Customer Reviews

Suddenly You

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Heroine: self-described as voluptuous on her good days, plump on the rest

I'm a sucker for Historical romances, particularly if they have a British or Celtic setting. Show me a book cover with a brawny man in a kilt or a suit of armor, and I'll show you my wallet. :^) This particular story takes place in London during those years between the end of the Regency period and the beginning of the Victorian era. There are no kilts unfortunately, but at least our hero, Jack Devlin, is half-Irish and a devilishly handsome man with a dark and mysterious past.  

Our heroine is virginal old maid Amanda Briars, a novelist who lives alone after having cared for her ailing parents during their last years. Normally when in her right mind, she's a pattern-card of propriety. Her impending birthday however, has her feeling less than her usual self. She does the unthinkable and approaches a notorious madam in order to procure 'company' for her 30th birthday. On the appointed night she opens the door to find the devastatingly gorgeous Jack standing before her, never suspecting the real reason for his being there. 

What worked for me:
More than anything, I loved reading about a heroine I could relate to attitude and shape-wise. She sounds to be as short and round as I am, yet the author never portrays her as frumpy and dumpy unless it's from Amanda's own viewpoint. Some of the wonderfully descriptive phrases Ms. Kleypas used to portray Amanda: ripe, like a hothouse peach; plump, perfectly so; abundant.

Another thing about Amanda that I liked was the fact that she always seemed to be cold. It just made her seem that much more real to me, that she had that particular quirk. (And yes, this too is something I can relate to.)

I adored the way Jack went after Amanda; desirous of her extremely curvaceous body, yes, but also drawn to her keen intellect and sharp wit. Their banter was enjoyable, and their love scenes were wonderful; very sensual, but tastefully done rather than becoming all-out erotica. Still, I was grateful that I had the A/C on as I was reading some of those passages.

What didn't work for me:
There were times that the standard romantic fiction 'formula' showed through in the writing, and that jolted me a bit: Insert hero's devastating past here, add heroine's introspection here, time for the forced marriage, etc etc.

I understand with a name like "Briars" that virginal Amanda would be 'prickly,' but for me there was a bit too much missishness in her character and it slowed down the story for the sake of creating friction between hero and heroine. I also had some trouble understanding how she wrote books that were on the fringe of acceptable when she had never been with a man. True, the books were meant to show what deep-down she wished to experience, but how could she express these ideas if she really didn't understand what she was missing?

Overall:
A good read. There were some interesting twists in the plotline, particularly how Jack and Amanda came to meet, as well as the ensuing problems from that first meeting. In my opinion "Suddenly You" is worth keeping for those days I feel plump rather than voluptuous and need to hear a handsome man raving about luscious curves. :^) 

If you liked "Suddenly You" you might also enjoy "The Bride and the Beast", "The Accidental Bride", or "The Fire-Flower".

I'm so happy I took a break from reading Nora Roberts' works long enough to try new authors. This is my first Lisa Kleypas book, which transported me to a romantic, meticulously detailed world enlivened by an electrifying plot. It starts with the most memorable scene I've read in a long while: Amanda opens her door to Jack, whom she mistakes for the male prostitute she has sent for on the night of her 30th birthday.

In a woman's perspective, it's difficult to make a love scene between two complete strangers believable--despite an undeniable physical attraction between them--but Ms. Kleypas pulls it off. Aptly dubbed "The Most Sensual Romance of the Year", Suddenly You sustains the momentum of the initial pages with touching, dissolve-in-a-puddle-of-hormones-as-you-read love scenes.

Of course the connection between Amanda and Jack is more than just sexual; their story would make you alternately laugh out loud and cry, so real are their personalities although they are essentially archetypal characters. Jack is a wounded, needy hero whose efforts to claim Amanda are chronicled in touching scenes--from something as subtle and evocative as Jack refastening Amanda's dancing shoe on her foot (weeks after she refused to see him again for fear of society's reprisal), to a wild incident in which he simply carries her off and passionately demonstrates why they belonged together. (For one intense moment in bed, he demands "Who do you belong to?", to which she could only answer breathlessly, "You. You, Jack.")

Suddenly You goes beyond many romance books whose culmination is that exchange of elusive "I love you's". Just when I thought Amanda and Jack were cruising along that requisite happy ending, destiny intervenes to reveal yet another facet of their relationship. It's full of vicissitudes that would twist your heart and keep you absorbed, until you just cannot do anything else but finish it... by which time you'll want to start re-reading it.

Lisa Kleypas' new book, Suddenly You, delievers a face-paced, witty story with a strong independent heroine and a hero who isn't afraid of her intelligence or success. One of the great things about Kleypas' writing is that her books are not retreads of the same idea over and over again. Suddenly You opens---with of all things---the heroine, novelist Amanda Briars, trying to hire a prostitute as a gift to herself on her 30th birthday. Because of a matchmaking madame, her new publisher, Jack Devlin, arrives at the appointed hour. Despite his less than sterling reputation, Devlin is truly a gentleman and doesn't take (much) advanatage of the situation. The two begin a friendship and professional relationship that becomes much more. The dialog is frist-rate, the secondary characters charming, and the passion begins in the first few chapters and doesn't stop. Although there are some misunderstandings between the lovers, this aspect of the story isn't drawn out or senseless as in some other books. Moreover, Amanda is beautiful but not rail thin, a model or clingy. Jack is rough around the edges, not perfect, but is strong in that he views Amanda as his equal (and more but that would ruin the ending). If you are a long-time fan of Kleypas, your wait is over and the book doesn't disappoint. If you have never read a Kleypas before, this book is a great place to start and should be followed by her earlier works like Someone to Watch Over Me and Stranger in My Arms. A historical romance with modern themes. Another winner for Kleypas--and readers.

Writer and spinster, Amanda Briars, decides to gift herself with a man for her 30th birthday. She has decided that she wants to lose her virginity for her birthday, so she visits a local brothel and places an order.

When her birthday arrives she is having second thoughts about her birthday gift to herself. When Jack shows up on her doorstep she makes it clear she isn't sure she is going to go through with her original plans but Jack takes matters into his own hands (pun intended) and although he doesn't divest her of her virginity, he still manages to give her a birthday to remember.

This story was actually very cute. Amanda cracked me up with her boldness and the rules she set forth for their relationship. She was constantly warring with her insatiable curiosity and her sense of morality. Jack and Amanda are two original main characters with their complex personalities and unusual views of the world for that time. Jack and Amanda have immediate chemistry and an easy camaraderie that they don't try to deny. That's not to say there aren't any relationship issues, because eventually there are, but it all just adds to the flow and feel of this fabulous book.

I laughed, I cried and then I laughed some more. I was so engrossed in this book that I would not stop reading it for anything and at one point I stood at the stove making dinner; wooden spoon in one hand, book in the other. I loved it!

Cherise Everhard, April 2008

This novel has a twist - an intelligent, slightly older (ok 30 is older than the usual 19 year old!) woman who knows what she wants. First she wants to lose her virginity and sets out to make that happen. Then she just wants Jack. Then she wants to give him up! Amanda is also sensible and I loved the way her thought processes worked!

As a couple, Jack and Amanda are so sensuous. The love scenes are well written and sizzling.

This book was so full of ups and downs that I could not put it down! I had to find out how it would all work out in the end. Well worth reading.

This is Kleypas at her best. I was a little disappointed in her last romance, "Dreaming of You" after devouring all of her other previous books currently in circulation. The storyline, romance, and character developement was a little flat in "Dreaming of You" but everything sizzles in "Suddenly You"! The protaginist, successful fiction writer Amanda Briars, decides she does not want to remain a virgin when she celebrates her 30th birthday. In a modern twist for a Historical Regency novel, she decides to enlist a male courtesan for her deflowerement. Of course, things do not work out quite as expected when potential publisher, Jack Devlin, arrives at her door and she mistakes him for her discreet visitor. Jack's character is my favorite Kleypas hero to date- he is an unforgetable scroundel with a hidden heart of gold that is a perfect match to the independent Amanda- the storyline that developes is believable and takes you right along the emotional highs and lows of a well written romance. You will not be able to put this one down. I loved the story and the characters- you will not be disappointed!

I had a lot of fun reading this book. Amanda is not your typical spinster. She is a writer and a woman comfortable being a spinster, such so that she hires a male prostitue for her thirtieth birthday. As it turns out, the man that comes to see her is not who she thought it would be, but Jack Devlin, a business tycoon who is interested in publishing one of her stories.

The book is fast-paced and the story is telled in Ms. Kleypas's usual way: full of hotter-than-hot scenes that will keep you warm at night. If you want a story that has hot scenes as well as love, then this is the book to get.

The back cover's blurb reads: "She was unmarried, untouched and almost thirty, but novelist Amanda Briars wasn't about to greet her next birthday without making love to a man. When he appeared at her door, she believed he was her gift to herself, hired for one night of passion. Unfogettably handsome, irresistibly virile, he tempted her in ways she never thought possible...but something stopped him from completely fulfilling her dream. Jack Devlin's determination to possess Amanda became greater when she discovered his true identity. But gently bred Amanda craved respectability more than she admitted, while Jack, the cast-off son of a nobleman and London's most notorious businessman, refused to live by society's rules. Yet when fate conspired for them to marry, their worlds collided with a passionate force neither had expected...but both soon craved."

S.

Do you love strong leading men who are so bad they are really GOOD? Does the hero make or break the story for you? If you need the hero to be trully fabulous...sexy and intense, ruthless and agressive, hard and cynical, with a dash of boyish charm and humor (to make him trully lovable), then you need to meet Jack Devlin. He's the perfect leading man to curl your toes. Lisa Kleypas out did herself with Jack. My hat goes off to her.

But make no mistake, our leading lady is no slouch either. Are you sick of the leading lady who is irrational, in a misplaced effort at passion, and weepy for no good reason? Good. You won't get that type of behavior from our very sensible Amanda Briars. She is strong, solid and realist but still tender and sexy in the best possible way.

I personally am sick to death of romances where the characters hate each other until 5 pages before the end and then are miraculously in love. Or those romances where its basically erotica with no relationship . . . . and they live happily ever after. Yeah right! This book does not fall into any of the romance novel pitfalls that so many others do. I have probably read hundreds of romance novels over the years. This one has made the greatest hits list. I read romance because I crave my happily ever after but I want the trip getting there to be worth while. You'll get that with this book.

This was the 1st book I'd ever had the good fortune to read by Lisa Kleypas. Since this book, I've read everything she's got in print. If you are sick of reading romance after romance that is so formulaic you have to keep checking the covers to see if you are reading the same book over and over again, this is the author for you. Say goodbye to stories centered on disagreements created by a ridiculous lack of communication. Instead, say hello to Jack and Amanda, and Lisa Kleypas, who will liberate you from that trap, at least for a little while.

I first read Suddenly You about two years ago, when I first began reading romance. I did not write reviews at the time but would make a few notes to myself concerning how much I enjoyed the book - if it were keeper status - and then assigned a grade to it. Of course I gave Suddenly You the highest rating two years ago but my only notes were "Read again and again and again!" Although I have a fairly large keeper shelf, I seldom read books that second time. I think I'll change my mind about that because I enjoyed Suddenly You as much or more the second reading and it still goes back on my keeper shelf. It is a great romance with a bit of naughtiness and great leads. I remember that I had relished Kleypas' unusual characters in that they were - refreshingly - not members of the aristocracy. And even though I have literally read hundreds of romance books since Suddenly You, I still remembered the opening scene. It really sticks in your mind. Where else in romance have I read of a nineteenth century spinster hiring a man to take her virginity for her thirtieth birthday present to herself?

Amanda Briars is a strong mature heroine who also is a well-known author. She lives a contented life in London in her small home with three servants. She is not rich but she has a comfortable income and decides that before she is too old, she wants to experience a physical relationship with a man just once. She never plans to marry and believes it would be foolish to hope for marriage at her age. Although she is very attractive, she does not see herself as much beyond plain. The night of her thirtieth birthday, a man shows up at her door to talk with her about publishing one of her books and Amanda mistakes him as her "gift".

Jack Devlin is a man who knows what he wants in life and accomplishes almost anything he sets out to do. He has risen from a penniless youth to own the largest publishing house in London and has diversified this publishing business into many additional sources of income. He is our classic hero with an extreme amount of arrogance, alpha deluxe, handsome, and rich. He is a workaholic basically and doesn't care much for society unless it is to advance his business interests. He visits Amanda Briars one evening to discuss publishing with her and is greatly surprised to find that she believes him to be her hired "gift" for the evening. The resulting scenario is quite entertaining but Jack ends up being a good guy in the end (he thinks) by not completely fulfilling the "gift" role. He leaves without making Amanda aware of his true identity.

Within days of this encounter, Amanda formally meets Jack for the first time at a party and is greatly mortified and incensed that Jack played along - even a little - as her birthday "gift". The delicious repartee between the two fill pages as they get to know each other and as Jack pursues Amanda concerning publishing one of her novels. But Jack doesn't just pursue Amanda for business purposes. They both are highly attracted to the other and although each is determined not to indulge in an affair - it seems it is beyond their control. The book is highly entertaining and quite sensual. The sensual rating is a strong 4.50 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Amanda keeps a pretty sound head throughout it all. I thought most of her actions seemed realistic and well warranted considering the social expectations of the day. Jack is not as protective of Amanda's reputation as he should be and thus the story spins.

Suddenly You is probably my favorite Kleypas book to date. I have read nine of her books and I can't remember being disappointed in any if them. Once I began reading her books, she quickly became one of my favorite authors. She also holds the status of a "must read" author when she releases a new book. She consistently writes highly entertaining historical romance.

Whoa! Are you looking for a book with alot of sex? This is it! No plot. No substance. No anything really, except sex between Amanda and Jack. There are so many steamy scenes in this book. So if your looking for a story line like in Kleypas's 'The Devil in Winter' (my fav) forget it.

This is not a book for the prim and proper and there's really barely a story line. No climax. No nothing. Amanda meets Jack and assumes he's the prostitute she hired to deflower her for her 30th bday. Turns out he's not a prostitute, rather her soon-to-be publisher. They start an affair and end it due to some misunderstandings over each others affections. There's a wrench thrown in and eventually everything is resolved and a happy ending.

Yes, the writing is good, but that's besides the point. Not your typical Kleypas fare compared to the Wallflower series or the Bow Street Runners.

This book would melt an iceberg. Its for those who seek some sizzle. Fun without using your brain.

But if you want a well developed plot, I suggest you read the above series as well as the excellent Then Came You and Dreaming of You ( in that order).