Lisa Kleypas is one of the most prolific writers of the historical romance genre. Her name is mentioned whenever someone asks who is the greatest of all time. It is no wonder because her writing is on a level that others have trouble surpassing. You feel like you are there in the book right beside your favorite characters. Devil in Disguise is truly Lisa at her best. It catapults you back into the world of the Wallflowers and the Ravenels. She sweeps us away from the real-world problems that we deal with every day just to enjoy the world that she has spent years creating for her readers. We see cameos from some of our favorite characters of hers including Sebastian, Evie, Westcliff, and Lillian.

Lady Merritt Sterling, Lillian and Westcliff’s daughter, is running her late husband’s shipping company when a rugged Scottish whiskey distiller, Keir MacRae, comes to town. Disaster after disaster befalls Keir before they start realizing that someone wants him out of the picture for good.

“Keir turned to glance at her over his shoulder, his hair tousled, his blue eyes glinting with a smile. ‘My heart,’ he said, ‘There’s no version of me that would no’ choose you as my wife. ‘Tis the very first thing I would do.’ His gaze held hers, and he added softly, ‘The very first thing.”

This book was charming and endearing. Keir and Merritt’s chemistry radiated off the page making this story truly shine. The romance in this book was just out of this world. I found myself swooning countless times at the sweet nothings that Keir would whisper to Merritt. Their love was inescapable. They were like magnets who could not keep from being drawn to each other. No matter the differences in their circumstances or their lives. None of it mattered except their feelings for each other. A captivating and enchanting romance with a plot guaranteed to keep you guessing until the very end. It was such a pleasure to read. I felt like I was hanging out with some of my oldest and most treasured friends.

If you are already a fan of Lisa Kleypas or even of such heavy hitters in the romance genre like Lorraine Heath or Julia Quinn then you will adore this story.

~ Michelle

Devil in Disguise was an entertaining and sexy historical romance. I loved Merritt and Keir and the opposites attract trope worked so wonderfully between them. Keir had some of the funniest and also swooniest lines in the book. I’m generally not a fan of instalove, but I liked that the circumstances in the book allowed them to get to know each other a little better after such a whirlwind beginning (even if some of those circumstances made me roll my eyes). I did feel that their love story was overshadowed by the prominent cameos of previous Kleypas characters and Keir’s past however, and wished for more connection between Merritt and Keir outside of the bedroom. I appreciated how what truly makes a family was discussed in the book, so I was a bit surprised with the news at the very end. I think it would have been much more satisfying if that plot point had remained the same throughout.

Devil in Disguise is the 7th book in the Ravenels series, but can be enjoyed on its own. Truthfully, I’m surprised that it’s part of the Ravenels series at all, since both main characters have ties to characters in the Wallflowers series. A few characters from the Ravenels do appear, but I think readers will have a much more fulfilling experience if they’ve read the Wallflowers series first.

CW: death of spouse, grief, discussions of: infertility, adoption, sexism, and classism

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Wow. Wow wow wow wow. I’m honestly not even sure where to start with this review. There was so much I disliked about this book and maybe like 1-2 scenes I actually really liked.

This review is going to be super spoilery. You’ve been warned.

So, the FMC is Merritt, daughter of Westcliff and Lillian (book 2 of the Wallflowers). MMC is Keir MacRae who turns out to be….WAIT FOR IT, Sebastian’s illegitimate son from an affair he had with a married woman long before he met Evie. WHAT THE EVER LOVING FUCK.

Merritt is a widow running her late husband’s shipping company with the help of her youngest brother.

MacRae is a Scotsman, a whiskey distiller, and apparently the spitting image of St. VIncent. Er, the Duke of Kingston.

I don’t know why this was a necessary thing to have. On one hand, it’s actually incredibly believable that Sebastian would have sired an illegitimate child in his past, given his level of rakish behavior. On the other hand, why rewrite history and paint it with such revisionist brush strokes? Evie and Sebastian are pretty much the best pairing out of the original series. Let them be.

Secondly, while I have somewhat enjoyed the Ravenels, it has become the second coming of Sebastian and while I do find it delightful at times, I get the sense that L.K. has realized the powerful pull of Evie and Sebastian and has decided to use them to attract readers who love that couple. And…I can’t believe I’m about to say this but…it has become a bit tiresome. For example, this book involves Westcliff’s daughter and Sebastian’s illegitimate offspring and yet, is part of the Ravenels series, a family to which neither party belongs. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE.

Third, the actual pairing. Like, I’m sorry, there is instalust where Merritt and MacRae fall into bed quite soon after meeting, immediately find themselves all in their FEELINGS, and honestly, it’s so fast and quick, it’s hard to believe, even for a histrom. It seems SO rushed and again, I can’t believe I’m about to say this but so much of their “connection” is about sex (there is a lot of sex, it is very steamy, I will say L.K. has plumbed new depths of sexy times with this one) but, it must be said, it’s all very physical and lacking in the emotional department. When did these two have time to fall in love? Between the murder attempts on Keir’s life and all the orgasms he was giving Merritt, it kind of seemed like they had their hands full. Er, no pun intended.

Fourth, you know the book has lost the plot (or maybe there were too many plot lines) when the best scene of the book involves 4 characters from the original series, conversing and trading witticisms and good natured barbs. (I speak, of course, of the scene between Lillian and Westcliff and Evie and Sebastian).

FIfth, Merritt announces early on in the book that the reason she and her late husband had no children is because she was barren. She even goes so far as to say she saw a specialist and due to uterine fibroids, she was told that it would be virtually impossible for her to have a baby. And then, what does L.K. do? She ends the book with a magical, miraculous surprise pregnancy. Like WHY?? WHY WHY WHY? God, I’m so irate over this book right now.

L.K. is a reliably good histrom author for me. Her books are a good time. A few hours in which I can escape to a different time and place. Nothing extraordinary but I will say, I love Devil in Winter and a few times a year, I peruse my favorite passages in that book. Devil’s Daughter was a perfect follow up for that book, in my opinion. In this book, L.K. in a desperate attempt, tried to figure out a relationship that would bond Westcliff’s family to Sebastian’s. I don’t really see why this was so necessary? Also, why have these books all involved Evie and Sebastian and for this one, Lillian and Westcliff? Where are Annabelle and Simon, Daisy and Matthew?

Anyway, I disliked this book a lot (and also, apropos of nothing, the ARC I received via NG had SO MANY ERRORS which I hope are fixed prior to final publication). There were a couple of things I did like but they are largely overshadowed by all the things I did not like, including the development of the actual romance between the 2 MCs.

I am dying over how wonderful this book was. It was everything I wanted and more from a Lisa Kleypas romance. I loved Merritt and Keir so much. The passion and love between them stole my heart. Devil in Disguise is now one of my new favorite Lisa Kleypas historicals!

Devil in Disguise is book 7 in the Ravenels series but I'm not sure why that is. You might be able to read it fine as a standalone but I would recommend reading the Wallflowers series first, because this book is the second generation of that series. Not a lot of Ravenels actually show up. Merritt, our widowed heroine, is Lillian and Marcus' oldest daughter and is in charge of her late husband's shipping company. Her newest business partner is Keir, our very first Scottish Lisa Kleypas hero. The connection between them is instantaneous and fantastic to read!

Keir and Merritt killed me in the best of ways. I was swooning over their romance, which does happen quickly, but then a wrench is thrown in that slows things down and evens out the pacing. I adored how gone both of them were over each other. Keir is a total grumpy sweetheart and it was too easy to love him. There's a bit of suspense in this with someone going after Keir, so in between the romance, mystery, and family drama, there's never a dull moment in this read.

If you loved Sebastian from Devil in Winter, I am happy to say you'll get to see a lot of him here! We even get a few chapters in his POV. I won't spoil anything, but I had no problem with the connection between Sebastian and Keir. Honestly, it was just a delight seeing the Wallflowers cast (well, half of them) again and I can only hope we get more second generation books in the future!

Merritt and Keir are perfection together. There's a reason why Lisa Kleypas is so beloved and why she's my favorite historical romance author. I fall so hard for every one of her stories – and heroes – and cannot wait to read more!

Overall this book is very enjoyable and a good next installment in the Ravenels series! Lisa Kleypas truly knows how to write a story and weaves new characters in with old favorites. I will say that this felt a little more like next generation Wallflowers instead of the Ravenels, but it was great to see so many familiar and well-loved characters again. Fans of her writing won’t be disappointed with this one!

Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? I enjoyed Devil in Disguise even though I found a few things that kind of bugged me about it. It has a romance that feels a little different than previous books but it suited both characters. There's a hint of danger and suspense but it doesn't go anywhere really.

Little Merritt is all grown up! I liked her pragmatic attitude towards life and her ability to pick herself up and keep moving forward. She's practical and realistic, no silly rose colored glasses for her.


Then there's Keir who is kind of a shock to Merritt's life. He has a quiet but notable personality and takes up a lot of space when he's in a scene. I loved the gentle, teasing part of his personality that made Merritt feel comfortable and protected. It was that confidence that they had in each other early on that kept their romance from feeling superficial with how quick it developed.


Of course it's not just a romance that Merritt and Keir have to deal with. There's the mystery of who wants to kill Keir and why. This would have been a great mystery to have in play throughout the story, but sadly Keir's connection to an infamous character is revealed so early on that by the time the who and why of wanting to kill Keir is solved it's kind of a moot point.


One of the biggest issues I had with this book left me kind of torn though. Look, I love the Wallflowers, they're always going to be my favorites and I love knowing that so many years later they're all still happily married. However having one, let alone more than one of the OG characters in Devil in Disguise overshadowed Merritt and Keir's romance in a big way. It's not their fault, they're part of an exclusive club of rock star level characters. They take up space and attention even if they're just standing silently in a scene. But there was no way to set this story up and not include the characters that came out.

Without spoiling anything though, I'm glad that Keir turned out to be who he was. His father was rather infamous and to have not had any repercussions of that past would have been eye rollingly unbelievable.



Click It or Skip It? Click It. Overall, Devil in Disguise is a sweet romance between two characters that in spite of their differences need each other. It was wonderful to see some of the OG gang back together even if their appearance kind of stole the show.

Lady Meritt Sterling is a widow running her late husband's shipping company when she meets ruggedly handsome whiskey-distiller Keir MacRae after a mishap with his shipment. After avoiding scandal for the years since her husband's death, Meritt finds herself drawn to the attractive Scotsman. However, when he is attacked in an alleyway, it is clear that someone wants him dead. Meritt will work with him to ensure that he stays alive. Lisa Kleypas brings back some of her reader's favorite and devilish characters in this story to uncover the mystery of Mr. MacRae.

This is book 7 following the Ravenels. I initially thought this was part of Kleypas' Wallflowers Series (and I think this is part of the "Ravenels meets Wallflowers" sub-series) so it was fun to see some of the characters from both. These are light-hearted, low-stakes read with a damn-near guaranteed Happily Ever After with some steamy scenes thrown in. Admittedly, Kleypas is my go-to when I want a light-hearted read and Devil in Disguise does not disappoint. The characters are stubbornly trying to fight their attraction to each other while also concerned (but don't want to say they're concerned) about the rest of society.

The major problem I had was with the ending! It was wrapped up too neatly where the mounting stakes sputtered to a stop and became quite anti-climactic. Other than that, this delivered as an entertaining book that has me now reading the Wallflowers Series. 3.5 rounded up to 4. Readalike: Tessa Dare's Girl Meets Duke Series.

The latest installment in the Ravenal Series, Devil in Disguise, gives us the story of Lady Merritt Sterling and Keir MacRae. Lady Merritt is the daughter of Lillian and Marcus, recently widowed and running her late husband's shipping company. Keir is a rugged Scottish whiskey distiller, who would like nothing more than to get his business in London done quickly and return home to remote Scotland. When they meet, it's instant attraction. While Merritt is intent on giving in to the attraction while avoiding a scandal, Keir finds himself in more danger than falling for Merritt can bring when an assassin is after him.

The relationship between Merritt and Keir was lovely. Merritt was fierce, brave, and went after exactly what she wanted. Keir was funny and gruff, but so sweet. Their banter was great and the chemistry was off the charts.

Despite being the latest installment in the Ravenels series, Devil in Disguise really qualifies more as a Wallflowers next generation book, since it was very light on Ravenels but heavy on old friends from the Wallflowers series, including fan-favorite Sebastian, Lord St Vincent (of course, now he's Duke of Kingston). Some of it felt like a little too much playing to the fans, but I can't lie, I did eat it up. People may disagree, but I actually enjoyed the twist and do think it's consistent with Sebastian's character before Evie.

The ending did feel a little rushed, and the assassination storyline wrapped up with very little danger or anticipation. While I typically like to see a glimpse of the couple in the future for the epilogue, this one is just a conversation between Sebastian and Marcus that was a little disappointing (the subject matter was a little bit of a pet peeve of mine too). I would've liked more Merritt and Keir!

Bottom line: I'll take a new Kleypas any day, and this was no exception. So good.

Like everyone else on the internet, I read the spoilers for Devil in Disguise and was interested in seeing how Kleypas dealt with this development. And I thought it was well-done, but it rather overshadowed everything else in the plot. Merritt and Keir meet, there's mutual attraction there, but Merritt is the pursuer and the instigator of their relationship. And they have enough issues to deal with--different backgrounds, unequal social classes, they each run a business that requires them to live in very different locales--without adding an attempted murder plot, amnesia, and family revelations into the mix.

I wasn't crazy about the ending for two reasons: first, the hero suddenly gaining a title feels like an easy way to overcome their social differences, and I would rather have seen the concessions involved on both sides. (I had this same problem with Loretta Chase's Dukes Prefer Blondes). Second, Merritt's barrenness (it seems like she has uterine fibroids) and Keir's absolute non-issue with it (he was adopted!!) is completely negated by the revelation in the epilogue that she's pregnant. I didn't want that--I didn't need a miracle baby! I feel like it spoils the message that you can live a perfectly happy life without a child, whether you wanted one or not.

In short: I liked Merritt and Keir, I just wish that the story had been more focused on them.

A big thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. An honest review was requested but not required.

I fondly recall reading the original wallflowers series, and to this day it is one of the few series that’s earned a place, in full, on my crowded bookshelf. Sebastian and Evie are one of my favorite historical romance couples ever. To be completely honest my heart wasn’t broken by the big secret (it’s not really much of a secret, so don’t @ me for outing any spoilers). I find it entirely believable that a crappy 1800s condom wouldn’t work, and we all know Sebastian was a huge rake pre-Evie. Stuff happens. So no, I wasn’t heartbroken about Sebastian’s big secret.

What really bothered me about the book, frankly, was the fact that Merritt and Keir took a definite backseat in their own story. Most of the other characters stole the scene from them: Garrett and Ethan, Marcus and Lillian, and most of all Sebastian and Evie. Even Phoebe and baby Eden made an impression. I thought Merritt and Keir needed more page time besides just being sick and having sex. They were really cute together in the few opportunities they had to just converse and spend time together. Ms. Kleypas has a knack for constructing memorable, relatable characters and this story was no exception. I would have just liked the two main characters to get a little more time to shine. Nonetheless, I look forward to more stories from Ms. Kleypas - hopefully Seraphina’s!

I mean, look. Lisa Kleypas knows how to write a story! I enjoyed this one so much, I stayed up way too late reading it. I told myself I'd go to bed after the mysterious circumstances around Keir's parentage were revealed, but by then I was so invested in how he and Merritt would make their relationship work that I couldn't put it down. Poor decisions were made that night, but I have no regrets! This is definitely a little more insta-love than I prefer, but they're just so compelling together that it's hard not to get swept up in their relationship. I just wish we'd seen more of a foundation built between them later in the story, but I can't say its lack ruined my enjoyment.

It was also immense fun to see some of the Wallflowers in this book, though I was disappointed we didn't get any of the Hathaways! I worry sometimes about authors constantly returning to old faves because I want a chance for them to branch out and create new faves (and sometimes I just want a break from those beloved favorites), but at the end of the day, I'm here for it every time. Sigh. Also, I now want romances for Merritt's siblings, especially her brother Luke!

The one thing that definitely did ruin my enjoyment, though, was the epilogue. It's not a huge part of the story, but Merritt believed herself to be barren, having even visited a doctor who said lesions on her uterus (or something to that effect) made childbearing incredibly dangerous for her. I liked how it was handled when she discussed it with Keir (I won't spoil that!), but I really hated that she had a magical pregnancy after all. Seriously, just cut out the hints of her pregnancy at the end and come up with a completely different epilogue, and I would have been way happier. I'm so over the concept of the woman believing herself to be barren because she didn't have any children with her first husband, only to find out that's not true with the hero of the current book. Just let them have a childfree HEA!

I also thought the drama of someone wanting Keir dead was wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly at the very end of the book, but I was mostly reading for Keir and Merritt and the Wallflowers anyways, so again, it didn't ruin my enjoyment. All in all, this is a solid addition to Kleypas' oeuvre, and I think longtime fans of hers will be happy with it. Just stop with the magic babies!

This review will go live on Dani's Bookshelf on July 27, 2021.

Lisa Kleypas has done it again with another sexy, addictive historical romance. This book expands on the universe she created in the Wallflowers series, Ravenels series, and others. Her books are always a must-read for me. More, please!

I can give nothing but praise when the characters from my favorite series are revisited.

Whiskey distiller, Keir McRae, was a rough, no nonsense man, who was extremely proud of his Scottish upbringing. He had a natural charm that was not surprising, given his lineage.

Widower, Lady Merritt Sterling, meets Keir when he had an issue with the shipping company she now runs after her husband's death. The meeting includes the wonderful humor the author, Lisa Kleypas, so brilliantly weaves in to many of her stories (the best being the shaving fiasco later in the story).

Not wanting to give any spoilers, I will simply say, this is a romance not to be missed. Magnificent!

We were all hoping for a high grade for Devil in Disguise weren’t we?  Well, good news friends!  This longtime Kleypas fan was well pleased by the story and the romance, and I couldn’t read it fast enough.  There are some problems - instalust really isn’t my jam; I think our hero might be skirting a fine line between character and caricature (lots of slang that I’m not sure is always necessary to show that he’s Scottish); and our heroine doesn’t do a ton of work despite her characterization as a savvy businesswoman.  But despite these complaints, Kleypas kept me entertained from the first page to the last.  I fell in love with this pair and I’m happy to recommend Devil in Disguise to you.

In this book, the devil is in the details.   If you’re a Kleypas fan and you pay attention to pesky things like book titles and book blurbs, you probably already guessed the big surprise in this story.  But if you haven’t, or you still can’t guess what it might be, read on - I won’t be giving it away in this review.

After her husband perished at sea, Lady Merritt Sterling (daughter of Marcus, Earl of Westcliff and Lillian (It Happened One Autumn)) stepped in to run his successful shipping company.  With help from her younger brother Luke (who agreed to take over management of the company once he learned the ropes), the pair managed to grow the business and prove skeptics wrong about Merritt’s business acumen.  Beloved by her employees, tough but fair, Merritt enjoys her work.  But on this day, things get off to a rough start.  When Luke knocks on her office door and reports he’s got an angry client on the dock and he needs her help to calm him down, Merritt is both alarmed and amused by his response when she asks what happened.  Apparently, MacRae Distillery’s cargo (twenty-five thousand gallons of extremely valuable single-malt whisky) was delivered to the wrong location, and then a cask of whisky slipped from the hoisting gear, broke on the roof of a transit shed, and poured all over MacRae.   After informing a laughing Merritt that she’s good with big and mean, Luke tells her MacRae is ready to murder someone—which is why I brought him up here to you.  Unfortunately, she isn’t prepared for the wrathful Scotsman who bypasses Luke and plants himself on the other side of her desk.  He’s soaked and scowling, big and sexy and strong and astoundingly good looking, and very angry.

Keir MacRae is pissed.  He’s hungry, covered in whisky, worried about his shipment, and unprepared for the beautiful widow who coolly greets him and assures him Sterling Enterprises can fix the problem with his shipment.  After accepting his condolences on the loss of her husband, Lady Sterling calmly responds to each of his questions, sends Luke out to ensure the work is done, and then offers to escort him to the company flat so that he might change.  Much to his chagrin, she ignores his concerns about accompanying him unchaperoned and insists on escorting him to the flat.  Lady Sterling, he soon discovers, is used to getting her way.  She somehow manages to cajole him into several cups of coffee, a bite to eat nearby, and a change of clothes before delivering him to the docks.  Keir tries to ignore how she smells, how she looks, how capable and knowledgeable she is, and what he’d like to do to her if they were alone in bed (ahem!), all the while desperately reminding himself that he’ll forget all about her once he gets back to work, but friends, the struggle is real.  Oh, you poor Scottish fool.  It’s already too late.

You see what I mean about instalust?  Yep, don’t you doubt it, Merritt is feeling it, too.  I know what you’re thinking.  Really?  A couple of hours in each other's company - a handsome and twice soaked Scot gruffly muttering slightly hilarious Scottish slang and trying not to be managed, and a beautiful - good smelling! - widow deftly ignoring said Scotsman - cannot possibly lead to true love.  You’re wrong!  It does!  And all this lovely foreplay is merely a delicious prelude to the dinner date wee bully Merritt insists they have two nights hence.  Fist pump for Merritt.  Get it, girl! (wink, wink:  she does!)

But wait!  There’s more.  Before the dinner date, Keir has to sell his whisky, and after several successful meetings with local buyers, he heads to a meeting with Horace Hoagland, the managing steward of Jenner’s (Devil in Winter), to sell a special batch of single malt he discovered after his father’s death.  Hoagland has tasted MacRae whisky once before, and is familiar with its quality, and impresses Keir with his appreciation of the samples he provides.  The two have just struck a deal when Hoagland spots the Duke of Kingston (who owns Jenner’s).  After a brief conversation, Hoagland offers a dram to His Grace and starts to introduce Keir to the duke.  Kingston is in the midst of refusing when he spots Keir.  And then things get awkward.  Keir isn’t sure why the duke is acting so strangely - asking after his family and his upbringing, and the steward seems equally confused.  He’s relieved when Hoagland returns their conversation to the whisky sale and the duke departs.

Keir and Merritt each spend the interim before The Dinner Date trying to stay focused on their actual lives - he selling whisky; she running a shipping concern - but all they really do is think about each other.  A lot.  And we wait expectantly for the sexy times to commence and wonder how this love affair will sustain a full length novel.  But then Keir is assaulted on his way to Merritt’s for dinner and nearly killed.  Um, what?  Yep, Kleypas sets in motion a parallel suspense plot that unfolds just as Merritt and Keir begin to fall in love.  It’s not the strongest part of the story, but it works!

Oh, reader.  I loved the chemistry between this pair and Kleypas does a wonderful job juxtaposing Keir’s gruff, slightly rustic persona with the lovely, dazzling (not averse to a potentially scandalous love affair), Merritt Sterling.  Devil in Disguise features two mature adults who adore each other from the moment they first meet, and aren’t too shy to admit it.  She deftly shows how overwhelming and intense and wonderful and surprising and confusing these feelings are for both principals, but readers are never left in doubt these two are meant for each other.  Keir and Merritt spend a passionate, extremely sexy night together before Kleypas pulls the rug out from under them, and this reader WAS HERE FOR IT.  The heat level in DiD is a bit higher than other Kleypas novels, and reader, it’s a treat.  Keir is a capable, enthusiastic lover and he’s so, so good to Merritt.  I loved everything about this pair and their steamy love story.

What I didn’t love?  The altogether too chummy and smug and oh so perfect Wallflower character cameos.  One of these devilish characters is a bit too ever present in the Ravenel series, and his late life perfection grows tedious.  We get it, he’s reformed; he’s the greatest father/husband/duke/businessman/friend/everything.  Enough.  No one - not the wallflowers and not their husbands - is perfect, and neither are their marriages.  Characters are allowed to have flaws and readers will still love them.  So, no need to gild the lily every time, Ms. Kleypas.  We’ll still like them.  Probably.  Oh, but don’t change Ransom or Garrett.  They’re great just the way they are.

Devil in Disguise is a terrific addition to the Ravenel series, and I’m happy to recommend it to Kleypas fans old and new.  It even inspired me to start listening to the series, too!  Look, this trout was happy to be guddled by this author… and I’ll be eagerly anticipating whatever she comes up with  next.

review by Em Wittmann
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I was apprehensive when someone on Twitter spoiled the ending for me and said this was a “magic sperm solves infertility” book, so my hopes weren’t high going in. But add the fact that the hero has no personality other than being a Scot who likes whisky, and I was scratching my head. Merritt is alright, but not enough that it made me care. And then it jumped the shark with an amnesia plot? I didn’t even make it to the part everyone was yelling about where it supposedly “ruined one of their favorite couples.” If I had, I wouldn’t even have been mad. News flash, people: all those rake heroes slept around so much, I’m not surprised this one supposedly has a son he didn’t know about. And it’s not like he cheated on his wife, sheesh. It’s just too bad everything else was such a hot mess.

I loved this one (this whole series, really). This one definitely reminded me of Hello Stranger in that it definitely mixes together romance with adventure and suspense. I couldn't be more in love with the Duke of Kingston's family and was glad to learn more about them through Merritt and Keir. The ending really did sneak up on me, though. I wish there was a bit more time spent on the resolution. Other than that, a really lovely, solid read!

Thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful historical romance novel!!!!!!! It has all the charm of Lisa Keypas's previous novels and was a delight to read!!!!!!!! I enjoyed this book immensely.

When Lady Merritt Sterling, the widowed daughter of the Earl of Westcliff and owner of the Sterling Enterprises Shipping Company meets her client Keir MacRae, the Scottish owner of whisky distillery – sparks fly and the sensible, responsible and proper Merritt throws caution to the wind and embarks on a heated affair with the handsome, Scotsman. They both know that nothing can ever come of their relationship, but neither can seem to walk away. Things between them get so intense that Merritt begins to formulate ideas for them to stay together, but before anything can be decided, Keir is almost killed in an explosion, and forgets who Merritt is! But this is just the beginning of the shocks, surprises, and revelations in store for them!

This book is a well-written, brilliantly executed story that held me in thrall from the first page until the last. I know this is supposed to be a Ravenels story, but it definitely had more of a Wallflowers vibe – especially with Sebastian, Evie, Marcus, and Lillian having such large roles in the book. This book has caused a lot of uproar within the Kleypas fan base, with many people very upset with the direction Ms. Kleypas decided to go – for me, as long as the timeline gets corrected, I had no problem with Keir’s parentage – (I read an uncorrected proof that states Keir is 33, which if you read the Wallflower books, you will know the timeline doesn’t match statements made in this book). I really loved this book, it has wonderful characters, steamy love scenes, surprises, heartache, intrigue, soulmate-type love, lots of cameos, a bit of angst, and a nail-biting ending before they finally get their HEA! This is the seventh book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title with no issues. I really enjoyed this story and sincerely hope that it leads to a Wallflower Progeny spinoff!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

This is one of my favorite installments yet in the Ravenels series! Merritt and Keir were so sweet (and hot) together, and I loved the way their story played out and the surprise connections to other classic characters in Kleypas’ world. I love a good sickbed/amnesia plot and this one was done well without feeling exactly like something I’d read before. Keir was a dreamy Scotsman and I loved how head over heels he was for Merritt almost instantly. Loved this book, can’t wait for Kleypas’ next!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
DEVIL IN DISGUISE is the seventh installment in The Ravenels series. While I do believe it could be read as a standalone with little to no confusion, the reader would miss out on the emotional connection to the elder characters in the series. Not only within this series but Kleypas' earlier series as well, as the books are all interconnected. Both Merritt and Keir are descendants from the various characters over several series arcs.

Merritt (I always get excited when I see this surname used, albeit as a first name this go-around, as it is one of my maternal bloodlines. Makes me feel connected to the character and the story even more.)…

Merritt was easy to relate to, so many facets many women could grasp onto to feel seen and heard, her voice speaking for us. Mature, stable, level-headed, strong, and capable, but in great need of someone to bring the playful wildness out of her... and Keir is perfect for the role.

Widowed, barren, an elder sibling, Merritt is thriving professionally as she takes the reins of her late husband's shipping company, employing her baby brother to be her right-hand man. She has it all in a man's world – respect, the love of family, but the fact that she believes she cannot have children keeps her from finding romantic love after what happened with her late husband, added with the fact that a tryst may tarnish her reputation. For reference, Merritt is either plagued with Endo or PCOS by the description, another facet that so many women face, readers easily empathizing.

Then there is Keir MacRae... the cursing, whisky-making Scot who is far too handsome for his own wellbeing, having to wear a scruffy beard as armor against men and women alike. He had a way about him, not only his looks and affect effecting Merritt, but the way he twisted his words and phrases to catch hold of the reader. Keir got beneath my skin, the pages eagerly flying by as I waited for a chuckle here and there, the inventive way he saw the world. Little banterific zings Keir dished out, Merritt rendered speechless.

Merritt and Keir meet in a professional setting, mishaps befalling Keir every step of the way, as the pair are drawn infinitely closer together, the knot tightening until they both feel as if it would be foreign to be apart. Wrought with tension, witty banter, Scottish slang and curses, familial secrets revealed, the pages flew by, leaving me wishing I had more. Not wishing to leave this wonderful setting, the longing to start all these books at the beginning once more.

Highly recommend to fans of Kleypas and Historical Romance. Forever at the top of my favorites list. I truly hope we'll see more from these families, perhaps from Merritt's baby brother.