ONE OF OPRAH MAG’S BEST ROMANCES OF 2020!
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 … 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 . . .
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Classic Lisa Kleypas. She’s never written a book I didn’t love and this is no exception. Cassandra is so endearing and Tom Severin is hysterical. Being married to an engineer, i recognized the type immediately. I enjoyed this so much I am reading the Ravenel series again
OMGoodness! I loved this book. I loved the story. I loved the characters. I loved the romance. Well, you get the picture. One of the things I liked most is that the heroine just wanted a home and a family to love. She didn’t want to flaunt society, she wasn’t out to blaze new trails, she just wanted a family with a husband who loved her. Cassandra was a delightful change from the current batch of heroines who would fit perfectly into our modern society. She wasn’t weak or cowed by the world, she just knew what she wanted and wasn’t willing to settle for less. Hmmm – so maybe she is actually the perfect bridge between the two worlds.
Tom Severin was raised rough – and raised isn’t the right word, because he basically raised himself. When he was ten years old, Tom got work at the railway station and took care of his mother and sisters from then on. Now, he is a self-made gazillionaire. Tom is totally pragmatic and takes everything quite literally. Tom has totally closed himself off from emotions – feelings – as he calls them. He has only ever allowed himself five feelings – and love isn’t one of them. The previous few years have become sort of lackluster for him – making money isn’t as much fun as it used to be. At thirty-one he thinks maybe it is time to marry, but he has to choose carefully because it has to be someone who doesn’t expect him to love her. (You are going to fall in love with Tom yourself.)
“Damn it, that makes six.” “Six what?” Devon asked in bewilderment. “Feelings, I’ve never had more than five feelings, and they’re hard enough to manage as it is. I’ll be damned if I’ll add another.”
Lady Cassandra Ravenel is the opposite of Tom. She feels ALL of the feelings and revels in all of them. Her biggest worry in life is that she is a bit overweight and she’s self-conscious about it. She is bright and loving and wants a home and family of her own. She doesn’t want just any husband though – she wants one she loves and one who loves her in return. She’s had many offers of marriage, but they were all typical ton marriage proposals – more a business arrangement than a loving partnership. She’s refused all of the proposals because none of those men stirred her soul or her body. Then, she meets Tom Severin who stirs ALL of her senses – but he tells her upfront that he can’t/won’t ever love whomever he marries. The woman will just have to understand and agree to that upfront.
One of the fun elements in the book is Cassandra getting Tom to read a novel. He’s never read one – after all, they aren’t practical, have no use, and are about pretend people. His reactions and the ‘lessons’ he learns from the novels are so funny.
Watching Tom come to be all he can be was an absolutely wonderful process – even though he fought it – but not too hard. Softhearted and sweet Cassandra really worked a number on him and it was wonderful to see when he finally learned the real ‘lesson’ from ‘Around The World In Eighty Days’.
“You’re saying if I gained another stone, or even two stones, on top of this, you’d still find me desirable?” “God, yes,” he said without hesitation. “Whatever size you are, I’ll have a place for every curve.”
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This whole series is like a hug. A big, sexy, Victorian-set hug. I think this is my favorite of them all. Who doesn’t love an arrogant hero brought to his knees by love?
Wonderful historical romance! This is a well written, entertaining, fast paced historical romance . The characters are likable and engaging. Ms. Kleypas never disappoints her readers!
Tom’s one sentence book synopses alone are worth the read
In this final book of a wonderful series, Lady Cassandra Ravenel is drawn to the powerful and wealthy Tom Sererin. His character is present in various forms throughout the series. From humble beginnings of poverty and abandonment, Tom, with his mathematical and engineering brain, is one of the most powerful man in England. Work has stopped being the everything in his life and his restlessness leads him to be obsessed with Cassandra. First for her beauty, then for her beautiful heart. Cassandra for her part is drawn to Tom in spite of the dire warnings of her cousins, Devon and West. This is her second season, after refusing 5 marriage offers in her first. She is looking for love and doesn’t want to settle. But though Tom offers her everything but his “frozen” heart, she refuses, and looks elsewhere. When Lord Lambert, a highly eligible suitor according to Lady Berwick, singles her out, Cassandra still doesn’t feel the sparks of love. After refusing his suit, Lambert starts harmful rumors which ruin her. Tom Severin to the rescue, much to the chagrin of Cassandra’s family. But she sees in Tom a wealth of goodness he has kept hidden because of hurt. The story tells of the wise and patient way Cassandra reveals the truth to Tom – the kindness that was always present. In a story of jealousy and greed, cruelty to the most vulnerable and the rights of the privileged, Cassandra and Tom are united in love not just for each other, but for the good of all! A truly romantic and enchanting end to an outstanding and excellent series!! Ms. Kleypas never disappoints!!
I loved “Chasing Cassandra” by Lisa Kleypas, a sweet, amusing novel featuring endearing characters, an engaging plot, and a well-paced romance. It reads as a complete standalone despite being the sixth book in the Ravenels series, and readers who have not yet picked up the earlier books will not feel lost at all by starting with this one.
I was intrigued by the male lead character, Tom Severin, when he was introduced as a secondary character earlier in this series, so it was great to finally have the chance to get to know him better here. He was a highly intelligent, completely self-made man, and the way his mind worked was fascinating to me. I especially loved Tom’s creative interpretations of the novels Cassandra convinced him to read, which made me laugh out loud on several occasions. The lessons he took away from those classic tales were quite different from anything I learned in school!
I also liked the female lead, Cassandra Ravenel, when she was introduced in the earlier books, but she was often overshadowed by her more outgoing twin sister, Pandora. I got the impression that most gentlemen of the ton considered Cassandra to be not much more than a pretty flirt, but as I got to know her better, I actually found her to be quite intelligent, sweet, and caring. She brought out a softer, more emotional side of Tom, who had buried most of his emotions and concentrated on analytical pursuits for years. Even though they seemed like opposites and a relationship between them never should have worked, Tom and Cassandra ended up being very well matched.
Lisa Kleypas always crafts an entertaining story, and “Chasing Cassandra” was no exception. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Ms. Kleypas publishes next.
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss. All opinions expressed are my own.
Lisa Kleypas’ best ever!! Cassandra and Tom shine on every page. So romantic!!!
Cassandra is the last in her family to remain single, but not because she has anything against marriage. On the contrary, she wants a home and family of her own but has one requirement of her husband: love. Men may offer for her because of her beauty and wealth, but they don’t look beneath the surface to the woman inside and she’s determined not to accept a traditional, ‘surface’ marriage. Tom Severin is more intelligent than most men, his brain always running five steps ahead of everyone else in business- a talent that has made him rich and powerful. But he doesn’t know much about people, and even less about the heart. He’s willing to give Cassandra everything she wants- except love. Can these opposites do more than attract, but find a way to be happy together?
Cassandra may be willing to play by (most of) society’s rules, but she refuses to lose herself and what is important to her as she navigates the Season’s dangers. She’s intelligent, curious, compassionate, and loving- a delightful combination of personality traits that men tend to ignore in favor of her appearance. Kleypas did a wonderful job switching up the expected trope: instead of a plain wallflower waiting to bloom, Cassandra is a beauty hoping to be seen for herself. Kleypas also addresses a form of body shaming with delicacy and tact: Cassandra is told because of how she looks, she’s clearly “asking for” whatever a man wants to do to her. Fortunately, while she may question herself and believe this, she has a loving family who’s more than willing to set her straight on the subject. Through them, she learns the difference between men and boys (other rather excellently descriptive phrases used by various Ravenel men can also be entered here).
At first I worried that Tom was going to be too similar to Rhys Winterbourne (Marrying Winterbourne). While I love Rhys (he may be one of my favorite Kleypas heroes), something different was needed for Cassandra. I shouldn’t have doubted Kleypas though. Tom may be a self-made man who is now rich and powerful, but that’s about where his similarities to Rhys end. Tom is incredibly intelligent, but not necessarily when it comes to people. He prides himself on having only five emotions, believes that his own upbringing didn’t affect who he is now, and is sure he is incapable of love because it isn’t a real thing. Despite all that, he’s a good person without knowing it. And his interpretations of the point of various novels are priceless.
Chasing Cassandra can be read as a stand alone book, but other Ravenels and their spouses are key characters throughout the book, so if you’ve enjoyed the rest of the series you get to catch up with them. It was a fast-paced and entertaining, with Kleypas’ usual excellent writing style drawing the reader right into Cassandra’s world. An excellent new book reader’s are sure to enjoy!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
One of my favorite authors!! This one did not disappoint. This was so entertaining. Funny, witty, “fast pace”, romance. I enjoy Kleypas writing style. She can describe the character and ambiance clearly and succinctly. Some authors go on and on which makes it slow and boring.
My Thoughts:
Chasing Cassandra was a story that completely swept me away… Cassandra was so sweet, kind, and I genuinely loved her character. She’s longed to fall in love and get married. Her twin is happily married, and didn’t even want it like Cassandra did! Now she’s stuck attending another season; alone, and bored with the men who are her prospects. She attracts a lot of attention, because she is so beautiful, and comes with a generous dowry. Unfortunately, finding luck in love hasn’t been her fate.
Tom Severin is a man who gets what he wants. Brilliance, business savvy, hard work, and determination have made him in to a successful and powerful railroad magnate. Yet Tom is lonely for companionship. When he see’s the beautiful Cassandra, he is determined to make her his wife.
There is a spark of attraction between the two of them, and Tom’s personality intrigues her. He is different from any man she’s ever met before. Tom wants her to agree to marriage, but she refuses him when he says he will never love her, or anyone for that matter, because he believes himself incapable.
A male suitor that wants Cassandra, plays dirty by starting rumors about her, in order to try to force her hand into marriage. Tom is angry that anyone would do that to Cassandra, but decides to use it as an opportunity to try to get her to wed him. However, Cassandra isn’t willing to settle on any road that doesn’t lead to true love.
I adored this story! Tom Severin was so amusing, and made me laugh. The narrator really got in to character and became Tom. I can’t tell you how many times I laughed. Tom’s personality really came through, and I fell in love with him, right alongside Cassandra. He had so many layers to his character, and I enjoyed discovering each and every one. For a man that believed he only had five emotions, we learned that he had a huge heart. His past had shaped him in to the man he had become, but Cassandra brought out the best in him.
I loved all of the literary references, and how Tom always managed to put his own twist on each story’s lesson. Together, Tom and Cassandra were magic. Their story was chock-full of feels, romance, swoons, laughs, and entertainment. A favorite read of 2020, I highly recommended you pick up this story if you haven’t already!
Lisa Kleypas sucks you in fast, and I enjoyed the opening scenes and settled in thinking I knew where the story was going. I didn’t. These are characters of types of I know and love (the heroine who worries about her weight, the cold hero whom she breaks open), and this treatment of Tom and Cassandra’s love story was utterly charming. Really adorable and I enjoyed every page.
Loved it! Tom Severin was a great character, and Cassandra’s sunny personality worked well as his natural foil. Fabulous, as usual!
I devoured this book!
‘Merger of a Lifetime’
4.5 stars – This is one of my favorites from this series! I have to say, I rather like how Cassandra and Tom negotiate. I also love how Tom fights his… feelings… and adding new emotions to the five he had. It’s a playful, challenging, and endearing novel. The fact that they do some warm-up activities, neglecting to completely anticipate their vows, and develop an insatiable appetite for one another upon marrying is simply icing on the cake!
I enjoyed the audio, thanks to my local library, with Mary Jane Wells at the helm. While I do love multiple contributors to the vocals, she did a good job with the different characters.
Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Another fabulous book by Lisa. I can’t wait to read the next book by her.
well written and clever
Loved Cassandra and Tim. They helped each other be better people.
You can NEVER go wrong reading a Lisa Kleypas novel. Ranges from “tears running down the face” humor to romance and sensuality, and this novel is NO exception. Kleypas has become one of my absolute favorite authors because she has NEVER failed to entertain me. Oh yes, the “cold” heroes are always melted in one way or another by the independent-thinking and living heroines. WhooHoo!
I have read the series. Was good to see what happens to other characters.