Chasing Cassandra audiobook

Cassandra wants love and Tom wants Cassandra.It's the classic tale of the idiot boy who doesn't realize that the weird clenching in his gut isn't some sort of intestinal virus... It's the way he feels because the girl wormed her way into his heart.Dumbass.No, really!

can’t stop thinking of that paris hilton quote about getting 5 more of those little blonde bitches. tom is paris, cassandra is the ice cream.

I have been waiting for this book from the time I read devil in spring..... So in devil's daughter I searched for these two.... But we don't have a direct conversation between Cassandra and Severin.... Anyway all information I know,I gathered it together. Cassandra is 21,Tom Severin is 33(early thirties). Severin was described in devil's daughter as : Severin’s face was lean and angular, his build lanky and almost rawboned, his complexion librarian pale. His eyes were an unevenly distributed mixture of blue and green, so that in strong lighting they appeared to be two entirely different color.I cannot help but imagine him as Tom hiddleston.Little naughty but intense as same time.Severin is the high functioning sociopath as Lisa said earlier in her interviews.....he is bloody weathly but he was never allowed inside the upper-class circles, which he desperately wants to....so if either not with birth he will acquire it with marriage. He is detached from emotions and feel no value to relationships...if any of his bussiness is hindered by friendship then he would sacrifice that friendship.And there is a segment where West talks how unworthy he is to marry Phoebe, Severin says: “I have feelings too, but I never let them turn into obstacles. If I were in your situation, for example, I would marry the woman I wanted and not worry about what was best for her".Other side, our Cassandra is a romantic soul who longs for loving husband, babies and her own small but happy home.From lisa's interviews:1)What’s next for you?Lisa :I’m busy working on what will probably be the final Ravenel novel, featuring Lady Cassandra and Tom Severin. I’ve been looking forward to writing this for a long time—Severin is an antihero. Brilliant, charming, massively successful, immoral and so disconnected from his feelings that he’s very nearly sociopathic. He has only one weakness—he is completely fixated on Cassandra. He would do anything to have her, even knowing it’s impossible. As we’ve seen in past novels, all Cassandra has ever wanted is a loving husband and children and a cozy home of her own. She is domestic, affectionate, sweet and private in nature, and she knows she would never be anything but a trophy to Severin. Fate is really going to have to put these two through the wringer if they’re ever going to find a happy ending!2)Lisa: One last Ravenel novel! I’m pairing Cassandra with Tom Severin, the railway magnate. It’s a marriage of convenience plot — my favorite — in which a heroine, who has always longed for a cozy, happy home with a loving husband and children, ends up marrying an obscenely wealthy man who regards her as a trophy. Severin is fascinated by Cassandra and is drawn to her beauty, grace and kindness, but he has no intention of falling in love with her. He’s a tricky, treacherous, hyper-intelligent antihero who discovers his wife has a core of inner strength he never expected.Waiting for their story!...only complaint it's in 2020.😭Update:read.......4 Stars......I liked the book and I loved Cassandra and Tom Severin,but somehow it didn't end up in my 'my fav' shelf.Something was missing...the aww factor I felt when I read devil in spring....I think I expected too much from Tom....my fault.Tom is 31 not 33 as I guessed.....the way Cass and Tom fell in love was beautiful.....the dancing scene.....my fav moment was when Tom kissed Cass at Dr Gibson's hospital....it was unexpected just like Cassandra in book I was too pleasantly surprised....I didn't think Tom would be into PDA..haha.Cassandra was everything she promised us....calm,loyal and gorgeous beyond words.The epilogue is not of after years....so I guess there is chance we will meet them again.... fingers crossed 🙂

I received an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.3.75 starsNote: there is a trigger warning at the very end of this review. It's tagged a spoiler so you can click on the spoiler tag to read about it.I've been waiting for Tom and Cassandra's book since Marrying Winterborne!! Poor Cassandra is the overlooked Ravenel family member, having last appeared in Marrying Winterborne. But in upper society, she's actually the opposite of overlooked. She's in fact a belle of the ball. A curvy one, based on the words used to describe her figure, and the only reason I bring this up is to publicly shame the Avon design team for misrepresenting Cassandra on the cover. I mean, if they were able to find a blonde curvy model for Sarah MacLean's book, I don't see why they couldn't do it for this book. Cover aside, I enjoyed the final Ravenel book for the most part. Cassandra is a nice breath of fresh air among all the modern historical romance heroines who are born businesswomen. I enjoyed her character, although there was one scene where I think she came across as a bit too presumptuous. But she's a lovable heroine for the most part; she's not an airhead as many presume her to be and she is ambitious in her own way. As lovely as Cassandra is, Tom Severin is undoubtedly the highlight of this book. There are actually a few hints that imply that Severin could be on the autism spectrum. Tom and Cassandra are utterly adorable as a couple. Their romance is more on the sweet and romantic side. There's definitely steam, but it's not as sexy as the previous books in the series. I am so in love with these two as a couple. I love how Tom sees more than just her beauty and how Cassandra likes him just the way he is. They really see each other. I had a smile on my face every time they spent time together. Tom and Cassandra are probably my second favourite couple in The Ravenel series and their epilogue was icing on the cake.I really wish I could give this book a higher rating because I adore Tom and Cassandra so much. But for a book titled Chasing Cassandra, there's not a lot of chasing happening. I know a few readers are expecting this to be like Harry and Poppy's book, but it's not similar at all. Tom actually gives up on chasing Cassandra after the first couple of chapters. I didn't fault him for it because he had his reasons. But what I love about Tom is that ultimately, he doesn't give up on Cassandra and he fights for her. That being said, the pacing of this book sagged in the middle because Tom and Cassandra don't interact for a good chunk of the story. There were also a lot of time jumps, which affected the pacing even more. Halfway through the book, Cassandra and Tom lead their own separate lives, which annoyed me because I just wanted them to spend time together. Cassandra's part of the story was a bit boring, but Tom's part of the story was interesting. The pacing threw me off some more because Tom and Cassandra's marriage of convenience doesn't even happen until the very end of the book. What I'm trying to say is that the blurb is kind of misleading and it's not the first time that has happened in this series. Finally, the last thing that was disappointing is the lack of development concerning Tom's family. There definitely would have been enough room to develop this significant aspect of Tom's character if the book was much better paced. This would have also added a lot more substance to the story because family is a key theme in this book.While I enjoyed Chasing Cassandra and Tom and Cassandra as protagonists, this book doesn't really conclude the series overall. The previous heroes and heroines do appear in the book, but most of them were really annoying to be honest. I won't go into too much detail, but let's just say that I didn't like the way Devon and West treated Tom. However, just like Tom fights for Cassandra, Cassandra defends him in the face of her family's disapproval. And that's why I love these two so much. They're not bland characters who just give up. They fight for each other. They don't need other characters to bring them together so they can have their HEA. They decide for themselves. It takes them some time to make that final leap, but when they finally do it, it's beautiful.And yes, this is partly me throwing shade at a particular book in this series where the hero and heroine don't even bother to work for their HEA. Final thoughts on The Ravenel series overall: I love reading series that revolve around a family, with each sibling getting their own HEA. The Hathaway series by Lisa Kleypas is my favourite family series of all time, closely followed by The Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn. Unfortunately, The Ravenel series doesn't even come close to being a favourite. I did enjoy most of the books in this series, but family doesn't feel like a central theme here. After finishing Chasing Cassandra, I took some time to think about the family dynamic in this series and I came to the conclusion that there is a lack of harmony in the Ravenel family. For example, Ethan hasn't even properly adapted to the family and Cassandra was completely forgotten until it was time for her own HEA. Those are just a few examples. I think the few characters that remain constant throughout the series are Devon, Kathleen, Winterborne, and Garrett.I almost didn't read one of the books in this series, but I thought it would be disloyal of me to skip a new Kleypas book. Even though that book ended up being my least favourite, I'm glad I pushed through and read it! In case you're interested, here are my reviews for the previous books in the series:Book 1: Cold-Hearted RakeBook 2: Marrying WinterborneBook 3: Devil in SpringBook 4: Hello StrangerBook 5: Devil's Daughter Trigger warning: (view spoiler)[sexual assault, graphically described. Heroine gets sexually assaulted by a suitor, not the hero.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>

***4.5 STARS***Hero: Tom Severin, railway and real estate mogul, geniusHeroine: Cassandra Ravenel, beautiful and smart lady who teaches the hero to love.I always have a smile on my face when I read Lisa Kleypas. Her books are just so darn good and her heroes are scrumptious. Tom is so intelligent and an analytical thinker. Things must be logical and love does not seem logical to him. But he cannot explain away how he feels about Cassandra. Cassandra knows that she has always wanted to marry for love and she feels that for Tom but she can see that he struggles with how he feels and she refuses to settle. I love how they come together and how Tom comes to realize his feelings for Cassandra. Ms. Kleypas is a genius with her storytelling and characterization. The couple spends a lot of time talking and getting to know one another, which I love in a romance. It was definitely a feel good, laugh out loud at times story and I didn’t want it to end. I read it in one sitting. I highly recommend and I cannot wait until the next book by Lisa Kleypas.

I gave the first book in this series a scathing review and one star. I absolutely hated the heroine with the burning rage of a thousand suns. I wanted to build a time machine just to travel back there and bitch-slap a bitch.You know, sane thoughts.But, it was Lisa Kleypas. She's written some of my favorite characters as well, so I trudged on. I'm so glad I did because, overall, this series has been awesome. This book was the perfect ending.Cassandra is the heroine and Tom the hero. If you want to understand everything about Tom right now, here it is in the quote-that-makes-women-sigh:* This comes after Cassandra expresses concern about having gained some weight. She was about to reach for a little fancy cake (cuz ya know those rich bastards ate little fancy cakes all day made by the blood, sweat, and tears of the peasants in the kitchen) but stopped herself and said how people would think badly of her unless she loses a few.Tom: "Your body isn't an ornament designed for other people's pleasure. It belongs to you alone. You are magnificent just as you are. Whether you lose weight or gain more, you'll still be magnificent. Have a cake if you want one."Plus, Tom starts reading novels and gives us delightful reviews throughout the book. They are super insightful. I'll only give you one quote because I don't want to ruin the fun for you: "most of them are pointless, like the one about the French bread thief who violated his parole-""Les Miserables?""Yes. It took Victor Hugo fourteen hundred pages to say, 'Never let your daughter marry a radical French law student.' Which everyone already knows." Wait. Hold everything. A man who gives funny book reviews and is offering cake? It's like Jilly-krytonite! I officially love Tom and he is joining my book-boyfriend harem.What the hell is Nick Cage doing there? Does he have to be in everything? Also, that welcome isn't very welcoming. Jilly needs to sort out her harem.If you have read the series, you will enjoy this one. It had glimpses of most of the other couples and West was funny. All the things you need.

Wow! I devoured this book in less than 24 hours!!! I loved Cassandra and Tom’s love story! I was hesitant when I began because in previous books Tom could come across as a real ass!!! Even when he first sets his sights on Cassandra, he comes across as emotionless and egotistical... The more he falls for her though; the more loving he becomes!!!I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and I am hoping there will be more! I am not sure if there is anybody left though, unless Lisa Kleypas starts with the next generation! Now that I have finished this series, I am anxious to reread the Wallflower series!! I highly recommend this whole series to readers who love a feel good romance with a little angst thrown in!

❤️5 STARS ❤️Can I say how much I loved it? I freaking loved every minute of it, I devour it.I was hooked and mesmerized from the beginning and I just couldn't get enough of Tom and Cassandra!Tom was such an interesting character and Cassandra so lovely and sweet.My heart was aching and I love the connection they have.They are opposites but somehow they have what the other needed.This series is a must read, and so far Marrying Winterborne was my top favorite but no not anymore.This one is the top and the top for this year too!I highly recommend it!If you are looking for a heartwarming historical romance with characters that will rock your world this is what you need!    

I've been on such a Lisa Kleypas roll lately. First, I read Again the Magic and it blew my mind. Then, of course, after I read that I HAD to read Marcus' book, It Happened One Autumn. Next I ended up rereading Devil in Winter and then finally read the final Wallflowers book for the first time. I made it halfway through before the ARC of Chasing Cassandra landed on my kindle and I had to drop everything to start it.I absolutely adore the Ravenels series – not quite as much as the Hathaways when it comes to family sagas from LK, but I love it nonetheless. With Chasing Cassandra we get the last and final Ravenel family member getting her HEA with a man who will do anything to have her. Tom Severin has been mentioned in a few previous books as the friend of West and Winterborne. He's made a fortune for himself as a railroad mogul – in this case, he reminded me so much of Winterborne with his rags to riches story, and also Harry Rutledge from Tempt Me At Twilight. Both Tom and Harry are obsessed with their heroines right from the get-go, worshipping them and willing to do anything to have them. Tom also does not believe in love, thinking that he's incapable of feeling it or of receiving it. But meeting Cassandra changes everything for him. Not only does he desperately want her for his wife, he's feeling new emotions like *gasp* love for the very first time."Perfection is impossible. Most mathematical truths can't be proved. The vast majority of mathematical relations can't be known. But you... standing here in your bare feet in that dress... you're perfect."I LOVED getting to know Tom and Cassandra. Tom first comes across as very robotic – logical, cold, ruthless, and unemotional. But with each tender interaction he has with Cassandra, we see him opening his heart to not just her but the whole Ravenel family, which made MY heart so incredibly happy. I loved seeing his character develop in such a lovely way. Cassandra is the Ravenel that we honestly saw the least of. I didn't know much about her other than the fact that she was Pandora's twin. But the more I read of her, the more I loved her character too. She's such a sweet and headstrong young woman. All she wants is to find love and have a family of her own, basically the complete opposite of her sister, but that's okay too. She knows she's found a once-in-a-lifetime with Tom and she's not willing to accept anything but his whole heart."Nothing has been exciting or satisfying for years. With you, though, everything is new. All I want is to be with you."The blurb hints that this is a marriage of convenience, and while there is one, the story doesn't really revolve around that and it doesn't happen until much later in the book. Mostly, it's Tom being ridiculously loving and tender to Cassandra without him even realizing it. I was SWOONING over all the heart-stopping things he says. Their chemistry is fantastic. I just loved their developing relationship so, so much!When I finished this book, I honestly didn't even realize it was the final book until I started writing this review. Now I'm feeling bittersweet. While I would've loved an epilogue to wrap up the Ravenel family, I still was happy with how CC ended. It's an emotional, heartwarming book that you don't want to miss if you love Lisa Kleypas. All I can say now is PLEASE give us a new family series to obsess over (like the Marsden children)!

On Kindle sale today Aug 16th 2021 for USD 0.99Tropes: Spinster/Wallflower, Best friend’s sibling-ish, Marriage of Convenience, Opposites Attract, Unrequited Love, Unstarched (him)This is basically a book about two people who are adorably gaga over each other but have different expectations from a relationship so while their hearts are committed, their brains keep them apart. And this is Tom’s book, not Cassandra’s. He is the more complex and damaged character, so for the sake of the book more interesting. She unfortunately pales in comparison. *****- “I would be glad to call you a friend, Mr. Severin. But I’m afraid marriage will never be a possibility. We don’t suit. I could please you only in the most superficial ways.” “I would be happy with that,” he said. “Superficial relationships are my favorite kind.”*****Tom claims he only has 5 emotions, all others have been discarded, repressed or ignored. - Everyone here seemed genuinely happy, which Tom found both annoying and somewhat mystifying. It was as if they all knew some secret that had been kept from him.- As Tom saw West’s expression, he said with a touch of defensiveness, “You know I’ve never been one of those sentimental fellows.” “You mean the ones with actual human emotions?” West asked acidly. “I have emotions.” Tom paused. “When I want to.”- “You’ve always been fair. That’s why I’m asking you to tell Lady Cassandra about my good qualities as well as the bad ones.” “What good qualities?” West inquired sharply. Tom had to think for a moment. “How rich I am?” he suggested.- No one—least of all Tom—had doubted that he would someday become an extraordinarily successful businessman. Whether he was successful as a human being, however, was still open to question.- “Can people marry without love? Of course. Are we able to produce offspring without it? Obviously. But we pretend to believe in this mythical, floaty thing no one can hear, see, or touch, when the truth is, love’s nothing but an artificial value we assign to a relationship. People make irrational decisions for the sake of love. Some even die for it. I’m far happier without it.” But Cassandra does strange and mystical things to Tom, and he finds himself acting weirdly out of character. - Tom wasn’t sure what to say, only that he couldn’t let her leave thinking she was anything less than perfect, exactly as she was. “You’re not too plump,” he said gruffly. “The more of you there is in the world, the better.”- His heart writhed and struggled like some live thing he’d just trapped inside a dresser drawer.- “You’re trying to appear as harmless as a lamb. But we both know you’re not.” “I have lamblike moments,” Tom said. At her dubious glance, he insisted, “I’m having one right now. I’m one hundred percent lamb.” But these emotions frighten Tom away like a scaredy-cat.- From one moment to the next, Cassandra had gone from being an object of desire to a liability he couldn’t allow. She posed a danger to him, something new and strange, and he wanted none of it. No one could ever have that kind of power over him.- (Tom) “But nothing will come of it. Trenear thought it was a bad idea, and I couldn’t agree more.” In a neutral tone, Winterborne said, “The interest wasn’t only on your side.” The statement sent a quick, sharp thrill down to the pit of Tom’s stomach. But resistance is futile. - “Do you really want to be friends?” His voice had softened into dark velvet. “Yes,” she managed to say. “No, you don’t.” In the electric silence, he drew closer, his face right over hers, and her heart thundered as she felt the warm waft of his breath against her chin.- “This is why we can’t be friends,” came his rough whisper. “I want this every time I see you. The taste of you . . . the feel of you in my arms. I can’t look at you without thinking of you as mine. The first time I saw you—” He broke off, his jaw hardening. “My God, I don’t want this. If I could, I’d crush it like a cinder beneath my boot.”- “I’ll never be able to forget this,” she heard Tom say eventually. He sounded far from pleased by the fact. “I’ll have to go a lifetime with you lurking in my head.” Cassandra wanted to offer reassurance, but trying to think was like wading through a pool of honey. “You’ll find someone else,” she finally said, her voice not quite her own. “Yes,” he said vehemently. “But it won’t be you.”*****It’s not perfect, there lacks a proper major hurdle, and it gets a little old reading about these men who are so terrified and immature about their emotions. But I swallowed it whole and came out super pleased. - What if Tom’s heart wasn’t frozen after all? What if it were merely guarded . . . so guarded that it had become a prison?Solid 4 stars

9/13 Edit: I actually read this book when it came out, but I was going through a hard time so I didn't get around to reviewing till now.In true Lisa Kleypas style, with a jaded almost sociopathic hero and a sweet and understanding heroine, this book was unsurprisingly pleasant, if not a bit predictable. The thing is, I'm not a huge fan of the 'sociopath hero who doesn't have a heart' trope. I read a lot of books with the trope but that's because most historical romances have that trope. Thankfully this was not as extreme as tempt me at twilight in the hathaway series - I really hated Harry lol and in my opinion he didn't really redeem himself. he stayed jealous and unable to communicate till the last two pages. Tom was a much more likable hero. He wasn't as shrewd or calculated and was completely charmed and infatuated by Cassandra. Whenever he would do something for her, he didn't do it entirely for his own gain, he actually did it for her feelings. His heart really was thawing as he saw that there was more to life than money and power, and it was genuinely showed rather than simply said (unlike harry in TMAT). This series is excellent so far. I think each hero and each heroine are unique. But Lisa Kleypas definitely got a thing for finance bros tho 😂😂😂8/2 HOLY MOLY THAT COVER IS BEEAAUUTIFULLLLOHhhOOhhhHH MY GoOODDdDD ITS OUT THE BLURB IS OUT BRB CRYING AND FREAKING THE EVERLIVING FUCK OUT AAAAAJJJHHHH^^accurate visual of me right nowoh gosh oh gosh people I cant believe i have to wait another year for this one UGGHHH I LOVE PLOTS LIKE THESE WHERE HE'S A HORRIBLE PERSON AND SHE CHANGES HIM AND FORCES HIM TO LOOK AT HIS FEELINGS I NEED THIS I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS BOOK SINCE MARRYING WINTERBOURNE AND I FUCKING. NEED. IT. NOWWWWWOKDFWKJNY'ALL IM LEGIT CRYING I JUST REALLY FUCKING WANT TO READ THIS BOOK. SHIT. LKDFHWLKEFJWESTAY TUNED FOR MORE ERRATIC FREAKING OUT OVER THE NEXT YEAR WHILE I PATIENTLY WAIT...

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars...“Are there any important questions left? I’ve already spent too many days of my life without you, Cassandra.” Tom Severin seemingly has everything he would ever need. He has more money than he can spend in his lifetime, surely he should be happy with everything that he has achieved…and yet nothing seems to give him satisfaction. That is until he sets his sight on the last unmarried Ravenel sister, Lady Cassandra. From the moment he sees Cassandra, he decides that she must be his wife. Determination is something that Tom has and what he wants, he always gets. Unfortunately for Tom, the object of his desires is equally determined to marry someone she could grow to love and someone who would love her right back. A marriage that Tom can’t give her. Although mutually attracted to each other, it was obvious that what they wanted in a marriage differs and so they part ways. But when a suitor puts Lady Cassandra’s reputation in tatters, the only man that could save her is the one man she knows she should never marry; Tom Severin. Maybe, just maybe, a marriage between a couple who seem utterly mismatched can blossom into something more…something that resembles one thing Tom swore he could never give: Love. Chasing Cassandra is the sixth installment in Lisa Kleypas’ Historical Romance series, The Ravenels. This book tells the story of Tom Severin and Lady Cassandra Ravenel. I know, here I go again reading series out of order but it’s just the way I am. I read Marrying Winterborne earlier this month and Tom Severin was someone who piqued my curiosity. Right there and then, I decided that I would probably read his book next. Does it stand alone? It does quite well on its own but I think it would be more enjoyable when one sees these characters through the perspective of others. I wish I could read in order so I could see these character’s growth and get to know them better. I would probably read more from the series though. Not now but soon. I had such high hopes for this one. Meet Lady Cassandra Ravenel: She is a daughter of an Earl. She has a twin sister, Lady Pandora. Like the usual daughter of nobility, she does handiwork, she could paint and sketch a little, she loves reading books and taking naps. According to her, she has no special talents nor grand ambition. But she does dream of marrying someone who she could love and in time would come to love her, and to have her own family. Meet Tom Severin: He is a railway magnate. He has many other businesses, I can’t name them all. All I know is that he is rich…richer than Winterborne? According to his acquaintances, he is a genius but he denies the claims. He likes trains, ships, machines and all that engineering stuff. He does not like sentiment or romance. He only has five feelings, or so he believes. There are many adjectives to describe him but they all contradict each other. He is generous and helpful, and yet he could be ruthless. When Lady Pandora Ravenel finally got married, Lady Cassandra was left feeling dejected. She is happy for her twin sister and yet there is a twinge of jealousy and uncertainty. Cassandra rejected all five proposals during her first season and if she fails to tie the knot after her second season, then it would do her no good. The ton would say she’s too picky. It was during the discussion of this with her cousin, West Ravenel, that Tom Severin caught them off guard by offering to be her oyster…to marry her. And yet, she knows that Tom can’t give her the one thing she dreams of. From then on, the two formed an on and off friendship knowing that they shouldn’t marry each other. But when Cassandra’s reputation suffers from the hands of a cruel lord, Tom Severin shows her exactly just what he would do to ensure her safety and reputation is intact. And when he offers marriage yet again…she couldn’t deny the both of them this new opportunity. I have no strong feelings for the heroine. I guess I can say that I liked her well enough. I just feel like I didn’t really know her, but it’s probably my fault because I did not read the series in order as the author intended. She was a good person, that much is true. She had philanthropic tendencies. She was pretty chill. According to her she has gained weight which makes her a bit insecure, though I couldn’t picture exactly how she looked. She had times when she compared her traits to Pandora, and I don’t know the difference because I didn’t read Pandora’s book. I just had no clear picture of who Cassandra is and when that happens, I can’t really love someone I don’t know, right? Everybody seems to love this book so I might be missing something! She was adamant of not wanting to marry Tom and like, okay girl, we get it. At some point it got annoying because based on the blurb, I thought the marriage between the two would occur earlier in the book. Very misleading synopsis. I’ve read a review saying they loved how Cassandra was patient about Severin’s lack of emotions, so I was disappointed when that patience only occurred after they were married which was like around 70-80%? I was expecting more…I don’t understand what motivates her character. I hate to say this but she was a bit bland so I am a bit confused as to why Tom was head over heels in love / obsessed with her. I think out of all the Kleypas heroines, I liked Annabelle best because I understood her motivations and what she needed to do so I was rooting for her. In here, I just couldn’t grasp what she wanted or who she was so I had a bit of a tough time trying to get to know her and to be as fascinated with her as Tom was. I think she was just a vessel for Tom’s growth. She was okay, but just overall uninteresting as an individual character. But that’s just my opinion. I had such high hopes for Tom Severin. Out of all the Hs in the series (Excluding Winterborne), he was the most interesting or rather, sounded like the most interesting H because everyone’s view of him was contradictory. One couldn’t be too sure if he was a friend or a foe because he’s not scared of taking an opportunity when it arises, even if it means fucking his friends over. To him, it’s a game which is why he probably doesn’t see anything wrong with what he does. This man had such dry humour. He was so funny and somehow relatable. I really wanted to know more about this railway magnate. Who is he really? Throughout the book, I noticed so many things about him that could allude to Tom being on the autism spectrum, though I am no expert in such matters. Lisa Kleypas didn’t mention anything about it in her author’s note, so I don’t know if it was intentional or not. As an individual character, Tom was good and quite interesting. I liked that he knew his importance and how superior he actually was. I love arrogant characters! Like good for you that you actually know your worth. It also helped that he was really smart. I like my men smart so Tom was really hitting all the right spots. I liked how he wasn’t a rake or libertine, and I particularly loved what he said regarding this matter, that those monikers are for blue-blooded boys with trust funds. He was so right! He was ready for marriage too, which was a plus point. Although he wasn’t ready for emotions. But I think what I loved most about him is his thing wherein he apparently only had “five feelings” because it’s hard to manage. He was so relatable in that aspect. I, too, have a hard time managing my feelings. He also has many great lines that I find myself agreeing with although I know they’re supposed to be proven wrong. But he has made many great points that I was nodding along and agreeing with as I read. He was kind too, so that’s always a plus point. All in all, as an individual character, he was pretty interesting! Now as the H of the story, he was great! He was obsessive but not to the point where it’s creepy, and to mention what he did for Cassandra! What a gesture! He surely had it bad for her. I didn’t really see how he chased Cassandra though. He didn’t. Sure when the opportunity arose, he didn’t let it slip away but he wasn’t full on chasing her. But he was a great interesting individual character and a good hero who you know is totally devoted to the heroine. I like it that way! However, I was pretty disappointed in the development of his character in the end. I didn’t really see what pushed the realization of his love for Cassandra, it was so random and I wasn’t really sold on their love for each other. I wanted to understand why this great man was obsessed with Cassandra and I couldn’t see it so I was dissatisfied. I really liked Tom and I am disappointed that I did not end up loving him as much as I expected I would! He carried this book but I wasn’t head over heels in love with him…which is rather unfortunate. Like I have mentioned, the blurb on Goodreads is somehow misleading. If you read this and expect an MOC early on in the book, you’d be disappointed. There is the part in the blurb “The chase for Cassandra’s hand may be over. But the chase for her heart has only just begun . . .” which made me unnecessarily anxious waiting for this to happen. I thought she would be very reluctant to give him her heart, I’m glad she wasn’t but that part made me all nervous thinking that would be how things would go! There were so many time jumps. I didn’t know what to feel about it. For a book titled “Chasing Cassandra” they sure as hell just let each other go very easily, and if it weren’t for Cassandra’s ruined reputation, which happens at around 60%, things wouldn’t have progressed between the two. Don’t get me wrong, the writing flowed well but I realize how little time these two characters actually spent with each other. There were so many unnecessary scenes that could’ve been utilized instead to show the gradual progress of their relationship. With so many time skips, I wasn’t sure how Tom stayed obsessed with Cassandra. He didn’t really know her. They didn’t really share anything special except for when he caught her crying and when she helped him fix whatever was wrong in the Ravenel house. And after that, they spent so much time away from each other and only seeing each other by chance. As much as I liked Tom’s grand gesture for Cassandra, I don’t really see any plausible reason as to why he would do that for her when she literally made it clear she didn’t want to marry him. They seem to be just fine without each other and if that scandal didn’t happen, they wouldn’t have married. Doesn’t seem like a good foundation for a relationship, especially because it occurs in the middle. At that point, I was just waiting to see how their relationship would develop into something more believable. Something I could root for. This might be a controversial opinion but I don’t really like the Ravenel family thus far. I find both Devon and West Ravenel to be judgmental prigs who are both too overprotective, I’m sure it was supposed to show how much they care for Cassandra but they just came off as big assholes. They annoyed me big time. But I am willing to give their respective books a try and hope that it will change my opinions regarding them. And if I end up loving them, then this observation of mine is embarrassing. But Devon Ravenel has been getting on my nerves since Winterborne’s book. Is he any better in his own story? I noticed that the offsprings of St Vincent or rather Kingston and Westcliff are mentioned in this book and even have their own stories, and I was wondering about Annabelle / Simon and Daisy / Matthew’s children. Were any of them mentioned in other books? I’d be interested to read a series about them. Also, the use of characters and disposal of them when they have no use anymore is abrupt. What happened to Lady Berwick? I wonder about what her reaction would be regarding Cassandra's engagement to Tom since she is surely against it. What happened to the viscount’s daughter that Tom escorted? After the argument regarding Cassandra, I guess it was over. And the Lord Foxhall mentions… Lisa Kleypas is getting us all excited and for what? Will she even write their books? Since the boy Basil appeared at the beginning, I had a feeling that he was going to be important and I was right. I seem to notice that Kleypas has a tendency to include children in her books and I’m not sure how I feel about it. But since Basil was adorable, I quickly fell in love with him and was okay with what happened at the end. His relationship with Tom and Cassandra is perhaps one of the nice things about this book. It showed Tom’s strength to love and Cassandra’s goodness. And of course, one less homeless fictional child. This book had low to no angst at all. I prefer angsty books because it keeps me invested. It is a good thing that even without it, Kleypas managed to keep my interest. Nothing really happened in the book. I did not feel any strong emotions but I don’t know if the book is to blame or me. I am depressed and nothing seems to satisfy me so I guess the fault falls on me. I wanted to love this book so much more than I did and I’m left feeling disappointed that I didn’t. Again, I don’t know if the problem is the book or me. I was really looking forward to Tom Severin’s story so I guess no one can blame me if I’m disappointed that it failed to deliver what I was hoping and looking for. When it ended, I was left wanting more….for the reason that it just did not satisfy me at all. But anyway…I’m giving this book four stars because it feels wrong to rate it less than that and I’m feeling generous. And I really liked Tom Severin! I was just disappointed with the execution of the story and perhaps even with the heroine. Some quotes:“For the first time in his life, Tom Severin was smitten. Smitten and slain. She was beautiful the way fire and sunlight were beautiful, warm and glowing and golden. The sight of her dealt him a famished, hollow feeling. She was everything he’d missed in his disadvantaged youth, every lost hope and opportunity.”“You’re not too plump,” he said gruffly. “The more of you there is in the world, the better.”“There are no limits to what I would do for you.”“Whatever my wife needs or desires of me,” he said with cool arrogance, “she’ll have it. I can arrange my schedule in any way I wish. I do as little or as much work as I want, go wherever I please, and stay or leave as it suits me. No one owns me or my time. That’s the point of being me.”“Feelings are inconvenient,” Tom said. “It’s why I decided to limit mine to five. For most of my adult life, it’s been easy to keep to that. Then I met you. Now my feelings have multiplied like rabbits, and I seem to have nearly as many as normal people do. Which is too many. However . . . if a man with the average brain can manage all these feelings well enough to function efficiently, I, with my powerful and superior brain, can as well.”

TITLE: CHASING CASSANDRAAUTHOR: Lisa KleypasSERIES: The Ravenels #6RELEASE DATE: February 18, 2020GENRE: Historical RomanceRATING: 5 STARSCLIFFHANGER: NoREAD MY REVIEW ON THE BLOGWhen I met Tom Severin in this series I was so intrigued by his characterization. He came across a little cutthroat, cunning, opportunistic and a little manipulative and calculating. And he is all that to be sure but I felt that he wasn't born with these traits so I'm glad I finally found out what made him so. Tom's childhood wasn't the easiest but he made the best of it. When he meets Cassandra he is head over heels in lust but him being the man who has limited his emotional repertoire to five feelings total, he is positive that he can't offer what she deserves.Cassandra is a woman who hides her quiet strength and backbone behind charm and sweetness. With her endearing personality she transforms Tom into the man he was supposed to be. And makes it look like it was his idea too. With her gentle force he learns that he actually has more than five emotions to offer and while he first is convinced that that love isn't part of his repertoire it shines through in every action. His protectiveness extends to a street urchin and I was moved by the way he softened toward Bazzle. There is so much more to this man than meets the eye and I feel like I'm not doing these characters and the story justice. And there he stood, with his heart in his fist. What was the name of this feeling? Charming and delightful banter is something you can always expect in a Lisa Kleypas romance and I ADORED the dialogues. “You’re trying to appear as harmless as a lamb. But we both know you’re not.” “I have lamblike moments,” Tom said. At her dubious glance, he insisted, “I’m having one right now. I’m one hundred percent lamb.” I especially loved Tom's friendships with the Ravenels, Winterborne and St. Vincent. Their friendly ribbing was oh so funny and I was glad to see that all of them ultimately offered Tom the respect he deserved even though it may not have seemed that way at first.As always this author captivates you with fabulous, lovable characters, there isn't much in the way of angst or drama but that's fine with me! I hope Ms Kleypas continues to write Historical Romance although I'm sure her Contemporary Romance is fantastic. The way she expresses the emotions of her characters, her words, her stories, they are just sublime and like a melody that settles in your heart. “There are no limits to what I would do for you.”

There is no question that Lisa Kleypas is one of the queens of historical romance. I was so excited when Avon sent me a copy of Chasing Cassandra to review. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but the story inside sounded like a great romance! I've only read two other books in this series, but I jumped into this book just fine and understood the close family relationships these characters had with one another. I really loved how this book revolved so much around the relationships with people and how close Cassandra was with her family and their significant others. Even Tom, who likes to have no emotions and not get close to people, formed friendships and enjoyed other people. When Cassandra and Tom first met, I loved how much Cassandra was attracted to him and had finally found someone who made her heart flutter. Of course, romances back in this time weren't that easy, though, so it took them both awhile to accept certain things about their relationship. Like usual, I loved the time period this book took place in and how people courted each other and how Cassandra was trying to find a husband. Tom was definitely my favorite character in this book with how analytical and hard around the edges he was. He didn't come from money, so people definitely looked down on him because of that, even though he is respected and very wealthy now. I just wanted to hug Tom at times and I loved how Cassandra wouldn't take his crap and would be there for him even when he tried to push her away. While I did think not too much actually happened in this book, I loved the romance and the characters. This is definitely another Lisa Kelypas novel to check out!