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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Phoebe, Lady Clare (daughter of Sebastian and Evie from Devil in Winter), married her best friend, even though she knew he was dying. But she had loved Henry from childhood. And, because she loved Henry, she hated the boy who made his life at boarding school hell. Even now, two years after Henry died. And that is especially true now that she's confronted with the boy, er, man himself now that her brother is marrying his cousin.
West Ravenel sort of remembers his school days. He knew that his parents made him a miserable creature who took out his pain on others. When he grew up, he became an indolent rake. At least, he was until his brother unexpectedly inherits a financially insolvent earldom along with a widow (now his brother's wife) and three female cousins. West, much against all expectations, stepped up and became an exceptional estate manager.
Just coming out of the haze of grief, Phoebe realizes that what her father and brother have been telling her is true, she needs to start paying attention to estates, especially the one that is going to her son. And, now gathered for her brother's wedding, she has the perfect chance to ask West about the new changes in farming. If only she can get past Henry's past hurt...
An okay book but not as good as some in the Kleypas canon. Especially since I reread Devil in Winter right before this one.
West Ravenel sort of remembers his school days. He knew that his parents made him a miserable creature who took out his pain on others. When he grew up, he became an indolent rake. At least, he was until his brother unexpectedly inherits a financially insolvent earldom along with a widow (now his brother's wife) and three female cousins. West, much against all expectations, stepped up and became an exceptional estate manager.
Just coming out of the haze of grief, Phoebe realizes that what her father and brother have been telling her is true, she needs to start paying attention to estates, especially the one that is going to her son. And, now gathered for her brother's wedding, she has the perfect chance to ask West about the new changes in farming. If only she can get past Henry's past hurt...
An okay book but not as good as some in the Kleypas canon. Especially since I reread Devil in Winter right before this one.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
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
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
Audiobook Review
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars
I've been waiting for West's story since meeting him at the beginning of the series. He's undergone such a transformation and it was wonderful to see him finally get his own happily ever after. Phoebe was such a perfect partner for him and I loved how they took the jagged and painful pieces of each other and made something so much stronger. I appreciated that there wasn't a ton of angst in this one and that the history of how they were connected wasn't drawn out. I loved seeing West and Phoebe's friendship and mutual respect for each other shift and grow into so much more. The scene with the long lost book as well as pretty much any scene where West interacted with Justin or Stephen touched my heart so much. I knew that there would be the eventual push away, but the ending unfortunately felt very rushed and anticlimactic. I would have loved to have an epilogue or even just a bit of them further down the road enjoying themselves. I did laugh quite a bit though at the last line in the novel. ;) Mary Jane Wells does a fantastic job with this series and I wish she would narrate everything! She has such wonderful comedic timing and she delivered West (and Phoebe's) jokes and barbs so perfectly. I'm excited for Cassandra's book next and it will be interesting to see a different side of Tom Severin.
CW: death of spouse, mentions of childhood bullying and physical abuse
Overall 4 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars
I've been waiting for West's story since meeting him at the beginning of the series. He's undergone such a transformation and it was wonderful to see him finally get his own happily ever after. Phoebe was such a perfect partner for him and I loved how they took the jagged and painful pieces of each other and made something so much stronger. I appreciated that there wasn't a ton of angst in this one and that the history of how they were connected wasn't drawn out. I loved seeing West and Phoebe's friendship and mutual respect for each other shift and grow into so much more. The scene with the long lost book as well as pretty much any scene where West interacted with Justin or Stephen touched my heart so much. I knew that there would be the eventual push away, but the ending unfortunately felt very rushed and anticlimactic. I would have loved to have an epilogue or even just a bit of them further down the road enjoying themselves. I did laugh quite a bit though at the last line in the novel. ;) Mary Jane Wells does a fantastic job with this series and I wish she would narrate everything! She has such wonderful comedic timing and she delivered West (and Phoebe's) jokes and barbs so perfectly. I'm excited for Cassandra's book next and it will be interesting to see a different side of Tom Severin.
CW: death of spouse, mentions of childhood bullying and physical abuse
I'm embarrassed because I sent this as a gift to my friend Tracey, before reading it myself. Lisa Kleypas is one of my fave euro-historical romance writers. but unfortunately this one fell flat. Mostly because the hero experiences immediate lust for the heroine upon meeting her, and THAT was just too much. I prefer the slow reluctant burn, you know?
I liked that she had kids and he had to win the love of her kids, though. That was nice.
I liked that she had kids and he had to win the love of her kids, though. That was nice.
2.5
Dear Historical Romance novels,
It's not you, it's me. I can't get out of my own head, scoffing, rolling my eyes and thinking, "Oh, please!" for long enough to suspend the appropriate amount of disbelief. Each modern colloquialism, flagrant breach of society, and broad daylight quickies in the greenhouse (outside marriage, no less!), is a sound kick to the 4th wall. I'm a killjoy. If that's not an issue for you, and you're looking for a few hours to kill, then I think Lisa Kleypas is a fine writer. Alas, for this genre, I'm not the right reader.
kkg
Dear Historical Romance novels,
It's not you, it's me. I can't get out of my own head, scoffing, rolling my eyes and thinking, "Oh, please!" for long enough to suspend the appropriate amount of disbelief. Each modern colloquialism, flagrant breach of society, and broad daylight quickies in the greenhouse (outside marriage, no less!), is a sound kick to the 4th wall. I'm a killjoy. If that's not an issue for you, and you're looking for a few hours to kill, then I think Lisa Kleypas is a fine writer. Alas, for this genre, I'm not the right reader.
kkg
emotional
lighthearted
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
Once again this book reminded me how much I love Lisa Kleypas. I was already anticipating this book 4 books in. I loved Wes from book one in the series, and already felt like I got to know him through his small vignettes in the other books.
What sets Kleypas apart of the other Regency authors I have read so far is her intricate and clever interweaving of storylines and setting up each book for the next. The whole series is delightful and I keep thinking I like the next one more than the last because of how they build on one another.
This book was so wonderful to read with Pheobe's stubborn dislike of Wes, and Wes' earnest need to help and support Pheobe and her kids with his knowledge of farming. Wes is so doubting of his own self-worth because of his past, but has grown into such a wonderful partner, potential father, and supervisor that you can't help but want everything to work out perfectly for him. I appreciated Pheobe's strength and determination to forge her own path after her husband's death.
Overall just well done.
What sets Kleypas apart of the other Regency authors I have read so far is her intricate and clever interweaving of storylines and setting up each book for the next. The whole series is delightful and I keep thinking I like the next one more than the last because of how they build on one another.
This book was so wonderful to read with Pheobe's stubborn dislike of Wes, and Wes' earnest need to help and support Pheobe and her kids with his knowledge of farming. Wes is so doubting of his own self-worth because of his past, but has grown into such a wonderful partner, potential father, and supervisor that you can't help but want everything to work out perfectly for him. I appreciated Pheobe's strength and determination to forge her own path after her husband's death.
Overall just well done.
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I’m haunted by you,” he said brusquely. “I can’t seem to stop looking for you everywhere I go. When I went to London, I tried to find a woman who could help me forget about you, even for one night. But no one has your eyes. No one interests me the way you do. I’ve cursed you a thousand times for what you’ve done to me. I’d rather be alone with a fantasy of you than have a flesh-and-blood woman in my arms.”
Devil's Daughter features a steamy romance between a highborn widow and a reformed rake that'll make any romance reader swoon!
Lady Clare, Phoebe, is the beloved daughter of the Duke of Kingston (famously known to readers as Sebastian/Lord St. Vincent/the Rake of Rakes) and the duchess, Evangeline (Evie), once a mere wallflower. If they sound familiar, they're the main protagonists of Lisa's Wallflowers series, the Devil in Winter.
Phoebe is a mother of two small boys who are the center of her world. Nothing else matters to her as she is barely stepping out of the shadow of her grief, until she crosses paths with a Ravenel who spins her life upside down.
An acute longing and attraction strikes both Phoebe and West, they are willing to blur the lines but forever isn't promised, so how shall they attain their happily ever after? Read to find out!
I'm not sure if I have said this but I shall repeat it: reading a Lisa Kleypas book is as if one was indulging themselves in chocolate. The most decadent chocolate you can think of.
“I’m haunted by you,” he said brusquely. “I can’t seem to stop looking for you everywhere I go. When I went to London, I tried to find a woman who could help me forget about you, even for one night. But no one has your eyes. No one interests me the way you do. I’ve cursed you a thousand times for what you’ve done to me. I’d rather be alone with a fantasy of you than have a flesh-and-blood woman in my arms.”
Devil's Daughter features a steamy romance between a highborn widow and a reformed rake that'll make any romance reader swoon!
Lady Clare, Phoebe, is the beloved daughter of the Duke of Kingston (famously known to readers as Sebastian/Lord St. Vincent/the Rake of Rakes) and the duchess, Evangeline (Evie), once a mere wallflower. If they sound familiar, they're the main protagonists of Lisa's Wallflowers series, the Devil in Winter.
Phoebe is a mother of two small boys who are the center of her world. Nothing else matters to her as she is barely stepping out of the shadow of her grief, until she crosses paths with a Ravenel who spins her life upside down.
An acute longing and attraction strikes both Phoebe and West, they are willing to blur the lines but forever isn't promised, so how shall they attain their happily ever after? Read to find out!
I'm not sure if I have said this but I shall repeat it: reading a Lisa Kleypas book is as if one was indulging themselves in chocolate. The most decadent chocolate you can think of.
This was utterly delightful!! It was a lot more steamy than the previous book and boy was I a fan! I loved Phoebe and West and they were just so good together!! I do wish it had been longer and perhaps we might’ve gotten an epilogue that included the wedding. But despite that, this was so much fun to listen to!