Book 1), Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street

Uhhh... positive reviewers: were we reading the same book?

Did you all not read a book in which the "hero" is watching over a woman who developed amnesia after a severe head injury, and decided that because he's sure she's a courtesan who turned him down, he's going to seduce and humiliate her in revenge? When she has AMNESIA and is under his *protection* because someone is trying to kill her?!?!?!

This goes beyond not being a gentleman. It's reprehensible. Grant was as bad as some of the criminals he helped put away. I couldn't even finish this, and I normally love Kleypas' books. I'm so glad I read the Bow Street Runners series backwards, because I never would've continued if this had been the first I'd picked up! If I could give this 0 stars, I would.

Lisa Kleypas, what were you thinking?

Tough, jaded Grant Morgan, a Bow Street Runner, is called to the Thames dock to investigate the death of a woman. However, the woman is not dead and Grant Morgan knows her. She is the scandalous beauty and courtesan Vivien Rose Duvall.

Morgan does not like the woman but decides to take her to his home for care and protection. Some months earlier, Vivien had started rumors that she'd turned Morgan down when he requested her favors.

I tried to think why he would be so upset that he'd decided to use her while she was under his roof (as revenge for the embarrassment). Morgan was a self-made man. Coming from a very poor background, Morgan had fought and out-witted others to get to his current status. Thus, the rumors would have severely hurt his pride.

Although some parts were predictable, the book moved at a lively pace. The 3 Kleypas novels I'd previously read were rather forgettable.* This book seems to show more of Kleypas' writing skill. FYI: Both LADY SOPHIA'S LOVER and WORTH ANY PRICE are part of that Top 100 Romances List .

*Kleypas has an incredible 15 novels in the Romance Writer's Top 100 Books (printed in November 2010).

Bow Street Runners
1. Someone to Watch over Me (1999)
2. Lady Sophia's Lover (2002)
3. Worth Any Price (2003)

As far as romance novels go, Someone to Watch Over Me is a pretty good book, but it isn't extraordinary enough to help it rise above a super crowded genre of books. One of the biggest problems that it has to overcome is that it will be compared to Kleypas's other excellent series. I am a huge fan of her Wallflowers and Hathaways series, and this one doesn't meet the standards of those books at all. So when compared to what I have come to expect with a Lisa Kleypas novel, this book is a bit disappointing. But I'm going to try to not compare too much and just give my thoughts on this book alone. I have to say to begin, however, that one of the things that I have always enjoyed about a Kleypas romance is the humor that is found throughout the novel. Sadly, that is missing in this particular novel. The characters in this book are a lot more serious, with little humor in either conversation or action, and I missed that.

So . . . specifics: This is the story of Grant, a Boy Street runner who is called to the scene of a dead body that has washed ashore. Only when Grant arrives he finds that the body is not so dead. It turns out that the woman who has come ashore, waterlogged, bruised, and broken, is the famously beautiful and fickle courtesan Vivien, a woman who has been the mistress of half the ton. Grant, however, does not have a happy history with her. After seeing her across the room at a ball he approached her and did not like the woman he encountered. After rebuffing her Vivien was upset, so she spread hurtful rumors about Grant. Now she arrives right at Grant's feet, but she has no memory of her identity. Grant sees an opportunity for revenge, and he takes it, taking Vivien back to his place to help her recover, and after earning her trust he plans on dropping her flat, paying her back for her behavior toward him. But things don't go according to plan from the start. This Vivien with amnesia does not behave anything like the famous courtesan. She is shy and modest. She loves reading and is capable of deep conversations. She treats Grant and his household staff with respect. And Grant begins to fall in love with her.

This story is as much a mystery as it is a romance. Who put Vivien in this state? Is this really Vivien? If not, who is she, and where is the real Vivien? All questions that the famous runner Grant must discover. All while he fights against his growing attraction for this woman who he did not much care for previously. The mystery itself is not that interesting. It is pretty obvious at the beginning that Vivien is not really Vivien, although it takes both of them a crazy amount of time to figure this out. And, frankly, the mystery of who harmed Vivien (okay, I think I'm just going to refer to her as who she really is, Victoria, from now one). . . so the mystery of who harmed Victoria isn't really a burning concern for me until things get full of action toward the end of the book.

As for the romance . . . well, it was okay. I liked Victoria and Grant well enough, but Grant irritated me a bit at times. His approach to Victoria was described at gentle at times, but I always felt like he was way too overbearing. He seemed to almost physically assault her at times because he was just so overwhelmed with need for her. Good grief Man, get a grip on your passion! I think that he often justified his approach because he felt like Vivien was experienced. But she had amnesia! Shouldn't he treat her with a bit more respect? That just rubbed me wrong. Still, overall I was rooting for the two of them to find love together. It just didn't come across as beautifully as I normally expect in a book like this.

For some reason I felt like the book was maybe a hundred pages too long. The romance came to a nice conclusion, but there were still lots of pages left to go with this story. It did tie everything together nicely, but I wish it had occurred in such a way where it fit into the story more naturally. But still, that was only a minor concern for me.

So, I would not recommend this for your first foray into a Lisa Kleypas novel. She has so many others which are much more fun to read and contain better romances. But this is not a bad book, and I don't regret picking it up and giving it a read. Three stars!

This book one of the Bow Street Series exceeded my expectations. Not often do I come across a first book in a series that moves beyond the surface to give an interesting enough story that both satisfies and captivates and can stand alone. This book does that. It combines elements of romance and mystery that snags, soothes and incites the reader toward the conclusion.
In this book, there is attempted murder and mayhem-all in a day's work for Bow Street Runners aka bounty hunters. In this book we meet Grant Morgan, a Runner, who gets the assignment to find the perpetrator of a near drowning/attempted murder. The victim suffers from amnesia. While she does not know her identity, Morgan does and now he has an axe to grind and a mystery to solve. In this book, the author weaves together a perfect blend of two genres where one is as necessary as the other. The story moves at a steady pace and does not seem rushed or drawn out. At the very least this book has its own ending. Even better it's only the beginning.

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews

I really enjoyed Someone to Watch Over Me. I liked the characters and I liked the story line. I simply love to read about those historical unattainable men turning to pudding and falling deeply in love. That is certainly the premise of Someone to Watch Over Me.

Grant Morgan is was almost like a modern day (historical times mind you) superhero. He was stealthy, smart, handsome and well, the entire package. The added fact of Grant being a highly respectable Bow Street Runner made him a popular man that people wish to know and be associated with.

Vivien was a bit of a confusing character as the woman that Grant rescues at the beginning of the book, was not appearing to be the same vivacious and temptress, Vivien Duvall that Grant previously knew. It seems that her temporary bout with amnesia changed Vivien's manners and temperament.

It was an excellent read of how Grant's plan to turn the table on Vivien and how it all backfires. As he realizes his old distasteful feeling towards the former Vivien change to warm and affectionate feelings for this new soft and gentle Vivien.

There was some angsty spots as Grant tries to figure out what is going on with Vivien's life and who is trying to kill her. It was predicable for the reader to figure out the puzzle but it was fun to read how the characters try to put the pieces together. Someone to Watch Over Me was a great first book for the Bow Street Runner series and I jumped right into book 2.

One part of Someone to Watch Over Me that I wished was shared more with the reader is how Vivien was eventually accepted in society as the woman that she really was.

Teasers: secret past, virgin surprise, sexy blackmail book, Italian delivery

I very much enjoyed Historical Romance Novel "Someone To Watch Over Me". I now know who the Bow Street Runners were! I know they did not like to be called "Runners", because they thought it was derogatory. They were London's first professional police force founded 1749, disbanded 1839. Lisa Kleypas is a wonderful writer. I love the way she took this part of history and made it her own, creating this beautiful love story. I love the way she describes the world she is writing about. You can see, feel and smell the fog swirling around your feet as you watch the characters discover a body found in the Thames river, on a cold, dark night. Our hero in this story is not a perfect guy, but oh boy is he one tall, good looking sexy character! I liked that because it made him interesting. The heroine was perfect for the hero, very sweet and unsure. This was an extremely sensuous love story. The bedroom scenes were blazing hot! Also, the character, Doctor Jake Linley in this book has his own scorching hot love story in the Novella titled "Where's My Hero?", I gave this book----(5 stars), for excellence. "Someone To Watch Over Me" is part of a trilogy. Here are the other two books to consider, "Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street, Book 2)", and "Worth Any Price (Bow Street, Book 3)" Loved it! Recommended! Enjoy!

Grade: A-

This book one of the Bow Street Series exceeded my expectations. Not often do I come across a first book in a series that moves beyond the surface to give an interesting enough story that both satisfies and captivates and can stand alone. This book does that. It combines elements of romance and mystery that snags, soothes and incites the reader toward the conclusion.
In this book, there is attempted murder and mayhem-all in a day's work for Bow Street Runners aka bounty hunters. In this book we meet Grant Morgan, a Runner, who gets the assignment to find the perpetrator of a near drowning/attempted murder. The victim suffers from amnesia. While she does not know her identity, Morgan does and now he has an axe to grind and a mystery to solve. In this book, the author weaves together a perfect blend of two genres where one is as necessary as the other. The story moves at a steady pace and does not seem rushed or drawn out. At the very least this book has its own ending. Even better it's only the beginning.

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews

I really enjoyed Someone to Watch Over Me. I liked the characters and I liked the story line. I simply love to read about those historical unattainable men turning to pudding and falling deeply in love. That is certainly the premise of Someone to Watch Over Me.

Grant Morgan is was almost like a modern day (historical times mind you) superhero. He was stealthy, smart, handsome and well, the entire package. The added fact of Grant being a highly respectable Bow Street Runner made him a popular man that people wish to know and be associated with.

Vivien was a bit of a confusing character as the woman that Grant rescues at the beginning of the book, was not appearing to be the same vivacious and temptress, Vivien Duvall that Grant previously knew. It seems that her temporary bout with amnesia changed Vivien's manners and temperament.

It was an excellent read of how Grant's plan to turn the table on Vivien and how it all backfires. As he realizes his old distasteful feeling towards the former Vivien change to warm and affectionate feelings for this new soft and gentle Vivien.

There was some angsty spots as Grant tries to figure out what is going on with Vivien's life and who is trying to kill her. It was predicable for the reader to figure out the puzzle but it was fun to read how the characters try to put the pieces together. Someone to Watch Over Me was a great first book for the Bow Street Runner series and I jumped right into book 2.

One part of Someone to Watch Over Me that I wished was shared more with the reader is how Vivien was eventually accepted in society as the woman that she really was.

Teasers: secret past, virgin surprise, sexy blackmail book, Italian delivery

I very much enjoyed Historical Romance Novel "Someone To Watch Over Me". I now know who the Bow Street Runners were! I know they did not like to be called "Runners", because they thought it was derogatory. They were London's first professional police force founded 1749, disbanded 1839. Lisa Kleypas is a wonderful writer. I love the way she took this part of history and made it her own, creating this beautiful love story. I love the way she describes the world she is writing about. You can see, feel and smell the fog swirling around your feet as you watch the characters discover a body found in the Thames river, on a cold, dark night. Our hero in this story is not a perfect guy, but oh boy is he one tall, good looking sexy character! I liked that because it made him interesting. The heroine was perfect for the hero, very sweet and unsure. This was an extremely sensuous love story. The bedroom scenes were blazing hot! Also, the character, Doctor Jake Linley in this book has his own scorching hot love story in the Novella titled "Where's My Hero?", I gave this book----(5 stars), for excellence. "Someone To Watch Over Me" is part of a trilogy. Here are the other two books to consider, "Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street, Book 2)", and "Worth Any Price (Bow Street, Book 3)" Loved it! Recommended! Enjoy!

Grade: A-

Plot Summary: Grant Morgan is a well-known member of the Bow Street Runners, and when he shows up to investigate a drowning victim he finds that she's barely alive. Furthermore he knows her as Vivien Duvall, an infamous courtesan within the ton, but when she wakes up she no memory at all. Grant sees an opportunity to get even with this beautiful, vain woman, so he decides to seduce her and discard her, but his plan falls apart when this new Vivien shows none of the traits that made him hate her in the first place.

A couple of years ago I read the second book in the Bow Street series, Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street, Book 2), and it was one of the most memorable historical romances I've ever read. I'm happy to say that Someone to Watch Over Me is equally entertaining, and it had a twist that I never saw coming. I've read quite a few of Lisa Kleypas's romances, and whether they are contemporaries or historicals, she excels at telling relationship stories. She makes me feel those first love tingles again and again, and I'll keep buying her books because of it.

This series appeals to me in particular because we aren't dealing with the usual `lord loves a lady' tale. Our hero was an orphan who became a Bow Street runner early in life and he is literally a self-made man. That concept is almost unheard of in regency romances, but Ms. Kleypas likes her heroes to make something of themselves. Neither is the heroine an aristocrat, and while some fans might think this would lessen the appeal, nothing could be farther from the truth. Instead of reading about limp-wristed pansies, this story is about characters who know how to take care of themselves.

Now I need to hunt down the third and final book in the Bow Street series, Worth Any Price (Bow Street, Book 3).

I initially purchased this novel two months ago, before my mind was tightly wrapped within the whirlwind of the Wallflower & Hathaway Series. Every time I completed a book within those series, I would constantly glance and push aside this novel. And, still purhcase other Lisa Kleypas novels in the process.

What an enormous mistake on my part. This novel has suited my needs completely. Having to deal with my own sibling frustrations within the past few months. This novel has opened my eyes regarding the behavior and characteristics of my sister and I possess. How devastatingly different we are, just as the main characters within this book. However the revelation of the fact, she and I can find true happiness with whatever we decide to do with our future; regardless, if one doesn't agree with the other. Thanks to Lisa Kleypas I have found immense comfort with this novel.

As usual I'm infatuated with every single novel written by Lisa Kleypas, I've read thus far. I'm extremely eager to continue with this series, and read the other novels by LK. Mrs. Kleypas is a distinguished, remarkable, talented, superlative novelist of all time, and one of my most favorite authors. UNDOUBTEDLY ALWAYS DESERVING WELL BEYOND A 10 STAR RATING!!!

Under the Blood Red MoonMine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, Book 1)Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1)The Devil in Winter (The Wallflowers, Book 3)Reforming a Rake (With This Ring, Book 1)

This is another Bow Street Runner novel from Lisa Kleypas. Like the wonderful "Lady Sophia's Lover," and the unbeatable "Worth Any Price," (I'm an unabashed Lisa Kleypas fan...can you tell??), this story features realistic characters from mid-1800's England's burgeoning middle class, and not the usual nobility of the "haute ton." Number 4 Bow Street is the headquarters for the relatively new force of organized police/dectectives, who keeps law and order in London.
Grant Morgan, one of the Bow Street leaders, has made his fortune and fame recovering stolen property for banks, serving as personal guard to the monarchy, and locating abducted heiresses. He is one of London's most eligible and unattainable men. One night he is called to a ferry dock along the Thames to investigate a drowning. The victim turns out to be quite beautiful and alive. Mr. Morgan recognizes and identifies her as Vivian Duvall, a famous courtesan who defamed him some months before. He brings her to his home to recover. Noticing bruises on her neck, Morgan realizes that someone had attempted to murder Vivian. She, however, has amnesia and can remember nothing of her past, neither her own name nor her profession, which seems to disgust her. Morgan is hot on the case of the murderer's identity and motive - and he's hot on Ms. Duvall's case also. He has lusted for her since the moment he met her, and wants to bed her, keep her for a while, and also to exact some revenge for her past scandal mongering.
But Vivian does not live up to her reputation on the one hand, and proves to be much better than expected on the other. Slowly, the secrets of her past emerge, as does the mutual attraction between Vivian and Grant. The mystery is not difficult to figure out, and the plot is undemanding, to say the least. However Ms. Kleypas weaves a story like no on else and her characters, with their sizzling chemistry, keep your eyes riveted to the page.
Lisa Kleypas novels are as addictive as good chocolate - but not fattening. They are super rich, delicious, and you won't put on a pound. Try one! You're in for a treat.

Grant one of the most famous Bow Street Runners helps rescue a woman but not just any woman, Vivien a courtesan who has humiliated him in the past. He takes her into his home and decides to investigate what happened and who wants her dead. That doesn't stop him from wanting some revenge but he is also still wildly attracted to her. What makes things even harder is that with her memory loss she doesn't even act like the woman he remembers. Is there more to the woman's story and who wanted her dead? Will he fall for her despite their past. I have read a contemporary romance from this author before and found this book to be no less enjoyable.

Grant Morgan is a gruff, jaded but effective Bow Street Runner called to the docks to investigate a body pulled from the Thames. It's a woman who's obviously been violently attacked - strangled and left to drown. But Grant recognizes the woman as infamous demimondaine Vivien Duvall, a woman Grant has no liking for since she started untrue rumours that he was desperate to have her and she refused him. On closer inspection he finds that she's not dead and, on impulse, takes her to his home to recuperate.
When she regains consciousness, it's clear that she's got amnesia. Grant decides to take some petty, childish revenge by using Vivien while she's vulnerable then dumping her. But he does not count on the effects of the amnesia on her. She's so different from the woman he and the rest of Society know. She's sweet, unassuming, kind and he reluctantly finds himself growing more and more attracted to her - and not just sexually. Meanwhile, she is completely incredulous when Grant tells her of the depraved life she leads, but with no memory she has no choice but to believe him. And now she must allow herself to be used as bait to catch the person who so obviously wanted her dead. What a frightening prospect for a woman who has no memory of anyone she meets! Her attempted killer could be anyone!
Though I enjoyed the story, I did feel that the lead characters were a bit one-dimensional and could have been better developed. And Grant's petty anger over a fairly innocuous bit of gossip from a courtesan was a bit irrational. But I did like Grant's gruff protectiveness and felt compassion for her unenviable confusion and fear.
I really enjoyed this trilogy - this was followed by Lady Sophia's Lover and then Worth Any Price. I was fascinated by the workings of Bow Street, the political opposition to it and the power (and the way he did not abuse it) of the yummy, dreamy, sexy Sir Ross Cannon. Recommended.

The last book in this series, Worth Any Price was awful and had I known Someone to Watch Over Me was part of that series I may not have picked it up. It was an OK read, but silly. (SPOILERS) The hero Grant, who is supposedly so brilliant, is actually not very bright, it's obvious from the start that the woman he is with isn't Vivien. He is also rather petty to lie to an amnesiac to get back at her for some dumb lie she told once. The villians are obvious immediately. The heroine really never gets to show much of her personality. It's too bad Kleypas wasn't brave enough to make the amnesiac really the prostitute Vivien, but she takes the easy way out with the twin storyline. Oh well, I will probably read the next book, Lady Sophia's Lover since I liked the character Ross in this book. I'll buy it used though.

Kleypas has a way of writing characters which behave well in one sense and off-beat in others.

Our heroine in this novel, told she is Vivian the courtesan, is refreshingly smart. She doesn't chase after the hero into dangerous situations or refuse to acknowledge her feelings for an absurd amount of time. I like her a great deal.

Her hero, Grant, is a Bow Street Runner bent on solving her case. He is sufficiently handsome and likeable, but he is incredibly dense when it comes to the heroine in the beginning, yet falls madly, deeply in love with her in the blink of an eye.

I enjoyed the novel while reading it and found the story a good one, if a trite cliched. If you've read romance at all you'll figure out the premise of the book quite quickly, and even the villain is a bit transparent.

I found myself wishing that Grant would have been a bit harder to win over. He was dead set against her in the beginning, and then poof! Like magic he sets all that aside for a nice romp in the proverbial hay. After that it's a hop skip and jump to true love.

Kleypas is not as witty in her writing as the authors I enjoy a great deal, but she is a good writer and keeps the flowery and purple prose to a minimum.

Someone To Watch Over Me is my first Lisa Kleypas book. I must say I really did enjoy this book. This is the first Historical Regency I have read where the hero's profession is a Bow Street Runner. Instead of the normal nobility, as seen in many of the Historical Regencies, Kleypas wrote about commoners.
Grant Morgan loves his profession. As a very successful Bow Street Runner, he has amassed a large fortune to let him live in style. Though only a commoner by birth he has been tolerated by the ton and is one of the most eligible bachelors in London.
One night a body of a woman was found floating in the Thames. A waterman called upon Grant Morgan and expecting to find a lifeless body, he was surprised to find out that the woman was still alive. He was taken aback when the woman turns out to be Vivien Duvall, one of London's scandalous beauties and sought after courtesan. Vivien, as Grant discovered, was strangled and left for dead but survived the attack. Grant then decides to take Miss Duvall to his home to care for her personally.
Vivien Duvall wakes up and finds out that she is suffering from amnesia. Vivien cannot seem to believe that she has led a life of a courtesan and refuses to believe Grant that she is a schemer and would do anything, including sell her body, for money. Grant on the other hand is also confused, because even though this woman has the face of Vivien Duvall, she does not seem to act like her. The Vivien he has in his house is actually nice and very likeable and Grant feels very attracted towards her. Meanwhile he is also trying to uncover the name of the person who tried to kill her before he could strike again.
Even though the mystery part was easy to solve, Someone To Watch Over Me is a joy to read. Grant and Vivien are wonderfully romantic together! The contradicting feelings of Grant towards Vivien are very believable. Vivien is also a great heroine; she is charming, helpful and sweet. She wins the heart of the servants and everyone she comes in contact with including Grant. No big misunderstanding element is this book. The only thing is....... is she really Vivien or someone else?
To find out how the rest of the story goes, I recommend you to read this wonderfully written book by Lisa Kleypas!

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME was my first Kleypas novel, and I think I made a good move in selecting it as an introduction to this author. This novel tells the story of Bow Street Runner Grant Morgan, and what happens to him the night he is called out about a drowning victim. Not only is the victim still alive, but he recognizes her as Vivien Duvall, a high-level courtesan who once turned down his romantic overtures. Predictably enough, she has amnesia as a result of her trauma. Grant decides that as a side benefit of solving her attempted murder, he will trick Vivien into becoming his lover to exact revenge for his wounded pride. But as he shelters the now-vulnerable woman over the weeks, he discovers the real Vivien. Or does he?
For her part, Vivien is confused at her circumstances and oddly shamed about the impression of her character she receives from Grant and London society. She is frustrated at her absent memory, fearful of the threat to her life, and, despite his callous affirmation of their "relationship," powerfully attracted to Grant.
Kleypas allows us to view the true nature and vulnerabilities of these two wonderful protagonists through each other's eyes, which lends a very touching perspective to this tale. Her secondary characters are not terribly developed, but they are very likable. The twists in the plot and the growing emotions between Grant and Vivien are wonderful to behold, and leave readers wanting more even after the book is over.
First-time Kleypas readers, this is a good book to start with - I did, and ended up adding another author to my "must-read" pile! I'd recommend SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME to anyone looking for a meaty, satisfying romance.

Grant Morgan had an axe to grind with Vivien Duvall and saw his opportunity when he helped rescue her from the docks of the Thames River. Someone had attempted to kill her but she awoke with a loss of memory. Grant decided it was best for her to stay with him for protection until the perpetrator could be found. He could also get his own retribution in the meantime. However, he never anticipated that he would end up being drawn to the woman with no memory who bore no resemblance to the one he had known.

There is as much mystery and suspense in this story as there is romance. Grant is a well-known Bow Street Runner, London's group of elite detectives, so we get to follow the investigation along with the developing relationship between him and Vivien. There are enough clues for the reader to speculate and pinpoint the culprit and the relationship between Grant and Viven is exciting.

This book was an unexpected pleasure and I look forward to the next in the series.

This book begins really good. But soon I was wondering how in the world did I end up with the book.
Vivien is a courtesan, who only accepts the richest suitors. She's frivolous and shallow, but extremely beautiful.
Grant Morgan is a Bow Street Runner, and probably the most respected one. He's handsome and has made, not only a name for himself, but a good fortune. Even though he has no important name, and does not belong either in the poor, middle, or high class.
One night he is called to view the body of a woman drowned in the Thames. Problem is, the dead lady is not so dead after all. And happens to be Vivien Duvall. Who had the misfortune of humiliating Grant in front of the ton. So now that Grant has the opportunity, he takes her to his home and decides that he'll take his vengance. Little did he know that Vivien remembers nothing (Amnesia), so he tells her that she is his mistress.
But something is amiss. Vivien, is not acting like her usual self, and no matter how much amnesia she has, things do not seem to add up.
On the other hadn, someone, the same person that tried to choke and drown Vivien, is still loose and will try to kill Vivien again.
The plot seems interesting enough, and I think I would have enjoyed this book much better if a few pages were lost. Like 50-70 pages. Many detail is given, that I felt was unnecesary. And if you ask me, the climax was predictable. Then again, I've read so many books and seen so many movies, that not much surprises me now. And I have the tendency to predict what will happen next very easily.
Overall, yes I liked the book. The idea of the plot was good, but I wish it had been shorter. I mean the plot is solved at the end of pages 200's. And the book is like 350 pages.
I will recomend the book, because I'm sure most people are not as picky as I am, and I knwo this book will be thorougly enjoyed by other people.
However, this book has a higher rating than Suddenly You, and I must say I enjoyed Suddenly You much better!

If you're looking for a historical romance that's not focused on gentlemen and ladies of the haute ton, then look no further than Lisa Kleypas' Bow Street Runners trilogy. A world slightly removed from the nobility, they are a group of men both revered and condemned for being a law unto themselves, whose purpose is to rid the London society of its biggest scum. In this introduction, get to meet the most famous of the Runners - Grant Morgan.

When the body of a woman is found floating on the river Thames, Morgan is called to the scene and was astounded to find the woman still breathing. But what's more shocking for him is the discovery of the woman's identity - Vivien Rose Duvall, London's most infamous and sought-after courtesan. Aware that she just survived an attempted murder, Grant takes Vivien home and, as she lies unconscious in his bed, he recalls their unpleasant meeting a few months ago and thinks it ironic how the woman whom he promised to repay for his humiliation has so easily landed in his lap.

When Vivien regains consciousness, she wakes up with no recollection of who she is. As Grant becomes aware of her condition, he decides to take advantage of her memory loss. But as he invents stories about their relationship, he starts feeling guilty about lying to her especially when he finds himself drawn to her seeming innocence, for gone is the smug superiority of the old Vivien. Now replaced with such vulnerability and sweetness, he finds himself becoming more attached to her and overcome with the need to protect her. And as his feelings for her grows stronger, he worries that he might be falling for another one of Vivien's games, something that he won't be able to endure should it turn out to be so.

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME is quite an intriguing story of two characters drawn together by an act of crime. Although set in the Regency era, it is not your typical story of the aristocratic society, which I found to be totally refreshing. He may not be a titled gentleman but Grant Morgan is every bit as dashing as the usual lords found in other books, with a little bit of roughness that I thought was just sexy. I liked how he changed from a man intent on taking revenge to assuage his pride, to an enchanted man overcome with his love for the heroine.

With a mixture of mystery, romance and hot love scenes, this book is an enjoyable introduction to the Bow Street trilogy. It is interesting to have an insight on the works of the Runners and it was great to see an author take a chance by steering clear of the glitz and glamor of the Regency ballrooms, and create a story of the so-called "commoners" in that era. And another bonus is the involvement of Sir Ross Cannon, the chief magistrate, who's just so mysterious and sexy.

The other books in the series are LADY SOPHIA'S LOVER (Ross Cannon's story) and WORTH ANY PRICE.

The delicious Grant Morgan must solve the attempted murder of a courtesan -- or is she? Vivian has lost her memory, and she seems too innocent to be the courtesan Grant knows her to be. As he seeks to protect her and find the would-be killer, Grant begins to fall in love with her despite what she is.
This book has more of a mystery than the other two books in the series (this is the first). It also introduces us to Ross Cannon, the hero of book 2. This romance is particularly interesting because of the amnesia and Vivian's supposed career. She can't quite believe that she is who he says she is either. Despite all the uncertainites, they begin to fall in love. Vivian is sweet & very likeable, and she and Grant are wonderful together.
Kleypas does her usual remarkable job with steamy love scenes, tender emotions, doubts & conflicts, easy-to-read style, and the ultimate triumph of love. Enjoy.

...but still above average.

I adore Lisa Kleypas. She is one of my favorite Romance writers - I like her style, I like that most of her heroes are members of the working class and not only Lords of the Ton, I like the fact that she is able to take a much used plot and turn it something unique due exclusively to her amazing storytelling abilities.
I also adore her because she has given me my top two favorite Romance Heroes: St Vincent (Devil in Winter) and Derek Craven (Dreaming of You) . She has delighted me with interesting and spunky heroines such as Lawless Lily and Lilian Westcliff. And this is why it breaks my heart to say that Someone to Watch Over Me didn't do much for me.

I mean, it's not by any means, a bad book. Once again, she shows how good of a writer she is - this time she deals with the old amnesia + revenge scenario which, in the hands of a less qualified writer, would leave me wondering "why I am reading this"; but in her hands she manages to add something that gets me going. And that something is definitely the characters she invents.

Grant Morgan is a good man and a good hero. He works as a Bow Street Runner, a sort of police officer and as the story begins he is called to investigate a drowning. Once he gets to scene he recognizes the victim as Vivien Duvall, London's most famous courtesan. She is barely alive and it is clear that the incident has been a failed attempt of murder - she has strangling marks around her neck. Grant takes her to his home so he can keep her safe and find out who is trying to kill her but when she regains conscience , they realize she does not remember anything, not even who she is. Which brings us to the revenge scenario - Grant has vowed to make her pay for some rumors that she had spread around the Ton that she refused his advances when they first met but it was actually the other way around. He sees the current situation as a perfect way of getting back at her by telling Vivien that he is her current protector - he plans to use her and dump her.

But of course, nothing goes according to plan as there is something about Vivien that is not quite right. She doesn't behave as a courtesan; she has an air of innocence that is very puzzling and attractive to Grant. She is, in fact very adamant that she would not be capable of doing the things she is said to have done. She feels this connection to Grant because he saved her and as they go about investigating the mystery of who tried to kill her, Grant can not help but to feel utterly attracted to her and right from the very beginning he thinks that if he didn't know that she was a conniving, ruthless woman he would be quite mad about her. And as they succumb to their attraction to each other they finally realize what is clear to us - that she is not who they think she is. And now, they must run against time to find out the truth, get the would-be killer who is still at large and to come to terms with their insecurities so they can get their happy ending.

There are amazing sequences in the book, specially the ones relating to Grant realizing his feelings and how important Vivien is to him but I also felt like there was something missing front his read and I am not sure what. Perhaps, the fact that towards the end of the story Grant became a bit too overbearing for my taste not giving Vivien the time she needed to get to grips with who she really was and what she wanted for her life.

In the end, it was a nice read but not the Amazing and Heartwarming that I have come to expect from Lisa Kleypas. I have high hopes that the other two books in this series will be better. If not, it doesn't matter; she still is an auto-buy for me.

Review courtesy by the book smugglers

Yuck. One of the worst Lisa Kleypas books so far, at least for me. I am surprised as L.Kleypas is definitely one of my favourite authors (her Wallflower series and some of her Hathaways are my all-time favourite romances). But this book was...well, dull, cheesy, unbelievable.
I mean, how stupid could the main hero possibly be. I put two and two together waaaaay before he did and he is supposed to be a smart guy. And he didn't even think about the possibility that the heroine talked true. I was so frustrated with him, what a thickheaded bore he was. I am glad I read the sequel Lady Sophia's Lover before this book as I liked it much better.

I have only recently begun reading Lisa Kleypas's work and I have really enjoyed what I had read, so when I came across a discussion thread of readers favorite Kleypas books and this on was mentioned I had to read it. While I thought it was okay it was not great. I never really got a good sense of the world in which the main characters inhabit. It was made clear they were on the fringes of high society but not really a part of it and I would have been interested to understand more about that, especially what would motivate a woman to become a courtesan who was clearly not from an entirely impoverished background. Another detraction is that the book is incredibly predictable after the first 50 pages you can already guess the entire story.

One reviewer wondered where the salt water in the Thames came from. I never quite figured out how the story progressed seasonally. At the beginning the characters were cold as seemed befitting the dead of winter. But when the action switched to Vivian's village, voila! Springtime! Sure, spring follows winter, but not so completely in the short space of time in which the action took place. DESPITE all that, the love story is pretty terrific. If you're tired of historical romance novels with a duke, marquess, earl, viscount or baron as the hero, you will find Grant Morgan a refreshing change. The heroine is strong and well-drawn and a perfect match for her hero.

I have been reading Lisa Kleypas books for over a dozen years now - since the early 90's. I discovered her early in my reading of romance novels and always found her books to be a sure hit (less one story so far I didn't like). She is a gifted author and has strong talents in planning detailed plot lines, intricate characters and bringing out heart warming emotions by the end of the story.

"Someone To Watch over Me" was a good book. I wouldn't rate it great and I wouldn't rate it bad. The reason I couldn't give it more stars....I didn't really buy throughout most of the story that "Viven" was who she said she was. It seemed apparent to anyone paying attention that clearly the person everyone THOUGHT was Viven couldn't possibly be. Even though she lost her memory after almost being killed and pulled from the river half dead...she had none of the characteristics that everyone said she had before (was a high priced, well known prostitute, ½ the men in town had slept with her at one time, all the women hated her, she was cold blooded, devious, out for her own good and she was a seriously twisted sex style maniac). Suddenly...Viven looses her memory after the water trauma and acts sweet, tender, kind, naïve, appalled by sex and virgin like. Why it was like she was another person! Because...she was!!! I couldn't buy that all these Bow Street Runners were such great security and detectives in town - often working for the crown - yet...they couldn't do a little research on the real Viven and look at her history, family, where she grew up etc. and find out there was TWO children - twins - and thus, that is why the girls were so vastly different from one another. You mean no one in town or where they grew up talked about this twin issue? If Viven was so well known and notorious throughout the land for her beauty and sexual escapades...wouldn't someone have put two and two together over time? NO...it took Grant sleeping with Viven to find out she is a virgin and this girl was someone else altogether. She was Victoria - the other twin. I was guessing from early on that she was either a sister, twin or even the daughter of a woman who looked like her. It didn't take a lot of guessing and I was unhappy that I figured things out so easily and was so disappointed none of the great detectives in the book could figure it out! Hire me next time, not them!

Although I liked over-all the characters of Grant and Victoria - they seemed a lot like many other characters that Lisa Kleypas has written about in previous books. Our hero has a hard luck history - often from the streets - clawed his way out of a bad past to find a career to prosper, make money, get some power but, he is always alone and on the fringes of high society. In turn, our heroine Victoria is a sweet natured, thoughtful and kind girl on the verge of womanhood who finds herself in a dangerous situation and she puts herself in the hands of the hero for safe keeping. Thus...their attraction and love build. Nice but, nothing new. Nothing fresh. Nothing super interesting. When I look back at some of her earlier works - I see a lot of similarities - Sara and Derek in Dreaming of You - Logan and Madeline in Because You're Mine, Julia & Damon in Somewhere I'll Find You, and so on. Now don't get me wrong...I like these characters she created but, I don't want them to seem so alike in their personalities, backgrounds and attributes. I haven't read these books in years but, I just feel like "I've been there before" when I finished this newest book.

I felt that Victoria forgave Grant a bit early for his revenge plot and deception to her. She was rightly mad at first and wanted some space but, it didn't take long for her to forgive him and take him back for his bad ways. In turn, everyone seemed to go easy on Viven in the end for all the trouble and difficulty she caused with her actions and behavior. These two things could have been played out a bit more for my taste.

I found Sir Ross Cannon - the magistrate and runner friend of Grant's to be a very interesting fellow. He was aloof, cool and powerful but, kind. The loss of his wife and one love seemed to take a big toll on him as a person. I almost wonder if LK has a book out there on his story (maybe the next in the series)? Would make for interesting reading. You don't get to read often about a man's first love - a healthy love - and how difficult it is once they pass on for him to find new hope, joy and beauty in another and put the past behind.

I would like to give four stars but, I just didn't feel it was warranted. Not unique or creative enough to warrant more praise. I am already forgetting parts to this books and I've only been done for a day! That tells me...it was a decent read when I was engrossed in the story but...it fades quickly once done because it simply wasn't that great. The author herself and her history get 5 stars for talent and ability but, this story gets 3 to 3 1/2 at best.

If you have not read LK books yet, do so - they are appealing. With the exception of "Only With Your Love" (which I didn't care for at all - yuck! - see my review there), all her other books won't disappoint. Early ones seem best - Somewhere I'll Find You, Because You're Mine, Dreaming of You, Stranger In My Arms, Then Came You, Only In Your Arms, Midnight Angel and Where Dreams Begin. All winners. I am still reading her newest books of the last 3-4 years as I took off some time and came back again. I still enjoy this author and believe you will too. Happy reading!

I read and enjoyed two Lisa Kleypas novels before picking up Someone to Watch Over Me. I thought the plot seemed interesting and the fact that the heroine is believed to be a prostitute makes living alone with the hero much more plausible. However, the somewhat predictable course of the story kept me from enjoying this one to the full. More on that later. Grant Morgan is the most successful and respected Bow Street Runner in London. The gentry feel a mixture of fear and disdain for the tall, dark and handsome runner, which is why he gets upset when a notorious courtesan tells everyone she has rejected his advances when it had in fact been the other way around. Grant wants revenge against the ruthless wench, and he has the opportunity to do so when he pulls her out of the waters of the Thames, unconscious and with bruises around her neck, an obvious attempt at her life had been made. He plans to seduce, use and humiliate her and then tire of her, and the fact that she has amnesia won't stop him from doing just that. But Vivien Duvall, in her amnesic state, is nothing like the shameless hussy he had met at the ball. She is now sweet, intelligent and seems genuinely naive. He nevertheless knows what she does for a living and rages in jealousy whenever he thinks about the amount of men she's bedded. Grant is nevertheless falling for this new Vivien, but he cannot let his feelings get the best of him. After all, she will recover her memory and return to her sordid lifestyle... or will she? There are some twists throughout the novel.

The novel is nice and enjoyable and I wasn't bored (much) as I read the book. But, as said earlier, the story is a little too predictable and the things that happen I saw coming from a mile away. The "twist" involving Vivien wasn't at all shocking and I knew who had tried to kill her long before the information was revealed. I have no idea if Kleypas had wanted these to be surprising or not, but even if she hadn't intended to make this unpredictable she could have at least tried to make the story seem a little less... sketched out. One thing I could say in favor is that the storyline of how the hero and heroine come together is more believable this time. There are no gently-bred, albeit commoner unmarried women walking the streets of London alone at night researching gambling clubs (Dreaming of You) or traveling alone in a carriage with a rake late at night after attending a party by herself (Suddenly You). Even though I had enjoyed those novels, I nevertheless had a difficult time accepting the aforementioned things because they simply couldn't have happened in nineteenth century England. The heroine in this book is believed to be a courtesan, and so I didn't have to suspend much disbelief this time around. The only thing that doesn't ring true is Vivien being unsure about marrying Grant after they've been involved. This isn't believable because no woman of that time period would allow herself to remain unmarried and ruined. She'd marry him in a heartbeat, insecurities or no insecurities. Women of that period didn't have the luxury to choose to remain single after bedding a man. Vivien's reasoning sounded more like the relationship angst of a modern-day woman. Should I marry him or stay single? Ludicrous emotional conflict in a Regency. As for the protagonists, Vivien is a little too sweet at times, but I liked her. Grant is gorgeous and alpha male-ish, which is always sexy, though he got on my nerves at times. I give Someone to Watch Over Me three stars because, anachronisms and banality aside, I enjoyed the book. However, this one falls more in the enjoyable-while-you-read-it-but-forgettable-once-you've-finished-it category.

I became a fan of Kleypas while reading the "Wallflower" series and that was confirmed with 4 out of the 5 books of the Hathaway series. Alas, the Bow Street series failed to come close to the other two. I tried to give them a fair try, I even read the second book but they just aren't up to her best. It seems that she substitutes lots of additional sex scenes for the complex plot and great dialogue of her other series. I finished the second one solely because I paid for it and it's quickly going to thrift shop. Simply put, they aren't worth your time.

I really liked the fact the hero and heroine were not of nobility and were able to spend a lot of time together through out the story. You really get to see the relationship develop into love. I liked the hero's (Morgan) very tall strong appearance and his exceptional loving ways to wards the heroine (Vivien). I liked Vivien's character as well. Although the story was a bit predictable it was enjoyable and had a good plot. I gave it a four because at some points it was a little drawn out and the sex scenes were too brief.

because it's frickin' HOT!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved the "bait and switch" I don't care what anyone says - it's frickin' hot. period.

Grant Morgan is incredible. I love the side characters of course - but in all the bow street runner books - the mystery and action in this one is the best!

favorite scenes include: when he tries to "sleep next" to vivian (yeah, right!), when he confronts one of the villians to find out who the second villain is, and when he confronts the doctor about her past.

spoiler: the only thing I didn't like was the prostitute's baby at the end - I feel like the real vivian should've repented more.

This is definitely one of Lisa Kleypas' best novels! The plot is simple enough: a lady in need of assistance is rescued by the handsome, confirmed bachelor. Under the pursuit of her true identity, the two fall in love.
What made this novel all the better was the characters. Vivien struggles to find herself, but amide this struggle she shows a resilience and presence that are insights into her true underlying character. Grant, through originally set on revenge, softens just enough to take on a human quality, despite his almost god-like persona.
Absolutly a must have for anyone who considers him or herself a fan of Lisa Kleypas.

This book was absolutely wonderful. I could hardly put it down after my lunch hour ended. I had to rush home and finish it. I was so surprised to find out that the woman with amneisa really was. I thought it was so sweet how Grant stood up for "Vivien" even though he really doesn't like her. The Epilogue was really the best part of the book. All the issues were brought to a close, just the way a book should end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read.

Firstly, if you guys can let a little, tiny, minute detail like salt water bog you down for the whole book, you are spending WAY too much time obsessing on adjectives and such. Sit back and enjoy the book! It's an extremely charming story that can touch hearts. The heroine was adorable, as well as admirable, and the hero was VERY likeable. (Very typical of Kleypas!)
P.S. Don't you think there could be salt water in the Thames? London, after all, is a port directly on the sea...

This book is a light, enjoyable read, perfect for one of those lazy days of summer when you're just relaxing. The characters are engaging and well-developed, even if they're just minor ones in the background. Kleypas also does a good job of keeping the sexual tension up, but not overt. Trying to unravel the mystery is definitely part of the fun - as are reading through some of the steamier scenes. All-in-all, fairly well-written and enjoyable all around.

I love Lisa Kleypas for her writing alone. Her characters are outstanding in how they fit in a story. That's what the 4 stars are for. The storyline didn't thrill me so much. Too far fetched for me I guess. Plus I wasn't crazy about Morgan on a personal level.

This is hands down - the best book by Kleypas. I loved the characters and enjoyed the plot. Grant and Vivian make a terrific couple. Grant falls in love with Vivian despite some misunderstanding and then courts her in such a tender and sweet manner. Lots of vulnerability on both sides. He falls in love for the first time and with someone he thinks is a courtesan. She has no clue of her identity. They share a love for philosophy and he tries to make amends when he discovers his mistake. It was a very heart warming book. I rank this book with my other favorites "Somewhere I'll Find You" and "Dreaming of You."

'Someone to Watch over Me' was a predictable novel but a great start the series. Grant Morgan finds Vivien (a high-priced prostitute) half dead and decided to solve or attempted murder and seek revenge as well. Some great twist - pick up the whole series and enjoy; Someone To Watch Over Me (1) Lady Sophia's Lover (2) and Worth Any Price (3rd and my favorite).

Lisa Kleypas has done a magnificent job with this book. The most prestigous bow street runner, finds himself in a tangled web of attempted murder. The victom is a self center, manipulitive, and notorious harlot. Who wakes up in Grants bed, with no memory of who she is. Grant is angry by his sudden attraction to vivien. But is it really her. I guarentee you love this book. Its charming, and warms your heart.

There were so many good reviews I was excitied to begin reading. After forcing myself to try and get involved for three days I finally gave up.

From the start of the book Grant is seeking revenge on the courtesan Vivien for starting a bad rumour about him. When he finds her nearly frozen to death on the docks of the Thames river he grasps the opportunity he is looking for to seduce, dominate and then spurn her.(a turn off by itself)

It was obvious to me that the woman he rescued was not Vivien as soon as she awakened. Why a brilliant runner like Grant is unable to put 2 and 2 together is frustrating. I kept skipping paragraphs to see how long it would take Grant to figure it out and begin solving the mystery of who this lovely woman truly was. He doesn't figure it out for over half the book. By now he is too much of a idiot to continue.

I really enjoyed this book even though I figured out the twist before it was revealed. I liked the character of Grant and even though I did like Vivien, she was a little boring/meek/mild. The love scenes were good and it gives you a good preview to the next book which is Lady Sophia's Lover.

This is probably the best book Kleypas has ever written. If you've never read her before start here. The characters are so clearly written, the dialogue sparkles. The only real problem is the villian could be stronger and it wrapped up a little too quickly. You won't be disappointed.