Till Dawn with the Devil: Lords of Vice [Mass Market Paperback]

Till Dawn with the Devil has an intriguing storyline with some unexpected twists but somehow it never really grabbed me the way it should have. The characters of this novel are not fully developed, especially the heroine, who was a little bland.

The hero of this tale, Reign Housely, the Earl of Raincourt belongs to an exclusive club, aristocrats who are known as the lords of Vice. There is an expectation, therefore, that Reign will be a naughty boy very much in need of taming, not so. Reign is already rather tame, he has a temper and he is independent but he definitely was not overly jaded nor was he truly all that bad. He does have a tarnished past though.

Lady Sophia has lost part of her vision as a child and she encounters Reign at a society function. She knows who he is, that he belongs to the Lords of Vice and she is more than aware that his family and hers are entangled in a sordid sad history. This does not deter Sophia from wanting to meet Reign.

Upon their first meeting they share an innocent kiss which might just be the best scene in the novel, amidst the soft moonlight and straining night music Reign is enchanted by innocent Sophia. He does not know her identity and when he discovers who she is, they are separated by Sophia's overbearing brothers.

The two do not forget their sweet kiss and whenever they see each other at societal events their mutual attraction grows stronger. Reign comes to Sophia's rescue when her brother threatens to marry her off without her consent, Reign also lets Sophia know that he is not a believer in love and she should not expect such an emotional response from him.

Several aspects of this story never really materialized. Reign and Sophia's family histories never came into play until the very end of the novel and even then, it was an outside force rather than their own emotions which compelled them to search for answers to their past. For a sinful Aristocrat, Reign was altogether charming and polite with Sophia. His character would have been richer if he had been a little wilder. Sophia was barely known. Yes, she was kind but I felt as if there was so much more to her that I was not told. Sophie's history is scarce and it would have been interesting to read about how she coped as a child with vision problems and even what her hobbies were. Her vision impairment was only described as someone who was looking through oil and water and trying to focus. This really did not describe well enough to me her vision capabilities and limitations. She seemed to be able to see Reign's face but was it altogether blurry, how far away could she focus?

Despite these criticisms, there are some rather fine moments in this novel. Sophia's archery lesson shows Reign in his best light. It is a sensuous and care free scene for both characters. The dialogue between the protagonists moves the story forward and reveals their innermost thoughts; Reigns' is particularly good when he contemplates Sophia. Overall this gets a three star rating; I wanted more background for Sophia and more vice from Reign.

In 1821 everyone admires yet also fears the notorious Lords of Vice. Perhaps the most frightening of the friends is Lord Gabriel "Reign" Housely, who's deriding of others since his wife died after a spat nine years ago, is beyond polite nasty.

When Lady Sophie Northam was a child she suffered an injury that wrecked her eyesight. When she meets Gabriel, she is unable to see him, but can hear his scornful cynical tone. Instead of backing away like most do when Gabriel rips skin, Sophie senses the melancholy he conceals beneath a veneer of derision. Still she also knows her imperfect body makes her an undesirable so she plans to stay away from the aristocrat she is attracted to in order to avoid the hurt she expects she would feel. He refuses to allow her to run as he wants her too. However, their parents' deadly trysts leave both wondering if love is enough to surmount their interrelated heritage.

The latest Lords of Vice Regency romance (see All Night with a Rogue and After Dark with a Scoundrel) is a wonderful pairing of a seemingly Romeo and Juliet like star-crossed pair with additional personal issues that make each feels less than worthy of the other. The story line is fast-paced but it is the tango between the female who cannot see yet "sees" into the soul of her beloved and the male who feels guilt over his late wife's death.

Harriet Klausner

Gabriel Housely, the Earl of Rainecourt, or "Reign" is welcome at ton events, but that doesn't stop people from gossiping about him. Eight years ago, his pregnant wife was found dead in her room, with a broken neck. Although most believe it to be a tragic accident, there are those that think Reign is guilty.

Lady Sophia is tired of feeling like a burden to her two brothers Henry and Stephan. Her parents were murdered when she was six in an apparent murder-suicide and during the attack, she was struck in the head, and her eyesight has been very poor ever since.

It is at a ball, that Sophia's beauty catches Reign's attention. Normally not one to dally with the ladies, he asks her to dance which throws the shyer Sophia off guard. When getting some air, they realize the sad history they share - it was Reign's father who murdered Sophia's parents and then killed himself. Her brothers want her to have nothing to do with him, but soon, her brothers get in way over their heads in the gambling halls, and Reign may be her only saving grace.

I was very disappointed with Til Dawn With the Devil. Right off the bat Reign and Sophia both realize that Reign's father murdered Sophia's parents and caused a punishing blow to her head and yet hardly anything comes of it. I understand Reign is an innocent party pertaining to his father's actions, but that is a lot of baggage to deal with. The hurt and anger of losing her parents is still surrounding Sophia, but nothing is made of Reign's family connections. No opportunity is taken to explore this very fragile history that has intertwined their lives.

There are also nasty rumors swirling around Reign that he murdered his first wife and unborn child. Again, Sophia has 100% confidence he is an innocent. Sophia is about ready to be auctioned off by her brothers to cover their debt and Reign swoops in. Here is a man that she really doesn't know all that well with a very sordid, mysterious past and she not only accepts his proposal with ease, but their marriage is smooth sailing too. With the emotional distress Sophia has overcome with her murdered parents and her own assault, coupled with Reign's horrid marriage, the two of them got together too easily!! Where is the drama? The angst?

The book ends with a very dramatic, action packed event, but overall, it lacked conflict, and it missed the mark in confronting the hero and heroine's emotions that should have played a big role.

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