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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a sweet romance with a fun combination of characters. If you enjoyed the Wallflowers or the Ravenels, I highly recommend it.
lighthearted
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Terminal illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Death
Phoebe, as I think everyone knows, is Sebastian and Evies daughter (their story is Devil in Winter of the Wallflower series). She’s a widow with two young children. As the book starts, she is ending mourning after her husbands death 2 years prior and is ready to start participating in life again, starting with her brother Gabriels wedding (book 3 of the Ravenels, Devil in Spring).
West is cousin to Pandora, who is marrying Gabriel, hence they officially meet at this gathering. What West doesn’t know, is that Phoebe well knows who he is, having been her husbands closest confident about the bully tormenting him at school years ago.
As this story began, I thought I was NOT going to like Phoebe and her whole grudge holding over the bullying incidents. I actually enjoyed Phoebe though. I liked seeing her relationships with her children. I loved seeing her come into her own as her own woman after taking care of her husband for so long. One thing I really respected about this book was how well done the prior relationship was written. It was acknowledged yet not overdone. You felt the love but didn’t feel it was hanging over her and West’s relationship. I’ve read a few widow books and it seems the prior husband needs to be fully evil or the author tends to go on a bit too much for me to able to really accept and be excited for a new relationship. So I liked that a lot.
West really was wonderful to me for most of the book. He’s actually enjoyable in all the books. So funny and engaging was just that burst of sunlight in every story. I love his humor. He was amazing with Phoebes children. The only thing that got me was I felt his angst over why they couldn’t be together was a bit contrived and I wish he would have come to his solution on his own. I wanted him to be stronger than what the ending was. More demanding, himself, I guess.
Anyway, I don’t think I’d necessarily reread this book because the feels weren’t really strong for me. But I did find it a really pleasant read. I had a dopey smile on my face for most of it. I also liked that there wasn’t a ton of drama, especially coming off of Hello Stranger, which felt like all drama.
I have heard so much negative talk about the Ravenel series. People saying LK should reconsider writing or just stop altogether. I am liking this series more than the Hathaway’s I think. But the wallflowers are still my favorite, overall. So far my favorite from this series is still Marrying Winterbourne.
West is cousin to Pandora, who is marrying Gabriel, hence they officially meet at this gathering. What West doesn’t know, is that Phoebe well knows who he is, having been her husbands closest confident about the bully tormenting him at school years ago.
As this story began, I thought I was NOT going to like Phoebe and her whole grudge holding over the bullying incidents. I actually enjoyed Phoebe though. I liked seeing her relationships with her children. I loved seeing her come into her own as her own woman after taking care of her husband for so long. One thing I really respected about this book was how well done the prior relationship was written. It was acknowledged yet not overdone. You felt the love but didn’t feel it was hanging over her and West’s relationship. I’ve read a few widow books and it seems the prior husband needs to be fully evil or the author tends to go on a bit too much for me to able to really accept and be excited for a new relationship. So I liked that a lot.
West really was wonderful to me for most of the book. He’s actually enjoyable in all the books. So funny and engaging was just that burst of sunlight in every story. I love his humor. He was amazing with Phoebes children. The only thing that got me was I felt his angst over why they couldn’t be together was a bit contrived and I wish he would have come to his solution on his own. I wanted him to be stronger than what the ending was. More demanding, himself, I guess.
Anyway, I don’t think I’d necessarily reread this book because the feels weren’t really strong for me. But I did find it a really pleasant read. I had a dopey smile on my face for most of it. I also liked that there wasn’t a ton of drama, especially coming off of Hello Stranger, which felt like all drama.
I have heard so much negative talk about the Ravenel series. People saying LK should reconsider writing or just stop altogether. I am liking this series more than the Hathaway’s I think. But the wallflowers are still my favorite, overall. So far my favorite from this series is still Marrying Winterbourne.
I've been anxiously awaiting West's story since we met him in book 1. I'm happy to report he was just as amazing here as I expected him to be. I loved everything about the way he was with Phoebe, Lady Clare and her two sons. My heart melted every time he interacted with the boys. He was playful, yet managed to teach them without being stern. His candor and openness about his past made my heart hurt at times. I did struggle with his doubts and the way he continued to punish himself for his past sins. I wanted to see him let that go sooner than he did.
Phoebe was an amazing heroine. She was strong, yet vulnerable. Brave, yet scared. I loved the contradictions and how well they played into the person she'd become since her husband died. I also loved how she was as a mother.
I loved seeing previous characters and having them play a part in the story, mostly because Klyepas is a master at keeping them in the background. Their presence didn't detract from Phoebe and West in the slightest, and in fact having them there enriched the story.
Honestly, this may have been a 5 star read for me if not for West's constant self-flagellation and the abrupt ending. Seriously, it ended way too quickly. At 92% I was low key anxious about where the story was at. The novel really needed an extra chapter or an epilogue.
Devil's Daughter is another emotionally charged, engrossing tale of redemption and love from Lisa Kleypas. A must read.
4.5 out of 5
Phoebe was an amazing heroine. She was strong, yet vulnerable. Brave, yet scared. I loved the contradictions and how well they played into the person she'd become since her husband died. I also loved how she was as a mother.
I loved seeing previous characters and having them play a part in the story, mostly because Klyepas is a master at keeping them in the background. Their presence didn't detract from Phoebe and West in the slightest, and in fact having them there enriched the story.
Honestly, this may have been a 5 star read for me if not for West's constant self-flagellation and the abrupt ending. Seriously, it ended way too quickly. At 92% I was low key anxious about where the story was at. The novel really needed an extra chapter or an epilogue.
Devil's Daughter is another emotionally charged, engrossing tale of redemption and love from Lisa Kleypas. A must read.
4.5 out of 5
I love Lisa Kleypas and her Ravenel series is phenomenal! I’m a huge fan of Regency romances with a feminist perspective and I love how well she accomplishes this. Her characters are real and flawed while still being completely swoonworthy. This book is chock full of historical details that make the story multi-dimensional and engaging, and Phoebe Clare and West Ravenel’s journey to romance sizzles with passion and wit as they go from enemies (on her part) to soulmates. As always, Lisa Kleypas exceeds my expectation and this book in particular was well worth the wait!
“Courting sometimes has the unpleasant side effect of marriage.”
The very highly anticipated Devil's Daughter is another addition in Lisa Kleypas' long line of historicals - easy to get into and filled with moments to leave you swooning.
The 5th book of the Ravenel series sees widow and mother Phoebe Challon, daughter of Sebastian and Evie (yes, them from Devil in Winter) paired alongside the younger Ravenel brother, West Ravenel. The book starts with Phoebe arriving at the wedding of her brother, to realize that his brother in law is no other than West Ravenel, the childhood bully her late husband and childhood friend Henry. West, who had initially been a wastrel and a rake, but was now a reformed land estate manager, is instantly attracted towards Phoebe and she to him.
The chemistry in the book is off the charts. West's interaction with Phoebe's two sons is a delight to read, and probably consists of few if my favorite scenes in the books. Another really strong plot point was how Phoebe took charge of her own life. A strong, headstrong female lead is always a pleasure to read.
What put me off in this book was the lack of certain characters. Out of all the Ravenels, only Cassandra is left, but she was barely mentioned in the book. West was also excessively stuck upon his 'unsuitability' for a very long time, like a terrier with a bone. And lastly, even though it was a delight to return to Evie and Sebastian, sometimes they overshadowed the two main leads.
Overall, this book is a solid 3.5 stars for me; I enjoyed it but I did not love it.
The very highly anticipated Devil's Daughter is another addition in Lisa Kleypas' long line of historicals - easy to get into and filled with moments to leave you swooning.
The 5th book of the Ravenel series sees widow and mother Phoebe Challon, daughter of Sebastian and Evie (yes, them from Devil in Winter) paired alongside the younger Ravenel brother, West Ravenel. The book starts with Phoebe arriving at the wedding of her brother, to realize that his brother in law is no other than West Ravenel, the childhood bully her late husband and childhood friend Henry. West, who had initially been a wastrel and a rake, but was now a reformed land estate manager, is instantly attracted towards Phoebe and she to him.
The chemistry in the book is off the charts. West's interaction with Phoebe's two sons is a delight to read, and probably consists of few if my favorite scenes in the books. Another really strong plot point was how Phoebe took charge of her own life. A strong, headstrong female lead is always a pleasure to read.
What put me off in this book was the lack of certain characters. Out of all the Ravenels, only Cassandra is left, but she was barely mentioned in the book. West was also excessively stuck upon his 'unsuitability' for a very long time, like a terrier with a bone. And lastly, even though it was a delight to return to Evie and Sebastian, sometimes they overshadowed the two main leads.
Overall, this book is a solid 3.5 stars for me; I enjoyed it but I did not love it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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 is my first 5 star read of 2022 and wow. This book certainly deserves it! I've loved seeing West's character growth throughout the series and worried that this book wouldn't live up to my hopes for him and his HEA. I worried the same for Phoebe as I really wanted her to be happy after meeting her in earlier books. I need not have worried! Lisa Kleypas worked magic for both of them and this is one of the most satisfying HEAs I've read. I couldn't stop smiling, giggling, and swooning the whole way through!