nameuser's reviews
11 reviews

The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase

ok I was oddly embarrassed to do this with a library loan but DNF omgggg this was boring and I just don't need a drunk lout leading man in my life

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

I'm beginning to think maybe I don't like a faux villainous lead. first of all, he's not really going to be villainous so he'll have to be insisting upon himself an awful lot. second, I guess this kind of love story has to have the most irritating push and pull with an increasingly bizarrely intractable dude. the one thing I'll give it is that I was about to write this whole thing about how we are all ants in the grand scheme of things and it's preposterous when stories make everyone obsessed with the two leads getting together, but they did actually randomly explain that away, which is oddly funny. like the author knew she did too much and was like anyway!

Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas

oof. it's not bad but it's not as good as the previous I've read from kleypas. the characters are just so deranged and mercurial. the particular of the romance feel deeply out of place with the era - it barely feels like historical romance at all. and sorry to say the central conceit is insane - they took your baby and you're just living life with bouts of sadness, WHAT

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

my understanding is this is the least favored of this series, perhaps because Daisy is so mild and sweet and Matthew has longed for her forever. I think I'm a sucker for a runt of a series as I like the bridgerton books no one cares for too. but this is a sweet little end to the series.

now to see if I like kleypas generally or just this series...

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

the stutter going in and out so across this entire series is so silly. it's very she's all that - but I guess there needs to be a reason for Evie to be a wallflower in the first place. this was an interesting look at redeeming a true villain but I have to say, using "you might threaten to rape someone but you never would" as a line of affirmation is mad

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas

I think this is the favorite from the wallflowers series and I do understand why - the heroine is brashest, the hero is most stuck up. I'm a big fan of the falling in love through sex trope, but it's bizarre that he just suddenly acts out of control. there's a hint of sex magic that goes away so there ends up being no real explanation. 

the end of this is so brazen! I'm ngl I was fully shook that the villain of this was going to immediately become of the hero of the next. Lisa crazy for that one

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

I do genuinely like these characters separately and together, even though the reasons they are apart at the beginning are totally flimsy. why doesn't she like him at all?? there's just no reason lol

Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas

dreadful almost painful to start this book because the characters are so idyllic at first but I do love second chance romance esp when everyone comes back hardened. Aline is almost too willing despite her fears, which is my major critique of the romance... also just the way these books are a total comedy of "and then this goes wrong" is such a crutch for kleypas

Because You're Mine by Lisa Kleypas

it's interesting to me that when these books focus on the mind of the male lead, the female lead is just so great: she's been told by her parents that she's middling at best, but every man is a little to a lot in love with her, women admire her beauty alongside her work ethic and kind nature, she never gets too mad, she's forgiving beyond reason until the end. a little unforgivably, this does nothing with the actor-trainee moments. but it's also a nice mild read

Ravishing the Heiress by Sherry Thomas

romance novels esp of the historical variety often feature a female lead who has shocking lack of self worth in her relationship. this must be the absolute peak of that genre. it also becomes so difficult for her husband to recover (with the reader, though apparently not his wife) from such unromantic behavior: it's bad enough to be sleeping around with just about anyone for 8 years but then to reconnect with his one true love and try to be quite serious about making her his mistress.... dude. get out lol. and he's not even all that invested in his wife when he decides he does love her. jeez.