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Capitol Theatre #2.5
SI, QUIERO
Rare book
176 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2016
615 people are currently reading
2009 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Kleypas
121 books31.4k followersLISA 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
October 31, 2023
Disinherited Andrew, Lord Drake, (a drunken rake) is trying to find a respectable lady to date so his dying father will put him back in his will and think he has changed his bad ways. Andrew’s friend (Cade Hargreaves) has an older sister (Caroline) who is a spinster at twenty-six, but she is very respectable. Caroline has been worried about her young, impressionable brother carousing around town with Andrew, losing money at the gambling tables, etc. So, Andrew and Caroline make a deal… Andrew will pay off her brother Cade’s debts, and quit taking him around town with him, if Caroline will date him for awhile so his father will think he is changing his ways before he dies and will put him back in his will. As time goes by, Caroline becomes impressed by Andrew when he seems to be making an effort to be a gentleman. And Andrew is finding himself very attracted to Caroline, who is not his usual type of woman. This was an enjoyable short story. I thought it was sweet how Andrew was always cleaning Caroline’s spectacles for her. And I liked the way he was changing his unsavory ways. There was a little bit of Christmas towards the end of the book. An entertaining historical romance by Lisa Kleypas.
August 31, 2018
Well, here's a Christmas time story if you needed one, and from none other than the always loved Lisa Kleypas. While it's supposed to be a Christmastime tale, the holiday doesn't happen till the last chapter of the book and is basically two pages long. Anyways, it was great at the beginning and then good in the middle and then turned shakey towards the end, then a HEA finish.
To start off, Kleypas always manages to write a story where it feels like the couple have been together for a long time! Which I love, and is usually a hard feat to accomplish for a short story. I only thought one bit was rushed and that wasn't until the end with the added drama. I thought it was so unnecessary and could have been ended at the Father's end.
Our heroine, Caroline (I don't even like the song but every time I read her name the song Caroline by Amine pops into my mind. DAMN YOU RADIO!) was likeable enough, she was the Spinster, with glasses, which is my favorite. She would snap at the hero (rightfully) and she was content with where she was, despite her annoying ass mother.
Our hero, Andrew, he was the typical rake, scoundrel, spendthrift, gambling, drinking, etc ya know. The usual. I liked that he admitted his attraction early on. He was changing in a good way because of the heroine. He was very honorable even at the end with the annoying stunt. There was mention of his past a lot for a short book too.
Now here's some WARNINGS to my friends and they were a bit distasteful, especially for a short book.
Quotes:
"Perhaps you should ask Lord Drake," Caroline suggested calmly.
"He will not discuss you," he replied with frowning contemplation
"Now stay back," he added curtly, "or you're going to lose you virginity in this damned garden."
He stared down into her smiling face, his expression softening. Before Caroline could react, he reached out and plucked her spectacles from her nose. "My lord," she said unsettled, "I wish you would stop doing that! Hand those back at once. I can't see."
Andrew extracted a folded handkerchief from his pocket and polished the lenses. "It's no wonder your eyes are weak, the way you go about with you spectacles smudged."
Something in her round-eyes faze made him uncomfortable, for he shifted his weight from one leg to another, and shot a baleful glance.
"And the way you dress reminds me of an unmade bed!"
"Does that mean you'd like to lie on top of me?" he asked.
Thanks for the rec, Steph. You know I enjoy any Kleypas book! I'm sad to say that the snippet of her upcoming story in the Ravenels series, I've already seen.
To start off, Kleypas always manages to write a story where it feels like the couple have been together for a long time! Which I love, and is usually a hard feat to accomplish for a short story. I only thought one bit was rushed and that wasn't until the end with the added drama. I thought it was so unnecessary and could have been ended at the Father's end.
Our heroine, Caroline (I don't even like the song but every time I read her name the song Caroline by Amine pops into my mind. DAMN YOU RADIO!) was likeable enough, she was the Spinster, with glasses, which is my favorite. She would snap at the hero (rightfully) and she was content with where she was, despite her annoying ass mother.
Our hero, Andrew, he was the typical rake, scoundrel, spendthrift, gambling, drinking, etc ya know. The usual. I liked that he admitted his attraction early on. He was changing in a good way because of the heroine. He was very honorable even at the end with the annoying stunt. There was mention of his past a lot for a short book too.
Now here's some WARNINGS to my friends and they were a bit distasteful, especially for a short book.
Quotes:
"Perhaps you should ask Lord Drake," Caroline suggested calmly.
"He will not discuss you," he replied with frowning contemplation
"Now stay back," he added curtly, "or you're going to lose you virginity in this damned garden."
He stared down into her smiling face, his expression softening. Before Caroline could react, he reached out and plucked her spectacles from her nose. "My lord," she said unsettled, "I wish you would stop doing that! Hand those back at once. I can't see."
Andrew extracted a folded handkerchief from his pocket and polished the lenses. "It's no wonder your eyes are weak, the way you go about with you spectacles smudged."
Something in her round-eyes faze made him uncomfortable, for he shifted his weight from one leg to another, and shot a baleful glance.
"And the way you dress reminds me of an unmade bed!"
"Does that mean you'd like to lie on top of me?" he asked.
Thanks for the rec, Steph. You know I enjoy any Kleypas book! I'm sad to say that the snippet of her upcoming story in the Ravenels series, I've already seen.
January 16, 2019
Nope, I just couldn't get into this one. I usually really like Lisa Kleypas but I honestly disliked both MCs. The heroine is a push over, she gets taken advantage by her clueless mother, her selfish brother and the her "hero" pretty much lead her around by the nose.
It read like a rough draft to a fanfic, tbh. The fact that Caroline was made to always bend to others and had to do all the groveling/pursuing was a huge deal breaker for me. I hate when the heroine is made to apologize or chase the hero and Caroline not only humiliates herself for this idiot but she ends up having to save the day it was too much. One of the many OW from Andrew's past (who also happens to be Caroline's cousin - ugh!) tries to blackmail him into marrying her. He decides that his past is too shameful and he doesn't want to subject Caroline to any more humiliation or pain because of it. His answer? Give in to the evil biotch and marry her, without clearing things up with Caroline first. Caroline ends up trying to force him to confess his love for her and not her cousin by seducing him. This was the most cringe worthy scene I've read in a long long time!
He constantly rejects her and for some reason (still unknown to this reader) Caroline doesn't take no for an answer and continues to force herself on him. But all is not wasted because the lady gets what she was after and it's a doozy!
Yes, that's right, he finally confesses his love for her and in the same sentence refers to her as a bitch! He is definitely a winner this one. NOT.
I love an insta love story and I like a confirmed bachelor turned besotted lovestruck alpha but when you give me an OTT manwhore who has been with everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) I need a more fleshed out character than Andrew and a lot more time than this short novella allows to see the growth and maturity of the character. I just wasn't buying Andrew's complete change of heart and Caroline's love for him honestly baffled me. They profess to hate each other on page one and just a few pages later, they both are suddenly and way too unconvincingly falling for each other? After literally a handful of conversations. Yeaaaah, no.
It read like a rough draft to a fanfic, tbh. The fact that Caroline was made to always bend to others and had to do all the groveling/pursuing was a huge deal breaker for me. I hate when the heroine is made to apologize or chase the hero and Caroline not only humiliates herself for this idiot but she ends up having to save the day it was too much. One of the many OW from Andrew's past (who also happens to be Caroline's cousin - ugh!) tries to blackmail him into marrying her. He decides that his past is too shameful and he doesn't want to subject Caroline to any more humiliation or pain because of it. His answer? Give in to the evil biotch and marry her, without clearing things up with Caroline first. Caroline ends up trying to force him to confess his love for her and not her cousin by seducing him. This was the most cringe worthy scene I've read in a long long time!
He constantly rejects her and for some reason (still unknown to this reader) Caroline doesn't take no for an answer and continues to force herself on him. But all is not wasted because the lady gets what she was after and it's a doozy!
"All right," he said in a gasp, holding completely still. "All right, I admit it... I love you, damned tormenting bitch-now get off of me!"
Yes, that's right, he finally confesses his love for her and in the same sentence refers to her as a bitch! He is definitely a winner this one. NOT.
I love an insta love story and I like a confirmed bachelor turned besotted lovestruck alpha but when you give me an OTT manwhore who has been with everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) I need a more fleshed out character than Andrew and a lot more time than this short novella allows to see the growth and maturity of the character. I just wasn't buying Andrew's complete change of heart and Caroline's love for him honestly baffled me. They profess to hate each other on page one and just a few pages later, they both are suddenly and way too unconvincingly falling for each other? After literally a handful of conversations. Yeaaaah, no.
April 24, 2021
A few scenarios were a bit weird at times. This was definitely not long enough to establish the characters properly or to a point where I cared much.
December 25, 2017
2 very sad stars for this novella.
I wish I could say "the scene" is what dropped the rating, but it's more than that. For those who have ever read a Kleypas novel, you know how lovely they are. She gives you flawed characters who you wind up loving, and you become heavily vested in them.
This book begins that way.
Lord Drake is a rake, not the sexy kind, but the realistic kind who are bloated from drink, who have dark circles beneath his bloodshot eyes. Who are broke from ruin of their own making. His father is on his deathbed and has disinherited him. Drake's solution is to find the best lady he knows and court her until his father believes he's turned himself around and reinstates his inheritance.
Caroline is the bluestocking spinster sister of Drake's friend. He tells her of his plan, knowing full well she doesn't approve of him, while at the same time noticing that she's actually really pretty. She tells him no, and he blackmails her. So far, so good. I'm loving it.
In effort to fake this turnaround, Drake has to quit drinking and womanizing. In order to burn off that desire to go back to his old ways, he takes up sport. And he begins to go from attractive rake to sexy (so sexy) lord.
But this is where I began to wish this was a full length book. We have a couple of important and sweet scenes and then... Three months later. Yep, Kleypas skips three months worth of falling in love, courtship, and romance.
Then of course The Scene. Guys. I will spoil this because this book is from '01 so I will not feel guilty. It's out there. It's been out for a while. Check out now if you don't want to be spoiled.
Okay so while she's hurting and angry, Caroline makes a throwaway comment to her brother about wanting him trussed up like a goose so she can do what she wants to him. She really means like give him a piece of her mind. Well, her brother delivers. She is locked in a cabin with a chained up to a bed Drake and she has the key.
She goes from feeling terrible and going to free him, to deciding to prove to him how good they could be together. He not only asks her to stop so many times, but he means it. And you get the sense that he means it. She is literally naked on top of him trying to shove him in, but he finally makes her believe he means stop, and she does and starts sobbing. It was so beneath this author. He didn't say no, but also seem like he wanted it. He said 2 pages worth of no. Now before you go saying, "Well this book is older, it was just not as prevalent in that time. Dude. This book is from 2001 not the Dark Ages. I don't buy it.
Then there's a blackmail scheme that was out of left field, and a weird ending, and it was so rushed. I feel like Kleypas is better than this.
I wish I could say "the scene" is what dropped the rating, but it's more than that. For those who have ever read a Kleypas novel, you know how lovely they are. She gives you flawed characters who you wind up loving, and you become heavily vested in them.
This book begins that way.
Lord Drake is a rake, not the sexy kind, but the realistic kind who are bloated from drink, who have dark circles beneath his bloodshot eyes. Who are broke from ruin of their own making. His father is on his deathbed and has disinherited him. Drake's solution is to find the best lady he knows and court her until his father believes he's turned himself around and reinstates his inheritance.
Caroline is the bluestocking spinster sister of Drake's friend. He tells her of his plan, knowing full well she doesn't approve of him, while at the same time noticing that she's actually really pretty. She tells him no, and he blackmails her. So far, so good. I'm loving it.
In effort to fake this turnaround, Drake has to quit drinking and womanizing. In order to burn off that desire to go back to his old ways, he takes up sport. And he begins to go from attractive rake to sexy (so sexy) lord.
But this is where I began to wish this was a full length book. We have a couple of important and sweet scenes and then... Three months later. Yep, Kleypas skips three months worth of falling in love, courtship, and romance.
Then of course The Scene. Guys. I will spoil this because this book is from '01 so I will not feel guilty. It's out there. It's been out for a while. Check out now if you don't want to be spoiled.
Okay so while she's hurting and angry, Caroline makes a throwaway comment to her brother about wanting him trussed up like a goose so she can do what she wants to him. She really means like give him a piece of her mind. Well, her brother delivers. She is locked in a cabin with a chained up to a bed Drake and she has the key.
She goes from feeling terrible and going to free him, to deciding to prove to him how good they could be together. He not only asks her to stop so many times, but he means it. And you get the sense that he means it. She is literally naked on top of him trying to shove him in, but he finally makes her believe he means stop, and she does and starts sobbing. It was so beneath this author. He didn't say no, but also seem like he wanted it. He said 2 pages worth of no. Now before you go saying, "Well this book is older, it was just not as prevalent in that time. Dude. This book is from 2001 not the Dark Ages. I don't buy it.
Then there's a blackmail scheme that was out of left field, and a weird ending, and it was so rushed. I feel like Kleypas is better than this.
June 19, 2021
1,5 Stars
Though smoothly written, the characters development felt lacking even for a novella.
Prim and proper spinster and reforming rake entering a sham betrothal was a fun premise, but some silly kidnapping and blackmailing shenanigans towards the end and a heroine who wouldn’t take no for an answer when approaching a bed, which led to some egregiously cringe-worthy times, ultimately ruined it for me.
December 31, 2023
5 stars!
This is a "must-read" for me every Christmas and I think I have been reading it every Christmas for the last 10 years (at least). It never gets old, always gives me goose-bumps (the good kind), and still makes me laugh.
Caroline is a 26 year old unmarried woman who is technically "on the shelf". Her brother's good friend, Andrew, is about to be stripped of his father's money because of his drinking, gambling, and womanizing. Andrew hopes to "court" the straight-laced Caroline in hopes that his father will believe that he has changed and reinstate him in his will. He blackmails Caroline so that she will agree to the pretend courtship.
Things don't go as planned for Andrew and Caro when they actually fall for one another.
For being a novella, this is a relationship that I actually believed in. The reader sees Andrew grow and change and see Caro fall in love with her "hated enemy". I love this type of love story and if you like an "enemy-to-lover" story, then look no further.
As a quick add, this novella contains one of the most unique and memorable love scenes ever.
If I had to pick one novella as my favorite, it would be this one. Highly recommended.
This is a "must-read" for me every Christmas and I think I have been reading it every Christmas for the last 10 years (at least). It never gets old, always gives me goose-bumps (the good kind), and still makes me laugh.
Caroline is a 26 year old unmarried woman who is technically "on the shelf". Her brother's good friend, Andrew, is about to be stripped of his father's money because of his drinking, gambling, and womanizing. Andrew hopes to "court" the straight-laced Caroline in hopes that his father will believe that he has changed and reinstate him in his will. He blackmails Caroline so that she will agree to the pretend courtship.
Things don't go as planned for Andrew and Caro when they actually fall for one another.
For being a novella, this is a relationship that I actually believed in. The reader sees Andrew grow and change and see Caro fall in love with her "hated enemy". I love this type of love story and if you like an "enemy-to-lover" story, then look no further.
As a quick add, this novella contains one of the most unique and memorable love scenes ever.
If I had to pick one novella as my favorite, it would be this one. Highly recommended.
January 2, 2021
2.5 Stars
Not quite how I wanted to start the new year -- but here it is.
A 95-page Christmas novella – and novellas aren’t a favorite of mine. For the most part, I’m always left feeling like I didn’t get the complete story. There is not enough attention given to the details – especially in a fake relationship plot as is found here. Of course, Kleypas is a fantastic writer and I read the Capitol Theatre series in 2010, and very much enjoyed both, as well as so many of her other books, both historical and contemporary.
Here, there’s just no solid and convincing evidence of the real draw in their road to falling in love. We don’t get to experience their road to happily-ever-after. Nothing giving a real look inside either main character's head and only a mere glimpse of their personalities. It's very stark and stiff. Everything is moving at warped speed from hate to undying love with pledges of forever after. Also, promoted as a Christmas novella, there’s very little – other than a few descriptions of holly and berries and red ribbons, to associate the story to the Christmas season. Throughout, there was just so much potential for far more.
Not quite how I wanted to start the new year -- but here it is.
A 95-page Christmas novella – and novellas aren’t a favorite of mine. For the most part, I’m always left feeling like I didn’t get the complete story. There is not enough attention given to the details – especially in a fake relationship plot as is found here. Of course, Kleypas is a fantastic writer and I read the Capitol Theatre series in 2010, and very much enjoyed both, as well as so many of her other books, both historical and contemporary.
Here, there’s just no solid and convincing evidence of the real draw in their road to falling in love. We don’t get to experience their road to happily-ever-after. Nothing giving a real look inside either main character's head and only a mere glimpse of their personalities. It's very stark and stiff. Everything is moving at warped speed from hate to undying love with pledges of forever after. Also, promoted as a Christmas novella, there’s very little – other than a few descriptions of holly and berries and red ribbons, to associate the story to the Christmas season. Throughout, there was just so much potential for far more.
September 19, 2017
Corto y encantador.
Lord Drake está desesperado por conseguir una mujer dispuesta a dejarse cortejar por él, que sea respetable y que esté de acuerdo en firgir una relación con él para así evitar ser desheredado con la inminente muerte de su padre a la puerta. Desde el momento en que se ven existe la tensión, ella es fría, calmada, elegante; mientras que él es un libertino, tomador y mal hablado. Todos los requisitos que tiene una pareja para equilibrarse. Cuando la farsa se convierte en verdad... y la atracción no se puede negar, es que ambos están en problemas.
PERSONALMENTE. Me encanta cuando ella toma las riendas en esa cabaña, no agregaré más para no hacer spoiler xd
Lord Drake está desesperado por conseguir una mujer dispuesta a dejarse cortejar por él, que sea respetable y que esté de acuerdo en firgir una relación con él para así evitar ser desheredado con la inminente muerte de su padre a la puerta. Desde el momento en que se ven existe la tensión, ella es fría, calmada, elegante; mientras que él es un libertino, tomador y mal hablado. Todos los requisitos que tiene una pareja para equilibrarse. Cuando la farsa se convierte en verdad... y la atracción no se puede negar, es que ambos están en problemas.
PERSONALMENTE. Me encanta cuando ella toma las riendas en esa cabaña, no agregaré más para no hacer spoiler xd
November 2, 2017
No conocía esta novela corta de Kleypas y decidí leerla a pesar que estoy harta de las historias de libertinos traumados por el padre y vírgenes virtuosas.
Hasta más o menos la mitad me resultó deliciosa y divertida. Pero el conflicto final me pareció fuera de lugar, traído de los pelos, sorpresivo o como quieran llamarlo.
Me generó angustia principalmente porque cambió el tono de la novela y la resolución me pareció bastante inverosímil. Quizá si se hubiera narrado de otra forma o con otros tiempos...
Una lástima.
Hasta más o menos la mitad me resultó deliciosa y divertida. Pero el conflicto final me pareció fuera de lugar, traído de los pelos, sorpresivo o como quieran llamarlo.
Me generó angustia principalmente porque cambió el tono de la novela y la resolución me pareció bastante inverosímil. Quizá si se hubiera narrado de otra forma o con otros tiempos...
Una lástima.
December 16, 2016
This novella was part of a Christmas anthology years back and has just been released on its own. I didn't remember that I had read this story and I was sure I hadn't until the end. Then I recalled it.
It's not bad. IMO, Kleypas has gotten much better over the years. The setup is the classic "fake courtship that becomes real" trope and it works very well for the most part. There's just a bunch of business at the end that doesn't really work for me.
Actual spoilers:
I can't be happy with the way this was worked out even though I'm happy that it DID work out. If that makes sense.
The main thing I got from this novella is the urge to reread a whole bunch of Kleypas. Her books are like that. Every time I read one, I'm compelled to go back and reread them all.
It's not bad. IMO, Kleypas has gotten much better over the years. The setup is the classic "fake courtship that becomes real" trope and it works very well for the most part. There's just a bunch of business at the end that doesn't really work for me.
Actual spoilers:
I can't be happy with the way this was worked out even though I'm happy that it DID work out. If that makes sense.
The main thing I got from this novella is the urge to reread a whole bunch of Kleypas. Her books are like that. Every time I read one, I'm compelled to go back and reread them all.
December 20, 2017
Let me preface this by saying, I’m a big fan of Lisa Kleypas. Her Travis Family books are some of my favorites.
However.
This story is NOT OKAY. If Caroline was the one tied up against her will, and being undressed and fondled WITHOUT HER CONSENT, and saying NO. STOP. DON’T, repeatedly, it would be sexual assault. Almost rape.
But since it’s a MAN on the receiving end it’s considered sexy and romantic? NOPE. The double standard here is gross and NOT OKAY.
In the Avon FB group I’m a member of, one of the others brought this to the publisher’s attention. Their answer? In a nutshell: It’s a story LK wrote years ago. It was different then. It was included in a Christmas anthology as a rebrand of sorts. A way to hopefully draw in new readers to her books. Besides, can she, and every other romance author who has ever written a questionably rapey scene (because there are a lot of them from back in the day, apparently) really be expected to go back and rewrite those books? No.
Maybe not, but if LK didn’t have the time to rewrite the scene then maybe Avon shouldn’t have republished it.
However.
This story is NOT OKAY. If Caroline was the one tied up against her will, and being undressed and fondled WITHOUT HER CONSENT, and saying NO. STOP. DON’T, repeatedly, it would be sexual assault. Almost rape.
But since it’s a MAN on the receiving end it’s considered sexy and romantic? NOPE. The double standard here is gross and NOT OKAY.
In the Avon FB group I’m a member of, one of the others brought this to the publisher’s attention. Their answer? In a nutshell: It’s a story LK wrote years ago. It was different then. It was included in a Christmas anthology as a rebrand of sorts. A way to hopefully draw in new readers to her books. Besides, can she, and every other romance author who has ever written a questionably rapey scene (because there are a lot of them from back in the day, apparently) really be expected to go back and rewrite those books? No.
Maybe not, but if LK didn’t have the time to rewrite the scene then maybe Avon shouldn’t have republished it.
December 26, 2016
2,5 stars
Usually, I'm a fan of short stories but this one was so rushed. We didn't get to experience their falling in love. It was like reading a little summary and after we're supposed to believe it. The part that disappointed me the most was the noble idiocy at the end. It was so abrupt. This short story went from "hate" then "love" and suddenly "I can't leave without you, but I'm doing this for you". So yeah, while it wasn't horrible, it could've been waaaay better.
Usually, I'm a fan of short stories but this one was so rushed. We didn't get to experience their falling in love. It was like reading a little summary and after we're supposed to believe it. The part that disappointed me the most was the noble idiocy at the end. It was so abrupt. This short story went from "hate" then "love" and suddenly "I can't leave without you, but I'm doing this for you". So yeah, while it wasn't horrible, it could've been waaaay better.
September 12, 2024
Lisa Kleypas proves once again what an excellent story teller she is. In just a short length of pages manages to portray the characters, a struggling situation, formidable obstacles, a heroine that hides more than her appearance display and a doomed hero, all wrapped up in a sweet, sexy romance for our enjoyment.
She's a winner once again!
She's a winner once again!
December 21, 2016
This left me so happy with a hint of nostalgia!
"Because you're mine" was my second Historical ever and my first Lisa Kleypas- and I was so happy to meet Logan and Maddy again- and yes read Drake and Caroline's story (I thought I had read it before but somehow didn't remember it)
AND OMG THE SNEAK PEEK OF DEVIL IN SPRING
"Because you're mine" was my second Historical ever and my first Lisa Kleypas- and I was so happy to meet Logan and Maddy again- and yes read Drake and Caroline's story (I thought I had read it before but somehow didn't remember it)
AND OMG THE SNEAK PEEK OF DEVIL IN SPRING
December 23, 2016
One of those four stars that is more for the bones of the story than what's here. The feelings progressed too quickly and the final conflict was pretty eh. But I liked the characters! I liked the relationship!
December 26, 2023
Cute novella - but the hero was the passive hand wringing sort who stood by while the heroine fixed all his/their problems. He likely would have married someone else if the h hadn’t intervened and become very oddly sexually aggressive out of the clear blue sky. Overall an entertaining short read though.
November 25, 2017
Miss Caroline Hargreaves is 27 and wears spectacles so OBVIOUSLY she's unmarried. Andrew, Lord Drake, is a rake and needs a convenient spinster to trick his father into allowing him to inherit all the monies. It goes great until it goes badly until they live happily ever after.
1. That ending was a freaking disaster.
2. No, really, it kind of ruined any goodwill the rest of this novella had going for it because it was A Mess.
3. It was a fun little romp but if you choose to read it, DO NOT FINISH IT. Just stop after Caroline's interview with Andrew's father and imagine a happy ever after that doesn't involve blackmail or guilt or sexual assault committed on the hero by the heroine. Seriously: save yourselves.
1. That ending was a freaking disaster.
2. No, really, it kind of ruined any goodwill the rest of this novella had going for it because it was A Mess.
3. It was a fun little romp but if you choose to read it, DO NOT FINISH IT. Just stop after Caroline's interview with Andrew's father and imagine a happy ever after that doesn't involve blackmail or guilt or sexual assault committed on the hero by the heroine. Seriously: save yourselves.
June 24, 2020
How do you redeem a character who drunkly threatened the hero of a previous novel with a pistol? If you’re Kleypas, I supposed its by making the hero (and heroine) even more heinous.
Honestly, what was she thinking?
Honestly, what was she thinking?
May 6, 2018
Qué buen rato he pasado. Me han encantado los dos protas. Qué pena que sea tan cortito
December 15, 2018
Opposites Attract
Love To Hate
Both The Heroine And The Hero Have An Out Of Character Experience
Which Left Me Confused
I Enjoyed It Up Until The Last 10 Percent So Three Stars
January 18, 2018
Andrew, lord Drake es un joven que ha llevado una mala vida, su afición por la bebida y el juego lo han llevado a que su padre lo desherede. Tratando de recuperar lo perdido Andrew pacta con la hermana de su mejor amigo Cade una relación para que su padre le devuelva sus derechos. Pero su plan no será fácil puesto que la supuesta pretendiente Caroline Hargreaves no lo tiene en muy alta estima.
A pesar de ser un relato corto tengo que decir que me ha parecido bastante cumplidor a pesar de eso, su extensión. Sinceramente estaba esperando conocer un poco al personaje de Andrew que había aparecido en libros anteriores y conocer el motivo de esa conducta tan autodestructiva y ha sido una sorpresa agradable. Me ha gustado mucho la pareja de Caro y Andrew, no pueden ser más distintos y llevarse como perros y gatos y que de ellos surja algo especial. Ha sido enternecedor, divertido por el pique entre los protagonistas, me ha saltado el corazón con cierto episodio que me dejó fría y otro que no puede ser más pasional. En definitiva, este final de la serie me ha dejado bastante satisfecha a pesar de no haber empezado con buen pie.
A pesar de ser un relato corto tengo que decir que me ha parecido bastante cumplidor a pesar de eso, su extensión. Sinceramente estaba esperando conocer un poco al personaje de Andrew que había aparecido en libros anteriores y conocer el motivo de esa conducta tan autodestructiva y ha sido una sorpresa agradable. Me ha gustado mucho la pareja de Caro y Andrew, no pueden ser más distintos y llevarse como perros y gatos y que de ellos surja algo especial. Ha sido enternecedor, divertido por el pique entre los protagonistas, me ha saltado el corazón con cierto episodio que me dejó fría y otro que no puede ser más pasional. En definitiva, este final de la serie me ha dejado bastante satisfecha a pesar de no haber empezado con buen pie.
December 21, 2017
3.5 stars
December 21, 2016
This wasn't bad but it wasn't very memorable? The hero had potential and the romance was going along ok then it suddenly switched gears and I just didn't really like his behavior toward the end.
November 29, 2017
A cute HR novella with surprisingly good character development for a short book.
May 10, 2022
Relato cortito de esos navideños que tanto abundan en el ámbito anglosajón. Salió en la antología Wish list (2001). El tópico esta vez es el del joven calavera redimido por el amor de una mujer buena y virtuosa. Nada nuevo bajo el sol, con la peculiaridad de que él en realidad no quiere redimirse sino solo aparentarlo. Andrew, Lord Drake, le tira los tejos a la intelectualoide miss Caroline. A pesar de que él le cae como una patada en los ovarios, Caroline se prestará a ello. Ella le hará ver que hay alguien por quien merece la pena cambiar: él mismo.
Es una historia entretenida, que destaca, por un lado, cómo dos personas que no se caen particularmente bien empiezan a conocerse y enamorarse la una de la otra, contra todo pronóstico y dos, las escenas eróticas, que incluye hasta cierto inesperado bondage.
Crítica algo más extensa, en mi blog.
Es una historia entretenida, que destaca, por un lado, cómo dos personas que no se caen particularmente bien empiezan a conocerse y enamorarse la una de la otra, contra todo pronóstico y dos, las escenas eróticas, que incluye hasta cierto inesperado bondage.
Crítica algo más extensa, en mi blog.
December 28, 2023
1.5 stars
Lisa Kleypas is another author whose writing I find very dry. There is nothing extra to it, it really doesn't evoke any emotion in me, transport me to another world, or even just teach me something. It's just very cut and dry. I really don't understand the hype around her as one of the ~best~ historical romance authors. I've never finished a book by her and thought, wow, I want to read something else by her.
Anyway, I picked this one up because someone said it was a Christmas novella, back when it was still in season, so I picked it up, but it took me several days to finish this short 75 page novella for how slow it was, and for how boring her writing was.
Plus, it feels like Rochester
Lisa Kleypas is another author whose writing I find very dry. There is nothing extra to it, it really doesn't evoke any emotion in me, transport me to another world, or even just teach me something. It's just very cut and dry. I really don't understand the hype around her as one of the ~best~ historical romance authors. I've never finished a book by her and thought, wow, I want to read something else by her.
Anyway, I picked this one up because someone said it was a Christmas novella, back when it was still in season, so I picked it up, but it took me several days to finish this short 75 page novella for how slow it was, and for how boring her writing was.
Plus, it feels like Rochester
May 27, 2017
That was really quite enjoyable. I could almost overlook how instantly Caroline and Andrew fell in love because their observations and attraction to one another were just so cute and poignant.
The only problem that I had was . I'm glad that it ended the way it did, otherwise I would've been incredibly uncomfortable the way it was going.
Still, the introduction of the EOW was done quite well, and illustrated Andrew's character beautifully - in this particularly instance, I'm glad that his past indiscretions were brought to light rather than glossed over. It really demonstrated how much Caroline loved him, warts and all.
The only problem that I had was . I'm glad that it ended the way it did, otherwise I would've been incredibly uncomfortable the way it was going.
Still, the introduction of the EOW was done quite well, and illustrated Andrew's character beautifully - in this particularly instance, I'm glad that his past indiscretions were brought to light rather than glossed over. It really demonstrated how much Caroline loved him, warts and all.
December 27, 2016
I liked this story - I always love Lisa Kleypas's writing - but it felt like this would have made a better novel than novella. Andrew and Caroline were really interesting characters and Ms. Kleypas has a way of making the "fake courtship turns real" trope feel fresh, but too much was glossed over/rushed/skipped for the story to reach its full potential. It's a bit frustrating when you see such rich, complex protagonists and don't get to dive into their characters like you want. It's a case of missed opportunity, because all the elements of a fantastic book are there. As it stands, it's an entertaining story and I did like it, even if I really wish it were longer.
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