Lisa Kleypas (born 1964) is a best-selling American author of historical and contemporary romance novels. In 1985, she was named Miss Massachusetts and competed in the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City.
Kleypas has always loved to read, especially within the romance genre. She began writing her own romance novels during her summer breaks from studying political science at Wellesley College, Her parents agreed to support her for a few months after her graduation so that she could finish her latest manuscript. Approximately two months later, at age 21, Kleypas sold her first novel.
At approximately the same time, the 5'2" Kleypas was named Miss Massachusetts. During her competition at the Miss America pageant, Kleypas sang a song she had written, earning her a "talented nonfinalist" award.
Kleypas has been a full-time romance writer since selling that first book. Her novels have ranked high on major best-seller lists, sold millions of copies around the globe and have been translated into fourteen different languages.
In October 1998, Kleypas's Texas home flooded within a matter of hours after heavy rains inundated their town. She and her family lost everything except the clothes they were wearing and her purse. Within days,her colleagues at Avon sent boxes of clothes and books to help the family recover. For Kleypas, though, the defining moment was the after the flood, when she and her mother (whose home had also flooded), made a quick trip to the store to purchase toothbrushes, clean clothes, and other necessities. Separately, each of them had also chosen a romance novel, a necessity to them in helping them escape the stress they were currently under. To Kleypas, this realization validated her decision to write romance novels instead of more literary works.
Though primarily known for her historical romance novels, Kleypas made an announcement in early 2006 concerning her momentary departure from historical romances to delve into the contemporary romance genre. She does plan to write historical romances again in the future.
Lisa lives in Washington with her husband, Gregory, and their two children.
Many of Kleypas's works are arranged into series. However, even books in different series often have common elements, such as the Westcliffs, Mrs. Bradshaw, Jenner's, Mathilda, and the Wallflowers.
Berkley-Faulkner Series
Where Passion Leads (1987)
Forever My Love (1988)
Only Vallerand Series
Only in Your Arms (1992) = When Strangers Marry (2002)
Only with Your Love (1992)
Gamblers of Craven's Series
Then Came You (1993)
Dreaming of You (1994)
Against the Odds in the Anthology Where's My Hero with Julia Quinn and Kinley MacGregor (2003)
Stokehurst Family Series
Midnight Angel (1995)
Prince of Dreams (1995)
Capitol Theatre Series
Somewhere I'll Find You (1996)
Because You're Mine (1997)
I Will in the anthology Wish List with Lisa Cach, Claudia Dain and Lynsay Sands (2001)
Bow-Street Runners Series
Someone to Watch Over Me (1999)
Lady Sophia's Lover (2002)
Worth Any Price (2003)
Wallflower Series
Secrets of a Summer Night (2005)
It Happened One Autumn (2005)
Devil in Winter (2006)
Scandal in Spring (2006)
A Wallflower Christmas (2008)
The Hathaways Series
Mine Till Midnight (2007)
Seduce Me at Sunrise (2008)
A Hathaway Wedding (short story) (2009)
Tempt Me at Twilight (2009)
Married By Morning (May 25, 2010)
Love In The Afternoon (June 29, 2010)
Other Historical Romance Novels
Love, Come to Me (1988)
Give Me Tonight (1989)
Stranger in My Arms (1998)
Where Dreams Begin (2000)
Suddenly You (2001)
Again the Magic (2004)is the story of the sisters of the main character in It Happened One Autumn
Earl of Westcliff and occurs prior to his story.
Rainshadow Road (2011)
Novellas, Anthologies
Surrender (1991, novella) now published under the anthology 'Gifts of Love'
Promises (1995, novella) published under the anthology 'Three Weddings and a Kiss'
I Will (2001, novella) published under the anthology 'Wish List' and 'A Historical Christmas Present'
Against the Odds (2003, novella) part of the Craven series, published under the anthology 'Where's My Hero?'