Books › Deal with the Devil
Deal with the Devil
First published 1988 · 228 pages
A high-stakes, vintage romance where political danger forces bitter enemies into an explosive marriage of convenience.
What it feels like
Reading this vintage 1980s romance feels like stepping into a time capsule of high-stakes melodrama and unapologetic passion. The narrative moves at a brisk, urgent clip, thrusting the reader immediately into a tense, tropical atmosphere thick with political unrest and emotional turbulence. It thrives on the classic friction of forced proximity, trapping two fiercely opposed characters in a marriage of convenience that slowly chips away at their mutual disdain. The prose is characteristically heightened, focusing intensely on racing pulses, flashing eyes, and dramatic declarations. It is a perfect escape for readers who love the raw, unpolished intensity of old-school category romance, where alpha heroes, desperate escapes, and fiery enemies-to-lovers dynamics reign supreme.
- Mood
- tense
- tropical
- turbulent
- claustrophobic
- Tone
- melodramatic
- intense
- passionate
- urgent
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- marriage of convenience · enemies to lovers · forced proximity · survival and escape · reluctant trust
- The writing
- Emotionally heightened and direct, leaning heavily into the dramatic dialogue and physical sensations typical of 1980s category romance.
- The arc
- Moves from desperate resentment and forced reliance to a reluctant, fiery surrender to passion.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave the unapologetic melodrama, alpha heroes, and high-stakes forced-proximity tropes of vintage 1980s romance.
Content notes
- forced marriage
- political unrest
- dubious consent
- mild violence
About the book
She was given no choice!
Elena's father rushed her to the San Felipe airport to put her on a plane to Miami. Their homeland in Central America had just erupted in revolution, and no one was safe.
But Elena held a San Felipan passport, and officials were not letting any residents leave. Then she spotted American Blake Rogan, a ruthless adventurer she had every reason to despise, and her stomach twisted. Suddenly she knew what was about to happen.
"Querida," her father said to her, "when you leave San Felipe, it will be as Mrs. Blake Rogan....
Description from Open Library.
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