Caution:- This is going to be a long review despite the fact that this is a romance novel and I usually don't write long reviews for romance novels.A year ago I had discovered Lisa Kleypas when I got my hands on the Blue-Eyed Devil. A book which did not capture my imagination right at the onset but which reeled me in very slowly and left me quite charmed by the end. I thought, here's a romance novelist who doesn't sugar-coat domestic abuse, try to make it appear less than it actually is and gives you quite a chilling account of the brutality of an abusive relationship, the rawness of it. And she also provides you with valuable information on how the abusive husbands/lovers are always people who suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, a psychological condition. At least, going by romance novel seriousness standards her narrative was quite gripping. Like for example, I cannot imagine any other writer of cliched romances, pondering questions like 'what makes a bully, a bully?', 'how do they pick their victims?', 'why do they suffer from the psychological compulsion to prey on someone weaker than them?'.It was informative in many ways and definitely not just another romance novel out there, that you devour like a piece of cotton candy and forget about.A year later, I'm back to Lisa Kleypas for some good old-fashioned romance because that's what my holiday mood wants. And this fine lady impresses me once again.I don't want to write out a summary of the book now because the blurb is more than enough to provide the reader with a brief overview.What I want to do instead is heap praise on Lisa Kleypas for particular reasons, some of which have very little to do with a regular reader's enjoyment of a romance novel. Let me list them one by one:-i)Kleypas does not stick to mere stereotypes. Mind you, I'm not saying she steers clear of them but she does rack her brain to come up with something new and interesting and doesn't take the easy way out by improving on or recycle existing material.Even the lovemaking scenes are original(or I think so) and not various imitations of the ones we've read over and over again. ii)I thank her for having the good sense to do her research on British India even if few paragraphs of the book are devoted to it. Most historical romance novels more intent on reflecting the anti-India sentiments among the British just to cater to the stereotypical notions held by the uninformed. But in doing so they portray a very untrue picture of that particular period.iii)I applaud her on the way she throws light on the barbarity of the custom of sati in India and equates it to the abuse inflicted on a helpless wife by her English husband. Women, irrespective of which nation or culture they belong to, are always victimized and even the so-called advanced civilizations/cultures openly practise misogyny. "How little a woman's life was valued in so many cultures. Even in this one, supposedly so modern and enlightened."That is a brave thing to say Ms Kleypas. I think few citizens of first world countries would make such a candid admission. Another quite well-known writer of contemporary romances [*cough* Jill Shalvis *cough*] once wrote a dialogue which goes along the lines of 'Jesus your fiance bought you a ring with a stone larger than a third world country!'. First of all a third world country's being a third world country has nothing to do with size. It's more about the socio-economic status of the majority of its population.Very shallow. Very stupid. Very offensive. Authors like Lisa Kleypas make me hold out hope for this genre which specimens like the author mentioned above systematically destroy.iv)The female lead dares to find an alternative life for herself after the death of her husband. Despite being on shaky ground financially she donates to the poor, the underprivileged and considers their welfare her priority. Charity rings true only when you have the heart to give away even when you have nothing. Kleypas understands this very well for which I'm glad.v)Adoption. We prefer to adopt children with the best complexion, best cuteness quotient and analyze the DNA he/she maybe blessed with a thousand times before taking the plunge. But what about the children of the less fortunate, the despised?Do we not shove them away without a second thought?But Kleypas' heroine does not. She opens her arms wide for the son of a convict, one who has been hanged moreover, and loves him as a son.So my enjoyment of this book was considerably influenced by my personal feelings and opinions about certain things. Why do I still want to deduct a star from it then? Some bits of the plot seemed far-fetched and I don't think this kind of a relationship can withstand the test of time.But oh God I forgot this is a romance novel. Here I'm not supposed to question the legitimacy of even the most preposterous form of happily ever after. Final rating:- 4.5 stars.
«Lady Hawksworth, o seu marido não está morto…»Esta frase só por si já seria suficiente para que o livro captasse a minha atenção, afinal quem não gosta de uma história em que o marido regressa do Mundo dos Mortos, fazendo com que a vida da “viúva” fique de pernas para o ar?! Juntem-lhe uma boa crítica- como a da Sara Delgado do Blog O Meu Momento Zen- e é certo e sabido que não levará muito tempo até que eu vá a correr adquirir o livro.Foi assim que Stanger in My Arms, ou Um Estranho nos Meus Braços- que em português estava esgotado em tudo o que era sítio-, veio parar às minhas mãos.O livro começa com o regresso de Hunter a casa, um ano após ter sido dado como morto. Mas será que Hunter é mesmo quem afirma ser, ou será um impostor? Hunter sabe coisas que só o verdadeiro Hunter poderia saber, porém está…diferente.Durante grande parte do livro a autora consegue, com mestria e elegância, manter o leitor na dúvida relativamente a essa questão, o que só torna a leitura ainda mais deliciosa.Adorei o casal protagonista e a maneira como a relação deles se foi desenvolvendo gradual e naturalmente. Geralmente personagens extremamente boas e doces deixam-me os nervos em frangalhos, mas tal não se verificou com Lara. Talvez porque por debaixo de toda a bondade e doçura existe uma mulher forte e determinada- uma leoa, como Hunter tão eloquentemente a chamou.Outra personagem que adorei foi o pequeno Johnny- a sério, o miúdo é simplesmente adorável!! Como não podia deixar de ser, também estão presentes as párias da sociedade, encarnados pelos tios de Hunter, que desejam acima de tudo a fortuna e poder que o título lhes confere. Mesmo assim, estas não são as personagens que menos gostei. Não, esse prémio vai para Longsdale. E porque é que o meu ódio de estimação vai Longsdale perguntam vocês?! Porque o homem é um traste miserável que espanca a mulher uma e outra vez e depois age como se não tivesse feito nada de mal e porque trata a mulher como propriedade. Des-pre-zí-vel!!!!!Resumindo e concluindo, adorei o livro, adorei a autora e faço tenções de ler outros livros da mesma. Quem aprecia romances de época com certeza gostará de Lisa Kleypas.
What do You think about Stranger In My Arms (2011)?
4.5/5 stars. This was another winner for me by Lisa Kleypas. It was somewhat darker, and almost reminded me of a Sherry Thomas novel. It had a fun mystery that kept me guessing until nearly the end. There was some really steamy scenes. The characters were likeable. So why 4.5 stars, and not 5? The ending of the book devolved into a Jerry Springer story 1800s-style. It was almost laughable how soap opera like the ending was. My husband was reading over my shoulder as I read the ending last night in bed. He pointed at a page in the book and said: She should have ended the story right here. There was still 15 pages left. *laugh* I still really liked the story, though.
—FlibBityFLooB
This was such an enjoyable read that I re-read twice already! I adored Hunter and Lara, both were great with one hiding from the past and another hiding in plain sight. Hunter was the type of male character I love, strong but not forceful, as he slowly drew Lara out of her hard shell she lived in before and after his disappearance. Although he acted like he didn’t give a damn, his actions prove otherwise time and time again. He did hide many things from Lara but, you knew he loved her very deeply. Lara was a gentle soul looking to help other before herself, getting herself into a few little messes along the way with Hunter there to help her out. I loved how the story played out always making you second guess yourself along with Lara why Hunter changed into this wonderful man. I could understand the way Lara acted as I would doubt the change in a man who could careless about you then suddenly go out of his way for you as you fall in love with him. But Hunter was always waiting and although he would sometimes force his hand, you knew he cared deeply enough to let Lara go. Overall: an amazing story and makes me wish I had my very own Hunter!
—Rane
