Devil's Daughter (The Ravenels, #5) in 2-3-4 Challenge

Aug 09, 2022 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: group-read, 2022-beat-the-backlist-challenge, audiobook, nc-br-digital-library, historical-romance, 2022-library-love-challenge, 3500-2022, 2022-audiobook-challenge

the setup…
Phoebe, Lady Clare is a widow with two young sons and the daughter of Sebastian and Evie St. Vincent. It’s been almost two years since her husband Henry died and she’s still grieving that loss. When attending her brother Gabriel’s wedding, she meets his new brother-in-law West Ravenel in person for the first time but she’s known of him since she was a young girl. He’s the one who relentlessly bullied Henry when he was at Eton, making his life miserable, and Phoebe was prepared to strug the setup…
Phoebe, Lady Clare is a widow with two young sons and the daughter of Sebastian and Evie St. Vincent. It’s been almost two years since her husband Henry died and she’s still grieving that loss. When attending her brother Gabriel’s wedding, she meets his new brother-in-law West Ravenel in person for the first time but she’s known of him since she was a young girl. He’s the one who relentlessly bullied Henry when he was at Eton, making his life miserable, and Phoebe was prepared to struggle for civility. However, the man in her midst now bore no relationship to the boy he once was during his time at school, or even the person he was two years ago. West has found new purpose in life managing the estate his brother Devon acquired when he recently inherited the earldom, transforming both physically and emotionally into a man of worth. While neither has any interest in romance or marriage, their mutual attraction is undeniable.

the heart of the story…
It’s been wonderful watching West shift from the aimless, hard drinking unhealthy man he was when he first came to the family estate to the vital one responsible for saving the property and making it productive. Oddly, that becomes the connection to Phoebe who must manage her husband’s properties until her son becomes of age to assume the role. West lends her his expertise and in the process bonds with her sons and worms his way into her heart. I loved how their relationship took quite some time to develop despite their instant spark of attraction. Her slow emergence out of despair and grief was also uplifting as she began to find joy and interest in the world again. Their romance was on simmer for quite some time until it reached that inevitable heat, which was a nice change of pace.

the narration…
I’m enjoying the narrator for this series who seems to reinvent herself for the new characters while maintaining the distinctions of the earlier ones. Her performances are exceptional.

the bottom line…
This was the story that connects the Ravenels with the characters from the Wallflowers series, which brought back some wonderful memories! It’s been a while but it all came back to me, an unexpected surprise and pleasure. I’ve looked forward to seeing West get his own happy ending and was pleased that Phoebe was the woman who captured his heart. He’s developed into such a good man who deserved a second chance in life. As much as I enjoyed the romance, it was West’s scenes with Phoebe’s sons that brought the magic. They were a highlight of the story, which turned out to be as wonderful as I’d hoped it would be.

Posted on Blue Mood Café ...more

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Aug 10, 2022 Anita rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, historical-romance, kindle-libby-city

West Ravenel has been a constant as a secondary character in all the books. He has been steadfast and steady after fully embracing the country like and finding his place as the estate manager for Eversby Priory. He was quite the wastrel until the last two years with the degenerate reputation to match. He has finally found a woman he can't seem to put out of his mind, only problem is she is a widow with children and the daughter of a Duke and so out of his reach as to be on the moon.

I loved his s West Ravenel has been a constant as a secondary character in all the books. He has been steadfast and steady after fully embracing the country like and finding his place as the estate manager for Eversby Priory. He was quite the wastrel until the last two years with the degenerate reputation to match. He has finally found a woman he can't seem to put out of his mind, only problem is she is a widow with children and the daughter of a Duke and so out of his reach as to be on the moon.

I loved his story and how it circled back to the Wallflowers Series yet again. Phoebe Devil's Daughter. Her father Sebastian, Duke of Kingston cut quite a scandalous path through London in his day, but her late husband was exactly the opposite. Phoebe loved Henry with all her heart, but he was never very healthy and died at a young age leaving her with an estate, two small children and a deathbed promise. At the marriage of her brother, she comes to know West Ravenel and is disturbed by him as she never was by her husband and it bothers her, a lot.

When she returns home to an estate that is hopelessly mired in history, both the house and the land. She knows that things have to change and that she needs to take control both of the estate and her life. Deathbed promises aside, she can't continue to let Edward Larson, her husband's cousin control the estate and court her. With Edward away, Phoebe sets out to take control, but finds herself woefully unprepared. She requests West's assistance and the two become close and Phoebe falls in love. West is in love too, but he fears his disgraceful past will forever taint Phoebe and her children. He runs only to find out he can't outrun love.

Sebastian, Duke of Kingston and Phoebe's father, was excellent and he really helped set Wast on the right course. I also really liked how Phoebe knew her own mind, after taking the time to sort through her feelings. and didn't let convention or those around her sway her. West needed a bit of a shove in the right direction, gamely provided by Sebastian. And everyone, except Edward Larson lived happily ever after. ...more

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Aug 21, 2022 Robin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2022, historical-romance

Phoebe, Lady Clare, is just coming out of two years of mourning when she attends her brother's wedding. There she meets her late husband's nemesis, Weston Ravenel. Phoebe is prepared to dislike him. West bullied Henry while they both attended Eton. But the man she meets is nothing like the guy who Henry described. West is warm, utterly charming, and quickly makes friends with Phoebe's two sons. In the few days leading up to the wedding, West talks to Phoebe about his job as Estate Manager at Eve ...more

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Oct 30, 2020 Lauren rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: widow-widower, historical-romance, gentle-giant, victorian, reformed-rake

Devil's Daughter
3 Stars

Emerging from mourning two years after the death of her husband, Phoebe Larsen is wary of reentering society. Her fears are realized at her brother's wedding when she encounters her late husband's childhood nemesis, West Ravenel. Dark, daring and dangerous, West is the antithesis of her husband, and Phoebe is resolved to steer clear at all costs. Now if only she can convince her body and her heart to do the same ...

Unfortunately, this is the weakest installment in the seri ...more

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Feb 27, 2019 Mary rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: enemies-to-lovers, country-small-town, book-digital, lisa-kleypas, historical-romance

Phoebe, Lady Clare, es una mujer viuda con dos hijos pequeños que criar; nada más y nada menos que la hija de Sebastian, ex Lord St Vincet ahora Duque de Kingston. Ya pasaron los dos años de duelo y la boda de su hermano Gabriel y Pandora es el primer evento social al cual Phoebe y sus hijos asisten, un poco insegura y sintiéndose totalmente expuesta se encuentra con un enigmático West Ravenel.

West es un hombre cuyo pasado no ha sido nada agradable y sus decisiones en momentos de debilidad

Phoebe, Lady Clare, es una mujer viuda con dos hijos pequeños que criar; nada más y nada menos que la hija de Sebastian, ex Lord St Vincet ahora Duque de Kingston. Ya pasaron los dos años de duelo y la boda de su hermano Gabriel y Pandora es el primer evento social al cual Phoebe y sus hijos asisten, un poco insegura y sintiéndose totalmente expuesta se encuentra con un enigmático West Ravenel.

West es un hombre cuyo pasado no ha sido nada agradable y sus decisiones en momentos de debilidad le han hecho una fama nada halagadora; pero con duro trabajo y perseverancia West se ha hecho un nombre por si mismo y se ha ganado el respeto de las personas que lo conocen y trabajan con él.

No es ninguna novedad que nace una tracción entre Phoebe y West; la boda y las festividades que lee siguen es la perfecta oportunidad de que Phoebe, Justin y Nathaniel pasen tiempo con West.

Lo que me gusta de las mujeres de las novelas de Lisa Kleypas es que son muy adelantadas para los pensamientos de la época y que sus contraparte masculino las aman y aceptan como son. Ésta no es la excepción, es Phoebe quien toma las riendas de cortejas a West y lleva a momentos muy tiernos y graciosos, West acude a su rescate cuando es necesario y una nueva familia nace.

Lo mejor de todo, al menos para mi, es Sebastian!!!!
“Sebastian, the Duke of Kingston, radiated the cool confidence of a man who had been born to privilege. Unlike most British peers, who were disappointingly average, Kingston was dashing and ungodly handsome, with the taut, slim physique pf a man half his age. Known for his shrewd mind and caustic wit, he oversaw a labyrinthine financial empire that included, of all things, a gentlemen's gaming club. If his fellow noblemen expressed private distaste for the vulgarity of owning such an enterprise, none dared criticize him publicly. He was the holder of too many debts, the possessor of too many ruinous secrets. With a few words or strokes of a pen, Kingston could have reduced nearly any proud aristocratic scion to beggary.
Unexpectedly, rather sweetly, the duke seemed more than little enamored of his own wife. One of his hands lingered idly at the small of her back, his enjoyment in touching her covert but unmistakable. One could hardly blame him. Evangeline, the duchess, was a spectacularly voluptuous woman with apricot-red hair, and merry blue eyes set in a lightly freckled complexion. She looked warm and radiant, as if she'd been steeped in a long autumn sunset.”

Es sin lugar a dudas mi personaje favorito de todos los libros de Lisa. Ver la vida de Sebastian y Evie, de sus hijos y como ellos encuentran su felicidad es lo mejor de este cross-over de series, la reunión de las ex Wallflowers en el presente es el bonus de la historia. No solamente eso, Sebastian tiene un papel muy importante en infundirle un poco de valor y conciencia a West, ya que ambos hombre tienen muchas cosas en común.

Los Ravenel son una familia que se ha construido a sí misma, es una familia que va adquiriendo miembros en base a lazos d afecto y respeto lo que los hace verdaderamente únicos, hay muchos integrantes que les falta conocer su historia y realmente espero que Tom Severin tenga su propia historia. ...more

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Aug 18, 2022 Sharon Kallenberger Marzola rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, favorites, series, audio-whispersync, historical, love-hero, love-heroine, great-support-characters, enemies-to-lovers, library

I finally made it to West’s book—it is worth the wait and then some.

Devil’s Daughter is the fifth book in the Ravenels series. I’m grateful that I was told this series is a spin-off of the Wallflowers series. While The Ravenels stands on its own, I’m glad I read Wallflowers for the history of some of the characters.

West Ravenel captivated me since he was introduced in the first book of this series. All his life, his brother was the only person who cared about him. The absence of love from t I finally made it to West’s book—it is worth the wait and then some.

Devil’s Daughter is the fifth book in the Ravenels series. I’m grateful that I was told this series is a spin-off of the Wallflowers series. While The Ravenels stands on its own, I’m glad I read Wallflowers for the history of some of the characters.

West Ravenel captivated me since he was introduced in the first book of this series. All his life, his brother was the only person who cared about him. The absence of love from the time he was a child, made him play the rack and sometimes a bully. It wasn’t until his brother inherited an earldom unexpectedly that West found his calling. Now he is an expert on new farming techniques, which helped bring his brother out of debt.

Phoebe is a young widow who is coming out of mourning. She needs to save her son’s inheritance, but no one in her immediate circle gives her credit for her abilities. Unfortunately, the man supposed to have her best interests at heart is a little shady even though Phoebe doesn’t see it. She has known Peter’s cousin since they were children, and she can’t believe he would do anything to hurt her. West treats her as an equal. He is the best person to advise her, but his past interactions with her late husband make her weary of trusting him.

Lisa Kleypas delivers another great story. From the start, West is attracted to Phoebe, but when he realizes who her husband is, he remembers how badly he treated him. He fights his attraction because he isn’t “good enough” for Lady Clare. Seeing him interact with her sons, Justin and Stephen, is charming.

West is good with the boys because he can relate to them on their level. Seeing him get down on the floor or in the dirt to play with the kids is a joy. There are funny and touching moments. Facing down the bull and taking the boys to the “foulest smelling thing” on the farm are two such scenes.

Phoebe gets tongue-tied when she first meets Justin and the others at the estate. “Mama isn’t used to talking to grown-ups,” Justin said. “She likes children better.” This is the way Justin introduces his mother to West. The discussion between Phoebe and Justin about sleeping arrangements had me laughing out loud.

I also love how Phoebe realizes that she and Peter may have misjudged West. Whenever she asks West for help, he goes above and beyond to lend a hand. Even though West fights it every step of the way, the reader can feel the chemistry build to a roaring flame between this couple. It is an added plus to have Sebastian play a key role in the West/Phoebe relationship. I loved this story from the first page to the last.

I listened to Mary Jane Wells narrate the book. She did an excellent job. Her voice works for the characters. She brings the beautiful banter alive and makes me want more. I ended up buying my copy of the audio after I returned the book to the library. I can listen to this one again. My only negative is that this book could use an epilogue. I’m hoping that there will be an update later in the series.

BTW I made West’s favorite soup. The recipe is at the end of the author’s notes. It was tasty and a hit with my family. ...more

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Jul 02, 2019 Charlene rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: follow-this-series, rated-not-reviewed, public-library, series-by-author, romance, victorian

Another Kleypas book that features former characters as parents in this book with the children taking center stage. As with her other romance novels, Kleypas has character formation and expanded horizons along with intimate situations. She writes these well.

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Apr 01, 2019 Jo Ann rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical, part-of-a-series, romance, 2019-release-date, 2019-read

Looooooved this book!! The writing is perfection, filled with little details and subtle nuances, that make Kleypas books stand head-and-shoulders above the rest. I hope there are many, many more books in this series!!

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Apr 23, 2019 Mya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, romance, historical, audio-2500

Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas (Audiobook)
Narrated by: Mary Jane Wells
Series: The Ravenels book 5 - The Wallflowers book 5

4 Stars - I enjoyed this book, though after reading the last book - Hello Stranger - and feeling like West stole the show when he was in the scene… I did have high expectations for his own story. Don’t get me wrong. It was good, I laughed, and there were some heartfelt moments. It was just missing that wee bit of something extra, that and at one point in the book, there wa ...more

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Shelves: strong-female-heroine, historical-a, contemporary-career, historical-fiction, erotica, regency, adult-content, family-series

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