Devil in Spring

3.5 stars. This book caters to fans of Sebastian-Evie and Kleypas spoil us with Challons galore every now and then I feel like this book's main objective is to please said fans above. New readers might find it a bit tedious to find the book focusing more on showing someone they do not know (Gabriel's family) than on Gabriel and Pandora. And Pandora was also a disappointment since in the previous books she was shown to be an independent-minded girl and her boardgame was referenced a lot that you expect to see it here. Instead it was merely used as a lead-in to a poor facsimile of the key plot in [b:Devil in Winter 114166 Devil in Winter (Wallflowers, #3) Lisa Kleypas http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309220205s/114166.jpg 1823830], you can't help but feel it was forced as some sort of a homage. There was no part dedicated to describe how the boardgame venture was undertaken. The reader just gets told at the end of the book how successful Pandora's game was. I also found the character Nora Black pointless because Gabriel said the reason he had a married woman as a mistress was because she was the only one that can keep up with his "perversions". I had no idea what these perversions are since he didn't seem to be doing anything out of the ordinary with Pandora.I enjoyed this book for the appearances of Evie and Sebastian and their children but I could not identify with Pandora or Gabriel. On its own, the book feels just like a run-of-the-mill bodice ripper where a rake seduces an innocent. Also, you can't help feeling the book being used as a showcase for a whole new series of the Challons. Being Sebastian-Evie's fan I will surely be reading them though I'm worried the books will again be used merely as a peek to Sebastian and Evie's happily ever after and will not be able to stand on their own (assuming the books were actually written).

5/5

I LOVE this book. I didn't think I would love a book more than Devil in Winter, but Devil is Spring is a smidge better.

Even if I still prefer Evie and Sebastian, Pandora and Gabriel are AMAZING. I adore them.

Like father like son in some ways! And I LOVED that we saw Evie and Sebastian again!! Yessss!! And Westcliff too!! With all those subtle references to the Wallflowers series, I loved it all.

Gabriel was so obsessed with Pandora since day 1, I loved it. He was so enchanted by her and so down to please her. I loved the kiss on the beach, and HE TAUGHT HER OLD WALTZ TO HELP WITH HER BALANCE OH MY GOD YES. AMAZING.

I just loved this book. This time, it was Pandora who was hurt and Gabriel was watching over her. It was a nice reference to the time when Sebastian was hurt and Evie was caring for him. And she even mentioned that!

God, I love how much Sebastian loves Eve 30 years later. Hell yes. I love them.

Practically perfect! I might go back and make this 5 stars later! I confess that part of the appeal is that this novel included the reappearance of one of my favorite couples from Kleypas' Wallflowers series, plus a cameo from one other character. There's also more of "lady doctor" Garrett Gibson, plenty of back-and-forth between the main couple about the legal erasure of women's personhood in marriage at the time, and a heroine with an "impulse control problem" such that she's the person the plot climax centers around. There's also a bit on Irish separatism here, though, that I think Kleypas has more sensitively handled in other novels (like even the previous novel in this series): here it's treated more as a vehicle for some plot drama and there's a missed opportunity to reexamine colonialism. Part of why I like Kleypas, however, is that's a remarkable thing to be saying about the plot of a romance novel!

I loved Pandora's uncrushable eccentricity and independence and Gabriel's respectful protection of her. Lisa Kleypas is my new favorite romance author!

2.5-3 stars. This book is.... Ok. That's it, just ok. It took me way too long to get through and I listened to the audible of it. I struggled to feel any of their chemistry. It did have a good start but then I found it quite boring.

This was cute. I liked Pandora as a heroine, and I liked Gabriel's parents' relationship, and I liked Dragon the footman-turned-bodyguard. Gabriel was okay, but it irritates me when men think they need to be possessive/controlling in order to “protect” their women, so he loses points for going behind her back and making decisions for her and denying her agency, especially after such a big to-do in the beginning about how Pandora didn't want to be married for specifically that reason.

This was exactly what I needed after the disappointment that was [b:A Scot in the Dark 27067875 A Scot in the Dark (Scandal & Scoundrel #2) Sarah MacLean https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468811089s/27067875.jpg 46822469]! Kleypas does shared-universe right - the returning characters didn't feel shoehorned in or unnecessary, but were essential to the plot. (Minor gripe: Cassandra felt really sidelined here, especially for a character that's Pandora's twin sister! Would have loved to see more of her.) I really loved the chemistry between the main characters and that this plot didn't have a lot of over-the-top angst or ridiculous fake obstacles to the marriage. Pandora's concerns are treated respectfully and, seemingly, realistically for the time. The plot takes a kind of strange left turn at about 80% in that seems more designed to set up the next book than anything else, but that's not unusual, even though I would have appreciated more time spent on the main storyline instead. Despite that, this was perfectly refreshing and a book I couldn't stop reading. And also hooray for historical romances that don't end with the obligatory baby!!

THIS is the Kleypas who is romance legend!

I just finished reading all the Wallflower books, so I can say with absolute surety that Devil in Spring is a perfect extension of the series, and of Devil in Winter in particular. It was so much fun to meet several of Sebastian and Evie's children and even grandchildren. What a delight it has been to get an in-depth look at their happily ever after.

I was a bit disappointed with book 1 of the Ravenels, so I was a little worried that I wouldn't love this, but I do. SO much. I've smiled (a LOT.) I've laughed. From page one it's nothing but pure loveliness.

I adore Pandora's quirkiness, and how could I NOT adore Gabriel? The man is a carbon copy of his father, after all. I couldn't get enough of their dynamic chemistry. (That midnight rendezvous! fans self) Together they make a lovely pair, and I loved every single minute of their story!