Lisa Kleypas=Historical. Romance. Perfection.

Everyone who knows me knows that I love historical romances in a way that I don't extend to any other genre. I have a deep and abiding love for historicals that can't be topped; regardless of attempts to broaden my reading horizons, I always return to my literary roots. In garnering the knowledge that I love a well written happily ever after like I love nothing else, people also know that I think Lisa Kleypas quite possibly writes the perfect historical romance. I refused to read another Kleypas novel after I struggled with (and abandoned) my first: Blue Eyed Devil. Although I hate to admit it, I was woefully late to the L.K. party. At the urging of a friend I picked up Again the Magic and conceded that maybe I had passed judgment too soon. I still stand by my first impression of B.E.D. I'm sorry, but I still think its rubbish, especially when compared to her historical novels. Hand me a historical Kleypas and I promise not to bother you for at least two hours. How do I know it's true love? I've never started reading one of her historicals and stopped reading before I was finished. Wallflowers? Love 'em. Bow Street Runners? On the "KEEPER" wall. Where Dreams Begin? Check. Suddenly You? Check. Then Came You? Dreaming of You? Check, Check. Hathaways? All present and accounted for on said "KEEPER" wall.

I actually just finished reading the last two novels in the Hathaways series. Forgive me for staying up all night falling in love with men who don't exist and wishing that women who don't exist would hand over their husbands and still be my friends. Married by Morning is suitably perched on a pedestal with Mine till Midnight as one of my favorite go-to novels when I need a romantic pick-me-up or an escape from my romance-less existence. I wondered for a long time if I would ever find a hero on par with Race from Cherish by Catherine Anderson. He was the top of the line for me. I've read Cherish at least a hundred times because I love him. Race is tall, dark, gentle, well endowed, handsome, funny. He loves his dog. That means he's the one. Then I met Cam. Cam has that sexy earring, he's a gypsy. He's smart, he can fight, he's rich, he's funny. Did I mention that he's a sexy gypsy? Race and Cam. (sigh) What more does a girl need?

Leo. Apparently, I need Leo, Lord Ramsay. Cam and Race and Leo. Perfect. All my wonderful trio needs to do now is: 1) become real; 2) forget about those pesky wives from the books; 3) move into my bedroom; 4) walk around at least half naked at all times; 5) fall madly in love with me. Wait. I'm forgetting. Throw in Harry Rutledge, Derek Craven, Matthew Swift, and Simon Hunt. We'll make our fearsome foursome into an octet. (gasp) Scandalous!

I loved Married by Morning. (for Amazon click here) Really, I did. Here I was, expecting M.b.M to be my least favorite of the Hathaways series. I was wrong in a big way. Leo and Catherine are among my favorite couples. As I've come to expect from L.K. the story is tender and funny and real enough to make a person jealous and hopeful at the same time. I think it's a rare gift from the literary gods to find an author who makes you fall in love with their characters, over and over again, no exceptions. There is a lot of humor and bickering. I'm a fan of couples who aren't corn-on-the-cob or saccharine. Leo is a wicked rake; Catherine is stubborn with a sharp tongue. They argue and fling clever insults at each other for pretty much the entire time. I love the questions that Leo asks Cat after their stolen kisses. Hilarious. Read the damn book, you'll know what I'm talking about. Their story made me happy. Suffice it to say (before I ramble on for days about how much I am utterly and helplessly in love with Leo) that this book is excellent.

Final Grade: A.

Love in the Afternoon (and here) is also really good. Beatrix was the character I couldn't wait to read about. What kind of man would she fall for? Would I love this hero as much as I love all the other Kleypas heroes? Yes. And no. This book simultaneously centers around the effects of war and the developing romance. I can't say that I have personal experience with a soldier just out of combat because it would be a lie. Christopher is fractured and tormented; he's plagued by a disease they didn't have a name for and didn't talk about. He isn't sure what type of man he is anymore. Beatrix is perfectly suited to a man with a ton of emotional baggage. Her soldier came back to her broken. She's determined to heal him. The storyline works and it made this novel more realistic to me. You know? Less of a fluffy read. L.K.'s signature humor is there, as is the tenderness, but the hero in this one isn't hurt because of a lost love or a bad childhood, he's wounded because he spent two years dodging death and burying his friends. I cried a little, but I'm a weenie when it comes to love.

Final Grade: A.

Everyone who has even a mediocre fondness for historical romance should read these two. Well, okay. I can't give you that advice because it isn't sound to read a series out of order. So read all five books. Do it.

I can feel you waiting...

Not going to give up are you? That's fine. I'll admit it. My name is Gray and (pausepausepause) I'm addicted to L.K.'s historical novel heroes.