April 2018 Book of the Month Giveaway
May 18, 2018 08:17 PM Posted by juliannadouglas
My latest Book of the Month is a slightly older book that’s one of this author’s earliest works. When perusing reviews after reading it, I noticed that several readers weren’t as enamored of it as I was, feeling that the heroine was too much. Normally I’m not as big a fan of feisty spitfire heroines, but in this case Lily made sense to me. She’s without a doubt a headstrong, independent woman, but at the same time, her life underscores the difficulties a female in her position and with her temperament faced in an era where the word feminism wasn’t yet a part of the mainstream consciousness.
Left at the altar by a man who didn’t understand or appreciate her personality, Lily became a traveling companion to a spinster aunt who was as eccentric as she was and left Lily her fortune when she passed. Then Lily was sweet-talked by a silver-tongued Italian devil into giving up her virginity, only to have him leave her pregnant and alone. Still she was determined to raise her daughter by herself until the little girl was kidnapped at two years of age. After spending her entire inheritance hiring investigators and paying blackmail money to keep her child safe, Lily had no other option but to win the money she needed to continue the search, so she spends her evenings at a gambling hell doing just that. Then she discovers that her shy, retiring sister is about to marry a man who doesn’t seem suited to her at all, so Lily shows up on his doorstep, intending to disrupt their wedding by fair means or foul, never expecting to fall in love with the man herself. But she isn’t sure if she can trust him with her deepest, darkest secret. Despite her being impetuous and stubborn, I found Lily to be likable. She never gives up on anything or anyone whom she cares about, whether it’s finding her lost child or freeing her sister from the clutches of a man she knows isn’t right for her. And yet underneath all that bluster, beats a vulnerable heart that doesn’t trust easily, which made her relatable to me.
Alex lost his first love, who was a spirited, independent lady, in a tragic riding accident. Unable to let go of her memory, but needing to marry, he chooses a woman who is her complete opposite, thinking that he’ll have a comfortable marriage with no chance of falling in love with his wife-to-be. Then his fiancée’s sister unexpectedly comes to call. With her impetuous ways, Lily represents everything Alex has been studiously trying to avoid in a woman for years. Frightened of the feelings she stirs in him, he insists upon going ahead with the wedding, but little does he know that Lily is willing to do anything to put a stop to it. When she proves it by tying him to her bed overnight, he has a great deal of time to think and realizes what a mistake he would have been making. Once free, he throws himself wholeheartedly into winning Lily’s stubborn heart. Alex begins the story as a gruff, humorless man who can be rather harsh with Lily, but after his epiphany, he lightens up considerably. He’s gentle and kind, coaxing Lily into a relationship with him while allowing her the space to come to trust him on her own. He’s a tender lover, giving her all the pleasure she’d previously been denied, and he’s very understanding when Lily’s secrets finally come out. I thought he was the perfect foil for Lily, offering the firm but loving hand she needed to feel safe and in control.
Not having heard much about it, I went into reading this book not certain if I would like it or not, but I ended up loving it. I wasn’t too sure at first, though, because the hero and heroine both have very intense personalities which usually isn’t my cup of tea, by Lily and Alex won me over pretty quickly. Once they get past their initial arguing and rubbing each other the wrong way, they settle into a romance that’s sweet and heartfelt while still being emotional and passionate. And once Alex got over his initial protestations, he treats Lily like a precious jewel, while keeping her from being self-destructive. He certainly knows how to reign her in without trying to change her. It all made for a great story that’s definitely going on my keeper shelf. That’s why I’m naming Lisa Kleypas’ Then Came You as my April Book of the Month. If you enjoy historical romance filled with intensity, angst, drama, and passion, then you should definitely give this book a try. Keep reading to learn how you can win a copy for your own library.
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Cover Blurb- She thought her heart was safe, but ... |
Read my complete review of Then Came You.
Giveaway
If you would like to win a copy of Then Came You to see how wonderful it is for yourself, just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive their choice of an eBook or print copy of the book. If the winner chooses an eBook, I will gift it to them via the eBook retailer of their choice (Amazon or B & N). If the winner chooses a print copy, I will have it mailed directly to them via Amazon. Good luck!
International Entrants: You are welcome to enter my contest, but please note that not all eBooks are available in all countries due to copyright restrictions. If this is the case, Amazon does offer an option to trade for a gift card (I'm not sure about B & N). If you choose print, I can mail it to you via the Amazon website that services your country, pending availability and cost. Otherwise I will mail it to you via U. S. Amazon's standard international shipping, but it may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive, and I may not have the capability of tracking the package.
Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways
Tags: Lisa Kleypas
