2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain: he's a mean, rotten bully. Back in boarding school, he made her late husband's life a misery, and she'll never forgive him for it. But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her. And then he introduces himself—as none other than West Ravenel.

West is a man with a tarnished past. No apologies, no excuses. However, from the moment he meets Phoebe, West is consumed by irresistible desire . . . not to mention the bitter awareness that a woman like her is far out of his reach. What West doesn't bargain on is that Phoebe is no straitlaced aristocratic lady. She's the daughter of a strong-willed wallflower who long ago eloped with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent—the most devilishly wicked rake in England.

Before long, Phoebe sets out to seduce the man who has awakened her fiery nature and shown her unimaginable pleasure. Will their overwhelming passion be enough to overcome the obstacles of the past? Only the devil's daughter knows.

Setting
Hampshire, England (Summer 1877)
Essex, England

33 Chapters

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Recurring Characters
Weston (West) Ravenel: Devon’s younger brother. He’s 24-years old, 6’4” with brown-black hair and blue eyes.
Phoebe St. Vincent, Lady Clare: Gabriel’s sister, the oldest of the siblings. She’s a widow who was married to Henry, Lord Clare who died while she was pregnant with their second child. She’s mother to Justin and Stephen. She has red hair and light gray eyes.
Justin, Lord Clare: Phoebe’s 4-year old son.
Stephen, Lord Clare: Phoebe’s infant son who was born after his father died.
Henry, Lord Clare: Phoebe’s deceased husband.
Pandora Ravenel: Theo’s younger sister, Cassandra’s twin. She’s 21-years old with dark brown hair.
Gabriel St. Vincent: Eldest son of Sebastian and Evangeline (Evie) St. Vincent, the Duke and Duchess of Kingston. He has amber hair and blue eyes.
Helen Ravenel Winterborne: Oldest of the Ravenel sisters, she’s married to Rhys and mother of their newborn son, Taron. She’s 21-years old with white blond hair and light blue-gray eyes.
Rhys Winterborne: Wealthy businessman and owner of a successful department store. He’s married to Helen and father of their newborn son, Taron.
Devon Ravenel, Lord Trenear: New Earl of Trenear. Hes married to Kathleen and father of their son, William. He’s 28-years old, tall with dark brown hair and blue eyes.
Kathleen Ravenel, Lady Trenear: Married to Devon and mother of their newborn son, William. Former widow of Theo Ravenel, the former Earl of Trenear who recently died. She was the daughter of Lord Carbery, an Irish peer. She was only married to Theo three days before he died. She has amber eyes and auburn hair.
Cassandra Ravenel: Theo’s younger sister, Pandora’s twin. She’s 21-years old with blond hair and blue eyes.
Garrett Gibson: Female doctor trained in France. She was hired by Rhys to work with Dr. Havelock to provide health services to the workers in his business. She has dark brown hair and green eyes.
Ethan Ransom: Man Rhys hired to follow Vance. He’s an inspector at Scotland Yard, secret service division. He’s 6’ with dark hair and blue eyes.
Theo Ravenel, Lord Trenear: Former Earl of Trenear who died when he was thrown from a horse.
Jane Ravenel: Mother of the Ravenel siblings, deceased.
Edmund Ravenel: Father of the Ravenel siblings, deceased.
Lord Berwick: Man who, along with his wife, took Kathleen in when she was sent away by her parents.
Eleanor, Lady Berwick: Woman who helped raise Kathleen after she was sent away by her parents. She’s helping with the twins and their seasons of introduction to society.
Dolly, Lady Colwick: Lady Berwick’s youngest daughter who recently married.
Arthur, Lord Colwick: Dolly’s husband.
Hayhurst: Dolly’s true love.
Lord Carbery: Kathleen’s father.
Bronwen Winterborne: Rhys’ mother.
Carys Winterborne: Peggy’s child by Albion, making her Helen’s half sister. She’s 4-years old. Rhys changed her name from Charity Wednesday.
Evangeline (Evie) St. Vincent, Lady Kingston: Gabriel’s mother, the Duchess of Kingston. Married to Sebastian.
Sebastian St. Vincent, Lord Kingston: Gabriel’s father, the Duke of Kingston. Married to Evie.
Raphael St. Vincent: Gabriel’s younger brother.
Seraphina St. Vincent: Gabriel’s youngest sister. She’s 18-years old and is a strawberry blond.
Michael Ivo St. Vincent: Gabriel’s youngest sibling.
Stanley Gibson: Garrett’s invalid father.
Angus Ransom: Ethan’s father.
Drago: aka Dragon. Former employee at Jenner’s that Gabriel hires as Pandora’s footman.
Tom Severin: Railroad magnate. He owns London Ironstone, a private railway company. He’s a friend of Devon.
William Havesby: Rhys’ staff doctor.
Mrs. Fernsby: Rhys’ personal secretary.
Sutton: Devon’s valet.
Oakes: Gabriel’s valet.
Quincy: Theo’s former valet, now working for Rhys Winterborne.
Clara: Kathleen’s lady’s maid.
Ida: Pandora’s lady’s maid.
Meg: Cassandra’s lady’s maid.
Pauline: Helen’s lady’s maid.
Eliza: Garrett’s maid.
Ernestine: Phoebe’s lady’s maid.
Mrs. Church: Eversby Priory housekeeper.
Mrs. Abbott: Housekeeper at the London Trenear house.
Anna Edevane: Carys’ nursemaid.
Nanny Bracegirdle: Justin and Stephen’s nursemaid.
Mr. Bloom: Stablemaster.
Weeks: Doctor.
Ioan Crewe: Rhy’s best friend, deceased.
Peggy Gilmore Crewe: Ivan’s wife, deceased.
Mr. Sauveterre: Master jeweler.
Charles Burgess: Rhys’ solicitor.
Albion Vance: Lady Jane’s former lover. He’s Lord Berwick’s nephew.
Lord Westcliff: Gabriel’s friend.
Asad: Kathleen’s horse, an Arabian.
Napoleon: One of the Trenear’s two dogs.
Josephine: One of the Trenear’s two dogs.
Ajax: Ivo’s dog, a retriever.
Galoshes: Barn cat adopted by Justin.

Non Recurring Characters
Lillian Marsden, Lady Westcliff: One of the Wallflowers. Married to Marcus. They have three sons and three daughters.
Marcus Marsden, Lord Westcliff: Married to Lillian. They have three sons and three daughters.
Merritt Marsden Sterling: Lillian and Marcus’ oldest daughter and one of Phoebe’s closest friends. She’s married to Joshua.
Joshua Sterling: An American-born shipping magnate married to Merritt.
Foxhall (Fox) Marsden: Lillian and Marcus’s oldest son, a viscount.
Annabelle: One of the Wallflowers.
Daisy: One of the Wallflowers. She’s married to Matthew, a business entrepreneur, and is a novelist. They live in America.
Edward Larson: Henry’s cousin who is helping Phoebe manage the Clare estate lands and tenants on behalf of her son.
Georgiana: Henry’s mother.
Frederick Larson: Edward’s father.
Ruth Parris: aka Mrs. Parrett. Mistress.
Henry Parris: Ruth’s 4-year old son.
Niall: Sebastian’s Porter at the club.
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Spoiler Info
(view spoiler)[
Edward Larson was stealing from Phoebe’s estate to support his lifestyle, mistress and illegitimate son. After Phoebe confronted him with the truth and fired him, he appealed to Sebastian and then tried to shoot West.

West and Phoebe are engaged. (hide spoiler)]

The Wallflower's Series book that is the story of Phobe's parents, Evie and Sebastian, is The Devil in Winter. It was one of my favorites in the series.

Yes, we caught up with them in Devil in Spring. How wonderful that we get another of their children in this series. Silly me, didn’t make the connection for this second book. I love that West is paired with Phoebe!

Wow! I didn't realize this book would be about Phoebe! Love it!

Me either, Karen until I set this up! I’m in a happy place now.

Me too, Jonetta!