Devil in Winter (Wallflower Quartet) [Mass Market Paperback]

I love this book. I bought all three Wallflower books issued to date at the same time, and I must admit I read Lillian's story (book two - It Happened One Autumn) wondering how on earth Kleypas was going to redeem Sebastian, Lord St Vincent, as the hero of this book. Well, she did it brilliantly.

Evelyn (Evie) Jenner is the shyest of the wallflowers. She lives with her maternal family who are appallingly awful, and her Dad who runs a gaming club, is dying. In order to gain her freedom and be with her father, she makes the disreputable St Vincent (whose father is busily squandering his family fortune) an offer he can't afford to refuse - marry her and exchange his name for her considerable inheritance.

Kleypas redeems this awful rake with a deft touch - beneath her shy and stammering exterior Evie has a backbone of pure quiet stubborn steel that means Sebastian can't coerce, charm, manipulate or seduce her into bending to his will (of course he tries) which is an entirely new experience for him. Evie discovers her own strength, and he discovers his integrity, and that some things are worth working and fighting (honorably) for. The chemistry between them is absolutely scorching, as well as quite charming and tender.

I loved revisiting with Lillian and Marcus Marsden (Lord and Lady Westcliff) from book two in this one as well. I do like that where Kleypas has characters from another book visiting they actually have a purpose in the storyline.

A great book from a great writer. I have devoured many of her books since reading the Wallflowers. If you like your heros to be a bit bad/tortured to start off with, I also thoroughly recommend Prince of Dreams by the same author.

I am a huge fan of Lisa Kleypas, and put this book up with her very best.I loved her difficult and damaged hero,Sebastian, and the way she turned the despicable man in "It happened One Autumn" to the hero of this book is really interesting.It is a very tender love story and in many places it had me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see what would happen next. It is a real page turner!
Evangeline is desperate. She makes a late night visit to the heartless rake, Sebastian, with a proposition she knows he cannot refuse. She will elope with him to Gretna Green, and use her money to pay off his considerable debts if he will give her freedom to care for her father and escape from the marriage plans of her family. She knows that he kidnapped and attempted to rape her best friend, but is hoping that he is also so desperate that he will accept her proposal, and the conditions that go with it.
Thus begins a love story that develops through many twists and turns, as we see both Evangeline and Sebastian change and reveal new depths. Both are damaged products of broken families. As they find out more about each other, and grow to care for each other, new strengths are revealed. As always, Kleypas writes her characters with real sensitivity, and it is lovely to learn more about the heroes and hreoines of her previous books, who play important secondary parts in this story.
Kleypas always writes better stories for her damaged and dangerous male characters such as Prince Nikolas and Derek Craven, and the redemption of Sebastian, the Viscount St. Vincent is up there in the same league.I loved this book and will re-read it many times in the future. It is worth at least 5 stars and I would give it more if I could !

Where else can I begin, excpt to say that Kleyas only gets better and better with every book she writes, especially with her wallflowers series. Evie and St. Vincent's breathtaking story is the third in the series (First "Secrets of a Summer Night", then "It Happened One Autumn") and without a doubt the best one to date. Built on the basis of friendship, the series matures remarkably with each installment, always keeping the spirit of sisterhood and friendship intact throughout each. Evie has much to be grateful for in her small circle of friends as her story progresses.

St. Vincent has returned from his foiled attempt to kidnap, wed and seduce Lillian Bowman. Beaten and downtrodden, he's not expecting the shy and reclusive redhead that insists on entry into his home. Even more surprising, he's astonished at Evangeline Jenner's proposal of marriage - a marriage of convenience in which she receives sanctuary and protection from her abusive family and he gets what he so desperately needs. That would be money, of course. The daughter of a notorious gaming club owner and a rumored half-wit, St. Vincent never thought he'd be stooping to such a level as to consider Evie's offer. Hard times call for desperate measures, on both their parts, and the two are quickly off the Gretna Green for an elopement of the not-so-heart. Both are determined to maintain their distance, but both are in for some eye opening experiences, ones where prior assumptions and false conclusions about one another will be tossed to the curb. Is it really possible for a self-professed rake to do a complete one eighty? The chances are good for St. Vincent, and watching his awakening to Evie's not so obvious charms is a wonderful experience.

Kleypas's wallflowers series began with an endearing promise, among four unlikely friends, to aid one another in the begetting of husbands. That theme of spirited friendship has prevaled throughout the series and in Evie's story her friends come through for her at probably one of the most trying times of her life. A husband like St. Vincent was no easy cross to bear, a totally debauched rogue with no concerns besides ones for himself, he definitely makes it hard on Evie at times. However, at the same time, no one ever set out to take such devoted and gentle care of the fragile young woman. All but broken by the abuse of her "noble" family, Evie is frankly surprised at St. Vincent's efforts on her behalf. When he tries to bully her into a position she doesn't like, he's equally amazed at the fiery woman that steps out from behind her shell. Who'd have thought a self-professed wallflower could have such spirit and fortitude? The two are a fun and exciting couple to say the least. The attraction between the two was very well written and the chemistry practically leaped right off the pages, it was so intense. By far the best romantic achievement by Klepas to date. And it brought back fond memories of one of my favorites of hers, "Dreaming of You" ( Derek Craven, the hero of that book, is briefly mentioned in this current title. If you liked this story line, I highly recommend "Dreaming of You" too.). The only complaint I have is that there will be a wait for Daisy's story, "A Scandal in Spring", scheduled for release later in 2006. Keep 'em coming, Kleypas. We definitely want more.

K. Montgomery

Official Reviewer for The Mystic Castle