Customer Reviews

Only in Your Arms

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I thought that this book was rather good, and I liked the 'mysterious plot' regarding the murder of Max's wife, which was successfully incorporated into the over-all scheme...Lisa Kleypas is talented enough to merge this in such a way that it does not eclipse the romance.

There are a lot* of steamy scenes between the couple but they are perfectly suited to each other, and I liked them from the beginning. Lysette is innocent and sweet and she is the perfect foil for Max's darkness and cynicism.

One of the nicest things I like about this novel is the effect the heroine has on her soulmate...his harsh disillusionment lessens when he falls in love with her, yet he still remains strong and solid, an intrinsic value I love in the heroes of this genre.

This is, perhaps, my favorite among Kleypas books...and I hope to experience more like it.

I have bought and read practically all of Ms. Kleypas' books, at least whatever were available in the bookstores in Boston. Only In Your Arms is truly wonderful primarily because it is the first book of the author I've read that is set in the US. But what makes the book remarkable is the story and the main characters, Maximillien Vallerand and Lysette Kersaint. Their love develops in the most unusual circumstance and its strength tested in the most trying times. The concept of family unity and love is also one of the story's strong points. Though set in the early 1800s, a lot of us in the 20th century could still identify with the characters in the story. The romantic scenes...well, I had to read them twice, three times! Lucky Lysette, for having such a romantic, protective husband, a real "knight in shining armor." Now I can't wait to read this book's sequel, "Only With Your Dreams." I can only hope my order comes soon!!

One of my favorites by Lisa Kleypas. Although I didn't like Max at the beginning, his dark, smoldering character got me at the end. The book is, as usual, full of passionate scenes and emotional twists.

I liked Lysette from the beginning, and I found her very endearing and a bit too head-strong at times. Max and Lysette's relationship started as a means to avenge a scandalous past, but it turned into a loving and equal in power at the end. A must read!

The back cover reads:

"Ravishing and desperate Lysette Kersaint flees and impending marriage to a man she hates to seek sanctuary with a man she fears. For rumors abound throughout New Orleans concerning her handsome, brooding protector, Maximilien Vallerand--whispers of his cruelty, his rages, his dark, mysterious past. Forced by circumstance, Lysette consents to wed the dangerous rake, becoming the unwitting instrument of his sworn vengeance. But the flame-haired beauty's innocent heart will awaken within him a soul of passion and poetry...and spawn a love magnificent, wild, and true."

To read about Justin Vellarand, don't miss ONLY WITH YOUR LOVE, which isn't as great as ONLY IN YOUR ARMS, but good, nevertheless.

S.

This is the third Lisa Kleypas book I have read. I have also read Stranger In My Arms and Because You're Mine and although both of those are excellent books Only In Your Arms is my favorite. I'm not going to go into great detail because I don't want to ruin the story for anyone else so I'll just say that I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone that is a fan of romance novels.

I have never been a romance reader but love history or historical fiction -- particularly Regency England. This summer I read my first romance which was a Kleypas novel working up to this fifth book. When I saw it was New Orleans and not England I almost put it down. But then the first chapter's intrigue surrounding Max kept me going. Now I have to say it is the best I have read of Kleypas or this category because of the way the murder mystery and the Burr conspiracy was worked in as well as all the characters' development. I did not like Max at first but eventually softened to him, as did Lysette. The story provides a believable psychology for his nature. I read the sequel solely to meet up with Max, Lysette and New Orleans again. I'd love to see a third sequel with Max and Lysette's grown daughters coming of age in it. I'd like to see how Max acts in that regard. That'd be really exciting.

Definitely a great book. It kept my interest from page one. I have to rank it in her top four best novels she wrote, which is high praise since she's one of the best authors I have read so far (and I have read ALOT of books).

I was very disappointed in 'Only in your arms'. The reason was... it had a shallow plot and the characters all lacked depth. I saw nothing in the personality of Lysette to draw the eye of Jaded men, to love her. She was just too flat! And Maximillien supposedly put off by any love relationship... because of his cheating dead wife fell for Lysette with no effort, sweetness or even a personality, on Lysette's part. Her personally was wishy washy with no real strength and depth to her character! And Maximilillen's sons held no charisma for me either, like most children in a book do! Also, Maximilliens Mother was a colorless character, as was every other character in this book. They are all very unmemorable, as is the plot! Don't judge Lisa Kleypas's other books by this poor effort, she has some very good reads out there.

This novel's location is creative, romantic, and virtually swirling in a mysterious mist. Using great skill, Ms. Kleypas maneuvers her reader into the exotic district of New Orleans in 1805. The writer's uncanny ability toward detail and her grand use of delicate French phrases are stimulating.

Maximilien Vallerand married a jezebel. Corrine Vallerand can destroy men. Beautiful beyond words, this woman manipulates the men around her. She grows to hate her popular husband and tentatively sets out to destroy an already tense relationship with his childhood friend. Even from the grave, Corrine continues to strike out, managing to crush the fragile love between Maximilien and his brother.

Yet what is so pleasing with this story. The author doesn't lend a heavy hand to Corrine's malice -- the evil remains on the outside fringe. In true Kleypas fashion, the writer has written a romance novel.

A solid story, a page turner, unfortunately it is commonplace. Lisa Kleypas has gone on to write some absolutely phenomenal books. This was only satisfactory.

Note: I understand Lisa Kleypas rewrote this book and gave it a new title, "When Strangers Marry". I have found a copy of this revised story, and I am anticipating the read -- to compare.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

This was the second Lisa Kleypas book that I have read and I really enjoyed it. The characters were all interesting as was the story line. I also appreciated that the two admitted their love for each other early in the book, not 3/4 of the way through like so many others. I will keep this book to read again and I will look for more of Ms Kleypas' books.

Let me first state that Ms. Klaypas is one of my favorite authors, and one of the best writers in the Romance genre. I don't think I have read any of her books that I would rate below 4 stars - until now. "Only In Your Arms," however, is only a 3 star novel. The storyline is very simplistic; the mystery too obvious; the characters are predictable and lack the usual complexity; and there is little of Ms. Kleypas' humor here. As always, however, the chemistry between the two main characters is electric and the sex is steamy.

A young Creole woman, Lysette Kersaint, flees an arranged marriage to a man who revolts her, only to fall under the protection of a man she fears, Maximilien Vallerand. Mr. Vallerand, who rumor has it, murdered his first wife, just happens to be the mortal enemy of Lisette's betrothed - his first wife's lover. Maximilien weds Lysette, for revenge against his enemy, and because he is attracted to her innocence, lack of guile...and her beauty. He is smitten. The story unwinds with the development of the newlyweds' relationship, and the unsolved mystery of the first wife's violent murder hanging over them. The most complex character in the novel is Justin, Max's son by his first wife. Since Justin plays only a small, but important role, in this novel, hopefully, he will get a book of his own in the future.

I am certainly not panning this book. It's not bad. I know I am in the minority here, but I would suggest that readers try some of Lisa Kleypas' really great novels first, like: "Give Me Tonight," Dreaming Of You," "Then Came You," and "Someone To Watch Over Me." Here you will find the author at her best!