121 of 129 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Historical Data Bogs Down The Story. ** Grade: C **, October 3, 2004
This review is from: Love Come to Me (Onyx) (Paperback)
Lisa Kleypas began her successful writing career with the Onyx (New American Library) publishing group. She wrote four books for this company before moving over to Avon Books. LOVE, COME TO ME was the second of the four. Recently, I found a rare copy. It contains 411 pages, typed in a small font, and reveals Kleypas' budding bright future.
Unfortunately, this is not the time Kleypas achieved brilliance. Why? Anytime I can close a book in the middle of some defining moment to go do housework -- well! LOVE, COME TO ME is such a book. Yet, I don't think it was the writer's fault, no I think the editor should take the blame. The romance was never allowed to grow, to build, to hold the reader. Instead, the reader is subject to lengthy discussions surrounding the country's problems after the Civil War and the newspaper scene of 1870's Boston. In a romance book, historical facts are fine as a backdrop, but such details shouldn't take over the story. The editor should have edited this book better, cutting down on the educational lessons, editing to create a better romance.
Lucinda Caldwell is a New England lass. Her doting father raised her, a father who pampered and spoiled her. Fate has nicely tied up Lucinda's future. She will marry her childhood love and become part of Concord, Massachusetts' elite society. She will marry -- if only her beau will commit himself.
Heath Rayne is a displaced southern gentleman. He is very interested in Lucinda. He remains in Concord, watching the engaged couple, hoping for cracks in the relationship. Fate grants Heath his wish; Lucinda is now his. Now his mission is to humor his spoiled wife. Kleypas's strong suit is her ability to write a love scene, and here she shows her fine beginnings. The best parts of this book are our couple in solitary confinement.
Would I recommend LOVE, COME TO ME? Only if you find it at a very reasonable price. Don't go to the secondary market and pay big dollars. Too many current books deliver far better romance.
Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love stories written in and around the civil war era., November 23, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Love Come to Me (Onyx) (Paperback)
This book was a great find! It is a keeper for many reasons. First enter the sassy northern girl who breaks rules and manages to get herself into awkward situations. Enter The Southern gentleman who has come to concord, mass for unknown reasons and happens to be there to pull lucinda out of a watery death. He nurses her to health but because of propriety (being alone with a man for 2 days and a southerner at that, mercy) they must remain public "strangers"> Heath is in love at first sight with this northern spitfire (having been badly burnt by a simpering southern belle) but Lucy is engaged to an arrogant anti southern cold fish yankee. Of course Heath always causes a stir when he tries to mix in this society. There are so many threads to this story. Heath is a hunk who ultimately is attempting to imprvoe the situation bet the north and south during the 10 yrears of reconstruction. He fought for the south but is anti slavery. He sees the good and bad on both sides but mostly just sees the horror of the war and the loss of life. "cin" and heath have to work out the problems of their different worlds, society and history itself. There is not a boring moment in this page turner. Especially when the simpering belle turns up, and when cin is ostracized into marrying heath, and treated badly by her jerk financee.......The love scenes were wonderful and the issues were real..I loved this book. It's hard to find but its worth the bother. good job lisa k. thanks.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not up to current Kleypas standards *Spoiler*, January 9, 2009
This review is from: Love Come to Me (Onyx) (Paperback)
This early Lisa Kleypas novel is nothing like her later regency masterpieces. Love Come To Me has an uninspiring hero and heroine with a long plot that at times was almost boring.
Lucinda Caldwell is saved from a cold watery grave by village newcomer Heath Rayne, a transplanted southerner with a boatload of charm. She stays in house two days to recuperate and finds the man to be quite appealing. She has a boring fiancé but she is bent on remaining faithful to her betrothed. Lucinda is smart, a bit sassy, and stubborn too.
Heath has always admired Lucinda from afar and is pleased to be sharing his home with her for a few days. He left his native Virginia after the War and wants to make a new life in Concord, Massachusetts.
Lucinda sees Heath about town and attempts to keep him at a distance with her haughtiness and argumentative spirit. She exhibits none of these traits to her fiancé and is almost a simpering miss with him. *SPOILER* She is caught in a compromising position with Heath and the two are forced to marry. Lucinda blame shifts almost all her difficulties on her husband and how Heath can stand her childish tantrums is a mystery.
Just when Lucinda becomes likeable, Heath becomes distant and secretive. His past comes back in a big way and now the two have added problems. I wanted to like this novel but Lucinda's stubbornness and Heath's secretive nature were off putting.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
