 
|
|
Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Avon
ISBN13: 9780380781454
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
With those words, Lara's life turned upside down. Hunter, Earl of Hawksworth, had been lost at sea. Or so she'd been told. Their unhappy marriage--with its cold caresses and passionless kisses--was over. But now a powerful, virile man stood before her, telling secrets only a husband could know, and vowing she would once again be his wife in every way. While Lara couldn't deny that this man with smoldering dark eyes resembled Hunter, he was attentive and loving in ways he never was before. Soon she desperately wanted to believe, with every beat of her heart, that this stranger was truly her husband. But had this rake reformed--or was Lara being seduced by a cunning stranger?
One year after Lara thought her husband was dead in a shipwreck, he returns home to her. But is he really her husband or an impostor? Although the evidence is inconclusive, this new Hunter Hawksworth is very different, and much improved, from the first. Not given to introspection, Lara is willing to put her doubts aside for this man who embodies all her dreams, and desires her with a ruthless and seductive persistence that overcomes her considerable sexual fears. Inspired by the French movie The Return of Martin Guerre and the original court case on which it's based, this late-Regency historical romance, notable for its compelling sexual tension, spare but evocative dialogue, and deftly drawn characters, asks the intriguing question "Can you ever really know the man you love?" One of the superlative romances of the season. --Ellen Edwards
| Customer Reviews: |
|
| |
| wonderful |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
 |
|
I find that with this author I am always in the middle. Sometimes I like her books and sometimes I dont. This book however was wonderful. I loved watching Lara slowly get over her hate for her husband. It took time, but in the end all was well. I dont understand the one star reviews. I think that people that can give this that low of rating just didnt fully understand the character and the emotions she was struggling through. This book is the best book she written along with "then came you". The only thing I did not get was how the marks on Lara's body came to be written in Hunter's journal. It just did not seem like he was the type of husband to sit around mesmerized by his wife's body like his imposter brother. The original Hunter seemed like the type of husband that would just plunge into his wife's body, do his thing, and leave so why would he have taken the time out to write these things about her in his journal. It was clear she did not mean anything to him. She was just there to pop out babies. Other than that this was great read and I would read it again.
|
| Bargaining over orphans... and she's the mean one? What? |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
 |
|
I'm shocked at the reviews that portray Lara as the mean one. I did not know which way this book would go. Was he the real Hunter or a false one? The author surprised me and I did not think she would go the way she did with the novel and I liked it. Who really is the jerk here? Not Lara. I don't care what other reviewers think. The man is bargaining with children's lives for pleasure with a women he's tricking. Wake up reviewers, he's the villian, not her. The fact that she even forgives him at the end is amazing. I just don't understand the other reviews on this. It makes me think they did not finish the book to find out who he really was.
|
| Tough to Review, sadly easy to rate |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
 |
|
This book is receiving 3 stars solely because of the hero. Hunter was kind, understanding, compassionate, loving, devoted, giving -- I could go on and on. Larissa aka Lara is a featherbrained halfwit who is entirely wrapped up in herself, even when she's doing "good deeds". *Everything* she does is ultimately done to make HER feel better or to fulfill some need in HER. I cannot think of one single unselfish thing she did in the entire book.
Now, while I tend to skip over the plot generally, I WILL include a couple of things here, just to make it easier. I won't, however, pull the same cop-out that so many do and give endless spoilers. It's not kind to readers, it detracts from what enjoyment there IS to be had from the book, and besides, it's against Amazon rules.
The beginning was well done for the most part. I agree that it would be improbable (under the described circumstances) for Hunter to be able to "fake" his knowledge the way it was claimed. However, that aside, Hunter appeared to be a changed man and when it became undeniably obvious that he WAS changed, Lara's behavior to him was inexusable. The beginning I'd rate about a 4 star.
The second 1/4 of the book, where Hunter is trying to seduce, woo, reassure and take care of Lara, HE still earned a 4 star, but the book itself immediately dropped down to a 3, mainly due to Lara's behavior and response to Hunter, especially her inconsistancy in what she wants from him. She was a tease, and he was endlessly forgiving of that.
The third quarter of the book, when their deal is struck and Lara plots to betray her promise, and Hunter decides to "punish" her for the plot, the book drops to a 2. It stays that way up until the denouement. Surprisingly, that was awesome. I loved all of it. I loved Hunter's mom. I loved the way that Arthur and Janet are routed. I loved the way Hunter handled the whole thing. I would totally rate that portion a 4 star couple of scenes.
The last 1/4 of the book, though, the full resolution of Rachel's situation and the end result of the choices that Lara and Hunter have made... well, that's back down to about a 3.
So basically this book was ALL OVER the place, rating wise. It wasn't the worst thing I've read (1 star) and it never reached outstanding status (5 stars), but it couldn't seem to make up it's mind about how it wanted to be.
The one thing that I must complain about (that I can say -- amazingly! -- without throwing out spoilers) is that we NEVER learn Hunter's dark secrets. They're hinted about, they're lightly touched on, but what really precipitated the changes? What really made him the way he was? It was not explained to any satisfaction.
Ultimately I could rate this no other way. There are *definitely* 2 (and even 4) star parts, but it is a below average read, with a very good hero (what gives it that extra push). So 3 it is.
As I've noted before, I find this author to be very inconsistent. I also find myself in the familiar position of disagreeing with the vast majority of the reviewers. But at least I feel somewhat "normal" in this case, since there are a decent amount of low reviews as well. I do wonder, though, what the other reviewers are reading if this book ranks with their worst! I need to get ahold of those books, becuase I could always use some good books. On the other hand, if they're considering "Devil in Winter" and "Someone to Watch Over Me" to be the books they're holding as good examples, I'd have to disagree with that.
Lisa Kleypas is clearly a talented writer. She CAN make wonderful characters that you WANT to care about. Unfortunately, that didn't happen here. I understand that there are apparently well-known stories that share the same plot (although I've not seen these movies or read another book with a similar plot). But I enjoyed the IDEA enough to test the field so to speak. With that in mind I hope that others, who may have enjoyed something of this book, will take the time to test the waters of this author. Read her other, better, books. Personally, I enjoyed "Dreaming of You" and "Mine Til Midnight".
I would not make an effort to recommend this, but if someone were determined to read it I wouldn't make an effort to discourage them. I do, however, see this more as a library book under those circumstances.
|
| THIS BOOK WAS SO BAD I COULD NOT FINISH IT FAST ENOUGH!!! |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
 |
|
I AM A AVID FAN OF LISA KLEYPAS, BUT THIS BOOK WAS HORRIABLE. I JUST DON'T BEIEVE IT WAS WRITTEN BY HER!!!! LARA IS A JOKE HER BETRAYAL OF HUNTER OR WHO EVER HE REALLY IS UNBELIEVEABL AND YET THEY STAY TOGATHER NONE OF THE STORY MADE SENSE EVEN IN THE END YOU DONT GET TO KNOW WHAT HIS REAL NAME IS. THANK GOD I READ THIS BOOK AFTER I READ ALL THE OTHERS OR I WOULD HAVE NEVER READ ALL OF THE OTHER GREAT BOOKS SHE HAS WRITTEN!!!! EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO A BLUNDER AND THIS WAS HERS!!!!
|
| First rate story and a great treatment of domestic violence |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
|
|
Lisa Kleypas has written not only a luscious and lovely romance with twists and surprises, she has written a book about relationships between women and how other women can help victims of domestic violence.
Lara, Lady Hawksworth is some woman. When her marriage to Lord Hunter Hawksworth turns sour because she was "infertile" and his infidelities mounted, Lara learned to cope with dignity. Then when it was assumed he died in a shipwreck in India and his brother, Arthur and his wife, took the title and condemned Lara to live out in a shack, Lara kept her head up high by doing acts of charity and kindness for the poor and orphaned in the village. Rich or poor, Lara is a survivor and her indomitable spirit keeps her going no matter what life throws at her. Which turns out to be a LOT in this book!
To her surprise, "Hunter" returns and throws the brother and sister in laws out who had abused the servants and turned the manor into a giant Egyptian brothel decorated monstrosity. The scenes of their protests and the satisfying kick out are great.
However, Lara is cautious. She won't deny "Hunter" is or is not "Hunter", so she works out an arrangement that he can have the title as long as she can continue to have her own life. "Hunter" is everything her husband should have been. He is good, kind, generous and brave. He even helps Lara's sister, Rachel escape her abusive husband. The love that grows between "Hunter" and Lara is believable, so sweet and lovely that when the final plot twist comes, it turns out just right. This is one of my favorite among many of my favorite Kleypas books.
|
|
