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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
CW: sexual violence and spoilers
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I reread this book today and I still like it, but the graphic depiction of rape was really, really hard to read and I wonder if it was really necessary. Kleypas handles the aftermath well and doesn’t use it only as a plot point of growth for her characters, but as something both must come to terms with, and Hardy does a (mostly) good job of listening and respecting Haven’s boundaries.
Two things bothered me: when Haven says no when Hardy wants to go down on her, he should stop. And there’s that throw away line about Hardy paying off someone his brother sexually assaulted so his brother didn’t get charged and have to do time, and it kind of ruined Hardy for me. I get that it’s his brother, but it makes him at best a cog in the machine of rape culture and at worst complicit in the next assault that his brother is involved in.
Imperfect, but enjoyable?
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I reread this book today and I still like it, but the graphic depiction of rape was really, really hard to read and I wonder if it was really necessary. Kleypas handles the aftermath well and doesn’t use it only as a plot point of growth for her characters, but as something both must come to terms with, and Hardy does a (mostly) good job of listening and respecting Haven’s boundaries.
Two things bothered me: when Haven says no when Hardy wants to go down on her, he should stop. And there’s that throw away line about Hardy paying off someone his brother sexually assaulted so his brother didn’t get charged and have to do time, and it kind of ruined Hardy for me. I get that it’s his brother, but it makes him at best a cog in the machine of rape culture and at worst complicit in the next assault that his brother is involved in.
Imperfect, but enjoyable?
Hmmm está bien, supongo. Es un libro para pasar el rato, siento que la historia tarda mucho en empezar, ya que pasan varias páginas relatando el matrimonio fallido de Haven, con lo que me aburrí bastante.
No es malo, pero tampoco la gran cosa. No fue una de esas historias que no puedo dejar de leer no mucho menos, pero sirve para entretenerse.
Los personajes tienen sus historias y personalidades bien marcadas, la historia trae una trama interesante, no demasiado compleja como para que se vuelva pesado, pero con algo más que solo romance.
Lejos lo mejor son los hermanos Travis, me encantó ver cómo cuidaban de Haven.
No es malo, pero tampoco la gran cosa. No fue una de esas historias que no puedo dejar de leer no mucho menos, pero sirve para entretenerse.
Los personajes tienen sus historias y personalidades bien marcadas, la historia trae una trama interesante, no demasiado compleja como para que se vuelva pesado, pero con algo más que solo romance.
Lejos lo mejor son los hermanos Travis, me encantó ver cómo cuidaban de Haven.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn’t mean to read this book all in one sitting but it happened anyway
Breezy romance. The abuse suffered by Haven both at the workplace and her personal life is something to think about. I am sure most women never realize that certain behavior is not normal and there might be deep rooted problems with the individual. Hardy's POV was not too easy to interpret and at most times I was at a loss to understand whether he's in love with Haven or just having fun.
A hot and steamy novel, typical Lisa Kleypas. You'll fall in love with the characters and feel your heart ache at their struggles. But, at the end, you'll be cheering them along.
"Blue-Eyed Devil" is the first book I've read by romance author Lisa Kleypas - and I would say it was an experience I won't forget. Blending a wry sense of humor with a tough subject manner and romantic tones, this second book in the Travises series tells a potently honest yet sweet story.
Haven Marie Travis grew up as a tomboy and tough-minded girl in a well-to-do family - determined to forge her own identity and path in life despite her wealthy upbringing. But when she marries a man her father disapproves of, Haven's cut off from the family fortune, and trapped in a harrowing marriage where she's not only beaten but verbally abused. Two years later, after her husband brutally rapes her and throws her out of the house, Haven returns home bruised and determined not to marry ever again, at least until the blue-eyed, roughneck Hardy Cates walks back into her life at the worst point possible.
I liked how Kleypas handles the issues of domestic abuse and narcissistic personality disorder with honest and realistic detail. You really feel for Haven as she struggles to regain her sense of self and confidence after two years of feeling trapped in a domineering marriage with Nick, and her tension whenever she crosses paths with him in quite a few re-encounters. Haven herself is a character you can identify with how open she is in her portrayal of her relationships and thoughts about them. Her chemistry with Hardy is excellent, and the scene where Hardy rescues Haven from the flooded elevator was not only awesome but hilarious. Hardy himself is a likable character, and while he shows fallible qualities in spurts, it's hard not to admire his character and the respect he has for Haven. Another thing that I really liked about this novel was the focus on relationships, both between Haven's family and her work/personal relationships. It's intimate and detailed without being preachy and overwhelming - the characters feel very dimensional and realistic. I would say the only thing I wish the book had was an opportunity to get into Hardy's perspective, because it would've been interesting to see his perspective of Haven and why he made some of the decisions he made, especially towards the end of the book, where it felt a bit quick to come to a resolution, but still sweet.
I would highly recommend "Blue Eyed Devil" for those who love romantic stories with a bad boy hero and a heroine who overcomes the odds to find happiness.
Overall score: 4/5
Haven Marie Travis grew up as a tomboy and tough-minded girl in a well-to-do family - determined to forge her own identity and path in life despite her wealthy upbringing. But when she marries a man her father disapproves of, Haven's cut off from the family fortune, and trapped in a harrowing marriage where she's not only beaten but verbally abused. Two years later, after her husband brutally rapes her and throws her out of the house, Haven returns home bruised and determined not to marry ever again, at least until the blue-eyed, roughneck Hardy Cates walks back into her life at the worst point possible.
I liked how Kleypas handles the issues of domestic abuse and narcissistic personality disorder with honest and realistic detail. You really feel for Haven as she struggles to regain her sense of self and confidence after two years of feeling trapped in a domineering marriage with Nick, and her tension whenever she crosses paths with him in quite a few re-encounters. Haven herself is a character you can identify with how open she is in her portrayal of her relationships and thoughts about them. Her chemistry with Hardy is excellent, and the scene where Hardy rescues Haven from the flooded elevator was not only awesome but hilarious. Hardy himself is a likable character, and while he shows fallible qualities in spurts, it's hard not to admire his character and the respect he has for Haven. Another thing that I really liked about this novel was the focus on relationships, both between Haven's family and her work/personal relationships. It's intimate and detailed without being preachy and overwhelming - the characters feel very dimensional and realistic. I would say the only thing I wish the book had was an opportunity to get into Hardy's perspective, because it would've been interesting to see his perspective of Haven and why he made some of the decisions he made, especially towards the end of the book, where it felt a bit quick to come to a resolution, but still sweet.
I would highly recommend "Blue Eyed Devil" for those who love romantic stories with a bad boy hero and a heroine who overcomes the odds to find happiness.
Overall score: 4/5
What happened to the sweet, blue-eyed boy from the first book? Oh, Hardy. Ugh. Why couldn’t there be one beta male character in these books? The testosterone can take a long walk on a short pier. All the guys were some level of toxic. I didn’t much care for Haven either. Her actions throughout made her seem like a bratty teenager. I will say this, Kleypas really did an wonderful job at writing Nick. He is absolutely one of the worst villains I’ve ever read. My stomach turned every time he opened his narcissistic mouth or raised a hand to Haven. Literally, he made for one of the scarier relationships/situations I’ve read in a romance too. Kleypas is still one of my favorite writers and I’ll continue with this series since I’m at the halfway point, but I’m hoping for a kinder, gentler hero.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes