Rating: 
Summary: 1/2 stars for this romance
Review: This is my first Kleypas book and I wasn't disappointed. I thought the main plot line was good enough to keep me interested. The characters were well developed. However, I guess I differ from other reviewers on the secondary romance story line. There was great potential but in the end I thought it moved too quickly. I would have liked a longer courtship before they hopped into bed as it felt rushed and thrown in there to some degree! This happens way too often in romance novels.
Rating:
Summary: I thought this could have been so much better...
Review: ...but even as it is, it's pretty good, I'd say 3 1/2 stars actually. The first part of the book, when Aline & McKenna are first falling in love, is wonderful. But after McKenna gets turned away and goes to the United States for twelve years, the book kind of fell apart (for me). I thought the pushy Americans belonged to the next generation, the "Gilded Age" of the 1880's, as opposed to the 1840's when the book was set. I didn't like the fact that Aline thought McKenna couldn't accept the burns on her legs. After hearing from her about how he's her other half; her soulmate, etc., I thought it might have been more believeable if maybe her arms or torso had been burned too; then you could see how extremely relucant she would be to expose herself to him...I also thought Aline & McKenna and the resolution of their dilemma became kind of -- boring -- and I liked the characters and subplot of Gideon & Livia because it kept the book moving along!! This was one of those books as, while I was reading it, I thought "this could have been different, this could have been done better". But I did like the first few chapters strongly, so I have to give it the 3 1/2 stars for that & for the chapters about Livia & Gideon, and also for the fact that the character of McKenna was made so tender & loving as to cry when Aline turned down his marriage proposal. That's something you don't read too often in these romance novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Lisa Kleypas never fails to keep our attention!!!! 10 stars!
Review: This book is wonderful! Two loving stories entertwined together to make a sizzling read. Lisa Kleypas is probably my favorite author. Her books always engage me from the very first word. I read Again the Magic in one setting, not being able to put it down for a moment for not being able to wait and see what would happen next. I'm never disappointed by Mrs. Kleypas' books, they are always full of heat and story and never fail to please. They heat a cold winter evening all on their own. Don't miss this book or any of her others.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed!
Review: Very disappointing! If you saw the movie "Affair to Remember" with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, then you can skip this book.
Such a clinical look at sexual encounters removes all the Magic!
The younger sister comes off not as a late Victorian woman, but rather like a sex starved woman. Not up to Kleypas' last 2 books! Skip the money and read it at your library.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Double Romance
Review: I generally hate books that veer away from the main couple. But it definitely works in this book. The story of the main couple is good. However, there is a second couple in this book who are pure magic. Put both stories together, and you have an excellent read.The main couple, McKenna and Aline, are childhood friends who grow up and fall in love. He is a servant to Aline's English family, she is a noble woman. Her father finds out about their relationship and forces Aline to send him away, threatening to torture and kill McKenna if he ever returns. Aline tells McKenna she doesn't want him, so that he will leave and be safe. 12 years later, after the father has died, McKenna returns after having made his fortune in America. He is angry and set upon revenge for the way Aline had sent him away. They discover that they are still in love, however Aline is vain and sends him away again because she does not want him to see her fire- scarred legs. This annoyed me. After he sends her 15 dozen roses, writes a poem for her, pays musicians to serenade her, etc., she is so vain that she would rather crush McKenna than allow him to see some scars. Still, when she finally chases him and tells him the truth, the make- up scenes are terrific. You learn to love McKenna more and more. The secondary romance was actually much sweeter. McKenna's business partner, millionaire Gideon Shaw, is out walking in the garden one evening. He comes upon a woman dancing alone. He wants to know her, but she is aware that he is known for drinking too much. She leaves without giving him her name. The next day, he spots her out walking. He chases her in hopes of finding out who she is. The two walk together and get get to know one another. They share several kisses and she reveals that she is lady of the manor. She is Aline's sister, Livia. Gideon is besotted with her. He uses his best charm and treats with respect. Over the next weeks, they get to know one another better. Livia is not a virgin, having been engaged in the past. When Gideon is forced to go to London on business, she throws caution to the wind and follows him to London. They spend a week of sneaking to one another's room every night. He tells her he loves her, and asks her to marry him. She regretfully turns him down, not wanting to spend her life watching him drink himself to death. Feeling she is worth any sacrifice, Gideon tells Livia he cannot see her for 6 months. He asks her to wait for him, while he tries to break his drinking habit. They write romantic letters back and forth, while he challenges himself to become a better man for her. This couple is one that you feel a personal hope for. Terrific love scenes, lots of passion, an overall story that keeps you reading. Not a lot of excitement, but plenty of humor and romance. The only character I couldn't like entirely, was Aline. Her pride and vanity got annoying. She caused McKenna and herself a decade of pain over something rather dumb.
Rating: 
Summary: Trust Lisa Kleypas to always deliver a good story....
Review: and while this book is no exception strangely enough the love story between Aline and Mckenna isn't what got this book a place on my keeper shelf.
McKenna and Aline have been playmates since they were small children but of late their feelings and their games have changed to something more profound and infinitely more dangerous. Their love could never be because Mckenna is a lowly stable boy and Aline is a lady, the daughter of a peer. Mckenna knows nothing could come of their feelings for each other and tries to hold Aline off but in the end he cannot help himself. So, eventually the inevitable happens and they get caught in a passionate embrace.Aline's father finds out and Aline has no choice but to send Mckenna away in order to keep her father from destroying him. Aline gives a fairly convincing performance and succeeds in breaking his heart and thus sending him away from her forever.
Twelve years later Aline is older and wiser and when she discovers that Mckenna is among the filthy rich Americans who have come to do business with her brother she is sure she can handle the emotional turmoil that his presence will cause. Aline has no idea that Mckenna came back not for business but for revenge. He believes she used him and then tossed him aside like so much rubbish and so he is determined to make her life a living hell. However, he didn't count on the powerful feelings that would resurface upon seeing her again. Discovering that she has not married in all these years is troubling since he was sure her father was going to sell her to the highest bidder.Moreover,the bits and pieces about a long illness she suffered after he left makes things all the more baffling. On the other hand, Aline's defenses are slowly crumbling before the onslaught of emotion and desire that Mckenna's presence arouses in her. She knows she is in serious danger of uncovering her darkest most terrifying secret. She thinks she can stand his hatred but never his pity and surely those are the only emotions he would feel if he was to dicover her secret.
There's a secondary story involving Aline's sister Livia and McKenna's American millionaire friend Gideon Shaw. Livia lost her fiancee to a terrible accident and shortly after miscarried their child. The latter caused a scandal from which she has never recovered and so she refrains from joining her sister and brother in welcoming their guests.Gideon takes a break from the evening festivities to go outside presumably for a walk but what he really needs ia good drink from his ever present flask. He sees a young woman of average looks dancing in the garden to the music coming from inside. He is instantly intrigued by this unconventional, mysterious creature. They share a dance under the moonlight and Livia is struck with wonder by this man with the look of fallen archangel and the pain filled eyes. Gideon Shaw is terribly handsome, charming, confident and a bit arrogant. In Livia's opinion he is the quintessential American but she can see that behind the naughty boy facade hides a man in turmoil who is apparently bent on slowly drinking himself to death. Livia knows there can be nothing but heartbreak in falling in love with a man like him and so she keeps her emotions in check. But Gideon is unable to keep himself from falling madly in love with Livia even though he is aware of his unsuitability and his shortcomings.Is his love for Livia strong enough to pull him away from his path to self-destruction? Read and find out you will not regret it. I have a strong aversion to secondary romances mostly because I feel they take away from the main characters and their story. However, this book is the exception to that rule because the secondary romance was what made it a keeper for me. Take out Livia and Gideon's story and you'd have an enjoyable but average book but put it in and you have a winner. Aline and Mckenna's story made for a good read but I didn't find Mckenna compelling
enough as a hero and Aline was much too stubborn for her own good. It seemed to me that the conflict in their story could have been solved with a good long talk but it was instead dragged out for so long that,in my opinion, eventually became
irritating. On the other hand, in Gideon Ms. Kleypas created a wonderful hero. He of the fallen angel good looks,the tortured just-needs-the-love-of-a-good-woman kind of hero that just makes me melt into a big fat puddle. My only regret is that Ms. Kleypas didn't make this book Gideon and Livia's story with Aline and Mckenna as the secondary characters. In short, I give Aline and Mckenna's story three stars and Gideon and Livia's five stars. Highly recommended :0)
Rating:
Summary: Intense and Heartbreaking with a huge dose of Sexual Magic
Review: Ms. Kleypas never fails me. I admit to being a huge fan of hers so writing a review of this book might show some of a bias on my part. However, I believe you will love this book (and author) as much as I do after reading this story. I admit to really wanting to kick the heroine near the end. Poor McKenna was an open book and she slammed it shut! But I think it was important in the authors mind to have Aline come to McKenna on her on terms. If you are a reader that hesitates before buying, don't hesitate here. It keeps you on your toes (even while they curl inward during those sexually charged love scenes) This one didn't fail me! Thank you Ms. Kleypas. Keep them coming!
Rating:
Summary: Intensely, involving read
Review: I could hardly wait for the books release on January 27th. So when it finally came out, I grabbed it immediately. I feared that I would be sorely disappointed, what with all the excitement and expectation! But alas, it did live up to my expectations. It may not be the #1 in my list of favorites with Ms. Kelypas, but it's up there all the same.
Rating:
Summary: Emotionally Intense!!
Review: Again The Magic is an emotionally intense romance between star-crossed lovers Aline Marsden and John McKenna. Aline is the daughter of an Earl and McKenna is the stable boy. While the plot is not new, the story still draws you in and makes you want more. It apprears that LK is moving in a new direction with her works, but her style is still sensual, mature, and romantic. As always, LK makes commentary on society during the turn on the century and cusp of the Industrial Revolution. The changing times almost mirror McKenna and Aline's relationship. The story works because there are believable circumstances under which McKenna could come back to claim Aline. Ms. Kleypas' work is beautifully well-written, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the subplot of an unexpected romance between Livia Marsden and Gideon Shaw. We don't always get to peek into the lives of other LK characters in the same book, so this was a nice aside from the emotional intensity of Aline and McKenna. While I wouldn't say this is my favorite LK novel, I like the story just the same. If you are an LK fan, you will automatically see the growth and depth of her writing. This is definitely a good (snow, rainy, or beach day) read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who hasn't yet experienced an LK novel.
Rating:
Summary: Run dont Walk
Review: Better yet, Drive to your nearest book place, and buy this book. I love Ms Kleypas, books, and this one is just one more book that I will not lend out. I only lend out books, I know I will not get back..And this is one I will not lose. I loved this book, so romantic, I actually cried in this book.
I picked it up this morning and never put it down. Husband asked for dinner, I stuck out my tongue and pffffft him. He was on his own today. =) I had a wonderful day Lisa Kleypas, thank you, for yet again, another wonderful romance, with so much story you cant put the book down. My kind of book.
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