Lady Eden Spencer, educated in a convent, intends to take her vows. But opposition from her uncle and even the Mother Superior convinces Eden she can't dedicate her life to goodness when she has no idea what it's like to be bad. Sinfully handsome Damien Sinclair agrees to introduce Eden to London's every vice – but she never suspects that she will introduce this rake to something even more tempting – love.
Susan: Melanie George's DEVIL MAY CARE takes place in Regency England. Lady Eden Spencer, raised in a convent, has no idea what it's like to be bad. Before taking her vows, Eden makes an arrangement with Damien Sinclair to show her what it's like to be bad. But while sinful Damien Sinclair introduces Eden to vice, Eden introduces Damien to love.
Susan: I enjoyed this book Ann and think Melanie George has a lot of potential. I especially enjoyed her portrayal of the hero, Damien.
Ann: I agree Susan. I found that I also really enjoyed DEVIL MAY CARE. And I will be the first to say that I tend to prefer contemporaries, futuristic or paranormals over historicals. At first I found myself thinking Damien was rather flat, but as the story progresses, Melanie George really lets you see into Damien's character.
Susan: I agree. I wondered at first if she wrote him that way or if she wanted us to see him that way.
Ann: I thought that she *wanted* us to see him that way. It seemed that the reader discovered facets of Damien as Eden realized them. By the middle, I discovered, I liked Damien and really started to feel angry with his mother. (laughs)
Susan: I think Damien really reveled in his reputation. As the story progressed we saw what a sham it was.
Ann: Because at first, Eden took Damien's reputation at face value, but as she began to gain a better understanding of him that was when the reader did too.
Susan: Yes, when I first started this book I thought oh gee yet another rake!! I was very pleased to get to know the "real" Damien along with Eden.
Susan: I did think the book was a tad anachronistic in some respects. The attitudes were very modern in some aspects. This tends to be pretty common in many historical so I just looked past it and kept going.
Susan: There were some wonderful secondary characters Ann.
Ann: Definitely! How can you forget Reggie, his dog, and the scene in the park? I was on the floor laughing!
Susan: I thought the comparison/contrast George did between the parents was fascinating. Eden's parents were very loving and she had a much better sense of self than Damien did.
Ann: Yes she did. And Eden's feelings of guilt were very realistic as well.
Susan: Eden genuinely cared about people and looked beyond the surface with Damien, which I adored.
Ann: I would have liked some more detail on Celia & Reggie, but you know, the more I think about it... I've decided that is *my* reader asking. Because it doesn't detract from the story the way it is.
Susan: I was thinking the same thing. I wanted to know more about their relationship. I'm guessing Melanie George didn't feel there was enough there to write another book on their relationship.
Ann: Or, Melanie George felt that Celia and Reggie will need their own tale (maybe a novella?) as it would have made DEVIL MAY CARE quite long and not necessarily advanced the story of Damien and Eden.
Ann: At the beginning, Eden seemed almost *too* good. You know - the "I've been orphaned, raised in a convent and I believe in mankind's inherent goodness."
Susan: (Laughs) - I thought we were hauling out an old chestnut at the beginning too! As the book progressed I got the feeling it was more of a comfort to her and that there wasn't really a religious "calling."
Ann: Yes. I think it was more of a comfort to her also.
Susan: Reggie was such a neat guy! I think he genuinely wanted the best for Eden unlike his father (the uncle) and Myddleton.
Ann: I do too. I thought the secondary plot between Damien's mother and Lord Myddleton was more contrived then anything.
Susan: I thought that part of the plot could have been cut. Other than to show how miserable the mother and Lord Myddleton were!
Ann: Miserable? I was thinking more like "pathetic" myself.
Ann: Reggie was an excellent vehicle to bring out the humor in this story.
Susan: Reggie provided lots of comic relief, which helped immensely.
Ann: Reggie, allowed Damien to show some depth to his character, and he provided the perfect devil's advocate to Eden in the beginning.
Susan: I think Reggie also pushed Eden into doing something that initially she wouldn't have done. I think Eden would have been comfortable staying in the convent mode - once she stepped out of it her character began to blossom.
Ann: Well, for instance - when Reggie advised Damien that because Damien was such a horrid person, Reggie didn't dare to point out the denuded rose trellis that leads to Eden's bedroom window.
Ann: And of course we later find out Reggie denuded it himself!
Susan: I loved how obvious Reggie was - just about drew Damien a map complete with arrows - enter here!
Ann: Yes, Reggie goaded Eden into fulfilling her bargain with Damien. And he goaded Damien into making sure Eden fulfilled it.
Susan: He was definitely manipulating both of them from behind the scenes!
Susan: Personally I love characters like Reggie - you see the hero and heroine through someone else's eyes other than themselves!
Ann: This is the first book by Melanie George that I have read. I think based on this one sample, she will continue to write books that I will certainly look forward to. I *do* want to see what she has in store for Damien's two brothers.
Susan: I would give this book a BEATING HEART.
Ann: Hmmm, well I am definitely putting it on my keeper shelves, and I definitely want to see what happens with Damien's brothers, but there were several things about the book that bothered me enough that I would have to say BEATING HEART also.
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DEVIL MAY CARE
Melanie George
ISBN 082177008X
Zebra Books
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Susan
Gives This Book
A
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Ann
Gives This Book
A
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