An eccentric wallflower
Most debutantes dream of finding a husband. Lady Pandora Ravenel has different plans. The ambitious young beauty would much rather stay at home and plot out her new board game business than take part in the London Season. But one night at a glittering society ball, she's ensnared in a scandal with a wickedly handsome stranger.
A cynical rake
After years of evading marital traps with ease, Gabriel, Lord St. Vincent, has finally been caught by a rebellious girl who couldn't be less suitable. In fact, she wants nothing to do with him. But Gabriel finds the high-spirited Pandora irresistible. He'll do whatever it takes to possess her, even if their marriage of convenience turns out to be the devil's own bargain.
A perilous plot
After succumbing to Gabriel's skilled and sensuous persuasion, Pandora agrees to become his bride. But soon she discovers that her entrepreneurial endeavors have accidentally involved her in a dangerous conspiracy--and only her husband can keep her safe. As Gabriel protects her from their unknown adversaries, they realize their devil's bargain may just turn out to be a match made in heaven . .
Sparrowgal's rating: 7/10 (B)
Sparrowgal's thoughts - Spoiler alert!
Having read the other books in the series, perhaps I was expecting too much of this book. This is the third book in the Ravenel series, about Pandora, the more boisterous of the Ravenel twins.
Pandora is a thoroughly modern female, who is intent on making a board game and be successful. She is not interested in marriage but is forced to have a season, which, due to an unfortunate circumstance, she is forced to marry.
It's all rather amusing - typical Pandora is reaching for an object and gets stuck in a settee by her dress and needs assistance extracting herself. She is helped by Gabriel, Lord St Vincent (who is the oldest son of the Sebastian and Evie from Devil in Winter).
I couldn't quite see the chemistry between them. Neither wanted to marry, and Pandora was very vocal and all her delightful quirks (outspoken, making up words, well read) and demanded a whole lot of conditions in the marriage. Gabriel seemed rather indulgent, with his only vice being that he kept a mistress with whom he quite rapidly forgot once he was in Pandora's company. The two families hit it off rather well when the Ravenels were invited to Duke of Kingstons' residence (Sebastian is now Duke) for a week of getting to know one another, that they quite liked the articulate and outrageous Pandora.
To me though, Pandora is rather childish for her age. She lacks the worldliness or pragmatism of Helen from Marrying Winterborne. Even when she is injured, she doesn't seem to understand the implications of what has occurred and it doesn't even seem to fill her with any formand I couldn't feel very atttached to Gabriel despite him being a lovely gentleman. I think I enjoyed the cameo appearances from characters from other books in the series more than I liked their romance myself, but it was by no means a bad read. Just not as engaging or appealing to my taste in books as the others in the series.
It was nice to have a small introduction at the beginning with Sebastian and Evie so you know that it is part of that series, but I am glad they were not involved in the book too much, as it would have detracted from the Pandora and Gabriel's story.
It seemed a whirlwind to go from engaged to being in love for one week, and I have to applaud Gabriel for being a modern husband for the times
The sensual scenes were typical Kleypas - tasteful but not over the top and not repetitive.
Overall worth a read, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
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