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Devil of the Highlands

They call him the Devil . . .

He is the most notorious laird of Scotland: fierce, cold, deadly . . . and maybe even worse. Yet Evelinde has just agreed to wed him. Anything, she thinks, is better than her cruel stepmother. Though Evelinde should be wary of the rumors, she can’t help but be drawn to this warrior . . . for the Devil of the Highlands inspires a heat within her that is unlike anything she has ever known.

They may call him whatever they wish, but Cullen, Laird of Donnachaidh, cares only for the future of his clan. He must find a wife, a woman to bear him sons and heed his commands. He has no need for beauty or grace, but one taste of his lovely bride’s sweet lips and the sultry feel of her skin arouse an untamed passion. Perhaps there’s more to marriage than he thought . . .

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Epilogue please
I enjoy Sands, but whats so hard about leaving readers with a look in the future of the main characters. i hate when there is not an epilogue and I will check to make sure there is one before I buy another book. That why I rated 3 stars instead of 4. Other than that great one day read.

5 Stars The Devil of Donnachaidh
This is a great read. Lynsay Sands’ descriptive ability creates vivid images in your mind. I can just see Evelinde riding her horse with her gown trailing behind her trying to dry it.

I have always enjoyed the hilarity in all Lynsay Sands’ books. I usually read paranormal romance and Sands’ Argeneau Vampire Series were so funny that I picked up this novel for a peak at her historical romances. I was so happy it encouraged me to seek out all her historical romances.

3 Stars Lacks the wit and charm of Sands’ usual style
After finishing a long-awaited historical by Lynsay Sands, I have just one thing to say: What happened to the funny? Sands has always delivered laugh out loud outrageousness, regardless of genre. But although there are a few, small amusing scenes, not one of the made me smile, let alone laugh.

As an historical romance, it’s perfectly fine. The characters are fine, if a bit stereotypical, and the plot is predictable and easily figured out. In short–it’s just another rubber stamp historical without any of the wit, charm and humor that Sands normally puts in her writing.

2 Stars Dullard of the Highlands and his whiny wife
*sigh* I actually enjoy Lynsay Sands usually. I’ve read all of her vampire books and they’re fun, quick reads. This was the first historical by her that I’ve read. I already own “The Brat”, so it might not be my last, but I’m kind of hoping it would be.

The biggest complaint that I probably have is that if I totaled all of the dialogue in this 351 page book, it MIGHT cover 8 or so pages. Seriously, these people don’t talk to each other at ALL. That’s a bone of contention between the hero and heroine, so I’m being a bit tongue in cheek, but only somewhat. I’d rather have prose than dialogue if it’s just unnecessary dialogue, but SOME is always a good thing.

The mystery was just silly. Evelinde is a combination of smart and dumb-@zz stupid. Cullen is a decent enough guy (especially for the time period), but he seems almost… slow. And I’m not talking about his reticence. I’m just referring to how long it takes him to understand what’s going on.

Everyone relies WAAAY too much on their “feelings” of whether someone’s guilty or not. The “decision” that Evelinde makes to solve the mysteries is done completely off-hand, without any thought or care for how she was going to do it. The mystery was solved so easily, and so quickly, that the idea that it may have remained unsolved for 12 or so years is absolutely absurd!

While in her other books this author writes a decent and hot sex scene, the ones in this book seem completely out of place. They are short, the content isn’t within character of the hero and heroine, and there’s no heat whatsoever. They are completely uninspired. And considering how poor they are, there are too many of them. I’d rather have fewer, better scenes, but if they’re going to be bad, please spare me the frequency.

There are only a few things that redeem this book at all, thus earning it two stars rather than one (although it’s still not as bad as some of the 1 star books I’ve read, and I’ve got to give it credit for that).

First was the wedding. That was cute and amusing. I like the idea of her “flopping” like a “fish”. Then again, so many of the phrases used in that regard are out of place in a 13th century novel.

Second were the characters of Mildrede and Mac. They were cute and fun characters. They were probably the most “real” of any in the book. Mildrede having to be “calmed” when Edda was cruel to Evelinde was cute. I liked that Mac became Cullen’s confidant. They’re good foils.

Third was that there was some comedy in it. It was a relatively quick book, and that’s sometimes just what you want. But I’d rather have a quick GOOD read than one that I just… well… don’t like!

Skip this one; read her vamp books instead!

4 Stars Devil of the Highlands
Cullen Laird of Donnachaid didn’t care what people thought of him; all he cared about was protecting his clan. His only need for a wife was to bear his children and follow his orders and nothing more but his needs quickly changed when he met his bride Evelinde.

Evelinde thought her husband to be cold, heartless and frightening from the rumors she heard about him, but if marrying him meant she would be away from her evil stepmother, then so be it. For all she thought her husband to be, Evelinde never expected the strong feelings of passion he evoked in her and the need only he could satisfy.

Devil of The Highlands was good. I found Cullen to be rather likable but wasn’t very crazy about Evelinde. Cullen was the strong silent type and although he didn’t speak much, he is what kept me interested in the story. I liked the mystery aspect of the story and the supporting characters added some comedic relief as well. All in all Devil of the Highlands was an entertaining story and a good read for historical romance lovers.

Ley

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

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Calling Mr Lonely Hearts A Novel

Three childhood friends. A malicious lie. One hell of a consequence.

Growing up, Roxanne, Del, and Alice tested the limits of their friendship with cruel, and often dangerous, games–but they always knew they would be bound together forever. Now, Alice’s marriage is over, and her husband is having a child with another woman. Roxanne, an artist consumed by her work, is losing touch with her friends–and perhaps with reality. And Del is desperate to be a perfect wife and adoring stepmother, but her friends see that her careful façade is crumbling.

The instrument of their destruction is a single enigmatic man–Varick. He seems to be a lonely woman’s dream come true, but where has he come from? And what does he want? As he seduces the women in turn, their lives become unrecognizable to them. Varick’s secret lies buried in their shared past. One simple, childish act has brought them, all these years later, to a place where not only their lives but also their souls are at risk. For once upon a time, the three of them agreed to tell a lie–one that ruined the life of a young priest. Defrocked, destitute, and ruined, he hoped with the whole of his shattered heart that he would get revenge. And in that hope he shook hands with the one who promised it. The devil himself. Now they all must live with the consequences.

Dark and provocative, Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts will keep readers in its terrifying grip long after the final, chilling page is turned.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A reminder that evil rarely needs to rudely intrude into our lives
Laura Benedict writes in the manner in which Bryan Ferry sings: there is a light, almost airy touch on the surface of her narrative, one that almost masks the sensuality, decadence and subtle terror of what lies beneath. When you begin reading CALLING MR. LONELY HEARTS, Benedict’s latest work, I suggest Ferry’s “Slave to Love” on repeat as your background music. Not that the novel needs any accompaniment: it’s pitch-perfect on its own, an addictive and haunting wonder.

One might think from the title that Benedict has written a chick-lit novel. While it shares some of the elements of that genre — following bffs from adolescence into adulthood, documenting joy and heartbreak — it does so only superficially. Instead, this book will scare you, keep you up all night, and set every nerve in your body on edge and on fire. It is as if Benedict set out to complete the job left undone by Stephen King, John Updike, and yes, maybe even Dante Alighieri. There are elements of all three here, yet Benedict’s tale remains as unique and original as anything you have read recently.

CALLING MR. LONELY HEARTS begins with three friends on the cusp of adolescence: Roxanne is advanced beyond her years, aware of the power of her awakening sexuality; Alice is a needy satellite caught in her orbit; and Del provides an uneasy counterbalance and buffer of relative normality between the two. The girls participate in a ceremony intended to bring to each of them a true and perfect love. Their individual destinies are decided not by this innocent, almost childish ritual (though it has an influence) but rather by an act of seduction involving Father Romero, a young Catholic priest who teaches at a Catholic girls’ school and who hides a prior sin under a strong faith but whose passions become put to ill use. Romero’s unwilling but ultimately headlong rush into sin leads to a further betrayal and the end of his vocation, a state of affairs for which he is not blameless but rather a victim as much of his own weakness as he is of the girls’ guile.

Disgraced, Romero leaves behind the school, the priesthood — and a situation that he will not learn of for decades. Meanwhile, Del, Roxanne and Alice remain in contact as they attain adulthood, though they lead very different lives. Del is married to a widower with a child and is overwhelmed, if happily so, with the responsibilities. Roxanne is a successful artiste and, while eschewing permanent relationships, has never met a husband she couldn’t seduce. Alice is on the cusp of a failed marriage to a successful dentist who is about to leave her for a woman who is pregnant with his child.

Romero, teaching at a faraway community college, meets Varick, an enigmatic creature who is willing to give Romero the revenge he craves against the friends, in return for the ultimate price: his life. Romero, seduced in the present as he was in the past, readily agrees. Varick gradually insinuates himself into the lives of each of the women in very different ways but with increasingly horrific results. It is fascinating to watch Varick work his purposes with the women — a process that begins quite early in the book — particularly with Alice, who is all too willing to do Varick’s diabolical bidding, even if it means destroying the lives of innocents.

CALLING MR. LONELY HEARTS is a reminder that evil rarely needs to rudely intrude into our lives; in most instances, it is invited to enter, even welcomed and embraced, though not always recognized for what it is. Benedict’s chilling narrative is by turns subtle, chilling and hauntingly erotic, as it describes events both horrific and surprisingly redemptive. Most importantly, however, from beginning to end it is as irresistible and unforgettable as a gentle, unexpected kiss from a lovely, attractive stranger first spied across a crowded room — one that will take root in your memory and never leave.

— Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

4 Stars Creepy and Disturbing
Laura Benedict is a new to me author. Her new book titled: Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts sounded intriguing, so I decided to get it from the library. From the title alone, I had no idea this book would be as creepy as it was………….YIKES!

About the book

After summoning a lover through a ritual part witchcraft, three 13-year-old Lolitas–Roxanne, Del and Alice–believe that their new teacher at Cincinnati’s Our Lady of the Hills school, is the angel sent to deflower them. Roxanne successfully schemes to seduce Cuban-born Father Romero, who suffers terrible guilt as a result. When Alice and Del each falsely accuse Romero of acting inappropriately toward them, Romero is defrocked and loses his job. Seventeen years later, Romero returns to town with Varick, a demon disguised as a man, to punish the now adult schoolgirls. The three find themselves at the mercy of the devil and no one around them is safe.

Varick, the devil disguised as an attractive man, was introduced fairly early in the book to work on the women. It is through his character that the narrative became somewhat erotic, but mostly chilling and disturbing. I would have passed on this book had I read some reviews on it beforehand, however, I can see how this book would appeal to people who enjoy books about with an element of horror.

Reader Beware!

1 Star not a sympathetic character in this book
I don’t generally review books, but, this book is screaming for some balance compared to what the other reviewers have to say. What can you say about a book that has a priest who has killed someone and slept with a 13 year old is cast as “the victim”? The 3 best friends don’t even particularly like each other and, are often intentionally mean to one of the group. The supernatural/witchcraft plot line isn’t strong enough or developed enough to carry the interest in what happens to these people…. When the most sympathetic characters are the cheating husband of one of the friends and his pregnant girlfriend who is there to hope that the devil doesn’t actually punish?

5 Stars Highly Original and Satisfying
Highly original, and just as much unexpected, /Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts/ gently teases you into reading along, while you are unknowingly being led into the setup for quite the ride. Three childhood girlfriends are all drifting apart in their now middle-aged lives and going through the same old routine – divorce, loneliness, the works. All of their problems, it seems, are being caused, at least in part, by the suave and secretive Varick, and it looks like he knows exactly what to do to achieve his goal. Varick has been sent on a mission of vengeance by a bitter priest, who all three women wronged quite a long time ago.

With creative plot lines and quite innovative drama, /Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts/ is an excellent piece of work. Benedict has come up with something new in genre in which too many books read exactly the same, save for names of characters, and she has done so with chilling aptitude.

4 Stars be careful what you wish for
3 girls invoke an old ritual, which the dominant one inflicts on the weakest one – to get a perfect lover. Years pass, and careers diverge, but soon a mysterious man starts to dominate each of their lives. It gets quite scary. The characters are depicted well, the story is told well, and the ending is quite appropriate. An enjoyable and chilly book.

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Devils Pact Devils Playground Siren Publishing

Epitome of pure evil, born without a heart, soul, or conscience…even his parents did not claim him. An outlaw who takes what he wants… The moment Devin Spawn stumbles upon the exquisite beauty bathing alone in a river, he wants her. Morality non-existent, yet he struggles to keep his distance. His sexual excesses and massive proportions would be too much for the tiny girl who appears more waifish and innocent than womanly. A widow with so much to give… The instant Megan Spawn feels his heated touch and potent sensuality, her flesh burns with wanton desires. It matters little he is the devilishly handsome outlaw known as the Devil’s Spawn, the most feared, lethal gunslinger in the West — and her stepson. Together they risk everything in the devil’s playground… Where sexuality is as untamed as the bloodthirsty savages roaming the western frontier, and childhood sweetheart Caleb Walker is guilty as sin, the dark side of lust and passionate surrender comes at a hefty price when the three forge a Devil’s Pact.

Sensuality Rating: SCORCHING/SEXTREME
Genre: Western / Menage a Trois
Length: Humongous Novel (180,000 words)

REVIEW for Devil’s Pact

“Devin Spawn is an outlaw. Given away at birth by his father, Devin travels to his father’s ranch to find out why. When he gets close, he comes across a tiny, beautiful woman bathing in the river. Since he has the devil inside of him, Devin does the one thing that comes natural to him–he seduces and makes her his own. There is one thing Devin doesn’t know. He has just had relations with his stepmother. Megan Spawn has had a tough life. Rescued from a life of drudgery by her now deceased husband, she wants to spend her life caring for her stepdaughters and possibly being able to have a relationship with the town doctor, her first love, Caleb Walker. That is, until she is touched by the outlaw known as Devil’s Spawn. Caleb Walker has loved Megan ever since she was a little girl. When his family caught them in the barn when they were teenagers and sent him away, Caleb has despaired of ever being able to be with Megan. He loves her and is willing to give her time. However, with the arrival of Devin Spawn, time may be running out because it seems that no matter how much Caleb loves her, she might not be his for the taking. Megan and Devin enter into a carnal relationship like none before. Their coming together is sensual and passionate. It is harsh and bold. But where does Caleb fit into this equation? Caleb and Devin enter into a pact, a pact where Caleb becomes part of the pair to make a triad. While Devil’s Pact wasn’t the tender and enchanting menage that I have grown used to reading, it still engrossed me cover to cover, and with the book being over 180,000 words, that is saying quite a lot. In all honesty, I didn’t put it down. Samantha Cruise has written a menage unlike any I have read and I plan to read anything else she releases. She caught my attention with Devil’s Pact and I think she will hold it for a long time.” –Talia Ricci, Joyfully Reviewed

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