The Devil's Due (Zebra Historical Romance) [Paperback]

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Gray Sinclair is a ship captain on a mission. He is on a quest for a mythological gemstone, the "Sacred Heart," a rare flawless red diamond. His brother is on the brink of losing the family estate and Gray believes finding this diamond will save them all from ruin. He never expected to find himself tried and condemned to death in a small Scottish town, for a murder he did not commit!

Bonnie MacTavish is the sole witness to the gruesome death of her friend. She found Gray crouched over the body, bloody knife in hand, concluding he is the killer. In spite of that, she wanted Gay to receive a fair trial. When he is convicted in the farce, her doubts of his guilt begin to surface, leading her to the decision to help him escape.

Gray doesn't need her help though, and makes good on his escape, taking Bonnie with him. She is furious over her kidnapping and vows to make his life miserable until she can make her bid for freedom. Things change while they are at sea, however. Bonnie begins to see a whole different side of Gray, one of compassion, and she realizes he is not capable of brutally murdering anyone.

As Gray continues on his quest for the stone, he and Bonnie grow closer, but he carries additional emotional burdens he is afraid to tell her about. He believes that if she knows the truth about him, and his family, that she would be unable to care for him. Will Gray complete his quest for his own personal Grail? Will Bonnie manage to break through Gray's personal barriers to reach his heart and the love he denies himself?

This was a novel full of adventure and passion. Ms. George gain proves her skill at penning a tale to tug at the heartstrings. Gray and Bonnie are full of personality that leaps off the pages. His demons and her fire are always evident. The colorful cast of characters, right down to a cuddly canine, and a rather ugly, but loved no less, pet vulture, entrance the reader, making the story all the more enjoyable.

The sometimes overly wordy passages takes getting used to at first, but once familiar with it, it is hardly noticeable. Also, the murder which begins the story takes a back seat to Gray's quest. This reviewer had trouble believing that Bonnie could apparently forget all about her friend's death, thought hat is what appears to happen for most of the story. Other than a few references to Gray's label as "murderer," most of the novel no one even thinks about that which started the whole adventure.

All in all, this was an exciting story full of emotion, dangers, action, and conflict which is par for the course in the genre. Ms. George puts her own signature on the romance world, drawing people in and making them eager for the next story.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, January 2002. All rights reserved.

I've read all the books in Ms. George's "Devil" series and have liked them equally. I thought I would end up reading 3 books that were identical, but this series was far from that. Each book was unique. In THE DEVIL'S DUE, Ms.George takes us on an high seas adventure, with Gray Sinclair being the beleaugered, tortured treasure hunter searching for a rare red diamond known as the sacred heart. Bonnie is Ms. George's usual high spirited heroine who takes no guff and could give a darn about the way a woman is "supposed" to act. I must admit, the ending took me by surprise (no peeking now!). Original and different, which is exactly what I've come to expect from this author.

From the back cover:

Gray Sinclair has spent a lifetime doing exactly as he pleases--and women are one of the things that please him most. But a fiery Scottish lass is determined to show him that indulgence has a price, and it's time that this handsome libertine pay...

With four protective older brothers, Bonnie MacTavish has had little experience with romance, but she has no intention of being seduced by a black-hearted English scoundrel whose devilishly wicked smile tempts Bonnie to forget he's been charged with murder. Yet when Gray's shrewd determination provides him with the means of escape from his cell--taking Bonnie with him--she learns that this charming outlander cannot be the murderer her brothers believe him to be. Gray is no ordinary pirate, but rather an extraordinary and haunted man--one who deserves her help. If one she can convince him that the greatest adventure is love...

And my review:

First of all, although this book is part of a series, it also worked as a stand-alone. I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, and I never felt lost.

However, if you're looking for a keep-you-up-all-night, can't-put-it-down book, then I don't think this is the book for you. It is just another average read, though at least both the hero and the heroine were likeable, which many writers don't seem to be able to manage. The hero was swoon-worthy without being a domineering jerk, and the heroine was feisty without being annoying or mean. Also, this was a captive / captor romance that doesn't stray into abuse. If you're like me, you're probably disgusted by books that have the hero raping the heroine, as if this is something romantic or forgiveable. Thankfully, this author doesn't sink to that level; in fact, the hero is more honorable than most men would be in this situation, which I really liked.

My main complaint with the book was that the focus of the book was not on the romance, but on the other themes: of adventure, of a lost treasure, of intrigue, of false accusation, of exotic lands and of brushes with death. All well and good, but I want to read about the romance, with the other things being secondary. Not everyone will agree with me, but I think this book could have been a little more balanced in this aspect. I just couldn't feel the special spark between the lead characters that is vital to making a romance work. And the mystery and action part of the plot just weren't that gripping. I often found my eyes glazing over and my attention wandering. I had to keep forcing it back to the book. A good romance shouldn't make you do that.

I am a natural speed-reader who can read the average 400+ page romance novel in 1.5 days. This 350 page book took me almost seven days to get through it. That ought to tell you something about how gripping it is (or lack thereof). Entertaining, and I wasn't left wishing I hadn't read it, but it certainly wasn't a five-star book.

What can I say? Maybe if I'd been reading this as a part of a series, I would have enjoyed it more. Was this enjoyable and entertaining? Yes. Would I recommend it? Perhaps, but not with glowing praise. Was it memorable? Not really. Would I try something else by this author? Probably, if I could borrow it from the library or find it at a garage sale. Was this book a keeper? No.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 9 reviews  4.6 out of 5 stars