A devilish lord in need of funds meets his match in an American heiress determined to escape a betrothal that would crush her spirit. The Devil and the Heiress is an engaging romance that charmed me thanks to its roguish hero who has a marshmallow heart and an optimistic budding writer with a spine of steel.

Violet Crenshaw has seen firsthand what can happen to a woman who is essentially sold for a title. Though her sister made a love match with an English lord, that doesn’t mean the same will hold true for Violet. In fact, her parents are determined she marry a man who will undoubtedly cage her. Determined to take charge of her own life, Violet flees London and is surprised to find a helping hand in the form of the Earl of Leigh. Except Christian has his own plans and it wasn’t chance that made him appear when Violet needed aid. He needs funds to save the one home that means anything to him and Violet is the answer to his prayers. She also intrigues him as no other woman has. The forced proximity allows them to get to know one another in a way they never would have within the confines of society’s rules. I thoroughly enjoyed their trip and watching Christian and Violet get to know each other. Their mutual attraction quickly becomes something more, but what happens when Christian’s initial plot is revealed (as it must or where would the conflict be?) I will leave readers to discover for themselves.

Christian and Violet have great chemistry and the pages of The Devil and the Heiress practically flew by. There are elements of this story that remind me of Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflower quartet and as that’s one of my favorite series it’s a definite compliment. But Christian and Violet are their own selves and they won me over. Violet can be naïve but her spirit and openness charmed the daylights out of me. And Christian made me smile and sigh. He definitely is wrong in lying to Violet, but the man has the softest heart and I could have melted over him. I adored them both as individuals and as a couple.

The Devil and the Heiress is the second book in Harper St. George’s Gilded Age Heiresses series but having not yet read The Heiress Gets a Duke I can safely say Violet’s book stands on its own. That being said, I enjoyed Violet and Christian so much that I cannot wait to go back and read August Crenshaw’s book as I wait for more Gilded Age Heiresses stories.

Violet Crenshaw is a writer and WILL. Continue to be one. Even if she has to run away from her home, leave her loving but overbearing parents and flee. When Lord Leigh offers his assistance (completely innocent I assure you). She may find someone who can give her everything she dreams of having.

I adored this story. Wholeheartedly! Christian, Lord Leigh, is your brooding male lead with a heart of gold. THE DEVIL AND THE HEIRESS was a slow seductive, long game, story. And by “slow”, I mean staying up all night to finish it because I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t even realize I was sucked in until 1AM. I had to know what happened! I caught myself rereading scenes, making sure I soaked up every detail!

Mid-spoilers below (but not really)

Violet and Christian’s relationship seems so innocent in the beginning, you can scenes how the relationship and story will play out, but you’re hooked. The transformations of the characters is so subtle and smooth, you’ll think you missed it. I ended up loving them all’s p much (even you Max). All I know is, there better be books coming for YEARS. I need every side characters HEA please!! (Especially Mr Thorne’s!!)

If you didn’t catch on, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for my free copy!

When American heiress Violet finds out her parents have arranged an unwanted marriage for her, she flees from London, only to find herself unexpectedly escorted by Christian, the Earl of Leigh. Violet plans to launch her career as an author, but Christian plans to convince her to marry him during their road trip. Violet and Christian have been attracted to each other since they met in the previous book of the series. Christian truly wants to marry Violet because he desires her...but he is also interested in her dowry to rebuild his Scottish estate.

My very favourite thing about this book is how Violet and Christian develop a friendship first and foremost. They actually get to know each other better during their road trip before acting on their mutual attraction. Obviously, Christian's motives are not 100% innocent because as much as he wants Violet, he also has his eye on Violet's dowry. But the friendship, the attraction, the love, and their journey together are all genuine and provide a solid foundation for the relationship between Violet and Christian to develop and grow.

I actually never hated Christian even though he did manipulate and lie to Violet. His feelings came across as genuine to me, despite the manipulations. The final act was well executed and I think Christian did a pretty good job winning Violet back. The groveling wasn't super dramatic like in most romance novels. The groveling was quite realistic actually, which I loved. Christian respected Violet's wishes while working hard to prove his love for her. The ending was perfect and honestly, no epilogue was needed.

I really like how the author has written two very different "heiress and fortune hunter" books in a row. I am VERY excited for Max and Lady Helena!!!!! I hope the ARC becomes available before the end of 2021 LOL.

4.5 Stars ⭐️ - Top Pick

“He was mad for her. Madness. It was the only word for the obsession that coursed through him. He would have thought it would have faded with her absence, but it had only come roaring back with her return, greedy for all that he had missed.”

This is another winner from Harper St. George after the knockout debut book in this series, The Heiress Gets a Duke. This story follows the youngest Crenshaw sister, Violet, who tries to thwart her parents plan to sell her to the highest bidder because she is in love with someone back home in America. After a suitor she has no intention of marrying attempts to compromise her, she decides to flee London to pursue her dream of becoming a published author.

Christian Halston, Earl of Leigh, aids Violet’s departure from London. She thinks he is just a good Samaritan, but he has ulterior motives when it comes to Violet. He needs her dowry to rebuild and repair his most beloved estate. Christian decides that he has to scheme, plot, and do whatever it takes to win her hand. Love has other plans for Christian though.

I thought the first book was excellent and this one was no different. There is something so lush and inviting about Harper St. George’s writing. It really draws you in. In the beginning of this story, Christian is a rake through and through, but as the story progresses you start to see a different side of him. The tenderness and care that he shows Violet is so romantic, and their moments together are full of tension and ease at the same time. There are so many special moments where they let their guard down and allow the other person to see all of them. Their wants and desires, their passions, their true selves. These moments truly captivated me and kept me wanting more from this couple.

Christian messes up badly, and it takes Violet an extremely long time to forgive him. I think that this dark moment where you don’t think the couple is going to be together was too long. I do enjoy when a heroine forces the hero to beg and grovel to make amends. I love to see them change for the woman that they love, but in my opinion this dark moment lasted too long and detracted from the story a little bit. Otherwise, this book was wonderful.

If you love strong and capable heroines like Loretta Chase’s or adventure stories like those of Sarah Maclean or Tessa Dare then check this book might check all of your boxes.

~ Michelle

Terrific story. Now that her sister has landed a duke, Violet believes that she is safe from her social-climbing parents' machinations. Surely she can now pursue her dreams of becoming a published author. But wait, now her father wants to barter her to another English lord who has mineral rights that he wants. Nothing Violet says will change his mind, and Lord Ware will do anything to have her. After barely escaping Ware's attempt to compromise her, Violet decides running away is her only option.

Christian, the Earl of Leigh, isn't in debt like so many of his peers, but he doesn't have the funds to refurbish his Scottish property. After being turned down by Violet's father, Christian concocts a scheme to convince Violet to marry him. A few hints dropped, and an "accidental" meeting has Christian escorting Violet on her escape. With luck, he'll have her married and in his bed before anyone catches up to them.

I liked Violet. She's all sweetness and obedience on the surface, but she has sass, determination, and a spine of steel when it comes to going after what she wants. Her disgust for the nobles who only see her fortune makes her unwilling to fall in with her parents' plans. She's a little naïve about her escape plans, which is how Christian manages to insert himself into them.

I like Christian, too. His early life was difficult, with a cold, uncaring father and an absent mother. After inheriting only debts after his father died, Christian made a name for himself through bare-knuckle fighting and starting his own gaming hell. When he sets his sights on Violet and her fortune, nothing will get in his way.

I loved watching the relationship develop between Christian and Violet. Sparks flew between them from the start, even though Violet did not trust him. Christian was the one who warned her about Lord Ware, positioning himself to be her savior. Suspecting her intention to run, Christian took steps to make sure he would be the one to help her with her escape. He intends to hijack her plan and take her to Scotland instead. I loved the "road trip" romance, as forced proximity allowed them to get to know each other. It was fun to see Violet's straightforward American ways open Christian's eyes to the indignities women endure and the privilege that the aristocracy takes for granted.

The more time they spent together, the more Christian came to like Violet as a person, not just the means to an end. Violet's feelings for Christian also began to change. She no longer saw him as just another nobleman but as a man with his own set of problems. That same proximity also amplified the attraction that grew between them. As the days of their journey went on, Christian's conscience began to bother him. When a carriage accident resulted in Violet being injured, his guilty feelings became overwhelming. When attraction and growing feelings overtook common sense, it looked like everything would work out. But Christian still hadn't come clean, and when Violet's brother Max tracked them down, the truth came out.

Devastated and heartbroken, Violet no longer knew what to believe. Was anything that Christian said the truth or just manipulation? To mitigate the scandal, Christian and Violet must marry, but Violet refuses to cave in entirely. I loved watching her stand up for herself and her needs, forcing Christian to keep his distance. I ached for Christian, who fell hard for Violet and knows how badly he messed up. He is down on himself, believing he deserves all the misery he experiences and promises to give Violet the space she needs. I loved the advice he received on how to win her back and what he did with it. Violet's reaction when she learns of his efforts was fantastic. I loved the emotional ending as Christian redeems himself.

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐⭐/ 5 stars

I loved the first book of the Gilded Age Heiresses series: “The Heiress Gets the Duke” so I was thrilled to read the second one about August’s younger sister, Violet and the mysterious Christian, Earl of Leigh. Violet wishes to remain independent and become a professional writer but her parents have arranged for her to marry a Lord she did not care for. In order to keep her freedom, she tries to run away to the North to Windermere where she could write amongst other women in peace and away from her parents. Christian, however, has his own schemes to escort her there in the guise of helping, but to also use their alone time to win her over so they could wed and the money from her dowry would cover the cost of the repairs of his Scottish estate. Over time, he realises he is actually falling in love with her - and they both struggle to find trust that their feelings are real.

The chemistry is undeniable between Violet and Christian and I loved reading about their story. I didn’t love it as much as the first one, but it was still an entertaining read to satiate my Bridgerton withdrawals. Perfect for lovers of historical romance - plus the cover art is beautiful! Looking forward to the next one already!

Thank you to Berkley Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! US Pub Date: June 29,2021

This book is peak example of how I would totally excuse certain character traits in a histrom MMC that I would never allow to slide in a contemporary MMC.

The second book in this delightful trilogy is actually, in my honest opinion, even better than the first. I loved the FMC in the first book, thought the MMC was fine - I loved that he was an impoverished duke in search of a rich wife which is a stretch from the normal super rich British aristocrat looking for a suitable wife.

In this second one, we have our MMC, the Earl of Leigh, who is in need of funds to make repairs to his estates, one of which has suffered severe damage in a fire. To that end, he decides he will court the younger sister of the FMC from the first book, Violet.

There are several reasons I thoroughly enjoyed this book, mostly due to the fact that it spoke directly to my personal romantic novel id in the form of the tropes it employed:

1. There was a scene where the two MCs are in a major carriage accident and the MMC has to save the FMC and then carry her through the rain, for a mile to seek help. It behooves me to mention that the MMC also has a prior injury and walks with a limp and uses a cane so this really makes the scene even more of a THING.
2. After they find help, the FMC wakes up to find the MMC reading to her.
3. Following this up with the sickbed scene where the MMC takes care of the recovering FMC, all the while berating himself for being the root cause of why she ended up in a carriage accident.
4. This also involves an only one bed scene whereupon the FMC wants the MMC to share her bed and he's VERY valiantly trying to be a gentleman/self-castigate himself for manipulating her into this situation in the first place.

The MMC has made one unfortunately bad decision after another to lead us into the dark moment in this book and it's also the reason why this book is better than the first. The FMC realizes that she's been manipulated and is justifiably angry at Leigh for lying to her, is angry at her father for basically selling her to the highest bidder for the sake of his business, and is angry at society at large for treating women as things rather than as people with rights and agency. And while I do love a good grovel scene, this book requires more because of Leigh's deception. And therefore, on the very good advice of his half brother, he understands eventually that actions speak louder than words.

I loved that they took some much necessary time apart after the 3rd act breakup - I think that was really necessary here in this book. It made the book stronger that Violet takes this time to figure out who she is and what she wants and that Leigh took this time to try and become the man Violet deserves.

It's a sexy and steamy book and very cleverly, the author has also set up the storyline and love interests for the 3rd and final(?) book in this series, although, there are several characters in this series whose books I should like to read.

If you love historical romance with strong female characters, then this is definitely a series you should check out.

The Devil and The Heiress is the second book in The Gilded Age Heiresses series and is about Violet, sister of August(heroine of the first book). Violet thinks that she is free from a marriage of convenience but not if her parents can help it. She wishes to become a published author and in order to do so, she must flee London and her parents. Enter Christian, Earl of Leigh. Christian has a scheme of his own: to rebuild his Scottish estate and marry Violet. Christian intercepts Violet as she's escaping and offers her the use of his carriage for her journey to a lakeside boardinghouse.

Christian is amazed at how quickly his plan worked but the more time he spends with Violet, the guiltier he feels for his deception. Before he can rectify his wrongs, they get into an accident, and everything changes. This is where the story starts to gain traction and I get to one of my favorite tropes: when you are sick & your significant other takes care of you.

I enjoyed the story and loved everything about it. Christian seemed like a*shole at first but he was really a cutie as we discover further out in the book. Violet, despite being an heiress, didn't have many advantages and loved her character arc. There was steaminess, deception, great character growth, pretending-to-be-married trope, and lots of groveling in the end. Overall, I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read the next one in the series!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Christian Halston, the Earl of Leigh had no intention of marrying until his beloved estate Blythkirk in Scotland burned and needed extensive repairs. While not destitute, the cost of the repairs are beyond his means and he hatches a plan to catch an heiress, specifically the American Violet Crenshaw, who happens to be the sister of his friend and business partner, the Duke of Rothchild’s wife. He believes he has time to woo and win her but soon learns that her parents have other plans for her. Undeterred, Christian sets out to win Violet but never expects to fall in love with her.

Violet Crenshaw has plans of her own, she has a secret betrothed back in America and plans to wed him and pursue her writing career. Her plans are shaken when she learns that her betrothed was paid off by her father and that her parents have arranged another marriage for her. Unwilling to be trapped in a loveless marriage, she hatches a plan, she will hide away in the lake district, write her novel and hopefully make her parents see reason. Violet puts her plan in motion and is surprised when the Earl of Leigh intercepts her outside the British Museum and offers to help her escape. Unaware that Christian is privy to her plans, she accepts his offer of a ride to the train station and is later convinced that his idea of traveling together by carriage will buy her more time. He tells her he is going to Scotland but will detour to take her to the boardinghouse in the lake district before making his way north.

Christian is thrilled, his plan is working exactly as he planned; will use the time spent traveling to convince her to marry him, then will take her to Scotland and marry her before her parents can find her. But the more time he spends with her, the more he comes to care for her and the guiltier he feels about his deception. Just as he decides to change his plan and propose, willing to accept her decision, and take her to the boardinghouse if she refuses, they are in a horrific accident, and everything changes.

As she heals, they both fall deeper in love and he admits some of his deceptions to her and she forgives him. But when her brother Max shows up and she learns the whole truth, she is devastated and wants nothing to do with him. With their HEA hanging in the balance, can Christian find a way to prove his love is true and earn her forgiveness, or is it too late?

This was a very well-written and well-paced story with an interesting and fresh plot. I enjoyed the story and found myself very invested in the outcome. The book has secrets, lies, deception, steamyish love scenes, angst, heartache, great character growth, and finally a seemingly impossible HEA. As much as I liked the story, some things just didn’t sit well with me, I felt the ending was unnecessarily angsty and I really didn’t care for the fact that Violet shared a secret with her friend, Lady Helen, and her siblings that she should have shared with Christian first, that along with some title errors kept this from being a five star read for me. This is the second book in the series, but it could definitely be read as a standalone title with no problems.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

We swoon over romance set in the 18th,19th century and it's easy to forget how life women and especially women who were trying to break out of societal norms life was no joke. Violet and her sister grew up in a young America outside of the firm restrictions of England's Victorian era. Violet wants to be a writer and if that isn't already shockingly modern she also wants to choose who and when to marry. Her parents who proved to be the worst in the first book of this series have no compunctions to sell their daughters off to the aristocrat with the best connections. No matter if the person in question is an awful human being. And that all under the guise of wanting the best for their offspring. I already despised them in August's book, THE HEIRESS GETS A DUKE, but they take it to a whole new level with Violet because the man they have their eyes on is the worst.

Violet was a bit of a surprise. Between the two sisters she seemed to be the one more likely to give into her parents' wishes. Boy, was I wrong. She really fought them. I wish she wouldn't have defended their behavior. Even after her despicable suitor tried to trap her and they were like "meh, it didn't work, did it" she still believed that love was their motivating factor. Ugh.

Nothing in his entire life had prepared him for how she made him feel.


Christian was a rake after my own heart. So deliciously wicked, calculating, admittedly a little bit manipulative but he did make up for that big time. I think Violet's sweetness really took him by surprise and he was so charmed by it that things tumbled out of control from there. He fell head over heels for her, admired her spunk, independence and loved how refreshingly unprejudiced and unselfconscious she was. She awoke an honorable side of him that no one knew he had.

Even now it would be like giving up his right arm to see her go. Yet, not having her would serve as his penance for daring to take her at all.


And if you want a good grovel, the author delivers on that. Christian really regretted his deception and did everything to win Violet back.

“As long as I’m with you, I have everything I need.”


THE DEVIL AND THE HEIRESS is a fabulous installment in this series (although I found it on the slower side in the beginning - that could be just me though). I can see at least two more books in this series and while this book has already some major hints at the next couple's story, the fourth is pure speculation on my part. I think we'll see Christian's half brother win Violet and August's best friend Camille's heart. Fingers crossed!

Will his deceit destroy any hope for a future together …

After reading the eldest daughter’s story, I have been quite curious about Violet’s.
Even more as it would be related with Christian’s, a fun supporting character in the previous book.

Violet is the obedient, demure in appearance girl, when there is much more of her. She just is not one for confrontation so she keeps quiet to avoid bumping heads, especially with her parents, much determined to see their plans come to fruition. Yet as they stay deaf to her plight, for once, she must take things in hand. Which is a complete novelty for her, as until now, her life had been ruled by her kin, she to follow the flow.
Christian never had anyone to show him how to do things, nor was he surrounded by affection and caring. So he shaped himself without anyone real influence. Why he is so controlling, he is no bad man, but he built himself with a hateful sire, a deserting mother as background picture and the image of his haughty peers. Which changed the lost boy he was once in a manipulative man. He is no abusive fellow, but he likes to organize things the way he wants them to go, not always thinking how it might be perceived as deceitful.
And one thing he is certain is that he wants Violet, at first for her wealth and also as she intrigues him, then as he gets to know her, for her and herself only. But the wheels are already in motion, and as he is sincere in his feelings, he maneuvered their circumstances this lied to her about part of his actions.

This is the kind of story where you await when the second shoes would drop.
As even if there are dents and holes in Christian’s plan, everything seems to go accordingly until it does not.
So the story turned from a merry road trip to a angsty tale as each has to reconcile with their deeds and choices.
A beautiful tale demonstrating love, and its declaration is no enough, as, if not followed by trust and facts, it has little value.
Violet in the main time learns to become herself, she shreds off her girl’s garments to find her way as an adult, she grows into an independent woman while Christian learns love exists and demands more that a few word, it is a sentiment that must be cajoled, caressed and cherished.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes

I have been granted an advance copy by Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read The Devil and the Heiress

I enjoyed this second book in this series, and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

✔️ I liked Violet & Christian and their chemistry . And I always enjoy a forced to marry story 😂
✔️ these series continue to highlight the limited choice and rights women had in that era

The first book in this series, The Heiress Gets a Duke, was such a fun read and I couldn’t wait to pick up the sequel. The Devil and the Heiress focuses on Violet and Lord Leigh’s story. This one was just as fun to read and I love how headstrong and determined the Crenshaw girls are. I absolutely loved the first 80-85% of the book, the slowly building relationship between Violet and Christian was a joy to watch (if you love the “oh no, I’ve caught feelings” or “there’s only one bed” tropes, this one is for you). But I thought the last bit could have been expanded on a bit more because I wanted to know more about what was going on in Violet’s head.

Overall, I’ve really been enjoying this series, and I’m so excited for the third book after seeing Maxwell and Lady Helena interact in this book. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a historical romance!

These Victorian romances by St. George are quickly becoming favorites. I think I may have enjoyed this one even more than the first one, and I liked that one quite a bit. I’m always on lookout for more feminist style regency or Victorian era set romances, and it’s harder than you’d think to find really well written ones so I’m very happy to have found this series. It ranks up there with Courtney Milan and Scarlett Peckham for me in terms of providing a feminist lens, disrupting the expected tropes, and providing Hero characters that are sexy and desirable while also NOT being alpha-holes. I love these Beta males who can love a woman without needing to possess or dominate her. I love romances that are partnerships. Violet was great though her age makes me a bit uncomfortable. It’s tough for me to get onboard with romances where the heroine is under 20, especially when the hero is nearly 30. As a HS teacher who works with 18 year olds and knows just how young they are, and knowing that physiologically our brains don’t fully develop until 25, it’s tough for me to fully fall into romances where the heroines are under 25. I I’ve also had quite enough virgin heroines with experienced older men so I’m hoping that this author will explore other types of heroines going forward. In addition to widows I imagine that in the late 1800s other unmarried women were probably not ALL going to their marriage beds as virgins so I’m hoping St. George will explore some of those characters as well snd the occasional virgin or inexperienced hero is always a welcome change. But despite her youth I did like violet, she was a strong character without having to be reckless or annoyingly stubborn as many romance heroines tend to be. Christian was great too, rather different than I expected based on his intro in the previous book. He was really a marshmallow, adorable and sweet. That was unexpected.

I liked this very much, it had enough angst and unexpected aspects to keep me glued to the page, read it in one delicious sitting. Can’t wait did the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley and Ms. St. George for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I really enjoyed this book for the most part. I love a "forced proximity" story and Christian was obviously a giant cinnamon roll underneath his austere exterior. I also loved Violet's standing up for herself regarding her writing and her manuscript. Many current historical romances walk a fine line between being "historical" and being current enough not to offend modern readers, who expect certain modernized behaviors from the female and especially from the male main characters. This was no exception, but I think the author pulled it off very well.
The only thing that really held me back was a decision by Violet to withhold certain information at the end. If she truly loved Christian, that's a secret she shouldn't have kept. But his little speech to her, ugh, that was heart-breakingly adorable.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess book #3 features Max and Lady Helena? And personally I'm very interested in seeing if Lady Hereford (sp?) can be saved from her horrible marriage. Surely the author wouldn't set her up in that situation just to leave her there in misery. In real life, maybe, but not in RomanceLand!

An American heiress on the run falls for a scoundrel pretending to help her.

Violet was an American heiress brought to London to find an aristocratic marriage. Dutiful and loyal, she wants to honor her parents' wishes but dreams of publishing her manuscript and follow a writing career.

When her father contracts her marriage to the cold and disgusting Lord Ware, Violet decides to run away to a boarding house.

Being an heiress made Violet the perfect target for Christian, Earl of Leigh, who needed funds to rebuild his estate in Scotland. When he found out about her plans to escape her family, he pretends to help her as a friend while plotting to seduce her for himself.

The story is sensual and romantic, with a good dose of angst and heartbreak.

The hero is a rogue, but he eats a sizeable humble pie before getting his happy ending. I tried but could not help falling for him.

Violet, the heroine, was such a sweetheart. So young and naive, she faced the challenges of her position as a woman and heiress with grace and strength.

This is my first book by this author, and I enjoyed her writing style. I intent on reading her other books, especially the first one in this series, about Violet's sister, August.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 07/14/2021 as part of the book's blog tour*

I am super picky about my historical romance. I love romance, but historicals have really been a struggle for me. Certain elements need to be *just so* for me to get into them. So when I read THE HEIRESS GETS A DUKE earlier this year, I was pleasantly surprised and delighted by how much I enjoyed it. And ever since, I’ve been looking forward to the follow-up, since the groundwork for these two characters was definitely introduced in that first book.

Well, THE DEVIL AND THE HEIRESS definitely lived up to my expectations and then surpassed them. I loved Violet’s plucky spirit and determination, and loved seeing the rogueish Christian completely fall apart over her. Their story took some totally unexpected plot twists and I loved seeing it all unfold. What a treat, this book! I can't wait for the next one.

Violet Crenshaw is an American heiress whose family has come to London. Her parents marry her older sister off to a duke in the first book so that they can reap the benefits of his title. Violet assumed that meant that she would be free to choose her own husband. However, they are trying to force her to marry a titled man in order to get mineral rights for their business. She wants nothing to do with him, but her parents won’t budge.

Violet plans to run away. She is an author and is going to live in a place for artists. Lord Leigh is obsessed with Violet and knows that she is probably planning to run away. He plans it to intercept her at the right time. He does, and offers his help. The road trip adds a fun element to the story. I loved the little moments we see where they start to fall for each other like holding hands, or her cheek on his shoulder so she could sleep.

He plans to take her to Scotland and marry her for her money, but has not told her this yet. They have an accident on the way, and have to stay put for Violet to recover. While she is recovering, he tells the Dr. and his wife that he is married to Violet so that he would be allowed to help take care of her and stay with her. There is such great chemistry between the two of them with a little bit of caretaking and an only one bed moment. They have both tried to fight their feeling for each other, but can’t handle it anymore.

I loved the buildup between the couple, and how much the hero cared for Violet. He has been interested in her from the start, even when he wanted her for her money. I loved the way we still see how much he loves her while they are separated back in London. The third act conflict in this was frustrating and predictable. It resulted from both of them keeping secrets from each other, and I would have much preferred to see them communicate throughout.

4 stars
I received this book for free in return for an honest review.

This was way better than the first in the series. Perhaps I found the characters more enjoyable but overall, this is one that I very much enjoyed it. The sex scenes were steamy, although I would not have minded if there were a few more

Violet Crenshaw is an American heiress whose parents are set on marrying off to a titled man in a business savy alliance. Violet however has no intentions to marry and instead plans to run away, support herself, and write and publish her novels. Christian Halston, the Earl of Leigh, encourages her to run off, even going si far as to offer his help, hoping to secure her own hand in marriage and use her fortune to rebuild his Scottish estate. What neither of them intend is to fall deeply and passionately in love along the way.

I really loved this, and honestly I loved it much more than the first in this series. The chemistry between the couple was so delicious and it was drawn out to perfection before they ultimately get together. And this hero was OUT OF HIS MIND in love with the heroine. Which I absolutely adore.

The road trip and traveling to different inns was such a fun change of pace and really set the scene for some steamy moments. I truly can not say enough good things about how perfectly the tension and build up between this couple was. 10/10 for that!

However I was frustrated with the third act conflict which I felt was obviously going to happen, but I would have loved more communication between them! But Christian's grovel was pretty wonderful.

Overall a VERY enjoyable read and I will definitely be checking out the third which hope of all hopes is between Max and Mrs. Harper!