Devil Takes A Bride is the latest installment in the Knight family saga by Gaelen Foley. Characters from the earlier novels play a supporting role in this one, adding texture and depth to the story for those of us who have read the entire series. This book stands on its own, but if you like it, you will want to read the other four in the series which are equally as thrilling as this one.

Devlin Kimball, Lord Strathmore, has spent years sailing the high seas having one adventure after another and trying to outrun the demons that haunt him. A tragic fire claimed the lives of his family when he was only seventeen, and he spiraled downward in a pit of drunken despair and guilt. His aunt Augusta, the Dowager Viscountess Strathmore, hoping to save him from destroying himself, buys him a ship for his twenty-first birthday and sends him away from England.

Ten years later, Devlin has returned to England and is living the life of a despicable rake, racking up enormous bills and losing at the gambling tables. Given his behavior of years ago, most believe that there is no hope for Lord Strathmore, who is also known as Devil Strathmore due to his dark good looks and his questionable character. His only goal in life seems to be becoming a member of the notorious Horse and Chariot Driving Club. The group of men who belong to this club are the worst sort of debauched souls, and Devlin seems to fit the criteria for acceptance into their club: good birth, no morals, and lots of money.

In truth, for the last several years Devlin has been investigating every detail about the fire that killed his parents and little sister. He has reason to believe that the fire was no accident and that certain members of the Horse and Chariot Driving Club may have been responsible. It has become his life’s mission to infiltrate the dangerous club, gain their trust, find the answers to the questions that have haunted him for years, and punish the guilty.

Miss Lizzie Carlisle is lady’s companion to the elderly Dowager Viscountess Strathmore, and she is furious at the lady’s nephew for the way he is treating his aunt. In a moment of anger, she sends a message to Devlin informing him that his aunt is ill, and is surprised when he rushes to his aunt’s side. Lizzie plans to take him to task for the way he is abusing his aunt’s generosity by running up massive bills that the lady pays. But Devlin is not the man that Lizzie expected him to be. His love and devotion to his aunt become obvious during his visit.

Devlin is furious when he almost kills himself traveling through a snowstorm to his aunt’s side, only to find out that he has been duped by Lizzie. The two strike sparks off each other from the very beginning as Devlin is drawn to Lizzie’s quiet strength, dignity, and her immense kindness. Their attraction to each other grows as they spend time together, but Devlin leaves Lizzie and his aunt to return to his quest for vengeance.

Devil Takes a Bride is a dark tale of murder, revenge, and despair, but ultimately one of redemption and love. Danger and deception surround Devlin and Lizzie at every turn and Devlin must walk a tightrope between his need for revenge and his growing feelings for Lizzie. Devlin tries to stay away from Lizzie, but his aunt’s will forces them together even as the danger surrounding them grows. Lizzie tries to keep her heart safe, having had it broken before by a gambling rake, but she senses the good in Devlin and refuses to give up on him.

This book sucks you in from the very beginning and doesn’t let you go until the very last page. It is filled with darkness and danger, twists and turns, and love and forgiveness. It is a powerful book that is very moving in its realistic depiction of the gamut of human emotions. If you are a fan of Gaelen Foley’s, Devil Takes A Bride does not disappoint and will leave you waiting impatiently for the next installment in this series.