Rating: Summary: because it's good! Review: I would rate Because You're Mine at the top with Dreaming of You among all of Kleypas' novels. Though somewhat offputting and unlovable in the first half of the story, Logan grows on you, and adds a sort of mystique to the plot, not so much because of the background story but because of his actual demeanor, which to me seemed unusual and intriguing for a romantic hero. Madeline, the heroine, is likeable, even lovable, which helps offset the immature ploy she initiates. In fact, the one major flaw in the story was Logan's inability to understand and forgive her more easily (and realistically) for her silly original plan! I loved the climactic love scene after she nurses him back to health: a combination of sensuality, sweetness, tenderness, and sophistication, not the average romance sex scene...I like the way Kleypas plays with class conventions, putting together heroes (especially) who are from the common classes together with highborn heroines, creating interesting tensions in her romances. Keep it up!
Rating: Summary: Bland, bland, bland... Review: I'm a big Lisa Kleypas fan, and I was really disappointed with this book. Too much psychobabble (which is especially offensive in an era before Freud was born), too many standard cliches and plot devices, and a plethora of cardboard characters guarantee a must-yawn read. The prequel to this, Somewhere I'll Find You, is even worse. Skip this one, folks; for Kleypas's best works, try Only With Your Love, Then Came You, Dreaming Of You or Midnight Angel. However, despite the book's many flaws, it's still a Kleypas and therefore readable--barely. It's not overtly offensive, just really bland and kind of silly.
Rating: Summary: loved it.... Review: I'm surprised to see some of the bad reviews here. I throughly enjoyed this book and finished it in a day. While some may see the plots and characters "formulaic", heck, they work-and I might add,similar plotlines have worked for some of bestselling romance writers as well for years. "If it ain't broke why fix it?"
Logan is a great "tortured" hero. 30, been around the block and then some with many lovers, but had only one "true"love that betrayed him. Madeline is the perfect yin to his yang. Sweet, full of love and patience, but still a strong woman. Unlike others, I found it likable that here is a regency heroine who refused to sit back and be betrothed to a truly horrid person just because it's the "right" thing for her parents interests. She was willing to accept whatever fate her actions caused, and that would have been huge in those days.
It was refreshing to see characters, hero & heroine both, who were basically abused growing up (he was physically, she was neglected/emotionally put down) that went on with their lives and became productive members of society rather than let their misfortune make then abusive themselves. The sub-plot dealing with these issues were very engrossing to read.
The playhouse storyline was refreshing as most regencies deal strictly with the "ton", so this was a unique change of pace. This book struck me as similar in chemistry and plot movement to some other well known authors like Johanna Lindsey and Amanda Quick. I think Miss Kleypas has a long and illustrious career ahead of her and will in time become as popular as some of these authors if not more.
The love scenes are highly sensual-I found nothing "icky" about the fact that she was 18 and he 30-hell, the man her parents wanted her for was probably at least 50, so what's the big deal? Marriages with this age difference were common in this time period, so I didn't find it implausible in the least.
BTW-I think some reviewers of romances here should get a grip-it's just a romance people! If you have the need to nitpick every little nuance, "historical accuracy" and scene-MAYBE you should try reading another genre, Duh??!!? Potential buyers should take a few bad reviews with a grain of salt. If you enjoy romances for the pure entertainment that they are, then I feel you'll enjoy this book.
Highly entertaining, highly recommended 5 stars!
Rating: Summary: Her novels are great!!! I only wish she'd write more!!!!!!! Review: I've read all of Lisa's books that I've been able to find. Only one more to go!!! I'm hooked, and I've passed the word! I only regret that there aren't more to read yet. Wonderful romance.
Rating: Summary: Youthful Stimulation. Review: In the dreamy world of adolescence, Lady Madeline Matthews dreams of dashing from the schoolroom into the bed of the mysterious actor Logan Scott. The impenetrable Logan Scott moves in the beautiful world of money, women, and status. Madeline Matthews is an innocent girl fleeing a bleak future. She becomes a junior seamstress in his theater and Logan becomes aroused. She helps actors with their lines and Logan becomes aroused. She helps with the theater's correspondence and Logan becomes aroused. Logan Scott cannot ignore the divine Madeline Matthews; instead he tries to ignore his constant state of arousal.
Lady Madeline's innocence charmed this reader; the young woman and her demeanor are delightful. However, I felt a more mysterious woman should have seized the secretive Logan Scott. This is the same haunting man, who first appeared in Kleypas', "Somewhere I'll Find You". Within those pages, the author intrigued her readers -- depicting a puzzling, secretive individual. C'est la vie, Lisa Kleypas had a different viewpoint and this is her paperback.
Granted there is not much of a story found within these pages, but Kleypas can write a silky, sensual novel and I do appreciate her method of writing. She never grinds her work into a state of uneasiness and apprehension. Instead, as an author, she eases the reader through the storyline, a unique gift which provokes this Canadian lass to buy her novels.
Grace Atkinson.
Rating: Summary: Youthful Stimulation. Review: In the dreamy world of adolescence, Lady Madeline Matthews dreams of dashing from the schoolroom into the bed of the mysterious actor Logan Scott. The impenetrable Logan Scott moves in the beautiful world of money, women, and status. Madeline Matthews is an innocent girl fleeing a bleak future. She becomes a junior seamstress in his theater and Logan becomes aroused. She helps actors with their lines and Logan becomes aroused. She helps with the theater's correspondence and Logan becomes aroused. Logan Scott cannot ignore the divine Madeline Matthews; instead he tries to ignore his constant state of arousal.
Lady Madeline's innocence charmed this reader; the young woman and her demeanor are delightful. However, I felt a more mysterious woman should have seized the secretive Logan Scott. This is the same haunting man, who first appeared in Kleypas', "Somewhere I'll Find You". Within those pages, the author intrigued her readers -- depicting a puzzling, secretive individual. C'est la vie, Lisa Kleypas had a different viewpoint and this is her paperback.
Granted there is not much of a story found within these pages, but Kleypas can write a silky, sensual novel and I do appreciate her method of writing. She never grinds her work into a state of uneasiness and apprehension. Instead, as an author, she eases the reader through the storyline, a unique gift which provokes this Canadian lass to buy her novels.
Grace Atkinson.
Rating: Summary: Varying Views... Review: It was lovely to see Lucas Scott in his own romance! Brooding, artistic, emotionally withdrawn and stubborn as heck, Lucas is a wonderful hero and Madeline provides a perfect heroine foil for him. While rather sweet and naive, occasionally a bit too much so, their relationship develops into something pure, although, of course, it takes them several hundred pages to figure that out. Lucas's adversion to commitment (and his relationship with his family and neighbors) seems a bit too much at times, but can be dismissed as a by-product of his artistic temperament. A must for Kleypas fans!
Rating: Summary: Oh, those brooding actors Review: It was lovely to see Lucas Scott in his own romance! Brooding, artistic, emotionally withdrawn and stubborn as heck, Lucas is a wonderful hero and Madeline provides a perfect heroine foil for him. While rather sweet and naive, occasionally a bit too much so, their relationship develops into something pure, although, of course, it takes them several hundred pages to figure that out. Lucas's adversion to commitment (and his relationship with his family and neighbors) seems a bit too much at times, but can be dismissed as a by-product of his artistic temperament. A must for Kleypas fans!
Rating: Summary: Varying Views... Review: It's very interesting to see the differing views of this book from the other reviews. I am a fan of Lisa Kleypas; the other books I've read by her have been outstanding. I didn't particularly care for this one, though, and had to make myself finish it. I found the romance between an extremely innocent and naive 18-year-old and the very sophisticated and cynical Logan to be, well, icky. I usually don't mind that age difference so much, but I've realized that authors usually try to present a younger heroine as being older than her years in some way, and Kleypas didn't bother to do that. The plot was improbable...both her motivation for trying to seduce him and his immediate obsession with this really rather ordinary "heroine." His interest seemed to be based on her looks, freshness and innocence...all qualities that eventually disappear -- not a basis for a lasting relationship. Not a terrible book but don't buy this as your first Kleypas book. I'd recommend "Someone to Watch Over You" or "Dreaming of You" instead.
Rating: Summary: Another great big sign..... Review: Oh man, another great big sigh caused by a Lisa Kleypas historical.... once again she's written a truly wonderful love story. The heroine was a little unbelievably naive, but she was so sweet & determined that it didn't really bother me. I will say though that it wouldn't have bothered me a bit if she had 'put her foot down' with Logan a little sooner. (If you've read it, you know what I'm talking about.) Although Logan was a tortured hero, he was a wonderful one! Usually 'tortured' heros are so cold & unfeeling that I can't get to know them; Not so with LK's heros! While LK was telling me about the facade he was showing the rest of the world, she was also letting me get to know him (& fall head-over-heels for him! lol) by letting me in on what he was really thinking & feeling - I did get quite ticked off at him a couple of times, but LK did a wonderful job of giving Maddy (& me!) reason to make up with him. lol As with all of LK's historicals, she wrote a good plot, a good secondary story line, & a whole host of great secondary characters that really add to the story. The emotions in this book just jumped off the page for me. LK's heros just neeeeed someone to take care of & love them, & the heroines just do a wonderful job of that. Once again, LK left me with a great big sigh. These type books are the very reason I read historical romance. I can't wait to find another one by her.
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