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 Unlike the meandering tone of many Regency romances, Kleypas keeps true to her characters (many of whom reoccur throughout her books)and their mileau, wihout excessive decriptives and dialogue about fripperies! This is a wholly satisfying book, that you'll want to read in one sitting. It is better, in fact, than the preceding novel that links to it (Someone To Watch Over Me) - and you don't need to read one to read the other, though I'd certainly recommend both.
The attraction between Sophia and Ross is palpable from page one. Not the usual "I love you - but also hate you - so I can't let you know I love you" stuff. I immediately liked both characters and was happy that it didn't take long for them to admit it themselves. Even though Sophia starts out wanting to hurt Ross, she finds herself unable to act on it because of his warmth and kindness. Thus, their relationship begins with mutual respect (and physical attraction) and culminates in true love. I wanted to keep on reading after the book ended. Lisa Kleypas again proved why she's one of my favorites!
There is such a proliferation of romance novels centered on Regency and early-Victorian England's upper class citizens, it's almost impossible to find one worth reading, one that captures a facet that hasn't been written about, ad naseum. That's what was special about "Suddenly You" and what I hoped to find with "Lady Sophia's Lover." Unfortunately, this effort just misses the mark. Ms. Kleypas starts off with interesting sympathetic characters who become wooden at story's end. I knew the eventual outcome long before I finished the second chapter. I do admire Ms. Kleypas in her desire to give us characters that are on the fringe of the "ton," and I hope she will continue in her efforts. This is not a bad book. But, between the two stories I have read, I say "Suddenly You" is better.
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I will start off by saying that the only other Lisa Kleypas book I've read is "Suddenly You," which I picked up on a whim and was greatly surprised by how fun it was. I hoped, when I started reading her new book, "Lady Sophia's Lover," I would be treated to the same kind of surprising turn-about of character depiction and non-formulaic story line. Well, not necessarily so.
I was biased because of the many negative reviews here and only bought it because of the plot line that intrigued me. I was not disappointed. I beg to differ with those who said that there was no love story but only sex. Just the opposite. It was clearly a love story and a very passionate at that. I liked that Sophia was no virgin when she embarks on an affair with Sir Ross and that he thought it to be no issue at all. The only thing that disturbed him about it was that Sophia obviously wasnıt treated well by her ex-lover. I was smitten with the hero who had all the qualities I love in a man: Personal integrity, protectiveness, loyalty, tolerance, a liberal, open mind and a great capacity of love, passion and faithfulness. Especially the latter is rarely to be found in a romance novel hero. Most of them have a distressing tendency to be hopelessly promiscuous and are only able to fall in love with a pure virgin which I always found to be the peak of double standards. I can never believe that such men can stay faithful to one woman for the rest of their lives after their past dissoluteness. Itıs highly unlikely in any case. But Sir Ross is known as the ımonk of Bow Streetı who resigns to con-sort with prostitutes after the death of his beloved wife five years ago and has stayed (almost) celi-bate because of that. How remarkable and far more attractive to me than those eternal rogues who had a lot of shallow and sordid, loveless affairs before they meet the heroine. Sophia is a true match for Cannon for she possesses the same qualities as the hero. I also liked that Sir Ross was no tortured hero. I have always trouble with those dark, brooding and enigmatic men who populate the world of romance novels in abundance. It is true, though that Lisa Kleypas latest book is more erotic than the average romance novel and a little more graphic. I couldnıt find fault in that at all. She did not describe anything kinky or extreme. I highly enjoyed those parts for they possessed a tenderness that is very rare. Often steamy erotic scenes become so incredulous and exaggerated that I fear for the health and well-being of the heroine. This was not the case here. If you like sensual romances with two loveable heroes, this is a treat for you.
