- Title: The Devil's Heart: The Chattan Curse
- Classification: Adult Fiction
- Genre: Historical Romance
- Format: Paperback; 384 pages
- Publisher: Avon (April 30, 2013)
- ISBN-10: 006207024X
- ISBN-13: 978-0062070241
Over 200 years ago, a curse was cast upon the male members of the Chattan family. For Charles Chattan had made promises that he didn't keep. He had betrayed and disgraced the daughter of a powerful witch which incited the young woman to take her own life. He thought that by leaving Scotland he'd escape the reach of Fanella's fury and wrath. But he was wrong. DEAD wrong.
"Watchers of the threshold, Watchers of the gate, open hell and seal Chattan's fate.
When a Chattan male falls in love, strike his heart with fire from Above.
Crush his heart. Destroy his line;
Only then will justice me mine."
Now, some 200 years later, Margaret Chattan is on her way to find the place where the curse began hoping she'll find something to break it. Her brothers, Lord Lyon and Harry Chattan, have both fallen in love and, as the curse predicted, they are quickly losing their leases on life. Harry believes that Margaret, the first female to be born to the Chattan line since the curse began, is the key to its end. On her way into enemy territory, the land of the Mcnachtan's--the family who cursed the Chattan's, her carriage encounters a fatal accident. Evil forces are at work to ensure the end of the Chattan line. Ironically, it is Heath McNachtan who finds and rescues her. She soon learns the Chattan's aren't the only ones who have suffered from the curse. Heath is the last living male descendant of Fanella's line. Perhaps Fanella cursed both their families when she set her curse in place. Magic, after all, does have a price.
The first and the last....Margaret wonders if that could mean anything. Could it be the key to saving both their families?
This is the third and, sadly, final book of The Chattan Curse series. If you haven't read the previous two books in the series you will be encounter some big spoilers in this book. I recommend reading them before starting this one.
Margaret Chattan is the first female to be born into the family since the curse started. Always in the past the men of her family married woman they loved and quickly fell ill from the curse. Far too many Chattan men had not believed and died young to not believe the curse is true. Margaret's father vowed never to fall in love to beat the curse and married a woman he could never love. That marriage produced three children, Margaret and her two brothers. Known by all in London as the 'Unattainable' because she acts cold and distant, Margaret has her reasons for being the way she is and part of that is she has no idea how the family curse will affect her or her offspring. But the mysterious, smart, and beautiful Magaret Chattan also has another deeper and darker secret which makes her act the way she does. One she doesn't share even with her beloved brothers. When her carriage is knocked off the road rolling over and over she fears her quest to find a means to put an end to her family's curse will be cut short. Somehow, against all odds, she survives the wreck without a scratch. Only one other person had survived the accident, Rowan, and they are unsure if he will survive. Almost every bone in his body was broke.
Heath Mcnachtan is the last male of Fanella's line. A combination of bad luck, bad business decisions, and, quite possibly, the work of a curse having a backlashing effect on the family of the one who cast it has led to the family's current problems and possible demise. Over a year ago, Heath's older brother, Brodie, was murdered by someone they have yet to catch. Upon Brodie's death, Heath became the family heir and took over as Laird even though he loved being in the Navy. He had thrived there and had not wished to leave. The family estate had been mortgaged to the hilt when he inherited it and the family was living off credit. Heath poured all his savings into erasing the family debts and did all he could to curb their expenses, but it hadn't been enough. He doesn't believe in curses, but when strange and unexplainable things begin to happen, he starts to question his beliefs. Together he and Margaret will work together to see if there is a way to lift the curse.
Overall this was a wonderful series and a nice way to end the series. I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. Plenty of action, suspense, and twists and turns. Cathy Maxwell is quickly rising in ranks among my favorite authors. I so love a good curse in a story. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
Order of The Chattan Curse series:
