Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street Runners Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas *UPDATED*

The original review I wrote for this book way back in 2008 can be found HERE.  (Again, it's probably not worth your time...my poor little eighteen-year-old self wrote it).  While I was on maternity leave, I made a very slow, well-intentioned effort to start reading some of the books I'd amassed in my extensive collection.  I don't have the exact date I completed my re-read of this book (newborns are a bit distracting), but I believe it was sometime in January of 2020.  This updated review was penned on May 19, 2020; I'm going to do my best to provide a decent review of the work.

I enjoyed this book a great deal the first time around, but less so this second read.  My original review  raved about the plot and well-developed characters.  It took me bit longer than usual to get through this book, and I think that is in part because moments felt rather flat to me.  Overall, I liked it a great deal more than the first book in this series.  The characters were much more "fleshed out" than Grant and Victoria were.  Sophia's plan for revenge is, for the most part, I feel better contrived than Grant's desire for revenge in Someone to Watch Over Me.  I understood it much better - she had more realistic motivation to want to bring down Sir Ross.  However, there were moments where her tactics seemed to get a bit hazy.  I realize she's no expert and she's supposed to lose sight of her goal as she falls in love with Sir Ross, but I just got the feeling that there was something missing.  No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't put my finger on what felt off.

Sir Ross was a decent character.  I liked him a great deal in the first book, so it was nice to see him again.  He was better developed than Grant was as the male lead.  His backstory suited him and the plot.  His family was where I felt it got a bit iffy.  His mother, in particular, didn't seem to fit the role I expected and sometimes her interactions felt contrived just plain "off," for lack of a better adjective.  Grant, as a secondary character, felt like a completely new person.  I realize it's intended to show how true love changes a man, but there was no shadow of the man he used to be (other than his work ethic).  Then again, who am I to say who Grant is or isn't...because I sure didn't get a really good sense of who he was in his own book.  But I digress.  Basically, Sir Ross was a better male lead than Grant, but I found his sudden acceptance of his attraction to his new employee (Sophia) to be a bit unrealistic, and rather below where I expected his morals to be.

I thought the plot was interesting, the characters were better developed than the first book in the series, and I was pleasantly surprised by the big plot twist toward the end of this book.  I'll just say that Kleypas earns some serious points for keeping this twist hidden so well.  It was a creative enticement to read the next in the series.

Overall, I have definitely read better books by Kleypas, but there are some redeeming qualities to this particular book.

Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street Runners Series, Book One): Lisa Kleypas *UPDATED*

 This is another re-read of an old book in my personal collection.  Unfortunately, I'm not entirely certain when I finished reading it for the second time, but I do know it was after I gave birth to my son, but before the end of 2019.  I'm going to estimate it was in early December of 2019.  This review was penned on May 19, 2020, so please forgive me if it's not my most elaborate.  You can find my original review of this book HERE.  The review dates all the way back to 2008, so I wouldn't really recommend it...it's far too vague and brief to be of much good to anyone.

I seem to have enjoyed this book less than I did the first time around.  Maybe it's because I'm more jaded from the last 12 years, or maybe because I am mature enough to recognize just how unhealthy the relationship between Grant and Vivien really is...  There is something to be said for a man wanting revenge, but I feel like Grant's reaction was a bit disproportionate to the slight he received at the hands of Vivien.  As he continues to press forward with his plans, I didn't find it sexy or romantic...I found it borderline reprehensible.  I didn't see love blossoming; I saw fascination and obsession.  Grant set out to do something vile and I think that made me take a step back from his character.  Because of this, I found myself less attracted to him than I should have been, given the genre of this book.  We readers are supposed to fall in love with the male leads in these books, but I fell short of that with Grant.  Sure, his character was flawed (and I DO really love a well-written, flaw-inducing backstory), but not always in a way that made him charming or attractive.  I got glimpses of what he could have been, but I never, ever really felt much for him as a character.  Aside from his revenge plot, I think part of the problem was that we didn't really get to experience much of what made him unique.  We know more about him from accounts given by other characters.  I wanted him to be more fleshed out by his own actions, hobbies, hopes, dreams, etc.

Where do I start with Vivien?  I KNOW she doesn't remember who she is or what her life was like before she was attacked; however, she fell short for me as well.  She was so accepting of Grant's stories and was relatively acquiescent when it came to her belief that he'd want to share her bed because, as he'd said, they were in a relationship.  I found it less than believable.  A true, strong female lead would never have allowed it -- would never have just taken his word for it -- not when she thinks over and over again how wrong it feels and foreign the notion is to her.

One of the biggest issues I encountered was I couldn't put my finger on WHY Grant and Vivien fell in love.  They were attracted to one another, to be sure, but Grant didn't actually know anything about Vivien...and we saw so few personal details about Grant.  Though I finished the book rather quickly and I can appreciate the plot twists and the ending, I think some of the components fell short.  Lisa Kleypas has written some wonderful books, but this older one just did not resonate as much with me anymore.

Devil’s Daughter (The Ravenels, Book Five): Lisa Kleypas

“Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain:  he’s the rotten bully who terrorized her late husband while at boarding school.  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 out of his reach.

“But 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…”

Here's yet another May read I'm finally getting around to posting!

This book was another collision between the Wallflowers and Ravenels series by Kleypas.  The way in which she’s able to weave threads of past and present for her characters is masterful and, not to say the least, fun!  I personally really enjoy seeing generations of characters interact; it reminds us that these characters we come to love so dearly in these three-hundred-or-so pages continue to live on even after we close the book.  Their pasts come to haunt them and the lessons they learn can impact their own children.

This story follows West Ravenel, younger brother of Devon (his book is the first in the series) as he continues on his newfound path of determination and hard work on the Ravenel lands.  He’s come a very long way from the lush we first meet in book one.  He’s cleaned up his act, whipped himself into shape, and even managed to create profit from his elder brother’s once-miserable lands.  He’s an innovator who isn’t the least bit afraid of getting his hands dirty.  This, however, doesn’t mean that the rake in him has been completely done away with.

Meanwhile, we met Phoebe in Pandora and Gabriel’s book (the first instance of the collision between the Wallflowers and Ravenels).  She’s Gabriel’s sister; a woman honor bound to follow her dear, late husband’s wishes and determined to raise her two young sons in a happy, healthy environment.  She struggles a great deal with moving on after the loss of her partner and best friend, but her struggles are only made more confusing and difficult after she meets West amongst the bustle of Gabriel and Pandora’s wedding…because West was once the boy who tormented her husband so terribly that he had to be removed from school.

Phoebe is determined to hate West, but it isn’t long before she comes to realize that the children we once were are not necessarily the people we come to be.  Despite her best efforts to put him off, West slowly begins to charm her, unknowingly finding the chink in her armor when it comes to her two little boys.  All the while West struggles to come to terms with the reprobate he once was and the new life he leads.  He feels tremendously guilty for his sins and seems to try to atone for them with a life of backbreaking labor and long hours.  He finds himself drawn to his beautiful, red-haired houseguest…and things between them inevitably heat up.  West finds his senses of right and wrong at war with one another.  What if his past comes back to haunt him?  People may praise him for his current accomplishments, but what if his former depravity bites them all?  What sort of example does that set?

Both Phoebe and West must come to terms with their own pasts and have to realize they can only have a future if they learn to live in the present.

I found West charming, as usual.  He’s been a common thread throughout the series and I’ve always enjoyed his playful sense of humor and razor-sharp sarcasm.  It isn’t often that we get to see a character grow and develop so much in a series within this genre, and I think it truly did take every book for him to finally become the man he was in this installment.  The progression was both believable and entertaining.  I can’t, of course, forget about Phoebe.  I thought she was going to be a depressed little mouse, but I had a pleasant surprise when she turned into a witty firecracker.  Certainly, I knew she had to be one if she was going to be any sort of match for West’s huge personality.  I admired her devotion to her late husband and her sons, but I think it appreciated her ultimate realization that she had to be happy if she was going to make anyone else happy.  This felt like a realistic development (and something that so many people seem to forget).

I found the romance to be moving and passionate.  The development of their love story was captivating and fun – I found myself laughing aloud several times.

Overall, I’m very pleased with this installment in the series and it just might be one of my favorites.

Hello Stranger (The Ravenels, Book Four): Lisa Kleypas

“A woman who defies her time

 

“Dr. Garrett Gibson, the only female physician in England is as daring and independent as any man—why not take her pleasures like one?  Yet she has never been tempted to embark on an affair, until now.  Ethan Ransom, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is as gallant as he is secretive, a rumored assassin whose true loyalties are a mystery.

 

“A man who breaks every rule

 

“As a Ravenel by-blow spurned by his father, Ethan has little interest in polite society, yet he is captivated by the bold and beautiful Garrett.  Despite their vow to resist each other after that sublime night, she is soon drawn into his most dangerous assignment yet.  When the mission goes wrong, it will take all of Garrett’s skill and courage to save him.  As they face the menace of a treacherous government plot, Ethan is willing to take any risk for the love of the most extraordinary woman he’s ever known.”

 

This is yet another book I took with me on my vacation (hence the quick succession of these reviews).  This is the newest installment in the series and I think I may have enjoyed it the most.

 

We were introduced to Garrett in two of the other books (if memory serves me) and she was always portrayed as cool, calm, intelligent, and no-nonsense.  It was nice to see another side of her in what is truly her love story.  I had a feeling Ethan would be her counterpart based on a few of their interactions in other plotlines, and I was certainly not disappointed.  I’ve said it before and I’m sure I will say it a thousand times more, but I love a strong female lead.  Garrett fit the bill.  Sometimes, female characters will tend to soften overmuch when they find their “missing piece,” but Garrett, in my opinion, remained strong throughout.  I admire her dedication to her craft, her father, and her desire to maintain the intense persona she’s created, despite the opposition she faces.  She can be a bit abrupt and abrasive, but that ends up making her unique and, dare I say, even a little bit charming.  I enjoyed getting to learn more about her background and how she came to be the woman she is (and I appreciate her even more because Kleypas based her off of a real woman).  The depth of emotion Ethan felt was, I think, one of the things that really made this book special.  He was so clearly in love with Garrett and had been for some time.  He found her beautiful, but he admired her for so much more than just her looks.  His life was terribly difficult and it made him unforgiving in some ways, but he didn’t lose all of his humanity.  He and Garrett save one another in so many different ways and on so many levels.  They turn out to be excellent counterbalances in their own unconventional ways.  Their banter is amusing and we really get to see their relationship blossom in such a fun way.

 

Through it all, there’s an ominous undercurrent of a political and terrorist plot which Ethan knows he might give his life to stop.  Though he resists dragging Garrett into this underworld, she is determined not to let him go—not when she fought so hard to let him into her life.  They are continually drawn to one another like magnets; though they may separate, they will inevitably collide once more.  And when they do, sparks will most certainly fly.

 

Ethan’s relationship with the Ravenels changes completely when he’s in his most desperate time of need and this truly allows West to shine.  Always a secondary character, he’s a prominent male Ravenel and a reformed London lush.  He has a fantastic sense of humor and provides an endless source of amusement and acerbic wit.  (To be honest, I enjoyed him far more than I did his elder brother in the first book in the series.)  We really get to see a lot of him in this book and I think that helped Ethan to come around more to the Ravenel side of his heritage.  There were some hints about a mysterious love interest for West and I sincerely hope that this is true and that his book is the next one I have to look forward to.

 

As always, Kleypas writes with a certain elegance and wit which mark her books with a unique voice.  Both the settings and the characters are vibrant and lively.  The romance is filled with exquisite tension and longing.  Again, this is probably my favorite book in the series, so it only stands to reason that I recommend it.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Then Came You (Gamblers of Craven's: Book One): Lisa Kleypas *UPDATED*

Ah...rereading my original review of this book (back from when I was eighteen...) really makes me cringe.  Should you be so inclined, you can find it HERE, thought I certainly don't recommend (or commend) the review.  It's rather short and somewhat painful.  Though I liked it and my younger self was able to discern some of the nuances in the plot, I think it's certainly lacking in much critical thinking.

First of all, I actually finished reading this book in June, so my obsessive-self is a bit peeved that I'm only now getting around to reviewing it.  I hate it when my monthly book count is thrown off!  I've been on my rereading kick lately and, this being one of the earlier books written by Kleypas (and available in my somewhat-lacking local library), I thought I'd give this one another go.  One thing I will say is that these characters certainly are memorable.  They made an impact on me almost a decade ago and, remarkably, they've stuck with me through the years.  I was almost instantly reminded of their nuances and quirks.  The tension -- oh the tension! -- is perhaps the real star of this book.  Very few books achieve the depth of tension that Kleypas crafted between Alex and Lily.  This personalities, lifestyles -- just about everything -- clash and brings them into constant conflict.  Their rows are powerful; almost as powerful as the invisible forces inexorably driving them together.  I really appreciate the well-disguised nature of Lily's driving force.  It made her more real and caused me to sympathize for her when I would have otherwise found her grating or far too over the top to be believable.  Alex was harsh and unforgiving, but his backstory was quite well-crafted as well, though I didn't care all that much for the ease with which he healed once Lily, er, kept him occupied enough where he couldn't distract himself from his tragic history.  I very much liked the relationship he had with his younger brother as it made him much more human (both to me, a reader, and Lily).  There is one secondary character who made an excellent impact.  Craven's dialect was artfully crafted and his personality was captivating.  His relationship with Lily was complex and, at times, it added a bit of levity to some situations.  If I remember correctly, he gets his own book in this series, though I could be mistaken.  If so, I can easily see him cast in the role of romantic hero, despite his extremely rough backstory and harsh outlook on life.

Overall, bits of the story did drag a bit.  Recovery happened whenever Alex and Lily would clash in one of their glorious battles.  This book is filled with interesting twists, feisty characters, and passion. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Kleypas.  Now that I'm reading more of her works again, I can say that I seem to prefer her older works over her newer ones -- just a thought.  Happy reading!

Note:  The name of the series in this post is slightly different than the original, which reads "Gamblers Series."  I've gotten this new title from the "book bible" (AKA FantasticFiction.com), an excellent site I reference when trying to organize books in a series and choose which one I should read next.

Devil in Spring (The Ravenels, Book Three): Lisa Kleypas

"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. Bur 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..."

This is book three in The Ravenels series.  I flew through it!  The series started off rough with Devon and Kathleen (whose romance I found a little bit forced), then Helen and Rhys (which I thoroughly enjoyed), and now Pandora and Gabriel (which was very nearly on-par with the story in Marrying Winterborn).  Those who have read my reviews know I wasn't really a fan of the antics of Pandora and Cassandra -- they felt overly contrived and didn't quite fit in with the rest of the characters.  I was truly surprised by how much I actually ended up liking Pandora.  She was much more fleshed out than the caricature I'd experienced in the other books.  To my great surprise...I found her funny and enjoyable.  She had an absolutely perfect foil in Gabriel.  His constant striving for perfection mixed with his excellent sense of humor and playfulness were written perfectly.  Their banter was charming.  He had just the right amount of protectiveness and a backstory that served the plot extremely well.  I loved how Gabriel didn't fight the way in which he was drawn to Pandora -- it felt refreshing and made this (mostly) light-hearted romance very readable and fun.

I thought -- given the first chapter or two -- that this would be a fairly "common" plot for the genre (i.e. man and woman caught in unintended compromising situation, they're forced together, they resist, but they end up falling in love anyway, etc.), but some very unexpected twists toward the latter half of the book were a pleasant surprise

***SIDE NOTE:  Gabriel's parents have their own love story told in "Wallflowers" book 3. Devil in Winter (see the trend with the titles going on here?  Clever, Mrs. Kleypas...very clever.  In case you want to see how much I enjoyed that book when I read it back in December of 2008, HERE is the review.)

I enjoyed this book a great deal more than I thought I would.  I finished it very quickly, attesting to the enjoyment I found in the plot and the ease of the reading.  I also really appreciate how Kleypas has woven different series together -- quite the tricky thing to handle well.

Marrying Winterborne (The Ravenels, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

"A ruthless tycoon

"Savage ambition has brough common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success.  In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants.  And from the moment he meets the shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, he is determined to possess her.  If he must take her virtue to ensure she marries him, so much the better...

"A sheltered beauty

"Helen has had little contact with the glittering, cynical world of London society.  Yet Rhys's determined seduction awakens an intense mutual passion.  Helen's gentle upbringing belies a stubborn conviction that only she can tame her unruly husband.  As Rhys's enemies conspire against them, Helen must trust him with her darkest secret.  The risks are unthinkable...the reward, a lifetime of incomparable bliss.  And it all begins with Marrying Winterborne."

First and foremost, I liked this book infinitely more than I did the first in this series!  And that's somewhat of an understatement...  These characters were far more believable, likable, and, perhaps best of all, they had true chemistry and I could feel the sparks between them.  I had a feeling I would enjoy this book because I liked Rhys and Helen even back in the first book of this series (so much so that I thought they were such strongly-crafted characters that they actually overshadowed Kathleen and Devon -- the characters who really should have shone.  I loved the passion and the tension between Helen and Rhys.  As a male lead, I found Rhys dark, enticing, and captivating.  His intelligence and work ethic were poignant, as were the little things he did to show Helen that, in his own way, he really did care for her.  One example of this was his care of her very delicate orchid and the fact that he'd purchased numerous books on the subject.  Little details like this endeared him to me and made me enjoy the book all that much more.  Though I already liked Helen, I hoped that she wouldn't be took prim or demure in a book all her own.  Needless to say, I was thrilled when, right off the bat, she was determined not to let others speak for her or to allow her voice to be drowned out any longer.  This made for a much more interesting story and even better interactions with Rhys as he came to terms with her newfound strength and outspokenness.

I definitely appreciated the little details that were included in this story -- like Rhys's Welsh phrases and glimpses of his background, as well as his love for peppermint creams.  I think those kinds of things are what truly breathe life into a character and it is exactly what was missing from the first book.

One new character I found myself liking tremendously was Dr. Gibson.  She was lively, strong, and I really do hope to see more of her in the coming stories.  I haven't read much of the more recent works by Kleypas, but I think there may have been a crossover character from another series, though I won't reveal my suspicions until I am sure.

As far as criticism goes, I still found Kathleen's primness grating -- especially when she, herself, became pregnant out of wedlock while she was still supposed to be in mourning (I find her more than a little hypocritical, to say the least).  The twins, while a bit amusing, were still so over the top that they're a bit hard to stomach at times.  I have already picked up the third book in the series, so we will see how that one goes.  The language was occasionally stilted, as if too much of an effort were being placed on propriety.  This was not helped by some of the "thesaurus words" -- words that, while technically correct, are overly flowery and so complex that they do not necessarily fit with the rest of the tone (as if the author wanted a better word and opened a thesaurus to find one).

I do recommend this book and I clearly enjoyed it better than the first in this series.

Cold-Hearted Rake (Ravenels, Book One): Lisa Kleypas

"A twist of fate...

"Devon Ravenel, London's most wickedly charming rake, has just inherited an earldom.  But his powerful new rank in society comes with unwanted responsibilities...and more than a few surprises.  His estate is saddled with debt, and the late earl's three innocent sisters are still occupying the house...along with Kathleen, Lady Trenear, a beautiful young widow whose sharp wit and determination are a match for Devon's own.

"A clash of wills...

"Kathleen knows better than to trust a ruthless scoundrel like Devon.  But the fiery attraction between them is impossible to deny -- and from the first moment Devon holds her in his arms, he vows to do whatever it takes to possess her.  As Kathleen finds herself yielding to his skillfully erotic seduction, only one question remains:  Can she keep from surrendering her heart to the most dangerous man she's ever known?"



This book took me only a little over 24 hours to complete, so, despite its length, it was a surprisingly quick read.  I used to be very into Lisa Kleypas and her books and thought I'd return to one of my favorite authors.  This is the first book in another of her series, so it seemed like a great place to start. Let me start off by saying I think West, Devon's younger brother, was perhaps one of my favorite characters.  Though he's a secondary character, I almost felt that he overshadowed Devon at times and that we saw more of him than we did the true male lead in this book.  Given that fact, I felt as if the story were spread a bit thinly between too many characters.  I can see where Kleypas was going with it -- setting up the other books in the series, and such -- but I think it was at the detriment of the connection I could have felt to the main characters.  I vacillated between liking Kathleen's fire and being supremely annoyed with her contrived sense of propriety and flair for dramatic overreactions.  She went on and on about being proper and what was "right," and, yet, she seemed to actually do very little of it:  "do as I say, not as I do," perhaps?  While I initially liked Devon very much, I felt like I didn't see nearly enough of him to really "love" him.  So much of this genre relies upon its readers' ability to fall in love with the male leads and truly believe in the love and romance.  I think this story felt a little bit shy of that.  The biggest issue I will take is that Devon -- a rake who had sworn not to marry or fall in love -- really fell for Kathleen FAR too quickly.  He made his resolution to have her after very little time together.  Even for a rake, this felt a bit too forced for my tastes, especially given the fact that he spent relatively little time with her.  There's lust at first sight and then there's forced romance with little-to-no development.  His realization that she spoke to a secret part of him came, I felt, far too quickly.  I don't want to make any harsh "accusation" (in quotes simply because I don't feel like it's the right word to use here...), but the love scenes between Kathleen and Devon felt almost..."rape-y."  She clearly didn't want the attentions, but this is usually overcome by the female lead's hidden desire for the male lead.  I think what was missing here was that hidden desire.  Sure, she cared for Devon, but it was nowhere near as developed as it could have, should have been.  It made Devon's insistence on a physical relationship almost uncomfortable to read at times.  Of course (predictably - because what would this genre be without love), they do, indeeed, love one another, so it almost makes it better in the end.  There was the start of an excellent, dark backstory for Devon, but it faded away.  It was barely mentioned in his conversations with Kathleen and I feel like that is something that usually creates such a powerful bond between the two leading characters.  I feel like their love story was swallowed up in Kathleen's contradictory attitudes/actions, the unreal speed in which Devon decided he wanted Kathleen, the loud voices and big personalities of all the other characters, and the lengths to which Kleypas went to set up the rest of the series.  There were also some rather jarring, repetitive word choices.  Unfortunately, I can't seem to find the few examples I'd pulled (I wish I'd marked the pages), but one that sticks out is "silkier than silk" toward the end of the book.  Most of these awkward wordings came in the forms of metaphors and similes I felt were beneath an author of this caliber.  The rest of her writing is eloquent and uses an expansive vocabulary, so it simply rubbed me the wrong way (and, quite literally, grated my reading to a halt) when I did stumble across these sections.



Now that all of that is out of the way, I will say that I still did enjoy the book, regardless of all of the above criticisms.  I certainly would not have read it as quickly as I did if it had been an unpleasant read.  The plot was unique and I liked the premise.  All of the characters had very different personalities from one another and I can appreciate the time that Kleypas took to develop them all individually and to help establish the rest of her series (even if I did feel as if that was to the detriment of this particular installment).  I recommend it even though I liked it less than I recall liking the rest of the books I've read by Kleypas.  I'm intrigued to pick up the next book in the series and see where she goes with it.

Because You're Mine (Capitol Theatre Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

“Because the Dream…

“Young, high-spirited Lady Madeline Matthews is expected to wed an aging, lecherous lord. But she would rather shame herself in the eyes of society than sacrifice her freedom, and resolves to render herself unmarriageable by indulging in a torrid affair with Britain’s most acclaimed actor and notorious womanizer, Logan Scott.

“Because the Heart…

“He is a legend in the footlights and in the bedchamber. But when the curtain falls, Logan is an intensely guarded man still tormented by past betrayals that cut deep into his pride and his heart. Now a forward little minx who seems completely out of place in the bright, sophisticated world of the London stage is disrupting his orderly existence with her constant presence, her unspoiled beauty and vibrant charm. And what begins with an onstage kiss threatens to blossom into something more rapturous and real. But first Logan and Madeline both must be brave enough to drop the masks they hide behind…and reveal their true selves in the golden glorious light of love.”

So, being the dork that I am (and thoroughly excited to read another book by Lisa Kleypas) I didn’t stop to think that I may be reading them out of order… Well, I did. This is the second in the Capitol Theatre Series and I accidentally read it first. I had my suspicions, but—silly me—I still read the book.

Either way, this was a fantastic story! Once more, Kleypas ushers readers back to 19th century England. The settings were so beautifully written and the plot is so well-thought-out that I devoured the story. There were so many twists and turns that I had NO idea that some of the drama was about to happen—and that’s impressive for an author to be able to do that. Anyone who has read my blog before knows that it’s not easy to pull the wool over my eyes.

Also, the characters were very touching. They seemed remarkably real and their emotions were so moving. I simply was not able to put this book down!

Seduce Me At Sunrise (Hathaways Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

“He has tried hard to forget her.

“Kev Merrington has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway every since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation…and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.

“Can she remember the man he once was?

“Then, Win returns to England…only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It’s now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny—or risk losing the only woman he has lived for…”

As the second in the Hathaways Series by Lisa Kleypas, this book certainly lived up to my expectations! The plot was fascinating and vastly entertaining. The characters were so real and their plights, heart-wrenching. Having learned somewhat about Merripen and Win in the first book in the series, I had some idea of what to expect, but nothing could prepare me for the fates that Kleypas had laid out for them!

There were moments of heartbreak, triumph, and palpable pain. I had a difficult time putting this book down when all I wanted to do was read more about the wronged, aggressive Merripen and the only woman who could save him.

Something changed in the author’s writing between her Wallflowers Series books one through four and the Wallflower Christmas and this series. I must admit that—though her writing was superb to begin with—there was an improvement. Unlike most authors who write series, Kleypas has exhibited the tenacity and skills to not only bring back characters from previous books, but to also write from their points of view. It was as if the stories had been flawlessly meshed and I LOVED it.

Though Lisa Kleypas’s website doesn’t say she is currently working on another addition in the Hathaways Series, this one was written to set up the plot for further books. I CERTAINLY HOPE SO!!!

Mine Till Midnight (Hathaways Series, Book One): Lisa Kleypas

“THEIR LIVES DEFY CONVENTION.

“When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

“THEIR DESIRE CONSUMES THEM BOTH…

“Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—hut intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter….”

Once more, Lisa Kleypas whisks readers back to Nineteenth-century England and Stony Cross Park—where even the most unlikely couples seem find the love of a lifetime. In the first book of this new series, Kleypas introduces a new family with its own fair share of issues. With a newly-inherited title and hardly any money to their name, the Hathaways are having a difficult time adjusting. None so much at the Leo—the new Lord Ramsay—and his younger sister, Amelia, who cares for the entire family like a mother hen—taking all the responsibility for her three sisters and unruly older brother on her shoulders.

The readers have already met Cam Rohan in several books from the Wallflower Series and it’s very interesting to see a new side to this mysterious half-Rom. His mind is quick and his skills with numbers is undeniable, but there is something about the way that Kleypas has written him that he is completely fascinating. I have read books with the Rom before but none with such a distinct character as Cam. I really enjoyed following Cam’s evolution through the story. He was sweet and multi-faceted and I thoroughly enjoyed him.

Overall, the book was fantastic and I am VERY excited to read the sequel! The Hathaways are a family that I can’t wait to read more about!

A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflower Series, Book Five): Lisa Kleypas

“The Wallflowers are four young ladies in London who banded together in their wild and wickedly wonderful searched for true love. Now happily married, they join together to once again to help one of the world’s most notorious rogues realize that happiness might be right under the mistletoe….

“It’s Christmas in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady-in-waiting, and if it weren’t for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.”

I must admit that the Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas has to be one of my favorite series that I have ever read. Kleypas has a knack for remaining true to her characters and creating fun and absolutely fascinating plot lines. The dialogue is witty and the situations interesting so the readers are unable to put her books down.

This book, in particular, was on the shorter side, but it was no less delicious. I read about Lillian and Daisy’s brothers in previous books, but I never thought I would “meet” one of them in a book. Rafe was a well-written hero and—I don’t want to give too much of the plot away—but I thoroughly enjoyed his outspoken heroin. They make such a fantastic match and it was a lot of fun to watch as the Wallflowers banded together to help them come together! I found myself smiling numerous times—especially in the first scenes where the readers get a real taste of what Rafe is like. I hope you all enjoy this series as much as I have! I think it’s just brilliant how Kleypas has linked pretty much EVERY one of the books that I have read by her. It seems as if Stony Cross Park really is a place for magic!

Scandal in Spring (Wallflower Series, Book Four): Lisa Kleypas

“ “I want you to do everything you’ve ever imagined doing with me…”

“With those scandalous words, Daisy Bowman, the sole “Wallflower” yet to be married, seals her fate with the last man she ever expected to tempt her.

“…And so Daisy Bowman seals her fate with the most unlikely man to stir her passions and inspire such scandalous behavior in the dazzling must-read conclusion to Lisa Kleypas’ best selling Wallflower quartet!

“It’s been three long London seasons, and still Daisy hasn’t received one declaration of affection. Should she not make the perfect match soon, her father has promised to arrange her wedding to the cold-hearted and maddening Matthew Swift.

“Despite alternating feelings of grave desperation and sheer panic, Daisy the last “wallflower” standing, will do anything to avoid marriage to Matthew. Yet when he unexpectedly turns on the charm—and leaves her breathless after her very first kiss—Daisy wonders if the man she has never liked could possibly be the only man she can ever love.”

After finishing this book, all I could do was smile! This was the perfect way to have the final “Wallflower” meet her match. It was sweet, believable, and stayed true to the past books from the series. Lisa Kleypas has a knack for linking every one of her stories and she does it so beautifully! I am always so impressed with her works, but this one was exceptionally good because there were just SO many different characters and plotlines—some of which are from prior series of Kleypas’. I didn’t know how she was going to do it, but she did!

As always, I am thrilled with Lisa Kleypas and look forward to the next book!

Devil in Winter (Wallflower Series, Book Three): Lisa Kleypas

“Four young ladies enter London society and band together to each find a husband. Has the third “Wallflower” now met her match?

“A DEVIL’S BARGAIN

“Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

“Sebastian’s reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden’s good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

“But Evie’s proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another od the dashing libertine’s callously discarded broken hearts—which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions…or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.”

This book is the third in the Wallflower Series from Lisa Kleypas, and it was a perfect addition! I was worried how Evie would overcome her shyness in a believable manner and this book was perfect! Also, the readers learn to really dislike—dare I say despise—St. Vincent after what he does to Lillian in the book prior to this one.

I’ve never read a book with such a disliked character who becomes such a hero! It was wonderful! Normally there is a “bad boy”, but Sebastian brought a new meaning to the phrase. I loved watching him soften towards Evie and try to become a man who is worthy of her. It was beyond touching and fascinating to read. Not to mention his dialogue was so well-written, I could almost hear him speak his taunting, joking words. That’s not easy for a writer to do and I must commend Kleypas on her brilliant work.

Overall, the book was fantastic and I love this author’s work. She has a knack for writing beautiful plots while keeping the readers enthralled. I’m excited about getting my hands on the next in the series!

Stranger in My Arms: Lisa Kleyps

“ ‘Lady Hawksworth, your husband is not dead…’

“With those words, Lara’s life turned upside down. Hunter, Earl of Hawksworth, had been lost at sea. Or so she’d been told. Their unhappy marriage—with its cold caresses and passionless kisses—was over. But now a powerful, virile man stood before her, telling secrets only a husband could know, and vowing she would once again be his wife in every way. While Lara couldn’t deny that this man with the smoldering dark eyes resembled Hunter, he was attentive and loving in ways he never was before. Soon she desperately wanted to believe, with every beat of her heart, that this stranger was truly her husband. But had this rake reformed—or was Lara being seduced by a cunning stranger?”

Wow. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it made me love Lisa Kleypas’ writing even more! Her characters are perfect and seem so human that it’s sometimes difficult to remember that you’re reading a book and not watching a movie. This plot was unique and very well-thought out. I was expecting to find flaws or catch on to the plot’s secrets too quickly to really enjoy the book, but Kleypas has once again given me something to rave about!

All-in-all, the book was WONDERFUL and I can tell that this book in particular took a lot of thought to make it all work out. Kleypas is such a gifted writer and I’m excited to read more!

Dreaming of You (Gamblers Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

“She stood at peril’s threshold—then love beckoned her in…

“A prim, well-bred gentlewoman, Sara Fielding is a writer who puts pen to paper to create dreams. But now curiosity is luring her from the shelter of her country cottage into the dangerous world of Derek Craven—handsome, tough, and tenacious—and the most exciting man Sara has ever met.

“Derek rose from poverty to become the wealthy lord of London’s most exclusive gambling house. And now duty demands that he allow Sara Fielding to enter his perilous realm of ever-shifting fortunes—with her impeccable manners and her infuriating innocence. But there is a hidden strength and sensuality to the lady that captivates him beyond his better judgment. And in this world, where danger lurks behind every shadow, even a proper “mouse” can be transformed into a breathtaking enchantress—and a cynical gambler can be shaken to his core by the power of passion and the promise of love.”

This book was a wonderful conclusion to the Gamblers Series by Lisa Kleypas! It was so much fun to read about Derek’s story and learn more about what makes him tick. He was so driven and cold and it was fascinating to watch him change so drastically. As always, Kleypas has written characters that the readers can’t help but fall in love with.

The plot starts off with quite a bang and doesn’t stop its momentum. (Although, it did sort of seem to slow toward the middle of the second half, but that was probably just me because I got a Kindle and couldn’t wait to read a book on it instead of reading an actual hardcopy!) I really enjoyed how Kleypas brought in her characters from her previous book and made them more than just secondary characters. She is one of the few authors that I have read who seems to be able to do this without taking away from the main characters. Of course, I will definitely be reading more of Kleypas in the near future!

Then Came You (Gamblers Series, Book One): Lisa Kleypas

“Lily Lawson, a beguiling beauty with a maddening habit of playing by her own set of rules, decides to save her sister from an unwanted marriage to Alex, Lord Raiford. While Lily’s successful maneuvering saves her sister from the ties of matrimony, it brings Alex’s sizzling gaze to bear on Lily herself. Defiant as she is lovely, Lily vows to hold Alex at bay. But when Alex begins to stoke the flames of passion, Lily risks succumbing to a love that will consume them both.”

I REALLLY liked this book!!! It was awesome because not many authors are able to write their characters with such strong emotions and still make them seem real. I loved how Lily and Alex hated one another with such a passion and then grow to have a different passion entirely! It was fascinating to watch the plot play out and it certainly kept me enthralled.
This wasn’t the usual romance novel, however. There was an absorbing underlying current in the story that was so refreshing and so interesting to follow. I can’t wait to read the second book in this series!!!

Only With Your Love (Vallerands Series, Book Two): Lisa Kleypas

“Celia Vallerand fears for her life as she stares into the deep, arresting eyes of the dashing man who purchased her from the brigands who abducted her. But it soon becomes clear that it’s her virtue, not her life, that’s in danger. The rugged, powerful renegade known only as “Grifin” arouses desires in Celia as dangerous as they are forbidden. And though she knows she must resist him, she fears she may be unable to do so.

“But the magnificent adventurer is a man trapped in a perilous deception. And the shocking secrets he guards could deny him the love of the fair captive lady who enslaved his reckless heart.”

This book was the perfect conclusion to the Vallerand series! Lisa Kleypas did an amazing job of developing her characters in the first book--even though they were children. I could see a lot of their personalities early on and it added SO much more depth to this book. Justin was just as hot-headed as ever and the readers got to see different sides to both twins. I found myself smiling on numerous occasions and nearly getting choked up at other times. The action was beautifully written and I wanted to read more! All in all, I really loved this book and I'm almost sad that the Vallerand saga came to an end...

When Strangers Marry (aka Only in Your Arms) (Vallerands Series, Book One): Lisa Kleypas

***This was the back of When Strangers Marry and I’ll try to find a better synopsis, but it's difficult when this is a revamped reprinting of the same book with a different title.***

“Dear Reader,

“Nearly a decade ago, I published my first novel with Avon Books, Only in Your Arms. Since then, romance has changed—and so have I—so I decided to give the book a makeover—and a new title. First, it is in keeping with the new spirit of the book; second, no one—including my own mother—found the original one memorable!

“In When Strangers Marry, I had a great time rediscovering the story of Maximilien Vallerand and his stolen bride, Lysette. The promise of this handsome, though mysterious, man’s love proves irresistible to her, but she doesn’t know the secrets he hides.

“I hope you will enjoy revisiting the Vallerand family, or perhaps meeting them for the first time. And, as always, thank you for your support and encouragement, as we escape together into the magical world of romance novels.

“Wishing you love and happiness,

“Lisa”

I REALLY enjoyed this book! In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did. There was something about the first few chapters that made me wonder how I was going to be made to care for Maximilien when he seemed to callous and coldhearted. I’ve obviously come across similar characters in other books that I’ve read, but he seemed somehow a little bit harsher. As the story progressed, however, I grew to like him. I loved his twin sons and thought that they added just the right amount of comedic relief as well as the perfect perspective for the readers to fully comprehend the depth of the Vallerand scandal. Lysette was a sweet character and I think she was written very well. Had she been meek or submissive in the least, I don’t think the book would have worked nearly as well.

I loved the plot twists and the book kept me completely captivated! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

Suddenly You: Lisa Kleypas

“She was unmarried, untouched and almost thirty, but novelist Amanda Briars wasn’t about to greet her next birthday without making love to a man. When he appeared at her door, she believed he was her gift to herself, hired for one night of passion. Unforgettable handsome, irresistibly virile, he tempted her in ways she never though possible…but something stopped him from completely fulfilling her dream.

“Jack Devlin’s determination to possess Amanda became greater when she discovered his true identity. But gently bred Amanda craved respectability more than she admitted, while Jack, the cast-off son of a nobleman and London’s most notorious businessman, refused to live by society’s rules. Yet when fate conspired for them to marry, their worlds collided with a passionate force neither had expected…but both soon craved.”

Again, I loved Lisa Kleypas’s work. Her characters were so wonderful and witty and entirely entertaining that I read the book in a day! What was hilarious to me was that I saw A LOT of myself in Amanda (though I’m not thirty and I don’t see myself hiring a male prostitute in the near future…) and it made me want to read more. Jack was a very fun character because he wasn’t the usual, brooding, moody male hero. He had such a sweet and fun side that it was hard not to fall for him.

Overall, the plot was refreshing and new and delightful to read. I liked how there was a good amount of background established on the characters, but it wasn’t redundant. Of course, I will be reading more of Kleypas in the future!