Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Winter Review

Overall Rating

The romance absolutely SIZZLES!
Sebastian definitely ranks in the top 5 sexiest romantic heroes of all-time.

During most of the beginning and end, there are parts of the story told in both Sebastian's and Evie's perspectives. However, during a chunk of the middle, Sebastian's perspective seems lost. Instead of 50/50, it's more 65/35, in Evie's favor.

Take London's most notorious rakehell in one hand, and a cripplingly shy (and unintentionally captivating) virgin in the other. Add a West End gambling hell, a magnetic/charismatic Gypsy, a resentful Cockney companion, some guns, and the rest of the delightful Wallflowers, and you have "Devil In Winter," the third book of the Wallflower series.

Evangeline "Evie" Jenner is the daughter of ex-boxer Ivo Jenner (who made an appearance in Lisa Kleypas's previous acclaimed novel "Dreaming of You"), who owns a gaming club. She stands to inherit the largest fortune of all her Wallflower friends; couple that with her unique beauty (flaming hair and freckles everywhere), and she should be one of the biggest catches in the London Season. However, she is painfully shy, which results in a stammer (and thus is a "suitor repeller"), and her maternal relatives, the Maybricks, are a controlling and abusive lot who wish to marry her off to her cousin Eustace in order to keep her father's fortune in their family. Needless to say, this Wallflower is in a tight spot.

Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent is a reprehensible rake who is in something of a tight spot himself. Mostly due to his spendthrift father, Sebastian doesn't have much of a fortune, despite his title. This led him to an *exceedingly* desperate action in the previous Wallflower book, "It Happened One Autumn": he kidnapped Wallflower (and soap heiress) Lillian Bowman, and tried to elope with her to Gretna Green. This abduction cost him his friendship with Lillian's fiance , the Earl of Westcliff, and has him feeling a bit down in the dumps.

Enter his salvation: equally desperate Evie, who summons great courage to propose marriage, of all things (though not with some reservations, namely her friendship with Lillian). They would elope to Gretna Green, consummate the marriage (at Sebastian's insistence, to make it legal), and the rewards would be twofold: Evie would be freed from her horrid family, and Sebastian could inherit her fortune and "go about his merry way." There is a catch, though: no sex after consummation. Evie doesn't want to give her heart over to someone who will only break it.

Sebastian agrees to the proposition, and they quickly marry, and... do everything else attached to the agreement. And then something inside him changes. It's as if he has been hit over the head with a blunt object known as Evie. She is unlike any woman he has ever known, and her effect on him was unforeseeable when he agreed to marry her.

Now, the formerly latent rake has several new responsibilities, including the reopening of the club, dealing with some people who don't really want him there, and caring for Evie's consumptive father. And he copes with all of them, while his beautiful wife remains in his life every day, and he can't have her. He doesn't want any woman but her--and that unnerves him.

Soon, the tension between them becomes unbearable, and something has to give. So, Evie revises their agreement: if he can be completely celibate for three months, then she is his. If he cheats on her, then he must apologize to the Earl of Westcliff for abducting his fiance (now wife) Lillian. Imagine the awkwardness...! So, Sebastian complies. And the sexual tension simmers continuously. Until he gets shot while protecting Evie, and his life hangs in the balance.

Sebastian's steady (if a bit quick) transformation is believable, as his interests are not only in his new wife, but also his new profession. His charm (which was evident in "It Happened One Autumn") is irresistible, and his character surprisingly sympathetic. He manages to melt Evie's shyness and reveal a truly wonderful spirit, and it becomes impossible not to fall in love with her. The romance sizzles, and the subplots (including Ivo Jenner's eminent death) are often heart wrenching.

All in all, a tale of two people who got married... and *then* fell in love.