Set in Italy in 1492, this is the story of Cara di Montessori whose
uncle murdered her father and seized her castle. In his dying breath, her
father told her to go to the infamous mercenary, Il Diavolo. Cara has known him
since she was a child and is attracted to his strong male magnetism.
Alessandro
del Sarto (Il Diavolo) knows he must marry to secure the peace he desires but
none of the ladies presented to him hold his interest. Enter Cara with her need
for a mercenary to regain her home and dispatch her uncle.
Alessandro wants Cara in his bed (he does not need her money) so he forces her to a bargain she has no intention of keeping: to sleep with him for a fortnight. After that he plans to marry her off to a worthy noble.
Much of this well-written story is taken up with Cara and Alessandro lusting after each other but neither admitting it. Cara repeatedly tries to escape and Alessandro—always a step ahead of her—easily finds her and brings her back to his castle where she succumbs to his kisses. Add to that the banter and bickering between them that persists to the end and you have your “strong hero tames feisty heroine” story. Not much history here but there is the flavor of medieval Italy with mention of the nobles of the time. The fight scenes that come later in the story are well done and exciting.
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