Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Discussion thread for April, 2018 BOTM. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions).

Happy reading:)

Devil in Winter


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 of 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.

I can’t wait. I’ll read it again. I love this whole series.

:) I am looking forward to it too.

I love this whole series, but this was my least favorite book. I don't think I'm up for a reread of this one.

Yay! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Mariana wrote: "I love this whole series, but this was my least favorite book. I don't think I'm up for a reread of this one."

I didn't really enjoyed this book either. Glad I'm not the only one. I'll most likely read everyone's comments and might comment here and there.

Too funny. I just re-read this about a month ago. Twice. Devil in Spring got me interested again. I like this whole series (well both series) and Devil in Winter was my favorite. I'll try to stop by and chime in...

Ally wrote: "Hello all! Guess I'll have to see if I can get a copy of this from my library to see if I can join in. glad to see you guys are looking forward to reading this!"

One of my early GR friends reccoed it. This time, I’m going to listen to audio from audible.

Anyone reading/re-reading this one, now?

Priya wrote: "Anyone reading/re-reading this one, now?"

I just finished listening to it about 45 min. ago. My was first read was years ago, when I was just getting my feet wet with GR and one of my early friends highly reccoed it.

Sebastian sure was funny at the beginning. Later on, not so much.

I didn’t care for the voice used for Sebastian. He sounded imperious. I envisioned his voice as jaded and world-weary.

Someone mentioned in another thread that they didn’t care for the audio and now I see why.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Priya wrote: "Anyone reading/re-reading this one, now?"

I just finished listening to it about 45 min. ago. My was first read was years ago, when I was just getting my feet wet with GR and one of m..."

Oh! So, the narrator spoiled the book for you. I have started listening to audiobooks recently and only two are romances. Now, I understand your discussions on bad/good narrators in other threads. Is an audiobook available with only a narrator or do they get released with a different narrator each time?

Priya,

I don’t think a book like this will be “re-done” in audio.

Classics have multiple audio editions, but I doubt something like this will have multiple audio editions.

Just one narrator, at least for romances. You will find multiple narrators for classics, such Jane Austen novels. So if they're not very good, you are stuck with them, unfortunately.

I want to read this, but it might be later in the month.

Ok, got it. No re-do and only one narrator. Really unfortunate if we don't like that narrator!

Lol - I think we posted at the same time earlier

I enjoyed this, even without reading any others in the series. Found parts to be a little slow, but overall a fun read.

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Priya wrote: "Anyone reading/re-reading this one, now?"

I just finished listening to it about 45 min. ago. My was first read was years ago, when I was just getting my feet wet with GR and one of m..."

I totally agree with this! I read the book first so I guess I already had a voice in my head of what he would generally sound like. The narrator wasn't horrible, but Sebastian's voice wasn't what I expected it should be

I read this recently. It has been my least favorite in this series. I am not a huge fan of St. Vincent, not after his faux pas in the book prior to this one. His behavior was one that I found hard to put behind me. But I love Evie and finished the book for her sake only. Although, oddly, I liked the book with Sebastian and Evie's son Devil in Spring All in all, I do love Lisa Kleypas.

Shannon wrote: "I read this recently. It has been my least favorite in this series. I am not a huge fan of St. Vincent, not after his faux pas in the book prior to this one. His behavior was one that I found hard ..."

Shannon,

I lot of readers feel this way about DiW and St Vincent!

Shannon wrote: "I read this recently. It has been my least favorite in this series. I am not a huge fan of St. Vincent, not after his faux pas in the book prior to this one. His behavior was one that I found hard ..."

I am with you Shannon. That is why I decided not to join in and reread with the group.

I'm currently listening to this gem! it is such a hoot!!

Jessica wrote: "I'm currently listening to this gem! it is such a hoot!!"

First time listening/reading it?

Jessica wrote: "I'm currently listening to this gem! it is such a hoot!!"

LK did an excellent job with the humor at the (view spoiler)[wedding. (hide spoiler)] That was hilarious!

@Andrea I agree! I loved that scene (view spoiler)[with all the upcharges and the frustration Sebastian expressed! The ring part! LOL I also really liked how and that he took care with Evie's concern over removing the ties too soon. (hide spoiler)]

Wow, I had no idea Sebastian was so unpopular until I stopped over here. I know I said before this was my favorite. Of the series and of what I've read by LK. It's funny what a re-read will do for you. I loved it first and loved it more when I re-read it. But recently I thought I would revisit the whole series so I re-read the Autumn one and I liked Lillian less than before. And I realized I had forgotten all about the faux pas (view spoiler)[kidnap escapade (hide spoiler)]. I hadn't expected that! LOL

It's hard to remember what I thought of Sebastian on the first time through. (view spoiler)[On the kidnap, I've got a vague memory of more of a disappointed feeling - 'oh geez, why'd you do that!?!' (hide spoiler)] I just always got such a sense of repressed sadness and desperation from him. One of the best parts for me was seeing how work is good and necessary was demonstrated in his actions. Evie saved him in more ways than one.

I read this book before any of the others in this series. I had the luxury of not knowing about the bad stuff St. Vincent had pulled. I agree with Peaktopeak’s take on St. Vincent. Personally, I loved him and his relationship with Evie. Their story and Tessa Dare’s A Week To Be Wicked are two of my favorite “love just slapped me in the face” books. I loved reading Devil In Spring and getting to revisit Evie and Sebastian years later. It was nice to find them happy and doing well. I really liked how LK portrayed an older St. Vincent. I hope LK writes more books that follow the children of the Wallflower bunch. I adored that whole series.

Melissa wrote: "I read this book before any of the others in this series. I had the luxury of not knowing about the bad stuff St. Vincent had pulled. I agree with Peaktopeak’s take on St. Vincent. Personally, I lo..."

I didn’t read the book with Sebastian’s evil deeds either!

It’s clear in this book what he HAD done and I don’t know when I started this book anything about him.

Back to reading and catching up on the conversation. I’m a little relieved to find I’m not the only one who felt this way abou St. Vincent. However I agree completely with Melissa and all those who enjoyed the grown up version of Sebastian. I did enjoy him as a father in Devil in Spring.

Shannon wrote: "Back to reading and catching up on the conversation. I’m a little relieved to find I’m not the only one who felt this way abou St. Vincent. However I agree completely with Melissa and all those who..."

Yep, I second that. I also liked Sebastian in devilin Spring. People can change for the better.

I was looking at a bunch of lists a few weeks ago and saw that this book in particular was at the top of so many!

I read it absolutely ages ago when I read the series as a whole (I think it was one of my first series in the genre!). I don't remember what I thought of it then but I did for some reason pick it up again last summer and skimmed through it. So right now, it's the only one of the series I truly remember.

When I saw it was this month's book, I thought I'd semi-listen to it via audiobook while puttering around the house. WOW - I did not like the voice they put on for Sebastian. I'll read the rest of it because I did like it and am genuinely interested in why it tops so many lists. I'll probably re-read the rest of the series too. I do love me some wallflowers.

Alexis wrote: "I was looking at a bunch of lists a few weeks ago and saw that this book in particular was at the top of so many!

I read it absolutely ages ago when I read the series as a whole (I think it was..."

Might as well. As a whole, I really like this series too. Oddly enough I only read book 3 twice.

April is dwindling, and I don’t think I will get to this one! Hmm..maybe I will get started.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "April is dwindling, and I don’t think I will get to this one! Hmm..maybe I will get started."

You still have the weekend.

It’s so funny because I’ve tried reading this book about 3 times and it’s one of the most difficult books to get through for me because of that cliche/inconsistent feeling. I’m absolute sure something is wrong with me haha!