Lisa Kleypas
Author of Devil in Winter
About the Author
Lisa Kleypas received a degree in political science from Wellesley College. In 1985, she was named Miss Massachusetts in the Miss America competition. She published her first romance novel at the age of 21 and has been a full-time writer ever since. She is primarily known for her historical romance show more novels, but she also writes contemporary romance novels. Her books include Sugar Daddy, Crystal Cove, and Cold-Hearted Rake. She has won numerous awards including a Rita award for her Christmas anthology novella Wish List in 2002, the award for Best Sensuous Historical Romance from Romantic Times magazine for Lady Sophia's Lover in 2002, and the RITA award for best Short Historical for Worth Any Price in 2004. Lisa's novel's Marrying Winterborne and Hello Stranger made the New York Times Bestseller List. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Lisa Kleypas
Where's My Hero?: Against the Odds / Midsummer's Knight / A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) — Contributor — 840 copies, 17 reviews
A Historical Christmas Present (I Will/ Three French Hens/ Father Christmas) (2008) — Contributor — 108 copies, 3 reviews
Christmas Love Stories [Holiday Spirit / Gifts of Love / Surrender / Creole Christmas] (1991) — Contributor — 67 copies, 1 review
A Christmas Present [After Innocence / Falling Stars / Gifts of the Heart / Surrender] (1994) — Contributor — 44 copies, 1 review
Promises {short story} 4 copies
Promise 4 copies
The Hathaways: Books 1-3 2 copies
Keynote - Lisa Kleypas 1 copy
Associated Works
The Devil in Winter | Scandal in Spring | A Wallflower Christmas [Manga] — Original text — 1 copy
Secrets of a Summer Night | It Happened One Autumn [Manga] — Original Text — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Kleypas Ellis, Lisa
- Birthdate
- 1964-11-05
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Wellesley College (BA|Political Science)
- Occupations
- historical novelist
romance novelist - Awards and honors
- RITA, 2002
- Agent
- Mel Berger (William Morris Endeavor Entertainment)
- Short biography
- Lisa Kleypas began writing romance novels during her summer breaks from Wellesley College. Her parents agreed to support her for a few months after she graduated so she could finish her latest manuscript. Approximately two months later, at age 21, she sold her first novel. At around that time, she competed for and won the Miss Massachusetts title, and went on to participate in the 1985 Miss America pageant. She has been a full-time writer since selling her first book, and many of her novels have been bestsellers and have been translated into different languages. Though known for her historical romances, Kleypas announced in 2006 that she would delve into the modern romance genre. Her first effort, Sugar Daddy (2007), was a finalist for the RITA Award "Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements." In December 2012, her book Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (2010) was adapted into the Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie Christmas With Holly. She married her husband Gregory in 1998, and has two children.
- Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Texas, USA
Washington, USA - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Discussions
Lisa Kleypas wallflower series in Book talk (September 2018)
romance with a dark twist/drama in Name that Book (January 2016)
Regency (?) Romance, Daughter marries Hero, Her mother marries his uncle(?) in Name that Book (August 2015)
Lisa Kleypas Wallflowers series in Romance - from historical to contemporary (October 2012)
Historical Romance, Compromised Heroine in Name that Book (August 2012)
Reviews
A common trope in romance novels is the hero and husband of the heroine have a less than ideal marriage, he goes away for several years until he's presumed dead, and then he magically reappears. I used to think this was a pretty unique premise, but I now know of three different authors who have done this, all quite differently. Apparently, it's not that uncommon! Unfortunately, this book didn't really deliver, in my opinion. Stranger in My Arms is full of misogyny, some racism, and even more show more tired tropes than the resurrected husband figure.
When I first met Lara, I was told she sacrificed her own comfort for those less fortunate than her. She cares deeply about orphans, children in general, and anyone sick or injured. I really hoped she would evolve into a more dynamic character. Sadly, she never does. Haunted by an unloving and neglectful marriage, Lara doesn't want anything to do with Hunter when he returns from India. In a way, her rejection of his sexual advances is progressive. She exerts her desires (or lack thereof) with confidence. That said, she often comes off as self-righteous, to the point where she is quite critical of anyone who doesn't live as sanctimonious of a life as she does.
This is most evident when we meet Hunter's old mistress. Lady Carlyle is considered as less ideal than Lara because she is independent, preferring to have men on her own terms instead of marrying them. She likes masculine pursuits like hunting and hawking. Additionally, she's tall and described as "mannish". Yet, if a reader looks deeper, we see a woman who loves a man with similar interests, a man who is then pushed into a marriage with a woman he doesn't love, who then dies in a shipwreck, and when he returns to the land of the living, rejects her outright. Lady Carlyle is not as pure as Lara, but she doesn't deserve to be ridiculed.
Additionally, all of the women in this story who aren't Lara are repeatedly disparaged. They're compared to the heroine and constantly coming up wanting. Even Lara's own sister is described as the "less interesting sister" when she's deathly ill. Hunter's own mother is described as outlandish, and Lara clearly considers her as not maternal enough. Finally, Janet is considered a "creature" for constantly saying nasty things. Which, she does, but there is a grain of truth to them. Overall, I don't mind a heroine who is "pure" and "innocent", but I don't like being preached to that those are the most desirable qualities in a woman and that a woman who's anything else deserves her unhappiness.
The racism part of this books gets a little trickier. Please note, I am a white woman, and so my response to these elements are colored by my white experience. I understand that authors sometimes want to set a particular tone and to be "historically accurate", and so sometimes their characters will say things like "that's barbaric" when learning about another culture's customs. And yet, there are enough times that I, as a reader, looked at the text and wondered "is this necessary? what point is this trying to make? who is this serving?". There are times when Kleypas paints Indian culture in a respective light, but there are also times when the turmoil is meant to be an exotic backdrop and to provide additional depth to the hero's character, rather serving any real substance.
Yes, this is historical romance, so things like petticoats and reputations and women being unable to hold jobs is a staple, and if it's disregarded, the story feels disingenuous. However, this is also a fantasy, and if we can have a husband who respects the word "no" and a man who has never worked with money before suddenly knows how to make sound investments to triple their income in 3 months, then we can have characters with more forward thinking attitudes about cultures different from England's.
Overall, this book doesn't offer anything unique while being painfully moralizing. This book was trying to make me adopt a dozen poor orphans, but all it really made me want to do was wish the hero divorced the heroine and left her to be poor, since that's what she clearly wanted. Then, she wouldn't feel so guilty for being a hypocrite. show less
When I first met Lara, I was told she sacrificed her own comfort for those less fortunate than her. She cares deeply about orphans, children in general, and anyone sick or injured. I really hoped she would evolve into a more dynamic character. Sadly, she never does. Haunted by an unloving and neglectful marriage, Lara doesn't want anything to do with Hunter when he returns from India. In a way, her rejection of his sexual advances is progressive. She exerts her desires (or lack thereof) with confidence. That said, she often comes off as self-righteous, to the point where she is quite critical of anyone who doesn't live as sanctimonious of a life as she does.
This is most evident when we meet Hunter's old mistress. Lady Carlyle is considered as less ideal than Lara because she is independent, preferring to have men on her own terms instead of marrying them. She likes masculine pursuits like hunting and hawking. Additionally, she's tall and described as "mannish". Yet, if a reader looks deeper, we see a woman who loves a man with similar interests, a man who is then pushed into a marriage with a woman he doesn't love, who then dies in a shipwreck, and when he returns to the land of the living, rejects her outright. Lady Carlyle is not as pure as Lara, but she doesn't deserve to be ridiculed.
Additionally, all of the women in this story who aren't Lara are repeatedly disparaged. They're compared to the heroine and constantly coming up wanting. Even Lara's own sister is described as the "less interesting sister" when she's deathly ill. Hunter's own mother is described as outlandish, and Lara clearly considers her as not maternal enough. Finally, Janet is considered a "creature" for constantly saying nasty things. Which, she does, but there is a grain of truth to them. Overall, I don't mind a heroine who is "pure" and "innocent", but I don't like being preached to that those are the most desirable qualities in a woman and that a woman who's anything else deserves her unhappiness.
The racism part of this books gets a little trickier. Please note, I am a white woman, and so my response to these elements are colored by my white experience. I understand that authors sometimes want to set a particular tone and to be "historically accurate", and so sometimes their characters will say things like "that's barbaric" when learning about another culture's customs. And yet, there are enough times that I, as a reader, looked at the text and wondered "is this necessary? what point is this trying to make? who is this serving?". There are times when Kleypas paints Indian culture in a respective light, but there are also times when the turmoil is meant to be an exotic backdrop and to provide additional depth to the hero's character, rather serving any real substance.
Yes, this is historical romance, so things like petticoats and reputations and women being unable to hold jobs is a staple, and if it's disregarded, the story feels disingenuous. However, this is also a fantasy, and if we can have a husband who respects the word "no" and a man who has never worked with money before suddenly knows how to make sound investments to triple their income in 3 months, then we can have characters with more forward thinking attitudes about cultures different from England's.
Overall, this book doesn't offer anything unique while being painfully moralizing. This book was trying to make me adopt a dozen poor orphans, but all it really made me want to do was wish the hero divorced the heroine and left her to be poor, since that's what she clearly wanted. Then, she wouldn't feel so guilty for being a hypocrite. show less
There was a time when my life goal was to devour absolutely everything penned by Ms. Kleypas. I loved her work so much, that I would willingly humiliate myself by asking for her books in one of Dublin's larger bookstores. And let me tell you, there are few things more embarrassing than having two guys loudly recite things like Tempt Me at Twilight, Seduce Me at Sunrise or Mine Till Midnight with a faux-poker-face. I was a fan with a mission!
That said, M/F romances have since all but lost show more their appeal for me... except for Blue-Eyed Devil: the first book of the genre I've read. I can still see myself waking up at 7 am, scoot into a corner of the couch, having successfully nicked borrowed my BFF's copy of the book.
Haven Travis is the daughter of filthy rich Churchill Travis, but she fervently wishes she were disenfranchised. So when her father opposes her relationship with the less "financially endowed" Nicholas Tanner, she all but jumps at the opportunity to go against him. But not before having a sizzling tryst with her sister-in-law's ex. By accident. During said sister-in-law's wedding reception...
Unfortunately for our intrepid heroine, married life doesn't agree with her, especially when her loving husband turns into a controlling maniac intent on getting his share of the Travis fortune by any means (i.e. pregnancy) necessary. Luckily for Haven, she has three older brothers ready for rescue... often times even when she doesn't want them to.
It might just be my preference for more light-hearted subjects, but I haven't seen many romance books handling marital abuse. I loved every single pep-talk that Haven would get from her family, friends, or therapist. Every step of her rehabilitation, moreso when she almost immediately stumbles on yet another sociopath. Even after the 10th reread, I never get tired of any of it.
And the cherry on top of everything, is that even now I still swoon at the mere thought of being swept off my feet by Hardy Cates. I mean Haven getting swept off her feet, of course. *cue embarrassed cough*
Score: 4/5 stars
I'm not sure I'll ever be able to properly explain, why this particular romance novel stayed with me, when many similar others didn't. It's not without its cliches, both story AND character-wise, but I still pick it up from time to time, and reread my favorite passages with just as much enjoyment, as I did the first time around.
For all of you who dislike Hardy after meeting him in Sugar Daddy, I have to admit that I read this book first. So knowing how much he'll do for Haven, made it easier to overlook his past "misdemeanors", when I finally got around to reading the previous book. show less
That said, M/F romances have since all but lost show more their appeal for me... except for Blue-Eyed Devil: the first book of the genre I've read. I can still see myself waking up at 7 am, scoot into a corner of the couch, having successfully nicked borrowed my BFF's copy of the book.
Haven Travis is the daughter of filthy rich Churchill Travis, but she fervently wishes she were disenfranchised. So when her father opposes her relationship with the less "financially endowed" Nicholas Tanner, she all but jumps at the opportunity to go against him. But not before having a sizzling tryst with her sister-in-law's ex. By accident. During said sister-in-law's wedding reception...
Unfortunately for our intrepid heroine, married life doesn't agree with her, especially when her loving husband turns into a controlling maniac intent on getting his share of the Travis fortune by any means (i.e. pregnancy) necessary. Luckily for Haven, she has three older brothers ready for rescue... often times even when she doesn't want them to.
It might just be my preference for more light-hearted subjects, but I haven't seen many romance books handling marital abuse. I loved every single pep-talk that Haven would get from her family, friends, or therapist. Every step of her rehabilitation, moreso when she almost immediately stumbles on yet another sociopath. Even after the 10th reread, I never get tired of any of it.
And the cherry on top of everything, is that even now I still swoon at the mere thought of being swept off my feet by Hardy Cates. I mean Haven getting swept off her feet, of course. *cue embarrassed cough*
Score: 4/5 stars
I'm not sure I'll ever be able to properly explain, why this particular romance novel stayed with me, when many similar others didn't. It's not without its cliches, both story AND character-wise, but I still pick it up from time to time, and reread my favorite passages with just as much enjoyment, as I did the first time around.
For all of you who dislike Hardy after meeting him in Sugar Daddy, I have to admit that I read this book first. So knowing how much he'll do for Haven, made it easier to overlook his past "misdemeanors", when I finally got around to reading the previous book. show less
THIS ONE'S MY FAVORITE. I sat down to read at 10 pm. And I stopped at 2:36 am. It would have taken some powerful forces to make me stop. I loved Christopher immediately. Of course, I already had a fondess for Beatrix (why, even today I thought of her as I took care of a poor cardinal that had flown into a window, which is perhaps what made me pick this one up). Kleypas handles a war hero so, so well. Nothing is magically cured. There is no absolute erasure of the pain that Christopher faces, show more is facing, and will continue to face. And Beatrix struggles with this a little, of course, but she takes it all in stride. As does Christopher with Bea's love of animals. This is a beautiful couple and a beautiful book. I didn't think I could like any of the Hathaway couples more than Cam and Amelia, but these two have to take first place in this series. show less
Fantastic book. I have been fascinated by Kev since I read Mine Till Midnight. His protectiveness toward the Hathaway family, his closeness to them, yet the distance he also exhibits was intriguing. It was also obvious at that point that he is very much in love with Win. This book opens with the story of how Kev came to live with the Hathaway family. I ached for him and what he had been through. I loved his introduction into the Hathaway family, his bewilderment at the kindness they showed show more him, and his immediate connection with Win.
Kev is a man tortured by the demons of his past. The things he did before living with the Hathaways have him convinced that he is no good for Win. However, that does not stop him from doing everything possible to keep her safe. The scene when she was sick with scarlet fever was intense and heartbreaking, as Kev was determined to save her or die himself. His protectiveness after her illness showed the depth of his feelings, and his loneliness after she left for France drove him further inside himself. The work that he buried himself in was all that kept him going.
Win is sweet and gentle, but she also has a spine of steel. She has been in love with Kev ever since he joined the family, but she can't get him to admit his feelings. Tired of being ill all the time, and knowing that, if she wants Kev she needs to be healthy, Win went to France to a special clinic. I loved her triumphant return and determination to live life to the fullest. Part of that is to finally get Kev to admit his feelings.
The development of the relationship between Kev and Win was intense and frequently frustrating. There was no doubt about the depth of their feelings. Win loved Kev and made no secret of that fact. I loved watching her try to push him into admitting his feelings for her. She tempted him beyond all reason, but every time he would seem to give in, he would then pull right back. I ached for Kev, who was terrified that in the intensity of his feelings for her, he would somehow cause her harm. I wanted to shake him after the scene at the ball, as he all but pushed her into Julian's arms. His misery was well-earned, and his way of dealing with it was highly unusual for him. I had to laugh at the irony of it being Leo who came to get him. My heart also broke for Leo as he shared the importance of accepting love when it's offered because you never know what will happen. I loved what Kev did with that information. His big moment was romantic, intense, tender, and so very hot. For Win, it was everything she could have hoped for. I loved how she got him to tell her all about his past, and the freeing effect it had on him. It's not all unicorns and roses though, as Julian doesn't fade quietly into the background. Besides attempting to drive a wedge between Kev and Win, his further actions against Kev go awry, and tragedy is only averted thanks to a ruthless Win.
Along with the romance of Kev and Win, there is plenty to see of the other Hathaways. Cam and Amelia are blissfully happy in their marriage. Amelia is still mother-henning the whole family, though with a slightly lighter touch. Poppy and Beatrix have accepted their need for help to navigate the Season, and the addition of Miss Marks to the household is just what they need. I liked the new and improved Leo, who after two years away from the vices of London, is fast becoming an admirable man, though there are times he seems to fight it just a little. His interactions with Miss Marks are hilarious.
I also loved learning more about the connection between Cam and Kev. From their first meeting in the previous book, there was first antagonism, then grudging respect. The discovery of their matching tattoos increases the mystery. Cam is determined to find out about his past, while Kev wants to put his behind him. I loved their interactions in this book, as Cam seems to take great satisfaction in tweaking Kev's temper. I was not entirely surprised by the information that Cam and Kev discovered at the gypsy camp. It was interesting to see the different reactions that Cam and Kev each had. Cam's renewed determination to find out the details bore fruit at the end of the book. The scene at the camp, as Kev struggled to save Cam's life, and then they listened to what the gypsy leader had to say, was so intense I was on the edge of my seat. Even more amazing was the visitor that Cam and Kev received a few days later. I had to laugh at Cam and Kev's reactions and that of their very obnoxious visitor. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall of London sitting rooms when that news got out. The epilogue was terrific, especially Kev's reaction to Win's labor. show less
Kev is a man tortured by the demons of his past. The things he did before living with the Hathaways have him convinced that he is no good for Win. However, that does not stop him from doing everything possible to keep her safe. The scene when she was sick with scarlet fever was intense and heartbreaking, as Kev was determined to save her or die himself. His protectiveness after her illness showed the depth of his feelings, and his loneliness after she left for France drove him further inside himself. The work that he buried himself in was all that kept him going.
Win is sweet and gentle, but she also has a spine of steel. She has been in love with Kev ever since he joined the family, but she can't get him to admit his feelings. Tired of being ill all the time, and knowing that, if she wants Kev she needs to be healthy, Win went to France to a special clinic. I loved her triumphant return and determination to live life to the fullest. Part of that is to finally get Kev to admit his feelings.
The development of the relationship between Kev and Win was intense and frequently frustrating. There was no doubt about the depth of their feelings. Win loved Kev and made no secret of that fact. I loved watching her try to push him into admitting his feelings for her. She tempted him beyond all reason, but every time he would seem to give in, he would then pull right back. I ached for Kev, who was terrified that in the intensity of his feelings for her, he would somehow cause her harm. I wanted to shake him after the scene at the ball, as he all but pushed her into Julian's arms. His misery was well-earned, and his way of dealing with it was highly unusual for him. I had to laugh at the irony of it being Leo who came to get him. My heart also broke for Leo as he shared the importance of accepting love when it's offered because you never know what will happen. I loved what Kev did with that information. His big moment was romantic, intense, tender, and so very hot. For Win, it was everything she could have hoped for. I loved how she got him to tell her all about his past, and the freeing effect it had on him. It's not all unicorns and roses though, as Julian doesn't fade quietly into the background. Besides attempting to drive a wedge between Kev and Win, his further actions against Kev go awry, and tragedy is only averted thanks to a ruthless Win.
Along with the romance of Kev and Win, there is plenty to see of the other Hathaways. Cam and Amelia are blissfully happy in their marriage. Amelia is still mother-henning the whole family, though with a slightly lighter touch. Poppy and Beatrix have accepted their need for help to navigate the Season, and the addition of Miss Marks to the household is just what they need. I liked the new and improved Leo, who after two years away from the vices of London, is fast becoming an admirable man, though there are times he seems to fight it just a little. His interactions with Miss Marks are hilarious.
I also loved learning more about the connection between Cam and Kev. From their first meeting in the previous book, there was first antagonism, then grudging respect. The discovery of their matching tattoos increases the mystery. Cam is determined to find out about his past, while Kev wants to put his behind him. I loved their interactions in this book, as Cam seems to take great satisfaction in tweaking Kev's temper. I was not entirely surprised by the information that Cam and Kev discovered at the gypsy camp. It was interesting to see the different reactions that Cam and Kev each had. Cam's renewed determination to find out the details bore fruit at the end of the book. The scene at the camp, as Kev struggled to save Cam's life, and then they listened to what the gypsy leader had to say, was so intense I was on the edge of my seat. Even more amazing was the visitor that Cam and Kev received a few days later. I had to laugh at Cam and Kev's reactions and that of their very obnoxious visitor. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall of London sitting rooms when that news got out. The epilogue was terrific, especially Kev's reaction to Win's labor. show less
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 94
- Also by
- 6
- Members
- 48,900
- Popularity
- #319
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 1,843
- ISBNs
- 1,330
- Languages
- 21
- Favorited
- 178
