Devil in Spring

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!

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!!

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!