Review: Where Dreams Begin

Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Holly Taylor did not think she could get over the death of her husband, George. Finally out of mourning she doesn't fell like she fits in with the social world around her like she used to. Wanting something more, she accepts the scandalous offer of Zachary Bronson, a man of means but clearly not a gentleman, to teach him and his family the ways of the aristocracy. She did not realize by accepting his offer she would be getting more than she had bargained for.

I liked the characters and the situation that was presented. I thought Kleypas did an excellent job getting the plot across, although it was a bit slow at times, especially in the beginning. There was no real build up that I found. Overall, I thought Holly was the perfect aristocratic woman who was so clearly trying to hide a wilder side of her nature, making Bronson perfect for her. She did not need another 'gentleman' of the ton but someone who really brought out her real personality and did not try to hide it.

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Review: Worth Any Price

Worth Any Price by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reformed thief, Nick Gentry, is tasked with the assignment to find the beautiful Charlotte Howard. However, when he finds her, he just cannot bring himself to give her back to the horrid man she is engaged to and instead proposed an arrangement he never thought he would have.

I'm glad Nick Gentry was made a hero. I though Lottie was the right choice to, she showed her spirit in the beginning. I don't think she was as strong of a character put up against gentry, but then again, that's what he needed and Kleypas made the reader know that without completely diminishing Lottie's strength.

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Review: Lady Sophia's Lover

Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lady Sophie Sydney was bent on revenge against the man that jailed her brother, ultimately ending in his death. The man, Sir Ross Cannon, magistrate of the Bow Street Runners. She finds employment as his assistant to exact her revenge only, he is not the man she was expecting him to be and once she meets him something else entirely fills her mind. Ross Cannon keeps himself distant from those around him, with an exceedingly fair moral character he is the perfect person to manage the runners. When he meets Sophie his cold heart starts to thaw.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story since I did not find Ross to be that appealing of a character in the first book in the series. The story was fast paced and well written. I liked watching the attraction grow between the pair even though they tried so hard to fight it. Ross was extremely understanding, way more so that I would be (or can actually imagine someone being for that matter). He was exceptionally caring while remaining strong and held a high belief in moral right and wrong even if it was not the popular opinion.

The sexual tension was unbelievable - super hot!

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Review: Someone to Watch Over Me

Someone to Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When notorious courtesan Vivian Rose Duvall washes up on the Thames barely alive Grant Morgan is intent on finding out who was trying to murder her. With a case of amnesia, Vivian can not remember anything. As Grant gets to know Vivian though, she is not at all the woman he expected. She doesn't behave or react like the spoiled woman he met previously. With those changes in her Grant tries to resist the temptation in himself.

I liked the interaction between Grant and Vivian Duvall, it was interesting to see his conflicting emotions for how he was reacting to someone he thought he should despise. I greatly enjoyed the book and the characters, it was a well developed story that kept me on the edge of my seat about what was going to happen next. I like how the bow street runners can be a little rough and tumble while still mixing in with society.

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Review: Because You're Mine

Because You're Mine by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Lady Madeline Matthews desperately wants to get out of the marriage her parents have arranged for her. While away at school she sees an ad featuring the notorious actor/rake Logan Scott. Hatching a plan for him to steal her innocence so that her suitor will no longer want her, Madeline travels to London to work at the Capital Theater. When she meets Logan Scott though, she find out he might be more than she was bargaining for.

I liked Logan Scott a great deal better in the first book. I understand that he thought no one could love him and just strove to push everyone away but I just did not connect with his character. I couldn't look past his treatment of Madeline in the second half of the book. Madeline I did like, she was strong willed and new what she wanted. She just jumped into everything head first and wore her heart out on her sleeve. I don't think I could ever allow myself to be that vulnerable but that quality was endearing.

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Review: Somewhere I'll Find You

Somewhere I'll Find You by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Julia spent her life wanting to be an actress and finally she has succeeded in becoming a rather accomplished one. The only problem is she is hiding a secret, she has been married since childhood but never having met the man she is trying to ignore that fact. Damon, the Marquis of Savage, has been searching for his wife

Damon was a bit much for me. I did not especially like how he interacted with Julia and his mistress. Kleypas did a great job of portraying his mistress in an unfavorable light however, that just made me pause to question he character on choosing her in the first place.

I like how Julia went for what she wanted. She knew she wanted to be an actress and there was no one that was going to stop her. She was able to make her way on her own even in her unconventional circumstances.

I really liked Logan Scott. Even though he tried to act as a tough character he really did care about the people around him, especially Julia.

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Review: Stranger in My Arms

Stranger in My Arms by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Lara's world is turned upside down when she is told her husband is not dead. Presumed lost at sea Lara has adapted to life without a husband who was distant and uncaring. However, when Hunter returns he is not the same man that she knew, his kisses ignite a passion Lara did not know she possessed but she can't help thinking how this could be the same man that left her.

I liked how the reader could see just how much Hunter cared for Lara. His demeanor practically screamed I love you when they first met. Hunter was a strong but not forceful character, which I adored! I did like Lara, I did not always agree with her and she was too righteous in her ways for my taste but I could see where she was coming from.

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Review: Dreaming of You

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Derek Craven has never known what a family was like, or love for that matter until defiant Sara Feilding comes into his club to research her next book. She is nothing at all like the women he has known. Innocent but with a purpose Sara pursues her goals and knows what she wants and she soon realizes that she wants Derek Craven.

I liked this story a little more than the previous one. I was not extremely impressed by the show of force and lack of carrying on Derek's part, even though I know it was his way of protecting himself. Even though his certainly has a pull about him he never quite won me over. I did like Sara though, she knew what she wanted to do in life and she was not going to let a man change her.

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Review: Then Came You

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lily Lawson, the shocking society belle has a dark secret of her own. She is on a quest to save her sister from marrying Lord Alex Raiford, a man with a domineering personality.

I actually did not find this book to be that appealing to my tastes. While I greatly enjoyed the eccentric antics of Lily I did not really like her that much. Alex put me off his character thinking that he could just force his way into bed with one of the characters, I did not like the attitude of just thinking he could get whatever he wanted just because and I did not find anything redeeming. While I found the story to be quite interesting characters did not do anything to endear me to them.

I think Derek's story will be more interesting but I was not too fond of his character either.

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Review: Suddenly You

Suddenly You by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Being on the verge of 30 spinster novelist, Amanda Briars, wants to take passion into her own hands and hires a man for her birthday. Unsuspecting Jack Devlin is more than pleased with the unexpected situation presented when he goes to meet Miss Briars to arrange a book deal. When Amanda finds out that the man she hired was a notorious publisher after her book she is more than a little humiliated but that doesn't stop the passion he stirs within her or her want for something more.

I actually went back and forth with the rating of this book. Being on the close side to 30 myself at this current time, I thoroughly enjoyed that the heroine was older than the vast majority of heroines usually written about for this period of time. I also enjoyed how Kleypas delved into darker aspects of living and loving. She spins complex and flawed characters that while, at least for myself cannot relate to the situation, I can at least understand where the character is coming from and view things from a different perspective. Life is never always happy and I like the darker side that is brought to the characters.

Amanda's situation is unusual for the time but I liked how she was able to adapt to what was thrown at her.

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Review: Love, Come to Me

Love, Come to Me by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Heath knew what he wanted and that was Lucinda Caldwell. No matter that she was already engaged to another man, there was a passion between them that neither could resist.

In the beginning I hated Lucy's attitude, she was spoiled and selfish. Although, in reverse, I liked Heath better at the beginning of the book than I did towards the end. The book itself was very slow paced and to me the story was not all that lively. I could not relate to the characters, I did not want to relate to them, I did not like them.

This was definitely not a Kleypas book I would consider reading again. All of the others I have read so far are far superior to this one. I was disappointed to because the time frame was so interesting. I thought I would be able to get more out of it.

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Review: Love in the Afternoon

Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christopher Phelan has been writing letter from the front to the girl of his dreams, however, the girl of his dreams is not who he thinks it is. Unbeknownst to the hero Beatrix Hathaway has been writing him letters under the guise of her friend's name and what started out with the best intentions turned into a written love story.

There is no way I could give Beatrix Hathaway less than a five, she is simply a girl after my own heart! I absolutely adored her personality and affinity towards animals of all kinds (I would like to have a little hedgehog running about the halls but I don't think the apartment would allow for it). Her way with dealing with humans just like her animal friends was perfect for the personality of a war fought hero. Christopher needed the kind of patience and understanding that came naturally to Bea.

I loved how eccentric the Hathaway clan was and how everyone was eventually able to get along. They had an unconventional family for the time but it was perfect for them!

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Review: Married By Morning

Married By Morning by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Catherine Marks is hiding a secret, one Leo Hathaway is determined to find out. For the last three years there has been nothing but sparing words between the two but when one quarrel goes too far and ends in a kiss their relationship takes a different turn.

I think my favorite part in this whole book was Dodger, not that I did not like the human characters but the little ferret was so cute an entertaining (it makes me wonder if one would get on well with my cat). I have to say that from the first book until now Leo has truly redeemed his past behavior for me. I did not think that I would end up liking him as much as I did. His sparing with Marks and the hilarious questions he asks Marks to show how raddled he made her were extremely entertaining.

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Review: Tempt Me at Twilight

Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a chance meeting with Harry Rutledge, Poppy Hathaway's life is forever about to change. Little does she know she doesn't have much say in the matter as Harry sets his sights upon her. She has to find a way to weasel past his façade of not letting anyone get too close and give him the family he has actually always wanted.

Poppy was the least impressive of the Hathaway girls to me, that quickly changed in the first chapter. I loved her surprised interactions with Harry Rutledge. After that the story declined a little for me, it was still entertaining but it did not hold the appeal of when they first met. Harry was a greatly flawed character but I think his turnaround with Poppy is well deserved.

I think Leo's character is becoming more redeeming since I wanted to punch him in the face for most of the first book. I'm interested to see his story with Cat.

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Review: Seduce Me at Sunrise

Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After a bout with scarlet fever, Winifred Hathaway has never been the same, she suffers from a weaken constitution. Win will do everything she can to get better to finally be able to be with the man she loves, Kev Merripen, a Roma who came to the Hathaway family as a child after he was left for dead by his clan. When Win comes back and is finally able to say she is better she finds that winning the love of Kev may not be as easy as she thinks.

I liked Win, I think her personality shown through in the first book of the series and continued on to showing her as a stronger character than people expected her to be. I liked how she knew what she wanted and risked everything to have it. Kev, on the other hand, I liked him better in the previous book. His refusal to accept Win's love rubbed me the wrong way, especially since she was practically throwing herself at him.

Also Read In:
2010

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Review: Mine Till Midnight

Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amelia Hathaway wants to make sure everyone in her family is okay. As the eldest of the four girls and a drunken brother, Leo, she takes the responsibility of the family upon herself. As Leo inherits a title and spins himself out of control Amelia removes the family to the country for a little rest. As a chance encounter with Cam, a Roma, follows them into the country Amelia finds it harder to resist the temptation not only of Cam but of the strength and support he possesses.

Amelia was a great character, yes, a little managing and stubborn, but I liked how she interacted with the family and she definitely showed more restraint to her brother than I would have been able to manage.

I like how Kleypas writes real characters. They have flaws to their personalities but not so much that the reader despises the character (Except for the fact that I would love to have punched Leo in the face [multiple times]).

I was so glad we got to see a story about Cam after reading the Wallflower series! Also, how a lot of the characters in the Wallflower story helped drive the story.

Also Read In:
2010

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Review: The Crown

The Crown by Kiera Cass
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Eadlyn did not think that she would fall in love with any of the suitors for her Selection. As the weight of ruling presses down on her, she realizes having someone at her side may not be such a bad idea.

Her husband choosing was pretty anticlimactic. The story as a whole was rather boring. I wanted more action, I kept waiting for something to pick up the pace but it just lagged on.

Eadlyn's character as a whole improved. She showed more determination and stepped up from where she was in the previous book. She still had to spoiled, bratty tendencies but she was able to have more of a prospective regarding other situations aside from her own.

Overall, I was not particularly impressed with the two last books in the series. I would have rather stopped at the first three and have it be done with.

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Review: The Heir

The Heir by Kiera Cass
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Twenty years after the previous books, America Singer and Prince Maxon have had an heir, Eadlyn, who will one day rule as queen. As there is still unrest between the people of the now abolished caste system they have to device a way to bring about hope and harmony for the people once more.

I have to say I was expected a lot more out of this book, maybe I was basing it too much on the others in the series and had a biased opinion.

Princess Eadlyn seems quite spoiled for being raised of the notion that people were to be treated equally and how important is was to eliminate the caste system. She certainly holds herself above the rest and acts childish, especially when she is already 18 and is supposed to be an adult.

The royal family still refer to the caste numbers frequently even though the royals are the ones that abolished it to make everyone equal. I would think they would be more conscientious. With the whole selection process again it's like they are still living in the past, not moving forward.

I didn't like the ending at all. It made some of the past characters appear weaker than they were. (view spoiler)[ not that having a heart attack is a sign of weakness but how Cass choose to write it, to me, made America appear weak to try and bring Eadlyn into the role she was supposed to uphold (hide spoiler)]


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Review: A Wallflower Christmas

A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rafe's father wants him to marry Natalie, a perfect English girl that would turn into the perfect English wife, to enhance the status of his American self. The only problem is that Rafe is more interested in the not-so-perfect-but-endearing companion to Natalie, Hannah.

Rafe Bowman was a little more hmmm, crude is not the right word but I can't think of it right now, than I would have liked him to be. He did play off Hannah's Englishness well and the end up making a good pair. and I did enjoy the love note that he wrote, even though he did not want anyone to see it

Hannah's character did not really have any spunk to her. She was nice and proper and everything an English girl was supposed to be. I gave her points for not being totally shocked by Rafe's American ways.


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Review: Scandal in Spring

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The last of the Wallflowers, Daisy Bowman, remains unwed and her father gives her an ultimatum to be wed by the end of May or wed Matthew Swift, the guy her father choose. Daisy remembers Mr. Swift as being exactly like her father and the complete opposite of the man she dreams of marrying. Upon meeting him again, he is not exactly how she remembers.

Daisy was quite the little hellion (just as like her sister). I liked seeing the tension and bantering between Daisy and Matthew, they played off of each other very well making the read that much more entertaining.

Also Read In:
2010

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Review: Devil in Winter

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As the shyest wallflower in the group, Evangeline Jenner, makes an outrageous proposal of marriage to the most rebellious of rakes, Viscount St. Vincent, to escape her relatives her world is forever going to change. As Evie’s conditions weight on Sebastian will he choose to risk his heart in this endeavor or run when things get too serious?

I love how reader’s have gotten to know Evie through everything as being the shyest among them yet she summons all of her courage to approach the most notorious rake there was. She was able to make herself stronger to escape her fate and fight for what she wants. Readers have also seen Lord St. Vincent in other works as the more evil out of everyone but in this work we are able to see another more endearing side to him. He found something to make him turn his world around, he wanted to protect Evie, and he wanted to be good for Evie. The chemistry between Evie and Sebastian was extraordinarily delightful to behold.

Also Read In:
2010

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