Lisa Kleypas is one of the best romance writers around today. I love her historical novels (especially her Hathaways and Wallflowers series), but as a Texan girl I will always have a soft spot for her contemporary novels set in Houston. The Travis family is a realistic depiction of Texan men and women -- stubborn as all hell but loyal, well-dressed but never far from a pair of jeans, and the accent in the writing leaves me with a Texan drawl for days (and an indulgent husband who accepts that I will be doing things "right quick" until it fades).
Smooth Talking Stranger is my personal favorite, but I might just be partial to heroines from Austin with families they avoid. Ella has (mostly) overcome her traumatic childhood featuring a mother who is suffering from a disorder that caused her daughters to constantly walk on eggshells. Her sister, Tara, finally cracks under the pressure and leaves her newborn son with their crazy mother. Ella takes care of the baby while her sister undergoes intense therapy, which throws a wrench in her relationship with her boyfriend and introduces her to Jack Travis, son of a billionaire oil baron and a businessman in his own right.
Jack is your typical alpha male romance hero, but with a Texan twist. Klepas' dialogue, as per usual, is crackling and funny. The sex scenes are hot, as always. More importantly, this is a man who changes a diaper without prompting. Even I fell in love after that.
I read the entire book last night while my husband and baby slept (which is the only time of day I'm able to get some reading done) and felt completely refreshed despite my lack of sleep. Everyone needs a good romance novel every now and then, and Smooth Talking Stranger is definitely that.
I haven't read her other two Texas novels, but they're definitely next on my list!
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