Don't Bargain With the Devil (School for Heiresses) [Mass Market Paperback]

When Diego Montalvo - Master of Mystery - leases the estate next door to Mrs Harris', former pupil turned temporary teacher, Lucy Seton, is certain he's up to no good. So when newspaper reports claim he intends to build a pleasure garden right next to the school, she's determined to thwart him.

Diego is not just Master of Mysteries, but of plans and secrets too, and he's keen to spend time with Lucy in particular. As Lucy becomes ever more attracted to the mysterious magician it's all too easy to answer his probing questions. For a man who claims no intentions of marrying her, though, he's ever so interested. Perhaps the consummate showman has been caught in a trick of his own? Or maybe he has plans for something different altogether.

The latest `Heiresses' book (Never Seduce A Scoundrel ,Only a Duke Will Do,The School for Heiresses (novella),Beware a Scot's Revenge,Let Sleeping Rogues Lie,Snowy Night with a Stranger (novella)) returns to Mrs Harris' school to find the institution in danger. Lucy, reeling from a recent rejection, is eager to prove she's no irresponsible hoyden, and the first half of this book romps along in true Jeffries style, with the intriguing addition of Diego's tricks to further enrich this historical world. The main characters strike sparks off each other, and all is developing nicely.

Until Lucy becomes suspicious and Diego turns desperate. That's fine, except that from then on Diego becomes rather annoying. I found him self-pitying, irritatingly haughty and a touch whiney. And he started so promisingly too. True, he does redeem himself (this is a romance, after all), but the hundred or so pages of Me! Me! Me! Spoiled things for me. Also Lucy's inconsistency - suspicious, naïve, taken in, suspicious, then not. Argh! Do neither of them learn?

Admittedly, it does all make for a fine moment when Lucy loses her temper with everyone and everything.

And finally, I also found the unravelling of Lucy's past needlessly complicated. One twist too many, I thought, seemingly added to explain a plot bump and add a bit more drama.

Which was a shame, because otherwise this was just as enjoyable as the rest of the series, and the motivations Jeffries provides from Diego are entirely understandable. It should have made him very sympathetic, but his methods and attitudes grated a little. The rest of the tale is enriched by Jeffries' glorious blend of history and romance. Not to mention the ongoing correspondence between Mrs Harris and Cousin Michael - soon to be resolved in Wed Him Before You Bed Him.(Can't wait to see if my guess about him is correct!)

A fair addition to the series, if not as polished as usual. Bring on Charlotte's reckoning!

A fast moving, unusual addition to the School for Heiresses series. The hero and heroine are all one could wish - sexy,courageous, interesting and made for each other, but there are plenty of stumbling blocks and misunderstandings before the happy ending. Interesting detail on the Peninsular war.

Beautiful but outspoken Lucinda Seton is distraught when she learns that the gorgeous Spaniard from the neighboring estate intends to turn his land into a pleasure garden thus ruining the School for Girls where Lucy works. Determined to stop him, she agrees to show him around and hopefully change his mind.

Diego Montalvo hasn't really come to open a pleasure garden but rather to find the long lost granddaughter of a rich Spanish count and bring her back to Spain. If he is to succeed and gain his reward he only has to follow one rule - Lucy must be returned untouched. Easier said than done when the only reward he wants is Lucy herself.

This is the fifth book in the School for Heiresses series (after Never Seduce A Scoundrel, Only a Duke Will Do, Beware a Scot's Revenge and Let Sleeping Rogues Lie). While the books do all tie together, there is no reason to have read the previous books to enjoy and understand this one.

I am a huge fan of Sabrina Jeffries and this latest book definitely lived up to my expectations. From the start, both Diego and Lucy were likeable characters that you can identify with and really get behind. I liked their chemistry together and the fact that both were passionate and fiery. Lucy was feisty without being a stereotype and Diego was a gorgeous, intense Spaniard - a perfect combination.

The back story of what really happened to Lucy was interesting and intriguing without ever being overly complicated. All the loose ends were tied up well making for a satisfying ending even if it did make you desperate to read the next book in the series, Wed Him Before You Bed Him which wraps up Charlotte's story.

Overall, this was a well written, fun, lively and exciting romance novel that I would recommend to anyone. 5 stars.