Devil in Disguise features Merritt, daughter of Wallflower series heroine Lillian and hero Marcus, a widowed businesswoman with a shipping company and Keir, a Scottish distiller who does business with her. From the title alone, I knew that “Devil” was in some way alluding to Sebastian from The Devil in Winter, an all-time favored novel by Lisa Kleypas. I was disappointed by the reveal and felt like it was used as a plot device to tie the two favorite Wallflower couples’ offspring together.
I don’t mind an insta love/lust story if it is done well by an author and the chemistry is there, which is something I felt with Kleypas’ Merritt and Keir. However, their relationship was told to the reader, not shown, especially since the two had only spent a day or two together in the beginning of the story, there weren’t that many moment the two could have spent with one another to develop as a couple.
I also did not like the amnesia trope thrown into the already fraught-with-drama story.
When Merritt and Keir were together I thought the story was entertaining, however there were too many side characters, such as Sebastian, Marcus, etc, that I felt that Kleypas could just provide her readers with a story of her older Wallflower couples in the present day as part of an anthology series or even in a newsletter. While I always enjoy seeing Evie and Sebastian being cute and romantic, I did feel that it took away from the story of Merritt and Keir.
I also felt disappointed with Merritt because as soon as she fell in love, she no longer ran her shipping company and also, while she was barren in her first marriage she was able to have a “miracle baby” with her new love. I know that people like to read romance novels for the happy ever after and the escape from reality, but I also think that people derive hope from these stories too. So, in the spirit of hope and reality clashing, it would have been nice to read about a barren couple who found solace with just their friendship and romantic relationship and perhaps adopted if that was a yearning that they wanted filled. I don’t think that having a baby is the end-all be-all for every romantic relationship and I think it would have been enlightening to read a romance with an alternative happy-ever-after that shows that.

I usually enjoy LIsa Klepas’s books, but this one was a disappointment. It seemed that she was too caught up in her affection for her previous characters from other books that she neglected to fully develop this book’s protagonists. So we meet a bunch of heroes and heroines from the previous generation of her novels and there are lots of references to those plots. I must confess that, despite having read those books, I couldn’t really remember who was who so I didn't really care about meeting them again. I would have liked to have seen a relationship between Merrit and Keir.

Instead, they meet, rapidly fall for each other because they’re both very attractive, and then fall into bed together. Then it turns out that someone is trying to kill Keir. That mystery is quickly explained. And the fight against the bad guy takes place out of sight while Keir and Merritt have sex and then talk a bit and then have more sex. It’s all interspersed with more admiration for previous characters.

This novel could have been a lot more if the author would just spend more time on the romance she’s writing rather than on trying to bring us up to date on characters many readers won’t know or remember.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Keir MacRae and Merritt Sterling meet when there was an accident with his shipment of whisky that her shipping company was handling. Sparks immediately fly between them and it's interesting to see the twists and turns their relationship takes before their HEA. This is a lovely addition to the Wallflower/Ravenel series as it moves to the younger generation. However, I felt that the focus was more on the whole family in general rather than on this couple's journey of discovery. Fans of the series will enjoy this book, but someone who is not familiar with the backstory will probably have a more difficult time with it.

3.5 stars - rounded to 4 because Kleypas' writing

Anachronistic should have been the title to the book. The speech, the plot and the characters actions. I know I'm swiping broadly and there have been women like Lady Merritt, who have bucked conventions in work, style and manners. I just feel that between that and the more modern speech, things felt a bit off. The instalove plot didn't help.

Having said that, it was a DELIGHT to visit with St. Vincent and the Wallflowers. My very favorite subplot! Overall, if you like Kleypas, you'll enjoy the book. I'm looking forward to re-reading in audio when Kate Reading puts her spin on it.

Fans of Lisa Kleypas will not be disappointed! Another perfectly delightful historical romance by a master!!

Devil in Disguise is the story of Merritt Sterling, the widowed daughter of Marcus and Lillian from It Happened One Autumn, and Keir McRae, a handsome and rugged Scotsman with a mysterious connection to Sebastian from The Devil in Winter.

Merritt and Keir meet and although there is instant attraction, both are hesitant to act on it. There was definitely an element of instalove and little real conflict in this story, but Lisa Kleypas excels at romance and it works. Her male protagonists are forever my favorite because they are exquisitely romantic, not to mention I feel like swooning every time they use terms of endearment such as 'love' or 'my heart.'

Devil in Disguise was a fun and entertaining read in which we get to watch two stubborn people fall in love, figure out Keir's connection to a certain duke, try to keep Keir from becoming the victim of a hitman and get to catch up with some past favorites from The Wallflowers and The Ravenels series.

No one does historical romance quite like Lisa Kleypas and I am always thrilled to get an opportunity to read her work. The Devil in Disguise was a perfect addition to a wonderful series and I am already craving more.

I really enjoyed reading this book and it was a fast read as well. We have Lady Merritt Sterling who is a young widow who is running her husband’s shipping company and she meets Whiskey distiller Keir MacRae, who is a very attractive Scotsman, while he is soaking wet covered by his own whiskey from barrels busting after they were improperly taken off his boat. She knows that they can’t be since he isn’t a nobleman and she is a daughter of a Duke but there attraction cannot be stopped. While they are trying to stay away from each other to no avail someone is trying to murder Keir since he has mysterious past that links him to Merritt. Oh man this was just so good and it does go with her Wallflower series since Merritt’s mom references the Wallflower Code. I just really liked this and I really enjoy historical fiction and the impropriety that they can get away with since she is a widow and she decides that she can leave the business with her younger brother and go figure out what she actually wants to do. A great read and I can’t wait to read another one of her novels.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

I can't begin to express how in love I am with this book. Lisa Kleypas has a sort of magic when it comes to writing emotionally resonant historical romances. She continually blows me away with her craft, characterizations, and nuanced storytelling.

Merritt is such a lovable heroine. She's a strong businesswoman as well as being an incredible nurturer. The way that she handled Keir as frustration and stress mounted around the mishandled whiskey shipment was both hilarious and awe-inspiring. You could cut the tension when these two were in the room together with a butter knife. So delicious!

Keir suffers from amnesia after a hair-raising escape from the warehouse fire and doesn't remember Merritt at all or the night they spent together. My heart absolutely broke! In classic LK form, she completely put it back together with the wonderful scenes with Sebastian. I KNEW something was going on the second that Sebastian laid eyes on Keir in Jenner's. The anticipation for the big reveal had me on the edge of my seat.

This is my new favorite Lisa Kleypas romance (though Devil in Winter will always edge everyone out as far as I'm concerned) though I'm confused by the choice to include it in the Ravenel series. I would think that starting a new series for the other Wallflower children not marrying into the Ravenels would have made more sense.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 for Devil in Disguise by @lisakleypas, available July 27, 2021

In the latest book of the Ravenels Meet the Wallflowers series, we meet Lady Merritt Sterling, the daughter of Lillian and Marcus, Lord Westcliff, from It Happened One Autumn (The Wallflowers series). Merritt is a widow who is running her late husband’s shipping company when she falls for Keir MacRae, a Scottish whiskey distiller with mysterious ties to London that seek to have him killed. While Keir works through the mystery of why someone wants him dead, he and Merritt struggle with their intense attraction to each other that seems impossible to reconcile with their class differences without causing a scandal.

I ADORED this book. Do you like strong, independent business women & gruff, cinnamon roll bearded Scots? A murder attempt? The English seaside & Scottish islands? Whiskey and flirtation?! What more can I tempt you with? 😘 Previously, my favorite books of the Ravenel series were Marrying Winterborne & Hello, Stranger, but Devil in Disguise might be my new favorite. It’s a Ravenel era book but we seem to be getting lots of new characters & some long time favorites (in case you really were missing the Wallflowers we get Marcus & Lillian, Sebastian & Evie all in this one)! And I loved Merritt & Keir. They are just so committed to each other even with the struggles of their relationship seeming impassable (I love a good insta-love with some angst thrown in), and the additionally mystery unfolds in such an exciting way for fans of the Wallflowers & Ravenels. If you haven’t yet, pre order this one now!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from @avonbooks but the adoration is entirely my own.

🌹

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While this is part of a series I've been reading out of order. It does feature slight spoilers but I had no problem following along and can be read as a standalone

CW: death of a spouse (past), grief, parental abandonment, discussions of adoption, infertility, violence, classism, sexism

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f friends to lovers
-insta attraction
-just a hookup
-grump/sunshine
-forbidden romance plots
-amnesia polot
-fake engagement
-a bit of intrigue

This was such an enjoyable read. The chemistry was palpable off the page immediately. Merritt and Keir had such an ease to their relationship that was so enjoyable and was so fun to read. Merritt strong, running her husband's business as a widow and loving a life of independence. She went after what she wanted. Keir always respected that, even when he was trying to protect her it wasn't any doubt in her abilities but because he cared so much for her. This gruff Scott, once he let himself, he fell hard. The chemistry, their banter. I was laughing and swooning all at the same time.

This book was so beautiful, I won't give too much away, but it had such a great message about what family is. It was such a great read. The choice at the end though really took away from this and felt unnecessary. It was disappointing to see this book take the traditional HEA choice rather than stay consistent which made me not enjoy it as much in the end. Overall I would recommend I just wish the beautiful message about family had remained.

Rating: 4
Steam: 3.5

I normally like a little relationship drama in my stories, but I also really enjoyed this book and how the drama didn't revolve so much around whether the hero and heroine wanted each other, but rather around how to make their love for each other permanent. I felt their love in every written word. The plot was fascinating as well.

Lisa Kleypas knocks it out of the park with another heartfelt offering set in the world of the Ravenal/Wallflowers world. When Keir McRae sails into town to sell his whiskey, he meets the very capable Lady Merritt Sterling. They are instantly smitten with each other but Keir, the adopted son of a commoner, doesn't feel he has enough to offer someone of her social standing. Several attempts on his life prove he isn't who he thinks he is and the two must solve the mystery before they can have their very own happy ending. A strong female heroine and a charming hero make this a very satisfying read.

I love this series - almost as much as I loved the original Wallflowers series. I'm so happy to see the grown children finding their way with the support of those characters we fell in love with before. Merritt and Keir are wonderful - I enjoyed their chemistry and the sheer loyalty they shared from the very beginning. No one writes like Lisa Kleypas and I, for one, am thankful for every successive book.

Kleypas and these families will always earn a 5* from me. She has a way with historical romance unsurpassed by any other writer I’ve read and always has a plot that involves a mystery where main characters are put at risk. Both the romance and the mystery are well-drawn and not at all gratuitous. Her characters are well-developed, her history accurate, and the relationships are full of intense, eternal love, sizzling chemistry, and lots of laughter. One of the things I love the most about the Ravenel series is that it features the children of the couples from the Wallflower series. If you’ve read those books, you get why the presence of Sebastian and Evie and Lilliana and Marcus is so emotionally satisfying. Her heroines are feminists who never let men dictate their lives, and they’ve produced equally strong daughters like Merritt and Phoebe.

Almost all historical romances aren’t just about the eventual happily-ever-after, but the journey to get there. In this case, it’s one that begins in the offices of a shipping firm owned by Lady Merritt Sterling, Marcus & Lillian’s eldest child, who took over the firm after the untimely death of her husband of only 1.5 years. It’s been three years, so she’s no longer grief-stricken but she’s also vowed to never marry again. Then Kier MacRae, an incredibly handsome Scot who owns a whiskey distillery and bears an uncanny resemblance to our favorite reformed rake, Sebastian, formerly Lord St. Vincent and now Duke of Challon. The attraction is instantaneous, and mysterious circumstances throw them together as they try to determine why Kier is being targeted.

I also appreciate how Kleypas seamlessly blends the aristocrats of the haute ton with the rise of the industrial revolution. On the surface, her pairings are ones that might have caused scandal, but by the time this story takes place (1880s), cash-strapped aristocrats either must marry for money or earn their fortunes through trade and industry. Generally, her characters buck tradition, marrying for love rather than money or social standing, and investing in the new inventions that power progress.


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Having been a fan of Lisa Kleypas from the beginning of her publishing career, DEVIL IN DISGUISE did not disappoint in the least. This is possibly Ms. Kleypas' best published piece yet. It was a great enjoyment to read from the very beginning. The character's chemistry and connection is apparent from the very beginning and readers will want to join along for the ride.

I've read Lisa Kleypas ever since I was a teenager and I love, love her books. "Devil in Disguise" is book 7 in her Ravenels series. I honestly think you can read these out of order but, if you prefer, read The Wallflower series then the Ravenels (if you haven't read any of them) to get all background information.

I can't help but compare all romance writers to Kleypas, I think she's a master of storytelling and I always love her heroines. I've been trying to get back the same feeling of reading The Wallflowers or a Hathaways book for the first time, and I think that is the case here. Also, this cover is a new favorite of mine! I hope with the Bridgertons people will steer towards Kleypas' new novel. The connection between the hero and heroine is electrifying. I'll have to buy a copy of this one for my "Favorite Romance Novels" shelf.

I’m a huge Kleypas fan and have loved most of the Ravenel series. Devil in Disguise follows Merrit, the oldest child of Lillian and Marcus Westcliff (as seen in It Happened One Spring). And while it was lovely to see old friends from the Wallflowers series again, more so in this book than any other (I’m always happy to see Sebastian again!), this story was not one of my favorites. Of course, it had the beautifully written details that Kleypas is so good at, as well as some fun and snappy dialogue between characters that genuinely made me grin. I think what was lacking was a sense of timing. The characters kind of bounced around from one event and place to another with very little time in between. Everything happens rather quickly in this story, and I wish there had been more time for character development, which is really why I read romance. Oh, and there is that one truly cringeworthy scene where “the men” are sitting around, talking about how to “handle a woman”, and there is an unfortunate horse analogy - not what I wanted to see from the male characters. I’d give it 3.5 stars though because I feel about Kleypas books the same way I feel about pizza - even if it’s not good, it’s still pretty great.

My first Kleypas book, didn’t disappoint. I requested this one based solely on the Scottish hero , because I’m sure I am not the only one who loves a good hero. This was a blast to read and I’ll now be reading some more books.

While I found the main characters likable, I was absolutely not here for the trope of a ~barren~ woman getting pregnant by a ~super virile~ Scotsman. And I was even more not here for an epilogue with the grandfathers of said miracle baby chuckling over the virility of the father. I promptly deleted the review copy permanently from my Kindle library, and still I felt like I needed a shower to wash the heteropatriarchy off.