Devil's Wager [Mass Market Paperback]

Lad is a strong and interesting character. We find out why he leaves the United States, and even after a traumatic time in his life during The War of 1812 (losing his brother and shortly thereafter his mother), he still takes up his birth right in England. Not an easy move, and not one most people would have made. He loved his home and the memories it held of his family, but he was able to move beyond that. Once in England, watching Lad struggle with both the aristocracy and common folk is fascinating. He tries to befriend his tenants and ultimately sets them against him because of his egalitarian beliefs. They just don't understand him, and being an American, he just can't think of them as inferior or himself as superior. How he overcomes this and develops his character, makes for great reading.

I found Diana a bit of a weak character, not believing in Lad's love (he figured out his letters were not reaching her, why could she not figure the same, especially for an intelligent person) and sticking so strongly to her home. The idea that love is not enough does not sit well with me (as a fan of romance books). How she could love Lad for what he is, but wants to change the very things that make him who he is, is unrealistic. The writing itself is wonderfully done, and I truly enjoyed reading Devil's Wager.

P. Lad Walker had lost his parents and brothers. Some to the war, some due to other causes. He was urged to go see the land his father had spoken so much about, even though Lad had his own estate to run in America. Once there he fell in love with Diana. She returned the feeling. However, she would never leave Kerlain and he could not imagine staying. None of the people liked him since he was American. None would listen to his American methods of putting the castle and its land back on its feet. To make matters worse, he lost the estate to a man to Eoghan in a card game during a time of grieving. He did not know how much the man coveted his wife. Lad had thought the man in only friend in the country.

Diana was being blackmailed by Eoghan. Eoghan gave her three years to pay back the sum he named for regaining Kerlain. The hardest thing Diana ever had to do was send Lad away to find the funds. If she left England with her husband, Eoghan would see it that the estate went to ruin and that the tenants, down to the last child, would die of starvation. Diana had to agree that if Lad, the new Earl, could not pay the sum, then she would willingly divorce Lad, marry him, and be his wife in all ways. This bargain she could not reveal to her husband though. If Lad were to know, he would kill Eoghan. Lad, being American, would not even get a trial.

*** Incredible story! Diana is such a brave and strong woman. Lad was her match in every way. Author, Mary Spencer, concluded this marvelous trilogy with a big climax. A keeper for your book shelves! ***