Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Blue-Eyed Devil
Book Review: "I have come to realize that you can never be truly happy unless you've known sorrow"
Summary: 4 Stars
In spite of my initial qualms about reading Sugar Daddy, I was immediately wrapped up with that novel after the first two chapters. I loved the characters and very much wanted more. Consequently, I couldn't wait to get my hands on BLUE-EYED DEVIL. Was I in for a surprise when the story begun to unfold. I wasn't expecting a story about domestic violence, especially not one as descriptive as Lisa Kleypas served her readers.
BLUE-EYED DEVIL is the story of Haven Travis, an idealistic young woman who refused to live to her father's expectations. She fell in love with her college sweetheart and married him despite her family's disapproval. Just like a fairytale the marriage begun beautifully... and also ended horribly. As if waking up from a bad nightmare, Haven found herself in a violent relationship where she would bear the physical and emotional scars for a long time. When Haven escaped and found herself within the protective cocoon of her family once again, she started to slowly pick up the pieces. She found herself a job and a new love in the form of the blue-eyed devil, Hardy Cates.
But recovering from such traumatic experience is not a simple matter. Haven found herself the recipient of her manager's bullying. I admit that I was initially appalled by the continuation of abuse and started questioning the author's position on the subject matter. I was thinking surely, this character couldn't be this spineless? Yet I also had to take a moment to stop and think what do I really know about emotional and psychological abuse? Who am I to make judgement on things I do not fully comprehend? So I kept reading to find out how it all pans out. Then I began to understand Haven's actions and how the abuse has taken its toll on her. I felt that this was significant to Haven's journey in regaining her self-confidence and inner strength. The author brings so much emotion to life as we read about how Haven is finally able to deal with her past and overcome the nightmares that have haunted her.
Now as much as I liked this novel, I didn't love it like its predecessor. My biggest gripes were the fact that I finished the book feeling like it wasn't quite the ending I expected for Hardy, nor did I feel like I truly go to know him or Haven. While I was happy to see both main characters get their happily-ever-after, I felt that there was still more to them than what was portrayed. With Haven, there was such an enormous contrast to how she was described in the first book that it took me a while to relate to her in the beginning. With Hardy, I expected so much more and wanted to see things from his point of view instead of Haven's. In the end, I was left feeling that I was only able to peel off some of the layers hiding the real man underneath.
Nevertheless, anyone who has at some point in their life felt the heartaches that love can bring will find themselves immersed in the story about two people who are able to turn their lives from the brink of misery and find love once again.
Book Review: 4.5 stars
Summary: 5 Stars
If she had just followed through on the one, embarrassing kiss she accidentally gave Hardy Cates in the dark, Haven Travis might have saved herself a sentence in an earthly Hell. But, she did not, instead marrying the devil himself, or nearly so. Nick turns from being a caring fiancé to a demoralizing, abusive rapist, subjecting her to years of degrading torture that strips away Haven's self worth and tries to steal her away from herself. When he goes too far, Haven is able to summon up enough spirit to escape, turning to her brother for refuge. Once safe, she begins to heal on several levels gradually. Then, Hardy re-enters her life and the attraction is there and stronger than ever. Yet, Haven still has the scars of her marriage on her soul, ones Hardy will have to deal with in order to win her. And, Nick is not done with his ex-wife.
***** Though this book has been criticized for being graphic in its depiction of domestic violence, that is a strength. Normally, I abhor seeing portrayals that are graphic in any way; however, it was critical to this story for the harshness to be seen. Haven's situation comes to life thanks to this, and once you start, this book is impossible to walk away from. *****
Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.
Book Review: A Must Read Book About Surviving Abuse (A+ Grade)
Summary: 5 Stars
There are not many books that can effect you so much that you can hardly bare to start reading a new one. Or you just simply sit and stare into space because you are trying to hold back tears and figure out why such a book has affected you the way that it did.
Lisa Kleypas has reached her zenith with Blue Eyed Devil and is my number one top read of 2008, and will go down in my top 20 of all time favorite books. If you have not yet read Blue Eyed Devil, you are missing out on something so powerful. Lisa has tapped into so many of my emotions that were long forgotten and pushed deep down inside.
Blue Eyed Devil is the first person POV of Gage's (hero from Sugar Daddy) younger sister, Haven Travis. Things start with Haven at Gage and Liberty's (heroine from Sugar Daddy) wedding where she has brought along her boyfriend and soon to be fiancee' Nick. Things could never be better because Haven is marrying the man she loves and who she wants to build a home and family with. Haven feels her own family life is lacking since she is always at odds with her father and she doesn't really get along with her two brothers, Jack and Joe. The only one she has a real connection with is her other brother Gage. Also at this wedding is party crasher Hardy Cates who has known Liberty ever since she was a teen. Liberty and Hardy have a past and Hardy is not welcome at the Travis shindig. But there is something about Hardy that speaks to Haven even though she is with another man. For a brief moment, Haven and Hardy come in contact with each other and that scene between them speaks wonders. But since it is only for a brief moment, they go their separate ways.
Poor Haven's marriage is unlike anything she imagined it would be. In the beginning, things are great with Nick, until he starts to change. His change becomes a snowball effect of emotional and physical abuse. Haven tries to stay to the bitter end because she believes things will get better or she is the one at fault for the way Nick acts. Then one night everything comes crashing down and Haven has no choice but to leave her husband with only the clothes on her back. Because she is so bruised and beaten she limps to the nearest pay phone and calls for Gage to help her.
Haven is welcomed back by Gage and Liberty, but she is so ashamed. She can no longer be touched, even by her own brother, and feels she is a failure. Her own father said her marriage would never last and now she has come crawling home with her tail between her legs. Gage, along with Jack and Joe want to beat the ever loving crap out of Nick for his crimes against Haven, which in this situation was not a shock. I had hoped Nick would get "his" by the Travis boys, but Haven won't let them. She is bigger than that, and rather just divorce Nick and try to pick up the pieces of her life.
Haven does pick up the pieces, but very slowly. She goes to therapy and relies on her family, even though she is still on the outs with her father. And you would think Gage would be the main one who helps her the most out of her brothers, but it is actually her brother Jack, the one who never understood or got along with her. These two have become the best of friends and he is now one of her closest confidants.
Suddenly, Hardy Cates comes waltzing back into Haven's life. Haven is still very much attracted to Hardy, but she is still healing and will not put herself in the same position she was with Nick. Hardy is gruff and a bit unhinged around the edges. He could hurt her badly if he chooses to. One horrible thought Haven has about Hardy is where she wonders if he has ever hit a woman. She is so very scared but also intrigued by this man who looks at her like he is parched and she is a drink of water. Ever so slowly, Hardy breaks through her defenses. He courts her much like a cowboy or stable hand would with a horse that doesn't want to be tamed. Hardy isn't aware about the abuse Haven has suffered, but he knows she needs extra special care. Even his kisses ease her into accepting him. Hardy heals her with his respect and love, and when these two do become intimate; their lovemaking is full of fireworks, love and care. But, Nick is in the background, and he won't go away. There comes a point where Haven has to decide what to do with him and if she should go ahead and have a future with Hardy.
I was very much like Haven at one point in my life, more so with the emotional abuse rather than the physical. She spoke to me on so many levels. For someone like Haven to walk away from a person she has loved and tried her hardest to please is very, very hard. She is a survivor and even though she does walk away from the abuse, the only way she can heal is to continue on with her life, get her self esteem back and learn to possibly love again. She does love again with Hardy in so many ways. I guess you could say Hardy is her knight in shining armor, and her savior. He is to a point, but Haven is the one who has saved herself. She is her own savior.
Lisa has taken the subject matter of abuse and has written a story unlike any I have read. There are so many forms of abuse; the main one here being marital. But there are other forms showcased her such as the one with Haven and her boss who is very manipulative. There is even abuse between a parent and a child where Churchill, Haven's father, has his doubts about her, which began when she was younger. In a way this is also a form of abuse.
When I finally closed the last page of Blue Eyed Devil, I felt drained but happy at the same time. Perhaps it is the knowledge that I have overcome so much in my life, much like Haven has done. Some situations were small, others so big that it shaped me into the woman I am today. And just knowing there is someone who can reach me in so many ways without knowing me personally is a hero in my eyes.
Katiebabs
Sugar Daddy
Book Review: A hot and steamy rollercoaster ride.
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm so sick of reading the same old romance novel templates. This is a good read, as it followed no formula. The first thing that I loved about this book is that the heroine tells it in the first person. Those kinds of books are always the best. I have a feeling I liked this book, because I did not read 'Sugar Daddy'. I had no preconceived notions about the heroine Haven or the hero Hardy.
It seems that if you read 'Sugar Daddy' then this story is hard to believe, according to other reviewers. I came to it fresh, so to me, it was a totally intriguing and gripping story. It stood on its own. The abuse the heroine goes through sets up the story for the hero to come and be a great hero. It may be hard to take, but it worked for me. The author has you totally down about romance and there is no where to go but up once she reached the dregs.
I'm pretty jaded when it comes to romance novels. I'm sure I've read over a hundred and this one had me hot under the collar. I like something different and this was very imaginative with a hero to die for. My only problem with the book is... how could he have stood by and let her marry the first guy?!!! Minor detail. Loved the book. Needed just one more steamy scene in it, but I'm being greedy... way too greedy! You'll want a Hardy in your life!
Book Review: A nicely written, nicely researched book
Summary: 5 Stars
This was the first Lisa Kleypas book I've read. I was really pleased with how she dealt with domestic violance. It's a difficult subject to deal with, especially in a romance. That said, it never brought the story down; it added to the book and to the 'life story' of Haven. And let's face it, we all agree with Haven when she talks about Hardy being just so good looking and such a good kisser that she just wants him. Everyone should be so lucky as to find a love that makes them "just as much me when I'm with you, as when I am without you." What more can you ask for.
I'm definately going to go back and read Kleypas's other titles.