Shame the Devil

Review
"Shame the Devil is an ambitious novel, spanning well over a decade in the life of Colin Blackburne . . . Scott has created a very likeable protagonist and has gifted him with an equally likeable female counterpart . . . Besides Colin and Emma, Scott must be applauded for the depiction of Alston, a hurting and confused young man torn between his "unnatural desires" and an uncompromising faith . . . With fluid prose and driven dialogue, Scott brings the complexities and deep divisions of the English Civil War to vivid life."--Historical Novel Society Reviews
"Scott's writing is magnificent . . . The intricately woven secrets and lies against the backdrop of an unprecedented dethroning of the monarchy make Shame the Devil a page-turning experience. Historical fiction and romance fans should not miss out on this book. Highly recommended." -Chanticleer International Book Reviews
"The references to the situation happening in England during the time of the Civil War are interesting to read about . . . The struggle between the Parliamentarians and Royalists is fascinating to follow and thought-provoking . . . and you will follow some lovely characters throughout the book." -Reedsy Reviews
"Scott's . . . gentle manipulation of the material [is] appealing and easy to follow, even for those unfamiliar with the details of the English Civil War . . . I appreciate how Scott used the history to frame the dramatic events of her story. . . I enjoyed Colin, Roddy, and Emma well-enough, but I was genuinely attached to Alston . . . I was captivated by his arc and thought his story the most dynamically compelling. Stephen, repugnant though he is, also deserves a shout out as a fabulously layered antagonist." -Historical Fiction Reader
"Shame the Devil is exceptional reading . . . and one of THE best historical novels I have read to date. . . . If I could give it a million stars, I would!" -Passages to the Past
"This book is easily one of the best historical fiction novels I have read in a while! I could not put it down and simply LOVED it!" -Rajiv's Reviews" "A lovely vibrant novel with defying love and intriguing sub characters and that have their own stories. I found myself glued to these beautiful pages. . . The historical aspect of the book is done in such a way that is not cumbersome and adds rich elements to storyline. The narration is impeccable and engaging, without ever lagging. You interest will never wane. . . and you'll have a hard time putting this book down. This a Must Read." -Gwendalyn's Books
"I couldn't put it down. From the opening scene of murder, to the sweeping scenes of forbidden love and then the amazing conclusion, this epic work of fiction captivated my attention. . . This book is a story of shame, revenge, and what you'd do for love. I loved every minute of it!" --Books, Writing, and More
England, 1643. The Civil War has created a great divide between those who support King Charles and those who would rather see his head on the block. Young Scot Colin Blackburne finds himself caught in the middle when he witnesses Parliamentarians murder his mother because of his father’s allegiance to the king. As further punishment, the family is sent to Yorkshire as indentured servants.
Mistreated by his master and tormented by a Parliamentarian soldier, Colin vows to take up arms for the king and seek vengeance against the men who killed his mother. The only bright spot in his life is his unexpected, and forbidden, friendship with his master’s daughter, Emma Hardcastle.
With her father constantly away on campaign and her mother plagued by madness, Emma is drawn to Colin and his brother, Roddy. She introduces them to her troubled neighbor Alston Egerton, who has a clandestine relationship with Stephen Kitts, the soldier out for Colin’s blood.
As they all become entangled in a twisted web of love, jealousy, desire, and betrayal, the war rages on around them. Resentful at being forced into servitu