Devil’s Desire by Laurie McBain

Devil’s Desire was a wildly popular romance novel that was first published in 1975. It was author Laurie McBain’s first novel, and she continued on to have a very successful career as a romance novelist in the 1970’s and 80’s. Sadly Devil’s Desire had gone out of print, but Sourcebooks has published a new edition of this novel this month.

Elysia Demarice is the beautiful daughter of aristocratic parents that has fallen on hard times since her parents’ untimely death in Regency England. When Elysia’s evil Step-Aunt tries to force her to marry an odious man, she runs away to London. On her way, she crosses the path of Lord Alex Trevegne. Known as “the Devil,” Alex has a temper and is a known seducer of women. Elysia is not impressed by Alex, and he finds himself attracted by the only woman who dares to talk back to him. When scandal forces them together, will Elysia and Alex be able to find true love and happiness?

I liked the Cinderella aspect of this story and loved heroine Elysia. She has grit and beauty. Elysia starts the book with nothing but the rags on her back, but is able to rise above it all to find love.

My only problem with this novel is the hero, Alex. Alex is a vintage 1970’s hero that takes what he wants and is not a very nice guy. He is handsome, but he spends his time misunderstanding Elysia and being cruel to her all in the name of love. I just wanted to yell at Alex, “Just talk to her you idiot!”

Devil’s Desire had romance, adventure, a great heroine, and a fantastic secondary romance story (Louisa and Ian). The only drawback for me was that I didn’t really like Alex and I also thought the ending was a bit abrupt.

Book Source: Advance Review Copy from Sourcebooks. Thank-you!