Devil in Winter

The Wallflowers, Book 3

By: Lisa Kleypas

Narrated by: Mary Jane Wells

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

"I'm Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent. I can't be celibate. Everyone knows that."

Desperate to escape her scheming relatives, Evangeline Jenner has sought the help of the most infamous scoundrel in London.

A marriage of convenience is the only solution.

No one would have ever paired the shy, stammering wallflower with the sinfully handsome viscount. It quickly becomes clear, however, that Evie is a woman of hidden strength - and Sebastian desires her more than any woman he's ever known.

Determined to win her husband's elusive heart, Evie dares to strike a bargain with the devil: If Sebastian can stay celibate for three months, she will allow him into her bed.

When Evie is threatened by a vengeful enemy from the past, Sebastian vows to do whatever it takes to protect his wife...even at the expense of his own life.

Together they will defy their perilous fate, for the sake of all-consuming love.

©2021 Lisa Kleypas (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Excellent story with pronunciation Issues

This story is excellent-- I loved the two main characters, particularly since they are in so many of LK other stories. The story was engaging, and I finished in within a day while doing tasks around house. I loved having the history of Jenner's connected to the Wallflowers and Craven's-- and this first introduction of Cam from the Hathaway series. One of the things that I love about LK (and a few others) is the inter-connection between the different novel series. LK is particularly skilled with connecting different generations in her story lines. This really helps you feel a part of the world she created.

Mary Jane Wells has a lovely voice. I like her British accents quite well, except for a few chronic mispronunciations (regardless of American/British pronunciation styles). However, her American accents were painfully terrible because they were historically inappropriate for two daughters living in 5th Avenue Mansions in Manhattan. Maintaining the British Accent would have been better and more appropriate. In the US, the wealthy "aristocracy" of the 19th and early 20th century didn't use a Bronx/Queens accent, they were taught a very "proper" style of American English, just as families in the British nobility learned Received Pronunciation-- that style of English that tells the lower classes in Regency romances that the characters are a "Bob" or a "Lady." The narrator would never use a Yorkshire or Cockney accent for Lord St. Vincent, so I don't know why a modern Bronx/Queen accent would be appropriate for Lillian Bowman. This seems to be an editing issue that should have been addressed during production, as learning the "aristocrats" Trans-Atlantic American accent could be done just as easily as learning an anachronistic modern Bronx/Queens accent-- even Daisy's accent is off. I think that if the narrator would just listen to pre-WWII American recordings, she would be able to appropriate replicate the right accent and greatly enhance the listening experience.

All the ⭐️s for LK and MJW! ❤️🎧

Lisa Kleypas is at her best in the third Wallflower entry. A superior experience whether on your first or your 100th read. This is one I revisit often; Sebastian and Evie’s story is in my top five historical romances. The original audiobook recording with Rosalyn Landor is marvelous and this new version narrated by Mary Jane Wells is just as wonderful, if not better! MJW is truly gifted - her rendering of both the hero and heroine are on point.

Can’t recommend this one enough! Well worth a listen (and several re-listens)!

Wrong narrator

This is the hardest review I've ever done. Devil in Winter is my favorite romance of all time. I bought the paperback when it first came out and have read many many times. I also bought the audiobook when it first came out...narrated by Rosalyn Landor. I listened to that many many times, too. The book has been in my audio library for years.
Then LK decided to reproduce the older books, including this one. In that reproduction, my original was no longer available in my audio library. In order to hear the book again, I had to buy the new one. While I love Mary Jane Wells as a narrator, she did not do justice to this book.
While I love the story, love the characters...I feel like they're very dear old friends; I'm very disappointed. Will I listen again? Maybe....but not any time soon.
LK and Audible....shame on you.

Favorite wallflower

I love all the Wallflower stories but Evie and Sebastian are by far my favorites. Annabelle was a little snobbish, and Lillian irritated me half of her story with her antics and attitude and even tho they came around in the end, I still loved this one the best. I also enjoyed Daisy's story too. MJW can do no wrong as a narrator she's by far my favorite. I'm currently re- listening to the Wallflowers, The Hathaways and then The Ravenels in that order since they're all connected. LK stories are always a good time.

Awful!

I only got through about 8 chapters before I just couldn't take it anymore.

I wanted to like this book. I loved the set up. I loved the two main characters. However it was all ruined for me by a terrible writing style and unfortunately, narration.

The writer just dragged things down again and again with unnecessary, mind-numbingly tedious details and scenes. Chop chop! Move it along! She was stalling for no good reason, going on and on and on about ridiculous things. You always know you're reading a bad writer when they have characters "chew thoughtfully" while eating. Then, they swallow. Then, they "spear" a piece of meat with their fork. Then, they "take another swallow of wine." Nope. There is no reason to linger on meaningless details over and over that add NOTHING to the story.

Still I might have put up with it, were it not for the HORRID voices Mary Jane Wells gave the characters. She is a great narrator, I've enjoyed her before, but this was absolutely terrible. The man drawls in this low, quiet menace that is just stupid, and hard to hear. The girl should have a STAMMER, not HICCUPS! I simply could not deal with how my ears screeched everytime she did one of the characters.

This book was torture. I feel no desire to ever try another Lisa Kleypas.

i swear i have this book under a diffferent titke

i think this book is a reprint with a different title and more sex . hm.mmm i could be wrong...

possibly the best performance ever

This is possibly the best romance novel ever written, and improbably, Mary Jane Wells makes it even better with her performance. This is the standard against which I judge all other novels and performances.

Chemistry between the leads is a stretch, bad American accent

I know that this book is a fan favorite for many. I’ve listened to this book twice and it’s my least favorite of the 14+ Lisa Kleypas books I’ve read. The attraction between St Vincent and Evie seems sudden and nonsensical when she’s a shy wallflower and he’s a worldly rake. Its unclear what he sees in her, TBH.

This book is not well developed compared to Kleypas books like Hello Stranger (Ethan and Dr Gibson) or West Ravenel and Phoebe (Devil’s Daughter). Even Cam is so much more developed and fleshed out in subsequent books despite many pages dedicated to him in this one.

Mary Jane Wells is normally perfection as a narrator. This book is one of the few exceptions where her American accents are poorly done. Lillian and Daisy’s accents are more grating than anything.

For readers who aren’t enamored with this book, I recommend trying the Hathaway or Ravenel series by Kleypas. They’re wonderful!

Mediocre at best

she is a better writer than this. Story line is thin as it can be.

His Savior

I was so interested by the story. My favorite part was when Sebastian realized he loved Evie. I think this will be one of my favorite series along with the Ravenels. They are both heart warming series.