Books › The Devil Who Tamed Her
The Devil Who Tamed Her
First published 2007 · 508 pages
A fiery battle of wills wrapped in a classic Regency romp where a notorious mean girl meets her match.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a delightfully dramatic, old-school Regency ballroom where the banter is as sharp as the social stakes. The narrative moves at a brisk, spirited clip, driven almost entirely by the fiery friction between a notoriously prickly heroine and the arrogant lord determined to reform her. It is a classic 'taming of the shrew' setup that leans heavily into forced proximity, creating an escapist atmosphere crackling with romantic tension. The prose is dialogue-heavy and playful, focusing on the emotional tug-of-war rather than deep historical realism. It will thoroughly delight fans of vintage historical romance who crave a redemption arc for a 'mean girl' and love watching two incredibly stubborn people bicker their way into a passionate, hard-won love.
- Mood
- spirited
- escapist
- fiery
- Tone
- playful
- witty
- dramatic
- romantic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- enemies to lovers · redemption of the mean girl · forced proximity · looking past reputations · the taming of the shrew
- The writing
- Sparkling and dialogue-heavy, driven by sharp banter and classic historical romance melodrama.
- The arc
- Moves from prickly, defensive hostility to a vulnerable, hard-won surrender as two stubborn hearts learn to trust.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love classic, banter-filled historical romances where a notoriously difficult heroine meets her match in an equally stubborn hero.
Content notes
- abduction/forced proximity trope
- emotional manipulation
About the book
Johanna Lindsey presents a sparkling, passionate Regency-era novel in which a beautiful but ruthless gossip meets her match in a dashing rake who sets out to change her wicked ways. Featuring two enthralling characters from the unforgettable bestseller The Heir, The Devil Who Tamed Her is a spirited new tale about the transforming power of true love. Ophelia Reid is an incomparable beauty with a reputation for starting rumors and spreading them. Having purposely wrecked her engagement to Duncan MacTavish, a future marquis, which her social-climbing father arranged, Ophelia wants to return to London's marriage mart and make her own choice of a wealthy husband. But on her journey home, something unexpected happens.... The heir to a dukedom, Raphael Locke, Viscount Lynnfield is -- in spite of his disinterest in marriage -- the most sought-after young lord in England. He instantly disliked Ophelia when she caused a scandal to avoid marriage to his friend MacTavish, but having comforted her in a tearful moment, he begins to wonder if she's not all bad. So when MacTavish claims that Ophelia will never be anything but a spiteful beauty, Rafe bets his friend that he can turn her into a kindhearted lady who will one day make a good match, just not with him. With her parents' blessing, Rafe commandeers Ophelia's coach and whisks her -- chaperoned, of course -- to his remote estate in the countryside. There, as he tries to show his furious, sharp-tongued "guest" the error of her ways, he discovers the surprising reasons for her bad behavior. Soon his daily lessons with Ophelia take effect and he finds himself irresistibly attracted to her. When Rafe champions the new and improved Ophelia's re-entry to London society, marriage proposals pour in. Only then does Rafe start to wonder whether he hasn't gone and fallen in love with Ophelia himself.
Description from Open Library.
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