Marrying Winterborne ~ Review

Title: Marrying Winterborne
Series: The Ravenels #2
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Release Date: May 31, 2016
Genres: Historical Romance
Blurb: 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 Mr. Winterborne 

Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads

*****My Review*****

After reading Cold-Hearted Rake I was very reluctant to read this book. I didn’t care for Winterborne at all and didn’t like the idea of Kleypas making him the hero of this story. But, I so loved the Ravenel family and thought I would just struggle my way through this book to get to the next one. And at the very beginning of this story, that’s what it felt like.

BUT, it didn’t stay that way long, and in the end his character seemed so far removed from where it started that I couldn’t even connect the two. If the side I didn’t care for hadn’t seemed so short lived in the beginning it probably would have been an issue for me, but his character seemed to smoothly transition and so quickly. In the end it caused me to bring my rating down a little, though, and I have to say that a lot of women wouldn’t be able to get past his initial ugliness. (I can certainly say that if this was real life, I’d never have encouraged any woman towards him.)

After all the above, he was just swoony. His alphaness was of the variety that I would hate in real life, but thoroughly enjoy in my books (don’t ask because I don’t have an answer – lol). His chemistry with Helen was off the charts!

I absolutely adore all of the Ravenels. The twins are as amusing as ever. I love that this series doesn’t drop the other characters in each book. Their stories stay intertwined and there’s a plot that doesn’t just involve romance. And this particular plot had one interesting twist and plenty of angst! However, that also included Helen learning something that she doesn’t want to share with Winterborne, so she keeps it from him. And I have to say that this is one of my least favorite tropes in my romances. In the end, though, I was so thrilled with the way Winterborne handled the situation. It was all sighs and swoons and just left me happy.

l so thoroughly enjoyed this book in the end that I gave it 4.5 stars. If it hadn’t have been for the Winterborne’s initial character, this would have been a 5 star read for me. I am definitely looking forward to the rest of this series!!

***********************************************

I finally got to start Unravel the Dusk last night, but I was so tired by the time I started it that I didn’t get to read much of it. Besides, I’d already finished 3 books yesterday: Pride, Good Omens, and The Little Paris Bookshop. I’m excited to dig in further tonight, though!! And I’m loving listening to Obsidio as I work during the day. It’s so, so good!

Happy Reading,

Alison