Customer Reviews

When Strangers Marry

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Kleypas is one of those Authors that is on my "Auto buy" list. My immediate reaction upon getting the book and reading the back of the book was that I was cheated out of a brand new story. I had read OIYA and didn't recall much and remembered it was not my favorite Kleypas book. (A 4 star Kleypas book is better than the average 5 star romance by your churn-them-out-every-month romance author) My disappointment stems from my experience with the revised version of Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught. I wasn't impressed with her revisions. Therefore, my fear was great here we go again.

Boy was I wrong! I should have known Kleyas wouldn't cheat me out of my "new" story. Unlike McNaught's revision, When Strangers Marry is not the same story with a few more details added here and there. She actually rewrote the ENTIRE STORY!

If OIYA was worthy of 4 stars, then WSM deserves 7!
I enjoyed reading this romance as if it was a new story.
To me, OIYA was a rough draft and WSM is the final polished version.

And the best part? The intimate scenes between Max and Lysette are hotter and spicier! Obviously, 10 years makes a difference in what was acceptable in historical romances then verses now. I say Viva la 10 years and VIVA LA KLEYPAS!

I definitely got my money's worth and recommend When Strangers Marry for anyone wanting a sensual and well-told romance.

Okay, so I am a huge fan of Lisa Kleypas and I absolutely adored Only in Your Arms only I never remembered the sexual encounters to be as HOT as they were in this re-write! WOW - score a 10 on the sensuality scale!

I liked Maximillian Vallerand before but loved him here....so absolutely in control! I don't remember Lysette as being quite so spunky before either. All in all, if you are looking for a VERY STEAMY romance to put you in the mood.... look no futher because this one will positively ignite you!

Briefly, the story is the same....Lysette is running from a mean step-father who is forcing her to marry, Etienne Legesse, a well to do Creole, who is also a bit of a drunken pig. Maximillian's twin sons Phillipe and Justin find Lysette trying to escape in the bayou and bring her home to their father. Upon hearing who she is betrothed to, Max decides then and there that he will ruin her if only to pay back Etienne for having an affair with and murdering Max's wife, Corrine. Naturally, Max comes to care for then admittedly fall in love with, Lysette. The mystery is who really killed Corrine after everyone has assumed it was Max all these years who murdered his own wife.

Great story even when it was Only in Your Arms.....SUPER story with the heightened sensuality!

I must admit that although I had read "Only In Your Arms" waaaay back when, it had not "stayed" with me even though she is one of my favorite authors. I had a hard time recalling characters and the story line so for me this was like reading a new book. This was a great story full of the trademarks that make a Lisa Kleypas book a Lisa Kleypas book. There is great chemistry between Max and Lysette and the story is fast paced and interesting. Set during one of my personal favorite time periods (early 1800's) and in one of my favorite locations (New Orleans) Ms. Kleypas manages to include historic people in their own storyline that is not boring to the reader but at the same time manages to include main characters and move the story along. This is a great example of what Ms. Kleypas is able to to with her writing and storytelling talent.

I read this book after reading several other Kleypas books, including the Bow Street runner series and the beginnings of the new Wallflower series, but this book, even "modified" from its original form, just doesn't compare.

While I think the time frame and setting are very interesting, the biggest flaw I see with this book is the sketchy relationship between Lysette, Max and his two sons. I'll grant that younger girls often married older men in these historical time periods. However, I found it decidedly creepy that his two sons find her trying to steal their boat or whatever it was and one is all set to make sexual advances to her... but they take her to their father instead. Then she rapidly becomes their stepmother? It just didn't add up to me that they didn't see anything creepy about trying to jump her bones and then following her orders as if she were now their mother.

There are plenty of May-December romances in Kleypas' other books, but this one felt the least authentic to me, and it really affected the way I read the entire story. I just never truly believed the relationship between Max and Lysette, and I definitely didn't believe the relationship between Lysette, Phillipe and Justin. I'm glad this wasn't the first Kleypas book I ever read, because it probably would have kept me from looking into her other books. I think Lisa Kleypas is a fantastic romance author and I would unhesitatingly recommend any of her other books I've read-- Where Dreams Begin, Stranger in My Arms, etc-- but this one just wasn't up to par.

When I first heard that Lisa Kleypas was re-working her 1992 novel Only in Your Arms, my first thought was, "what is she thinking?" After all, Only in Your Arms, in my opinion, is one of those novels whose epic love story lasts through the ages.

I must say, though, after reading When Strangers Marry, I realized that you CAN improve upon perfection!!! The story of Maximillien Vallerand and Lysette Kersaint is magnified and enhanced!! Max is sexy and charming in a way that he never could have been in OIYA. Max still has that dangerous quality that attracts and repels us to him, but he is much more approachable and easier to laugh. Lysette is a lot stronger heroine in the re-work. Even in her slight size, she stands up to Max and appears unafraid of the man that everyone else calls "murderer".

The best thing about this book is that the sensuality is more intense between Max and Lysette. These characters sizzle in each other's arms. I think all of Ms. Kleypas' fans will be pleased to see Max more open and tender with Lysette. And, Lysette is Max's dream come true.

I was happy to re-visit the Vallerand family. It was good to see Justin (that wicked man!!) and Phillipe again. I am glad that Ms. Kleypas chose to maintain Justin's dangerous rebellion, but temper it with an earlier reconcilliation with his father. And, although the murder of Max's first wife is still looming over the family, the love story between Max and Lysette is not overshawdowed by it.

Kudos to Ms. Kleypas.

For years, Lysette has suffered the beatings and torments form her stepfather, Gaspard, who has squandered the money that her beloved father left behind. With the money gone, Gaspard is now forcing her to marry Etienne Sagesse, a cruel and fearful man from New Orleans. Determined to escape a doomed marriage with Etienne, she flees only to find herself caught trying to steal their pirogue by the Vallerand twins, who then take her back to their father, Max Vallerand, a wealthy plantation owner feared and condemned by the New Orleans society. Unbeknownst to Lysette, the Vallerands and Sagasses have a long withstanding feud brought about by Max's late wife's infidelity. Realizing the prize in his hands, Max decides to keep Lysette as payback to Etienne's affair with his dead wife Corinne. Although Lysette was shocked at Max's intention, she decides that she is better off compromised by him, a man who has managed to stir up her feelings, rather than be tied forever with the despicable Etienne. But has Lysette escaped her cruel betrothed only to seek sanctuary from the devil incarnate himself?

Set amidst the political tension between Mexico and the United States, and against the backdrop of the vibrant place that is New Orleans, WHEN STRANGERS MARRY is a tale of how a young but highly-spirited and intelligent woman helps an embittered man comes to grips with his past and live a life free from guilt and regrets. Lysette is a delightful heroine, full of charm and humor. She is the perfect antidote to Max's brooding demeanor. I loved how she endears herself to Max by standing up to him and not putting up with his arrogance. As for Max, one couldn't help but like him for his gentleness toward Lysette, the way that he practically spoils her and treats her with such tenderness, that you know there is more to his initial intention on using Lysette as a means of getting back at Etienne.

As with the other Lisa Kleypas novels that I've read, the main characters are likable and the sensuality is scorching without being vulgar. Unfortunately, I didn't really care much for the political subplot in this book although I did like the insight on the cultural difference between the Creoles and Americans. I would have loved to read more about Max and Lysette instead of having to jump from one subplot to another.

Overall, this one didn't really leave a lasting impression on me. And I guess that I'm a little critical of this since my first Kleypas novel is DREAMING OF YOU and have since used that as a barometer for rating her other novels. If you're new to Kleypas, I wouldn't recommend this for your first book.

Lysette Kersaint is being married off by her set abusive stepfather to Etienne Sagesse a man that is hateful and she loathes very much. She runs away ending up at the widow, Maximilien Vallerand's home and is taken in by him. He wants revenge on Etienne Sagesse due to that fact that Etienne was once his wife's lover. Max's disceased wife's death was questionable and Max is still thought to be a murderer. Etienne will be do anything to get Lysette and Maximilien is determined not to turn her over to him. One way to keep Lysette away from him is by marrying her himself. And that is just what he does- not thinking that he will lose his heart to her. Now Etienne is really set on getting revenge on Maxmilien while Maximilien is working against Etienne and Lysette is the pawn. It is an exciting story (one that I at times found boring, though). Maybe that was just me. I would recommend it as a read but not one to buy. There are better out there. Just my opinion.

This is a reprint of Lisa Kleypas's first novel. I was very excited to read it, because she is one of my favorite authors. But, as excited as I was, I wasn't expecting her usual novels, because, well this was her first attempt. I hate to say it, but usually an author's first publication isn't as good as their novels now. Anyway, I really did enjoy this book.

I thought that Lysette was a strong heroine, and though she seemed to cater to Max's needs a lot, she was still an individual. Max allowed her to have her own opinions and thoughts, and wasn't as high handed as many husbands of that time could be. I also liked Max. He was so happy to be around his wife, and I really don't see that much in historical novels until nearly the end of the book. He took joy in being with her all the time, and he liked her for her individualism.

Max's sons, Justin and Phillipe, his mother, and the mystery surrounding his first wife's death all added to this book. But, I have to say that I guessed who the killer was almost from the first. Ignoring that fact though, this book has good characters, wonderful romance scenes, and a setting that I have never seen Kleypas use in her current books. I was pretty pleased with this book all in all, and I think it would be worth a read for any romance fan.

Go out and get the original, Only In Your Arms. This new updated version is a disappointing attempt to make these _historical_ characters more acceptable for the modern reader. What happens is just the opposite, Max and Lysette are much less compelling in this glossed over version than they were in Only In Your Arms. The author may not have been happy with her original effort but this is by no means an improvement. Is this an example of the type of characters we have to look forward to in historicals from now on? I hope not. What she did to Max in this updated version made me cringe.

This is the first book I read by Lisa Kleypas and I LOVED IT! I could not but the book down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next with the romance they shared between each other regardless what everyone else thought. Lysette was just what Max needed to light his fire.