Lisa Kleypas

New York Times bestseller Lisa Kleypas returns with an enthralling and steaming romance between a Scot with a mysterious past and strong-willed lady looking for adventure—and love. “The devil never tries to make people do the wrong thing by scaring them. He does it by tempting them.” Lady Merritt Sterling, a strong-willed young widow who’s running her late husband’s shipping company, knows London society is dying to catch her in a scandal. So far, she’s been too smart to provide them with one. But then she meets Keir MacRae, a rough-and-rugged Scottish whisky distiller, and all her sensible plans vanish like smoke. They couldn’t be more different, but their attraction is powerful, raw and irresistible. From the moment Keir MacRae arrives in London, he has two goals. One: don’t fall in love with the dazzling Lady Merritt Sterling. Two: avoid being killed. So far, neither of those is going well. Keir doesn’t know why someone wants him dead until fate reveals the secret of his mysterious past. His world is thrown into upheaval, and the only one he trusts is Merritt. Their passion blazes with an intensity Merritt has never known before, making her long for the one thing she can’t have from Keir MacRae: forever. As danger draws closer, she’ll do whatever it takes to save the man she loves . . . even knowing he might be the devil in disguise.

Devil in Disguise

This may have been a 4 star rating for me, but I'm really salty about the trope of the "barren" female protagonist discovering she can get pregnant in the end. Like, stick to your principles... Adoption is so important, and in a story that features an adopted male lead, why would you backtrack on that sentiment? It's like Keir's comment of "there are always barins that need caring for" means nothing. I feel that grievance should be stated upfront, but on the whole I enjoyed this book.

Besides the disappointing epilogue, I liked the leads Merritt and Keir a lot. Their chemistry was a damn delight. They are the focus for the first half of the book, and the second half brings in old characters which works as fun easter-eggs for fans of Kleypas's other works.

This book is less a Ravenels' tie-in and more related to The Wallflowers series set a generation before The Ravenels. Merritt is the daughter of Lillian from "It Happened One Autumn" (Wallflowers #2), and Sebastian from "Devil in Winter" (Wallflowers #3) feature prominently as well. Merritt's best friend is Phoebe, Sebastian's daughter from "Devil's Daughter" (Ravenels #5). With all the devil themes, obviously it connects most to the Wallflowers story.

Previous to this, I've only read Devil in Winter, so many of the additional characters were new to me. But I still had a lot of fun seeing the bantering and history between the characters (graciously explained for new readers like me who are reading the books out of order).  Knowing who Sebastian was did help my understanding of the plot and my fondness for his character. But Keir and Merritt remain the main focus, with a few fanservice moments for fans of Sebastian and Evie.

Kier in particular has some really lovely dialogue, and Kleypas leans into the Scottish swoon-worthy tropes very hard. Merritt is a determined main character and I love how Kier calls her a "wee bully" - she loves to care for people and assert her opinion.

There are like 3 spicy scenes in the book and they are varied and romantic, top marks lol

Caroline Clutterbuck Kapulkin

This may have been a 4 star rating for me, but I'm really salty about the trope of the "barren" female protagonist discovering she can get pregnant in the end. Like, stick to your principles... Adoption is so important, and in a story that features an adopted male lead, why would you backtrack on that sentiment? It's like Keir's comment of "there are always barins that need caring for" means nothing. I feel that grievance should be stated upfront, but on the whole I enjoyed this book.

Besides the disappointing epilogue, I liked the leads Merritt and Keir a lot. Their chemistry was a damn delight. They are the focus for the first half of the book, and the second half brings in old characters which works as fun easter-eggs for fans of Kleypas's other works.

This book is less a Ravenels' tie-in and more related to The Wallflowers series set a generation before The Ravenels. Merritt is the daughter of Lillian from "It Happened One Autumn" (Wallflowers #2), and Sebastian from "Devil in Winter" (Wallflowers #3) feature prominently as well. Merritt's best friend is Phoebe, Sebastian's daughter from "Devil's Daughter" (Ravenels #5). With all the devil themes, obviously it connects most to the Wallflowers story.

Previous to this, I've only read Devil in Winter, so many of the additional characters were new to me. But I still had a lot of fun seeing the bantering and history between the characters (graciously explained for new readers like me who are reading the books out of order).  Knowing who Sebastian was did help my understanding of the plot and my fondness for his character. But Keir and Merritt remain the main focus, with a few fanservice moments for fans of Sebastian and Evie.

Kier in particular has some really lovely dialogue, and Kleypas leans into the Scottish swoon-worthy tropes very hard. Merritt is a determined main character and I love how Kier calls her a "wee bully" - she loves to care for people and assert her opinion.

There are like 3 spicy scenes in the book and they are varied and romantic, top marks lol

Lover of Romance 

*This review contains spoilers, so be warned before reading this review*

Devil In Disguise is the newest installment in the Ravenels series and I will say that I was SO nervous for this book but I also kept my expectations lower on this one. When it comes to this series, it seems like the lower my expectation the better I tend to enjoy the read. I honestly never know what I will get with this series, since quite a few have been a hit or miss for me, but there was also a sense of eagerness with this one. And no I didn't receive the ARC on this one. This book actually is on the shelf of Barnes and Noble way early, so I recommend going out and grabbing it up. And after seeing some other romance readers I trust just cling in love to this book, I knew I had to read it and I honestly read this one in one sitting, it just drew me in so completely and loved the ride that Kleypas takes us on. 

Devil In Disguise starts off with our hero, Keir MacRae, who storms into the office of Merritt Sterling, who is a whiskey distiller, and has major issues with his shipment. Merritt is the type of woman that is the solver and calms tensions, having taking care of her siblings, she knows how to cool a hot temper but Keir is a man she hasn't ever been faced with. He has the Scottish blood that fire hot, but Merritt is drawn to Keir in a way that she has never experience, not even with her late husband. She wants to explore the chemistry between herself and Keir, but eyes are on her and her family just waiting for a scandal to happen. But when Keir's life is put in danger, Merritt is determined to stand by his side, no matter the rumor or scandal. But when Keir suffers and Merritt is put in a certain position, she will have to be crafty to make sure that she and Keir have their chance, but fate may have other plans for them, including reveals from Keir's past that could change their dynamic completely...

Devil In Disguise is a story that truly packed a punch and there were some elements that I just wasn't expecting to happen at all. I was really excited for Merritt's book, but this book especially really ties the Ravenel series to the Wallflower series, and its all tied around Keir. Now I don't want to spoil too much, but lets just say that our delicious hero is the KEY to tying all the bonds together. I actually found Keir and Merrit's relationship to be sweet perfection. At first, you wonder, but honestly, their instant connection is breathtaking, and only Kleypas can write such sweet sexy chemistry you want more of. Normally instant connections such as these don't always work for me, but Kleypas really worked her magic in this book. From the beginning, you know that Keir and Merritt will have a battle, but their bond is strong enough to stand the tide ahead. And boy does Kleypas really throw some mountains in their journey. My heart just broke for these two, but most especially Merritt who is put in such a position but her strength and courage is truly admirable and she had my heart from beginning to end. She deserved to find her happy ever after, and even though she finds it, it will take perseverance on her part to find it. Keir was such a delightful hero, he definitely is the type of alpha hero that was so beautifully written. I loved his protectiveness of Merritt, his fighting for what he believed in, and his standing for his culture and background. He definitely has a spine and will fight for those he loves. I love how he is always watchful for Merritt, even in the most confusing moments of the plot. His attention and focus is solely on her and his character is steady and strong all the way through. And seeing his background come to light, and seeing his connection to the others was a journey I was all the way in for. 

This is a story I didn't know what to expect at all, but it's a romance that captivated me all the way through. Surprisingly I couldn't be this book down, and I was swept away by their beautiful story. Its a story that while it capture the sweet perfection of intimacy, also builds in its depths of secrets that become clear, shines truth into the darkness and stuns you into silence with its powerful emotion. I won't say that this is the best book this author has ever written, or that its the most perfect one, but it worked for me in every way. The only downside to this book is the lack of stepback ....yep SO SAD. I am not sure why Avon didn't include it in this one when they have done the whole series, and I was looking forward to it all YEAR. 

Overall I found Devil In Disguise to be a captivating read that stuns me in retrospect, a tale that offers depths of intimacy, secrecy revealed and connections unsuspected, a romance that is utterly enriching in his concepts, and a story you will cheer on from beginning to end.

fransarylibros

** spoiler alert **
           Merritt the daughter of Lillian and Westcliff Merritt? More wallflower kids! Yay!

EDIT: I see why people think that the H could be Sebastian's son. But he'll probably be older than Merritt, so I don't really care, as long as he was born before Sebastian and Eve got married..

EDIT 2: Just read the first excerpt of the book. The H has thick locks "with a beautiful shade of amber with streaks of light gold", his eyes have "the glittering blue of winter ice, alert with the devil's own intelligence", high cheekbones.. He's definitely a Challon..

I finally read the book and I loved it.. Some people are mad about Keir's true identity but I really didn't mind, since it was before "Devil in Winter". The only thing it bothered me, was that the dates didn't add up. Keir was 33 and the book was set in 1880, so he was born in 1847. Devil in Winter was in 1843. 

Merritt was everything we knew Marcus and Lillian's daughter would be. She's fierce, she's loyal, stubborn but also has a soft and vulnerable side.

Keir is the big guy with a heart of gold. I loved how he didn't care Merritt was barren, he just wanted her. The wedding scene reminded me a bit Evie and Sebastian's. He just wanted the thing over fast, even though for different reasons.

I don't know what to make of the miracle baby in the end. Was Merritt really barren and it was a miracle, or was she just misdiagnosed ? I would prefer the later.

Jamie Adams

This was such a cute little story. 
I should probably give it four stars for it’s simplicity but I just enjoyed reading it too much to give it anything but 5 stars.

Saayan

** spoiler alert **
           Underwhelming storyline and simple, straightforward plot but with charming and likable hero and heroine. This felt like fan service for Wallflowers fans, so it’s definitely worth reading for those who loved the older series. 

I knew about the miracle baby epilogue going in, so at least I was prepared for it. I actually like the idea of a grandchild sharing genes of Sebastian/Marcus, but at the same time, I think an adopted child would have been just as much of a HEA.

Leonie

[rtc]


[I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]

Lacey

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!

DiD 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!

***

GOODBYE WORLD. I'M READING AN ARC OF THE NEW LK.

***

UPDATE: the heroine is Merritt Sterling, Marcus & Lillian’s oldest!!! And I’m just gonna guess that the Scottish hero is somehow related to Sebastian 👀

***

GAAASSSSPPPPPPPPPP. A NEW LK!!!!

Could it be about Marcus & Lillian's kids?? Something entirely new? Honestly it could be about anything and I will still be dying for it.

Addison Miller

Ashley shackelford

min.

nicole

Liz B

Lisa H

Sara Piteira 

New York Times bestseller Lisa Kleypas returns with an enthralling and steaming romance between a widowed lady and a Scot on the run. "The devil never tries to make people do the wrong thing by scaring them. He does it by tempting them." Lady Merritt Sterling, a strong-willed young widow who's running her late husband's shipping company, knows London society is dying to catch her in a scandal. So far, she's been too smart to provide them with one. But then she meets Keir MacRae, a rough-and-rugged Scottish whisky distiller, and all her sensible plans vanish like smoke. They couldn't be more different, but their attraction is powerful, raw and irresistible. From the moment Keir MacRae arrives in London, he has two goals. One: don't fall in love with the dazzling Lady Merritt Sterling. Two: avoid being killed. So far, neither of those is going well. Keir doesn't know why someone wants him dead until fate reveals the secret of his mysterious past. His world is thrown into upheaval, and the only one he trusts is Merritt. Their passion blazes with an intensity Merritt has never known before, making her long for the one thing she can't have from Keir MacRae: forever. As danger draws closer, she'll do whatever it takes to save the man she loves . . . even knowing he might be the devil in disguise.

Kristina Sanders

Jillian Clare

jenn kause

Juls Mateu

Ashlee

New York Times bestseller Lisa Kleypas returns with an enthralling and steaming romance between a widowed lady and a Scot on the run - who may have connections to one of London's most noble families . . . Perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn and Eloisa James. 'Lisa Kleypas is the best' Sarah MacLean 'The devil never tries to make people do the wrong thing by scaring them. He does it by tempting them.' Lady Merritt Sterling, a strong-willed young widow who's running her late husband's shipping company, knows London society is dying to catch her in a scandal. So far, she's been too smart to provide them with one. But then she meets Keir MacRae, a rough-and-rugged Scottish whisky distiller, and all her sensible plans vanish like smoke. They couldn't be more different, but their attraction is powerful, raw and irresistible. From the moment Keir MacRae arrives in London, he has two goals. One: don't fall in love with the dazzling Lady Merritt Sterling. Two: avoid being killed. So far, neither of those is going well. Keir doesn't know why someone wants him dead until fate reveals his secret connection to one of England's most powerful families. His world is thrown into upheaval, and the only one he trusts is Merritt. Their passion blazes with an intensity Merritt has never known before, making her long for the one thing she can't have from Keir MacRae: forever. As danger draws closer, she'll do whatever it takes to save the man she loves . . . even knowing he might be the devil in disguise. 'Kleypas can make you laugh and cry - on the same page' Julia Quinn.

Devil in Disguise

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