Name: The Devil Inside
Rating: 3.5 (10 reviews)
ISBN: 9781933110301

Ali Vali

Cain Casey was groomed from birth to be the next leader of the Casey family business, which meant becoming the head of a major crime family in New Orleans. However, Emma Verde, a farm girl from Wisconsin unexpectedly claims her heart.

The Devil Inside

justice for Merrick! Caick FOREVEEERRRR also emma is annoying as shit 

Opus Clopus

Derby Cain Casey was groomed from birth to take the reins of the Casey family enterprises, which just happens to be one of the major crime organizations in New Orleans. Surviving by never turning away from a fight and knowing how to win at all costs, Cain is as careful with her heart as she is with her business—until she met Emma Verde. The farm girl from Wisconsin puts a hit out on Cain's heart and leads her down a dangerous road filled with great joy and devastating sorrow. The Devil Inside is the story of unexpected passion, a shattering betrayal, and the challenge of love put to the test.

Renee

What a fun and entertaining story. Are some of the characters unbelievable? Yep. Is the incompetency of the FBI a little scarey? Absolutely. So what, I'm enjoying the ride. This story does however, highlight important life lessons such as family values, loyalty, forgiveness, an eye for an eye, and always pay your taxes. 

Some have complained the story jumps to different POVs. I think it's necessary for this to be a well-rounded gangster tale. As far as the characters are concerned, I'm lovin' me some Cain and Merrick. Both have beauty, smarts, strength, and loyalty; what's not to love? I could feel Cain and Emma's chemistry in the flashbacks, so it's obvious they had a strong bond before Emma split. And that scene with Danny and Cain with a belt? ...not for the squeamish and Cain definitely needs her own theme song. I hope Muriel and Shelby get together. Despite where their loyalties lie, they seem like a perfect match.

My only dislike was that while reading, I had a difficult time visualizing what the Casey Clan, Merrick, and Emma looked like. Perhaps it's because they don't fit stereotypical roles like the other characters of whom I had no problem visualizing. Okay, I'm done. 'Nuff said! 

I said I wasn't going to do it, but I'm off to read the next books in the series. I'm hooked, what more can I say.

Cain Casey has so much to live for, but enemies who lurk in the shadows threaten to unravel it all.

The Devil Incarnate

Megan Cooper

4.25 - 4.5

I can't believe that this is the 7th book in the Cain Casey series and I'm still hooked. The Devil Incarnate reinforces what a great series this is. 

Picking up shortly after the last book - Ms Vali is off and running at a breakneck pace. There's a phenomenal number of plots, dealings, double-dealings and other shenanigans going on plus advancing the personal stories of a number of the characters from the series. Normally I'd be complaining that there was too much going on and things were either being glossed over or dropped, but Ms Vali has outdone herself. The book keeps all the threads moving and weaving in and out of the story - it's a well crafted and well executed thriller that grabs you from the start and is liable to keep you up to the wee hours of the morning so you can finish it. 

I was particularly happy to see that Ms Vali is starting to close off some of the dangling storylines and characters - after six books, there were a lot of loose ends and they were starting to detract from the other story as new obstacles and big-bads were introduced. The Devil Incarnate gives some satisfying wind ups of some of those over-arching plots and characters and puts the focus on the newer threats and obstacles. I suspect that there will be some new and unexpected twists in the next book - I'm dying to know what happens next. 

From a character perspective - there's the usual suspects as secondary characters but Cain and Emma are the mains. Even after 7 books, I still adore them - and it's nice to see that their relationship continues to grow and strengthen. The whole series is their love story - with a lot of dead bodies thrown in for good measure. What was particularly nice to see is that Remi, Dallas, Muriel, Kristen, Fin, Abigail and all the others remain in and around Cain and Emma's orbit - but they don't get dropped into the story as extraneous cameos or drive-by characters. They are integral parts of the ongoing plots and have a place in the book. I was also really happy to see that Ms Vali chose not to split the book to have two sets of main characters - Cain and Emma remained the focal point.

If you haven't read the other books in the series - this is not the one to start with. Go back and enjoy the first books. In The Devil Incarnate, Ms Vali drops you in the middle of everything and the characters and events of the previous six books really can't be summed up. This a a bit of a darker series, with the main character being a mobster, but a mobster with a ridiculous amount of charm and charisma that balances out a pretty brutal streak when she's pushed. Overall, the series juggles the sweeping romance between Cain and Emma - as well as the side stories of the other women in their extended family - with some gritty crime drama, suspense and action.

Alex (They/Them)

For Cain Casey nothing is more important than family, and having hers close—Emma, Hayden, Hannah, and the new baby—is as near as she’ll get to true happiness. But enemies who lurk in the shadows threaten more than just her business, forcing her to question whether the biggest threat comes from having it all. As Cain continues to search for lingering adversaries like agent-turned-drug dealer Anthony Curtis, the FBI is hot on her tail and will stop at nothing to lock her away. Add the Russian mob into the mix and it might be too much to handle. It will take a transformation into the devil incarnate for Cain to keep those she loves safe and to hold on to her rightful place as the head of the family.

The Devil Inside

Reviews

Highlights