Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Winter Review

Overall Rating

Devil in Winter
Lisa Kleypas
Avon, Mar 2006, $7.50, 384 pp.
ISBN: 006056251X

In 1843 London, extremely reticent, probably the shiest of the four Wallflower pact members, Evangeline "Evie" Jenner knows she must find her courage if she is to keep her avaricious relatives from fostering her off in marriage to a man of their choice in order to control the fortune she will soon inherit. Evie figures she needs a brave person immune to the taunts of society who will agree to a marriage of convenience. Her choice is the notorious rake Viscount Sebastian St. Vincent, but first she must talk to him before she can offer him a proposal he cannot refuse.

Evie enters the lion's lair sans a chaperone. Sebastian is impressed with her courage, and her offer is most generous, except for her stipulation of no sex after their wedding night. He plans to wed the chit, seduce her with his lovemaking skills, and when has his full, he will go elsewhere for his needs. So why does he find going elsewhere suddenly an abomination, especially since the beauty rejects his advances by hiding her love for her spouse out of fear he will break her heart.

The latest seasonal Wallflower tale (see SECRETS OF A SUMMER NIGHT and IT HAPPENED ONE AUTUMN) is a terrific early Victorian romance. Evie, unlike her more vivacious Wallflowers, is the last person one would expect to dare to approach Sebastian, but that she does, encouraged by her teammates. Sebastian is enthralled by her courage as much as by her beauty, as he realizes how difficult the task to approach him must have been. Similar to the previous two historicals, no one will care, as Lisa Kleypas' fans will wonder if spring can be far behind.