THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER

Author: Laura Drewry ISBN: 9780843960488 4/2008 HISTORICAL/PARANORMAL Publisher: DORCHESTER
Time Period: 1881 Texas

Shoveling sulfur and brimstone could really get a girl down. When her dad offered freedom from the fiery depths in exchange for one simple soul-snatching, Lucy Firr jumped at the chance. With her considerable powers of seduction, she threw herself at rancher Jed Caine. Yet instead of taking her to bed, he made her muck out the pigsty. It would take the patience of a saint to resist the likes of Lucy Firr—and Lord knew Jed was no saint. The temptress fired his blood like no woman he’d ever met. Why she’d suddenly latched on to him, he had no idea. But the safest place for her—and her virtue—was out in the barn. Lucy could see the heat in Jed’s gaze. But it was the tenderness of his touch and his hard-won smile that undid her. She was supposed to steal his soul, yet here he was…capturing her heart.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

First off, let me say a big "Thank You" to whoever designed the cover art of THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER. Finally, here's a cover whose characters actually look as they're described inside, from their hair color and hair style to the dress the female model is wearing, right down to the way she gives that come hither look to the man leaning upon the fence. It's a face showing self assurance and plenty of sexy attitude. Nice work, indeed, and a cover that's very pleasant to look at.

As for the story itself, it's an interesting, fun mix of historical romance with a paranormal bent to it. The setting, a run down ranch in Texas in the 1880's, isn't at all what Lucy expects when she coerces Jed into buying her at a bride auction. But being with Jed and his family is her only chance to free herself from Hell, literally, so Lucy decides to play along and do her bit until the right time comes for her to deliver the goods. For in order for Lucy to buy her way out of brimstone, she must supply her father, the Devil, with the souls of Jed, his sister-in-law, Maggie, and the soon-to-be-born baby that Maggie carries. Their souls for hers, you see. Sounds like easy enough work for the Devil's daughter, doesn't it? Well, as Lucy soon discovers, nothing is ever as easy as it seems.

I really had a good time with this book, though I found it much more fun once I got past the mid-point. Lucy is a great character, a spunky Devil's daughter with an attitude and determination to match. At every point she's challenged, Lucy steps up to the plate to figure out a way around it. Jed is handsome, steadfast and yet a dreamer, a man true to his word and with every intention of making their marriage into something that's about more than just sex.

And there's so many delightful secondary characters to play with. For instance, there's Maggie, who sees right through Lucy the moment she steps foot on the ranch; Berta, the townswoman who just can't seem to look Lucy in the eye—for a surprising reason that's later to be revealed; and of course, Deacon, Lucy's dapper brother and a son of the Devil who's determined to thwart Lucy every step of the way.

Yes, I had fun reading THE DEVIL'S DAUGHTER. It was different, well written and fast-paced with good, solid characters and a romance that had a very satisfying ending. Next up is Deacon's story in DANCING WITH THE DEVIL, a book that looks to be as much fun and as well written as Lucy's.

Nancy Davis