ARC Review: The Devil in Her Bed by Kerrigan Byrne

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My Review:

The Red Rogues are back and ready to take on the Crimson Council in The Devil in Her Bed, the third book in the Devil You Know series! This historical romance follows Francesca, a woman who survived an unfathomable tragedy in her youth. One of the only survivors of an attack that killed her family, Francesca lives for revenge and won’t rest until she uncovers the leaders of the Crimson Council, who she believes directed the attack on her home.

The Devil of Dorset is a spy who works for the crown. A man with a mysterious past, he goes by many names. As his path crosses with Francesca, neither can resist the attraction they feel. However, with many secrets, the past, and Francesca’s need for revenge standing in their way, does this pair have a shot at love?

I adored this series and felt that The Devil in Her Bed was a fantastic conclusion! Francesca is a fierce, smart, and strong protagonist. She doesn’t need to rely on anyone to reach her goals and loves a fairly independent life, though she is extremely connected to her two best friends, Cecilia and Alexandra. Francesca lives for revenge and is close to uncovering the leaders of the Crimson Council.

The romance between Francesca and the Devil of Dorset is fiery, sexy, swoon-tastic, and one of my favorite parts of the novel. Their connected past is so painful and tragic, and it has affected them in profound ways. They both live with secrets and are fueled by revenge. However, they both show vulnerability when they are together. They have so much chemistry, and it is clear that their feelings run deep.

I also love that characters from the first two books in the series have important roles in this story. The Red Rogues are a family, and they and their partners help Francesca seek her revenge. This found family aspect is another one of my favorite elements of the story, as is the depiction of strong, independent women. Francesca, Alexandra, and Cecilia are great friends and strong allies, and I loved watching their relationships deepen and expand.

The story is unpredictable, with one particularly shocking revelation. The plot highlights the corruptive nature of power and the dark side of society, and the deeper Francesca digs, the darker and more nefarious the Crimson Council’s intentions appear. Deceit, manipulation, murder, and more make for a suspenseful story filled with intrigue and tension. I like that, just when I thought I figured everything out about the characters and the Crimson Council, Byrne managed to shock me with plot twists and character revelations.

Kerrigan Byrne is a master storyteller with a knack for crafting well-layered and captivating stories with intriguing characters. I loved this series and am a bit sad that it’s over! Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and Kerrigan Byrne for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The romance, of course! Francesca and Chandler have amazing chemistry and a super swoon-worthy romance!

• The depiction of strong, independent women. I love the Red Rogues!

• The intrigue. This story has a lot of unexpected twists and turns!

• The found family/friends-turned-family trope!

Favorite Lines:

A man’s mouth often lied, but his body barely did.

My hate is all I have, and I cannot make way for anything else until it is dealt with.

Whatever souls are made of, yours and mine are the same.

He was a ghost. A chameleon. A shade of a man whose sole vocation in life was to be both notorious and invisible.

Recommendations:

Fans of historical romance with a strong and smart protagonist and a dark and mysterious plot will love The Devil in Her Bed.

Want to learn more about The Devil You Know series? Check out my review for All Scot and Bothered!