Marrying Winterborne (The Ravenels, #2)

by Lisa Kleypas

WINNER OF THE ROMANTIC TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas returns with the second dazzling romance in the Ravenels series - perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn and Eloisa James. In her stunning novel, one of the realm's most powerful men meets his match - in his lovely, innocent new wife.

'Lisa Kleypas is the best' Sarah MacLean

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 Winterborne.

'Kleypas can make you laugh and cry - on the same page' Julia Quinn

The Ravenels:
Cold-Hearted Rake
Marrying Winterborne
Devil in Spring
Hello Stranger
Devil's Daughter
Chasing Cassandra

Praise for Lisa Kleypas:

'Intricately and elegantly crafted, intensely romantic . . . from a not-to-be-missed romance author' Kirkus Reviews

'Witty, often hilarious, and delightfully passionate, this compelling, thrill-laced Victorian romance is another superb series entry' Library Journal, starred review

'Readers are introduced to the unforgettable characters and their original personalities through a delightful storyline peppered with sharp repartee and steamy sensuality' RT Book Reviews (top pick)

'Is it possible to give a book 6 stars? . . . [This] story has all of the forbidden romance, witty banter, and sigh-inducing declarations of love that you deserve' That's Normal

• ISBN10: 006237186X
• ISBN13: 9780062371867
• Publish Date: 31 May 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[thebookdisciple]

Link to full review below! My love for this book is just indescribable! Seriously, I am in LOVE!!! But I have to wait until February of 2017 for Devil in Spring?!?! NO! This review was originally posted on The Book Disciple

[e_rodz_leb]

4.5 Stars! Review to come

[lizarodz]

4.5 Stars! Review to come

[Amanda]

Ahh, Lisa Kleypas. While I may not have the intense love affair with her books as others do, I keep giving them a shot, hoping that the next one will wow me. Enough do that I keep coming back.

Marrying Winterborne isn't much different, although it took me a while to get through it. What this book suffers from, at least from my perspective of a) reading a lot of historical romance books and b) not being wholly immersed in the Lisa Kleypas fandom, is its feeling of predictability in the way Rhys and Helen are driven apart.

It's not that Marrying Winterborne had blowup I expected (it didn't), but the tension leading up to it certainly made me expect "just another one of those" conflicts. And while it's always good when an author can take a trope and surprise readers, it took me time to get to that point. (It might also be a sign I just need a historical romance break.)

I originally picked up Marrying Winterborne because I confess I watched and loved the TV show Paradise on Netflix. It's about the first department store, and the similarities between that show and this book were enough to intrigue me. And although they're two distinct stories, I wasn't disappointed with this one.

Helen is exactly the type of character I love in historical romances: one who chooses to buck society, at least in terms of their expectations. She refuses to see Rhys as lesser than her, simply because he was common-born. Rhys was pretty typical, romance-wise. He does handle himself nicely in the end.

Fans of Lisa Kleypas and historical romance will eat up Marrying Winterborne.

[stacey_is_sassy]

I knew Rhys Winterborne was a good man.

***This review is a wee bit spoilerish, so proceed with caution.***

I’ll start off by saying that I really enjoyed Marrying Winterborne. I’m a huge fan of Lisa Kleypas’s historical romances and this one definitely did not disappoint. I think my enjoyment had more to do with Mr Winterborne than Lady Helen, to be honest.

I liked that Rhys is a straight shooter. What you see is what you get. He’s an ambitious man who is not afraid of hard work. Yes, he’s a bit bossy and demanding, but a lot of successful people have to be to get what they want. Rhys is also extremely fair and doesn’t narrow-mindedly write someone off for a job because of their sex or their background. If you are willing to do the hard work and prove your value, Rhys will back you 100%.

Rhys Winterborne has worked himself up from son of a grocer to a very wealthy department store owner. He does not like to be looked down upon because of his common-born upbringing and is extremely displeased if you attack his Welsh heritage. BUT…all the money in the world has not given him the deportment or education of a gentleman. To me, this is where his great appeal comes through. We see a slight vulnerability. I love a strong, heroic and virile hero who has that touch of vulnerability that makes you want to give him a cuddle. If he’s also confident enough to admits when he’s wrong? I’m a goner.

We start Marrying Winterborne with Rhys having a very unlikely visitor. In Cold Hearted Rake, the first book in the series, we meet and see a budding relationship start between Rhys and Lady Helen Ravenel. Things do not end well, and the end of Cold Hearted Rake sees the ending of the two-week engagement between the couple. So, this visitor being Lady Helen is definitely a surprise to Rhys. What’s even more surprising, is when he found out that Helen wants their engagement back on. What follows is some heartfelt truths disclosed, a wee bit of negotiating and one heck of a ruining…deflowering…compromising…unvirgining?!?!

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy…this is one extremely H-O-T book. Lisa Kleypas certainly gives us a very steamy historical romance and it didn’t take long to get there either. We do not have to wait for them to get to know each other, go a-courting, and then suddenly realise they probably should get married before she is ruined, their names are in the trash or someone is called out. We get all those pesky details dealt with in the first 25%...then it’s all fun and games…sort of…not really… Yep, bring in the secret that must be kept or all will be ruined… plotline.

Marrying Winterborne was not a boring book. It held my attention from start to finish. There was a bit of unnecessary drama when Helen kept a secret from Rhys, but I suppose if there was no angst in the storyline, some people might be unhappy or unsatisfied. For me, though, I dropped a star because of it. (show spoiler)[See, I knew Rhys would be the better man. I trusted that he would do the right thing. I felt confident that he loved Helen too much to question whether they should be together or not. I loved that I never doubted Rhys Winterborne and even in my review of Cold Hearted Rake, knew that his misdeed wasn’t a true representation of him.] (hide spoiler) Again, Rhys proved his worth in accepting he made a mistake and apologised when he was in the wrong. Ahhh…my hearts aflutter.

I thoroughly enjoyed Marrying Winterborne and cannot wait for Devil In Spring. That teaser at the end…I’ve really missed those Wallflowers. Makes me want to read that series again.