Devil in Spring (The Ravenels, #3) in Around the World in 80 Books

Feb 23, 2017 Juliana Philippa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 0-own-multiple-copies-or-formats, 2017-reads, hr-hero-nobility, hr-opposites-enemies-attract, 0-own-in-dead-tree-form, favorite-romance-heroines-ever, hr-heroine-abuse-trauma-rape, 0-own-in-dead-tree-form-mass-market, 0-own-avg-rating-3-point-8-plus, hr-series

3.5 stars — September 2020 (back to 4 stars in May 2021)
Such a weird situation ... but I remember adoring this book, and that was not the case on this reread. I lowered the rating from 4.5 stars to 3.5. I don’t know why, but this time around, Pandora drove me absolutely fucking nuts! To be clear: I love her weirdness, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that she came off so frequently as such an immature, spoiled, self-centered brat. ... Lol I know, clearly I don’t feel strongly about it. B 3.5 stars — September 2020 (back to 4 stars in May 2021)
Such a weird situation ... but I remember adoring this book, and that was not the case on this reread. I lowered the rating from 4.5 stars to 3.5. I don’t know why, but this time around, Pandora drove me absolutely fucking nuts! To be clear: I love her weirdness, that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that she came off so frequently as such an immature, spoiled, self-centered brat. ... Lol I know, clearly I don’t feel strongly about it. But it’s true!!

Also, the relationship dynamic between her and Gabriel is so unequal, and I am stumped as to why he falls in love with her and ends up being so obsessed with her. It doesn’t feel to me like she ever really appreciated him and although there is, of course, a love declaration on her part, it’s honestly somewhat surprising. We know she thinks he’s gorgeous, and she loves his acceptance of her, but I felt like he got the short end of the stick in that relationship.

This has never happened to me on an LK reread and I think this might be the lowest rating, and only one of its class, I’ve given to an LK book (context: she’s one of my favorite romance authors and I’ve read almost every single one of her books, many of them multiple times).

February 2017
Laughed out loud so, so many times. So many times!! Lololol. Absolutely adored Pandora and Gabriel (who, FYI, is Evie and St. Vincent's son—so much fun to see them again!!). Adored them separately, adored them together, just adored them. Very unique characters; Pandora is really out there (and now on my favorite-heroines list) and Gabriel is not a rake or bad-boy, he's actually a super decent guy who quite the opposite, feels like his every move is always watched and he has to be perfect in everything. Love how refreshingly honest they are with one another, and that the story and plot are constructed such that we get A LOT of time with them getting to know one another.

Another Kleypas winner—this is why she is one of the most reliable historical romance writers out there!

Fun/cute excerpt:

"I had already planned to take Lady Pandora on an outing this afternoon."

Pandora glanced over her shoulder with a quick frown. "I would prefer a tour of the house with the duchess."

"I don't trust you around unfamiliar furniture," Lord St. Vincent said. "It could be disastrous. What if I have to pull you out of an armoire, or God forbid, a credenza?"

Embarrassed by the reminder of how they'd met, Pandora said stiffly, "It wouldn't be proper for me to go on an outing without a chaperone."

"You're not worried about being compromised, are you?" he asked. "Because I've already done that."

Forgetting her resolution to be dignified, Pandora stopped and whirled to face the provoking man. "No, you didn't. I was compromised by a settee. You just happened to be there."

Lord St. Vincent seemed to enjoy her indignation. "Regardless," he said, "you have nothing to lose now."

"Gabriel—" the duchess began, but fell silent as he slid her a glance of bright mischief.

The duke regarded his son dubiously. "If you're trying to be charming," he said, "I should tell you that it's not going well."

"There's no need for me to be charming," Lord St. Vincent replied. "Lady Pandora is only pretending disinterest. Beneath the show of indifference, she's infatuated with me."

Pandora was outraged. "That is the most pomposterous thing I've ever heard!" Before she had finished the sentence, however, she saw the dance of mischief in Lord St. Vincent's eyes. He was teasing, she realized. Turning pink with confusion, she lowered her head. Within a few minutes of arriving at Heron's Point, she had tumbled on the drive, lost her hat and her temper, and had used a made-up word. It was a good thing Lady Berwick wasn't there, or she'd have had apoplexy.

As they continued to walk, Lord St. Vincent fell into step beside Pandora while the duchess followed with the duke. "Pomposterous," he murmured, a smile in his voice. "I like that one."

"I wish you wouldn't tease," Pandora muttered. "It's difficult enough for me to be ladylike."

"You don't have to be."