"Entertaining Victorian romance"

Sidonie Saint-Godard learned her self-sufficiency in France so to have to buckle up her independence due to London society norms feels like a strait jacket. Still to earn money, she teaches deportment to the inane daughters of the upward thrusting nouveau riche. In the evening she is the avenging Black Angel sworn to strike out on dishonorable men preying on misfortune women.

Her current target is the Devil of Duke Street, the Marquess of Devellyn whose mistresses come and leave rather quickly, but always leave in tears. Known for his hedonism, he is stunned when the Black Angel with a tattoo of her nom-de-plume on her breast seduces him into her bed, ties him up and steals his most valuable possession. Frustrated in several ways, he warns her that he is coming for her. Not long afterward Sidonie tries to serendipitously return Devellyn his things, but he catches her. They make love and both feel like a prisoner of their passion.

This is an entertaining Victorian romance with two likable but emotionally guarded individuals unable to trust anyone especially the opposite sex. The story line moves rather quickly forward as Devellyn and Sidonie engage in a battle of the sexes starting with when she ties him up and ending in one heated final altercation. Fans will enjoy this absorbing dueling duet as they furbish a fine nineteenth century romance.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted December 18, 2004

Summary

Liz Carlyle, bestselling author of The Devil You Know and A Deal With the Devil, continues her devilish streak with this sensual regency romance. By day, Sidonie Saint-Godard is a quietly elegant young widow who teaches deportment to the unpolished daughters of London's nouveau riche. By night, she is someone altogether different.... The notorious Black Angel -- so called for her lusciously located angel tattoo -- ruthlessly takes from powerful men who exploit, and gives to those who suffer at their hands. Always in disguise, she has eluded capture and her identity remains a mystery.... The Marquess of Devellyn, one of the least noble noblemen in town, uses and discards women as he pleases. But when the Black Angel entices him into her bed, ties him up, and pilfers his most valued possession, she may have gone too far. This time, Devellyn tells her, she'll have the devil to pay. And he definitely means to collect.