I'm usually a 100% historical romance reader and have struggled to find a contemporary author I like.  I've read a few, but even the highest rated ones struck me as only so/so.    I started Lisa Kleypas' Blue-Eyed Devil and it grabbed me right from the opening scene.  So far, I'm liking it very well.  I loved her historical Wallflowers series and am amazed at Blue Eyed Devil.  I think she has a few other contemporaries. I love the heroine Haven in this one.  Are her other Contemporaries  as good?

This is so spooky. I just went to B&N after work today to spend a gift certificate and found both BLUE-EYED DEVIL and SMOOTH TALKING STRANGER in hardcover for $5 each, now I have the trilogy in HC.

These are her only contemporaries so far and they tie-in together: SUGAR DADDY, BLUE-EYED DEVIL and SMOOTH TALKING STRANGER. I could swear I saw somewhere that she has another contemporary coming out fairly soon but I could be thinking of another author.

I read SMOOTH TALKING STRANGER first and loved it - I'm not a big Kleypas fan and read the book via the library and was blown away. I'm debating whether I should keep BED and STS in paperback, too.

Gail

I LOVED Blue-Eyed Devil and have Sugar Daddy on my tbr but understand it is written in the first person which I generally don't prefer so I have been procrastinating.

I haven't read Kleypas' other contemporaries, but I enjoy her historicals and bought Sugar Daddy when it first came out. Ugh! The last 2/3 of the book are pretty good, but the first 1/3... just open to about page 130 and start there. You won't miss a thing!

Colleen

LK is one of my favorite authors - a definite auto-buy for me.  Sugar Daddy is the first in the series and it's Liberty's story.  It reads more like a chick-lit book than Blue Eyed Devil and Smooth Talking Stranger.  They were more of a straight romance, but all of them are excellent.  She has a new contemp series coming out - the first one is Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (I think that's right).

Michelle - that's the (new) book I was thinking of. Here's a link I found at fantasticfiction for a pic of the cover: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/k/lisa-kleypas/christmas-eve-at-friday-harbor.htm

It sounds good - I'm definitely going to buy it.

Blue Eyed Devil and Smooth Talking Stranger are fabulous!

Gail, I'm like you - frankly, after giving LK's historicals several tries I finally concluded I just don't like her writing style. I mean, other people just rave, but they all left me cold - just ok, nothing to rave about. But I guess it's just the historicals - I did like the contemporaries, all 3! I listened to them on audio book (free from the library).

just goes to prove, everybody's tastes are different

Gail weren't you bummed that you read Smooth Talking Stranger first? I read it 1st and LOVED it so I went back and read the others. Without giving out a spoiler, I was confused about the relationship in STS that was obviously developed in the 2nd book. It was like the main characters were all shuffled and ended up with new loves.

I am not the biggest Kleypas fan. She's good but overrated IMO so I havent read her contemps. I heard that SUGAR DADDY is chicklit too.

The only contemp series that I love and follow is Erin McCarthy's Fast Track series. J'adore!

Gail weren't you bummed that you read Smooth Talking Stranger first? I read it 1st and LOVED it so I went back and read the others. Without giving out a spoiler, I was confused about the relationship in STS that was obviously developed in the 2nd book. It was like the main characters were all shuffled and ended up with new loves.

I do this all the time, reading books out of order. I don't visit author sites all that much otherwise I probably would have known it was the 3rd book. I got it from the library thanks to the positive comments here and the minute his sister came into the story I said "uh-oh!" and sure enough she had her own book.

Gail

Thanks for the feedback, Ladies.   I'm loving BED.  It's not so much a great writing style as a good storyline and believable characters.  Based on the comments here, since I can't abide Chicklit, I think I'll read STS next and skip Sugar Daddy. 

I read books out of order all the time and it doesn't bother me.   I may pick up a series at the end and work my way backwards. 

Gah, I'm going to have to order STS and BED!!!!! Anyone have them on their bookshelf so I can order from someone I know? No deals necessary.