Cold-Hearted Rake | 
pick5/5
Kathleen is widowed after only three days of marriage, and the new Lord Trenear, Devon, has every intention of selling the family home that she and her three sister-in-laws live as soon as possible. They find themselves constantly at odds with each other.
It took me way to long to start reading this series after hearing so many good things about it. I love the historical detail, the characters, and the romance so much.
panBah. Female MC is inexplicably awful, male MC makes some progress but ends up being overbearing and awful, too. He growls at her and she plans to disappear after lying to him about not being pregnant, and that‘s AFTER the “growth” of the whole stupid book. The only reason I kept reading at all was I liked the supporting characters. May read the next as I liked them better but I won‘t go out of my way. Big peeve below. #52Books23 #firstwordisthe
pickJust a lovely historical romance. Full of warmth and humour with great characters. An easy comforting read.
pickI was back to work this week so I needed a familiar #romantsy to help me through the stress. This audiobook is so well read, I enjoy the different accents for the different characters- so well done. It‘s the first book in one of my favourite series by Lisa Kleypas. There‘s heat 🔥 and HEA ending and fun hints at the next romance in the series 💚🐉
so-soI almost bailed 10% of the way through, but then it started to get entertaining, and then, it tanked. By 80%, I regretted not bailing. My second Kleypas, and definitely my last. It‘s not completely terrible, but it‘s inconsistent and not for me. YMMV
There‘s a reason why enemies-to-lovers is my favorite trope. It literally makes me bounce in my chair, clap my hands gleefully, and giggle like a naughty child. 😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
pickIf you are a fan of Bridgerton, you'll like this. A lot. It gives all the feels that the Bridgerton tv series gives! Lisa Kleypas can write a good romance.🔥This is the first in a series of seven books. I'm jumping into the next one. Overdrive has all of them, which is a nice bonus. I'm invested now in seeing how all the characters get matched up.
pickI loved this! I've finally given in and embraced my love of historical romances and Kleypas does this genre brilliantly. Others seem to struggle with balancing societal norms of the time and romance but Kleypas does it beautifully and writes brilliant characters and stories to boot.
But mom, they followed me home! Today‘s library discard #bookhaul - the tagged was entirely because I LOVED the Paula Abdul song when I was a kid (seriously, for Halloween in fourth grade I dressed up as Paula from the Straight Up video).
pickOnce again I‘m reading a series out of order. I started with book 2 (Marrying Winterborne) and then went back to read book 1. I love how Lisa Kleypas sets up the romance. And while I didn‘t like Kathleen as much as Helen, it was still a fun story.
pick
pickThe secondary characters made this book for me. I wasn‘t a big fan of Kathleen- she‘s judgmental and at times it really bothered me. I did like Devon. He took on challenges even though he was scared to fail. But I really got invested in the other characters and what they were going through. I am so excited to read the second book in this series.
so-soAs much as I wasn't a fan of the main pairing, I did enjoy the additional cast of characters which I found to be way more entertaining and I want to read more of.
The fun and sharp wit of dialogue is still my favorite parts of reading a Kleypas book 😍
pickI used to read a lot of romance in my late teens and into my twenties. Gradually, I moved away from it. Periodically I‘ll still pick up something. This was such a perfect distraction from everything, and a great entertainment to listen to while working from home. The first in the Ravenels series, it has an independent woman, a rake, and great narration. On to book two for me!
pickI've been working my way through Lisa Kleypas's series, the Ravenels, focusing on the Ravenel family. I read these out of order (and the first book, Cold-Hearted Rake, is not my favorite), but it really doesn't matter, though you will know who ended up with whom from previous books. (That doesn't really bother me since that fate is typically pretty obvious from page one.) ⬇️
pickWhen Devon inherits a title and a crumbling estate, he intends to sell it off, kick out the former earl‘s widow and three sisters, and continue his dissolute life. Kathleen proves a match for him, and he sets out to win her.
❤️ the first third of the story, with the verbal sparring between Kathleen and Devon and the hate-to-want-you energy. I preferred the secondary characters, esp. Helen and Weston. I might continue, to see their HEAs.
Thanks for the tag @Librarybelle 1. I love Litsy because it is a loving and safe space 2. I use my iPhone so I would love to enlarge pics so I could see more detail and read captions 3 #romantsy. 4. I take a lot more photos 5. @nitalibrarian
We have had a reminder that Victoria is in Canada and had a week of , gasp, snow ! The kids here had 3 snow days . We never had snow days in the B.C. Interior 😂. Dreaming of spring and listening to this audiobook. A photo of my friend‘s magnolia
pickThe romance between Kathleen and Devon is good, but there‘s a lot of time spent in the second half setting up the romance between Helen and Rhys for book two in the series. The first half is definitely stronger. West is enjoyable and has the most character growth of anyone.
so-soSo. This is only so so for me because so much of this book was spent setting up the next book to the detriment of this couple and their romance. When these two did get to be centre stage their romance was good - but both did some annoying stuff in the service of the next book in the series.
pickMy first Lisa Kleypas book and definitely not my last. I can see why Sarah MacLean, my favorite romance author loves her books. This was a great romance story between Kathleen and Devon. So much quarreling between them. It‘s your typical romance story, but I still love it. And it‘s perfect because it has Christmas in the story and I read it during the Christmas season. 💕
My last #makemereadit book for Nov (finished in Dec)
pickKleypas writes smart, funny, unusual characters supremely well. I love her stories.
pickEnjoyable enough. Felt like it was more of a set up for the second novel in the series.
August 7: character that always makes me laugh: West Ravenel; he‘s been my favorite since the first book! #readwithusAugust2018
May 30: #readingresolutions— #west; I chose this one one because this is the introduction to West Ravenel, and he‘s my favorite 😍
so-soThis book was slow for me to get through, I was actually really disappointed in it, which saddened me because Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorite historical authors, but once I skimmed through it, it did start to get better. I will still say this book is so - so, it could have been better, but I'm glad I didn't give up on reading it and did finish the book
so-soThis is one of the longest romances I‘ve ever read and I don‘t think it added anything to the story. It was fun and the characters were easy to read. It was an average historical romance which isn‘t a bad thing if it‘s what you‘re looking for at the time. It had a second courtship going for the sequel and that got frustrating tell that story in that book, it would have cut the story down to a decent length.
pickBest Lisa Kleypas novel since the Wallflower series. Super excited to continue the series.
My haul from the charity fundraiser book sale at work today! 50 cents a book, and I donated a book as well. I'm a bit surprised I didn't do more damage but very pleased with these. All 3 #blameitonLitsy. Best start to the workday!! And now I am home with a glass of wine and way too much choice for what to read. Life is good. 💕
pickI accidentally started this series out of order. But it was fine. I really enjoyed this book!! #romancereader #bookblogger
pickFirst time reading one of Lisa Kleypas' books and I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed both the story and the sarcastic humor mixed in. Pretty sure I'll read the next one in the series. Must find out what happens to dear Lady Helen. 🌟🌟🌟🌟
bailedYeah, I couldn't make it through this book, I felt no connection to the characters or the story.
I love you all, Littens!😍😘 (photo found on FB)
pickThis was a #guiltypleasure read but it was a little much for me to listen to a mainstream #romance on #audio. 😳 I thought it was well done, even though the main relationship was totally unhealthy.
#romantsy readers: does it bother you as much as it bothers me when romance relationships are unhealthy? Does it affect your reading experience or enjoyment of the book?
pickSome lovely escapism from a stressful week! An unexpected inheritance makes Devon Ravenel take on unwanted responsibilities for the first time in his life... including three young female cousins and their brother's lovely (of course!) widow.
I enjoyed the heroine Kathleen, but one of my favorite characters was actually the hero's brother West. I love his transformation, and look forward to reading his story.
Love this cover! Time for a bit of before-bed reading.
so-so🌟🌟🌟⭐⭐
This was an odd book for LK. While I enjoyed the story (even if there was a whole lack of economizing for a cash-strapped situation), the romance was a dull grey smock with ugly unlikeable patches & the odd sequin. I was surprised at the time Helen & Winterborne got & the build up to their book was odd but caught my interest in the end. #romansty #osrbc
pickI loved this one. The characters were smart and funny. I also really enjoyed the relationships outside of the central romance. Lisa Kleypas is always a solid choice.
