Month: May 2022

Ten Qualities I Look for In a Comfort Read

Posted May 30, 2022 by Jana in About Me, Top Ten Tuesday / 11 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic is all about comfort reads: the books that feel like home and make me warm and fuzzy when I read them. Since I don’t re-read much, I decided to share qualities I look for when I’m on the hunt for a comfort read. Obviously, I can’t find all ten of these qualities in every book I choose. Sometimes I’ll get 2-3 and that’s good enough for me! I can’t wait to see what you consider to be a comfort read, and just know that this topic is going to add a bunch of books to my to-read list!

The Necessities: 

These are the non-negotiable qualities that a book must have for me to consider it a comfort read.

  • There’s got to be some kind of romance going on. 
    It doesn’t even have to be the main storyline! A thriller with a small sprinkling of romance would definitely make the cut.
  • Overall, it needs to be happy.
    I have have heard that some people find comfort in reading stories where the characters are suffering or struggling with the same things they are, because it makes them feel less alone. I’m the opposite. I don’t like commiserating with characters in my books, and would rather read something happy that takes my mind off my life.
  • I need to be in the mood for it. 
    I’m a major mood reader. I can want to read a book so badly, but if I’m not in the mood for it at the time I sit down to read it then I’m not going to like it.

The Bonuses:

These are the qualities that push a book even further into the “comfort read” zone for me. Sometimes a book will have several of these, and that’s pretty exciting!

  • It takes place at Christmas time.
  • The character(s) is on vacation somewhere I love or would love to visit someday.
  • It’s set in a world unlike mine. I also love fantasy and sci-fi, which both transport me to completely different and exciting places!
  • It has one or several of my favorite romance tropes: fake dating/engagement/marriage, friends to lovers, best friend’s sibling/sibling’s best friend, or forced proximity.
  • It’s funny! I love witty banter or hilarious situations.
  • The characters are super loveable.
  • It’s written by one of my favorite authors. I love Lisa Kleypas, Christina Lauren, Sarah Morgenthaler, Sarah Hogle, R.S. Grey, Tessa Dare, Julia Quinn, Sarah Morgan, Jenn Deluca, Riley Sager, and Mary Higgins-Clark.

Books That Fit the Bill:

I know I said I don’t re-read often, but I do have a list of books I have re-read (and will continue to do so) and books I want to re-read soon! Here’s a few of them:

 

What makes a book a comfort read for you?
What’s your ultimate comfort read? I’d love some recommendations!

Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas | Book Review

Posted May 26, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 1 Comment

Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas | Book ReviewDevil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Ravenels #5
Also in this series: Cold-Hearted Rake, Marrying Winterborne, Devil In Spring, Hello Stranger, Chasing Cassandra, Devil In Disguise
Published by Avon on February 19, 2019
Genres: Historical Romance, Romance
Pages: 375
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

A scintillating tale of a beautiful, young widow who finds passion with the one man she shouldn't . . .

Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain: he's a mean, rotten bully. Back in boarding school, he made her late husband's life a misery, and she'll never forgive him for it. But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her. And then he introduces himself—as none other than West Ravenel.

West is a man with a tarnished past. No apologies, no excuses. However, from the moment he meets Phoebe, West is consumed by irresistible desire . . . not to mention the bitter awareness that a woman like her is far out of his reach. What West doesn't bargain on is that Phoebe is no straitlaced aristocratic lady. She's the daughter of a strong-willed wallflower who long ago eloped with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent—the most devilishly wicked rake in England.

Before long, Phoebe sets out to seduce the man who has awakened her fiery nature and shown her unimaginable pleasure. Will their overwhelming passion be enough to overcome the obstacles of the past? Only the devil's daughter knows.

*happy sigh* Can I just say that my Lisa Kleypas-a-thon is doing wonders for my mental health? I am enjoying her books so much that I literally want to read nothing else right now. I can easily say she’s my favorite author, and that’s crazy to me because I’ve had favorite authors before but I’ve never loved every single thing an author has written. Ever. Lisa Kleypas is that author for me. I just can’t find anything wrong with her books! I don’t know why it took me until this year to finally jump into her stories, but I guess it happened at just the right time for me. Devil’s Daughter is book #5 in the Ravenels series, and we finally get West’s love story!! I knew I was going to love it, and I did. As always, my main points are bolded.

1. WEST. West appears is introduce in the first Ravenels book, Cold-Hearted Rake, and he’s very unimpressive at that point. He was a spoiled brat who thought only of himself, but he quickly transformed into a hardworking, caring, and compassionate man when he moved to Eversby Priory to help his brother, Devon. If you’ll remember, Devon inherited a title and an estate (with tenants) after his brother died in a freak accident. He was also thrust into the position of taking care of his brother’s widow, Kathleen, and his sisters: Helen, Pandora, and Cassandra. Devon sends for help and all of a sudden, West has a purpose, a family, and many people depending on him. He has continued to evolve and warm my heart, and quickly solidified his position as my favorite member of the Ravenel family (although, don’t quote me on this because I love them all and will deny such an accusation). He is whip-smart, flirtatious, dependable, loyal, passionate, caring, loving, etc. All the good things.

2. Phoebe arrives at Eversby Priory to attend Pandora’s wedding to Gabriel, Lord St. Vincent. Their love story is told in book #3 of the Ravenels (Devil In Spring). Phoebe is a widow and mother of two adorable little boys (I usually don’t love kids in romance, but these two stole my heart), and I really loved how sweet and strong she was. She married her childhood best friend, Henry, who suffered his whole life and ultimately perished from a wasting disease. That kind of devotion to a person, and that willingness to essentially sign up to be their caretaker until the end of their life, shows you the kind of person Phoebe is. She’s selfless and wonderful. Henry’s death left her to raise two young children on her own, plus manage an estate that is sort of being swindled away from her by her late husband’s friend. Oh, and she lives with a witch of a mother-in-law who would rather turn the family home into a mausoleum for her son than allow for enjoyable, happy living. Phoebe is a saint, really.

3. The romance is *chef’s kiss*. Phoebe has suffered recent and very real loss, so she guards her heart closely.  She’s also aware of a past between Henry and West–one that West does not remember–so she has already thrown all her walls up against West before she even arrives at the wedding. When they inevitably meet, West is captivated by her beauty and her sweet disposition. That charming, flirtatious, smooth-talking, smirking West would be hard for anyone to resist, but Phoebe does a great job of it. This cat and mouse game quickly turns into a genuine friendship as West works slowly and patiently to garner her trust. He offers to help teach her how to run her estate and maximize productivity among her tenants. He is so, so sweet with her boys that I nearly lost all my teeth. I loved watching him wiggle his way into that family. I also loved watching him give Phoebe the tools necessary to manage her estate, secure inheritances for her sons, and stand up for herself in the process. And then… then comes the love story. What a beautiful, tender, slow-burning romance. There are so many sweet and poignant moments between these two that pierced my heart and made me swoon. The care West shows Phoebe gives her the safe space she needs to tear down her walls and fall in love again. I loved watching it all happen.

4. Lisa Kleypas has a knack for writing amazing dialogue. It’s always full of love, romance, swoons, and humor. 

5. As I always say, I loved seeing the other members of the Ravenel family pop up and it was even better that it was for a wedding! And of course, Sebastian St. Vincent is there to see his son get married and I LOVE Sebastian. I love all the opportunities Lisa Kleypas gives us to catch up with him. And now he’s this salt and pepper grandpa to Phoebe’s children, which I just loved! In addition to the Ravenel family, I loved the other supporting characters. I loved reading West’s interactions with the people who work on his estate. I LOVED Phoebe’s older son, Justin. He’s precious!

6. A random side note, but something I love that needs to be pointed out: I love that every book where Sebastian plays any type of role in the story has “Devil” in the title. Devil In Winter is his story, Devil In Spring is his son’s story, Devil’s Daughter is his daughter’s story, and there’s one more devil Ravenel book on the horizon, Devil in Disguise, that I’m nearly done with and I won’t spoil the role he plays in that one!

All in all, is it any surprise I loved Devil’s Daughter? I’m just going to lie to myself and pretend that Lisa Kleypas is going to write a million more books in this series. I never want it to end!

 

 

Top Ten Witty Snippets of Banter In Books

Posted May 23, 2022 by Jana in Top Ten Tuesday / 14 Comments

Welcome to another TTT! Today’s topic is a book quote freebie, which means you get to share your favorite book quotes that fit a theme of your choosing! These could be quotes about books/reading, or quotes from books. I chose to share some flirty/witty/funny snippets of banter in some of my favorite books! Historical romance is known for having great banter, but I did find a snippet from a contemporary romance to share as well! I can’t wait to see what topic you chose to focus on this week!

“There’s no such thing as an old maid.”
“Wh-what would you call a middle-aged lady who’s never married?”
“A woman with standards?”
― Lisa Kleypas, Chasing Cassandra

“You know,” he said, “this design begins to appeal to me after all. Sea slugs aren’t the least bit arousing, but logarithms . . . I’ve always thought that word sounded splendidly naughty.” He let it roll off his tongue with ribald inflection. “Logarithm.” He gave an exaggerated shiver. “Ooh. Yes and thank you and may I have some more.”

“Lots of mathematical terms sound that way. I think it’s because they were all coined by men. ‘Hypotenuse’ is downright lewd.”

“ ‘Quadrilateral’ brings rather carnal images to mind.”

She was silent for a long time. Then one of her dark eyebrows arched. “Not so many as ‘rhombus.’ ”
― Tessa Dare, A Week to Be Wicked

“What happened?”
“This happened.” He shifted his arms to reveal a bundle of tiny, knobby joints and fluffy patches of black and white.
A newborn goat.
“Oh, my goodness.” She knelt behind him, peering over his shoulder. “Surely not Marigold?”
“I told you so,” he said irritably.
As if she’d be intimidated by gruff words from a man cradling a newborn goat in his arms. She’d always known he had a capacity for gentleness.
I told you so, too.
She reached to stroke the little goat’s fur.
Gabriel’s shoulder muscle flinched in annoyance. “My shirt was ruined, I’ll have you know. Completely unsalvageable. And then this runtish little thing wouldn’t stop shivering.”
“Would it help if I told you that I’ve never found you so wildly attractive as I do in this moment?”
“No.”
― Tessa Dare, The Wallflower Wager

“Did you . . . Did you just kiss me?” He sounded puzzled, and maybe a little out of breath. His lips were full and plump and . . . Kissed. There was simply no way Olive could get away with denying what she had just done.
Still, it was worth a try.
“Nope.”
Surprisingly, it seemed to work.
“Ah. Okay, then.” Carlsen nodded and turned around, looking vaguely disoriented. He took a couple of steps down the hallway, reached the water fountain—maybe where he’d been headed in the first place.
Olive was starting to believe that she might actually be off the hook when he halted and turned back with a skeptical expression.
“Are you sure?”
― Ali Hazelwood, The Love Hypothesis

“You really shouldn’t sneak up on people in the dark, sir. It isn’t gentlemanly.”
He responded quickly, the deep tenor of his voice sweeping over her. “My apologies. Of course, one might argue that lurking in the darkness isn’t exactly ladylike.”
― Sarah MacLean, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

“If you wish to go. And I suspect you do, if only to castigate me on other continents. There’s an idea. Come with me to Tahiti and insult me on a white sand beach. Berate me on a South American mountaintop—­so loudly, the echo sets off an avalanche.”

Despite all her intentions to dampen it, a flame of excitement kindled in her heart. And then he threw a log on the fire. “Aside from a thrilling honeymoon, you must admit it would make quite a book.”

Curse the man. He understood exactly how to tempt her.

“Just imagine the memoir. You could call it Lord Ashwood’s Ship Has Sailed. I’m certain the reading public would be fascinated.”
― Tessa Dare, Lord Dashwood Missed Out

“What is your objection to the clothes?” Sebastian asked, glancing at the gowns. “They’re black, aren’t they?”
“Well, yes, but they’re not made of crepe.”
“Do you want to wear crepe?”
“Of course not— no one does. But if people saw me wearing anything else, there would be terrible gossip.”
One of Sebastian’s brows arched. “Evie,” he said dryly, “you eloped against your family’s wishes, you married a notorious rake, and you’re living in a gaming club. How much more damned gossip do you think you could cause?”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Winter

“I need a penny,” Pauline said. “Quickly, give me a penny.” He fished in his pocket and produced a coin, then dropped it in her outstretched hand. She peered at it. “This isn’t a penny. It’s a sovereign.” “I don’t have anything smaller.” She rolled her eyes. “Dukes and their problems. I’ll be along in a moment.”
― Tessa Dare, Any Duchess Will Do

“She laid a row of cushions down the center of the bed, carefully dividing it into two sides: His, and hers.
“Is that truly supposed to stop me?” He fell back on the bed, on his side-peering over the pillow wall at her with amusement. “I fully intended to have my wicked way with you. But now there’s this cushion, so…”
She burrowed under the coverlet, drawing it up to her neck.
“Now that you mention it,” he went on, “I dinna know how this strategy escaped Napoleon’s notice. If only he’d erected a barricade of feathers and fabric, we Highlanders wouldna have known how to get over it.”
“I don’t expect the pillows to keep you out,” she said. “They’re merely a guard against anything accidental happening.”
“Ah.” He drew out the syllable. “We canna have any accidental happenings.”
“Exactly. I might roll over in the night, and I know how you feel about cuddling. I should hate to take advantage of you.”
“Minx.”
― Tessa Dare, When a Scot Ties the Knot

“You’re not worried about being compromised, are you?” he asked. “Because I’ve already done that.”

Forgetting her resolution to be dignified, Pandora stopped and whirled to face the provoking man. “No, you didn’t. I was compromised by a settee. You just happened to be there.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Spring

Can you think of any books that have really great banter?
I’m always looking for more recommendations!

2022 Christmas In July Gift Exchange Sign-Ups

Posted May 19, 2022 by Jana in Blog Event / 1 Comment

Hi everyone! Santa is on the beach sipping fruit punch and working on his tan, so he has enlisted his helpers once again to help spread a little Christmas cheer this summer! And it’s going to work a liiiitle differently than last year, so please read carefully! If you send in your sign-up email from last year without editing it first, I’ll have to delete it and ask you to re-send it.

Below you will find all event info, including the rules for the exchange, sign up directions, and a questionnaire so the person shopping for you can get to know you better.

THE DETAILS:

  • Sign-ups will close at 11:59 PM EDT on June 16th and I will be sending matches out on June 17th. UPDATE: All matches have been emailed out!
  • This event is open to residents of the USA ONLY. I ran a week-long poll on Twitter asking if people would like me to come up with an option for international participants, but interest was so low that I couldn’t. #TBTBSanta will be back to sign up for this October, and will be open internationally like always.
  • You must be 18 years old or older to participate.
  • Please only sign up if you are committed to sending your gift(s) so they arrive on time.
  • What you sign up to send is what you will receive. I will be grouping people up based on gift option and monetary tier so that everything is fair.
  • Shipping does not count towards the monetary value of the gift.
  • Please note that this is not a swap. The person who will be sending to you is not the same person you will be sending to.
  • The event hashtag is #GiftmasInJuly. Please use it lots because the friendships that form around events like these are the best!
  • If you and I don’t know each other, please reach out to me and introduce yourself. Follow me on Twitter so you can keep up with event updates. I like to know the people who are participating!
  • I will not be putting a cap on the number of people who can participate.

If you have any questions or concerns before or during this process, please reach out! You can simply write to ChristmasInJulyExchange@gmail.com and I’ll get back you as soon as possible.

GIFT OPTIONS AND MONETARY TIERS:

The digital-only option from the first year of Christmas In July has been retired due to lack of interest, but you can still note in your sign-up questionnaire for the “Sprinkle” option that you would prefer to receive all digital gifts.

Sprinkle: A sprinkling of gifts randomly throughout the month! This option includes both digital items (ebooks, audiobooks, PDF craft patterns, gift cards, etc.) and physical items shipped directly from retailers. Please ensure you reveal yourself in some way (a snail mail card, email, e-gift note, etc.) when you’re finished sending gifts so your recipient knows they have gotten everything and who to thank!

  • Sprinkle 1: $10-$15 (excluding any shipping costs) Due to lack of interest, this tier is closed.
  • Sprinkle 2: $20-$25 (excluding any shipping costs)
  • Sprinkle 3: $30+ (excluding any shipping costs)

Curated Box: This gift is a traditional, curated box (like TBTBSanta). You put together a physical box of goodies (along with a note to reveal yourself), preferably wrapped, and send it directly to your recipient.

  • Box 1: $10-$15 (excluding any shipping costs) Due to lack of interest, this tier is closed.
  • Box 2: $20-$25 (excluding any shipping costs)
  • Box 3: $30+ (excluding any shipping costs)

Both gift options are wonderful and have their own perks, so choose whichever one works best for you!

SIGNING UP:

Please send the following completed questionnaire to ChristmasInJulyExchange@gmail.com. The more detailed you are, the easier it will be for your Santa to spoil you! Please do not send your answers as an attachment. Instead, please paste your answers directly into the body of your sign-up email. If you send in an incomplete questionnaire, I will reply and ask you to re-submit.

1. Gift Option and Monetary Tier Selection:

b. Sprinkle 2: $20-$25 (excluding any shipping costs)
c. Sprinkle 3: $30+ (excluding any shipping costs)
e. Curated Box 2: $20-$25 (excluding any shipping costs)
f. Curated Box 3: $30+ (excluding any shipping costs)

2. Do you live in the USA?
Yes
No

3. Are you 18 years old or older?
Yes
No

4. Name and mailing address:

5. Email address (This is where your digital gifts will be sent. If you have signed up for a curated box and would rather not receive digital items, you may type N/A here. Sometimes people enjoy sending ebooks in addition to the curated box, though, so you might want to include an email address anyway.):

6. Twitter handle (If you’re not active, don’t plan to be active, or will be more active somewhere else, please explain that here so your Santa knows where to watch for you.):

7. Where else can you be found online? (Blog, Insta, YouTube, TikTok, etc.):

8. Your wish list(s) (Please provide links to any wish lists you have. These wish lists must remain exclusive to the Christmas In July Gift Exchange until you’ve received your gifts, or you run the risk of receiving duplicate items. Santas should not feel obligated to return anything if they discover that items from this exclusive list were purchased for them by someone else, and will be advised to send the duplicate item anyway.)

9. Discuss your digital preferences. (Do you have an e-reader? Which one? Would you enjoy getting an audiobook credit? Do you want any online subscriptions or gift memberships? If you would rather not receive digital gifts or would prefer to only receive digital gifts, please note that here.)

10. How do you practice self care?

11. What do you collect?

12. What are some of your favorite book genres/authors?

13. What won’t you read?

14. What fandoms do you belong to?

15. What are you always in need of?

16. What are your favorite things? (colors, patterns, fragrances, TV shows, movies, music, hobbies, foods/treats, etc.)

17. Do you have any allergies? What can’t you receive? (If you signed up for a curated box, this would be a great place to mention whether or not you would be ok receiving homemade food items.):

18. Share anything else your Santa needs to know about you. The more the better!

19. Please provide the contact information (twitter handle and/or email) of 1-2 buddies that your sender can contact with questions about you or information they need relayed to you. (This person does not need to know you well, they just need to be willing to be the go-between between you and the person sending to you. If you have nobody to ask, please post to the event hashtag and ask for a volunteer.)

THINGS TO DO:

  • Ensure all gifts arrive to your recipient by July 31st. Use your best judgment for shipping dates, as there is no mailing deadline.
  • Once you’ve sent all of your gifts and revealed yourself (either through a gift note or a letter in the curated box you mailed), please fill out this form. If you signed up for any of the Sprinkle tiers, you can wait to fill this out as late as July 31st. Include any info you think would be helpful for me if I need to jump in and help, should any problems arise. I don’t need an itemized list or a bunch of order information unless you want to send it to me. I’m not here to monitor or judge what you send. I’m just here to make sure everything runs smoothly and be the go-between if we run into any issues. If you’re sending a curated box, a tracking number is all I need from you.
  • Once you receive ALL your Christmas in July gifts, please fill out this form!
  • On August 1st, if you have not received all your gifts or know who your Santa is, please email me and I will investigate. Please understand that I will try my very best to work it out, but there is only so much I can do if someone decided to be selfish.
  • Be sure to thank your Santa in some way, whether through social media or email. Some people choose to send thank you cards, which is lovely but not required. If you have issues with the items in your gift, promptly thank your Santa and then reach out to me for help. People who do not thank their Santas will be asked to not participate in future Santa events that I host.
  • Please utilize the event hashtag #GiftmasInJuly to ask questions, post hints, share in your shopping/gifting/receiving/sending process! Show us what you got! This makes the event so much fun!

Please, please reach out to me if you need anything. I am more than happy to help you. If something comes up that causes you to be late, please email me and let me know. I don’t need to know the details if it’s personal, but communication is super important in an exchange like this. I will always be empathetic, understanding, and respectful of your privacy. If I have to chase you down to find out why your recipient did not receive what you agreed to send them, I will ask you to not sign up again (for both Christmas In July and TBTBSanta). Please don’t make me do that, because it probably causes me more pain than it does you. Exceptions will always be made if something catastrophic occurs, so if that happens please just talk to me when you are able so I can ensure that you are ok and your recipient is taken care of.

GIFT GIVING GUIDELINES:

Please keep in mind that ARCs, promotional swag, and shipping DO NOT count towards the monetary value of the gift.

Please do not send homemade food items unless your recipient specifically notes in their survey that they would like them. Pre-packaged, store-bought foods are fine (and encouraged!).

Be thoughtful! Don’t just throw something together from the donation pile in your home. Send something you would be happy to receive if you were your recipient. You don’t have to stick to a person’s wish list, but please pay attention to their questionnaire answers and send them things you genuinely think they would like. Please do not use this event as an opportunity to promote yourself, your book, your business, etc. The gift you give should focus on your recipient and their interests, and not on you.

Have so much fun shopping and spreading some holiday magic this summer!
Any questions? Ask in a comment below so my answers to you can help others who might be wondering the same thing. :)

Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas | Book Review

Posted May 19, 2022 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 0 Comments

Hello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas | Book ReviewHello Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Ravenels #4
Also in this series: Cold-Hearted Rake, Marrying Winterborne, Devil In Spring, Devil's Daughter, Chasing Cassandra, Devil In Disguise
Published by Avon on February 27, 2018
Genres: Historical Romance, Romance
Pages: 400
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

A woman who defies her time.

Dr. Garrett Gibson, the only female physician in England, is as daring and independent as any man—why not take her pleasures like one? Yet she has never been tempted to embark on an affair, until now. Ethan Ransom, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is as gallant as he is secretive, a rumored assassin whose true loyalties are a mystery. For one exhilarating night, they give in to their potent attraction before becoming strangers again.

A man who breaks every rule.

As a Ravenel by-blow spurned by his father, Ethan has little interest in polite society, yet he is captivated by the bold and beautiful Garrett. Despite their vow to resist each other after that sublime night, she is soon drawn into his most dangerous assignment yet. When the mission goes wrong, it will take all of Garrett's skill and courage to save him. As they face the menace of a treacherous government plot, Ethan is willing to take any risk for the love of the most extraordinary woman he's ever known.

I’m continuing on with my Lisa Kleypas reading, and I keep finding myself amazed by the fact that I’m not tiring of Lisa’s books. Usually I finish a book and then need a change in genre or writing style or whatever, but as soon as I shut a Lisa Kleypas book I immediately reach for the next one! This has never happened before, and I think I’ve found my new favorite author. Hello Stranger is the 4th book in the Ravenels series, and probably my next favorite after Marrying Winterborne! I love Dr. Garrett Gibson’s story of falling in love with the ever mysterious and suave Ethan Ransom! As always, my main points are bolded.

1. First and foremost, Garrett is an amazing character. I have loved her since I first met her in Marrying Winterborne, and was so excited when I discovered that she was going to get her own romance. She’s the only female physician in England, so she is strong, confident, and a force to be reckoned with. I loved reading about her career, her home medical office, her medical knowledge, and her caring personality. She uses her medical profession for good and goes out to help those who need her. She’s passionate about her career, independent in every sense of the word, and will not hesitate to beat a man with a cane if he underestimates her power as a woman and tries to take advantage of her. She tirelessly fights to be seen as an equal, and I love her. I saw her as a little cold and standoffish in the previous books, but she completely melts and shows a vulnerable side with Ethan.

2. Speaking of Ethan… Don’t ask me to choose my favorite Kleypas man (boy, does she write good ones), but Ethan is a favorite. He’s very much the sarcastic, flirtatious, mysterious type who toes the line between right and wrong (as far as the law is concerned). He was born a bastard child and grew up having to fight for everything he had. He used to work as a detective, but now he’s a bit of a spy and possibly an assassin, who lives a life of unattached solitude. It’s dangerous and lonely, and he never really knows if he’s going to live to see another day. I also met Ethan in Marrying Winterborne when Winterborne himself hired Ethan to secretly shadow Garrett on her medical rounds to more dangerous parts of town. Unbeknownst to readers at the time, Ethan falls into a sort of unrequited love at first sight thing that has continued into this book when we discover he has continued keeping an eye on Garrett and watching out for her safety. After popping up a time or two, Garrett realizes this herself and begins to reciprocate his feelings. He gives her a whistle to blow if she ever needs him and he’ll come running. How incredibly romantic is that? She watches out for him on her evening rounds and sometimes blows the whistle just because she misses him. Of course, he tries hard to keep her at arm’s length for her own safety but it doesn’t work so well for him.

3. As I said before, the romance is so romantic. The very nature of Ethan’s work means he has a lot of enemies, so the stakes are high. Ethan finds himself in quite a situation and Garrett has to decide very quickly if she wants to entangle herself with a man so many people want dead. Ethan has to quickly figure out if his love for her is worth risking her life to be with her. I love stories like this, where both partners would rather be dead than apart. It makes for a very intense and passionate romance. Even though things happen quickly, it felt real. There’s a lot of obstacles for Garrett and Ethan, and they are tested a lot. Ah, it was so enjoyable to read!!

5. You get a very big dose of the sickbed trope, which I didn’t know I loved until I started reading Lisa Kleypas. She loves to have one love interest take care of the other love interest, and it was done so well in Hello Stranger.

4. DANGER. So much danger and tension. I flew through the pages so quickly. 

5. I loved, LOVED seeing the other Ravenels that I’ve grown to love so much. We are taken back to Eversby Priory, where the first book in the series takes place, and Devon and Kathleen are there. I loved seeing them again. West plays a huge role in this book, which made me love him even more. The evolution this man has gone through is stunning. I can’t wait for his book.

Ok, so I’m just going to say you need to read this book. Actually, you need to read this series. I am having so much fun following this family of people, who love each other so much. And they love their people so much. Lisa Kleypas writes the best characters, the best dialogue, and the best stories. Her writing is flawless. I’m a fan for life.