Chasing Cassandra

The Ravenels

De: Lisa Kleypas

Narrado por: Mary Jane Wells

Duración: 8 h y 58 m

Resumen del Editor

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....

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Lisa Kleypas (P)2020 HarperAudio

Flawed, but enjoyable

Setting: mainly London, England 1876-77
Genre: romance

As with the previous novel in this series (Devil’s Daughter, Ravenels #5), the h/H meet in Hampshire during the wedding festivities of Lady Pandora Ravenel and Gabriel, Lord St. Vincent ( see Devil in Spring, Ravenels #3). Tom Severin, a rich railroad magnate, is discontented. This is not one of the five emotions he had decided is acceptable, nor is the envy he feels at so many happy marriages (and there are many demonstrated or eluded to, from some of the older couples from the Wallflowers series all the way down to the happy pairings from the previous novels in this series). He overhears Lady Cassandra despairing of ever meeting the right man for her and he volunteers. However, after discussing goals - she wants love and he doesn’t believe it exists - they decide it wouldn’t work. This does not, however, kill off their mutual attraction, which seems to grow with every chance meeting. One thing leads to another, which leads to an HEA.
Aside from the main romance, which includes a charming suitor who turns out to be not so nice, and his creepy, manipulative masher of a dad, there is a subplot involving a cute little street urchin. The character, Basil, added some levity and a bit of drama.
This is very much a character-driven story. There is some conflict outside the relationship, but it is only important for its affect on Cassandra and Tom’s developing affinity. Even Basil, as a character, serves mainly to illustrate Tom’s growing self-awareness, and the catalyst for revealing his past to Cassandra. I did have some problem with Tom. It seems that Kleypas wants us to glean that he is on the autism spectrum (one mention of his not making much eye contact, photographic memory, mathematical/engineering genius, conscienceless dealings in business, even if it involves friends, acceptance of only 5 emotions), but this doesn’t ring true. He starts out and subsequently gains too much self awareness. He is too social. He is too self-directed, requires too much cooperative behavior in his profession. Her attempt at modern shorthand means Tom is not a fully dimensional character. If he were more realistically ASD, he likely wouldn’t have been as successful without family support or a partner. As it is, he is a character in need of more depth. He could use a sense of humor, for instance. Cassandra is more fully developed. She is kind, loving, good humored, generally happy, but as with most women since we started criticizing one another in pre-history (“oh my gosh Betty, doesn’t that bear skin make Mrs. Slate’s ass look huge?” “Oh yes Wilma! And look how short her legs look the way she’s got those skins wrapped around her feet”), she has a bit of body dysmorphic syndrome, worrying about her weight and wearing her corset too tight. And the men find her stunningly beautiful, curves and all. Including Tom (as it seems most men prefer women with some T&A. My late husband called thin women lollipops because their heads seemed disproportionately large compared to their bodies).
Despite the flaws in character development, I found this an enjoyable way to pass a few hours. Mary Jane Wells provides a fairly good performance, differentiating between gender, age, and class quite well. I think she was a bit challenged by the sheer number of minor characters at the beginning of the book, but she did okay with the main contingent. Someone finally told her that “mischievous” has 3 syllables, not 4 (in previous books she had pronounced it “mis-che-vee-us”). Now she needs to investigate the pronunciation of epitome - 4 syllables, not 3.

Delightful!

I love a story with a hero who’s an engineer. And the extensive references to two of my all time favorite books - Around the World in Eighty Days and Persuasion - delighted me immensely. Cassandra is a lovely heroine who’s facing another season searching for a husband after turning down five proposals. She’s very attracted to Tom, the feeling is mutual, and his slow pursuit of her is charming and satisfying. I’m not sure if Mary Jane Wells’ narration keeps improving or if I’m getting used to her. She’s very different from the talented Rosalyn Landor who narrated most of Kleypas’ previous books. Wells is not able to create as many differentiated character voices, but she does a good job with the main characters. She also narrates for Tessa Dare and lends herself well to comedic timing with her fresh and upbeat delivery.

Another Good Story

Thoroughly enjoyable story about an adorable couple. Sometimes there was much more detail of love making than her earlier novels, but with audible you can fast forward to the meaningful content.

Beautiful story!

I loved Lady Cassandra and Tom Severin. Opposites do make an interesting pair. She softens his hard edges and teaches him how to express emotions. He teaches her that she is not just a pretty face. He give her purpose and confidence! I loved this series! And will miss the Revanels! Mary Jane Wells is a fantastic narrator!! I look forward to seeing what Lisa Kleypas comes out with next.

Loved y

This was a wonderful story line, I could hardly sleep waiting for the next time to listen and now I’ve listened to it twice.
Thank you an avid listener

One of Lisa Kleypas’ absolute best!

I don’t understand all the bad or indifferent reviews. I pre-ordered this one because I had a hunch it would be stellar and I was in no way disappointed! This book had humor, romance, beloved characters from other books in the series —— what more could you want?
POSSIBLE SPOILERS————
I ADORED Tom Severin’s transformation!!!! ‘Nuff said!!
I will be rereading this one! Buy it! You won’t regret it!!

Wonderful!

This story has a more sedate pace than the other ones, but it was just as lovely.

Our main characters are complete opposites on their views of life and love, but we all know how that goes.

Cassandra and Tom have fireworks-like chemistry, but Tom does not allow himself to be ruled by feelings. His intellect rules everything in his life, and he is convinced that that'll be enough for him. Cassandra in the other hand, wants all the feels.

Spending time apart, while trying to find their way in life as they each have hoped for, mayhem ensues and this leads to them taking a chance with each other. By the way, it worked beautifully!

Mary Jane Wells does an excellent job giving voice to all these characters.

I gave this audiobook 5 Stars, and I highly recommend the whole series, although my favorite keeps being Pandora’s and Gabriel’s story.

I can’t wait to see what Lisa Kleypas will write next, and I hope it has to do with the rest of the original Wallflowers unattached children. The cherry on top would be for her to continue with the Duke and Duchess of Kingston’s unattached children.

I hope you enjoy this series as much as I did.

Learning to feel.

A very amusing story. Clever and funny. Searching for love, finding it, and being to afraid to continue.

My Favorite

I love this audio book and revisit it often! it's a comfort listen of mine. Great characters and great narration

Loved it

I enjoyed this book so much. Tom Severin was humanized. Really loved his idiolect