The Devil in Winter

I just completed reading the entire Wallflowers series of books. As a whole I give the collection 5 stars. I enjoyed a couple books more than others, but considering the entire work, the story of the Wallflowers flowed wonderfully from book to book. I decided to review all the books together as one unit in case the reader would like to see how the Wallflowers' stories interweave and would like to read them in order. I began out of order by reading the third book first and wish I hadn't done it that way. It kind of took some of the surprise out of the first two books for me. The Wallflowers are a group of four young women who, for various reasons, seem to be unable to attract the interest of gentlemen to dance with them at balls or ask for their hand in marriage. For a couple seasons they had ignored each other and sat alone on the sides watching and wishing. One day they break their silence and a wonderful friendship begins. They plot and plan and decide as a group they can hatch plans to get each other wed. Each Wallflower has her own book. Book 1--Secrets of a Summer Night was about Annabelle and Simon. Annabelle's family was destitute and facing the possibility of being turned into a life of servitude if Annabelle didn't marry well. She was in her last season of husband hunting because she was just getting too old to attempt another. She was desperate to marry a well off member of the peerage in order to rescue her family. Annabelle and the other Wallflowers came up with a scheme to compromise and trap a young Lord into marriage. However, Annabelle wasn't counting on the attraction she felt for Simon Hunt, a common businessman who happened to be wealthy beyond measure. Hunt seemed to find amusement as he watched Annabelle fumble and regroup time and time again. He was willing to bide his time until Annabelle would willingly go to him to become his mistress. Will Annabelle get her Lord, or will she end up defeated? Read this book to find out. Watching the cat and mouse game played out between Simon and Annabelle was rather enjoyable. The scene in the book at the railroad facility was very emotional. Overall I felt this book was well written. The hero of the next book is featured quite nicely in this story without overshadowing the focus of the main characters. I'm adding it to my keeper pile and feel I would enjoy rereading it somewhere down the road. Book 2--It Happened One Autumn is the story of Lillian--a very outspoken American debutante whose family became wealthy in the soap manufacturing business--and Lord Westcliff. Westcliff was one of the oldest and richest earldoms in England. Marcus, Lord Westcliff, shouldn't be attracted to Lillian due to her bawdy American ways making her entirely unsuitable for a wife, but he couldn't help the pull of attraction. The more Lillian did to earn his stern disapproval the more Marcus found himself being unable to resist. What happens when this stubborn stern man meets the highly opinionated and free spirited Lillian? Explosive chemistry and heat overtakes them both. This story shows how opposites truly do attract and make fine bedfellows, that is, if they can get past Westcliff's mother who vehemently disapproves of Lillian. The reader is introduced to the hero of the third book in this story--St. Vincent. St. Vincent is quite the charmer and tries to woo Lillian away from Westcliff. The reader finds out that St. Vincent is in desperate need of a wealthy heiress. Luckily for him his scruples don't mind if the heiress is American or not. Although he and Marcus are long time friends, St. Vincent does something fiendishly awful toward the end of this book. I really enjoyed his character even though he was the bad guy. Book 3--The Devil in Winter is about Evie and St. Vincent. The book opens with the shy stammering Evie making St. Vincent an offer he can't refuse. She is desperately trying to escape her cruel family so she can see her father before he dies. St. Vincent is brooding over the outcome of book 2 in the Wallflowers series and still needs to find that heiress to marry. The book begins with a hasty marriage between the two, and we get to watch as St. Vincent begins his journey from cad to reformed rake. St. Vincent has many past hurts from his childhood. He had an uncaring father, and every woman who was important in his life was taken from him by death. He builds walls up around his heart and wears a mask of aloofness and won't let anyone get too close. Well he wasn't prepared for the force of nature that is our Evie. Can she penetrate his shell and melt his heart? You definitely need to read this book to find out. This is the book I began the series with. It kind of spoiled It Happened One Autumn for me since the end of the book was told in the beginning of this one. If you intend to read the entire series I would recommend with book 1 and following the series in order. Finally, book 4--Scandal in Spring is the story of Daisy--the youngest of the Wallflowers and Lillian's sister--and Matthew. Daisy's father, Mr. Bowman, is tired of the money he poured into the husband hunt not paying off. He gives Daisy an ultimatum of either finding a husband by the end of the season or he will force her to marry Matthew whom her father adores. Daisy, of course, cannot stand Matthew. She sees him as the usurper of her father's affections. Mr. Bowman has always been focused on his business and did not have time to show his family attention or love. Daisy was unprepared for the drastic changes in Matthew. She can't seem to help the elemental pull she feels toward him when she sees him again. However, Matthew tells Daisy there is no way he would ever consider marrying her. Not one to give up on a challenge, Daisy finds a way into Matthew's heart. This book has a rather big scandal in it. The reader is informed Matthew has a huge secret looming over his past and this is the reason he has never allowed himself to act on his feelings toward Daisy. The unfurling of the scandal was nicely written. I truly did not see it coming, but enjoyed it a great deal. I felt Matthew was forgiven a bit too easily though and felt it was unlikely everyone would believe his story immediately. That just wasn't too realistic. However, I did enjoy the book a great deal. So, while I did enjoy the entire series I rank my favorites in this order . . . The Devil in Winter--5 stars all the way Secrets of a Summer Night--5 stars It Happened One Autumn--4 stars Scandal in Spring--3.5 stars I plan on putting all four books on my keeper shelf.

I was pretty sure I was going to like it as I started reading, and I'm so glad I was proven right even to the end. I had read all the negative reviews and I think, for me, it was pretty much the author's writing style that carried me through. I really love this author's style and pace, and descriptiveness. I love how she portrays her characters, not giving too much all at once, but not giving too little either. Sentence structure and syntax was really thoughtful without become complicated or overly archaic/pretentious. This is my first Lisa Kleypas novel. I agree the story takes place in a limited environment. Though there isn't much about their introduction into society, and the storyline limits their interaction with the ton. But I don't think that's a problem as it gives the two characters time to adjust and get to know one another without too much outside interference. Though this is the only Wallflower book I've read in this series, I LOVE the fact that the hero is the villain in the prior novel. I love that the author puts him through hell and back in this plot but he is not forsaken nor beyond redemption. Underneath this rakish villain is a considerate man and really thoughtful gentleman. I fell in love with him in the first sample chapter where he helps the heroine down the stairs so gently, wordlessly and without any pretense because she hadn't eaten for days. I believe that how a man treats a woman when no one is watching greatly defines his character. What's amusing is that he actually has morals and a really old sense of honor that he hides behind passive indifference and a lazy smile. My only gripe is that the author painted him as a golden Adonis. It helped that I pictured him as a darker character, with more sinister features, with a seductive voice that slithered (i.e. Alan Rickman ala Harry Potter, or Jeremy Irons ala Lion King). It made all the bantering and innocent scenes even more hilarious in my mind. It gives you that sense that Evie was perfect for him and after spending time in one another's company non-stop for weeks, they came to an understanding that eventually didn't even need words to convey. I really liked Evie. I think she'll do well as a Vicountess and later a Duchess with the ton. She needs to overcome some shyness and the hero will no doubt assist her and coach her in the future. She has an inner strength and natural goodness in her that is really admirable. She reluctantly falls in love with him, and becomes his most ardent defender when everyone else is more willing to rake him across the coals. I love how, albeit guiltily, the hero admits he would never have considered a wallflower, but he also admits he was wrong and should have looked more closely at this diamond in the rough. I really liked how he fell head over heels for her, though some readers found it too sudden and too unbelievable. There is some satisfaction in seeing a villain trip up over his own feet. The phenomenon is actually explained by the author for once and in the psychology of villains, I get that he wants to be redeemed through his love for an innocent and possessively guards her like the most precious thing he's ever had. Contrary to popular belief Evie is no shrinking violet. She puts her foot down and insists on what she believes is right and challenges him, yet she is able to see it from his point of view, and objectively weigh her own behavior. She's smart enough to know that she needs protection. I think in their first actual conversation, she trusts instinct and concludes he is not the villain he appears. She's brave enough to honestly confront the hero's past rakish reputation and holds it up to the light forcing him to admit how shallow his behavior was in the past. He had filled his emptiness with paramours. He had never committed himself to any one woman, therefore it was really gratifying to see him honestly try, and then realize to his disbelief he was doing it because he loved his little wife. I really think she had him at "Hello. Marry me instead." One star for the prose and writing, one for the plot; another for the characters and a fourth for character development. This was a fairly "hot" romance novel, but it didn't detract or distract from the overall quality of the book.

This was an epic love story that is one of my top 10 books of all time. It was one of the best read of a reformed rake (man-whore to the 10th degree). It is part of a series but can be read stand alone. ********CAUTION POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD> PLEASE STOP NOW IF YOU DON"T WANT READ ANY SPOILERS>THANKS********** Heroine has been physically and emotionally abused by her mother's family almost all her life. She has also bullied because she was shy and had stutter. She was considered Wallflower and avoided by many because of the bad reputation she was given. As for her mother's family they raised her at the insistence of her father, after her mother died. Heroine's father owns a gentlemen's club that does unsavory things and no place for little girl to be raised. Unfortunately, her father is also neglectful as he never really put much attention to her but he did love her. So when she finds out he is dying and her mother's family refuse to allow her to visit him she makes plan to escape. If not she will probably end of dead, as they are keeping her locked up and refusing to feed her until she agrees to marry her cousin. She makes a plan to marry the hero after finding out he tried kidnap her friend for her money. Realizes she can try to make a deal with the hero to provide him with money he needs and she gets protection from her family, nice allowance to live her life in the country safely and time with her father before he dies. She makes bold move to visit him at his home where she propose the deal. He agrees and off they go do get married. Instantly changes are seen in the hero that where uncharacteristic of him. It is like his dormant protective and caring instincts have been awoken by the heroine. As much as he has a sharp tongue his actions are very different. He does everything in his powers to ensure she is safe, comfortable and well cared for. He does everything her promised, but the heroine has many enemies that want her money or dead. Only the hero stands in the way of those that want to harm her. This story is very romantic and safe. You have heroine that has been beaten down, ridiculed and shy. However, she had an inner strength that the hero appreciated and loved about her. The climax scene was very touching. I loved how the hero lays down his life for her. I loved how he saves her countless times form her family and any that he felt threatened to take her. The dialogue was brilliant and the story line well written. It is a safe read. There are no OW or OM from the second hero meets heroine. He loves everything about her. The more he falls in love with her the more devoted he is. It was so sweet how he loved to be near her, have her touch him with soft caresses, courts her, sweet talks to her and the last love scene was soooo romantic. He worshipped her body is all I am saying. The ending was so sweet. Hero really opened up and you got to see why he was the way he was. He has gone through so much loss that he was afraid to love and really just wanted the love of a good woman. There is no cheating. Hero is heroine's first. Love scenes were beautiful written. Hero turns from rake to devoted husband. The humor was great. Best dialogue I have read. Very witty and charming. Highly recommend this read.

(As a note, the first time I read this book, I didn't like it nearly as much as the second time. It may be because I read the whole series back-to-back, so if you have read book 2, you may want to take a couple weeks off (and read a few other books in between) before picking this one up. Just my theory on the difference between experiences I had.) Sebastian St. Vincent, a current viscount, is heir to a dukedom in trouble as his father has managed to lose most of the fortune that came with the title; thus, Sebastian is desperate to find a wealthy bride to restore the coffers before his father passes away and he becomes the duke. His courtship of Lillian Monroe (a wealthy American girl whose parents were title-hunting for their daughters in England) ended rather badly... and by badly, it was disastrous as he was not only unable to marry her, but he lost his best (and really only) friend in the process. So to say he has hit bottom is putting it mildly... Enter Evangeline Jenner ("Evie"), the daughter of a gaming hell owner and "captive" of her mother's family. Evie is the most timid member of the self-named Wallflowers ladies, and her confidence has been destroyed by her mother's family leading to a stutter that ensures any potential suitors are in short supply. Her mother married the owner of Jenners, Evie's father, and when she died in childbirth, he gave her over to her family believing that she would be better served to be raised a lady than in a gaming hell. Though her mother's family has a title, they are neither wealthy nor influential, so when Evie's father falls ill with consumption, they scheme to ensure the money from his illicit empire stays with them by demanding she wed her very unappealing cousin. Whenever Evie defies them, she is punished severely physically and mentally, and she has had enough. They won't even allow her to care for her father when he most needs her, so she decides MUST escape. There is only one man she knows is both desperate enough to accept her and the inheritance she brings AND powerful enough to ensure her mother's family cannot touch her ever again: Sebastian St. Vincent. When Evie arrives on Sebastian's doorstep unchaperoned at a very inappropriate hour, he realizes she must be desperate but cannot imagine what she would want from him as he is considered a villain by the Wallflowers based on his actions with Lillian. When she presents her offer to him, he knows that it is too good to pass up. And he realizes something else.... beneath the stutter and horrid clothing her family has made her wear, there is a very beautiful, enticing woman. Neither of them believe in love, and as a life-long unapologetic rake, Evie does not expect faithfulness from her new husband, but Sebastian finds himself disturbed by his attraction to such an innocent seemingly unappealing lady... could he possibly have met his match in this timid, unassuming creature? And is she really as timid as he believes? When circumstances throw the two together repeatedly and danger lurks around every corner for the newlyweds, will they acknowledge their growing feelings and allow themselves to believe love exists? And if so, will it be in time to save them from a deranged madman who will stop at nothing to get the revenge he believes he is entitled to? What I liked: --- After the ending of the last book in this series, I was convinced there was no way I could possibly like Sebastian or find his character at all redeeming, but the author did an amazing job of changing my mind and revealing unexpected depth --- Evie comes across as a bumbling and plain wallflower, but she is really much stronger than it appears, and she is very principled to the extent she won't bend even under pressure --- Their chemistry was delicious --- Plot was interesting and kept me glued to the pages What I didn't like as much: --- I felt like there were still some unknowns with the characters, especially Sebastian, that I wanted to learn more about (ex, his relationship with his father was hinted at but not really revealed) --- Some angst that I felt was unnecessary, but it didn't detract too much from the story in the end In the end, a really good HR with action and intrigue that will keep you turning the pages to the end.... once you forgive Sebastian his actions in book 2 of the series :) Plot --- 4.5/5 Main Characters --- 4.5/5 Supporting Cast --- 4/5 Steam Level* --- 3.5/5 Violence --- nothing graphic Language --- not egregious POV --- 3rd *Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all

Evangeline "Evie" Jenner is desperate. With three failed social seasons under her belt, the shy and timid heir to Ivo Jenner's vast gambling fortune is resigned to spinsterhood. Meanwhile, her mother's respectable family, the Maybricks, have forbidden her from being with her dying father during his final days. The gambling hall proprietor is an unsavory character and more importantly, they do not want Evie or her inheritance out of their control. In fact, they want her to marry her cousin and keep the money within the family. Evie is not necessarily opposed to that plan, she's just not sure how long she'll survive after the wedding. Running away from the Maybricks, Evie quickly dismisses her friends' potential help. She does not want to burden them, and ultimately they could not protect her. Instead, she runs to the one person as desperate as herself. Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent is surprised to find an unchaperoned Evie at his home in the middle of the night. She knows that even spending a minute with the rake Sebastian will ruin her. Also, his thwarted kidnapping of her friend, heiress Lillian Bowman, could not have made him very popular. Sebastian has no idea what the mousy Evie could want. Undaunted by his rude welcome, Evie presents her proposal. She needs protection from the Maybricks, and Sebastian needs money. If they were married, their problems would be solved. Innocent Evie is nothing like the women the debauched, amoral, and proud Sebastian usually seeks out. He is, however, impressed by her courage and startled by her beauty. With creditors waiting in the wings, he agrees to a marriage of convenience, but insists that they consummate the union. He is not losing another heiress. Once the agreement is reached, the couple speeds off to Scotland for a quick marriage. Evie knows that Sebastian is not the sensitive man of her dreams, and he readily admits that he will make a terrible husband. However, his actions contradict his words as he offers Evie much unsolicited comfort during their long, cold journey. They both find their wedding night to be alarming. Evie is overwhelmed by the intimate experience and realizes the strength of her feelings. At the same time, Sebastian, the profligate seducer, discovers a totally new carnal experience. Can he ever get enough? Upon returning to London, they find their marriage is not as convenient as they had planned. For the first time, Sebastian finds he is only attracted to one woman, his new wife. Nevertheless, Evie does not trust his affections. She feels she must reject his advancements or risk a broken heart. Could Sebastian really be the man of her dreams? Is Evie willing and daring enough to reach for what she wants? Devil in Winter, the third installment of the Wallflowers series, is a wonderfully satisfying historical romance. It combines great characters, sizzling sensuality, and a bit of humor with a tried and true plot. Evie is a smart and determined woman. Watching her blossom is a real treat. The redeemed villain is always a favorite, and Sebastian does not disappoint. When we first meet him, his life is devoted to perverse pleasure, and he rarely thinks of anyone but himself. Yet with Evie he shows in many subtle ways that this is not his true character. Underneath it all, Sebastian is a deliciously naughty good guy. I loved the couple's banter and Sebastian's indecent comments. My favorite of the Wallflower books, Devil in Winter is why I read Lisa Kleypas! Cheryl reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

STORY BRIEF: Evie has been a stuttering wallflower. Her father is wealthy, owns a gambling club, is sick, and will soon die. Evie has been staying with her relatives who want her to marry her cousin so they can control of her father's wealth. They beat her, withhold food, and keep her in a locked room. She escapes out a window and runs to Sebastian's home. He needs to marry for money due to his father's mismanagement. He's known for having lots of women. Evie proposes marriage. She hopes Sebastian can protect her from her relatives. He agrees and they immediately leave for Gretna Green and marry. When they return they encounter problems from her relatives, a disgruntled employee, and mismanagement of the gambling club while her father has been sick. REVIEWER'S OPINION: Evie allows sex only to consummate the marriage. After that she believes he cannot be faithful so she insists on no sex. That was ok and somewhat interesting. But I found that Sebastian changed too quickly. As soon as they begin their trip he turns into quite the gentleman, very caring toward her. Then as soon as they marry, he seems to want only her. I would have preferred that he change more slowly. He immediately became this ideal husband and problem solver. I wanted to see more interaction between them before he changed. It was nice but not enough depth. The first sex scene was very good. I was disappointed that the conflict with Evie's relatives was so brief. I was hoping for more intricate character development and underhanded activities from the relatives. I wanted to see Sebastian and others initially at a loss and do unusual things to solve the problems. The way it happened was too easy. DATA: Story length: 368 pages. Swearing language: moderate to strong, including religious swear words. Sex language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 5. Total number of sex scene pages: 19. Setting: 1843 London, England, and Gretna Green, Scotland. Copyright: 2006. Genre: historical romance.

This is third installment in the popular Wallflower series by Kleypas (if I'm not mistaken, three of the four titles made it on the AAR Top 100 Reader's Fave list this year) and it doesn't disappoint for a good read. Lisa Kleypas writes one darn good romance- and she surely doesn't let you down in the bedroom. The sensuality rating is scorching in this one. But the romance is just OK. Sebastian is the wild, lustful, fun rake who agrees to an "anvil wedding" with shy, stuttering Evie. The arrangement is mutually beneficial. She needs a husband to escape her awful family that abuses her and would marry her off to a grotesque cousin to keep her inheritance. And he needs need a wealthy wife to support his rakish lifestyle. When she appears at his doorstep with an offer, despite having ever talked with him before, he readily accepts and whisks her off to Gretna Green for a wedding just days later. This romance lacks the bed wooing because the two waste no time consummating their marriage- of course to make it legit. We get to know the characters intimately long before we know them emotionally, and the pair could say the same about each other. I actually liked this plot device because it was fresh and original. (And realistic, I'm sure, for the time period.) Once back in London, the pair move into Evie's father's gambling hall to care for him as he lays dying. Soon, Sebastian inherits the gaming hall and takes it upon himself to run it and even improve it and finds a passion within his formally idle self that he never knew existed. The gaming hall and his sweet, new wife seem to give this rakish man a new perspective on priorities and he quickly changes his ways in order to win the heart of his orange haired, freckled beauty. Throw in a fiendish family, several murder attempts, one chaste bet to stay celibate and lots of kisses and bed play, and you have "Devil in Winter." What this novel is missing the most is character development. If you don't carefully read the passages, you will miss the transformation in Sebastian and he will seem to go from rake (who, yes, calls his woman a "bitch," OUCH) to poet, a man who begs his wife to make love. But worst of all, and what makes the story at all inferior, is that it's missing my favorite character... REGENCY ENGLAND. You will find that this is a two stage story. Besides the anvil wedding, the two stay within the walls of the gambling hall almost entirely. This novel could take place anywhere, and Society is null and void. That being said, Kleypas rarely lets you down. She knows how to write a good love scene, and there isn't a novel of hers not worth reading. I can't rate this one above three stars though, because it's missing such important elements that make a novel a keeper for me. Hmmm, and one last note.... what's the deal with the cover of this novel? I wonder what Lisa thinks of it? We see a large Victorian mansion, bay windows abound, sitting in a frozen countryside in the middle of no where. Though the story seems to take place in inner city London.

From the segue chapter in It Happened One Autumn, I knew I was going to enjoy Devil in Winter. Evie’s character has always been an intriguing one, as she’d been perpetually hidden behind her dour aunt. Throw in the rakish devil Lord St. Vincent and what comes out is a combustible partnership with several delightful side stories. Character development in this story is pretty good. Sebastian is the quintessential aristocratic rake pursuing a life of luxury and debauchery; and facing bankruptcy too. A wealthy wife would be the answer to his money woes and not much of an impediment to his current frolicking with the ladies. What he does not expect is to find himself actually attracted to his wife, wanting to protect her and maybe even loving her. Besides, I would never be so bourgeois as to lust after my own wife. It implies that one hasn’t the means to keep a mistress. THAT LINE MADE ME CHUCKLE… AND SUMS UP THE CHARACTER PRETTY WELL! He certainly doesn’t expect to find ‘work’ of all things and he definitely never anticipated feeling remorseful of his actions against his best friend. The changes to his character are gradual and well-written. The reader can almost see each piece of the wall being chipped away. As Sebastian’s walls come down, Evie’s strength and determination build. She goes confident in herself, her abilities and even recognises when she captures her husband’s heart. For a young woman who never thought much of herself, it is utterly charming to read the pages as she realises her worth. Her friends, the Wallflowers, make appearances throughout the story and continue to provide that heartwarming element of strength through true friendship. There are two main ‘dangers’ to Evie’s life. One is her mother’s abusive family who practically held her hostage in their home. The second danger originates in her father’s business. Both threaten her life and chances of happiness with Sebastian. Perhaps here is where I find room for improvement in the story. After glimpsing snippets about Evie’s horrible aunt and uncles since Book 1 in the series, I wish this element of the story had been developed further- some more depth and suspense here would have sealed the deal. The second threat is a bit more in-depth and definitely more suspenseful! Historical elements: I really enjoyed reading the little historical tidbits about 19th century medicine, boxing and gambling dens. A lot of it I had some ideas of from before, but I always like when an author brings a taste of accurate historical detail into these types of stories. By the end of the story I was throughly confused. Is this my new favourite in the series? Lol. I think I loved the plot of this one best but Annabelle and Simon of Secrets of a Summer Night remain my favourite couple! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this racy historical romance and I’m sad that I only have one more in the series to read.

何といってもSt. Vincentの正直さ、率直さが何とも言えず、読んでてもう赤面状態(///▽///) 今まで放蕩尽くして女性のことは何でも知っていると思っているヒーローが、 なぜこんなにEvie一人に惹かれるのか分からずに混乱している様が会話にあふれているのがなんとも素敵。 また、つらい過去を持つEvieがなぜこんなにSt. Vincentに思われるのか分からず、 戸惑っている様子が他作品の自信にあふれた主人公よりずっと胸に来るものがありました。 このWallflower Quartetシリーズの他のヒロインとはまったく違った雰囲気で、私は一番好きです。 この作品の前に“Then Came You”と“Dreaming of You”を読んでおくと、さらに楽しめると思います。

I absolutely totally loved the story of Sebastian and Evie. The combination of the ”bad boy” and the shy wallflower was just perfect. This is my favorite story from the wallflower series.

What can be said that would do this couple's story justice? I just don't know. I guess the only thing left is to say I love them so much, and they live rent-free in my head. Sebastian St. Vincent is what dreams are made of, and Evie is just so adorable 😍 ♥️

Very nice read if you love some drama and characters that evolve along the story..

Lord Sebastian St. Vincent agrees to elope with Evangeline Jenner, daughter of a night club owner. He does it to get her diary as he is on the brink of financial ruin. She does it to get away from abusive relatives who want her dowry. From there the story takes off as their wedding journey is described. When they come back, they start living at the club and St.Vincent takes over its management. Together they deal with Evie's father's death, the abusive relatives, an assassin out to murder Evie, St. Vincent's brush with death etc etc. to finally achieve their HEA. In between there is also the bet that Evie places on her husband that he will remain celibate for 3 months before she sleeps with him. A fun, enjoyable read. The hero is not too soppy and drooling over the heroine. There is a romantic sub-plot that I think has been covered in a separate novel and I am going to find it and read it. I would recommend this, definitely!