Sandy M’s review of Devil in Spring (Revenels, Book 3) by Lisa Kleypas
Historical Romance published by Avon 21 Feb 17
This review will be, I’m sure, quite different than most out there, due to the fact this is my first historical romance by Lisa Kleypas. I’ve read her contemporary series, which I loved, but just have never taken the opportunity to begin reading her historicals. Thus, I’m probably the only historical romance reader on the planet who hasn’t read Devil in Winter. Yes, I heard all those gasps out there. So perhaps that gives me a whole different perspective when it comes to this Devil in this book, mostly because I can’t compare him to his father, probably the most popular Kleypas character to date.
I love the opening scenes when Pandora and Gabriel meet. She’s gone to the boathouse of her hosts of the ball she’s currently attending to find the earring of friend, said friend not wanting anyone to discover she’d been dallying with a gent there. Pandora agrees only because she’s bored and doesn’t want to be at the ball anyway. After a bit of searching, her gown snags and catches on the settee where, between the cushions, she finds the lost piece. Making a racket when she’s unable to free herself is about the time Gabriel, Lord St. Vincent, passes by the boathouse and hears Pandora. Even before they meet face to face, their banter is fun and delightful. Gabriel frees Pandora, and though he’s a gentleman for helping a damsel in distress, they’re about to become the center attraction in a scandal they never saw coming.
As luck would have it – or not – as the couple exits the boathouse, their host, who still has issues with Gabriel’s father, and a family friend happen by, and said host is the one who brings about the bruhaha of their unchaperoned time together. He insists they marry, pushing the son of his enemy in a direction he has no desire to go. Gabriel has no plans to wed any time soon, and Pandora fervently doesn’t wish to marry, knowing her life and her work will become her husband’s property. She’s diligently worked on creating a board game company, which is just now coming into its own. Thus, she tries to put her foot down so she won’t lose everything.
Both their families assure them they don’t have to marry, other plans can be made. But in the meantime, Sebastian and Evie, the hero and heroine of DiW that all of Romancelandia love, invite the Revenels to the family estate so Gabriel and Pandora can get to know one another and then make a better decision in a week’s time if they’d like to spend their lives together. It’s Gabriel who falls first, finding Pandora’s whirling mind fascinating and the woman charming in her sheltered innocence. It wasn’t until I saw a Facebook post by Ms. Kleypas that Pandora’s frenetic personality clicked for me, telling readers she suffers from ADHD, but, of course, such a disorder was not known in that era. Thus, she wrote Pandora perfectly. I remember thinking while reading that Pandora reminds me of my niece, who also suffers from the same thing. Neither can light for any length of time and no one can hardly keep pace with their minds. Gabriel, wonderful hero that he is, loves this about her and handles it all beautifully. He definitely has been raised right.
Pandora still has a difficult time agreeing to marriage, despite her new-found love for Gabriel. Will she walk away? Or will she put her trust in his love, that he will do exactly as he says he will, despite his possessiveness and protective instincts? There is a bit of a mystery near the end that picks up the pace for a while, and I love the suspense, as well as seeing how both Gabriel and Pandora comport themselves when danger is aimed at the other. Not having read any of the earlier books in either series, I do like Devon, Pandora’s guardian, a lot. And I can see in just the few pages he appears in this story why everyone loves Sebastian. The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree, as they say.
So will I now pick up some of Ms. Kleypas’ historicals and start reading? You bet. Even though I knew before I started reading this one that I would love anything she’s written, reading Devil in Spring just thoroughly cements that fact for me.
Grade: A
Summary:
An eccentric wallflower . . .
Most debutantes dream of finding a husband. Lady Pandora Ravenel has different plans. The ambitious young beauty would much rather stay at home and plot out her new board game business than take part in the London Season. But one night at a glittering society ball, she’s ensnared in a scandal with a wickedly handsome stranger.
A cynical rake . . .
After years of evading marital traps with ease, Gabriel, Lord St. Vincent, has finally been caught by a rebellious girl who couldn’t be less suitable. In fact, she wants nothing to do with him. But Gabriel finds the high-spirited Pandora irresistible. He’ll do whatever it takes to possess her, even if their marriage of convenience turns out to be the devil’s own bargain.
A perilous plot . . .
After succumbing to Gabriel’s skilled and sensuous persuasion, Pandora agrees to become his bride. But soon she discovers that her entrepreneurial endeavors have accidentally involved her in a dangerous conspiracy—and only her husband can keep her safe. As Gabriel protects her from their unknown adversaries, they realize their devil’s bargain may just turn out to be a match made in heaven . . .
No excerpt available.
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