1870, Massachusetts, Nueva Inglaterra. La élite de Concord está a punto de admitir a un nuevo miembro: la joven Lucinda Caldwell, una hermosa muchacha mimada en exceso por su padre. Parece tener todo muy claro en la vida: se casará con su amor de la infancia, el hombre predestinado a convertirla en brillante organizadora de encuentros sociales. Pero no es ese el destino que la espera, sino acabar en los brazos de un caballero sureño, Heath Rayne, que, desde que la vio, no ha podido dejar de pensar en ella y de desear que su noviazgo se rompa. Y ahora que Lucinda es suya, lo único que quiere es dedicarse a ella por completo. Sin embargo, el pasado de Heath impedirá que las cosas sean tan fáciles...

I'm a big fan of Lisa Kleypas but I couldn't get into this book. It felt like a grade school romance, the heroine was so immature and the conflict was so predictable, why would the hero put himself in that position. I read about a third then gave up. Heath saves Lucinda when she falls through the ice into the river.
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I don’t think I have ever read this book before. It is the first book that Lisa Kleypas had published. I was a little wary of reading it since my experiences with the first book an author publishes hasn't always been great. I was very surprised and pleased that this is such a well written and researched story. I was also surprised at the setting and the time period. I haven’t read a lot of books set in this time period; it isn't one of my favorites. There was so much uncertainty and anger at the end of the Civil War. The South was devastated and it is a wonder that another war wasn't started. Ms. Kleypas brings so much of that strife to life with Heath Rayne and Lucinda Caldwell. Heath is a Southern boy to sole of his shoes. He is honorable, intelligent and just a little more than disillusioned. He was a solider and correspondent in the Civil War and saw and did more than he would have ever thought possible. He was also a prisoner of war which left some every deep scars as well. He is full of life though. He is also stubborn and very prideful. When he sees Lucinda for the first time he is determined to marry her. Fate intervenes and gives him the opportunity to get to know her at her weakest. It doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly and the scandal to hit. Through it all Heath does try to be a good husband and to be a champion for his people.

Lucinda “Lucy, Cin, Cinda” Caldwell is a prim and proper Northern lady. She is as practical and a New Englander could be, but there is a sparkle to her that makes her shine above all the others. She is spoiled and stubborn. She is sometimes more worried about what others will think of her than she should be. She is also a little vain. She doesn't like change and in fact never considered leave the small town that she was raised in. She has settled for a man that she has known all her life but he won’t make a commitment to marry her. He is always putting off the wedding. Wanting to have enough money to give Lucy all she wants and desires. Lucy however isn't impressed with all the delays. She has a passionate nature and has no outlet for it in her current place in society. It is funny reading about her getting dressed. I hate to think what it would be like to try and get an eighteen inch waist. It is a wonder woman lived through that era. For all her faults Lucy is intelligent, caring and creative.

I think that this book is a great first book. The story gives the read a taste of the events and feelings of the post war era. There was so much bitterness and distrust on both sides. The characters are well written and believable. Ms. Kleypas can almost make you feel the cold of a New England winter and humidity of a summer. She also writes some smoldering love scenes. They are tame by today’s standards but they still have you fanning yourself. If you love the historical romance genre then you are going to enjoy this book. ( )

I LOVE Lisa Kleypas's historicals, but I've read only the more recent ones. Now I'm working my way through the backlist, and this one became available through my public library.

Unlike her other historicals, this one is set in Massachusetts, just after the Civil War. Heath is a southerner who has relocated to Concord, and Lucinda is the local belle, engaged to her childhood sweetheart. Naturally, Heath is determined to break them up and get Lucinda for himself.

Lisa is known for her delectable heroes, and even in this early book she creates a swoonworthy one in Heath. She's also known for her steam factor, and again, that is present here. I can't say that I was carried away by the romance, primarily because Lucinda is just too annoying. She sees the light toward the end, but it comes just a little too late.

Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable book, and I recommend it for any other diehard Kleypas fans. ( )

I really liked this book. It reminded me of 'Gone with the wind' but it was not a copy, it had very original ideas and rather different setting. Although, there will be some descriptions of Civil war, this book takes place during Reconstruction era. And it poses an interesting question: what if a Yankee girl fell in love with a Southerner? Two different cultures, two different personalities... will they destroy each other or learn & improve themselves... ( )