Lisa Kleypas’ Marrying Winterborne Brings Passion and Suspense

Such is the case in Marrying Winterborne. Lisa Kleypas’ latest novel is about a gently-bred woman, Lady Helen Ravenel, who falls in love with Rhys Winterborne, a Welshman who started life as a grocer’s son. This book, the second in Kleypas’ Ravenel series, is a sequel to Cold-Hearted Rake.
Rhys’ heritage and humble beginnings are just two major counts against him. He has risen against all odds to become the head of a major department store. He is wealthy, business-savvy, up to date on fashion trends, and holds progressive views. (He knows all about bustles, for example, and employees a lady doctor, so we know he’s cool.)
Of course, he’s also exceptionally good-looking and has that whole blazing and ready-to-fight-the-world attitude about him that suggests he’ll express that passion just as equally in between the sheets.
Victorian society, however, is not so accepting. Wealth is valued, but breeding is still the order of the day. This is partly the reason why Rhys is so interested in Helen. He wants—or at least, he thinks he wants—a well-bred woman who will help him elevate in society. As for Helen, she wants a guy who is different from the dandies of her station. Clearly, there is something in it for each of them, and it doesn’t hurt that she’s beautiful and nice and that he is kindhearted (if a bit gruff), and lights a fire in her proverbial Victorian oven.

At the novel’s start, Rhys and Helen are already acquainted. In fact, up until recently they were engaged. During this brief engagement, we learn, Rhys grabbed Helen in a kiss so passionate and fierce that the shy and extremely innocent beauty got really scared and skittered away. Now she’s back, and determined to see their engagement through. She wants to marry him and not be subject to the advances of men this upcoming Season who will ultimately bore her to tears. Marrying him, Helen tells Rhys, will be her adventure. Adventure, indeed. These two figures have such excellent chemistry and balance each other out so well that it’s extremely entertaining to read about them.
Of course, bad stuff happens for both of them. Helen’s got some skeletons in her closet, and her chance for happiness with Rhys is at a real risk of being ruined. Kleypas excels in this area, because Helen’s problems are actually quite real. Helen has good reason to worry about what Rhys will think, and there is a real suspense for readers as to how he will react.
Helen and Rhys aren’t the only likable characters in this book. There are several characters who help add to the story without taking over too much of the plot or too much of the focus off of Helen and Rhys. Helen, for one, is fortunate to have quite the supportive network. Her teenage twin sisters, Pandora and Cassandra, are as sweet as can be. (It is SO nice to read a novel in which sisters get along and are happy to help each other!) There is a formidable but ultimately kindhearted old biddy, Lady Berwick, who is obsessed with helping young women such as Helen and her sisters elevate themselves in society. There’s also Devon Ravenel and his wife, Kathleen, the leading couple of Cold-Hearted Rake. On Rhys’ side, we have his personal secretary and a doctor—both of them strong women who aren’t afraid to stand up for themselves—just to name a couple of allies. They’re all interesting, enough certainly to cause a case of “I Wish They Each Had Their Own Book” syndrome.
Kleypas’ latest is a satisfying and entertaining read that breathes new life into the historical romance genre. It’s refreshing to read about two people who complement each other so well even as they come from such different backgrounds. There is some very real conflict, and enough character development to incite hope that these two will find their happy ending.