was that a gently bred young woman whose own circumstances were not being directly threatened would think of, much less actively pursue, the solution she did. And, as with so many novels, Dukes seem to be a dime a dozen. Not to mention the implausibility of what happened to one of them.

That said, I still give this 5 stars. It was totally refreshing to see London society through the eyes of some of the `common' folk. Although none of Feagan's band of kids, now adults, could be called common. They had grown up on the mean streets of London and had learned to depend on one another for their lives. They had been pulled up and out of that life along with Lucian by his Grandfather years ago. Now, though they are pursuing their own lives and desires, they will drop everything and do anything for one of their own.

I really loved the characters of Lucian and Catherine. She was lovely, smart and independent in a completely believable and non-irritating way (and believe me that's hard to do) and he was a wonderfully captivating hero with hidden depths who, while pursing the love of one woman, found the true meaning of love with another.

Any faults with the book are minor in my opinion and overall it's just an outstanding read!

Lorraine Heath proves once again what a master story teller she is. In her newest book, IN BED WITH THE DEVIL, she begins a new Victorian-era series titled THE SCOUNDRELS OF ST. JAMES, in which she takes young men raised on the streets of London, but have risen in stature through luck and pluck, and gives them women to challenge them to be more than they ever imagined.

In IN BED WITH THE DEVIL, the hero Lucien, "the Devil Earl", is reminicent of the character from Oliver Twist, a lost heir to a fortune. Unaware of the similarites, the heroine Catherine is reading the new Dickens tale to her father at the time she strikes a bargain with The Devil Earl to protect someone she loves, something he knows can change a person forever.

Heath takes you on a tale of love and discovery. And there are several surprise twists for those who are also Dickens fans.

In 1851 when Lucian "the Devil Earl" Langdon enters a ballroom, everyone especially the females turn their eyes away from him; society shuns him for allegedly murdering his uncle. However this time when the Earl of Claybourne enters a ballroom uninvited as always, one woman stares right back at him. Lady Catherine Mabry refuses to blink or look away.

Raised on London's mean streets as one of Feagan's den of child thieves and urchin con artists, Lucian and his friends Jack and Frannie were rescued by his grandfather. To Catherine, he is the one man strong enough to save her from her ruthless guardian. But she's playing with fire when she propositions the devil. Others may fear him, but she sees his innate goodness. Catherine will do whatever she must to save him from himself and force him to believe in his right to hold the title and her heart.

This is reminiscent of Oliver Twist as an adult treated by the Ton as a murdering scoundrel except for one courageous woman who sees him as her heroic savior, who she hopes lives up to his reputation and proves deadlier than her cruel guardian; yet she also discovers the caring nature underneath that begs to belong. Lorraine Heath writes an excellent Victorian romantic suspense that hooks audience from the opening journal entry of Lucien to the closing entry.

Harriet Klausner

When I pick up a Lorraine Heath book, I know I'm in for a well written, emotionally satisfying story. In Bed With the Devil is exactly this . . . in spades! This is book one in Ms. Heath's new Scoundrels of St. James series.

He is called the Devil Earl. Lucian Langdon, Earl of Claybourne, grew up differently than other members of the aristocracy-he was raised on the rough London streets. At the age of six, he was taken in by and became one of `Feagan's lads', a group of misfits trying to survive the best way they could. At fourteen, Luke was captured and accused of murder, but was spared the hangman's noose by a gentleman who claimed that Luke was his long lost grandson and heir. Luke didn't believe that he's the rightful heir, but didn't deny it and went along with the old gent. He isn't comfortable with nor accepted into society and for those reasons he doesn't attend social functions. That is until the night he attended a ball and saw Lady Catherine Mabry. While there, he couldn't take his eyes off of her and was impressed that she boldly returned his gaze. Catherine was shocked, but intrigued . . . and is still intrigued five years later. It is Luke's dangerous reputation combined with her need for help that prompts her to seek him out. She would do anything to protect those she loves-even make a deal with the devil.

I absolutely loved Luke. He is a tortured hero that I completely sympathized with. He has flaws, but it is those flaws and how he handles/reacts to them that makes him incredibly endearing. He struggles with inner demons because he believes he's not the real earl, but says he is because he didn't want to let down the man who saved his life-a man who truly believed Luke was the rightful earl and who took care of the rest of Feagan's lads. Luke is fiercely loyal to his friends and vice versa. They depended upon each other for everything when they were children and are still there for each other as adults.

Catherine is a strong, willful heroine whom I admired very much. She is the sole caretaker of her ailing father, the Duke of Greystone, while her brother is off gallivanting around the continent. She is completely devoted to her friend, Winnie, Duchess of Avendale, who is abused by her husband. Her desire to help her friend and stop the abuse is what prompts her to visit Luke and beg for his help. She is fascinated by the wickedness associated with the Devil Earl, but after spending time with him soon discovers that he's not what others perceive him to be. I like that Catherine challenges Luke at every turn and speaks her mind without being over the top.

In Bed With the Devil is a beautiful redemption story. It is darker and grittier than any of Ms. Heath's previous books, but it needs to be to fit the feel of the story. I must say that I was captivated by the secondary characters-Winnie and the rest of Feagan's lads-and wonder which of them will be featured in the next book in this series. This book is another keeper from Lorraine Heath that I highly recommend!

~Andrea~
Reviewed at romancenovel.tv

Having read most of this author's books, I trust her both with my $$$ and my time. So when this story started with an overly repetitious "image" of the lead male character as "a devil", "evil", "black-hearted", etc. I become a little disappointed. Alright, already--we got it! Still I read on and was completely rewarded. This story nicely shows how sometimes the heart knows much more than the mind and the struggle between the two impulses is both charming and highly romantic. Secondary characters add the perfect spice because this time, the "ton" is less represented and we hear words from the streets of London. There is the tension of the "two" worlds of the aristocracy and the real Londoners as well as great history in the punishment practices of errant, orphaned children as well. Just a solid effort done with a forgiveable weak start.