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Desear Al Diablo (2008)

by Lorraine Heath(Favorite Author)

4 of 5 Votes: 4

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Esencia

series

Scoundrels of St. James

review 1: I adored this book. My heart broke reading about Jack's past. I wanted the best for him and it was heartbreaking to read about all that he suffered through. Despite all the abuse, he rose above the obstacles to make something of himself. He is an admirable person to be sure. As much as he would like to claim that he is a scoundrel, he has a noble spirit. Everything stemmed with the the Duke of Lovingdon. He fell in love with a servant, Jack's mother, but was not strong enough to stand by her. She left in disgrace but with her head held up high. He lived his life without her and did so with regret. He is often remarked upon as a very sad man. Jack's mother sold him to his father's cousin. She was dying and she believed that his relative would take care of him. However, he w... moreas a child molester who became a murderer. He sexually abused Jack, who was five at the time. Rupert wept and promised not to do it again. Jack believed him but learned about lies very early on as he suffered once more. He did not let Rupert hurt him anymore as he escaped that night. He found his way into Fagan's keeping and lived his life on the streets. He moved on but his spirit broke once more in jail. In order to save Luke from death, Jack offered himself as a substitute to the prisoners who kept on attempting to abuse Luke. Something changed in him that hardened his outlook on life. Since then, he had an obsession with money. With money came protection from those that would seek to hurt him. He hoarded his possessions dearly and came to amass a fortune.When the Duke of Lovingdon died, Jack was summoned to the reading of his will and was pronounced Henry's guardian. Jack was puzzled as to why he would be chosen. He only met the duke a few times and they were brief encounters. Nevertheless, he accepted because he was enticed with the prospect of receiving the duke's possessions. Olivia, the duchess, was outraged at the prospect of handing her son's care to a well-known scoundrel. She was wary of his presence in her house since she judged him by reputation. They fought often and she lashed out since she was powerless, legally speaking, in the situation. However, as time passed, Jack disproved his reputation. He showed himself to care about Henry's welfare to his and Olivia's surprise. Everything turned around when Helen, Henry's nanny, was discovered to be physically abusing him. With Jack's past, he was very protective of young boys. He immediately fired the nanny. It was then that Olivia truly looked at Jack and judged him by his actions rather than his reputation. I was predisposed to dislike Olivia because of her self-righteous attitude but it was curbed by her reason, she was protecting Henry, and that couldn't be faulted. It isn't entirely unreasonable since Jack was a stranger. She was redeemed by her reassessment and change in attitude. The pair grew closer together. Jack became part of Olivia and Henry's life. Jack introduced them to new experiences and he in turn relished being there and witnessing their wonder. He enjoyed their company and it eased his the loneliness he wasn't aware was there. They enjoyed their time together but when reality intruded, Olivia backed away. When her reputation was called in question, she looked at their relationship at a new light and uncertainties made her step back. She planned to leave Jack but she was abducted when she walked in the garden during a sleepless night. It was during that abduction that she realized what was truly important. She loved Jack and society can go hang. Jack saved her from Rupert, who demanded a ransom in exchange. The investigations on his person made him nervous and he planned on leaving. It was then that Jack discovered the extent of Rupert's crimes. Jack was the first child Rupert abused. He was the only one to escape. After Rupert was done with the child, he killed them and buried them in a garden. In the fight that ensued, Rupert was shot and he died moments later. Jack and Olivia profess their love for each other. I'm glad there was no more nonsense of class divide. They married soon after and the second part of the will was read. It was then that they discovered that Jack was the duke's son. Jack was appointed guardian because Henry was his half-brother. In the duke's letter for Jack, he explained his relationship with Emily Dawkins. He told of how she was a strong person and he was a coward. He lived his life in regret. It was a tragedy that had reverberations to other lives, mainly Jack's. It was through Jack's acceptance of the guardianship that he began to mend the damages of the past. He gave Olivia the love that was missing in her marriage, strengthened Henry's character, and let his soul heal with loving and being loved.I liked this book. Jack's story overpowered Olivia's but she held up as much as she could. She was a strong person who protected her son but it was just sub par as can be expected of a proper character. She lived her life as a dutiful daughter and wife and society's strictures did not really open herself up to be a person of character. Jack, on the other hand, lived a very colourful life. He fended against demons and survived. He escaped the clutches of a very villainous and sick man. He made something of himself and held up well despite his surroundings. He is a very admirable man and everytime Olivia found it in her to judge him unfairly, I just disliked her proper character all the more. Emily and the duke's story was a tragedy in itself. They loved each other but it ended in misery. He wasn't strong enough to claim her and she did not have many recourses as a young pregnant woman. She took care of Jack as best she could but it was definitely sad to read about her death. She was a remarkable woman, much like Jack is a remarkable man, whose circumstances were harsh. I'm not sure how I feel about the book really. I liked reading about them but tragedy permeates them. While it isn't there in front all the time, it is there in the background...if that makes sense. I feel sick reading about the villain. While I admire Jack for surviving, I really wish he hadn't experienced the things he did. I wanted the best for him. I don't think it is the adversities that shaped his noble soul, I think it has been there in him all along. As he said, whatever circumstances you are placed in, there is a person in you that stays consistent whether you are born in the streets or in the nobility.
review 2: The first Scoundrels of St. James book was quite good, with a really awesome heroine, so I had moderately high hopes for this one. Sadly, Between the Devil and Desire was a disappointing, rather bland HR. When the Duke of Lovingdon dies, he appoints the notorious Jack Dodger as his son's guardian, shocking his young widow Olivia. When Jack moves into the mansion, both verbal and physical sparks instantly fly between him and Olivia. etc etc etcThe good: --Like in her other books, Heath deals with serious issues with grace and delicacy. --There are some deeply emotional moments that rise above the cheesier ones. --Dodger's relationship with Henry, Olivia's son, is quite sweet and well done.The bad: --Dodger is another one of those infuriating heroes who think that giving orders and refusing to have respect for other people makes him charming. --Olivia is quite bland, lacking the fire and intelligence of some of Heath's other heroines --You will see the ending twist coming from a mile away. --The switch in Olivia and Doger's relationship feels abrupt and the reader is inundated with cheese immediately afterward.Recommended for those who can't resist a rogue/rake of any kind, however annoying they may be. less

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