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pat_a8's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bribliography's review
5.0
[4.5] west ravenel awoke something within me that i thought was long dead
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐
Lisa Kleypas est de retour dans nos bibliothèques avec une romance historique consacrée à Phoebe, une des filles des illustres Evangeline & St Vincent, un des couples mythiques en matière d'A&P ! Après son frère dans le tome 3, c'est à son tour de vivre une histoire romantique, qui nous est contée dans les moindres détails.
J'ai pris plaisir à lire cette romance, mais je dois avouer que j'ai eu beaucoup de mal à associer Evangeline et St Vincent aux parents de l'héroïne. Ce côté intemporel de la romance est un peu étrange à mes yeux, dans la mesure où je n'arrive pas du tout à associer les mots 'St Vincent' et 'grand-père', pas plus que pour les autres personnages de la Ronde des saisons, que l'on retrouve ici une bonne trentaine d'années plus tard ! Et c'est drôle parce qu'à plusieurs reprises, je me suis surprise à dire que Phoebe était bien la fille de son père/sa mère, pareil pour Merritt, fille de Westcliff & Lillian ! Smile
Bref, revenons en à nos moutons ... J'ai passé un moment agréable avec ce roman, qui est à la fois old school (les domestiques, les dîners et tout le tralala habituel à cette époque) et en même temps un peu moderne (un héros qui occupe un emploi ; une héroïne qui a des désirs d'émancipation, en quelque sorte ; la façon dont Phoebe est ultra présente auprès de ses enfants). West est un héros qui ne manque pas de charme, c'est un homme qui regrette ses erreurs et excès du passé, et qui essaie de se racheter. Il a le coup de foudre pour Phoebe, et on peut dire que son côté un peu sauvage est un sacré changement pour l'héroïne, après son mari plutôt discret et de faible constitution !
Si West a le coup de foudre pour Phoebe et "assume "rapidement la force de ses sentiments pour elle, de son côté, l'héroïne craque finalement assez vite, et ils ne tournent pas vraiment autour du pot. La romance est pleine de passion, tous deux forment un joli couple, ils sont complémentaires et c'est touchant de voir la complicité qui s'installe entre West et les fils de Phoebe (ces scènes avec les enfants sont complètement anachroniques, mais bon, elles n'en restent pas moins charmantes).
Voilà donc un histo qui fait un peu office de doudou, puisqu'on retrouve des personnages chers à nos coeurs, et que la romance est plutôt réussie. En tout cas, même si ce n'est pas une lecture transcendante, c'est un livre que j'ai pris plaisir à lire, et West est à mon sens un prétendant digne de son fameux beau-père, et pour Phoebe, on n'en attendait pas moins !
Lisa Kleypas est de retour dans nos bibliothèques avec une romance historique consacrée à Phoebe, une des filles des illustres Evangeline & St Vincent, un des couples mythiques en matière d'A&P ! Après son frère dans le tome 3, c'est à son tour de vivre une histoire romantique, qui nous est contée dans les moindres détails.
J'ai pris plaisir à lire cette romance, mais je dois avouer que j'ai eu beaucoup de mal à associer Evangeline et St Vincent aux parents de l'héroïne. Ce côté intemporel de la romance est un peu étrange à mes yeux, dans la mesure où je n'arrive pas du tout à associer les mots 'St Vincent' et 'grand-père', pas plus que pour les autres personnages de la Ronde des saisons, que l'on retrouve ici une bonne trentaine d'années plus tard ! Et c'est drôle parce qu'à plusieurs reprises, je me suis surprise à dire que Phoebe était bien la fille de son père/sa mère, pareil pour Merritt, fille de Westcliff & Lillian ! Smile
Bref, revenons en à nos moutons ... J'ai passé un moment agréable avec ce roman, qui est à la fois old school (les domestiques, les dîners et tout le tralala habituel à cette époque) et en même temps un peu moderne (un héros qui occupe un emploi ; une héroïne qui a des désirs d'émancipation, en quelque sorte ; la façon dont Phoebe est ultra présente auprès de ses enfants). West est un héros qui ne manque pas de charme, c'est un homme qui regrette ses erreurs et excès du passé, et qui essaie de se racheter. Il a le coup de foudre pour Phoebe, et on peut dire que son côté un peu sauvage est un sacré changement pour l'héroïne, après son mari plutôt discret et de faible constitution !
Si West a le coup de foudre pour Phoebe et "assume "rapidement la force de ses sentiments pour elle, de son côté, l'héroïne craque finalement assez vite, et ils ne tournent pas vraiment autour du pot. La romance est pleine de passion, tous deux forment un joli couple, ils sont complémentaires et c'est touchant de voir la complicité qui s'installe entre West et les fils de Phoebe (ces scènes avec les enfants sont complètement anachroniques, mais bon, elles n'en restent pas moins charmantes).
Voilà donc un histo qui fait un peu office de doudou, puisqu'on retrouve des personnages chers à nos coeurs, et que la romance est plutôt réussie. En tout cas, même si ce n'est pas une lecture transcendante, c'est un livre que j'ai pris plaisir à lire, et West est à mon sens un prétendant digne de son fameux beau-père, et pour Phoebe, on n'en attendait pas moins !
annick's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed this book. Fifth one in this series. I had hoped for more humour and wit from West. He often had excellent lines of sarcasm in books 1-4. But this one shows his emotions and fears well.
Aside from a nail, the book doesn’t have a melodramatic injury and bedside recovery. Thank goodness it doesn’t. That wasn’t something I liked in books 1-4
The intrigue from Edward could have been used more. I regret we didn’t see more dialogue between Sebastien and Phoebe but it was nice to see scenes of Sebastian and Evie and cameos from the couples/families from the wallflower series.
Aside from a nail, the book doesn’t have a melodramatic injury and bedside recovery. Thank goodness it doesn’t. That wasn’t something I liked in books 1-4
The intrigue from Edward could have been used more. I regret we didn’t see more dialogue between Sebastien and Phoebe but it was nice to see scenes of Sebastian and Evie and cameos from the couples/families from the wallflower series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Bullying and Injury/Injury detail
dobbsthedog's review against another edition
4.0
I was thinking that I wanted to read some more histroms, as I haven't read many het histroms, and a friend suggested I try some Lisa Kleypas. This one was also a contender in Alexandra Vasti's Historical Romance Sex Scene Battle, so I decided to give it a go!
So, overall, I enjoyed this one! I wasn't sure about jumping into the middle of a series, but on the whole, I felt like it stood it's ground and I wasn't really missing anything from not having read the others in the series first. Though I am definitely going to go back and read the others in the series.
Phoebe (who is named after a North American bird, it actually specifies, so my little birder heart was so happy!) is a young widow with two small kids who meets West at a family wedding. West used to bully Phoebe's now-dead husband while they were at school together, and then went on to become quite the scoundrel. He's now reformed and is working managing the land for his family's estate. At the wedding Phoebe and West get to know each other, and the sparks start flying almost immediately. Truly, this is a fairly cookie-cutter romance, imo, but it's a very well done cookie-cutter romance. Very low angst (which I always appreciate), fairly low drama, everything is quite neatly wrapped up at the end. I don't always love single parent romances, but this one worked for me.
So, overall, I enjoyed this one! I wasn't sure about jumping into the middle of a series, but on the whole, I felt like it stood it's ground and I wasn't really missing anything from not having read the others in the series first. Though I am definitely going to go back and read the others in the series.
Phoebe (who is named after a North American bird, it actually specifies, so my little birder heart was so happy!) is a young widow with two small kids who meets West at a family wedding. West used to bully Phoebe's now-dead husband while they were at school together, and then went on to become quite the scoundrel. He's now reformed and is working managing the land for his family's estate. At the wedding Phoebe and West get to know each other, and the sparks start flying almost immediately. Truly, this is a fairly cookie-cutter romance, imo, but it's a very well done cookie-cutter romance. Very low angst (which I always appreciate), fairly low drama, everything is quite neatly wrapped up at the end. I don't always love single parent romances, but this one worked for me.
reeyabeegale's review against another edition
3.0
I know a lot of people loved this book, and sadly I don't share the same feelings. I read this because it features another child of Sebastian and Evie, and honestly, I love their family more than I do the Ravenels.
The story was okay, but everything felt off and abrupt. Phoebe let go of her anger towards West's bullying quickly, and after reading that, the next chapter or so was them almost being intimate and all that. I feel like I missed the part of where they fell in love.
I wish they had more outings together with Justin and Stephen. I loved the few ones in the book, but I wish there was more.
As for the conflict of legal affairs, it seemed too tame in comparison to the previous two books. It's also a bit off, in my opinion; I think it would've worked better if the "villain" was actually evil.
Overall, I do understand why this book is written in this way. Phoebe's a widow, it wouldn't do well to write her down for a sappy love story - - it's one that requires maturity, which I believe was shown. However, I wouldn't have minded if it was a longer book, that way I would've seen their lovestory unfold, at the same time it will remain to be ideal for maturity.
Lastly, I can't believe there's no Epilogue for this! I live for those, especially in historical romance; but more importantly, I think that was a vital piece for this book and story. The ending was rushed, as if a timer was ticking down and I was highly disappointed by that.
The story was okay, but everything felt off and abrupt. Phoebe let go of her anger towards West's bullying quickly, and after reading that, the next chapter or so was them almost being intimate and all that. I feel like I missed the part of where they fell in love.
I wish they had more outings together with Justin and Stephen. I loved the few ones in the book, but I wish there was more.
As for the conflict of legal affairs, it seemed too tame in comparison to the previous two books. It's also a bit off, in my opinion; I think it would've worked better if the "villain" was actually evil.
Overall, I do understand why this book is written in this way. Phoebe's a widow, it wouldn't do well to write her down for a sappy love story - - it's one that requires maturity, which I believe was shown. However, I wouldn't have minded if it was a longer book, that way I would've seen their lovestory unfold, at the same time it will remain to be ideal for maturity.
Lastly, I can't believe there's no Epilogue for this! I live for those, especially in historical romance; but more importantly, I think that was a vital piece for this book and story. The ending was rushed, as if a timer was ticking down and I was highly disappointed by that.
hilse's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0