If you look at my Goodreads shelves, you will see that apart from shelves for designating a year I read a book, the most populated shelf is “Love Story.” Since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of falling hopelessly in love like the heroines of my favorite novels. Give me a love story and I’m all for it.
I took tentative dives into the romance genre itself over the past few years, first starting out with Kristan Higgins, who is borderline romance-chick lit but certainly not filled with steamy scenes. It was not until last year, when I read the devastating and delicious Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale that I was taken by the power of the romance genre. But it’s a big one, and I’m learning my way.
I have been really stressed out lately with nighttime anxiety. To combat this, I have relaxed into a routine with tea, melatonin, candles, and plenty of lavender bubble bath. To accompany me, I have started to read romance novels more often. The one I finished yesterday–Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas–was awesome, and I’d like to talk about why it is a four star romance.
This was really enjoyable, and I loved it as my introduction to Lisa Kleypas. Although I think Devil in Winter is imperfect, there were a lot of things I really enjoyed about it and made it a memorable story.
Things I Liked
-Evie and Sebastian were a good match for each other. It was clear that they cared for each other early on, though they did not realize it. This made it all the more fun and rewarding because you could see that they had undeniable chemistry that would ultimately lead them to each other. The slow but steady (not to mention steamy…) journey was great to be a part of.
-Sebastian was awesome! I fell in love with him immediately. He had a wry sense of humor that cracked me up and a gallant personality. If you have to have a marriage of convenience, he would be a great choice! The fact that [SPOILER ALERT] it took him so long to say “I love you” made it that much better when he caved in and said it.
-Historical detail. Now I can’t really comment about whether or not each detail was right, but it sure felt that way. I loved the little touches of Victorian culture and society. Also, I found it really fun to learn about the gentlemen’s club and life inside them. I was surprised by how fascinated I was.
-The theme of the quiet/odd girl getting the guy. I’ll talk about my reservations with Evie in just a moment, but I love me a good Wallflower story. This was my first in the series, and I immediately ordered the other ones.
-The love scenes. W-O-W! I have not read many romance novels and am slowly getting introduced to the genre, but Lisa Kleypas certainly showed me what they are capable of. Glad I have my own copy of this book (though I got it used courtesy of Better World Books)!
Things I Did Not Like
-Evie. Well it’s a bit strong to say I did not like her. The more accurate thing to say is I didn’t love her. She seemed a little too one dimensional to me, and her motivations felt forced. In fact, I felt that some aspects of the novel were contrived. Maybe some people make major decisions that quickly, but I don’t, so a plot where someone agrees to marry someone else pretty much immediately does not feel accurate to me.
Ultimately, this was a book that I fell in love with for the characters and the budding love between Evie and Sebastian.
I have already started Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas (not part of the Wallflowers series) and ordered a bunch of historical romances. Here’s to finding a new author you love!
