Marrying Winterborne (The Ravenels)

Rhys Winterborne. Oh, what a hero! What a man! Simply to die for . . . or kill for! Crude and common born to some, but with a lion's heart, an uncommon strength of character and an infinite capacity to love. A king amongst men, someone who knows how to love, how to pamper, and how to value and protect his woman.And the h was perfect - sweet and innocent, poised and quiet, a well brought up lady who also had the integrity and an inner core of steel that made her a perfect partner for this alphalicious man.*spoilers some*The story begins on an explosive high- a rough swarthy Welshman gritting his teeth to stop himself from doing what he is dying to do- ravish a sweet and innocent woman on his office desk or even the floor. The dainty and delicate Lady Helen Ravenel! His crude lusty thoughts set the pages on fire.'Will you . . . will you kiss me again?' she asked.'I can't be a gentleman,' he said hoarsely. 'Not even for you.''You don't have to be a gentleman. Only gentle.''Cariad . . . there's nothing gentle about how I want you.'I haven't read the first book where their love story began, but I managed to get a good swoon-worthy glimpse. Apparently he has an accident and has to stay till he recovers at his friend's (the h's cousin) place. Where the h takes one look at this dark brooding Welsh magnate and loses her hitherto cool and restrained lady's heart, and she then volunteers to nurse him back to health, evoking some tender moments between the two. This further leads on to an engagement that is abruptly called off following a misunderstanding arising out of the completely green h's inability to cope with a rough passionate kiss from the (now healthy, I suppose!) H. She runs off scared with a nasty case of the vapors and has a lie in for a day nursing her PTSD migraine.*Bug-eyes* Meanwhile, unknown to her, her affronted-on-her-behalf family throw him and his suit out. He, getting nasty in the process, does not help the situation.To get back to this book and its first chapter, she bravely goes to his departmental store (he has established the biggest one in the world!) and tries to explain her reaction to his'well, ardor. He sees this as her trying to win him back for his wealth, because of her family's dire financial straits, rather than any real interest in him.So the crass rascal tells her that after their very fractious parting, the only way her family would accept this match now would be if he compromises her, taking away any locus standi for her family to say no. And the gullibly smitten h accepts this outlandish reasoning and allows him to deflower her right there and then. Well, not on the desk or worse, they do manage to get to a bed.Okay, first let me get a few things out of the way I wasn't so sure I liked at this point in the story. (Because the later book was near perfect and I couldn't find fault with anything even if I tried!)Like how the story slumps after this initial high. The opening chapter had an off the scale turbo charge and then it sort slides down to reach a plodding pace for the next few chapters.My disquiet was also due my inability to come to terms with his dubious plan of compromising her and if this was quite the best way for the plot to go forwards.Then this 'first time' was somewhat off for me. She seemed too comfortable with the idea and the act. For an innocent and a previous runner, this was quite a turnabout and even her 'innocent' moves were unbelievably bold. She seemed more intrepid than swept away with passion.But then the story picks up and sets the tone for a hugely engaging and tender wooing. The h insists on a longish engagement, through which the H shows that he's got what it takes to court a lady in a singularly sweet and delightful way but, of course, with lots of hot earthy sex thrown in. His complete and undivided attention, his unspoken but un-missable love and passion lets the h's confidence bloom in herself and her sexual power.'You mustn't encourage me, cariad,' he said huskily. 'Someone has to tell me to behave like a gentleman. And that's your job, aye?'Unlike my usual impatience with digressions, I liked all the secondary characters and enjoyed the part they played, and sparkle and dimensions they added to the book. The preceding and subsequent mcs were a delight to read about. All the details about the late 19th century society and fashion were fascinating without being a drag or annoying.Like most historicals, this too has an evil villain and a potentially disastrous secret waiting to derail the h/H's future happiness. I quite liked this subplot and how the h handles it and the villain- with her poised and ladylike demeanor not cracking one whit at the bad guy's blackmail. She doesn't run away or suffer the ignominy in saintly silence. Well, she does a bit of the latter, but with a firm resolve of not letting the villain win or let the H suffer. He realizes something's bothering her, but she always put up a happy face to distract him, as she wants to savor the warmth of closeness till the very last.'Heart of my heart . . . I can't help if you won't tell me what it is.' Helen froze. Now was the time to tell him. But it would ruin this moment, it would end everything. She wasn't ready to say good-bye yet. She would never be ready, but if she could steal just a little more time with him, a few more days, she would live off that for the rest of her life.The part about h's little stepsister was very poignant and heartbreaking. I liked the h, the H and the story better for it. It shows the beautiful hearts of the mcs, and true acceptance on the H's part. Nothing like love, honor and goodness of the heart to beat evil and its capacity to take, hurt and destroy.This story of the earthy Welshman and his hothouse orchid leaves you spell bound and in a very happy place.'Dw i'n dy garu di,'*sigh*

It is good. I wish there was more of interaction between Rhys and Helen and less of the secondary characters.

This is a story that I come back to again and again. The characters and their interactions, the dialogues all stay with you. It's become one of my favourites.

The second book from the series, and again touched me. Whenever I read romance novel and I was start googling to find some real life stories to inspire the authors. A must read guys like all her other books .

The book is really engrossing,the plot and character are so lively and page turner and never settling,till one reaches the end of story. True as it's name

I really liked Rhys Winterborne's character. He is a feminist! I think Lisa Kleypas has really developed both central characters beautifully. The story is interesting and the little twists and turns kept me hooked until the end.

Get lost in the times when modern sensibilities were incoming and everything was in flux. Great work introducing the pioneering female doctor.

Liked the quality of pages.

I really enjoyed this book, and I can’t wait to read the next in the series. Helen and Winterborne are fascinating characters. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

MARRYING MR. WINTERBORNE is a standalone read with a happy ever after. There are lots of very moving sex scenes if that is an issue for you. For me it made the story. I LOVED this hero. I realize with almost 1500 reviews no one except maybe the author will ever read it but I have to write something. I loved this story. It is full of a great love story, sensual scenes as a very viral man introduces a virgin to the act of love. GREAT STUFF.Rhys is from Wales. Looked down on all his life he is wealthy beyond figures. His "Winterborne" is fashioned after Harrods. He is feared as well as respected. He will never really mix with the titled group of England but they do admire him and long for his wealth. He has fallen in love with a young innocent. She has been raised out of the social world of England. She has been kept in the country with her two sisters and looked over and protected. They have no idea of the ways of men. They are truly innocents.Helen is very attracted to the rough Welsh. Having never even been kissed or had a boyfriend she doesn't quite know what to do with him. He on the other hand has a lot of experience with women. They have always been available to him, including the titled ladies that want a "bit of rough". That sport is no longer a part of him. He wants HelenOf course the path is not without issues. Helen is in a terrible spot and she knows when she tells him her fairy tale love with disappear. She doesn't want to lose him but she refuses to lie to him. She will sacrifice her love instead of living a lie and hoping he never finds out. However there is someone threatening her if she doesn't give him money.Now, I LOVED how Rhys handled the threaten man and I would have loved to see him do what he threatened. This scum of the earth took up way too much oxygen. GREAT story and very entertaining read. I loved it and I highly recommend it.I was not paid for this review. I am not a writer nor do i know one. I am not kin to this author. I am a reader and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. 9/20/2020

This story has an unexpected twist that makes it really interesting to read. The tension builds and builds toward a #spoiler alert# confrontation between the two lovers but it's resolved without so much as heated discussion! Disappointed

Lisa Kleypas é uma de minhas autoras favoritas e Marrying Winterborne já entrou para a minha lista de romances Top.Merecidamente, a obra foi citada por diversos blogs dentre os melhores lançamentos de 2016, ano de sua publicação. Este é um romance que diverte (com as engraçadas cenas com as excêntricas gêmeas Pandora e Cassandra) e também emociona em vários momentos.Com uma trama coesa e rica, personagens super bem desenhados e algumas “viradas” e surpresas, Marrying Winterborne traz um casal de protagonistas que merece a torcida por seu final feliz. Eu amei Rhys e Helen, seu relacionamento, o comprometimento e a generosidade de ambos. Realmente, a autora criou uma bela história de amor que complementa, com perfeição, os demais livros da série. A obra traz o retorno de personagens conhecidos no livro 1 e apresenta algumas pistas para as tramas dos demais livros da série.Marrying Winterborne é certeza de emoções e divertimento, especialmente para os apreciadores de romances históricos e os fãs da autora. Não perca.

. . . da ich dem Charakter von Winterborne im vorrangegangenen Teil nicht wirklich viel abgewinnen konnte, doch Lisa Kleypas hat einmal mehr ihr können unter beweis gestellt.Denn ich kann das Buch nur als wirklich lesenswert empfehlen und konnte es einfach nicht aus der Hand legen.Genau die richtige Mischung aus ruhigen, beziehungsbildenen Szenen und Dramatik, die wohl nur L. Kleypas so gekonnt und unterhatsam verbinden kann.Im Umgang mit Helen gewinnt Winterborne imens an charakterlicher Qualität und entwickelt sich zu einem unkonventionellen, doch mögenswerten Helden, und man kann nicht anders als durch die Geschichte zu fiebern und zu hoffen das alles gut wird.Einziges winzig kleines Manko, das mir das Lesevergnügen aber nicht im geringsten Verdorben hat, ist die "Hauseinsturzszene", die ich etwas sehr übertrieben fand, und die man etwas weniger pomös hätte entwikeln können. Ansonsten bin ich immernoch positiev überrascht, über meine übertroffenen Erwartungen.