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A review by laurenjodi
Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
4.0
Blue-Eyed Devil
4 Stars
After hearing about this book for years, perhaps my expectations were too high. Yes, Haven's story is well-written (obviously, it is Lisa Kleypas after all); her journey is intense and emotional, and her romance with Hardy is captivating - that man is simply yummilicious!
While the reading experience is enjoyable overall, there are a couple of problematic issues. First, is Haven herself. Although she is a sympathetic and likable heroine, she has absolutely no backbone! Yes, there are reasons for her inability to stand up for herself (her mother's systematic erosion of her self-esteem, battered wife syndrome), but this does not make it easier to relate to a woman who is, in essence, a victim of her own making.
Second is the portrayal of the abuse Haven suffers at the hands of her sociopathic narcissist of a husband. Yes, the descriptions play an important role in understanding Haven's character, but ultimately, she fails to internalize the lessons learned from the experiences, and as such, their harshness is not warranted, especially in a romance novel. Thankfully, this episode in the book is short-lived as I might have DNFed otherwise.
Overall, Blue-Eyed Devil is a heartbreaking story and well worth the effort. However, readers with triggers for abusive relationships should be forewarned.
4 Stars
After hearing about this book for years, perhaps my expectations were too high. Yes, Haven's story is well-written (obviously, it is Lisa Kleypas after all); her journey is intense and emotional, and her romance with Hardy is captivating - that man is simply yummilicious!
While the reading experience is enjoyable overall, there are a couple of problematic issues. First, is Haven herself. Although she is a sympathetic and likable heroine, she has absolutely no backbone! Yes, there are reasons for her inability to stand up for herself (her mother's systematic erosion of her self-esteem, battered wife syndrome), but this does not make it easier to relate to a woman who is, in essence, a victim of her own making.
Second is the portrayal of the abuse Haven suffers at the hands of her sociopathic narcissist of a husband. Yes, the descriptions play an important role in understanding Haven's character, but ultimately, she fails to internalize the lessons learned from the experiences, and as such, their harshness is not warranted, especially in a romance novel. Thankfully, this episode in the book is short-lived as I might have DNFed otherwise.
Overall, Blue-Eyed Devil is a heartbreaking story and well worth the effort. However, readers with triggers for abusive relationships should be forewarned.