The first in the series. 
 The series is inspired by Oliver Twist book and its cast of characters finding their individual ways and becoming respectable, at least some of them, as adults. 
 The Fifth Earl of Claybourne known as the "Devil Earl", lord Lucian Oliver Langdon is Lorraine Heath's tribute to Oliver Twist and the story centers around his struggles to take his rightful place especially since he doesn't believe he is the bona fide heir to the title but due to circumstances he is unwilling to relinquish it. It is also about various forms of love, the protective love a boy can have for a girl who is more like his sister, the sisterly love for a friend, the love between a gang of childhood friends, the love between a man and a woman. 
 Very satisfying read. Good plot! Likable main cast, intriguing secondary characters even the evil ones. Lucian's diary entries were a great addition. The sexual scenes weren't as graphic as you lately see but done quite tastefully which I believe are more proper and better fit with the historical romance. 
 The reason I took a point off, (view spoiler)[ Lady Catherine Mabry leaving at the stroke of midnight with Claybourne to a gambling hall and staying there for 3 hours to teach Frannie proper etiquette for over a month was unrealistic. She was the daughter of a duke and even though her father was bedridden and her brother was gallivanting around Europe, the amount of freedom she had was too modern for a regency novel. (hide spoiler)]