Devil's Daughter

The Ravenels Meet the Wallflowers

By: Lisa Kleypas

Narrated by: Mary Jane Wells

Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

A 2020 Audie winner - romance

Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain: He’s a mean, rotten bully. Back in boarding school, he made her late husband’s life a misery, and she’ll never forgive him for it. But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her. And then he introduces himself...as none other than West Ravenel. 

West is a man with a tarnished past. No apologies, no excuses. However, from the moment he meets Phoebe, West is consumed by irresistible desire...not to mention the bitter awareness that a woman like her is far out of his reach. What West doesn’t bargain on is that Phoebe is no straitlaced aristocratic lady. She’s the daughter of a strong-willed wallflower who long ago eloped with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent - the most devilishly wicked rake in England. 

Before long, Phoebe sets out to seduce the man who has awakened her fiery nature and shown her unimaginable pleasure. Will their overwhelming passion be enough to overcome the obstacles of the past? 

Only the devil’s daughter knows....

©2018 Lisa Kleypas (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Listened in one gulp

I could not stop listening - the time flew by. This book features Phoebe, she is the daughter of Sebastian and Evie. Also features Weston, brother of the Earle, Devin Ravenel. Phoebe married Henry, her childhood sweetheart. He died only four years after their marriage. When this book begins, he has been deceased for two years. She still misses him very much. Phoebe goes to her brother’s wedding and meets Weston Ravenel. She has hated West since he was a pre-teen in boarding school because he was then a bully to Henry. But she discovers there is intense chemistry between Weston and herself.

Weston is a great character. I loved him when he was introduced in Cold Hearted Rake, the first book in the Ravenels series. He is funny, handsome, curious, sexy, intelligent and loving. But he has the reputation of a drunken rake, which he definitely earned. He is intensely attracted to Phoebe; however he does not believe he is worthy of her. Phoebe is beautiful, smart and funny.

Keyplas quickly builds heat between the two characters. Their interactions are extremely sexy - erotic. They are also witty. Keyplas creates two lovable children characters - Phoebe's two sons; four year old Justin and baby Stephen. She also creates a great cat character; a barnyard cat, named Golashes, who wants to rise above her station.

This book is wonderful and I enjoyed every minute. Even though it wraps up nicely, it has left me wanting more. Perhaps a sequel featuring Tom Severan. The writing is great, but I was a little disappointed in the narrator. She mispronounces words, particularly ones that end in the letters ..ary or …ory. It gets on my nerves. It possibly is the English pronunciation, but still gets on my nerves. I also think she mispronounces Ravenel, She uses a long letter A when I am used to hearing Ravenel with a short letter A. I hate when a narrator mispronounces words!!! Otherwise she is a pretty good reader.

This book is a standalone book and it is not required that you first read the books in the Ravenel series and the Wallflower series - but they are all excellent books and I recommend them also in either the audible or the paper format..

Wanna read a diary?

Some of the terms and language didn’t fit with the time period, there was no real struggle between them other than themselves. Nothing to draw them to each other. A pleasant enough story for a beach book, buttt eh.

Delicious Perfection!

As usual, Kleypas does an amazing job with this luscious historical romance. Here, the Ravenels meet the Wallflowers (again), and the Duke himself lurks around the edges like a slightly tarnished Cupid, quietly arranging the lives of those he loves.

Wes Ravenel meets Phoebe, a beautiful young widow and the daughter of the Duke of Kingston. She initially hates him because he bullied her late husband in boarding school. But she comes to see him as only human, and they forge a path toward friendship. Of course, deeper feelings develop, and he feels unworthy of her due to his past as a rake and a drunkard. Meanwhile, he helps her begin to take charge of her young son's estate and to help her see the potential the estate has to offer. And feelings continue to deepen between them.

There are bad guys and deep secrets, it's a romance novel after all! But the dialog is amusing, the chemistry is heated, and the Duke all but steals the show. If you like historical romance, if you like Kleypas and her Wallflowers series, if you've been enjoying the Ravenel series, I think.you'll love this one. I listened in one sitting, it went down like ice cream, and I will re-listen soon. While it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. There are references to other characters and events, but they are explained well enough as to not be distracting. (If you've not read any of the others in the series, I encourage you to read Marrying Winterbourne. It's the second book and just as delightful.) Highly recommended.

A Disappointing Addition to an Excellent Series

I was super pumped to read this book because: A) I'd fallen a little in love with West's self deprecating humor & kindness in earlier books, and was excited to read a book w him as the main love interest B) I'd fallen very, very in love with the badass leading heroines killing it in their chosen careers/life in general, while simultaneously attracting sexy, progressive-thinking men (some of whom even sport an Irish brogue).

This book is a disappointment, because the main character is depressingly *NOT* badass..Which actually makes sense, once you really dissect the title: "The Devil's Daughter." It had the word "devil" in it, which I look to mean the main character was badass, but what I should have picked up on is how the woman is only significant based on her relation's status... Aka this book shows several decently confident/strong male characters, and a female character who spends the majority of her time asking the advice of/focusing her life around the men in her life.

OMG!

I have read several books from Lisa Kleypas in fact she is one of my true favorites. (Tessa Dare is my ultimate novelist) this book has a very different story compared to her other books. Don’t get me wrong it was still great. However, to truly develop a fond interest in this book I advise you get to know the characters by reading the preceding books. It was slow to start but I found myself laughing and completely snared by this book. I could not put it down after character development lol. It’s worth a read but not as good as her other books. I will say she is a great writer so trust me when I say it’s maybe 7 out of 10 she set the bar high in her other books. It seems like she was testing the waters.

klepas delivers!

best work of hers in a while. loved the clever dialogue. disappointed with no epilogue.

Romance between West Ravenel and Phoebe St Ives

Good to have an additional story that includes the characters of two past series. More of their dialog would have been welcome. The hero and heroine are lively, interesting personalities and the story was fairly tame with no kidnappings or damsels in distress- just one who wisely requests advice. The narrator was ok though it would have been better had there also been a male narrator. Also an epilogue would have been nice but hopefully we will see more of these two when other family and friends have their own stories.

Disappointed.

Very disappointed with this book. Way too much time detailing their sex liaisons and not enough story line. Full chapters on explicit sex. What about punishing Henry’s cousin and uncle for the money they stole? All that happens is he will be removed from being executor/guardian of the estate. So are West and Phoebe going to live on Justin’s estate? What about the property Devon offered West? Seems she was in a rush to end the story.

Magnificent

I've already listened to this book four times. I just didn't want it to end. Phoebe, the main female character, is a complex combination of strength, naivete, wit, and intellect. West, the main male character, is a tortured soul with a healthy dose of self loathing, dry humor, charisma, and heart. The story is immediately compelling, brilliantly written, and full of humor. And we get Sebastian and Evie. The only way this book could be better is if it was longer.

Muh

Klepas' early books had passion and turmoil; real angst, bringing the reader through a variety of emotions. Not only are her later books so mild, they could be used as sleeping aids. She has gone back and rewritten old books that were fire and sizzle, and made them politically correct drivel. I am large and in charge in my life, these books are my escape. I don't need safety romance. I want fantasy "bodice rippers".