Devil’s Daughter (The Ravenels, Book Five): Lisa Kleypas

“Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain:  he’s the rotten bully who terrorized her late husband while at boarding school.  But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her.  And then he introduces himself…as none other than West Ravenel.

“West is a man with a tarnished past.  No apologies, no excuses.  However, from the moment he meets Phoebe, West is consumed by irresistible desire…not to mention the bitter awareness that a woman like her is out of his reach.

“But before long, Phoebe sets out to seduce the man who has awakened her fiery nature and shown her unimaginable pleasure.  Will their overwhelming passion be enough to overcome the obstacles of the past?

“Only the Devil’s Daughter knows…”

Here's yet another May read I'm finally getting around to posting!

This book was another collision between the Wallflowers and Ravenels series by Kleypas.  The way in which she’s able to weave threads of past and present for her characters is masterful and, not to say the least, fun!  I personally really enjoy seeing generations of characters interact; it reminds us that these characters we come to love so dearly in these three-hundred-or-so pages continue to live on even after we close the book.  Their pasts come to haunt them and the lessons they learn can impact their own children.

This story follows West Ravenel, younger brother of Devon (his book is the first in the series) as he continues on his newfound path of determination and hard work on the Ravenel lands.  He’s come a very long way from the lush we first meet in book one.  He’s cleaned up his act, whipped himself into shape, and even managed to create profit from his elder brother’s once-miserable lands.  He’s an innovator who isn’t the least bit afraid of getting his hands dirty.  This, however, doesn’t mean that the rake in him has been completely done away with.

Meanwhile, we met Phoebe in Pandora and Gabriel’s book (the first instance of the collision between the Wallflowers and Ravenels).  She’s Gabriel’s sister; a woman honor bound to follow her dear, late husband’s wishes and determined to raise her two young sons in a happy, healthy environment.  She struggles a great deal with moving on after the loss of her partner and best friend, but her struggles are only made more confusing and difficult after she meets West amongst the bustle of Gabriel and Pandora’s wedding…because West was once the boy who tormented her husband so terribly that he had to be removed from school.

Phoebe is determined to hate West, but it isn’t long before she comes to realize that the children we once were are not necessarily the people we come to be.  Despite her best efforts to put him off, West slowly begins to charm her, unknowingly finding the chink in her armor when it comes to her two little boys.  All the while West struggles to come to terms with the reprobate he once was and the new life he leads.  He feels tremendously guilty for his sins and seems to try to atone for them with a life of backbreaking labor and long hours.  He finds himself drawn to his beautiful, red-haired houseguest…and things between them inevitably heat up.  West finds his senses of right and wrong at war with one another.  What if his past comes back to haunt him?  People may praise him for his current accomplishments, but what if his former depravity bites them all?  What sort of example does that set?

Both Phoebe and West must come to terms with their own pasts and have to realize they can only have a future if they learn to live in the present.

I found West charming, as usual.  He’s been a common thread throughout the series and I’ve always enjoyed his playful sense of humor and razor-sharp sarcasm.  It isn’t often that we get to see a character grow and develop so much in a series within this genre, and I think it truly did take every book for him to finally become the man he was in this installment.  The progression was both believable and entertaining.  I can’t, of course, forget about Phoebe.  I thought she was going to be a depressed little mouse, but I had a pleasant surprise when she turned into a witty firecracker.  Certainly, I knew she had to be one if she was going to be any sort of match for West’s huge personality.  I admired her devotion to her late husband and her sons, but I think it appreciated her ultimate realization that she had to be happy if she was going to make anyone else happy.  This felt like a realistic development (and something that so many people seem to forget).

I found the romance to be moving and passionate.  The development of their love story was captivating and fun – I found myself laughing aloud several times.

Overall, I’m very pleased with this installment in the series and it just might be one of my favorites.

Devil in Spring (The Ravenels, Book Three): Lisa Kleypas

"An eccentric wallflower...

"Most debutantes dream of finding a husband.  Lady Pandora Ravenel has different plans.  The ambitious young beauty would much rather stay at home and plot out her new board game business than take part in the London Season.  But one night at a glittering society ball, she's ensnared in a scandal with a wickedly handsome stranger.

"A cynical rake...

"After years of evading marital traps with ease, Gabriel, Lord St. Vincent, has finally been caught by a rebellious girl who couldn't be less suitable.  In fact, she wants nothing to do with him.  But Gabriel finds the high-spirited Pandora irresistible.  He'll do whatever it takes to possess her, even if their marriage of convenience turns out to be the devil's own bargain.

"A perilous plot...

"After succumbing to Gabriel's skilled and sensuous persuasion, Pandora agrees to become his bride. Bur soon she discovers that her entrepreneurial endeavors have accidentally involved her in a dangerous conspiracy -- and only her husband can keep her safe.  As Gabriel protects her from their unknown adversaries, they realize their devil's bargain may just turn out to be a match made in heaven..."

This is book three in The Ravenels series.  I flew through it!  The series started off rough with Devon and Kathleen (whose romance I found a little bit forced), then Helen and Rhys (which I thoroughly enjoyed), and now Pandora and Gabriel (which was very nearly on-par with the story in Marrying Winterborn).  Those who have read my reviews know I wasn't really a fan of the antics of Pandora and Cassandra -- they felt overly contrived and didn't quite fit in with the rest of the characters.  I was truly surprised by how much I actually ended up liking Pandora.  She was much more fleshed out than the caricature I'd experienced in the other books.  To my great surprise...I found her funny and enjoyable.  She had an absolutely perfect foil in Gabriel.  His constant striving for perfection mixed with his excellent sense of humor and playfulness were written perfectly.  Their banter was charming.  He had just the right amount of protectiveness and a backstory that served the plot extremely well.  I loved how Gabriel didn't fight the way in which he was drawn to Pandora -- it felt refreshing and made this (mostly) light-hearted romance very readable and fun.

I thought -- given the first chapter or two -- that this would be a fairly "common" plot for the genre (i.e. man and woman caught in unintended compromising situation, they're forced together, they resist, but they end up falling in love anyway, etc.), but some very unexpected twists toward the latter half of the book were a pleasant surprise

***SIDE NOTE:  Gabriel's parents have their own love story told in "Wallflowers" book 3. Devil in Winter (see the trend with the titles going on here?  Clever, Mrs. Kleypas...very clever.  In case you want to see how much I enjoyed that book when I read it back in December of 2008, HERE is the review.)

I enjoyed this book a great deal more than I thought I would.  I finished it very quickly, attesting to the enjoyment I found in the plot and the ease of the reading.  I also really appreciate how Kleypas has woven different series together -- quite the tricky thing to handle well.

A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflower Series, Book Five): Lisa Kleypas

“The Wallflowers are four young ladies in London who banded together in their wild and wickedly wonderful searched for true love. Now happily married, they join together to once again to help one of the world’s most notorious rogues realize that happiness might be right under the mistletoe….

“It’s Christmas in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady-in-waiting, and if it weren’t for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.”

I must admit that the Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas has to be one of my favorite series that I have ever read. Kleypas has a knack for remaining true to her characters and creating fun and absolutely fascinating plot lines. The dialogue is witty and the situations interesting so the readers are unable to put her books down.

This book, in particular, was on the shorter side, but it was no less delicious. I read about Lillian and Daisy’s brothers in previous books, but I never thought I would “meet” one of them in a book. Rafe was a well-written hero and—I don’t want to give too much of the plot away—but I thoroughly enjoyed his outspoken heroin. They make such a fantastic match and it was a lot of fun to watch as the Wallflowers banded together to help them come together! I found myself smiling numerous times—especially in the first scenes where the readers get a real taste of what Rafe is like. I hope you all enjoy this series as much as I have! I think it’s just brilliant how Kleypas has linked pretty much EVERY one of the books that I have read by her. It seems as if Stony Cross Park really is a place for magic!

Scandal in Spring (Wallflower Series, Book Four): Lisa Kleypas

“ “I want you to do everything you’ve ever imagined doing with me…”

“With those scandalous words, Daisy Bowman, the sole “Wallflower” yet to be married, seals her fate with the last man she ever expected to tempt her.

“…And so Daisy Bowman seals her fate with the most unlikely man to stir her passions and inspire such scandalous behavior in the dazzling must-read conclusion to Lisa Kleypas’ best selling Wallflower quartet!

“It’s been three long London seasons, and still Daisy hasn’t received one declaration of affection. Should she not make the perfect match soon, her father has promised to arrange her wedding to the cold-hearted and maddening Matthew Swift.

“Despite alternating feelings of grave desperation and sheer panic, Daisy the last “wallflower” standing, will do anything to avoid marriage to Matthew. Yet when he unexpectedly turns on the charm—and leaves her breathless after her very first kiss—Daisy wonders if the man she has never liked could possibly be the only man she can ever love.”

After finishing this book, all I could do was smile! This was the perfect way to have the final “Wallflower” meet her match. It was sweet, believable, and stayed true to the past books from the series. Lisa Kleypas has a knack for linking every one of her stories and she does it so beautifully! I am always so impressed with her works, but this one was exceptionally good because there were just SO many different characters and plotlines—some of which are from prior series of Kleypas’. I didn’t know how she was going to do it, but she did!

As always, I am thrilled with Lisa Kleypas and look forward to the next book!

Devil in Winter (Wallflower Series, Book Three): Lisa Kleypas

“Four young ladies enter London society and band together to each find a husband. Has the third “Wallflower” now met her match?

“A DEVIL’S BARGAIN

“Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

“Sebastian’s reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden’s good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

“But Evie’s proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another od the dashing libertine’s callously discarded broken hearts—which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions…or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.”

This book is the third in the Wallflower Series from Lisa Kleypas, and it was a perfect addition! I was worried how Evie would overcome her shyness in a believable manner and this book was perfect! Also, the readers learn to really dislike—dare I say despise—St. Vincent after what he does to Lillian in the book prior to this one.

I’ve never read a book with such a disliked character who becomes such a hero! It was wonderful! Normally there is a “bad boy”, but Sebastian brought a new meaning to the phrase. I loved watching him soften towards Evie and try to become a man who is worthy of her. It was beyond touching and fascinating to read. Not to mention his dialogue was so well-written, I could almost hear him speak his taunting, joking words. That’s not easy for a writer to do and I must commend Kleypas on her brilliant work.

Overall, the book was fantastic and I love this author’s work. She has a knack for writing beautiful plots while keeping the readers enthralled. I’m excited about getting my hands on the next in the series!

It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

“Four young ladies enter London society with one necessary goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So they band together, and a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.

“IT HAPPENED AT THE BALL…

“Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren’t entirely “the thing.” And the most disapproving of all was the insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London’s most eligible aristocrat.

“IT HAPPENED IN THE GARDEN…

“When Marcus shockingly—and dangerously—swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn’t even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed…thank goodness they weren’t caught very nearly in the act!

“IT HAPPENED ONE AUTUMN…

“Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable…as his bride?”

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! There were so many instances where I was cracking up over Lillian’s antics as well as the side of Marcus that the readers haven’t seen yet. In the past two books that he was in (Again the Magic and Secrets of a Summer Night), we got to see the protective, brotherly side as well as the nosy, overbearing side, but this is the first time the readers got to see that he’s actually a very complex and deep man. I love how Lisa Kleypas’s characters are so multi-faceted. It makes for some seriously interesting sequels!

The plot behind this book was sweet and very straightforward with some very interesting twists and turns! It was wonderful to see Annabelle and Simon Hunt return because no Wallflower book is complete without all of the Wallflowers! I can’t wait to read more!

***This book also has one of my new FAVORITE quotes!!! "There is nothing on earth more beautiful to me than your smile...no sound sweeter than your laughter...no pleasure greater than holding you in my arms. I realized today that I could never live without you, stubborn little hellion that you are. In this life and the next, you're my only hope of happiness." Awwww!***

Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflower Series, Book One): Lisa Kleypas

“Four young ladies enter London with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.

“Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle’s most intriguing—and persistent—admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition…but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction.

“Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon—and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon’s passionate embrace and tempting kisses…and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.”

***I didn’t realize this until halfway through, but this book takes place after Lisa Kleypas’ book, Again the Magic!!!***

This book was WONDERFUL!!! I loved the characters and the plot was a nice switch up from the regular, run-of-the-mill romance novel. Simon was a sweet and delightful character while Annabelle had spunk and spice. Lord Westcliff is brought back in this book, as is his youngest sister and her fiancée. This was cute and I loved hearing more about the characters after the book was finished—though I would have liked to have known that these books were connected…I could have read them in the wrong order and it would have ruined it…

Anyway, I am so excited about this series by Kleypas and cannot wait to read the next book!