Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas
The Ravenels #6
Historical Romance
Avon | February 18, 2020
About the Book: Everything has a price…
Railway magnate Tom Severin is wealthy and powerful enough to satisfy any desire as soon as it arises. Anything—or anyone—is his for the asking. It should be simple to find the perfect wife—and from his first glimpse of Lady Cassandra Ravenel, he’s determined to have her. But the beautiful and quick-witted Cassandra is equally determined to marry for love—the one thing he can’t give.
Everything except her…
Severin is the most compelling and attractive man Cassandra has ever met, even if his heart is frozen. But she has no interest in living in the fast-paced world of a ruthless man who always plays to win.
When a newfound enemy nearly destroys Cassandra’s reputation, Severin seizes the opportunity he’s been waiting for. As always, he gets what he wants—or does he? There’s one lesson Tom Severin has yet to learn from his new bride:
Never underestimate a Ravenel.
The chase for Cassandra’s hand may be over. But the chase for her heart has only just begun…
*Gigantic, happy/sad sighs*
There’s something simultaneously satisfying and depressing in finishing the final book in a series by your favorite author. Lisa Kleypas never disappoints, and is a master of character building within a series. However, now I feel I’m leaving a treasured place, full of my favorite people. I know I will read this series many more times, yet no new stories to come…
*SOBS*
Okay, okay; I’m not quite that bad off. This series, though, people. If you’re a lover of well-written romantic escapism, you need to read this series. Each book was better than the last because it built upon the last.
Tom Severin is featured throughout the series, sometimes as a villain, sometimes as a savior. Yet, you can never quite hate him. You hate his actions, are baffled at his inability to grasp common concepts of what being friends with someone actually means. At the same time, you can sense that none of his actions sprung from malice: the complexities of interpersonal relationships truly were beyond his comprehension.
Cassandra Ravenel, throughout the series is actually less fleshed out than Tom. We see her as quiet, steady next to her eccentric twin, Poppy. Once the bright and glaring shine of Poppy is removed, we can finally see Cassandra as she is: a gentle, accepting, yet stubborn soul, who wants peace, love, a little family and to make a small difference in her small corner of the world.
The ending, thankfully, took a small opportunity to wrap up not on the story of Tom and Cassandra, but of the Ravenel family itself. All of the formerly lost and forlorn Ravenels had found their space in the world. Lisa Kleypas gave us the satisfaction of wrapping that up in a neat package for us, as well.
If I could say anything not in the mind-blowingly, oh my holy mother of trash novel happiness this book is so amazing category it would be about the title.
The title makes no damned sense.
No one was chasing Cassandra.
Cassandra and Tom, while instantly drawn to each other, spend time in a pull and push cycle. Even when Tom has the advantage and comes to Cassandra’s aid, he is much more concerned with helping her, easing her pain than he is with just getting his way, trapping or chasing her. They spend a lot of time madly trying to forget the other. I get the two C-word title thing is catchy, but there were other C-words that would make more sense.
But, if the only negative one can find about a book is that the title doesn’t tie to the story – it’s a damned good story. Hell, even the cover art is amazing – and actually ties into a hot and steamy scene between Tom and Cassandra in the garden during a party.
*fans self*
Loved it, loved it, loved every damned minute of it. And I’ll miss my Ravenels. But just as she wove The Wallflowers into The Ravenels, maybe we’ll see them again someday.
Is five stars the limit, Birdie?
Fine, five stars.
Birdie Bookworm 