Lord Birmingham, known as Devil (Rhys), rules over Devil's Night and is feared by any one who crosses his path. Kitty Caldecott owns a bookshop for women selling naughty novels and clapbooks. She is barely able to keep her family above water because of her father's contant gambling. Stealing a marker from Devil gives her an idea and an opportunity to make a deal. Her father and aunt are forcing her younger sister to marry Lord Portsmouth, rumored to have murdered his previous wives. Kitty must protect her sister and prevent the wedding. Devil has the power to work against Lord Portsmouth. Kitty is very smart at keeping Devil flummoxed and entertained. I was constantly laughing. This is a fast paced feel good read with a very strong heroine, including her antics, who constantly challenges a man society fears.
Explicit sex
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I was on a roll with reading books one by one at the beginning of this year, but I was also lazy with my reviews, so now I'm stuck with writing them two months later.
I'm glad I got to read this ARC; it was my first read by this author. I don't remember much of it, but I rated it five stars, so I must have liked something if not loved. Hopefully, my next read by this author will be reviewed sooner.

Jumping back into historicals and Deal with the Devil was a delight.

Kitty’s father is selling her sister into marriage to a cruel Lord with three dead wives. Kitty decides to steal something from the real known as Devil to blackmail him into helping her sister. Devil decides to help but Kitty might not like everything he requires.

Kitty is such a strong character and a bookseller of romance novels to boot! I loved her banter with Devil and the cast of characters under Devil’s protection. I didn’t love that as a second book there were a few parts of the spinsters society and previous actions/arguments that were hinted at but never explained or were vague in this book and the ending seemed a little rushed.

This book does make me want to grab more historicals from the library!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

Thank you @dragonbladepublishing and @netgalley for the eARC.

#book #bookrecommendations #historicalromance #adealwiththedevil #netgalley #romancebooks #romancereader #novelsandneedlework

Stealing the Devil’s Heart

Kitty picks Rhys’s pocket, but they don’t call him the Devil for no reason. There are consequences for stealing from the Devil. Except, when it comes to matters of the heart, things are never simple. Not only does Kitty steal a vowel from the Devil’s pocket but also his heart. She blackmails him to help her with a ruthless man intent on marrying her sister, but does she need to resort to blackmail? Rhys is on her side. Will he and Kitty stop a murderer from marrying her sister?

In this story, there is one villain, and it is not the Devil. It is a man who buried several wives. Did he kill them? Could Rhys and Kitty protect her sister from a similar fate? For the answers, you might want to read this lovely story. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who like historical romance.

this was a strong sequel in the Spinster Society series, it had that element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening in this historical romance novel. I was invested in what was happening and thought the romance was really well done. The characters worked well in this series and setting. Alyxandra Harvey wrote this well and was glad I got to read this. I hope to read more from this series and from Alyxandra Harvey.

This was a great story beginning to end. Kitty is the least likely person to offend or hurt someone but she has no choice but to help her sister.. she goes to great lengths to help her and stand up to the one man she shouldn't. Can't wait for the next story!!

This book two in The Spinster Society was a very captivating and such a fun read. I enjoyed the characters who are strong-willed, complex, and determined. Their humorous and witty banter was very delightful. This story was very engaging with so much drama, action, gambling debts, theft, a book store, a spinster, a devil, a forced marriage, a runaway bride, attempted murder, kidnapping, a dastardly villain, a terrible family life, shootings, stabbings, amd so many other plot twists and emotional issues fhat kept me very entertained. I loved how beautifully this love story ended. I highly recommend reading!

I have just recently discovered Alyxandra Harvey’s books and have become a big fan. She has a wicked sense of humour and her descriptive passages are second to none. This story is very fast moving with lots of twists and turns that kept my interest until the very last page.

DISCLAIMER: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is hands down my favorite Regency Romance I’ve read. I loved this story so much!

I adored the main characters. Kitty’s strength, tenacity and loyalty to her sister shines throughout the whole book and her inner (and outer) monologues had me dying with laughter! Devil… I want to marry that man! He’s built a reputation of being ruthless and feared; but with Kitty, he would hang the stars for her, and threaten those who dare treat her with disrespect!

I loved their banter! I loved how protective of Kitty, Devil was. I really liked the side characters we meet in this story and wonder if we will see them again in future books.

Alyxandra wove an incredible story with A Deal with the Devil that was fun, spicy and filled with intrigue! I can’t wait to read more from her! I will definitely be reading her other Regency Romance books, including the first book in The Spinster Society, as I anxiously await the next!

Even though this is the second book in The Spinster Society series, you can definitely read this one without having read the first.

Thank you NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the advance copy!

I loved "A Deal with the Devil." Devil/Rhys and Kitty have such great chemistry, and I adore Kitty's relationship with Evie. This is the second entry in Harvey's "The Spinster Society" series but can be read as a standalone (though I do think a reader's enjoyment/understanding might be slightly enhanced by having read the prior book). Kitty is the proprietress of a small bookstore, infamous for selling 'naughty' writings. Her father is a degenerate gambler, her aunt a remorseless social climber, and her sister her best friend. Trying to prevent her sister from being sold into marriage with a likely murderer, Kitty steals from Devil. He is...not pleased. And then he becomes obsessed, ending up agreeing to help Kitty prevent her sister's marriage.

Kitty is a favorite amongst recent FMC. She is smart, independent, (head)strong, and intelligent. She more than holds her own with Devil, and their banter is excellent. She is sex-positive and invested in helping women in unfortunate circumstances. Devil is the first person in years, maybe ever, to take care of Kitty, to prioritize care of her. But he is able to do so in a way that also prioritizes her independence and the other things she values. The spice is spicy and well-written, and the side characters are excellent additions to the overall book. I highly recommend this book, as well as Harvey's previous historical romances.

4.5 stars rounded to 5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

Harvey is a new-to-me author (her books came highly recommended by a friend) and I was captivated by her writing from the start! Witty dialogues (and internal monologues), funny moments, a hint of angst (like the icing on a cake!) and an intriguing plot, all made this book a unputdownable read for me. Now I’m certainly going to follow this author and this series in particular with some eagerness!

This was such a fun book! Kitty and Devil were such strong, unusual characters; their banter and interactions made this book. 5 stars!

Another installment of the spinster society. This time it's former spinster Clara's friend Kitty. Kitty makes a deal with Rhys, known as Devil, to save her sister from having to marry a very bad man.

The dialog and banter between Kitty and Rhys is electric. The fact that she pick-pocketed him early on was an extra added touch. The romance was very scorching. A lot of "good girls". This book reminded me of Miranda Neville's "The Wild Marquis", so that puts it in very good company.

I received this book as a gift from the publisher. Opinions are my own.

I don’t really know what makes these spinster society books stand out among all the other historical romances I read. The vibes are just excellent. The plot feels meaningful, and the dialogue is witty. Everything is just… fun. And all the romance novel easter eggs got a lil grin from me, not gonna lie!

A fabulous historical romance with wonderfully wicked characters.
This is part of a series, so you might have met some of the characters in the previous book, but not enough to spoil this one. Also this one doesn't spoil the first if you haven't read it yet.
This author does like to give us exceptional heroines and heroes who are not intimidated by them.
Our heroine this time will do anything to protect her sister.
Our hero is used to being able to scare anyone into to doing what he wants. That will soon change.
This is a steamy read with lots of danger and giggles.
Great fun.

Tropes: class difference; MC's team up to solve a mystery; fake engagement
Steam level: 3
Part of a series, but works as a standalone for the most part.

This writer always brings refreshing elements to her HR's. Here you get a non-princessy, contrary bookseller of smut in Kitty and a gaming hell owner earl nicknamed Devil who terrifies the Ton, but never Kitty. Plenty of snappy banter between them, the chemistry is super hot, and there's wry to dark humor throughout. The author also does a great job of developing the secondary characters and Devil's Sins establishment; I could perfectly picture Devil and his crew in their den of iniquity. The world building around Kitty's bookshop is good too. Her aunt and father are your stereotypical Bad Guardians who do everything but throw rotten vegetables at her store themselves while they steal her money, but they get an appropriate comeuppance (yes, I'm a vengeful reader). And I absolutely loved Devil's protectiveness of Kitty as the book went on.

Quibbles:
--If you haven't read the previous book, Kitty's past with Clara and Lady Priya is confusing at first.
--A bit repetitive in places and I had to re-read a few sentences for clarity, particularly in the first quarter of the book. The editing gets tighter as the storyline unfolds.
--There are a couple scenes that could have been more realistic, played a little less for humor, and it would have upped the tension. In the escape scene at the beginning of the book, for example, Kitty and her sister run across London in the early morning hours wearing just their nightgowns in the freezing rain, and Kitty has on no shoes. Not only are the sisters never accosted and they don't cause a stir in public, they don't even get bruised or scraped up; at least it's not described on-page. In fact, Kitty just has to wash her feet in a basin once they find safety and she's fine.
--As in a previous book by this author, you don't get much of the MMC's POV until later, about the 30% mark. I tend to prefer books that are consistent with the dual POV from the beginning; it draws me into the romance more. Also, I wanted Kitty and Devil to spend more "quality time" earlier on. It felt like some descriptions and scenes could have been trimmed down to focus more on their relationship.

Overall, though, this is a fast, funny, and very sexy HR.

I have read a lot of historical romance books over the last 35 years of my life and I have to say that I really liked this one. The author made the lead female character Kitty strong and brave, not a simpering debutante. Kitty is a bookshop owner and the Daughter to a lowly broke Baron with a gambling problem. She is a safe haven for those in need and a champion of her fellow female characters. I really enjoyed the references to the different genres and stories that she sells in her bookshop. I enjoyed watching her romance with Devil blossom. This was a very easy book to read. The author flowed very nicely in her words.

I absolutely loved the chemistry, banter and connection between Kitty and Rhys. This is a great series to read and while this book can standalone, I would recommend the entire series. My only downside is the repetitiveness in some part that seemed completely unnecessary. An example of this is the reason Kitty's father became a baron. I think the pace and length of the story could be greatly reduced by eliminating that repetition. Outside of that, the secondary characters are fantastic, the villain is truly villainous and the plot fully entertaining.
I especially loved the parts where Kitty is talking to herself, as I could wholly relate.

I loved this book! It was hard to put down. The writing is superb, the romance and attraction is swoon worthy, the banter is great and hilarious and the main characters are just the best.
Kitty is such a trooper! She’s incredibly fierce, bold, sassy, protective and never shies away from fighting for her sister or others in need of help, whether it’s about annoying her aunt P or actual having to stand up to people who could actually hurt her.
And Rhys… I loved that he came across as menacing but he clearly was a good man with a big heart. I adored their romance, there was great character development and a true love story! Kitty and Rhys have great chemistry together. Their story was very well written and always keeps you wanting to turn the page.
I loved almost everything about the book; the people and Kitty’s Griffin bookshop, with grey-blue painted walls and gold trims and griffins on the veiling - and an added griffin every time someone insulted her shop.
The tea and the strawberry cake.
I liked Evie and that she had a hedgehog named Galahad for a pet!
Priya, the leader of the Spinster Society (I’m definitely going to check up on book One; very curious about Priya and the others!), and Pierce. McLeod, Tom, Wulf, Yelena.
The book club; fancy women enjoying romantic books, discussing their favorite hero.
But most of all I loved Kitty’s fierceness, her love for her sister and her dedication to help others. I loved her thinking out loud without realizing it. Miss Peridot and her raw onions - there’s so much fun in this book!!
But there are also nasty people and a villain, great pace and a satisfying ending.
Do yourself a favor and go buy and read this book; you will love it! I haven’t read book 1 but as I’ve said I will definitely check it out right after posting this review. I can't wait to continue on with this series!

Content 411: this is book 2 in the Spinster Society Series but can be read as a standalone. In addition to a moderate amount of secular and religious swearing, there are also a few descriptive sexually intimate scenes.
Thank you to publisher, Netgalley and author for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one was a blast!

Take an earl nicknamed Devil, a merciless collector of debt vowels surrounded by an entourage of war buddies, and fierce protector of his pack.
Add a little redheaded spitfire, a broke baron’s daughter and proud seller of naughty books, desperate to save her little sister from a deadly union.
Some affronted moralists and clergymen, a vile despicable wannabe fiancé, a sour aunt, a worthless father, a carefree baby rogue, an army of deadly efficient vikings and a hedgehog.
Mix with a little theft, threats, blackmail, kidnapping and a whole lot of rotten vegetables, sass and sarcastic repartee - and you get an awesome, thrilling, hilarious, deliciously steamy enemies-to-lovers, not-so-fake engagement, age-gap, touch-her-and-die joyride!

From the very first time Kitty and Rhys exchange a word, their sizzling chemistry just leaps of the page! The dialogue in this book is so dry and so brilliant!
She’s always preferred the dragons over the princes, and life has made her tough, but she’s really not that brave. There’s something about this darkest of morally grey men that intrigues her; he’s the only one who can help her and teasing him is just plain fun!
He’s so used to men bending without protest and women throwing themselves at his feet, that her defiance and fire shake his unfazeable calm and self-control to its very core. Really, who steals from the Devil and the has the audacity to blackmail him? His woman, that’s who, and he will conquer her!

There’s nothing about this book I didn’t like; the style, the plot, the pacing, the setting, the characters and even the pets - everything was just perfect! This tale is action-packed, dangerous and chock-full of heart, and I can’t wait to read the next one in this series!