9788466638043

Blue-Eyed Devil
4 Stars

After hearing about this book for years, perhaps my expectations were too high. Yes, Haven's story is well-written (obviously, it is Lisa Kleypas after all); her journey is intense and emotional, and her romance with Hardy is captivating - that man is simply yummilicious!

While the reading experience is enjoyable overall, there are a couple of problematic issues. First, is Haven herself. Although she is a sympathetic and likable heroine, she has absolutely no backbone! Yes, there are reasons for her inability to stand up for herself (her mother's systematic erosion of her self-esteem, battered wife syndrome), but this does not make it easier to relate to a woman who is, in essence, a victim of her own making.

Second is the portrayal of the abuse Haven suffers at the hands of her sociopathic narcissist of a husband. Yes, the descriptions play an important role in understanding Haven's character, but ultimately, she fails to internalize the lessons learned from the experiences, and as such, their harshness is not warranted, especially in a romance novel. Thankfully, this episode in the book is short-lived as I might have DNFed otherwise.

Overall, Blue-Eyed Devil is a heartbreaking story and well worth the effort. However, readers with triggers for abusive relationships should be forewarned.

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Thank you, Lisa Kleypas, for a very real and frank look at abuse and its affects. Haven's journey was well-written and touching; I really enjoyed this book. ( )

Just did a reread of this book. Liked it as well the second time. Very well done story. The romance is good and Hardy is a great hero. This book is not a typical romance because so much of the book is a story of woman's life rather than a story of two people meeting and falling in love. It does lean a bit towards women's fiction. ( )

This book was like a ride in a sleek car through scenery. It was a charge and easy to race through. But I hardly remember any detail, except for the name Haven, which I haven't heard before, and suited the female lead. Quite a lovely name! I also remember - and I hope it was this book – that the writing was impressive and I made a note to read more of Lisa Kleypas. ( )