Rating: 
Summary: Love Lisa Kleypas - Hated this makeover!
Review: I was so dissapointed in this remake! The only thing that was changed was making Lysette unattractive. I'm sorry, that is just too un-original for me. This is honestly the worst Lisa Kleypas book I have ever read. Generally, I adore her books - I found myself wanting to burn this one. Only in your arms was a great book - one of my favorites. I think I'd like to remember the story the way it was.
Rating: 
Summary: A much needed reprint
Review: If you have not read it before go ahead and buy it - you are in for a treat.
Rating:
Summary: So much better than the original
Review: If you have read Only in Your Arms you will love When Strangers Marry. In this refreshing new tale of the two original characters, Lisa Kleypas proves to her readers that she is producing some of her best work ever. It is not just a reprint of the original title Only in Your Arms, but something better. For a more detailed explanation of why Kleypas reprinted a new version of the book read her letter in the editorial reviews. Trust me on this!! I have read all her books and along with many other people, we love When Strangers Marry!! A must read even if you read the first one!!! Thanks Lisa!!
Rating:
Summary: a pleasant surprise
Review: In a field full of stereotypical heroines and heroes this book is a refreshing change. Yes it starts out with the typical abused and exploited female escaping into the protecting arms of our hero but this book has a terrific element that so many books miss: respect! The hero obviously respects the heroine and the two characters are entirely believable as real people. The progression of the romance is natural and holds interest. I wonder if there is another Kleypas book out there about the son Justin?
Rating: 
Summary: Not one of her best
Review: In my opinion, this is the weakest of Kleypas's novels; it was the second novel by her that I read and made me rethink my initial attraction to the author. I found the characters to be non-engaging and the story predictable and dragging. I would recommend this novel only to a die-hard Kleypas fan.
Rating:
Summary: Not one of her best
Review: In my opinion, this is the weakest of Kleypas's novels; it was the second novel by her that I read and made me rethink my initial attraction to the author. I found the characters to be non-engaging and the story predictable and dragging. I would recommend this novel only to a die-hard Kleypas fan.
Rating:
Summary: When Strangers Marry
Review: Kleypas is a great writer of romance. A friend of mine said that I should read the book because it was romantic. It is a great story and I loved it. I have not read anything of this writer before, but I am going to buy Dreaming of You because that is supposed to be wonderful also. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: When Strangers Marry is better than Only in Your Arms
Review: Kleypas is one of those Authors that is on my "Auto buy" list. My immediate reaction upon getting the book and reading the back of the book was that I was cheated out of a brand new story. I had read OIYA and didn't recall much and remembered it was not my favorite Kleypas book. (A 4 star Kleypas book is better than the average 5 star romance by your churn-them-out-every-month romance author) My disappointment stems from my experience with the revised version of Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught. I wasn't impressed with her revisions. Therefore, my fear was great here we go again.Boy was I wrong! I should have known Kleyas wouldn't cheat me out of my "new" story. Unlike McNaught's revision, When Strangers Marry is not the same story with a few more details added here and there. She actually rewrote the ENTIRE STORY! If OIYA was worthy of 4 stars, then WSM deserves 7!
I enjoyed reading this romance as if it was a new story.
To me, OIYA was a rough draft and WSM is the final polished version. And the best part? The intimate scenes between Max and Lysette are hotter and spicier! Obviously, 10 years makes a difference in what was acceptable in historical romances then verses now. I say Viva la 10 years and VIVA LA KLEYPAS! I definitely got my money's worth and recommend When Strangers Marry for anyone wanting a sensual and well-told romance.
Rating:
Summary: Probably not worth rewriting
Review: Let me just say firstly that Kleypas is a good writer, and I generally enjoy her books. This one was just the exception. I never read the first edition of this book, Only in Your Arms, but I can easily see how this is a revision of an early novel. It certainly has the FEEL of an early novel, with stops and starts, too much detail where there should be less, too little where there should be more. All my initial impressions of characters were wrong; I thought Lysette, the heroine, would be slightly docile, leaning more towards the damsel in distress, Max, the hero, being more domineering, dark, with perhaps questionable intentions? The same was true with all the lesser characters. I don't know if this was intentional, or if the author was changing her mind about the characters as she went along. And I never thought I'd say this about one of these books, but Lysette and Max were acually a little too amorous for me. Not that i don't enjoy a good love scene, but when it gets in the way of the plot, it's a problem. Whenever Max and Lysette get into an argument, it always goes to the bedroom (or floor, or desk...). It didn't seem like they ever actually solved their problems. You know those women who use sex to get their way? That's Lysette all over. It was really hard to respect either one of them. And my favorite character turned out to be evil (that twist, by the way, becoming annoyingly obvious to the reader about 100 pages before the characters notice). If you like steamy novels, you might like this. If you like a consistent plots and characters, you might not.
Rating:
Summary: Probably not worth rewriting
Review: Let me just say firstly that Kleypas is a good writer, and I generally enjoy her books. This one was just the exception. I never read the first edition of this book, Only in Your Arms, but I can easily see how this is a revision of an early novel. It certainly has the FEEL of an early novel, with stops and starts, too much detail where there should be less, too little where there should be more. All my initial impressions of characters were wrong; I thought Lysette, the heroine, would be slightly docile, leaning more towards the damsel in distress, Max, the hero, being more domineering, dark, with perhaps questionable intentions? The same was true with all the lesser characters. I don't know if this was intentional, or if the author was changing her mind about the characters as she went along. And I never thought I'd say this about one of these books, but Lysette and Max were acually a little too amorous for me. Not that i don't enjoy a good love scene, but when it gets in the way of the plot, it's a problem. Whenever Max and Lysette get into an argument, it always goes to the bedroom (or floor, or desk...). It didn't seem like they ever actually solved their problems. You know those women who use sex to get their way? That's Lysette all over. It was really hard to respect either one of them. And my favorite character turned out to be evil (that twist, by the way, becoming annoyingly obvious to the reader about 100 pages before the characters notice). If you like steamy novels, you might like this. If you like a consistent plots and characters, you might not.
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