Helpful Score: 4
Is Lisa Kleypas the best romance writer ever or what?
I'm still dashing tears from my eyes after finishing Smooth Talking Stranger.
In a way this book was a little unusual in that there is no overarching hidden secret, no mystery, no ticking bomb that one character was hiding in a closet. Everybody's cards were on the table pretty early in the story and what we had was a slowly built very believable romance. This book is literally about love. Falling in love, how people love, the shapes and forms of it. As an avid romance reader, works for me. There's still great tension in the story, don't get me wrong, but I really enjoyed the differences in this book from others of its ilk.
Kleypas writes a sexy story with characters who are mature and smart. I think she really shows how smart the heroine is and conveys a convincing sketch of life as a new "mother" (child isn't hers).
Par for the course, Kleypas writes romance and sex together and this book is full of beautifully written steamy scenes.
4.5 stars
I'm still dashing tears from my eyes after finishing Smooth Talking Stranger.
In a way this book was a little unusual in that there is no overarching hidden secret, no mystery, no ticking bomb that one character was hiding in a closet. Everybody's cards were on the table pretty early in the story and what we had was a slowly built very believable romance. This book is literally about love. Falling in love, how people love, the shapes and forms of it. As an avid romance reader, works for me. There's still great tension in the story, don't get me wrong, but I really enjoyed the differences in this book from others of its ilk.
Kleypas writes a sexy story with characters who are mature and smart. I think she really shows how smart the heroine is and conveys a convincing sketch of life as a new "mother" (child isn't hers).
Par for the course, Kleypas writes romance and sex together and this book is full of beautifully written steamy scenes.
4.5 stars
Helpful Score: 3
I was pleasantly surprised by how great Sugar Daddy and Blue-Eyed Devil were, so I was really looking forward to reading this one. After reading some of the reviews, it seems like there's a bit of disappointment with it, because the first two books set the bar so high.
I have to say, though, that I really enjoyed Smooth Talking Stranger. Yes, it was predictable, and Ella didn't really confront the issues of her past even though they weighed heavily on her throughout the book; but Jack and Ella (along with the adorable baby) and their relationship made this a very good read.
I bought the chemistry between them, and how they were drawn to one another. Their mutual longing and passion (there were some pretty intense and hot scenes) were well-written and seemed believable, and Kleypas ramped up the emotions enough that I found it easy to become invested in their relationship.
So, this book doesn't charter any new territory, and it may fall a little bit short of meeting the high expectations set by the other two books, but even so, Smooth Talking Stranger was a great book. There is a lot of chemistry between the hero and heroine that I found to be believable, as well as some great, fun banter, and a real deep emotional connection between them. All in all, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.
I have to say, though, that I really enjoyed Smooth Talking Stranger. Yes, it was predictable, and Ella didn't really confront the issues of her past even though they weighed heavily on her throughout the book; but Jack and Ella (along with the adorable baby) and their relationship made this a very good read.
I bought the chemistry between them, and how they were drawn to one another. Their mutual longing and passion (there were some pretty intense and hot scenes) were well-written and seemed believable, and Kleypas ramped up the emotions enough that I found it easy to become invested in their relationship.
So, this book doesn't charter any new territory, and it may fall a little bit short of meeting the high expectations set by the other two books, but even so, Smooth Talking Stranger was a great book. There is a lot of chemistry between the hero and heroine that I found to be believable, as well as some great, fun banter, and a real deep emotional connection between them. All in all, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down.
Barbara S. (barbsis) -
Helpful Score: 2
Ella's younger sister Tara dumps her newborn infant and Ella steps up to do the right thing - loosing her lame-ass boyfriend in the process. It's possible that Jack Travis could be the father so Ella tries to get him to take a paternity test. Even though jack is a rogue and a womanizer, the interest is instant and mutual. So even though Jack is positive he couldn't be the father, he starts hanging around Ella and Luke.
This is typical Lisa Kleypas - a sweet love story, a beautiful morally-correct heroine, a to-die-for hero and a cataclysmic plot. EXCELLENT!
This is typical Lisa Kleypas - a sweet love story, a beautiful morally-correct heroine, a to-die-for hero and a cataclysmic plot. EXCELLENT!
Helpful Score: 1
When Ella Varner is left with her sister's newborn baby, she takes matters into her own hands and decides to make the father take responsibility. With a couple possibilities as to who the daddy is, Ella centers on playboy Jack Travis. Jack has a reputation as a ladies man but finally agrees to take a paternity test.
I totally loved the hero and heroine of this book. Jack is the kind of guy any woman would love to meet. He helps Ella with the baby, even when her lousy boyfriend wants nothing to do with the infant. Ella doesn't want to get close to anybody, including Jack or baby Luke. But we know it is a losing cause in both cases. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
I totally loved the hero and heroine of this book. Jack is the kind of guy any woman would love to meet. He helps Ella with the baby, even when her lousy boyfriend wants nothing to do with the infant. Ella doesn't want to get close to anybody, including Jack or baby Luke. But we know it is a losing cause in both cases. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
Helpful Score: 1
Very good read, fast paced, interesting, and witty. Much prefer Ms Kleypas' contemporary writing to her historical. This is one of a trilogy. Loved them all.
Helpful Score: 1
Rating: B
Ella Varner has carved out a niche for herself after cutting off family ties from her mother and sister. After two years of not speaking to either of them, Ella gets a call from her mother that changes her life. Her sister Tara has abandoned her one week old baby and her mother wants Ella to come and get it or she is taking it to social services. Ella doesn't want to lose the the baby so she takes responsibility for him on her shoulders. She is determined to get the baby's father involved, as well. Once she suspects that Jack Travis is the father, she confronts him about it.
After reading Blue-Eyed Devil and Sugar Daddy and loving both of those books to pieces, I was really looking forward to Smooth Talking Stranger. I'll admit that my expectations were pretty high. Let's be honest here, they were tremendously high! I don't want to give the impression that I didn't like Smooth Talking Stranger, because I did, very much so. I started reading it at 11:30 at night and next thing I knew it was 2:00 in the morning! But, I didn't think it was as good as Blue-Eyed Devil or Sugar Daddy.
Jack Travis is just the type of hero that I love in my romance books. He is strong and smart and confident enough to know what he wants and go after it. He doesn't let a smart woman scare him away. After taking one look at Ella, he knows she is exactly the right woman for him. In no uncertain terms he bulldozes his way into her life, whether she likes it or not. Oh yeah, baby! *waggles eyebrows*
Where the book stumbled a tiny bit for me is with Ella and her problems with her family. In Blue-Eyed Devil and Sugar Daddy, much of the focus of the book is centered on the heroine and her growth throughout the story. As a matter of fact, Blue-Eyed Devil dealt with spousal abuse very heavily. With Ella, she too suffered from a tramatic childhood. She never really confronts these problems head on and they get pushed to the side as an after thought. Even the resolution of the book was very quickly done and not very satisfactorily at that.
Ella Varner has carved out a niche for herself after cutting off family ties from her mother and sister. After two years of not speaking to either of them, Ella gets a call from her mother that changes her life. Her sister Tara has abandoned her one week old baby and her mother wants Ella to come and get it or she is taking it to social services. Ella doesn't want to lose the the baby so she takes responsibility for him on her shoulders. She is determined to get the baby's father involved, as well. Once she suspects that Jack Travis is the father, she confronts him about it.
After reading Blue-Eyed Devil and Sugar Daddy and loving both of those books to pieces, I was really looking forward to Smooth Talking Stranger. I'll admit that my expectations were pretty high. Let's be honest here, they were tremendously high! I don't want to give the impression that I didn't like Smooth Talking Stranger, because I did, very much so. I started reading it at 11:30 at night and next thing I knew it was 2:00 in the morning! But, I didn't think it was as good as Blue-Eyed Devil or Sugar Daddy.
Jack Travis is just the type of hero that I love in my romance books. He is strong and smart and confident enough to know what he wants and go after it. He doesn't let a smart woman scare him away. After taking one look at Ella, he knows she is exactly the right woman for him. In no uncertain terms he bulldozes his way into her life, whether she likes it or not. Oh yeah, baby! *waggles eyebrows*
Where the book stumbled a tiny bit for me is with Ella and her problems with her family. In Blue-Eyed Devil and Sugar Daddy, much of the focus of the book is centered on the heroine and her growth throughout the story. As a matter of fact, Blue-Eyed Devil dealt with spousal abuse very heavily. With Ella, she too suffered from a tramatic childhood. She never really confronts these problems head on and they get pushed to the side as an after thought. Even the resolution of the book was very quickly done and not very satisfactorily at that.
Helpful Score: 1
I'm beginning to think that Kleypas is better at contemporary than historic romances. This was a very quick, easy to read book. Very sweet. This is a continuation to the Travis family series.
Ella has distanced herself from her narcissitic mother and a sister she have always taken care of. But then her sister dumps her newborn on Mom who plans to report it to child services since her new younger boyfriend can't find out she is a grandmother, so Ella to the rescue again. Her boyfriend had told her not to bring the baby home. She thinks billionaire playboy Jack Travis might be the father and hunts him down baby in tow hoping to convince him to take responsibility. And the romance begins.
Ella is a great character but the scenes with her mother in particular is really hard to sit through. Really she needs to cut her off. But other than that, she is a very likeable character and the banter between Jack is lighthearted and fun.
It isn't as much of a tearjerker as Haven's story of "Blue-eyed Devil" but well worth the read.
Ella has distanced herself from her narcissitic mother and a sister she have always taken care of. But then her sister dumps her newborn on Mom who plans to report it to child services since her new younger boyfriend can't find out she is a grandmother, so Ella to the rescue again. Her boyfriend had told her not to bring the baby home. She thinks billionaire playboy Jack Travis might be the father and hunts him down baby in tow hoping to convince him to take responsibility. And the romance begins.
Ella is a great character but the scenes with her mother in particular is really hard to sit through. Really she needs to cut her off. But other than that, she is a very likeable character and the banter between Jack is lighthearted and fun.
It isn't as much of a tearjerker as Haven's story of "Blue-eyed Devil" but well worth the read.
Liked Blue Eyed Devil the best
I enjoyed the book, but it was pretty much predictable. I absolutely loved the first two books in this series and was a little disappointed in this one. I hope Joe's story comes up to par.
this is the first contemporary book by Lisa that I have read. I am so hooked on her as an author. Her books have wonderful stories. they are not just "Bodice Rippers" Pat A
Good book. Kind of a mix between the first 2. I still liked Sugar Daddy the best. This one was pretty fast paced through the whole thing, but it got kind of slow toward the end.
Lisa Kleypas is an author I turn to from deep mysteries and thrillers for a great story, interesting characters and a lighter read. I have read many of her books and always enjoy them.
I had not read any of Ms Kleypas books before. I was impressed and entertained. I will read more of her books.
Loved this book. I like that it was written in first person, so I wasn't always sure of the other character's motivation...only through the eyes of the heroine.
Nice story, progression of the romance was paced well....first time I read anything from this author but now I'm hooked.
Nice story, progression of the romance was paced well....first time I read anything from this author but now I'm hooked.
This was the first time I read this author. The book was and predicable. It was however keeping my interest until I readthe prior review which gave away a key part of the book. After that I returned the book unfinished.
A review should be an opion not a story line. Oh well on to the next book.
A review should be an opion not a story line. Oh well on to the next book.
I really liked Sugar Daddy; it was a good story with good development and kept my interest. Couldn't wait to read another contemporary book by Kleypas. Should have.
It was ok, but nothing special.
It was ok, but nothing special.
I'm not too fond of books written in the first person, having said that the first two books in this series were fairly decent, altho there were several parts of "Sugar Daddy" that I skipped over with too much info that wasn't necessary in the overall scheme of the book."Blue Eyed Devil" a fairly decent read slo. "Smooth Talking Stranger" less so than the previous two, not quite so believable, but still an overall good easy read. Maybe brother Joe's story will be better, one can hope.
I was very disappointed with this one. I really loved the previous two books from the series but I just wasnt feeling this one. I think my main problem was I didnt feel any real chemistry between Jack and Ella. And I really couldnt understand why Jack fell head over heel in love with Ella. *spoiler* Also, I figure right way that Mark wasnt the father but the Noah guy was *end spoiler*. The only good thing about the book was Luke and how cute he was. Oh well, Im really looking forward to Joe's story and hopeful that one will be better.
