Lisa Kleypas
Author of The 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
Wish List: An Anthology (I Will / Puddings, Pastries, and Thou / Union / All I Want) (2001) — Contributor — 334 copies
Christmas Love Stories (Holiday Spirit/ Gifts of Love/ Surrender/ Creole Christmas) (1991) 62 copies
Perfect Temptations: 2-in-1 (Seduce Me at Sunrise, Tempt Me at Twilight) (Hathaways, 6) (2022) 18 copies
Promises 4 copies
Escucha a tu corazón 3 copies
Lisa Kleypas Wallflower Series: Books 1-2: Secrets of a Summer Night & It Happened One Autumn (2017) 2 copies
Uma noite inesquecível: O fim da temporada (As Quatro Estações do Amor Livro 5) (Portuguese… 2 copies
Friday Harbor Series Books 1-4: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, Rainshadow Road, Dream Lake, and Crystal Cove (2013) 2 copies
Die Wallflowers - Evie & Sebastian: Roman. - Die unwiderstehliche Romance-Reihe für alle Bridgerton Fans. (Die… (2023) 1 copy
Cold Hearted Rake 1 copy
SET 16 Books (Again The Magic; Where's My Hero; Worth Any Price; When Strangers Marry; Lady Sophia's Lover;… (2003) 1 copy
Um sedutor sem coração: A história de Devon (Os Ravenels Livro 1) (Portuguese Edition) (2018) 1 copy
Lisa Kleypas Hathaway Series: Books 3-5: Tempt Me at Twilight, Married by Morning, Love in the Afternoon (2017) 1 copy
The Travis Family, The Complete Series: Blue Eyed Devil, Smooth Talking Stranger, Sugar Daddy, and Brown-Eyed Girl (2017) 1 copy
Keynote - Lisa Kleypas 1 copy
A Wallflower Christmas 1 copy
Выйти замуж за Уинтерборна 1 copy
Associated Works
A Christmas Present (After Innocence / Falling Stars / Gifts of the Heart / Surrender) (1994) — Contributor — 42 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Kleypas Ellis, Lisa
- Birthdate
- 1964-11-05
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Texas, USA
Washington, USA - 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.
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
While this book had several of Kleypas's usual tricks (midway lull, POV from Cam or Amelia, conflicts blown out of proportion, and random violence at the end), Love in the Afternoon was sweet and more layered than expected.
Beatrix and Christopher were well suited to each other. Both were well-rounded instead of walking cliches. Christopher suffers from PTSD, and while that threw him into a rage now and then, but he never threatened Beatrix, unlike some other heroes who think cornering a woman by a garden hedge is romantic. Overall, he carried himself very well. His brooding was believable and not unbearable.
Beatrix's kleptomania also resurfaced briefly, which is always entertaining, but it served a real function in helping bridge the gap between the hero and heroine. Instead of always being the eccentric and childish Hathaway, Beatrix matures in this novel and helps Christopher recover from his time in the war. The result was a cute story with good pacing and fun characters. Everything worked out a little too perfectly at the end, but it fit. There was resolution and healing for both the characters and the readers. This book definitely surpassed the last three Hathaway novels. It's unfortunate readers have to slog through those to get to this gem.… (more)
Beatrix and Christopher were well suited to each other. Both were well-rounded instead of walking cliches. Christopher suffers from PTSD, and while that threw him into a rage now and then, but he never threatened Beatrix, unlike some other heroes who think cornering a woman by a garden hedge is romantic. Overall, he carried himself very well. His brooding was believable and not unbearable.
Beatrix's kleptomania also resurfaced briefly, which is always entertaining, but it served a real function in helping bridge the gap between the hero and heroine. Instead of always being the eccentric and childish Hathaway, Beatrix matures in this novel and helps Christopher recover from his time in the war. The result was a cute story with good pacing and fun characters. Everything worked out a little too perfectly at the end, but it fit. There was resolution and healing for both the characters and the readers. This book definitely surpassed the last three Hathaway novels. It's unfortunate readers have to slog through those to get to this gem.… (more)
When you read a romance, you know the couple's going to end up together. There's no mystery there. Similarly with this novel, the plot "twists" and ending are pretty obvious from the beginning, but that's not the point of this book. The point is the how and the why, and that's where it gets interesting.
Obviously, the heroine is in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the interesting thing is how her story unfolds. She's spirited, even with amnesia, and her transformation was enjoyable to read about. At the end of the novel, she confronts her past, which she had cast in this rosy glow. As it turns out, her old life before the accident wasn't great, and it takes the action-packed events in this novel to prove that to her. This makes her grow, and turns her into a compelling character.
I had a problem with the hero, Grant Morgan, because of how roughly he treats the heroine. He thinks she's a courtesan (but we all obviously know she isn't). As much as I enjoy reading about heroes who can't help but be attracted to the heroine, I draw the line at not being able to keep it in their pants when they're near the heroine. That's a control problem, and I like my heroes with some self-control. I like sexy tension that nearly explodes when their hands touch. However, that was missing from this book in favor of the hero's impulsivity. To be honest, he came off manipulative and douche-y. Not romantic.
Overall, I like my romances action-packed and with a dash of adventure. I got exactly that in this book, so I'm satisfied. If you prefer slower, angsty reads, this isn't for you. For anyone else who also likes exciting romances (like me), I recommend this to you. It's a lot of fun and classic Kleypas!… (more)
Obviously, the heroine is in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the interesting thing is how her story unfolds. She's spirited, even with amnesia, and her transformation was enjoyable to read about. At the end of the novel, she confronts her past, which she had cast in this rosy glow. As it turns out, her old life before the accident wasn't great, and it takes the action-packed events in this novel to prove that to her. This makes her grow, and turns her into a compelling character.
I had a problem with the hero, Grant Morgan, because of how roughly he treats the heroine. He thinks she's a courtesan (but we all obviously know she isn't). As much as I enjoy reading about heroes who can't help but be attracted to the heroine, I draw the line at not being able to keep it in their pants when they're near the heroine. That's a control problem, and I like my heroes with some self-control. I like sexy tension that nearly explodes when their hands touch. However, that was missing from this book in favor of the hero's impulsivity. To be honest, he came off manipulative and douche-y. Not romantic.
Overall, I like my romances action-packed and with a dash of adventure. I got exactly that in this book, so I'm satisfied. If you prefer slower, angsty reads, this isn't for you. For anyone else who also likes exciting romances (like me), I recommend this to you. It's a lot of fun and classic Kleypas!… (more)
I absolutely loved this book! It had everything I love in a historical romance and nothing I didn't. All of the characters, both main and supporting, felt fleshed out and like they had a purpose. The plot had high stakes without seeming random, and that final scene in the train station... I was on the edge of my seat! I can't remember the last time I was so enthralled.
First, the characters. Helen is a sweet heroine who isn't saccharine, someone moral without being an unattainable Florence Nightingale. Someone with thoughts, fears, and insecurities. I loved the touch where Helen strives, at the beginning of the novel, to overcome her shyness and even admits that it has hindered her! This was so refreshing!
Winterbourne was another interesting character, mostly because he was different than other heroes in that he was almost always injured or sick. Instead of making him unmanly, it made him more sympathetic, and his desire to overcome his past and the prejudice around him was believable.
What really made this book was the supporting cast: Winterbourne's secretary, Dr. Gibson, Helen's half-sister, her long dead parents, her living one, and Pandora and Cassandra all played a vital part of the story without being too clownish or too cliché. It brought the story to life.
The piece de resistance was the climactic moment when Helen is running away from the antagonist and waiting at the train station. Each delayed minute, each furtive glance around the station had me gripping the book. Of course she was going to be okay, but the question was how! Without giving too much away, the ending was satisfying because it showed her tenacity and also allowed Winterbourne to save her.
If you love quieter, shyer heroines who aren't as bombastic, then I highly recommend this romance. It won't disappoint.
… (more)
First, the characters. Helen is a sweet heroine who isn't saccharine, someone moral without being an unattainable Florence Nightingale. Someone with thoughts, fears, and insecurities. I loved the touch where Helen strives, at the beginning of the novel, to overcome her shyness and even admits that it has hindered her! This was so refreshing!
Winterbourne was another interesting character, mostly because he was different than other heroes in that he was almost always injured or sick. Instead of making him unmanly, it made him more sympathetic, and his desire to overcome his past and the prejudice around him was believable.
What really made this book was the supporting cast: Winterbourne's secretary, Dr. Gibson, Helen's half-sister, her long dead parents, her living one, and Pandora and Cassandra all played a vital part of the story without being too clownish or too cliché. It brought the story to life.
The piece de resistance was the climactic moment when Helen is running away from the antagonist and waiting at the train station. Each delayed minute, each furtive glance around the station had me gripping the book. Of course she was going to be okay, but the question was how! Without giving too much away, the ending was satisfying because it showed her tenacity and also allowed Winterbourne to save her.
If you love quieter, shyer heroines who aren't as bombastic, then I highly recommend this romance. It won't disappoint.
… (more)
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Kleypas must really be running out of ideas because this book has nothing to do with the Ravenels. This series has essentially become Wallflowers part 2, and I find this quite annoying because this just means that all of the supporting characters are cardboard people who love everyone unconditionally, trust everyone implicitly, and never ask any questions. No one acts like this. If anything, this book is romanticizes family more than it does romantic love. The idea that you will be accepted and loved no matter who you are is the driving force of this book, but again, the actual romance between Merritt and Keir is quite boring. They go from being attracted to each other to being in love. There's no courtship, and so I never really fell in love with them as the reader.
Merritt is a widow who does whatever she wants, whether that's running her ex-husband's business or inviting bachelors over for dinner... all while complaining about losing her reputation. Let's be real. All of her friends are the Ravenels and the children of the Wallflowers, totaling 30-something families. If her reputation ever went to pieces, she wouldn't need any other friends. She has plenty already who don't care about reputations. Besides, her father, as we're repeatedly reminded of in every book, is the most powerful Earl in all of England. No one is going to cut his daughter from society without bringing on his wrath. The stakes were so low in this, I could crawl over them. It's such a shame, because I really liked her in the beginning. She took a lover, like a mature woman, and the two were able to act responsible about the affair. They had their fun, but then they part ways, even while feeling inexplicably tied to one another. Their differences are such that they know a life together won't work... except they somehow work it all out despite never actually talking about it. By the end of the novel, Merritt is useless and becomes another, indistinguishable romance heroine with no likable characteristics.
Keir, for his part, gets amnesia shortly after meeting Merritt, causing him to forget everything about her. At first, I was intrigued and relished the idea of watching him fall for Merritt again but in a new and different way. Except that didn't happen. He's constantly aroused by her, and then his love for her explodes on him because... he sees a piece of paper with both of their names on it. I shit you not. That was all it took. There is no tension, and he is willing to give up everything to be with Merritt at the drop of the hat. For half the book, he reasonably states that he hates London and England and that all he wants is to b a simple brewer on his Scottish island, but then he doesn't experience any internal conflict and gives it all up once he sleeps with Merritt.
The biggest issue for me was the big "reveal", which is a bit of a spoiler.
There are people who will love this book simply because it's a Kleypas novel and because it features cameos from so many Wallflower characters. I mean, if that's all it takes for you to be happy, then you'll like this book. But if you want conflict, growth, and a supporting cast that does more than act as sounding boards to the two leads, (you know, the stuff that actually makes a story a story), then you'll be frustrated by this completely unnecessary addition to the Ravenel series. I'm sorry, Kleypas, but it's really starting to feel like you're running out of ideas.… (more)