Marrying Winterborne by Lisa KleypasMarrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Ravenels #2
Published by Avon on May 31, 2016
Genres: Historical Romance, Victorian Romance
Pages: 431
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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two-stars

A ruthless tycoon

Savage ambition has brought common-born Rhys Winterborne vast wealth and success. In business and beyond, Rhys gets exactly what he wants. And from the moment he meets the shy, aristocratic Lady Helen Ravenel, he is determined to possess her. If he must take her virtue to ensure she marries him, so much the better…

A sheltered beauty

Helen has had little contact with the glittering, cynical world of London society. Yet Rhys’s determined seduction awakens an intense mutual passion. Helen’s gentle upbringing belies a stubborn conviction that only she can tame her unruly husband. As Rhys’s enemies conspire against them, Helen must trust him with her darkest secret. The risks are unthinkable… the reward, a lifetime of incomparable bliss. And it all begins with…

Marrying Mr. Winterborne

I liked the book Cold Hearted Rake (my review is here), and I loved Rhys and Helen in that book. So much so that after I read the teaser I couldn’t help myself and bought the book that night. But after about 5 or 6 chapters in, I really didn’t like them together anymore. I shelved the book for a while and would periodically return to it, but just didn’t want to read it. After almost a year of this, I finally made myself finish this because everyone said this was so wonderful. And I can see why, I can! To a point.

Rhys needs softening and Helen is definitely the one to do that. Helen is sweet, unassuming, practically perfect. Except she has just found out that her father may not have been her father. Rhys is incredibly ruthless, he’s had to be with his upbringing. Helen knows part of her allure to Rhys is her title and the fact that she can open doors that even though he’s insanely rich, have remained closed to him.

But when in the last book Kathleen broke off Helen and Rhys’ engagement for Helen’s own good, she didn’t know how Helen really felt. So Helen goes to see Rhys to correct things. And he’s a beast. But she…settles him, and calms him, and fires him up all at once. But there’s a secret that haunts Helen and she knows she’ll lose Rhys if she tells him. But she also knows she has to tell him.

The book dragged. I see parts that were beautifully written, and lovely scenes between Helen and Rhys, and then it would drag for a while. I mentioned to a friend who loves this book that I felt like I was slogging through it. That’s never a good sign.

I didn’t dislike it, I didn’t like it, I meh’d it. I know that’s not a word, but meh.

The ending was nice. I liked who Rhys became. I liked that he didn’t behave the way I thought he would, and I liked that he surprised me. But I felt meh. I know I’m in the minority here, so take that for what it’s worth. Many of my friends love this book, and we have similar taste. I still want to read Devil In Spring, though, so I’ll keep you guys posted.

two-stars