A Wife for the Devil by Shruti Rao tells the story of Elizabeth Lavoisier and the people in her life. Elizabeth lives with her uncle and his family and she has hardly any control over her life. Instead, she is treated like a maid and lives in fear of her beautiful, powerful, and erratic cousin, Miranda Deverril. Miranda has fallen for a man, Hugh Atwood, and enlists Elizabeth’s help in trying to win him over. Elizabeth, nervous and fearful, agrees to see Hugh, but soon she finds herself embroiled in a love triangle with her cousin… but can she find her feet in a world where money is power? Will she fight for the man she has come to love?

Shruti Rao has created a story with a rich cast of characters. From Elizabeth to her friend Lady Frazier and more. Readers will find the characters engaging and entertaining. Elizabeth is surprisingly headstrong when it comes to matters of the heart. Her love interest, Hugh Atwood, is a man with a past that hangs over his head, and Elizabeth can’t help but be taken in by him. Readers will find themselves rooting for the couple despite the obstacles in their way.

The story moves at a smooth pace giving readers time to know the characters. The story is set in London, in 1871, with all the social stigmas and properties of the time. The story is told through the interactions of the characters and through flashbacks of memories. Elizabeth starts out unsure of herself and her self-worth, but thankfully she grows into a confident and strong woman throughout the story.

A Wife for the Devil is an exciting story that will captivate readers who enjoy historical fiction. A Victorian romance set up with characters that are traditionally below the upper crust of the ton, fighting scandals, family drama, and looking for a way to make love work.

Pages: 182 | ASIN : B09R3PTSVH