Love, Come to Me

by Lisa Kleypas

When strong and handsome Heath Rayne pulled Lucinda Caldwell from a winter river, he rescued her from an icy death. But soon he was plunging her into a torrid torrent of passion that this New England beauty had never suspected could claim her. Heath was unlike any other man Lucy had ever a dashing, mocking, sensuous Southerner who came as a stranger to Lucy's town-and stayed as he stripped away her last shreds of resistance to the demands of desire and the flaming fulfillment of love...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult, Ebooks

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

LISA KLEYPAS is the RITA award-winning author of 21 novels. Her books are published in fourteen languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Anne]

This was her first book and it shows. A few pages in and the hero mentioned how happy the heroine should be that he had so much self-control the night before (she had fallen in a frozen lake and he pulled her out in popsicle form) and I just...



I decided to cut my losses and call it a day. It wasn't really sucking me in with the usual Kleypas magic, and even she admitted in the foreword that this was sort of a dud.
So.
Recommended for Kleypas completionists only.

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who gave Heath Rayne the right to be the most charming hero ever???

I adored this one SO much. Heath has my whole heart! This is easily the best of Lisa Kleypas' older historical romances for me.

[Julianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have really loved most of Lisa Kleypas's novels I have read to date, so it truly pains me to not be able to give this book a higher rating. This is one of the first four books that she wrote, and the writing style is so different from her later works that it almost seemed like it had been written by another author. The story is very heavily character-driven with very little plot. The conflict is mainly of an internal nature, driven by secrets and love triangles, with no real villains to speak of. I had a really hard time liking the characters. The heroine is very contradictory, almost to the point of seeming to have multiple personalities, for about the first 2/3 of the book, before finally settling into a steadier persona. The hero is sometimes kind and gentle, but at other times is a bit too stubborn and dominant for my taste. The two of them end up spending a large part of the book arguing about various things, often ending in an anger turned to passion moment, which isn't really my cup of tea either. The story is really heavy on the historical descriptions, especially details of the political climate between the North and South following the Civil War and the newspaper business, which I thought bogged down the pace. I love learning things about history from my novels, but I thought it was a little too scholarly and heavy-handed here. While there were some mildly romantic scenes, in my opinion, it was seriously lacking in the depth of emotion and passion for which Lisa Kleypas has become know. I'm sure there are some people who might enjoy this book, but I literally had to force myself to finish it in small doses. I couldn't really recommend it for anyone other than hard-core fans who are collecting her books, but I definitely will not be one of them. I'm really glad I borrowed this one and didn't pay the going OOP price for it.

[skein · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. TERRIBLE. Was this ghost-written? by a shitty ghostwriter?
because

1. It's a clear rip-off of Gone With The Wind. I'm surprised there are no characters who don't know nothing about birthing no babies.

2. There's a goddamn rape scene.

3. Not funny, not charming, not rollicking escapism. Not at all.

Did I mention there's a fucking rape scene?! And (oh god) it's one of those awful "She was saying no, but she really was totally turned on, and when he ignored her protests and raped her, she climaxed immediately and fell even more in love with him" because that is what happens! That is a very accurate representation of rape! All the times I've protested against sex, I was just desperate to be taken by force! THAT WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR FALLING IN LOVE, is what I'm saying.

Wait. No. That's what the author is saying.

This is wrong. This is morally wrong and it's legally wrong and it's not fun to read, it is not. Kleypas is -- usually -- a charming writer of charming characters who spend hundreds of pages flirting and having consensual sex and absolutely, positively not raping anyone.

The title sucks, too.

[Gloria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an early, immature work of a very talented writer of historical romances (one of my favorites, in fact) and both the immaturity and talent show. Unfortunately the immaturity wins. The female main character skids into shrew territory one—or twenty—times too many. The male main character swings wildly from swoon-worthy to jerk to idiotic jerk. He truly thinks it’s okay to mumble feverishly about his former love to his wife, then bring that former love into his house WITH his wife? COME ON. A madman would know better. The heroine’s former fiancé Daniel and the hero’s business partner Damon are more interesting and consistent than the hero and that’s just one of many problems. The narrative lurches drunkenly with a lot of explanation required to fill in the gaps. The main characters have trouble being honest with each other but have no trouble being brutally honest with each other. It’s a conglomeration of hot sex, verbal flagellation, and either miscommunication or lack of communication. It was interesting enough in places to be readable, but ultimately a disappointment. I’d recommend skipping this one—there’s so much better offered by Lisa Kleypas.

[Alba Turunen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Estrellas. Es un Kleypas y podía haber sido mucho más, pero es una de sus primeras obras y se nota. Aunque tiene cosas muy buenas y progresistas, y deja mucho ver lo que será su obra futura, ha tenido giros que no me han gustado cómo estaban llevados.

Mi Kleypas favorita es la de transición, la de mediados de los 90 y los 2000, y es cierto que veo faltas en sus primeras obras (es normal), y en sus últimas obras (no tan normal). El problema que he visto con este libro es que se me ha hecho algo largo y pesadete, cuando parecía que todo estaba contado salían más cosas o más problemas en el futuro y la felicidad de la pareja. Lucy me ha gustado algo más pese a haber sido bastante irracional en algunas partes, pero a Heath, que aunque sí es un maromo Kleypas 100%, siento que no lo he conocido lo suficiente.

El libro ocurre en América, después de la Guerra de Secesión, concretamente en Massachussets. Lucy es la hija protegida y mimada de un próspero comerciante, y en Concord toda la sociedad está revuelta por el hecho de que un sudista de Virginia como Heath Rayne se haya establecido a vivir allí.

La vida de Lucy estaba planeada a la perfección, se casaría con su amor de juventud y viviría feliz para siempre con él; pero cuando cayó literalmente en los brazos de Heath, este no la volvería a soltar. Heath sabe que Lucy no puede casarse con Daniel, un hombre que no la aprecia en absoluto y que solo quiere una muñeca con la cabeza hueca para mandar sobre ella, Lucy no es manipulable y tiene sus propias ideas, así que desde su punto de vista, será fácil deshacer el compromiso entre ellos.

Pues hasta aquí más o menos la novela ha ido muy bien y me estaba enganchando bastante, ahí veía a ésa Kleypas que tanto me gusta, pero confieso que esperaba otro tipo de conflicto, como que Heath y Daniel se conocieran y el motivo de Heath de establecerse en Concord fuera quitarle la novia a Daniel. Yo ya tenía mi película montada, pero no ocurre nada de esto y realmente no he sabido por qué Heath fue a parar al Norte.

El romance de los protagonistas empezó bien, me estaba gustando bastante, hasta que se casaron, porque cuando discuten son insoportables e irracionales y cuando están bien son aburridos y empalagosos, así que para mi gusto, me quedo con la primera mitad de la novela.

A pesar de mis palabras no todo ha sido malo, y sí he disfrutado bastante la novela ¡Es un Kleypas! ¿Quién mejor que ella sabe investigar y ambientar bien una época, y darte detalles chulos que no conocías? Kleypas sabe realmente de lo que escribe y es maravillosa, y por eso el libro se ha ganado las 3 estrellas. Es decir, como novela, ha merecido la pena, como romance, ha flojeado, pero repito, es un Kleypas.

[CB · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEW

Rating: 2.5/5
POV: 3rd; dual (80% FMC)
Tropes: HR - America Reconstruction; Forced Marriage (compromise); Cheating; Virgin FMC; Angsty
Heat Level: 5+/5 (but in 80s writing style)
Kinks: N/A

Likes:
* I actually liked Heath. He was a well written MMC for the time and having been someone that fought for the confederacy but moved to the North after the war. He was also of a more conservative mindset instead of the democratic confederate mindset.

Dislikes:
* The FMC for the first 50% of the book. She was so unbearably immature and spoiled.
* the pacing… it was a big struggle to get through the 25% mark - 75% mark.

Conclusion:
Well I can at least now say I’ve finally read this LK book. With a 3.6 rating it’s clearly not a well liked book of hers and honestly I think she has no hard feelings towards that haha. In her edited 2011 version she has a beginning note basically being like LOOK I WAS 20 IM SORRY PLEASE FORGIVE ME lol. We forgive you Mrs K.
I liked Heath, he was so smirky, but Lucinda aka Lucy aka Cinda aka Cin was a bit insufferable. She does eventually mature and grow up a bit once they’ve been in Boston for a while but by that time the book was practically over.
If you’re into post civil war romances give this one a try because that’s basically the plot of this one. Non stop civil war and post civil war talk.


2.5/5

[Bekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ding ding ding ding ding! We have a winner ladies!! This was a superb book! Superb. I read somewhere that Ms. Kleypas described her first four books as a learning curve. Learning curve my arse, Ms. Kleypas. Maybe the first two were your learning curve, but this was pure perfection. I’m giddy with how great this book was.

Synopsis: Heath Rayne, a Southern man living in the cold Northeast saves Lucy Caldwell from drowning in an icy river. She spends two days with him in his cabin while he takes care of her and nurses her back to health, not knowing how those two days will change her life forever.

Ok, we’ll start with Heath Rayne, our HERO!! I’m not sure what it is about southern men and Lisa Kleypas, but she knows how to write them. Next to the definition of steadfast in the dictionary is the name Heath Rayne. Really and truly, I checked:

• stead•fast Adjective /ˈstedˌfast/ - Heath Rayne
Synonyms:
o adjective: steady, firm, stable, constant, staunch, immovable, set, fixed, unwavering, solid, resolute
2. Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering

This hero was so perfect, so delicious, so wonderful that I almost became light headed from sighing so much. Once Heath saw Lucy he did not waver in his determination to have her. And you won’t know just how much until you read this book. To quote him: “…Some men always find a way to get what they want –even if fate doesn’t lend them a hand” He wanted her and he made sure he moved heaven and earth to have her.

Whatever “it” is, he has it. In abundance! He didn’t try to be sexy, he *was* sexy. He was a strong, confident man who knew what he wanted and he went after it. That’s it. And frankly I think that’s the definition of a sexy man. Don’t miss out on this hero. Kleypas hero scale – 10/10!!!

The romance in this book was so extraordinary. It was all because of Heath. He was so determined to have Lucy – no matter that she was engaged to a jackass, no matter that she was slightly spoiled and immature. He saw something in her, a potential for the woman she would become, and he went after it with a vengeance. He said all the right things at all the right times and I sighed and clutched this book to my chest so many times I lost count. He was so patient and loving with her. Even at times when he wanted to be cruel, he couldn’t carry through with it. There is a moment very early on in this book where he showed such an intense amount of love for Lucy that I knew I was going to be in trouble, i.e.: once again in love with a fictional character! A few of my favorite lines from Heath:

“And you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen” - of course said at the right time…

and this one, said in a moment that was so heartbreaking for him:

… “Pretend you’re mine,” he urged, his arms closing around her. “Just for a minute. Pretend there’s never been anyone but me, that I’m the one you’re promised to. Do it for me…I’ll never ask again.”

Kleypas romance/sigh factor scale – 10/10

The steam – The sexual tension between Heath and Lucy was palpable. Many hot and steamy episodes to keep the fires burning were had. It was quite a nice balance and mixture throughout the whole book. Particularly hot moments were had in the middle to the end of the book. I give it an 8/10 on the Kleypas steam scale.

The Good & the Bad

There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this book, certainly I had no problems with the way it was written. I didn’t feel there was an over abundance of descriptions as I had in previous books. I didn’t feel anything needed to be cut. I simply loved the book. You know it’s a great book when you’re staying up until 5 am reading it! I couldn’t put it down. I found the topic fascinating – the Reconstruction period and debates of such of the south, the difference between the Southerners and the Northerners, the struggles after the war. I loved Heath’s passion for writing. I loved the small pieces of history with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Concord MA, even though the timing was off, I really appreciated the bits of true history in there.

My frustrations were with some of the characters and their decisions and/or behaviors. Daniel, Lucy’s ex-fiance was a user and a manipulator and a game player. And then he turned out to be a hateful idiot. I was just so happy to see him go. Her best friend sort of disappointed me with her actions in a time of need, as well as the actions of her father. All minor in comparison with the great love story I got to read! I was also a little upset with how immature and spoiled Lucy was in the beginning, but I realize it was necessary to see her growth. She eventually became a wonderful heroine, really extraordinary and completely worthy of Heath. She supported and loved him quite admirably. She grew up, became the woman he needed, loved him and her love was truly beautiful. In terms of Heath’s faults – yes he did have some – like Lucy, I was frustrated and intrigued by the mystery he kept cloaked around him, and I really felt he should have been up front and honest with her about his past. There is a conflict towards the end of the book that I felt he could and should have handled better, but it worked out in the end! Ultimately, they grew together, and the glimpses we get to read of their life are enchanting and wonderful. This is a prime example of a great Kleypas work in my opinion, and why I love her books, her heroes, her writing. When I sigh and clutch a book to my chest and think about the characters when I’m away from the book, worry for them and about them, and cheer and cry for them... really, what more can a reader ask for?

[Tatyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellissimo.
Una perla, nonostante l’autrice stessa, chiarisce che si tratta di una delle sue prime opere.
Una storia d’amore ambientata nel periodo successivo alla guerra di secessione, con continui e precisi riferimenti a quel contesto storico e sociale che non nulla tolgono al romanticismo ma, anzi, nobilitano il romanzo rendendo molto più interessante la trama.
Due personaggi magnifici, descritti con cura e caratterizzati con una tale precisione da risultare vitali e vibranti.
Anche a me ha ricordato molto il film “Via col vento”, soprattutto il personaggio di Heat che, nonostante fosse biondo con gli occhi blu, ho continuato ad immaginare con il fascino, la sensualità e il sorriso sfacciato da adorabile canaglia di Rhett Butler❤️.

[Addie]

DNF 17%

[Lady Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★½

At times like this I really wish GoodReads would let us use half-stars. This is the perfect example of a book caught midway between three and four stars.

I think this is one of Lisa Kleypas's earliest books - you can definitely tell it was written much earlier in her career because although it is enjoyable, it isn't as masterful as her more recent work. It was a good story, but fairly unremarkable.

My biggest issue was probably Daniel. He was made only as a foil for Heath, so we could see how awesome he is. Daniel was portrayed as a stickler, a controlling person and someone with no regard whatsoever for women. After portraying someone like that, I don't want to see him near any female in the book. I don't understand why we have to pair him up with someone else,a s if it's supposed to be okay that he isn't with the heroine. He shouldn't be with anyone, period. Lots of authors do this too, not just LK :/

Then there was Damon too. Damon was a wonderful character, nuanced in a way neither Lucinda or Heath were. Stickler for duty and honor, with some prejudices, but willing to discard them when confronted with it. I wanted to know more about him, and it is a shame there is no sequel featuring him. he was the best written person in the book. I didn't understand the purpose of making him want Lucy too....

Overall a good read while it lasted, but quite forgettable. Except for Damon, :)

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fabulous Lisa Kleypas story. I say this every time, but it's always true... even a bad Lisa Kleypas is better than some authors very best work. This book was originally published back in the 80's and is one of her first books, and it shows. The writing is less polished, and the story dragged a bit about 3/4 of the way through, but nonetheless it was still very good, and had all the hallmarks that I love about her books.
It was very refreshing to read a story from that time period that takes place in America instead of England. I also loved Heath and Lucy. They reminded me a bit of Rhett and Scarlet except Rhett was a rebel and Scarlet was the yankee. Now, I'm hoping to find Damon's story. He ended up being one of my favorite characters in this one.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cerita bagus buat LK yg waktu nulis nya pas umur 20 an...lumayan juga uhuk2nya, lumayan hot buat penulis umur 20an hihihihihihihihihi

"Heath berguling telentang dengan puas"...hahahha..can you guess?
Itu cerita indah nya...gak indahnya apa? si Lucy...lagi make love pertama, malah mikirin Daniel,mantan tunangan nya yang katanya sangat dia cinta...plaaaaakkk..... [image error]
Langsung loyo dan ngeloyor pergi deh si Heath...... [image error]

Diawal si Lucinda ini, ketemu Heath Payne waktu dia kecebur sungai dingin dan di selamatkan Heath (mereka waktu itu di masa pasca perang Selatan Utara, Lucy orang Utara, dan Heath orang Selatan).....
Heat di akhir cerita, dikisahkan ternyata sudah jatuh cinta setengah mati sama Lucy yang imut dan cantik jelita...waktu liat Lucy laginyebrang jalan....langsung deh dia bertekad buat ngerebut Lucy dari tunangannya ,Daniel, yg sok, dan dingin,khas cuaca di Utara.... [image error]

Heath gak putus asa ngejar Lucy,sampe dia diem aja di hina2 sama para yankee itu (sebutan org Selatan buat orang Utara)....Lucy yang biasa di perlakukan dingin dan selalu di gantung gak jelas kapan menikah after tunangan 3 tahun....naksir lah sama Heath ..apalagi afetr mereka menghabiskan 2 malam di rumah Heath....hm, gak ngapain sih secara Lucy masih aja mikirin Daniel yang berkumis tebal mirip abang jampang itu...hiiiiiiii...... [image error]


Akhirnya sampai pada satu malam ada kebakaran di rumah Mr.Emerson, yang membuka kesempatan Heath buat seduce Lucy dan berharap ada mergokin mereka...dan benarlah, malah Daniel dan Sally sahabat Lucy yang melihat kejadian si Lucy telentang sambil di cipokin dan diremas2 payudaranya sama Heath wakakakkakakak [image error]

Langsung jatuh saat itu uga reputasi Lucy, dikucil kan masyarakat dan di putusin Daniel. ....dalam keadaan putus asa, dia terpaksa menerima lamaran Heath...yg katanya menebus rasa bersalah nya.....padahal siiiiiiiiih...hal itu sudah lama di rencanakan Heath...pokok nya mau gimana kék caranya, dia harus bisa menikahi Lucy....!!! [image error]

Menikah lah mereka, dan malam pertama mereka, sungguh awful seperti yang aku tulis di atas...jelas lah Heath ngambek, trus menyibukkan diri dengan bisnis nya di Boston, pulang tengah malam melulu, sampai Lucy curiga kalo Heath nemuin mistress nya disana... [image error]

Tapi, ini yg aku suka sama Heath..sebrandal apapun dia sebelum menikah (Heath ini mantan tahanan perang yg frustrasi abis sama keadaan perang), dia setia banget lho sama bininya biarpun kelakuan bininya minta di gamparin nih di awal2......huffttt...


Pindah ke Boston,mulailah hidup mereka seperti rainbow cake yg warna warni itu....dari sakitnya Heath yg nyebut2 nama Raine mantannya saat demam, Damon teman heath yg cinta terpendam sampai kedatangan Raine after kematian suaminya Clay,yg kakak tiri Heath, hingga Raine yang berani2 nya masuk ke kamar mereka, yg punya niat tak senonoh mau seduced Heath saat istrinya ada di rumah !!! Gampar ! Dasar gateeeeel tuh perempuan...laki lo baru mati 2 mingggu woooooi...udah kegatelan ngegodain orang yg pernah lo tolak mentah gara2 uang !!! [image error]

Lengkap lah kejadian cemburu2an yg bikin aku pengen gamparin si Heath dan Raine sekaligus, mana Heath selalu ngebelain Raine dengan alasan Raine baru kematian suaminya lah, wanita lemah lah, menyebalkan.....
Belom lagi waktu si Raine gak mau di usir after kejadian waktu itu, yg bikin Heath pusing dan memutuskan bicara dengan Raine secara pribadi (atas permintaan Raine)....ini perempuan dasar gak tau malu ya...tipe perebut suami orang banget...malah nawarin diri ke Heath buat jd mistress nya juga gpp....getoooookkkkkkk...jambak rambutnya deh !!!.... mutilasi,panteeeekkkkk !!! [image error]

Huh, untung Heath setia dan bilang kalo dia mencintai Lucy,dan cuma Lucy...dan dengan geernya si Raine bilang apa ya yg kamu liat dari istrimu....Heath langsung bilang...walopun aku tau Lucy sangat cantik dan gak ada yg bisa nyaingin dia, dan dia tau gak ada kekurangan apapun dalam diri Lucy...uhuuuy... (mapus lo bitch!)....Heath bilang, dia cinta Lucy karena dia cinta...itu aja...kadang kita gak perlu alasan buat mencintai seseorang...you just ..love her....cinta cukup dengan cinta,cinta gak perlu alasan ini itu...yeeeeahhh...tepok2 punggung Heath... [image error]

Pulangnya, walopun mengharapkan sedikit "pertengkaran kecil"....Heath kaget karena Lucy menerima dia dengan tangan terbuka....mulut terbuka, kaki terbuka......hihihihihhihihi (ketawa mesum)... [image error]

Pokoknya recommended lah buku ini.....reallly love this complete story...
Poor Damon juga,yg terpaksa mengubur cinta nya demi persahabatan....

Tentunya baru bisa di baca setelah usia 18 tahun yaaaaa...because, you know what I mean guys....... [image error]

[Anto M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Era così diverso dagli uomini che l'avevano sempre circondata: era attraente, ma non come quelli ai quali era abituata. C'era qualcosa di rude e selvaggio in lui, una qualità per nulla alterata dal fatto che i suoi vestiti fossero di ottima fattura ed evidentemente costosi.
Era uno degli uomini più possenti che avesse mai incontrato."

Ecco un'immagine di Health Rayne, il protagonista di questo romanzo della Kleypas, romanzo scritto quando l'autrice aveva circa venti anni e che lei precisa nelle note, come a volersi giustificare del fatto che non fosse perfetto. Cara Lisa, proprio il fatto che questa splendida storia sia stata scritta quando eri giovanissima è un punto in più a tuo favore e mi porta a dare la massima valutazione. L'ambientazione è inusuale rispetto agli altri dell'autrice, ricorda Via col vento, quell'America della guerra civile fra nordisti e sudisti, dove il divario fra le due fazioni era ancora molto prepotente anche se la guerra era ormai terminata. Heath è tra i perdenti, porta sulla pelle e nel cuore i segni della guerra, ma è pronto a lottare per regalarsi un futuro migliore. Nel suo futuro lui vuole Lucy, non importa se sia già fidanzata con un idiota, non importava che fosse viziata e immatura (un altra caratteristica che mi ha ricordato Via col vento e la sua protagonista), non importa nemmeno che sia tanto testarda da non ammettere l'evidenza, Heath, in Lucinda vede del potenziale della donna che potrebbe diventare e lotta anche quando sembra sia una battaglia persa.

"Fingi che tu sia mia", solo per un minuto. Fai finta che non ci sia mai stato nessuno tranne me, che sono quello che ti è stato promesso. Fallo per me ... non te lo chiederò mai più. "

Certo qualche piccola imperfezione c'è, ma è uno di quei libri in cui ti ritrovi a sospirare più di una volta e, se riescono a farmi sospirare, le imperfezioni le dimentico.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realize when I picked up this book that it was one of Lisa Kleypas's earliest novels, but I guess that explains a few things.

It's very long and there's no over-arching plot to drive it. We're introduced to a lot of characters and 99% of them disappear from the story with no real resolution. The romance between the hero and heroine is inconsistent, fraught with long periods of icy avoidance, towering fights, and an honest-to-goodness rape scene in which LK has that brutalized heroine getting so turned on by her abuse that she literally begs the hero to keep going when he would have stopped (face-palm). And the ending is just as disappointing as the rest of the story because it feels like nothing has changed between them but we're supposed to believe that from here on out they live HEA.



The story begins with the heroine, Lucy, taking a dunking in a frozen river. The hero, Heath, saves her and they spend 2 days holed up in his cabin while she recovers. During this time Heath is mostly a gentleman but she can't help noticing how attractive he is, and how different from other men she knows. You see, Heath is a former Confederate soldier living in Massachusetts a mere 3 years after the end of the war. So he's not particularly welcome in the town of Concord.

We also hear quite a lot about a man named Daniel. He and Lucy grew up together, and Lucy always adored him so when he returned from the war they quickly got engaged, but Daniel always refused to set a date for the wedding. He kept saying that he couldn't marry her until he'd earned enough money to support them, but he’s also constantly berating Lucy for one thing or another.

Moving on, once Lucy is well again, Heath manages to get her back to town without anyone realizing that she's been missing, so her reputation is intact. But, before he lets her go, he says that she owes him a kiss for the sweet torture she's put him through the last few days. Of course his kiss is a revelation to her because it's so much more passionate than Daniel's chaste pecks.

After that, Lucy finds it hard to ignore Heath around town. They have several run-ins and we see that Daniel is quick to hurl insults at Heath for being a "rebel cur" whenever they meet. It's a side to Daniel that Lucy has never seen before and wouldn't have thought him capable of. She also starts to chafe under Daniel's constant reprimands and corrections and she realizes that he treats her like a child. But she's still determined to marry him and pushes him to set a date for the wedding, which he ultimately does.

Soon after there’s a fire in town and Heath has a close call with death. Lucy was very scared for Heath and follows him when he stumbles off. One thing leads to another and, even though they're only about 20 feet away from literally the whole town, she still lets Heath not only kiss her, but also bare her chest and fondle her. Lucy's best friend, Sally, finds them, quickly followed by Daniel. So Lucy is completely ruined and becomes an immediate outcast. She has no choice but to marry Heath, in order to save her reputation, but she's really pissed off about it. I didn't really like this turn of events. They had great sexual tension before this and had been inching toward each other just fine. But this threw a bucket of ice water on the whole affair.

On their wedding night, Lucy’s scared and angry and asks to postpone having sex. Heath, however, thinks it'll be worse for her to put it off and build up the fears in her mind, so he pushes forward. Things seem to be moving along rather nicely but it all gets ruined by talking. Heath says something that makes Lucy think about Daniel, and then he gets pissed that she's thinking of another man. She responds by yelling that she loves Daniel and always will. Heath gets dressed and storms out, the marriage unconsummated.

This caps off a long period of iciness between them. Heath is rich enough that he hires people to clean and cook for them so Lucy doesn't have to keep the house. None of her old friends want anything to do with her anymore and she no longer works in her father's shop. So she's idle and bored and eventually falls in with a crowd of other young, rich women whose husbands are busy all day with business.

Meanwhile Heath and Lucy are barely speaking. He works late and she goes to bed and pretends to be asleep when he crawls in beside her, never touching. When they do talk, it's always to fight. Eventually Lucy attends some event and Daniel and Sally are there and announce their engagement. Lucy's cut to the quick but eventually processes her thoughts enough to realize that she never would have been happy with Daniel so she holds her glass high in toast to the new couple along with everyone else. Heath sees this and they go home that night and finally have sex for the first time, which they both enjoy immensely.

Lucy's feeling like things are looking up now but then Heath comes home and just announces that they're moving to Boston and she's got two days to pack. This sends her into another flying rage and she screams about how she'll never leave Concord, and he can't make her. Heath responds by yelling back that she has to obey him because they're married.

Eventually this escalates into him raping her. It's a full-on rape with him ripping her clothes, pinning her down, and forcing himself on her. But LK writes the scene so that Lucy is unwilling turned on by these actions and so when Heath pulls away before Lucy reaches her orgasm - not because he had a twinge of conscience, but because he wanted to teach her a lesson about obeying him by pulling back and leaving her wanting - she literally begs him not to stop raping her. And when he cruelly mocks her for this, she crumples onto the bed, crying in humiliation. Only then does he start to soften and he finally deigns to join her back on the bed, say he's sorry, and then give her the orgasm she wanted. Afterward he tells her that they ARE moving to Boston and he won't hear any more protests against it. That she will play the dutiful wife, both in public and private, and that's that.

Lucy decides that she'll do just that. She'll PLAY that part, killing him with her sweetness and cooperation, but it'll be just play-acting. So they move into a big new house and she throws herself into her lady of the manor duties. She greets him at the door after work every day, talks business with him over dinner, and passionately matches him beat for beat in the bedroom every night. And her enthusiasm for the role does give Heath cause to reflect and regret his words that day because he's never sure if she's faking her enjoyment when she's with him or if it's genuine.

The reason they moved to Boston is because Heath decided to buy a struggling newspaper so that he could try to get his political views out to the public. He has a business partner named Damon who was actually the one bright spot in this book because he was well characterized. He started out stuffy and overbearing, convinced that women were all empty-headed, but as he spent time with Lucy, and Heath encouraged her to speak her mind, Damon started to change. He eventually fell in love with Lucy but it was subtly hinted at through the majority of the book, rather than stated outright, and it was an honorable love because he respected Heath, Lucy, and their marriage enough that he never tried to do anything about his feelings - even when he had a perfect opportunity to sabotage their marriage (more on that later).

Although Heath and Lucy’s marriage is doing well on the surface, there are still big walls between them. Heath refuses to tell Lucy anything about why he left the South, or what happened to him during the war. One night he comes home from the office in a fury because he and Damon have had a professional disagreement. He gets drunk and in his drunken ramblings, he mentions a woman named Raine. This gives Lucy pause, but she doesn’t pursue it.

A few more months go by like this and Heath is pushing himself too hard so he fall ill. He's sick and delirious for weeks and in his delirium he calls out for Raine a lot. Saying that he loves Raine like he could never love any other. He does not call out for Lucy during this time. Lucy doesn't like this and when she accidentally stumbles across a stack of letters in feminine handwriting, she gives into the urge to read them. They're letters from Amy, Heath's half-sister, and she talks about Raine often. Lucy learns that Raine is married to Heath's half-brother, Clay, and that Clay is laid up with some kind of back injury. Amy also says that Raine talks about Heath often.

Heath eventually recovers but as he's regaining his strength, he chafes under Lucy's constant fussing. He knows it stems from fear because he almost died so rather than yell at her, he erects another wall between them and goes on ignoring her for many more weeks. Lucy responds by doing the same and they're back to the icy, though polite, marriage. Just when Heath finally decides that he's done enough to reassert his independence or whatever and he's ready to start having sex with his wife again, he gets a telegram saying that Clay has died and Amy needs Heath's help sorting out the estate.

He tells Lucy that he'll have to leave immediately to see Amy and Lucy asks if she's the only one he'll be seeing. Heath is cagey and asks what she means and Lucy finally reveals that he'd been calling for Raine all through his sickness. Heath refuses to answer any questions about Raine and just says that she's his brother's widow.

Heath leaves and returns two weeks later looking healthy, tanned and happy. And who should step out of the carriage but Raine. And of course she's a raving beauty and possessed of the genteel Southern Belle manners that make Lucy feel awkward in comparison. Lucy is PISSED that Raine is there and that Heath is so blasé about it. He doesn't see why Lucy should be upset by this at all.

Raine embarks on a campaign to undermine Lucy's place in Heath's life without being obvious about it. She makes seemingly polite remarks that are actually clever digs and frequently reminds Lucy about how much history she and Heath have. Meanwhile, Heath has become a different person since Raine and Amy's arrival. He plays the part of Southern gentleman to their belle, where they artfully fish for compliments and he showers them upon the girls. He and Lucy have little time alone together and are still not having sex. Whenever she complains about Raine, he brushes her concerns off or accuses her of not trusting him. Even when she catches Raine trying to slip into his bedroom in her nightgown.

Eventually Amy fills Lucy in on their backstory, explaining that Heath had been in love with Raine and she claimed to love him back, but then she met Clay. Heath is the illegitimate by-blow of his father’s mistress but Clay was a legitimate heir. So Raine quickly switched her allegiance to Clay. But then by cruel twist of fate, Clay lost everything when the South lost the war while Heath ended up the rich brother.
Soon after Lucy confronts Heath with what she’s just learned. She can’t understand why Heath is so convinced that Raine is a nice person, after the way she ditched him. Heath then tries to make Lucy feel like a monster for thinking the worst of Raine. Pointing out that while Lucy was snug and safe in her Northern town, Raine had to deal with living in a war-torn nation where her neighbors were killed and homes were burned. He says that he understands why Raine chose his brother over him at the time and he sympathizes with her because of how helpless women are to provide for themselves, which Lucy should appreciate.

Lucy has a mental breakdown after this where she ends up screeching like a lunatic and Heath comforts her a bit and then tries to have sex with her (his answer to everything) but she says no and this time he doesn’t rape her, but says that he would have, if he thought she was denying him because she didn’t trust him. Because nothing builds trust in a marriage like rape, I guess. Then Amy gets shipped off to boarding school and Raine is supposedly on a boat bound for England, so things are back to normal. But then, a few days later, Lucy wanders into the newspaper office looking for Heath because a friend had told her that Raine was actually still in town. But that couldn't be, right? Heath wouldn't lie to her…would he? Damon tries to deflect but eventually has to admit that yes, Raine is still in town and Heath is with her right at that moment.

Lucy races off to confront him but Damon catches up and explains that Heath is actually in love with Lucy and everything he's done has been for her. Staying in the North, buying the paper, everything. Lucy listens and decides to give Heath the benefit of the doubt. But nothing really comes of it. Heath comes home late that night, says that Raine had told him she wouldn’t leave until they had a chance to speak privately, and he’d thought it best to take care of it without Lucy ever being the wiser. He expects Lucy to yell at him but instead she just says that they both want the same things. They exchange ILYs and head off to bed, saying that tomorrow they’ll start with a clean slate. The end.

On the whole this just wasn’t a very enjoyable story. It was hard to root for Heath and Lucy as a couple when they both did so much to sabotage their own relationship. The long periods of icy avoidance did nothing to make me wish for their HEA, and the final climax was, in a word, anticlimactic. Neither one of them really had the moral high ground in their relationship. She was a bratty shrew most of the time and he waivered back and forth between being a sexual abuser and a clueless or willfully blind idiot. There really didn’t seem to be any reason for Heath to have kept all his secrets from Lucy, other than plot contrivance so it could cause trouble later. I mean, once he found out that he’d been calling for Raine in his delirium and knew he was about to see her again, most people would have explained the situation to their wife so that her mind would be at ease, but not Heath. And then to actually bring her back to live at their house?!?! Is any man really that stupid? A lot of other reviewers seem to love Heath, but between the rape and the stupidity, he didn’t really do it for me.

The rest of the story was no better. There was no real payoff to the newspaper storyline. It was such a big focus of the second half of the book, but nothing came of it. There was no big story broken by Heath and his team that change the world or anything like that. I also thought it was odd that Lucy never turned up pregnant, considering how much sex they were having in between the periods of ice-warfare.


Overall just not satisfying. They were an exhausting pair to read about and the book felt more like it just stopped rather than ended.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me ha parecido un libro por momentos aburrido. Yo sé que es el segundo de Kleypas y que la misma autora ha dicho que sus cuatro primeros libros no son como los siguientes. Y haber se nota que es un Kleypas el protagonista es un típico protagonista Kleypas aunque aún sin pulir.
Pero me ha parecido que tenía capítulos muy largos donde pasaban muchas cosas y tenía la sensación de que se arreglaban algunos problemas y pasaban otros nuevos.A veces tenía la sensación de que era eterno. Creo que la autora al ser novata no sabia desarrollar de una manera que enganche el desarrollo y la trama pasaban muchas cosas y pasa mucho tiempo en el libro y de repente se pasaba de una cosa a otra y pasaban semanas o meses y a veces todo en el mismo capítulo. Por eso no lograba conectar del todo con los personajes, aunque siento que he conocido más a Lucy que a Heath el libro está escrito más desde el punto de vista de ella.
De Heath no entiendo muy bien los motivos que le movieron a irse al norte. Aunque al final diga que es por ella que desde que la conoció quería conseguirla. Aunque me gustó ese argumento romántico, me resultó poco creíble y más si no sabía si iba a tener éxito conquistandola estando prometida.
Es un libro de los 80 pero es bastante moderno para la época que está escrito. Se habla de cosas históricas que están guay porque a mí me encanta la historia. De la guerra de secesión, la posguerra, y sobretodo de la prensa del momento.
Los protagonistas tienen sus fallos y a veces tienen comportamientos irracionales. La protagonista al principio es un poco mimada y mojigata, quiere casarse a toda costa con su prometido pero no sé qué le ve ya que desde el primer momento me parece insoportable. Y el protagonista es liberal quiere que ella tenga su propias opiniones y visión propia, incluso la insta a escribir para su periodico. Pero a veces también se muestra machista y hay una escena un poco bodice ripper que se llamaban. Aunque la protagonista para mi evoluciona mucho. Y bueno lo he terminado esta tarde y reconozco que aún lo estoy recordando. Y bueno en realidad se me ha hecho pesado por los capítulos porque yo leo por capítulos, no puedo dejar un capítulo a medias tengo esa manía. En un futuro lo releere porque pienso que puede sacar mejor nota. Mi puntuación es un 3.

[Vivi220414 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stelle
Un ambientazione diversa rispetto al suo solito, la Kleypas lascia l'Inghilterra e ci porta in America dopo la guerra di secessione, un romance che sotto certi aspetti ricorda via col vento, ma al contrario di questo, ci troviamo al nord tra Concord e Boston, nonostante la guerra sia terminata, i suoi echi sono ancora presenti e gli animi ancora pronti per infuocarsi; Heath uomo del sud è visto con diffidenza e rancore, ma Lucinda non ha mai conosciuto un uomo come lui, così affascinante e passionale, capace di scherzare e parlare di tutto con lei, al contrario del suo freddo e compassato fidanzato! Per tutta una prima parte, nonostante sia attratta da Heath, continua ad avere il prosciutto sugli occhi, le avrei volentieri dato una scrollata, mi ha ricordato Rossella, per fortuna si è redenta e ha capito chi aveva vicino, ma non sarà facile giungere ad un'intesa, le differenze tra loro esistono e Heath è chiuso a riccio sul suo passato, tante le incomprensioni, tutte e due sono orgogliosi, ma alla fine vince l'amore... Come al solito la Kleypas eccelle ❤️

[Océano de libros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiel a Lisa Kleypas me dispuse a leer una de las primeras novelas que escribió y aunque ya se le notaba su capacidad para traernos historias interesantes y lo que sería su forma de escribir, todavía no alcanzaba el potencial de hoy en día.

La novedad que encontramos es la ambientación de la novela en 1870, Massachusetts, Nueva Inglaterra, así que dejamos los salones de baile londinenses y nos encontramos tiempo después de la guerra civil americana donde aún hay disputas entre la población de los dos bandos, entre los que pertenecieron a la Unión y a los de la Confederación.


Lucinda Caldwell, es una joven sencilla que busca formar una familia junto a su prometido pero un hecho desafortunado la hace conocer al detestado sureño, Heath Rayne.


Aquí no tenemos un romance al instante, la relación se irá poco a poco forjando. Me ha gustado mucho la primera parte tanto el primer encuentro (me fascinó esa forma de ser de Heath) como los intentos de él por conquistar a Lucy y un par de escenas entre ellos muy pasionales.

Lucy es un personaje que evoluciona muy bien, se observa su madurez. Al inicio es una chica muy inocente, sencilla, es inteligente y empática pero tiene aspiraciones muy simples junto al amor de toda la vida. Luego de conocer a Heath se vuelve más madura y avispada capaz de enfrentar los duros momentos que vendrán.

Heath es un personaje que tiene varias facetas...https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...

[Gio Listmaker · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF At 20%

I Cannot Believe Lisa Kleypas Wrote This.

[Bona Caballero · Rating 3 out of 5]

La segunda novela que publicó Kleypas, allá por 1988, no está tan mal para ser de aquella época. En algunas cosas sigue siendo un poco bodice ripper, pero también tiene ese esfuerzo por reconstruir una época histórica concreta: Nueva Inglaterra recién acabada la Guerra de Secesión. La norteña Lucinda Caldwell tiene novio, pero eso no le impide mirar con buenos ojos a Heath Rayne, un misterioso sureño que vive solo, viste muy atildado, y parece de vuelta de todo. Lucy no se resiste a su atractivo y él, por su parte, tampoco parece capaz de mantener las manos quietas. Acabarán en una situación comprometida, o sea, matrimonio obligado. Dos tercios del libro se dedican a ver cómo se enamoran estos dos, que se han casado un poco de carambola. El estilo es un poco más denso que las novelas Kleypas posteriores. Para mí la diferencia la marca ese extraño personaje, procedente del Sur derrotado y que vive en el Norte de la posguerra.
Crítica más amplia en mi blog.

[Dagmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't hear enough about this book and I'm not sure why because it's a total gem. I'm fortunate enough to have a beautiful original copy but you can get the updated 2011 cover with the original content. It's just a really damn fine book! I absolutely love that it's set against the backdrop of the end of the US Civil War as I've been reading books mainly set in England lately so this was refreshing. It's obvious Lisa Kleypas did a lot of historical research before writing this book; amazing attention to detail. I absolutely adored charming, steadfast, loyal Hero Heath Rayne, whose description made me think of a young Brad Pitt. Gorgeous love story in which the Hero encourages the heroine to be herself and one can see her self actualization throughout the book which was enthralling. This book is sensual, romantic, compelling, interesting and just an all-around solid good read. I can see myself re-reading it again in future for sure.

[Nicoletta Micillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐ e mezzo

[Jenny E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I was expecting to! That's always a really pleasant surprise, although I really shouldn't be surprised since it's Lisa Kleypas and even her "early novels" (published in 1988) are still a ton better than a lot of what I currently read!

I really liked a lot about this novel, including the characters. I think the people who were not as fond of this book were people who couldn't connect with the characters. If you don't like them by 50 pages in, I would say you're not going to like the story, because this book is HEAVILY character driven. There is very little actual conflict to the plot. Also, the H/h are married for more than half of this book , which some people may not like in a romance novel. I found it to be refreshing myself, as their "love story" happened sort of backward Also, I really enjoyed the post-Civil War setting of this book. I enjoyed the characters.

The ONLY real complaints I had were that I wish the ultimate conflict would have had a little more to it. Also, the biggest thing that irked me was there was no EPILOGUE. This book needed one in my opinion, and a view into their future would have been the cherry on top of an unexpectedly delicious dessert!

[aqsa · Rating 2 out of 5]

you can absolutely tell this book is almost 40 years old. its one of the first books kleypas wrote and definitely has that feeling to it.. it was too character driven and dragged quite a lot.

the ml being an (ex) confederate was… 😬 and while i’m not fully aware of american history, some of the language surrounding the war with the south is quite obviously uncomfortable and insensitive so that was weirding me out.

the mc is a little contradictory with her actions while the ml was switching back and forth in his behavior too and while i was eating up the arrange marriage dynamic and the heavy angst between them, it got tiring very quickly. the pacing is bad and there’s basically little to no plot and spends lots of time with the couple arguing and then a lot of historical info that felt almost academic… the romance was good at first, but lost its appeal eventually, as did the smut. which was sensual but also somewhat mild.

anyhow- im still combing through her works and hoping the later ones are more to my tastes

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, it's been ages since I have read a Historical Romance (Bodice Ripper). This has been compared by some to Gone With The Wind and as having no substance. I for one will say it's nowhere near GWTW. Sure it's about a yankee hero and a rebel heroine but that's where the comparison ends. I enjoyed reading this book. It is different from the other LK books I've read but diversity can be good.

[Stormi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Technically it was a DNF but since it was over 50% I’m going to count it.

This wasn’t enjoyable at all. I’m not one to shy away from more morally ambiguous hero’s, but the....scene really was too much for even my not delicate sensibilities. These two characters were horribly toxic, cruel, and somehow also indifferent to each other in the worst ways possible.

[ᑭᑌᑎƳᗩ [Punya Reviews...] · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

After my 2nd reading of the book...

Oh yes yes yes, I want Heath. I can’t seem to forget how crazy he was for Lucy through the whole story. I mean this is why I adore LK heroes; this is what I wanna see in my Romance, this is why this book is still one of my LK favorites. If I didn’t already know when I read it first it’s one of her earliest books, I wouldn’t have guessed at all. This book actually showed the brilliance LK would turn out to be in the later years.

The first half of the book bothered me a bit. No, not because I was bothered by writing or the plot; just the love triangle between Lucy, Heath and Daniel was annoying. Knowing Heath, of course, I was waving my fan girl banner at him! :p I don’t know a lot about American civil war but LK always has this ability to mesh history with her plots, that it’s never a tedious read. I don’t like to know about wars but the reality is, there is always one we are fighting; be it a real one or with our own life. Anyway, Heath was living in the North, when he met or rather saw Lucy and immediately fell in love. WOW but that’s what made me go cooing over him more because I loved the way he was so fixated on her. I didn’t mind what to he did to gain Lucy because ultimately, she never regretted it. Heath, being a ‘Rebel’ or a Confederate soldier, people in Concord generally can’t stand him. But, his charming personality along with his amazing self-confidence and a thirst to make a life of his own helped him forging his life here. In the beginning, Heath saves Lucy from drowning in an iced river and takes her in his home closeby. He takes care of her like a gentleman. Lucy didn’t know him that well, only that he was ‘famous’ because of his side in the war. Lucy spends 2 days in Heath’s house and because of the circumstances and the promise she made him do, the whole incident is kept in the dark. Of course, it was a matter of her reputation, his own ‘bad’ reputation and that Lucy is engaged to her childhood sweetheart and pride and joy of Concord because of his part in the war, Daniel. But, Lucy is definitely intrigued by this Southerner, who is very handsome and charming; there’s no way one can deny this man anything! She is definitely attracted and instinctively knows he’s too. But she still doesn’t know just how obsessed Heath is about her. The scenes and Heath’s thoughts give us a little outlook on his mind and Lucy. So, after two days, Heath drives her to her home but can’t help kissing her. He also makes some remarks about her engagement and how come Daniel hasn’t made her his yet etc. Lucy is quite angry and defensive about Daniel but whatever Heath told her was technically true. It doesn’t help that his kisses makes her forget about Daniel.

Then we get to see more about Lucy and her life. I don’t know why LK said she was spoiled. Personally, I didn't think so. First of all, she had a bit stubborn streak but does that make her spoiled? I don’t know. I was more than once annoyed by her thick headed thoughts but whatever I read about her life, I thought the girl was very neglected by her dad. He is never attentive to her, a self-centered, cowardly parent IMO, preferring his store over Lucy. Now, why I said that, will explain soon. Lucy’s mother was a totally different person, it seems. Daniel, her fiancé, was a totally stiff-arsed jerk. He’d been dangling Lucy around an engagement for 3 years but when Lucy asks for a deeper kiss and embrace, he denies it. After knowing Heath’s kisses, Lucy was pretty confused about her mixed feelings towards this Reb, yet she can’t but stop thinking and caring about him. The first half of the book was spend on this turmoil. Lucy’s seeing Heath and feeling something for him yet her confusion and guilt over the feelings that seem to surpass the one she has for Daniel. Daniel openly hates Heath, always trying to rile him up with his insinuations. But Heath, oh he’s so adorable. He never allows anyone or anything to run over him/his feelings, only exception being Lucy. They see each-other here and there, in her father’s store and in the discussions led by R.W Emerson that takes place there. Also, when she’s out with Daniel on a stroll on the 4th of July, he’s there with her best friend Sally. We also see how Daniel is always trying to suppress Lucy’s ‘wildness’ or her being herself, a person with a personality while Heath admiring her for it. I mean, there was no way I couldn’t adore Heath knowing the way he viewed life, the people around him but mostly what he felt for Lucy. One example was his shooting competition with Daniel when Lucy said the winner would get a kiss from her. Daniel was the best of the lot so Lucy did it deliberately, knowing he’ll win as usual. But oh boy, Heath surprised her, with the rest of the people in Concord. Then he did something so gentlemanly, knowing his feelings for Lucy... I actually wanted to shake and strangle Lucy myself!

Nevertheless, Lucy was also becoming obsessed about him but very confused at the same moment. She cares for him but she’s scared too. This I think I understood, considering the situation. One day, Emerson’s house caught on fire. Everyone was there to help. Heath was the ultimate hero, as he saved Emerson’s precious manuscript when no one was willing to go into the burning house, even though he didn’t agree with Emerson’s beliefs. Lucy helped out too, but Heath was a bit insane seeing her inside the house and very concerned about her safety. Anyway, Lucy was with Daniel and the others when she thought about Heath, of how lonely he was when he walked away saving the documents. She finds him in the nearby woods. When she begins to take care of him, Heath begins kissing her which led to a bit more. I loved it, the things he said to her. But, oh hell, disaster strikes when Daniel and Sally walked the same way and found them in an embrace. Sally, her so-called best friend, it seems can’t keep her big mouth shut and soon, Lucy’s reputation was totally, irrevocably ruined. Ironically, it wasn’t because that she was ‘seen’ with a man but that she was ‘seen’ with the ‘Reb’! After that you can guess, the whole town turned away from her. People who she knew all her life saw her as something to be abhorred and avoided. Her stupid father also asked her to move in with some unknown relatives since his business will go down if she stays here. I mean WOW! What a father! And then comes her cowardly fiancé. You don’t wanna know how he rejected her when she needed him the most. The only option was left to marry Heath, who had already approached her father for about this. I didn’t like the way Lucy saw it something akin to a slaughter. After Daniel rejected her, she acted as a martyr and married Heath. Her reaction about all these irritated the hell outta me.

Heath takes her to his home but she absolutely denies making love to him. I understood that she was scared with all the changes her life wrought in such a short time but hell, it went on for a really long time. But I also think, it was necessary for her to sort her feelings out for Heath. Heath was hurt by this obviously so he resorts to treat her with sickeningly polite manner, never making another advance towards her. But he’s almost always busy with his works. Before marriage, Lucy was confused about his job as no one knew what he does for a living. Heath told her something about making investments and so on. It might’ve sound mercenary from Lucy’s side but I thought she was just being practical so I didn’t mind about her inquiries. Anyway, so she makes friends with some so-called elite ladies of Concord, now that she’d got the money to spend. Heath isn’t really happy about this (some of the women weren’t the type to be a good influence so it was justified IMO) but doesn’t stop her either. They fought sometimes over such stuff. Then Lucy was feeling lost too. It seems like Heath has lost all the interest in her. Thought comes to her, like is he seeing another woman when he goes to Boston for several days? This had to be it since there’s no other way she can explain. In a party thrown by those society ladies, Daniel and Sally make an appearance and it seems like there’s an engagement announcement! I thought those two belonged together! Lucy so far avoided almost everyone she knew, including these two. She is a bit disconcerted about this latest development, feels a little betrayed too but she manages to muddle through. Heath was supposed to come and take her home. Then, suddenly he was there and gives her a look that makes more than one jaded (and immoral) housewives to become jealous of Lucy.

His eyes slid down the slender line of her throat to the pale, generous curves of her bosom, lingered there boldly and traveled back up to her face. His stare was so warm and thorough that she flushed as if he had touched her intimately in public, and he kept on looking at her even while he drank from the delicate wine glass. Her heart raced wildly as an electric current of awareness raced over her skin.

That night there was no way she was escaping her wifely duties. And she wanted it now. She wanted to know how it’d be with Heath. At first, I was pissed that it took Sally and Daniel’s engagement to jolt her and take a step. But oh, Heath has been so patient with him, such a gentleman! And the things he says to her when they’re in their house, as Lucy asks him if he’s been seeing another woman:

“There hasn't been any other woman," Heath said against her mouth, making her tremble. "There couldn't be. I'm too obsessed with my own wife. There's only one thing you can give me that no one else can . . . and heaven and hell be damned, I'll get it from you no matter how long I have to wait, no matter how hard I have to ride you. No, I'm not talking solely about my husbandly rights, although that would be a good place to start.”

(My frustrated rant: Ok, someone get me Heath Rayne!! Grrrr.)

Love scenes of this book were excellent, intense and needy. All of them, I loved them all. Lucy now knows she’s probably in danger of falling hard and fast for Heath, only she has no idea what his feelings exactly. Oh, she knows he wants her crazy but does he love her? The next day, Heath tells her he’d bought a newspaper in Boston and they’re moving... in 2 days! They have a fight over it because none of them wanted to give over. Heath was firm in his decision to move, Lucy to her not moving at all. I kinda understood some of her insecurities; since Concord was the only place she knew all her life. But Heath wanted her to see more of life that what Concord has to offer. What a man! This fight finally leads to Lucy’s threat of leaving him. And then, omigawd, follows one hell of a sexy scene, as Heath ‘made’ Lucy agree with his decision. Ummm, I loved it more because even though it was because he wanted to punish her in a way and hell it was HOT, he didn’t leave afterwards like he planned to. I kept on sighing, I mean WOW! They spend the whole night making love (Hello! Anyone? Where is Heath, damn it! *mutters under her breath*)

So Lucy, taking her father’s help, finally gets ready to move. Now she’s anticipating it more because she knows her feelings for Heath is strong enough to leave her old life behind. Heath was already in Boston, looking after the house he bought. I loved the scene when Lucy arrives to find Heath working with one worker there, arranging furniture and starts admiring the view … I mean Heath. Lmao Then she meets one of the Redmonds, Damon, who’s a partner with Heath for Boston Examiner. Redmond name is very famous in Boston, a very elite one along with the few others like them. Lucy doesn’t like Damon at first, thinking he’s a stiff, arrogant man, with stilted ideas about women and politics like many she other she knew in Concord. Yah, living with Heath took its toll on her! Hahaha The first days in Boston for them was perfect in one word. I loved their interactions, easy banters and passion for each-other. The paper was growing gradually, Heath being marvelous. He’s not new to working in newspaper since he sent reports of war straight from the field to various newspapers. When he tells Lucy of this, she knew who he was immediately and was quite impressed. Heath even wrote a book on his experience with his penname. One day just before Christmas, Heath returns home with a foul mood. He had some altercations with Damon about the paper. Heath would always talk to Lucy about his works so he drinks and talks to her when Lucy implores him to go on. But when he got drunk, he kept talking about his feelings for her. He didn’t know just to what extent he was revealing himself. He talks of how much he wanted her from the first moment and how much his want for her has grown. Then he blurts out a name, a girl named Raine and his time in the prison camp, about which he never talked to her. Lucy feels jealous and hurt but she doesn’t tell him anything thinking she’s his present and that’s all that counts. Not that Heath gave her any chance since he makes crazy love to her... again, through the night. But, the next day, he remembers almost nothing of what he said to Lucy. Later, Lucy coaxes Heath to take her to Concord to spend the Christmas with one of her neighbors. Daniel and Sally, as usual makes an appearance. Lucy finds out she feels nothing for them anymore. But Heath is jealous seeing her with Daniel. Then he takes her to a room and has this talk, which was just amazing to read. I so LOVED it. I think it was because Lucy made it clear, quite articulately, whom she prefers and wants. I loved this Lucy, who has matured into a delightful woman and made Heath a very happy man.

But, life doesn’t go on as Lucy would’ve liked it to go. Heath was working too hard and it was taking a toll on him. One day, she rebels against his self abuse, she was that concerned about him. I loved this scene too, how she tenderly holds Heath when he was asleep. The next day, Heath falls seriously ill with fever. Lucy felt lost and scared as it grew worse over a couple of days. One day, Damon comes to for an article. Lucy searches Heath’s desk for it and finds letters written in feminine hands. Lucy feels guilty yet very curious to know who wrote them. She reads them. They’re from his half-sister Amy. Heath has already told her he’s the illegitimate son of a wealthy man in Virginia. His mother died young. His father cared for him but his step-mother never did. His father died in the war. Now his half siblings are suffering because of the financial strains. The letters reveal that Heath’s half-brother Clay is very sick and Raine is his wife. Amy put a lot of what’s going on in her letters. Heath finally recovers from his illness after suffering for a few weeks but he put some distance between her and himself. They don’t make love and it hurts Lucy. But she says nothing. Heath was actually feeling lost and didn’t like the feeling of relying on someone so much. But, I thought either way it was kinda stupid.

A letter from Virginia arrives to let Heath know that Clay has finally passed away. He comes back home in a hurry and tells Lucy about it. It seems like his good-for-nothing step-mother wants to move out ASAP, leaving Amy alone. Lucy tells Heath Amy is welcome in the house, but ONLY Amy. In this altercation, Lucy informs him that she knows about Raine. Heath tells her how he loved her but she chose Clay over him because he was legitimate and had money. But, no matter how well Heath wanted to defend the b*tch, that woman turned out to be a snake. Heath leaves in a hurry and comes back after a few weeks. Lucy was anticipating his arrival. Ahe spend her time by taking care of Amy’s living arrangements. On the foyer, her eyes instantly zoom over Heath, looking all hale and hearty and very happy. She sees Amy too. And then she sees someone she didn’t think she would. She immediately knew who it was. She was hurt beyond comparison, couldn’t believe her eyes. How could Heath? Heath introduces her to Raine and Amy. It seems like the woman had nowhere else to go and jumped with them on the day they were leaving for Boston. It was a very calculating move as it was plain from her talks and innuendos to Lucy. Lucy only understood it so well. Oh the woman acted like she knows nothing, so charming when Heath was around but she obviously was looking for ways to veer Heath away from Lucy. There were more than one verbal battle between them. Lucy confronted Heath about it, which only hurt her more. Heath was a bit rude but also bewildered that Lucy would even be angry about this small thing. Stupid man! To him, she needed help and he helped her. Heath tells her she’d be gone soon, to England. Whenever Raine and Lucy talked, it was about staking claims- mostly by Lucy to make Raine understand Heath belongs only to her. Raine was some sneaky b*tch. Once Lucy catches her outside their room, after she comes out taking a bath. Heath was getting ready for bed. Raine acted as if she lost her way. This whole thing hung a pall over Lucy and Heath’s relationship. They don’t sleep together anymore, hasn’t since before he was ill. Heath wants to but Lucy won’t while Raine is under this roof. I didn’t think her demands were illogical. I would’ve acted the same way if this happened to me. Lucy was far nicer IMO, knowing what Raine’s intentions were. Amy was admitted to a highly recommended school for young women. Raine also leaves the same day.

Lucy was happy so far. Their relationship starts becoming normal when something happens again. In one of her club meetings (she’s attending a Ladies Intellectual club of Boston), some woman told her she saw Raine in town. Lucy is distraught and goes to the newspaper office. Damon talks to her, asking if she was here for the publication of her latest article. Yes, she’s published a few under penname on Heath’s encouragement. It’s pretty clear what Damon feels for her is more than a brotherly affection. Honestly I didn’t like it. No, don’t get me wrong. I liked Damon a lot; I wish LK would write his book since he deserves one IMO but his hidden feelings for Lucy were... ugh, let’s just say I wish it wasn’t this way. Damon admits that Heath isn’t here; in fact he’s out taking lunch with someone. Lucy immediately knew who it was. She feels at a loss but leaves nonetheless to confront Heath. Damon follows her. Heath was, meanwhile with Raine, talking to her. The woman discreetly proposes to be his mistress, talking nonsense about their ‘shared past’. But Heath very plainly told her he loves his wife, so there would never be anything between them. Outside, Damon talks to Lucy insider her carriage. He tells her about what Heath was before knowing her, about his wild, whoring ways and a nomadic life. It changed the moment he saw her and desired to marry. Lucy couldn’t believe that even before an introduction, Heath planned all this, including the buying of the Examiner! Damon was such a gentleman, asking Lucy to give Heath a chance to explain. Oh that man deserved his own book! Lucy takes Damon’s advice and waits for Heath to return home to her...

Love Come to Me was a beautiful and passionate love story, of which I simply couldn’t get enough. I totally thought Heath and Lucy were meant to be together. Oh, I cried and sighed more than once for sure. I rated it a 4 stars before, now it’s 4.5. Leaving it here, waving my *Heath Rayne Fan Girl* banner. *giggles*

[♥ℳelody · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of Kleypas's very first books. I was planning to read this for sometime. Interesting premise. For one of her very first books and early works the writing quality was still impressive and pretty strong. I just wasn't as enthralled with the story as I was with some of her other books (okay pretty much everything else lol). Still, it definitely had that Kleypas edge and dark tone which I loved. Plus it's filled with facts and descriptive detail to the historical/economic time setting. I adore Kleypas for always being so thorough and accurate to the time setting of her story.

What I struggled with were some of the hero and heroine's actions and story pacing. The first half I delved right into, Lucy the heroine did irk me in the beginning. Her stedfast belief that her prissy uptight fiance was *everything* she wanted and needed just made me roll my eyes. She was smart but incredibly naive and a tad self-serving. The thing I couldn't stand was her constant coddling and motherly simpering nature around Daniel, the ridiculously effeminate fiance. (RME) I swear the minute that man sniffled or was offended she would rush to sooth him you'd think he was a five-year old who scraped his knee. Gag me. Those scenes did make me a little uncomfortable with how motherly she was towards him and how quickly he would be offended, cause gosh darnit, he has such delicate sensibilities! The poor dear. Major eye roll moment. I don't know who I was embarrassed more for here Lucy or the simpering idiot Daniel.

Anyways, I'm SO glad Heath snatched her up and saved her from that idiot. Kleypas does describe Lucy as spoiled, while I didn't see that with how she was brought up but I did see it in her over-emotional quick temper that came out at times and the martyr act she pulled during the wedding ceremony with Heath. That really infuriated me. That whole scene and the snarky shrewish attitude of her's was utterly ridiculous. I was embarrassed for her. There were definitely a lot of contradictions with her personality. She's a spitfire with a sharp tongue but prudish with haughty sensibilities that irked me at times and confused me at others. I admired her at times but got annoyed with her at others. A lot of hot/cold moments for me.

As for our hero Heath Rayne, the Southern rascal who's the outsider in the Northern world, he was a scene stealer and so charming and such an engaging hero. But he lost some of that charming rakish wit and sense of humor in the second half that dulled him down a little. He frustrated me at times especially near the end. I wasn’t crazy about how Heath acted after they got married. His complete cavalier insensitive attitude towards Lucy regarding the Raine issue was just rage inducing. For someone so smart, sharp and knows how to read people his complete disregard for Lucy’s position and feelings was baffling for me. You bring home a woman who you once shared a history with (and didn’t bother to tell your wife about it) and expect your wife to be gracious and docile about the whole thing? Fuck no. That was beyond tactless and unfair. Yes he did expect her to be angry and it was unplanned but still. As much as I hated Lucy’s relationship with Daniel I didn’t like or agree with his comparison between Raine and Lucy. Lucy’s suspicion and distrust of Raine was justified and she had her number the minute that woman walked through the door. Heath on the other hand acted like it was no big deal and argued and threatened Lucy with ultimatums. Ridiculous. He just completely lost me and baffled me with how heavy handed he acted. Another part that disappointed me was the aftermath of Heath's illness. He was on the verge of death, in delirium with Lucy fearing that she would lose him only for him to act distant and cold to her afterward. And the reason being? Because it wounded his pride to have her look after him. :/ It's total alpha-male reaction, it was clear Heath was uncomfortable with the idea of his wife fussing over him and taking care of him, but it was disappointing nonetheless. I wanted to throttle Heath and hug Lucy.

I did enjoy moments where Heath and Lucy would goad each other, sass, tease and taunt one another into playful sometimes heated arguments I just wish we got more of that playful banter and not long drawn out periods of tension and disconnect. It really dragged the story out torturously slow in the second half and drove me nuts how Heath and Lucy would take turns pushing the other away for IMO stupid reasons. All that distance and hot/cold tempers made it a little hard to buy into their chemistry. Heath was described more than once as being crazy about Lucy and near-obsessed, I wanted to feel that but I didn't at times. Because of that I guess I wasn't as enthralled with them as I wanted to be.

The golden moment for me from the entire book were the two days Lucy spent with Heath when he saved her from the river in the early chapters. I loved everything about those scenes. It charmed me completely and sucked me in. I really wish moments like that were strewn in throughout the book more.

Overall, I did see how the conflicting personalities, lifestyles, ideologies and cultures clashed here. It was a major conflict/battle that caused repeated tension and angst between the H/HR and was very symbolic of what was going on between the South and North history wise. Heath and Lucy were the physical manifestations and symbolic of what was going on between both conflicting sides of the nation at the time, the parallels played out fully with how Heath and Lucy meet and share a life together. It was interesting to see how they finally found happiness. It's not a fav LK book of mine but I still enjoyed it.


Also this kind of side note, but I was really intrigued yet disheartened by Heath and Lucy's friend Damon Redmond. A quiet reserved yet mysterious businessman who ends up falling? for Lucy near the end. It made me sad for him and made me wish Kleypas wrote a book for him. I saw little hints here and there but wasn't sure where it was going to go but he definitely alluded to secretely harboring feelings for Lucy at the end. I'm just not sure what was the point of leaving it there at the end like that. That last scene in the carriage w/ Lucy broke my heart a little for him. I was hoping that he would find a happy ending as well. :(

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

This pains me.

Truly.

Devil in Winter proved that when Lisa Kleypas is on her game, her game is pretty fucking awesome. This book proves that when Kelypas is off her game, you may as well just get out your flat iron and spend three hours burning intricate patterns into your head and neck.

I...hated Lucinda. I loathed her. Despised her. As Brooke Dumas would say, "one hundred percent to the tenth power". Several times did I revisit the beginning of the book and think to myself, "Why couldn't Heath have been too late? Why couldn't she just have drowned?"

But then the unthinkable happened; I started to hate Heath, too! The handsome, sarcastic, sweetheart of a southern gentleman with a seriously broody side? Yes! I started to hate him. And that is unforgivable.

[*CJ* · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Love, Come to Me" is the story of Heath and Lucy.
When Southerner Heath rescues Northerner Lucy from drowning in a frozen river, he never expects to be blasted with attraction, or find himself drawn to an betrothed woman. Soon heated kisses lead to scandal and breaking of engagement, and a hasty marriage exposes past insecurities.
I love Lisa Kleypas- and she is one of my all time favorite authors- but this is one of her earliest works and it shows. We have the burning-slow-hidden obsession in a hero- but he is more mean than loving and the heroine is more childish than endearing.
There is LOADS of OW/OM drama and pining for them, oodles of misunderstandings, a forced/semi-consensual seduction scene and many of temper tantrums.
Nobody was likable, and the story was a bit tedious with all the newspaper and secondary character drama and in the end I wanted it to be over (hence it took me forever to read it).
One of my least favorite books by her.
Unsafe/SWE
1.5/5