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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
In true Kleypas fashion I am in love with this novel. Not only do I enjoy call backs to my favorite Kelypas series (Wallflowers) but I greatly enjoy their children and the new characters that have been introduced.
Let me list the things I loved about this novel:
1. Sebastian (Devil in Winter-- and father to Phoebe) is obviously rooting for West and Phoebe to get together early on...and he is still clearly head over heels in love with Evie (their few moments together were a nice addition to the main romance).
2. West under estimates himself so much. He has grown as a person since our first introduction to him. Where he was once an unfit rake going nowhere fast, he has now become a hard working man with interests, focus, drive, and the devil's charm-- which when used on Phoebe always managed to make me smile-- I can certainly see why she would be attracted to him on a personality level. The charm becomes sarcasm when directed at his brother, and the brotherly affection between them is thankfully not lost in this novel now that Devon is not the focus of the story.
3. West's interactions with Phoebe's sons. For a man who deeply believes he would not make a good father or husband he certainly doesn't show it. A great deal of the early relationship between West and Phoebe is focused around his interacting with
4. The revelation of West's past childhood with Phoebe's deceased husband was done well and not overly drawn out. Initially, I was afraid this plot point would take forever to be ironed out and I hated that thought as I kept thinking about how she could hold West's bullying as a ten year old against him so much and ignore the man he has become. But my worries were for naught, as it was handled and put in the past within the first quarter of the novel. I loved that West remembered on his own and reveals how much something of Henry's meant to him as a child.
5. Phoebe was a strong character in a believable sense. Through West she comes to realize that she can be more than the mother and companion to a sickly husband who could not afford much in way of passion. She learns that love and passion can mix. Her learning that West is not the bully she so wanted to believe him to be after tales heard by her deceased husband of his time spent at boarding school was both entertaining and touching, especially when she sees how passionate West is regarding management of his brother's estate, his work ethic, and above all his interaction with her children and the passion he stirs in her. This book is not just a story of West learning that he is more than he believes but also Phoebe learning that she too wants to be more involved in running her own life, starting with learning to manage her oldest son's estate until he can do it himself-- and who better to teach her than West?
I will be keeping this novel with the intention of reading it again some time.
Let me list the things I loved about this novel:
1. Sebastian (Devil in Winter-- and father to Phoebe) is obviously rooting for West and Phoebe to get together early on...and he is still clearly head over heels in love with Evie (their few moments together were a nice addition to the main romance).
2. West under estimates himself so much. He has grown as a person since our first introduction to him. Where he was once an unfit rake going nowhere fast, he has now become a hard working man with interests, focus, drive, and the devil's charm-- which when used on Phoebe always managed to make me smile-- I can certainly see why she would be attracted to him on a personality level. The charm becomes sarcasm when directed at his brother, and the brotherly affection between them is thankfully not lost in this novel now that Devon is not the focus of the story.
3. West's interactions with Phoebe's sons. For a man who deeply believes he would not make a good father or husband he certainly doesn't show it. A great deal of the early relationship between West and Phoebe is focused around his interacting with
4. The revelation of West's past childhood with Phoebe's deceased husband was done well and not overly drawn out. Initially, I was afraid this plot point would take forever to be ironed out and I hated that thought as I kept thinking about how she could hold West's bullying as a ten year old against him so much and ignore the man he has become. But my worries were for naught, as it was handled and put in the past within the first quarter of the novel. I loved that West remembered on his own and reveals how much something of Henry's meant to him as a child.
5. Phoebe was a strong character in a believable sense. Through West she comes to realize that she can be more than the mother and companion to a sickly husband who could not afford much in way of passion. She learns that love and passion can mix. Her learning that West is not the bully she so wanted to believe him to be after tales heard by her deceased husband of his time spent at boarding school was both entertaining and touching, especially when she sees how passionate West is regarding management of his brother's estate, his work ethic, and above all his interaction with her children and the passion he stirs in her. This book is not just a story of West learning that he is more than he believes but also Phoebe learning that she too wants to be more involved in running her own life, starting with learning to manage her oldest son's estate until he can do it himself-- and who better to teach her than West?
I will be keeping this novel with the intention of reading it again some time.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great book! The best one of the Ravenels so far. Quick read.
I fell in love with West in the previous books and I wanted a spectacular story for him.
I thought that Phoebe’s history was heartbreaking. She lost her husband so young.
The chemistry was there but I felt like West deserved a bigger story. A lot of this book was spent besmirching Henry and why he was too tame for Phoebe. She loved him and she lost him. Is it necessary to discredit him to make a different type of man acceptable for her next marriage?
I had hoped there would be more about how West picked at Henry but when West revealed he knew who Phoebe was, it was just meh.
Honestly most of the story was a bit tepid. Yes there was some steamy moments and they were well done but it felt like West had more emotional connection to her boys than to Phoebe.
It was a decent book but I thought both characters deserved more.
I thought that Phoebe’s history was heartbreaking. She lost her husband so young.
The chemistry was there but I felt like West deserved a bigger story. A lot of this book was spent besmirching Henry and why he was too tame for Phoebe. She loved him and she lost him. Is it necessary to discredit him to make a different type of man acceptable for her next marriage?
I had hoped there would be more about how West picked at Henry but when West revealed he knew who Phoebe was, it was just meh.
Honestly most of the story was a bit tepid. Yes there was some steamy moments and they were well done but it felt like West had more emotional connection to her boys than to Phoebe.
It was a decent book but I thought both characters deserved more.
emotional
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely the best in the series. Phoebe and West have been two of my favorite side characters throughout the series, and I loved seeing them get together.
I love a romance novel about a widow finding love again, and this was so well-done. Phoebe’s devotion to her children and her husband was so meaningful, and made all the better by her utter commitment to herself. I loved seeing Phoebe invest in learning about her estate and standing up for herself and West’s clear desire to help her. Their affection grew seemingly naturally, and the children added such joy to the story.
All the better that their mutual desire led to some adventurous steamy scenes that I haven’t seen enough of in Kleypas’s novels.
I love a romance novel about a widow finding love again, and this was so well-done. Phoebe’s devotion to her children and her husband was so meaningful, and made all the better by her utter commitment to herself. I loved seeing Phoebe invest in learning about her estate and standing up for herself and West’s clear desire to help her. Their affection grew seemingly naturally, and the children added such joy to the story.
All the better that their mutual desire led to some adventurous steamy scenes that I haven’t seen enough of in Kleypas’s novels.
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ok, I really liked parts of this one: Pheobe and West are excellent on page together, and I love seeing the beginnings of the crumbling aristocracy struggle with class differentiation. But it felt like Kleypas tried to forcibly insert Sebastian wherever she could, and yet again there's no semblance of a plot in sight. It works better in this case for me than in other books. But after reading Leo and Cat, this just doesn't have the same level on page character growth.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
- this redemption arc was literally incredible! I was snickering so often while reading this.
- I loved the drama throughout this one, which is something that I’m realizing Lisa Kleypas is an expert at.
- I loved the drama throughout this one, which is something that I’m realizing Lisa Kleypas is an expert at.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated