Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lisa Kleypas (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 25, 2009

Someone to Watch Over Me is a classic tale from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas. In this Regency romance, Kleypas, the author of Seduce Me at Sunrise, tells the story of a scandalous beauty with no memory of who she is and the man determined to unravel the secrets of her past.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Grant Morgan is one of London's most eligible and unattainable bachelors. He's also a powerful member of the Bow Street Runners, and when he's called to the waterfront late one night to investigate a drowning victim, Grant is stunned to recognize the face of Vivien Rose Duvall, a well-known woman of the night. He's even more startled when he realizes that she's alive. With no one to care for her, Grant carries Vivien to his home and revives her, only to learn that she is suffering from amnesia.

Vivien hesitantly accepts her handsome rescuer's claim that she is his mistress, despite her misgivings about her true identity. Nevertheless, she can't deny the marks on her throat that prove her near-drowning in the Thames was not an accident, and now she must trust the man who claims her as his paramour, for her life is in danger. As Grant searches for Vivien's attacker, the two find themselves falling in love, all the while struggling to stay one step ahead of the evil forces that will stop at nothing to see Vivien dead.

Kleypas's characters are not your run-of-the-mill Regency fare--Grant lacks a noble lineage while Vivien's "membership" in the demimonde is unusual to say the least--which makes them even more fascinating and thoroughly absorbing. Toss in a puzzling mystery to solve and an intriguing look inside the workings of the famous Bow Street Runners, and you've got a novel well worth reading. No wonder Lisa Kleypas's books are consistent bestsellers--you won't be able to put this one down.--Lois Faye Dyer

From Publishers Weekly

Untypically, this Regency features lower-class protagonists: a rough-around-the-edges Bow Street runner and a notorious, unlikable courtesan. Grant Morgan, once a poor orphan, has become rich in the service that was the precursor to London's modern-day police force. (Runners worked both for the Bow Street magistrates and as independent detectives.) When he rebuffs the advances of flame-haired beauty Vivien Duvall, she retaliates by spreading vicious, demeaning rumors. He then finds her half drowned, almost strangled to death and suffering from traumatic amnesiaAand he takes revenge by convincing her they're lovers. This way, he can bed her easily while searching for her assailant. But is she really who he thinks she is? The questions of exactly who it is that he has slept with and who hates Vivien Duvall enough to try to kill her are quite intriguing. Kleypas (Then Came You) writes a spirited tale, clearly enjoying her characters, but she may unsettle fans of the genre with her willingness to stray from its conventions. Not only does she present a d?class? world, but Regency misses don't normally say "Ick!"
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Avon (August 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780380802302
• ISBN-13: 978-0380802302
• ASIN: 0380802309
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (123 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lisa Kleypas graduated from Wellesley College with a political science degree. She is a RITA award winning author of both historical romance and contemporary women's fiction. Her novels are published in fourteen different languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband Gregory and their two children.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#23 in Books > Romance > Historical

#31 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

#23 in Books > Romance > Historical

#31 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Historical Romance

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars First of the terrific Bow Street Trilogy but not the best March 10, 2003

By baltimore0502

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Grant Morgan is a gruff, jaded but effective Bow Street Runner called to the docks to investigate a body pulled from the Thames. It's a woman who's obviously been violently attacked - strangled and left to drown. But Grant recognizes the woman as infamous demimondaine Vivien Duvall, a woman Grant has no liking for since she started untrue rumours that he was desperate to have her and she refused him. On closer inspection he finds that she's not dead and, on impulse, takes her to his home to recuperate.

When she regains consciousness, it's clear that she's got amnesia. Grant decides to take some petty, childish revenge by using Vivien while she's vulnerable then dumping her. But he does not count on the effects of the amnesia on her. She's so different from the woman he and the rest of Society know. She's sweet, unassuming, kind and he reluctantly finds himself growing more and more attracted to her - and not just sexually. Meanwhile, she is completely incredulous when Grant tells her of the depraved life she leads, but with no memory she has no choice but to believe him. And now she must allow herself to be used as bait to catch the person who so obviously wanted her dead. What a frightening prospect for a woman who has no memory of anyone she meets! Her attempted killer could be anyone!

Though I enjoyed the story, I did feel that the lead characters were a bit one-dimensional and could have been better developed. And Grant's petty anger over a fairly innocuous bit of gossip from a courtesan was a bit irrational. But I did like Grant's gruff protectiveness and felt compassion for her unenviable confusion and fear.

I really enjoyed this trilogy - this was followed by Lady Sophia's Lover and then Worth Any Price.... I was fascinated by the workings of Bow Street, the political opposition to it and the power (and the way he did not abuse it) of the yummy, dreamy, sexy Sir Ross Cannon. Recommended. Read more ›

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, but too predictable... June 18, 2006

By CoffeeGurl HALL OF FAME

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I read and enjoyed two Lisa Kleypas novels before picking up Someone to Watch Over Me. I thought the plot seemed interesting and the fact that the heroine is believed to be a prostitute makes living alone with the hero much more plausible. However, the somewhat predictable course of the story kept me from enjoying this one to the full. More on that later. Grant Morgan is the most successful and respected Bow Street Runner in London. The gentry feel a mixture of fear and disdain for the tall, dark and handsome runner, which is why he gets upset when a notorious courtesan tells everyone she has rejected his advances when it had in fact been the other way around. Grant wants revenge against the ruthless wench, and he has the opportunity to do so when he pulls her out of the waters of the Thames, unconscious and with bruises around her neck, an obvious attempt at her life had been made. He plans to seduce, use and humiliate her and then tire of her, and the fact that she has amnesia won't stop him from doing just that. But Vivien Duvall, in her amnesic state, is nothing like the shameless hussy he had met at the ball. She is now sweet, intelligent and seems genuinely naive. He nevertheless knows what she does for a living and rages in jealousy whenever he thinks about the amount of men she's bedded. Grant is nevertheless falling for this new Vivien, but he cannot let his feelings get the best of him. After all, she will recover her memory and return to her sordid lifestyle... or will she? There are some twists throughout the novel.

The novel is nice and enjoyable and I wasn't bored (much) as I read the book. But, as said earlier, the story is a little too predictable and the things that happen I saw coming from a mile away.... The "twist" involving Vivien wasn't at all shocking and I knew who had tried to kill her long before the information was revealed. I have no idea if Kleypas had wanted these to be surprising or not, but even if she hadn't intended to make this unpredictable she could have at least tried to make the story seem a little less... sketched out. One thing I could say in favor is that the storyline of how the hero and heroine come together is more believable this time. There are no gently-bred, albeit commoner unmarried women walking the streets of London alone at night researching gambling clubs (Dreaming of You) or traveling alone in a carriage with a rake late at night after attending a party by herself (Suddenly You). Even though I had enjoyed those novels, I nevertheless had a difficult time accepting the aforementioned things because they simply couldn't have happened in nineteenth century England. The heroine in this book is believed to be a courtesan, and so I didn't have to suspend much disbelief this time around. The only thing that doesn't ring true is Vivien being unsure about marrying Grant after they've been involved. This isn't believable because no woman of that time period would allow herself to remain unmarried and ruined. She'd marry him in a heartbeat, insecurities or no insecurities. Women of that period didn't have the luxury to choose to remain single after bedding a man. Vivien's reasoning sounded more like the relationship angst of a modern-day woman. Should I marry him or stay single? Ludicrous emotional conflict in a Regency. As for the protagonists, Vivien is a little too sweet at times, but I liked her. Grant is gorgeous and alpha male-ish, which is always sexy, though he got on my nerves at times. I give Someone to Watch Over Me three stars because, anachronisms and banality aside, I enjoyed the book. However, this one falls more in the enjoyable-while-you-read-it-but-forgettable-once-you've-finished-it category. Read more ›

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Kleypas May 26, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

"Someone to Watch over Me" was my first Lisa Kleypas book and is still my favorite, although by now I've read them all. The hero, Grant - a Bow Street runner - is strong and sexy without being so boneheaded that he resists love until the end of the book. The heroine, whom we know as Vivien, is poignant in her search to regain her memory while falling in love with the man who seems to protect her. The story is well-plotted, and has enough unpredictable twists to keep you turning page after page. The love scenes are steamy and compelling, and the ending is sweet. I really loved this book and highly recommend it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing story and great romance March 5, 2006

By M. Prince

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I'm surprised to see so many less than stellar reviews for this book, because I thought it was great. The Bow Street Runner series (this book, Lady Sophia's Lover, and Worth Any Price) are all very interesting books, and I loved them all. However, I think that the story line in this book is far more intriguing than that of the others.

Grant Morgan makes a truly spectacular hero in this book. Yes, he may not have the best intentions in the beginning when he takes the near drowning victim back to his home, but I totally disagree that he should have known it wasn't Vivien Duvall after a short time. Why would he have any reason to think differently when this woman looks exactly like her? Yes, she acts strangely compared to his knowledge of Vivien, but she also has amnesia... and no one knows that there could be some other possibility. He's not dense, just ignorant of all the available facts like everyone else in society.

I don't think anyone could fault his character because his intentions change very quickly when he begins to fall for this woman against his wishes. He wanted petty revenge, but his mind was overruled by his heart and it all works out to his favor. I think the female character of "Vivien" was absolutely charming and they had a very sweet romance.

In this book we are also introduced to Ross Cannon, the Chief Magistrate of Bow Street, and it is his equally touching story that unfolds in Lady Sophia's Lover.

I would definitely recommend the Bow Street Runner books to any Kleypas fan, because I believe that this series and her new Wallflowers series truly show off her talent as a romance writer. The romances are just lovely and the historical setting is excellent, and I continue to grow my Kleypas collection!