Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3) by Lisa Kleypas

Title: The Devil in Winter (The Wallflowers, Book 3)
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Paperback; 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (February 23, 2016)
ISBN-10: 006056251X
ISBN-13: 978-0060562519
Notes: This is a reread for me. I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I am also an Avon Addict which means I love the books that Avon publishes enough to volunteer to read as many ARCs and books as they can send my way. So you'll be seeing a lot of books reviewed by me from this publisher. Please note, however, that if I don't like a book, it will be truthfully reflected by a low rating.

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At first glance, Evangeline "Evie" Jenner appears to be the epitome of a wallflower. She's shy, quiet, can blend into the background, and has a nervous stutter that discourages potential suitors. Once you get to know her, however, you find she's anything but. She's strong, smart, courageous, witty, and, at the moment, desperate. So much so that she approaches the handsome, but sinister Viscount St. Vincent with a proposal. She proposes they marry in order to solve both their problems--her wish to avoid being forced to marry her cousin by her family, and his need for wealth. A marriage of convenience with both of them knowing what to expect, what could possibly go wrong?

This was a fun story where a Rake of the first order becomes the perfect husband. When I first read this novel I thought Lisa Kleypas was crazy to think I would ever accept a rake like St. Vincent as the perfect match for Evie. After reading 'It Happened One Autumn', I thoroughly disliked the fellow, and didn't think she could pull it off but, much to my chagrin, she did so rather magnificently and that is what makes this book a must read.While you don't need to read the previous two books in the series to enjoy this one, I highly recommend you do. This is a gem of a series and you'll kick yourself later if you don't read it in order. It would be for me like eating a sundae without the whipped cream and cherry on top. Still delicious, but you know your missing something good.

St. Vincent, aka Sebastian, is a complicated fellow. When I think of him that line from Shrek where they compare ogres to onions comes to mind. St. Vincent is a complex individual with many layers. His ex best friend Marcus believes Evie appeals to St. Vincent’s deepest, most secret fantasy and I tend to agree, So while you read this one take into account what happened to all of Sebastian's female relatives, and how with Evie he can do something he wasn't able to before. I believe Evie gives his life purpose and fills a void he probably never even knew he had. Oh, and if you were worried, St. Vincent is nothing like Shrek in the looks department. If anything, he's the exact opposite and is described as looking like "a fallen angel, replete with all the dangerous male beauty that Lucifer could devise." *swoon*

I was pleasantly surprised with Evie in this one as she is not at all what I expected. She's been harboring a secret that she hasn't let even her closest friends in on. It's rather unpleasant and she's trying to deal with it on her own terms. but she'll need a little help from St. Vincent to finally escape it. This is another novel which emphasizes just how far women have come in regards to the way they're treated. While at times it would seem tempting to have lived in this era, it's stories like this one that make me very glad I didn't.

Some of my favorite quotes:

- “A man’s vanity is more fragile than you might think. It’s easy for us to mistake shyness for coldness, and silence for indifference.”

- “I want to fill every part of you... breathe the air from your lungs...leave my handprints on your soul. I want to give you more pleasure than you can bear.”

- “the mysteries of attraction could not always be explained through logic. Sometimes the fractures in two separate souls became the very hinges that held them together.”


I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. It is one of the many stories by Lisa Kleypas that made her one of my all time favorite romance authors. The story has a hidden depth to it along with a side of suspense and a touching transformation that will have Sebastion finding his way into your heart. Definitely one for your keeper shelf. I HIGHLY recommend this one and the entire Wallflower series. On the Lisarenee Romance Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

P.S. If you haven't read The Hathaways series by Lisa Kleypas, you may want to take note of a character named Cam Rohan in this book. He makes a tiny appearance in this story, but you may want to come back after you finish 'Mine Till Midnight' to check him out again. It's my all time favorite Lisa Kleypas book and Cam is one of my favorite romance heroes.

Order of the Wallflower series: