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A review by lifeisbetterwithbooks_
Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas
4.0
4.25 stars
This was my fist Kleypas novel (bout time right!?), and I have to say that I was a bit nervous at first because I've heard such great things about her writing. And she did not disappoint....for the most part.
This novel addresses historical situations that I myself have never encountered in HRs before. First off, the heroine, Annabelle, is in a giant pickle. Her father died a few years ago and left herself, her mother, and her brother destitute and searching for a means to pay their bills and daily expenses. Her mother has entered into a scandalous 'relationship' with Lord Hodgeham, who pays their bills in exchange for her amorous attentions. Annabelle loathes the position their lack of funds has put her mother in with Lord Hodgeham, and so she--along with the other resident wallflowers--sets off to ensnare a wealthy husband of good breeding, lest she have to follow in her mother's footsteps and find a wealthy man who will consent to make her his mistress.
Enter our hero, Simon Hunt. He is a butcher's son who has made a fortune of his own by investing smartly where the old aristocrats refuse to 'work' for a living. He is bold, unapologetic, and relentless in his pursuit of Annabelle as a mistress. He cares little for following the unspoken rules of the upper class, but he is respected (at least in appearance) because of his wealth and connection to Lord Westcliff, a respected peer. He is also sarcastic and refuses to be cowed by the rest of society's disapproval of him and his candidness, which is ultimately what I loved about him.
I've never read a historical novel where the heroine becoming the hero's (or anyone's) mistress is openly discussed in the novel as a serious viable option for her. Her mother had already resorted herself to consorting with the oily Hodgeham because bills needed to be paid and food bought. The hero himself pursues Annabelle with the goal of securing her as his mistress, with promises of being able to provide for and spoil her and her family--which was again something new to me. The hero not being an aristocrat was not something new, but his self-assured attitude and unwillingness to be cowed by their disapproval was. I had never read about a hero who wasn't a 'hero', and it was soo refreshing. Simon was a scoundrel in the purest sense of the word, but he is ultimately sweet and exactly who Annabelle needs.
My only complaint about this novel is that towards the end, the plot falls flat. After the MCs finally admit that they have feelings for each (at least physically), the plot just sorta becomes about them being together. And that really isn't a bad thing, but there was no new obstacle for them to overcome or really something else for them to do or look forward to other than being together. It just felt like the author needed to fill some pages before she got back into the drama, and I was left waiting for the next thing. The ending, however, picked the pace back up and was exciting and heart-stopping and ultimately worth the read-through.
My Simon Hunt, with nontraditional HR good-looks :)
This was my fist Kleypas novel (bout time right!?), and I have to say that I was a bit nervous at first because I've heard such great things about her writing. And she did not disappoint....for the most part.
This novel addresses historical situations that I myself have never encountered in HRs before. First off, the heroine, Annabelle, is in a giant pickle. Her father died a few years ago and left herself, her mother, and her brother destitute and searching for a means to pay their bills and daily expenses. Her mother has entered into a scandalous 'relationship' with Lord Hodgeham, who pays their bills in exchange for her amorous attentions. Annabelle loathes the position their lack of funds has put her mother in with Lord Hodgeham, and so she--along with the other resident wallflowers--sets off to ensnare a wealthy husband of good breeding, lest she have to follow in her mother's footsteps and find a wealthy man who will consent to make her his mistress.
Enter our hero, Simon Hunt. He is a butcher's son who has made a fortune of his own by investing smartly where the old aristocrats refuse to 'work' for a living. He is bold, unapologetic, and relentless in his pursuit of Annabelle as a mistress. He cares little for following the unspoken rules of the upper class, but he is respected (at least in appearance) because of his wealth and connection to Lord Westcliff, a respected peer. He is also sarcastic and refuses to be cowed by the rest of society's disapproval of him and his candidness, which is ultimately what I loved about him.
I've never read a historical novel where the heroine becoming the hero's (or anyone's) mistress is openly discussed in the novel as a serious viable option for her. Her mother had already resorted herself to consorting with the oily Hodgeham because bills needed to be paid and food bought. The hero himself pursues Annabelle with the goal of securing her as his mistress, with promises of being able to provide for and spoil her and her family--which was again something new to me. The hero not being an aristocrat was not something new, but his self-assured attitude and unwillingness to be cowed by their disapproval was. I had never read about a hero who wasn't a 'hero', and it was soo refreshing. Simon was a scoundrel in the purest sense of the word, but he is ultimately sweet and exactly who Annabelle needs.
My only complaint about this novel is that towards the end, the plot falls flat. After the MCs finally admit that they have feelings for each (at least physically), the plot just sorta becomes about them being together. And that really isn't a bad thing, but there was no new obstacle for them to overcome or really something else for them to do or look forward to other than being together. It just felt like the author needed to fill some pages before she got back into the drama, and I was left waiting for the next thing. The ending, however, picked the pace back up and was exciting and heart-stopping and ultimately worth the read-through.
My Simon Hunt, with nontraditional HR good-looks :)