The Devil in Winter (The Wallflowers, Book 3)

I just completed reading the entire Wallflowers series of books. As a whole I give the collection 5 stars. I enjoyed a couple books more than others, but considering the entire work, the story of the Wallflowers flowed wonderfully from book to book. I decided to review all the books together as one unit in case the reader would like to see how the Wallflowers' stories interweave and would like to read them in order. I began out of order by reading the third book first and wish I hadn't done it that way. It kind of took some of the surprise out of the first two books for me. The Wallflowers are a group of four young women who, for various reasons, seem to be unable to attract the interest of gentlemen to dance with them at balls or ask for their hand in marriage. For a couple seasons they had ignored each other and sat alone on the sides watching and wishing. One day they break their silence and a wonderful friendship begins. They plot and plan and decide as a group they can hatch plans to get each other wed. Each Wallflower has her own book. Book 1--Secrets of a Summer Night was about Annabelle and Simon. Annabelle's family was destitute and facing the possibility of being turned into a life of servitude if Annabelle didn't marry well. She was in her last season of husband hunting because she was just getting too old to attempt another. She was desperate to marry a well off member of the peerage in order to rescue her family. Annabelle and the other Wallflowers came up with a scheme to compromise and trap a young Lord into marriage. However, Annabelle wasn't counting on the attraction she felt for Simon Hunt, a common businessman who happened to be wealthy beyond measure. Hunt seemed to find amusement as he watched Annabelle fumble and regroup time and time again. He was willing to bide his time until Annabelle would willingly go to him to become his mistress. Will Annabelle get her Lord, or will she end up defeated? Read this book to find out. Watching the cat and mouse game played out between Simon and Annabelle was rather enjoyable. The scene in the book at the railroad facility was very emotional. Overall I felt this book was well written. The hero of the next book is featured quite nicely in this story without overshadowing the focus of the main characters. I'm adding it to my keeper pile and feel I would enjoy rereading it somewhere down the road. Book 2--It Happened One Autumn is the story of Lillian--a very outspoken American debutante whose family became wealthy in the soap manufacturing business--and Lord Westcliff. Westcliff was one of the oldest and richest earldoms in England. Marcus, Lord Westcliff, shouldn't be attracted to Lillian due to her bawdy American ways making her entirely unsuitable for a wife, but he couldn't help the pull of attraction. The more Lillian did to earn his stern disapproval the more Marcus found himself being unable to resist. What happens when this stubborn stern man meets the highly opinionated and free spirited Lillian? Explosive chemistry and heat overtakes them both. This story shows how opposites truly do attract and make fine bedfellows, that is, if they can get past Westcliff's mother who vehemently disapproves of Lillian. The reader is introduced to the hero of the third book in this story--St. Vincent. St. Vincent is quite the charmer and tries to woo Lillian away from Westcliff. The reader finds out that St. Vincent is in desperate need of a wealthy heiress. Luckily for him his scruples don't mind if the heiress is American or not. Although he and Marcus are long time friends, St. Vincent does something fiendishly awful toward the end of this book. I really enjoyed his character even though he was the bad guy. Book 3--The Devil in Winter is about Evie and St. Vincent. The book opens with the shy stammering Evie making St. Vincent an offer he can't refuse. She is desperately trying to escape her cruel family so she can see her father before he dies. St. Vincent is brooding over the outcome of book 2 in the Wallflowers series and still needs to find that heiress to marry. The book begins with a hasty marriage between the two, and we get to watch as St. Vincent begins his journey from cad to reformed rake. St. Vincent has many past hurts from his childhood. He had an uncaring father, and every woman who was important in his life was taken from him by death. He builds walls up around his heart and wears a mask of aloofness and won't let anyone get too close. Well he wasn't prepared for the force of nature that is our Evie. Can she penetrate his shell and melt his heart? You definitely need to read this book to find out. This is the book I began the series with. It kind of spoiled It Happened One Autumn for me since the end of the book was told in the beginning of this one. If you intend to read the entire series I would recommend with book 1 and following the series in order. Finally, book 4--Scandal in Spring is the story of Daisy--the youngest of the Wallflowers and Lillian's sister--and Matthew. Daisy's father, Mr. Bowman, is tired of the money he poured into the husband hunt not paying off. He gives Daisy an ultimatum of either finding a husband by the end of the season or he will force her to marry Matthew whom her father adores. Daisy, of course, cannot stand Matthew. She sees him as the usurper of her father's affections. Mr. Bowman has always been focused on his business and did not have time to show his family attention or love. Daisy was unprepared for the drastic changes in Matthew. She can't seem to help the elemental pull she feels toward him when she sees him again. However, Matthew tells Daisy there is no way he would ever consider marrying her. Not one to give up on a challenge, Daisy finds a way into Matthew's heart. This book has a rather big scandal in it. The reader is informed Matthew has a huge secret looming over his past and this is the reason he has never allowed himself to act on his feelings toward Daisy. The unfurling of the scandal was nicely written. I truly did not see it coming, but enjoyed it a great deal. I felt Matthew was forgiven a bit too easily though and felt it was unlikely everyone would believe his story immediately. That just wasn't too realistic. However, I did enjoy the book a great deal. So, while I did enjoy the entire series I rank my favorites in this order . . . The Devil in Winter--5 stars all the way Secrets of a Summer Night--5 stars It Happened One Autumn--4 stars Scandal in Spring--3.5 stars I plan on putting all four books on my keeper shelf.

I was pretty sure I was going to like it as I started reading, and I'm so glad I was proven right even to the end. I had read all the negative reviews and I think, for me, it was pretty much the author's writing style that carried me through. I really love this author's style and pace, and descriptiveness. I love how she portrays her characters, not giving too much all at once, but not giving too little either. Sentence structure and syntax was really thoughtful without become complicated or overly archaic/pretentious. This is my first Lisa Kleypas novel. I agree the story takes place in a limited environment. Though there isn't much about their introduction into society, and the storyline limits their interaction with the ton. But I don't think that's a problem as it gives the two characters time to adjust and get to know one another without too much outside interference. Though this is the only Wallflower book I've read in this series, I LOVE the fact that the hero is the villain in the prior novel. I love that the author puts him through hell and back in this plot but he is not forsaken nor beyond redemption. Underneath this rakish villain is a considerate man and really thoughtful gentleman. I fell in love with him in the first sample chapter where he helps the heroine down the stairs so gently, wordlessly and without any pretense because she hadn't eaten for days. I believe that how a man treats a woman when no one is watching greatly defines his character. What's amusing is that he actually has morals and a really old sense of honor that he hides behind passive indifference and a lazy smile. My only gripe is that the author painted him as a golden Adonis. It helped that I pictured him as a darker character, with more sinister features, with a seductive voice that slithered (i.e. Alan Rickman ala Harry Potter, or Jeremy Irons ala Lion King). It made all the bantering and innocent scenes even more hilarious in my mind. It gives you that sense that Evie was perfect for him and after spending time in one another's company non-stop for weeks, they came to an understanding that eventually didn't even need words to convey. I really liked Evie. I think she'll do well as a Vicountess and later a Duchess with the ton. She needs to overcome some shyness and the hero will no doubt assist her and coach her in the future. She has an inner strength and natural goodness in her that is really admirable. She reluctantly falls in love with him, and becomes his most ardent defender when everyone else is more willing to rake him across the coals. I love how, albeit guiltily, the hero admits he would never have considered a wallflower, but he also admits he was wrong and should have looked more closely at this diamond in the rough. I really liked how he fell head over heels for her, though some readers found it too sudden and too unbelievable. There is some satisfaction in seeing a villain trip up over his own feet. The phenomenon is actually explained by the author for once and in the psychology of villains, I get that he wants to be redeemed through his love for an innocent and possessively guards her like the most precious thing he's ever had. Contrary to popular belief Evie is no shrinking violet. She puts her foot down and insists on what she believes is right and challenges him, yet she is able to see it from his point of view, and objectively weigh her own behavior. She's smart enough to know that she needs protection. I think in their first actual conversation, she trusts instinct and concludes he is not the villain he appears. She's brave enough to honestly confront the hero's past rakish reputation and holds it up to the light forcing him to admit how shallow his behavior was in the past. He had filled his emptiness with paramours. He had never committed himself to any one woman, therefore it was really gratifying to see him honestly try, and then realize to his disbelief he was doing it because he loved his little wife. I really think she had him at "Hello. Marry me instead." One star for the prose and writing, one for the plot; another for the characters and a fourth for character development. This was a fairly "hot" romance novel, but it didn't detract or distract from the overall quality of the book.

何といってもSt. Vincentの正直さ、率直さが何とも言えず、読んでてもう赤面状態(///▽///) 今まで放蕩尽くして女性のことは何でも知っていると思っているヒーローが、 なぜこんなにEvie一人に惹かれるのか分からずに混乱している様が会話にあふれているのがなんとも素敵。 また、つらい過去を持つEvieがなぜこんなにSt. Vincentに思われるのか分からず、 戸惑っている様子が他作品の自信にあふれた主人公よりずっと胸に来るものがありました。 このWallflower Quartetシリーズの他のヒロインとはまったく違った雰囲気で、私は一番好きです。 この作品の前に“Then Came You”と“Dreaming of You”を読んでおくと、さらに楽しめると思います。

I absolutely totally loved the story of Sebastian and Evie. The combination of the ”bad boy” and the shy wallflower was just perfect. This is my favorite story from the wallflower series.

What can be said that would do this couple's story justice? I just don't know. I guess the only thing left is to say I love them so much, and they live rent-free in my head. Sebastian St. Vincent is what dreams are made of, and Evie is just so adorable 😍 ♥️

Very nice read if you love some drama and characters that evolve along the story..

Lord Sebastian St. Vincent agrees to elope with Evangeline Jenner, daughter of a night club owner. He does it to get her diary as he is on the brink of financial ruin. She does it to get away from abusive relatives who want her dowry. From there the story takes off as their wedding journey is described. When they come back, they start living at the club and St.Vincent takes over its management. Together they deal with Evie's father's death, the abusive relatives, an assassin out to murder Evie, St. Vincent's brush with death etc etc. to finally achieve their HEA. In between there is also the bet that Evie places on her husband that he will remain celibate for 3 months before she sleeps with him. A fun, enjoyable read. The hero is not too soppy and drooling over the heroine. There is a romantic sub-plot that I think has been covered in a separate novel and I am going to find it and read it. I would recommend this, definitely!