This book was a little too much for me. The relationship happened so fast that I couldn't even try to suspend my disbelief. I also just don't like the insta-love trope so this book wasn't for me. I know there will be people who fall in love with it, though! The insta-love and then the hardcore cheesiness between the couple took it way over the top. I was disappointed that there was no build-up or wait. They really just jump right in.

I was excited when a conflict cropped up and it seemed like there was going to be some angst and tension to build the story and cause some relationship drama, but it ended so quickly that I'm not even sure why it was included.

The end was also very anti-climactic and some of the story could have been used to talk about the future Keir and Merritt would need to build for themselves. They were facing a lot of issues that "just loving each other" wasn't going to solve. Instead they just had a magic baby. I HATE the magic baby when MC is supposed to be barren trope. Let her be barren. WHY DIDN'T THEY ADOPT?? KEIR WAS ADOPTED THEY COULD HAVE HAD A SCHOOL OF ADOPTED CHILDREN BUT NOOOOOOOO IT ALWAYS HAS TO BE A MAGIC BABY......

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy the mentioned tropes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

Gotta love a spicy historical romance.

I wasn't sure what to expect. This is book 7 of a series that I haven't read lol. But I really liked both Merritt and Keir. It was definitely a prime example of instalove.

There was a lot going on. We learn more about Keir and his background and I'm not sure we needed the amnesia bit. But he was so so devoted to Merritt and sweet. I really liked hearing his POV.

Merritt was a badass and I loved how fierce she was. I feel like in historical romances we have such amazing feminists before their time. I love it.

I might have to look into the first 6 books of this series!

Normally I'm a huge Kleypas fan, and I still enjoyed reading this book, but overall it didn't work for me. The MCs had good chemistry but it had too many tropes that didn't work together and didn't get adequately explained. We never get told how Keir's adversary discovers his identity, and the lost heir plot isn't really resolved. Plus, I hate "miracle baby" and this book had too much Sebastian in it.

Absolute stunner of a book. I love the Extended Ravenell Universe and especially when Sebastian and Evie come back into the mix (my favorite Wallflowers couple, don't @ me). This story was off the rails but so worked because the emotional core was strong. I would read one of these a year, thank you very much.

Lovely. A classic Kleypas romance perfectly balancing sweet and hot. This is the seventh title in The Ravenel's series, but could be read as a stand alone. If anything, I would suggest reading The Wallflowers series before "Devil in Disguise."

What drew me in to Merritt and Keir's story was the adult way in which conflicts and intrigue were handled. Conversation and the goal of supportive partnership were the main features. I also love to read about a woman who has agency in her daily life and future, which Merritt very well covers as a successful businesses person running her late-husband's shipping company. And Keir is such a refreshing character to see in a historical romance: without social status, but not without integrity. His determination and caring were a great match for Merritt and makes their story so comforting to read.

I hope there is more to come for this series!

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for provided an eARC for review.

I'm a Lisa Kleypas (historical fiction work) stan so please take my recommendation with a grain of salt.

As always, Kleypas does a solid job creating the plot and keeping the story rollin / engaging AND she keeps the steamy scenes, steaming (lol). There's an uncomfortable part of the book when, during one of the explicit scenes,
Keir gets a little handsy with Merritt's butt and she's not about it. Another bit that was disappointing was that Merritt is "barren", but then manages to somehow end up pregnant?

Regardless, the book was entertaining and I'd recommend it to avid historical fiction romance readers, Thank you t0 Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

i have to admit, I was a little disappointed in this one. Although I liked Merrit and Keir, this one was no where near as good as the Wallflowers series. Both are relatives of those characters but somehow this one just lacked something. I think it was almost an insta-love thing. Most times Ms. Kleypas' books are a slow burn, a sizzle that turns into an inferno-this one is just wham bam thank you m'am. And then he gets amnesia and forgets all about the bang.

I felt like Merritt liked him a little more than he liked her. I wish I could say exactly what is was that held me back from loving this book, but I'm not sure it was any one thing. I am hoping for better the next one around.

It’s no secret that Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorite authors and that I’ll read and most likely love anything she writes. I speak from experience. Even the books I’ve liked the least are still better than most other things I’ve read. So when she has a new book out, I don’t look at blurbs much and just jump for joy that I get to start reading.

Devil in Disguise was a special treat because, as part of the Ravenels series, we get to explore the lives of the Wallflower children and this was amazing if you’re a longtime fan. There are secrets and revelations in this book that you may not have seen coming (at least I didn’t) and as a die hard Wallflower fan, this made my heart so happy. I can’t elaborate much more than that because I don’t want to give it away.

Merritt is our widowed heroine and she is a take charge kind of girl. She’s been running her Late husbands’ shipping business and earning the respect of surly sailors, all while still keeping a nice demeanor and not being coy about what she wants. I loved her! She’s also Lillian and Marcus daughter and I can’t be impartial here because they are my favorite Wallflower couple.

The hero Keir is our first Scottish hero and a total sweetheart. I was swooning from the very beginning and just never stopped.

The chemistry between is quite instant and maybe their romance takes a turn into insta love, which usually would be a problem for me. But I adored it. It just felt so natural between them I couldn’t question any of it. I was just along for the fun ride. And when a bit of danger and mystery gets in the way, I was even more invested.

DEVIL IN DISGUISE left me with a huge smile on my face. It’s the perfect sweet and romantic book that I knew Lisa Kleypas could deliver. And while it’s not become a favorite in the series, I loved the addition to the series. I can’t wait for whatever she has in store for us next.

Devil in Disguise by Lisa Kleypas is book 7 in The Ravenels Series. This is the story of Keir MacRae and Merritt Sterling. I have read the previous books which did add to my enjoyment of this one but I do feel it can be a standalone book if you wish to do so. Merritt is a widower who has help raise her siblings and in addition is a whiskey distiller. Merritt meets Keir when he storms in to take up a issue with his shipment. Keir is someone that Merritt is attracted to but her family can't have any scandal tied to their name. Ms. Kleypas is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint. Loved it.

Merritt Sterling is a young widow who has taken over her late husband’s shipping business. She is happily independent and content with her life, until she meets her new business partner.

Keir MacRae is a Scottish whisky distiller who has no interest in the high society life of London, but Lady Merritt quickly changes his priorities.

After a shocking revelation, Keir is unsure of who he is or wants to be, and finds himself in danger. Merritt steps up as his protector, even if she might end up alone in the end. Can Keir accept the new life with Merritt that could be his, or will they be left with only their memories?

⇢ I feel like I hyped this book up so much for myself because I am obsessed with Lisa Kleypas and her writing. While this was a fun and slightly suspenseful read, it was not my favorite from her. Besides the insta love, Keir and Merritt’s relationship was lacking something. With that being said, Keir is SO swoony and romantic. He is obsessed with Merritt in the sweetest way. Merritt is such a strong woman. She is independent and can take care of herself. Something was just missing for me. I feel like some of this book was very predictable and forced. I thought the constant bringing back the POV of the older generation took away from the story. I still recommend reading this if you’re a LK fan, although I’m not sure why it was a Ravenel story when it was more Wallflower-adjacent.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5
(Lɪsᴀ Kʟᴇʏᴘᴀs ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ᴀ ʙᴀᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴋ)

It’s always a delight to revisit the characters from the Wallflowers series! As usual, Lisa Kleypas delivers on interesting leads and steamy scenes. Merritt and Keir were as fun to read as their forbears. As always, I am looking forward to the next installment and hope to get more of the Wallflower kids.

The best Lisa Kleypas book yet! Romantic, steamy, and well-crafted characters. I'm not the biggest fan of historical romance, but this one is going on my favorites shelf!

"Devil in Disguise" by Lisa Kleypas kept me smiling! Kleypas put out a statement via Goodreads that she did not intend to write a seventh Ravenels series book, however she could not get Lady Merritt Sterling out of her mind. I am grateful that this happened because my wish came true for a certain alliance. That alliance would not be possible if the person(s) who have successfully hurt Keir MacRae actually killed him or discovered him recovering with found family and under Merritt’s care.

I loved that Lady Merritt and Keir were opposites and we read about how love can come from out of nowhere. I loved Merritt’s contrasting position, she was a female aristocrat who pushed her limits by being a boss and doing what she wanted like staring at a naked Keir. I loved what Kleypas had Keir save which created a talisman for the story. I loved that he would do anything if it showed his loyalty to Scotland, and his freak out about being a Scot. Then there were the intimate scenes that were early on, playful, and steamy!

The book did not have the certain alliance similar to the ones in the other books of the series, however I do not mind. I had months to come to terms that one of my favorite Kleypas couples do not have a “perfect” story, yet it makes sense to me that the connection was with that couple. I love that this book referred to a former redeemed rake who still questioned his growth after decades of being “angelic.” I love the Wallflowers in general and the Ravenels that were in the story.

I still cannot get over how much I love this book! You can hear me gush with friends via the @litwallflowerspodcast episode. I have read and listened to the book multiple times within days of its release. If you love Scots, laughing, and crying, then you will love this book. If you love Lillian, then she was in an awesome scene which led to another awesome scene. If you love anything Wallflowers, you will love the odes to the series in this book!

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

Merritt Sterling has been running her late husbands shipping company solo. She is strong willed, stubborn and has decided that for now she will take responsibility for the company. When a shipping mishap ensues with whiskey distiller Keir MacRae, Merritt isn't quite sure what to make of the rough and tough Scott.

Keir is as tough as they come. He has to be - especially with the nature of his job. When he meets Merritt he finds someone who isn't afraid to stand up to him or go toe to toe with him. Merritt is stubborn and often has Keir doing things that he normally wouldn't. The two of them start spending more and more time with each other. Their attraction to one another is fierce right from the get-go. But when accidents keep happening, especially around Keir it is clear that someone wants him dead. Can Keir and Merritt let their love bloom if Keir is constantly in danger?

I have a lot of feelings about this book. When I found out that Lisa Kleypas was writing another book in the Ravenel world I was ecstatic! For the most part I have loved almost every single one of these books. But Devil in Disguise fell short for me.

I had a hard time connecting with both Keir and Merritt. Theirs was definitely an insta-love and it just didn't work for me. I wanted more angst and longing and pretty much immediately they fell in love. I saw the connection to Sebastian almost immediately and even then I didn't feel the connection between Keir and Sebastian as father and son.

This book was more of a reunion of the wallflowers, which was nice. But at the same time it took away from the story. So many portions of the book were from another point of view that wasn't Merritt or Keir.

Sad to say I was disappointed in the latest Ravenel book. The ending of the book was not satisfying at all. After hearing Keir talk about the love he had of his parents despite him being adopted and then to say that Merritt was infertile, but then they had a baby together?! Nope, wasn't sold on that.

Overall I would rate Devil in Disguise somewhere between a 2.5 and 3. Rounding to a 3 because the audiobook was amazing. Mary Jane Wells narrated the audiobook of Devil in Disguise and she did a wonderful job narrating the various characters. Her Scottish accent was so good! I had no problem differentiating when different characters were being voiced.

Although Devil in Disguise was not quite what I was expecting, I am looking forward to the next book from Lisa Kleypas.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and audiobook from Librofm

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Devil in Disguise. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

Devil in Disguise is a well written historical romance with engaging characters and a unique plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and held my attention to the last. This one is a bit light on the historical aspect, but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment.

Lady Merritt is the heroine, and she’s a very determined, strong-minded woman and runs her late husband’s shipping company with a firm hand. I liked her character and enjoyed her interactions with others.

Keir MacRae is the hero, and his honor and integrity is impressive. The mystery surrounding who wants him dead pulled me in, but alas it fizzled and didn’t end up nearly as exciting as I had anticipated.

Now about the romance. While I believe in love at first sight, this went too fast for me. The instant jump into bed just didn’t work for me. There was no sexual tension build up which is an aspect of historical romance I love. The sexual scenes are too focused on the physical rather than the emotions of the characters.

If you enjoy historical romance that have a lot of spice and graphic sexual scenes, then Devil in Disguise may work better for you than it did for me. It may all be on me because my reading preferences have changed over the last eighteen months. Happy reading!

2.5 stars.

"Devil in Disguise is sure to have some surprises in store for longtime Kleypas fans!"

Full review to come on FreshFiction.com.

This book grabbed my attention right away! I love Lisa's writing and this book did not disappoint!

If you have read Lisa Kleypas before, specifically the Wallflowers series, then you will be delighted to see so many characters we have come to know and love pop up and appear in this book. I mean, so many! This was a reunion of sorts with many Wallflowers characters making cameos as well as Ravenels characters that we love.

Merritt is a strong and capable widow who through the business she is running her husbands absence meets Keir. These two have chemistry immediately and WOW, I am not exaggerating when I say CHEMISTRY!!! Scorching! But amidst the steam is poetic beautiful feelings and prose. I fell in love with Lisa's writing all over again in this book.

I can not gush enough about this book. I love the emotions, the language, the relationships, the characters, just all of it. It was an absolute joy to read.

hmmm. perhaps my expectations were too high, or perhaps my romance tastes have changed, perhaps the world is messing with my head, who knows. either way, this started with a bang (lol) and unfortunately, i don't think it really worked for me - it meant i never really connected with the characters or felt the chemistry. it picked up and improved, i laughed several times, thought it was super cute at times... loved seeing characters from previous books.

i do think perhaps LK is trying to make us like sebastian more with this book. i mean, the ones that didn't like him in his book because of what he did in the prior book. those that did love him in his book are somehow annoyed at this book? because of what is revealed about the past??? even though we knew who sebastian was? and need i remind you what happened in the book before his?! are you kidding me? you're okay with that, but not what happens in this book? good lord almighty, that is ridiculous.

anyway, i don't really care about what happened in this book, i liked it, i did care what happened in the wallflowers books though, honestly had to pretend sebastian was a completely different character in his book. but this review is for this book, not the wallflower series. it was a quick read, i chuckled, i smiled, i am not mad i read it - but i never fell head over heels and never felt the love between the two characters.

God I love this series! If only we could all get a Scottish man like Keir. I need to go back and read the first series as I just love love Kleypass's writing and know there are side characters show up. Then we also get some suspense with who he truly is and who wants to kill him. Whisky and shipping what could go wrong.

This one has a steamy start since Merritt is a widow. No slow burn with this one. I can't wait for more of Kleypass!

4.5 stars
3 steams

4.25 Stars!

"If that's what you want," he said hoarsely, "I promise you...the night will be worth it."

Well, well, well...so, I have to confess a few things. One, this was my first ever read by this author. I know, I know...her Wallflowers series has been on my TBR for an eternity, I tell you!! And after reading this beauty, I have moved it way up because I NEED a few of those characters' stories, particularly one Sebastian St. Vincent!! Two, I have been in a MAJOR, mother of all book slumps as of late and have struggled with getting into anything. However, this book was such a treat and it grabbed me almost immediately.

Our heroine, Lady Merritt Sterling, is a young widow who runs her late husband's shipping business. When she meets Keir MacRae, her company has pretty much botched up a delivery on his very precious whisky cargo and he is none too thrilled about it. Without delving too deep into the plot, I will just say this:

- There's a one-night stand
- A potential murderer on the loose
- An accident
- Someone ends up with amnesia

I am a sucker for a good amnesia trope done right, and this one was DONE RIGHT!

Merritt is a confident, kind woman who goes after what she wants. And Keir is all the sexy Scot with suddenly a lot to deal with, including his building attraction for Merritt torn with wanting to do the respectable gentlemanly thing.

It was a fun read and everything I love in my historical romance reads.

“My heart,” he said, “there’s no version of me that would no’ choose you as my wife. ’Tis the first thing I would do.” His gaze held hers, and he added softly, “The very first thing.”

I was provided with an advanced e-copy of this book by the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.