Smooth Talking Stranger

Smooth Talking Stranger  (Travis Family #3) By: Lisa Kleypas
Jack Travis leads the uncomplicated life of a millionaire Texas playboy.  He makes no commitments, he loves many women, he lives for pleasure.  But no one has ever truly touched his heart or soul.  Until one day, a woman appears on his doorstep with fury on her face and a baby in her arms.  It seems Jack is the father and this woman is the baby’s aunt. The real mother has abandoned the child to her more responsible sister.  And now, Jack is being called upon to take responsibility for the first time in his life.  With delicious romantic tension, characters so real they walk onto the page and into your heart, Lisa Kleypas delivers the kind of novel that makes you laugh, love; cry and cheer.
If Jack Travis was real, I'm pretty sure I could get married to him tomorrow with no hesitation. Jack had a large presence in Blue Eyed Devil and I think I started my fiction crush on him early  in that book. Especially when he defended Haven and fired her horrible boss. I think what makes Jack so crush worthy is how he is obviously a man without the obnoxious "Me Tarzan, you Jane" thing going on. I really enjoy reading romance novels, but I get sooooo sick of reading about the same tall, dark haired, built, manly man in total control of everything in his life, never showing emotion. I mean, I know that can be appealing, but let's have some diversity.  Jack is funny, calm, and so helpful and patient with Ella, the heroine. The two together came off as such a realistic couple, and I loved them. They had this totally wonderful progression in their relationship. They didn't meet and jump each others bones ASAP. They got to know each other and started dating. Crazy, right? Usually the couple meets and gets married, or the girl gets pregnant and the guy doesn't know 'til a few years later. Or they'll get married because of the baby, and they think it's the right thing to do (Which I do not, at all, agree with). But Jack and Ella started dating and it was awesome reading about them as a couple. No "all their problems were solved and they are together so the end", leaving you wondering if they actually had anything in common besides lust. I really can't imagine disliking this book. I read a review where someone said they found it unattractive how Jack pursued Ella, who didn't want a traditional relationship. As if it took away from his masculinity. I think that's crap. Why is it okay when women in novels make fools of themselves trying to get the guy, but when a man does it it's unattractive? I find that so appealing. Jack was totally open about his feelings for Ella, willing to do what it took to get what/who he wanted. Guys don't need to be stoic and manipulative. If a guy isn't willing to fight for his girl, he doesn't deserve her. Masculinity doesn't just have to do with physical strength. What do you think? (You might think 5 stars is a lot for a romance novel, but I'm ranking it was meant to be, not the impact it'll have on the world. This book might not be Harry Potter, Atlas Shrugged, or The Odyssey. It's meant to be a romance novel. And as a romance novel it kicked butt.)

Blue-Eyed Devil

If you are interested in reading my Blue-Eyed Devil review, I suggest you first read Sugar Daddy. Otherwise this is a huge spoiler. And I just don't want to do that to you.

Sugar Daddy

Sugar Daddy (Travis Family #1) By: Lisa Kleypas
SHE'S FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas---if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty Jones is a complication he doesn't need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.  HE'S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN'T HAVE When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty finds herself under the spell of a billionaire tycoon---a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family's past.  WILL THEY FIND THEIR HEARTS' DESIRES OR WILL HEARTBREAK TEAR THEM APART? Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman you'll root for every step of the way. A love story you'll never forget
This book was a refreshingly different love story. It's hard to summarize, as it follows Liberty's life over the course of about nine years and I really don't want to give ANYTHING away. As I read I fell in love with Liberty and Hardy, and when he left I was crushed. They felt so real I was totally attached to the idea of them. And I couldn't even blame Hardy for leaving. I really thought he was doing the right thing for his future. I knew from the summary there was going to be another guy, but I really thought it was going to be one of those situations where it's so obvious Hardy was the right guy for Liberty. I mean, how often do love triangles actually leave you completely torn? In Twilight I really liked Jacob, but I knew Edward was going to end up with Bella. In One Tree Hill I thought Brooke was awesome, but I was Peyton/Lucas all the way. It wasn't like that in this book. I wanted both of the men. I really shared in Liberty's indecision. By the way, I'm not mention the name of man #2 (the "Sugar Daddy") because I really feel like it would take away from the middle of the book. I assume that's why it was left out of the book summary, as well. I will say that I think the "Sugar Daddy" got way too little feature time, but even with that the "Sugar Daddy" still made me fall for him. I don't think I could have made the decision myself. I wholeheartedly recommend this book, and the two that follow it (Blue Eyed Devil and Smooth-Talking Stranger).Four stars!