Marrying Winterborne
by Lisa Kleypas
Marrying Winterborne was a little bit of a disappointment because I expect SO MUCH from a Kleypas novel, but somehow also compulsively readable. It’s the direct sequel to Cold-Hearted Rake and best read after that book in order to provide context.
The general summary is that Helen Ravenel is a genteel, painfully shy lady who is in love with Rhys Winterborne, a low-born, brash, Welsh department-store magnate. In Cold-Hearted Rake, they fell in love then had a falling out. In Marrying Winterborne they are determined to marry despite Helen’s family and society disapproving (he’s new money, she’s a member of the aristocracy).
Two things bugged me about this book: 1. the big conflict comes out of nowhere and could be resolved by talking and 2. Helen is described as being some sort of ethereal anime princess and Rhys is worried his brutish smexing will kill her or something.
Whenever I read conflict about a how a heroine cannot handle the hero’s mighty wang, I roll my eyes. Women routinely bleed from their lady parts while enduring menstrual migraines, cramping that feels like two badgers in a death battle in their womb, and period related bowel issues. They also push human beings out of their vaginas. Your penis better watch out sir; my lady parts are bad ass. Look upon my vagina, ye mighty, and despair!
That said, I still couldn’t put this book down. It’s that Kleypas Magic-Crack-Writing. And the descriptions of Winterborne’s department store are fascinating. Oh, and he has a badass lady secretary (think Chief Operations Officer in reality) and a badass lady doctor working for him. I didn’t hate this book–I just wanted more.
– Elyse
A ruthless tycoon
Savage ambition has brought common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success. In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants. And from the moment he meets the shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, he is determined to possess her. If he must take her virtue to ensure she marries him, so much the better…
A sheltered beauty
Helen has had little contact with the glittering, cynical world of London society. Yet Rhys’s determined seduction awakens an intense mutual passion. Helen’s gentle upbringing belies a stubborn conviction that only she can tame her unruly husband. As Rhys’s enemies conspire against them, Helen must trust him with her darkest secret. The risks are unthinkable…the reward, a lifetime of incomparable bliss. And it all begins with…
Marrying Mr. Winterborne.
Historical: European, Romance
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Totally disagree – LOVED the book, and thought the “she’s delicate” and the reason for not talking made total sense. Really enjoying the secondary characters Kleypas keeps adding as well.
I sort of agree with Elyse. The conflicts seem so coincidental to the plot, and just show up to move the story. I didn’t roll my eyes about the wang, but I was tired about how tiny she was compared to his hulkish body. But it was still a good read. Kleypas is an auto buy for me.
I loved the book too, but what made me go squee was the sneak peek at her next book. It’s a Wallflower book! Evie and Sebastian’s son gets a book! Sorry, I felt the need for exclamation points. It’s called Devil in Spring.
That’s so much to live up to. The Devil in Winter is my favorite Kleypas book. That book won awards. I stayed up reading it at night instead of studying for an exam in college. Can’t wait!!!
First, I am a huge LK fan, and second, I have not yet read this book so none of this is directly about it. But… LOTS of LK heroines are described as small, tiny, delicate, etc. Like maybe all of them. Often something bad happens to them to make them even more delicate–a dangerous illness, near drowning, etc.
It’s just a Kleypas thing. Nothing wrong with it, but if you’re in the mood for the tall/plump/badass sort of heroine, hers are not the books I would recommend.
I thought the biggest problem with this book was that most of the interesting part had already happened in the previous book. . . where it was more interesting than the primary romance. I agree that I didn’t like the endless emphasis on Helen as being delicate, though the focus on her being otherworldly bothered me more than her physical frailty. I regularly find Kleypas’ gender roles dated, and that happened again in this book; I hate serene heroines.
I know I’m late to this party, but is nobody going to talk about the cocaine?? Sure, it’s actually caffeine citrate, but the heroine struggled with dry mouth, racing heart, and sudden overwhelming chattiness. I found the novel underwhelming too, but this incident absolutely cracked me up.