Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Discussion thread for the first BOTM for November 2023. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is o k' for instructions.)

Join us in reading this HR that features the theme Class Difference. Happy reading!


Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

Synopsis:

A devil's bargain.

Desperate to escape her scheming relatives, Evangeline Jenner has sought the help of the most infamous scoundrel in London. A marriage of convenience is the only solution.

No one would have ever paired the shy, stammering wallflower with the sinfully handsome viscount. It quickly becomes clear, however, that Evie is a woman of hidden strength—and Sebastian desires her more than any woman he's ever known.

Determined to win her husband's elusive heart, Evie dares to strike a bargain with the devil: if Sebastian can stay celibate for three months, she will allow him into her bed. When Evie is threatened by a vengeful enemy from the past, Sebastian vows to do whatever it takes to protect his wife . . . even at the expense of his own life.

Together they will defy their perilous fate, for the sake of all-consuming love.

I love the Wallflowers Series, but this was my least favorite book in it. Therefore, I do not plan to reread. Hope you all enjoy!

Mariana wrote: "I love the Wallflowers Series, but this was my least favorite book in it. Therefore, I do not plan to reread. Hope you all enjoy!"

It is my favourite from the series!! I also love that the H and h appear in the Ravenels series as well

This book is most people's favorite. I liked it but I didn't love it. I won't be rereading it this month. I hope everybody enjoys it!

I loved this book. It is my favourite one in this series and it’s a delight to read it again.

I'm curious if anybody reread this book?

oh, this is for November! Never mind my last comment. There's plenty of time

I reread this one - it is possibly my favorite Lisa Kleypas book. I enjoyed it this time around too. I will likely pull it out in 3-4 years time and read again. I do love a good rake and Evie is a great heroine.

I love Lisa Kleypas but already reread this one earlier this year so didn't join in this time around. I agree Susan, that Evie is a great heroine.

(view spoiler)[I have been putting off reading Lisa Kleypas because - well I just wasn't buying into the adoration. Surely she couldn't be as good as they all said?

How mistaken was I!! I loved this and have now read it 3 times and loved it, even more, each time. The first time, I made the mistake of reading this book, not having read the first in the series. I still enjoyed it, but I now know how much my pleasure would have increased if I had read the first 2 books in the Wallflowers series first.

So, then I read the first 2 books and realised how truly awful Sebastian has been, and so I was totally blown away and appreciative of his journey to redemption was as he fell in love with Evie.

I loved all the different elements of this story - the gambling house, the death of Evie's father, the recovery of Sebastian's friendship with Marcus, Evie's growth in confidence, her compassion and loyalty, the medical horrors of this period, the friendships, the class divide etc. They were all woven into the story to become a superbly crafted narrative. I loved it. And Sebastian - well he is too delicious for words! (hide spoiler)]

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "spoiler"

Susan, if you like Sebastian and haven't read the lovely Ravenels series yet, you are in for a treat. This is the next generation, and the mature Sebastian and Evie pop up in Devil in Spring, Devil's Daughter, and Sebastian has a wonderful role in Devil in Disguise.

I love these books - amongst my favourite HRs. I'm so sad Lisa Kleypas has stopped writing. I believe she hasn't published anything new since Devil In Disguise :(

Jan wrote: "Susan in Perthshire wrote: "spoiler"

Susan, if you like Sebastian and haven't read the lovely Ravenels series yet, you are in for a treat. This is the next generation, and the mature Sebastian and..."

Yes - I’ve read several and enjoyed them but I hated Devil in Disguise.
(view spoiler)[ I received an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review, (and I wish I hadn't). I am beyond disappointed and annoyed. I hate what Lisa Kleypas has done here, making Keir the illegitimate son of Sebastian. No, no, no.

I was quite enjoying the story until that revelation, but I am afraid it has ruined the storyline for me. I can see why she wanted to tie up the Westcliffes and St Vincents - but to do it in this way? Really unsettled by this!

The book is of course well written but I don’t like the plot device and couldn't enjoy the book as I should have done. . I am struggling to know how to rate it. I disliked the story so much, despite LK's brilliant writing, that I have to downgrade it to 2.5 stars. I will now try to forget I ever read this one and continue with the reality of Sebastian and Evie as described in all the other books.

This is not a reflection on LK's writing which remains excellent - simply a disagreement about the plotline. I just cannot accept this.

I am sure readers who don't have the attachment to the Sebastian and Evie story which LK has pursued in so many books.,will find it easy to rate it higher and wonder why readers like me are so angry at what the author has done.

I don’t think I can read anything by LK again. I feel she has really let her long term fans down. (hide spoiler)]

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Yes - I’ve read several and enjoyed them but I hated Devil in Disguise."

Susan there are others who feel the same, although I'm not of that number. (view spoiler)[ For me the storyline fitted with Sebastian's character. It all happened before he met Evie and became a reformed man, and was not an uncommon occurrence I'm sure. To his credit, when Sebastian finally found out about his son, he dealt with it in a believable and mature manner IMO. So for me it adds richness to his background rather than spoiling past books. I'm sorry it didn't work for you. Hopefully you can still enjoy Ms Kleypas' other books. (hide spoiler)]