Book 2), Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street

I was extremely disappointed in this book. I like my heroines to be good people with good intentions. This heroine, Lady Sophia, has an objective at the beginning of the book to destroy a man. It doesn't matter what this man did or may have done, this is not the type of heroine I wish to read about. She is plotting, and vindictive. I don't know if she stays that way throughout the book because I can't even finish it. I read 3 chapters and just couldn't pick it up again.

I won't stop reading Lisa Kleypas as I really love her stories, but please.... no more nasty heroines.

London, England 1830. Sophia Sidney's plans of revenge against the magistrate (Sir Ross Cannon) who sent her younger brother to jail (where he supposedly died during an outbreak of cholera) will fall apart when she realizes she can't help falling in love with him. She will convince Ross to hire her as a secretary at his special police force office (the Bow Street Runners), with the intention of stealing documents and any piece of information that may compromise him, his operations and his staff. But after better getting acquainted with him, Sophia will realize that not only Sir Cannon is a passionate and lovable man, but also that he is an extremely honorable and irreproachable magistrate and that he wasn't responsible for her brother's unjust imprisonment and death.
Beyond any doubt LSL is the most complete and most riveting installment of The Bow Street Runners Series. The plot is probably one of the most intriguing ever written by LK: the unexpected mind-blowing twist in the final chapters (I really didn't see it coming) is just one of the many highlights of this scorching HRN. LK has a flair for drawing you into her plots from the start with likable and believable characters. Ross, The Monk of Bow Street, is one of my favorite Kleypas' male heroes, a solid alpha male clad in an armor of self-discipline and hard work, resolute and ferocious in his mission to pursue justice, passionless and taciturn. Yet a volcanic passion boils under that strong surface of steel and those piercing gray eyes: it will take a strong and endearing feminine character like Sophia to peel those layers of stoicism and discipline and to reveal the caring, loving, passionate and creative lover/husband.
Certain things never change throughout the career of a talented writer: LK's trademarks define each page of her novel, delivering a sizzling story of revenge, love and forgiveness with her usual stylish prose, three-dimensional characterization, emotional depths and a palpable (probably some of the most steamy love scenes you will ever read in a HRN) romantic/sexual chemistry.

This book two of Kleypas' Bow Street Series is proving to be irresistible. in book one, Someone to Watch Over Me, we were introduced to the head Magistrate of the infamous Runners, Ross Cannon. In this book, he comes to life. He is a widower and has been dubbed "Monk". Since his wife's death three years earlier it is believed he lives a celibate life devoted to fighting crime and championing justice. He had often been described as cold. As Tyler Perry's "Madear" says it's not what people call you but what you answer to. Cannon himself is confident in himself to know he is often misjudged by the "cover" he presents.
He is an admirable character who proves there is much more to him than meets the eye but then "only a fool reveals all he knows." Book one exceeded my expectations in that it was both enticing and satisfying enough to stand on its own. Book two adds to the allure. What I like most about this series is the focus on the male characters and their willingness to accept their "right" woman. Can this series get any better?

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews

LOVED book 2 in the Bow Street Runners series, Lady Sophia's Lover. Although this is book 2, it can easily be read as a stand alone.

Lady Sophia's Lover was a passionate romantic love story. I admit to having a wee crush on Sir Ross Cannon. I think he is my book boyfriend this week.
My attraction to this character is largely due to how tragic and how important of a figure he is; yet he was so gentle and even tempered. I seemed as drawn to him as the public and political figures of the story were. Sir Ross Cannon was portrayed as a workaholic and dedicated man to the law & the Bow Street Runner's office. He was fair and firm. Lisa Kleypas did an excellent job of clearly defining his celebrity and executive status to the English society.

Sophia was a brave woman to march into his office and ask for the job of his assistant. Certainly nothing of the time period would allow for a gentle woman to ever hold a position as such. She held on to such loyalty to her deceased brother and it made for an excellent conflict. You could literally feel her pull to Sir Ross as she battled her inner feelings. I loved every moment of it.

I loved the story so much but I don't want to review so thoroughly that I ruin with spoilers. Lady Sophia's Lover was exceedingly romantic for me and I was very sad when it was over. I loved both of these characters so much. Lady Sophia's Lover was excellently written and has me still thinking of the characters.

Teasers: office flirtations, romantic riot, moonlit window glances, bedroom nurse

This is one of my favorite Lisa Kleypas books. It is number 2 in the Bow Street series. The series starts with Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street, Book 1), then moves on the Lady Sophia's Lover, and ends with Worth Any Price (Bow Street, Book 3). Even though all of LK's books can be read as stand-alone books, I always recommend reading these series in order so you don't ruin earlier books by learning spoilers.

One of the things I liked most about this book was that the heroine, Sophia, is actually beginning the story with deliberate malice directed toward the story's hero Sir Ross Cannon. She has revenge on her mind and intends to destroy him. This is a unique twist to an LK romance novel - usually the characters with this much evil intent are the villians.

As time goes by, Sophia begins to realize that Cannon may not be the horrible man she thought him to be. Even if he did do the very thing she has always hated him for, is it possible that he had a good reason? Or maybe she doesn't understand anything at all about what he did to her brother.

The characters in this story are easy to love even when we don't know if they are good guys or bad guys. This book is a wonderful combination of romance and intrigue.

Highly recommended for fans of historical romance.

Sir Ross Cannon is a very powerful figure in London's political world. As the Chief Magistrate, his very name commands respect and obedience from people all over. But after losing his wife five years ago, he became the so-called Monk of Bow Street. Devastated by his wife's death, he has immersed himself in his job, vowing to remain celibate until he finds the right woman. And after years of unspent passion, the woman he's been waiting for finally walks into his office...

Orphaned at a very young age, she was left with practically nothing except her younger brother John. But when tragedy befalls him, Sophia Sydney has had one purpose, which is to avenge her brother's death against the magistrate who sent him to prison. As soon as she finds out that an assistant was required at Bow Street, she applies for the position with one single goal: to seduce and destroy the Chief Magistrate. But one thing she never expected was to feel unnerved by Sir Ross. And after years of waiting to finally avenge her brother, Sophia is frightened that her plan to destroy Ross might actually lead to her own downfall.

Along with her role as his assistant, Sophia also became his housekeeper thereby gaining her permanent lodging at his house right next to the Bow Street office. She is delighted thinking that her plan would be easier to achieve. She can steal information from his files and use them to destroy his reputation, and she will also seduce and make him fall in love with her, and then break his heart into pieces. Yet what perplexes her is Ross' character. She is disturbed by the realization that he isn't the evil man she thought him to be. In fact, she finds him compassionate, forgiving and very kind. And it doesn't take long before her revulsion for him quickly crumbles and she soon finds it harder to ignore her growing attraction for him.

It is an attraction shared by Ross. From the moment he laid eyes on her, he knew he wanted her. What started out as desire soon develops into a feeling of protectiveness. He knows that she is harboring secrets from him and he is determined to uncover them and ultimately win her trust and love.

LADY SOPHIA'S LOVER is a very sensuous tale of love, passion and deceit, set amidst the political world of Victorian London. The characters are well drawn and easy to like. Even the secondary characters add to the fun and intrigue. Ross' grandfather's bluntness will have you grinning, while the villain Nick Gentry's actions would make you hate him yet his complexity is also quite intriguing. I can't wait to read WORTH ANY PRICE to see what eventually happens with Nick.

With steamy love scenes and a great hero (is it any wonder Sophia fell in love with him so easily?), this is a book that will hold your interest from the start.

I just finished re-reading this book several days ago and was reminded of how good a book it is. Yes, the plot is a bit week but I truly adored the romance and the characters.

Sophia has applied to work at Bow Street helping the Chief Magistrate, Sir Ross Cannon. Sophia has vengeance on her mind. She wants to punish Ross for sending her younger brother to his death years ago and thus taking away her only remaining family.

Like I said, kind of melodramatic, but Lisa Kleypas made this story work. Sophia is a practical woman, even if she does have an impractical scheme. She is just the tidy, efficient presence Sir Ross needs in his life.

Ross cannot get Sophia off his mind. For a man who has always been consumed by work, Sophia creates a maelstrom of feelings and arousal in him. These feelings leave them both scorched as they embark on a passionate and tender love affair.

Sophia never counted on love. Ross never expected to meet his match in a small blonde woman, but met his match he has. He is not letting her go!

Lady Sophia's Lover is just plain sexy and romantic. The chemistry these two characters generated is enough to singe your fingers. And it is very apparent that Ms. Kleypas has done her research. The settings, descriptions, and vivid world she creates is at once both beautiful and alarming. However, it is the turbulent emotions that emerge between the two protagonists, and a surprise secondary character, that make this book so wonderful.

In a world of historical romances with convoluted and tiresome plots, Lady Sophia's Lover stands out for its heartwrenching and incredibly sexy romance, and its strong characters, both male and female. This book stands the test of time as both a great read and a great re-read!

So often vengeance themed romance can fall into formulaic plots. Not so with Lady Sophia's Lover. Sophia is determined to seek revenge on behalf of her brother. The object of her steely determination is Sir Ross Cannon, chief of the Bow Street Runners.

Sophia, an impoverished viscount's daughter, discovers that Sir Ross was the judge who condemned her brother John to an early death on a penal ship.

To carry out her plan to discredit and destroy him publicly she becomes indispensable to him as a secretary. She moves into his home and looks for possible incriminating and embarrassing evidence against him. However, she can find none as Sir Ross is as he seems, forthright, noble and honest.

Sir Ross is a widower and quite intrigued by Sophia. He is instantly attracted to her. Furthermore, he can tell she is attracted to him.

As Sophia spends more time with her employer, she releases the years of bitterness and allows herself to view Sir Ross with new eyes. What she sees is someone brave and a protector of the downtrodden.

However, she has so many secrets she does not believe that he can forgive her. Just when one secret is revealed another one takes its place.

Both these characters have great depth. Kleypas weaves their romance throughout the entire plot. The tension never waned and I was rooting for them on every page. The love Sophia has for her family and Sir Ross is fierce. Sir Ross is unapologetic about his desire for her. Sophia is no coy miss. She accepts and delights in Sir Ross's advances even when she is uncertain of her own feelings of revenge.

This was such a great read. After reading some mixed reviews, I wasn't sure about this latest from Kleypas, but I wasn't disappointed. Lady Sophia's Lover is a beautiful story with lovable characters, and a wonderful romance.
After her brother dies in prison, Sophia is devastated. She is determined to get revenge on the magistrate who sent him to prison in the first place: Sir Ross Cannon. She gets a job as his assistant with the intention of ruining him. However, as she gets to know him, she discovers that Ross is a kind, caring person who has an inate sense of fairness that is conflicting with what she had thought. There is a growing attraction between the two along with a mutual respect. They both have their own demons to battle, and they need each other to conquer them.
I liked Sophia. She has had a difficult life and has every reason to want revenge but as she gets to know Ross, she sees that he is a compassionate, fair man with a deep sense of honor. She is not so bitter that she cannot see that he wouldn't wrongfully send someone to prison. She is able to question what she first believed to be true, and see that there could be a different side. And I just loved Ross. He is just a great guy. He is not an aristocrat but a self-made man who has worked very hard to get where he is, and he acts with honor and dignity in his job and life. He puts impossible standards on himself, and he needs Sophia to make him realize that he is just a man, and not superhuman.
Lisa Kleypas always writes a beautiful love story, and this one is no exception. I absolutely loved it.

Lisa Kleypas is a magnificent writer with a way of making every story--both plot and characters--shine.

We immediately care for Lady Sophia as she worms her way into the notoriously upright (and celebate) Sir Ross Cannon's household. Becoming his secretary/personal assistant and household manager, her secret mission is to uncover some dirt on Ross, London's famous and powerful Chief Magistrate of Bow Street (the mid 1800's equivalent of the Police Chief), so that she can destroy him. Believing that Ross is responsible for her brother's death, Sophia is determined not only to raid his records but also to break his heart by making him fall in love with her, seducing him, and then abandoning him while publicizing their scandalous relationship.

However, Ross turns out not to be the sort of man Sophia envisioned at all. He is truly kind, just, and full of integrity--not to mention full of a great passion for her that only a will as strong as his could keep in check. As Sophia tries in vain to keep her heart safe, numerous entertaining plot twists keep the reader guessing while we watch the complex and delightful relationship between Sophia and Ross unfold.

Lady Sophia's Lover is a fun, moving, and ultimately uplifting rollercoaster ride that any fan of historical romance will tremendously enjoy.

With her previous effort Suddenly You as the pivotal shift to sensual romance, Lisa Kleypas displays an unprecedented fluidity in her latest, Lady Sophia's Lover to rival the smooth passion and chemistry between her main characters - Lady Sophia Sydney and Sir Ross Cannon. The spark of experiment and fun in Suddenly You may be missing but Ms. Kleypas delivers her characters in refreshing maturity steeped in moral quandry. Lady Sophia is determined to seek justice on her own mantle when she hears from her aunt that her brother John is mercilessly thrown into prison by the imperious chief magistrate who rules Bow Street with an iron hand. Sir Ross Cannon is assaulted by a perplexing attraction upon receiving Sophia's desire to be his assistant. With much reluctance he agrees - but swears that she will be under his protection.
Lisa Kleypas deftly intertwines romance with an explosive drama that fuels mayhem and treachery which conflicts with relationships and ties. The villain, Nick Gentry - a notorious gangster mob boss shows naunced emotions; Ross is broodingly dark with his demons while Sophia is trapped between loyalty and a blossoming love. The characters are handled with tact and emotions. Lady Sophia's Lover is Kleypas at her sizzling best with more steamy passion but it is ultimately her evocative romance that promises an enriching read which isn't just mere seduction.

Lisa Kleypas has definitely moved strongly onto my favorite author list. I have now read six of her books, and with the exception of one, I would rate the other five books 5 stars as well.
Ross Cannon is the head of the crime-fighting unit, the London Bow Street Runners, and London's Chief Magistrate. Some years ago, he sentenced Sophia Sydney's brother to serve on a prison ship where he has died. Sophia believes her brother was innocent of the crime that he ultimately died for and wants to exact revenge in some manner on the ruthless magistrate, Ross Cannon. In the beginning pages of the book, Sophia is applying for a position as Ross's assistant. She plans to use this job to accomplish her goal of revenge and convinces Ross to hire her.
Ross Cannon is a little unusual for a hero. He is not of the nobility but his family is so rich and well established in society that it does not matter. He is a workaholic and often forgets to even eat. He has not been with a woman for three years and does not believe in a physical relationship without commitment. He is kind and considerate although he is politically very powerful. He has some of those alpha tendencies that we enjoy in our heroes but he is very mature emotionally and does not wield them in an adverse manner.
Sophia is a great heroine. Yes, she is out for revenge in the beginning and I rarely enjoy the revenge plot line. But her desire for revenge quickly loses its importance. She is not a virgin, or a widow, nor has she been molested! She is a heroine that has consciously given up her virginity. That is something we rarely see in historical romance writing. Within the first few pages of the book - we learn of this because she explains that very fact to Ross, as it is part of the reason she has left her previous job. She further informs him that he will not be able to get a good job reference due to the indelicate situation she found herself in. Ross accepts this news without judgment, does not look down upon her because of it, and does not consider her a loose woman. So, we actually have a rather unique beginning for a romance novel.
There is a lot of interaction between the leads. This is one of the most important aspects of a great romance novel in my mind. With the exception of a couple of secrets that Sophia keeps, the interaction between the leads is truthful. Ross is always truthful and, as mentioned earlier, is also very mature in his interactions with Sophia. Oh, we see the "I will never love again" in his mind in the beginning. Fortunately the author does not make us read these thoughts over and over again. Ross continues to mature to even a greater level and it does have an effect on his relationship with Sophia. This is not a book given to lies or silly misunderstandings. Once the leads do begin a relationship, we do get to experience its growth and their joy.
The sensual scenes are plentiful once they begin later in the book. They are very spicy and rate a good 4.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).
Lady Sophia's Lover is the first in what is now a two part series. I would not be surprised if Kleypas continued this series. Worth Any price is the second of the series. Now that I have stated that these two books are numbers one and two of the series, let me clarify that I think that Someone to Watch Over Me is actually the first in this series. I did not find this in writing anywhere but the hero of Someone to Watch Over Me is part of the story in Lady Sophia's Lover and Worth Any Price. So, to the best of my knowledge, Lady Sophia's Lover is actually book two of the series followed by Worth Any Price as third.
Lady Sophia's Lover is a solid keeper for my read-again list. You will enjoy mature leads living a great story.

I rarely purchase historicals however from time to time I can not resist the remarkable reviews of definite works of some successful well-known authors. Mrs Kleypas really knows her work, therefore it is always a treat to read her books.

Sir Ross (Hero) makes the book fantastic and he is one of those great contemporary heroes (of early Victorian era). The sexual attraction between Sir Ross and Lady Sophia is sizzling yet tender. Since her younger brother died in prison due to cholera, Lady Sophia Sydney had started to plan her revenge against the magistrate (Sir Ross) who had sentenced her brother. Her plans were to be with him everyday at his office, win his already broken-heart (His fragile wife had died during childbirth 5 years ago) and destroy him. But Sir Ross Cannon is not the man she had expected. Sir Ross is a well-respected magistrate and he shows his kindness and forgiveness throughout the book. The character of Lady Sophia is not very realistic but she was well-loved and appreciated by Sir Ross starting from the beginning (which is also very rare in historicals).

There are also some surprises for the readers. You will not be disappointed. Bottomline: This will not be the last Kleypas book I read.

Lady Sophia had come to avenge the "death" of her beloved brother, the now notorious Nick Gentry...the same man that Ross (the man she thinks killed her brother John) is trying to catch.
Sophia waltzes into Ross's office, practically seducing and forcing him to give her the job of secretary and Ross finally agrees. However, her plan to seduce and incriminate him falls apart as she finds out that he is not the man she thought he was. And they begin to fall in love...with a few VERY steamy scenes which had me blushing like crazy (Sophia is not a virgin).
Then Sophia receives unexpected and expensive gifts from a stranger. As Ross investigates who his ladylove's stalker might be, the truth comes out as Sophia is "captured" by Nick Gentry. But how can Sophia marry Ross when him and Nick are sworn enemies? You'll have to read to find out!
The book overall was ok, though it was not the best thing I've ever read. The storyline was a bit weak, her plan to seduce him falls through rather quickly. Sophia's previous lover appears for one page and then disappears and Ross's brother's cameo seems unneccessary to the entire novel. Just a lot of secondary characters that were trivial and flat. And some parts were written, in my opinion, as if the author was just trying to find some way to squeeze in some love scenes.

Lisa makes her hero, Sir Ross Cannon, the head of the Bow Street Runners. How cool is that? A hard, relentless, untiring, unstoppable, `unfeeling' machine of a man, Ross was widowed when his wife died in agonizing childbirth. Along comes Sophia, wanting employment, when her hidden agenda is to seduce Ross and bring him to ruin. Sophia's brother was imprisoned as a youth when Ross was his magistrate, and died from cholera in one of the rotting hulks on the Thames during his incarceration. Sophia is burning for revenge. However, this gets a bit weak when Ross, long deprived of any tenderness, allows himself to succumb not only to Sophia's seduction tactics, but he also becomes the predator in their relationship. How will Ross react when he discovers Sophia's true agenda? Also, there's a very interesting story surrounding Nick Gentry, a criminal type underworld character who makes a huge difference to Sophia and Ross's relationship: excellent blackmail material!

Cut to the Chase:
A historical romance heroine who is neither a virgin nor a widow sets the scene of a very unique and creative regency romance. Yet ultimately, though Lady Sophia Sydney is a headstrong, believable character and Sir Ross Cannon is a suitably evasive, worthy hero for us to vicariously lust over, there’s something not very satisfying about the novel. Maybe it’s that the first half, where the characters are getting to know one another, and each is trying to overcome a seemingly blinding physical attraction for each other, where Lady Sophia believes she is seducing Sir Ross out of vengeance for her dead brother is just all so much more intriguing than the resolution, which drags. I still enjoyed reading it, I just think there are better representations of this genre.

Greater Detail:
There are a lot of background details provided throughout this novel to ground us in the time period and the heart of London’s Bow Street operation. Sir Ross Cannon is a magistrate who is aware of the public scrutiny his position attracts, and is a workaholic who has more or less taken a vow of celibacy after the death of his wife and child. Known as the Monk of Bow Street, he is dedicated but fair, and hopes to transform not only the offices he runs, but the science behind detective work and interrogation in general.

Enter Lady Sophia, the daughter of a viscount who has more or less been a servant her entire life – she let herself be seduced by a married nobleman (Anthony) and is more or less in disgrace from the rest of her family. She believes that Sir Ross is responsible for the death of her young brother, and seeks a position at Bow Street #4 so that she can get close to Sir Ross and ultimately expose/humiliate/hurt him.

The first two thirds of this novel, during which our characters are falling in love with each other despite themselves, is actually fairly well done. She’s independent, fierce, and used to getting her own way, whereas he is obviously used to running a well-ordered office where things like uncontrollable physical attraction play no role. They challenge each other constantly and, because they work and live in close proximity, their relationship quickly becomes that of a married couple almost, squabbling over things like how he always wants her to be guarded and accompanied. She tries to get him to do things like eat right, drink less coffee, etc.

It’s all very endearing and, with the undercurrent of undeniable sexual tension, you know where this is going (this has more sizzling love scenes than usual, though some of them result in unfulfilled escapades) but Kleypas doesn’t seem completely satisfied with just a love story, or even just the Bow Street backdrop, and so there are villains woven in (Anthony makes a cameo appearance, and there’s Sir Ross’s errant younger brother who’s impregnating innocent daughters of tenant farmers, as well as Sophia’s murky past), and because some of the romance resolves a little too quickly, there are the necessary betrayals to fill up the rest of the book. All of which is very unfortunate. After you’ve watched these two strong characters fall in love with one another (against their better judgment), you want to believe that they would cherish it and trust one another, which means that some of the later twists and turns feel a little unnecessary, exaggerated, and make for an unsatisfying conclusion for some wonderfully developed characters.

Other Things to Know:
This is the second book in Kleypas’s three-book Bow Street Runners series — the protagonists from Someone to Watch Over Me show up but don’t really drive the story forward, and you don’t really need to know their backstory to enjoy this novel; mostly Grant Morgan is presented as someone Sir Ross truly trusts within Bow Street and even hopes will take over some of his duties for him.

Comparisons to Other Authors:
Lisa Kleypas is a best-selling author, and though she has focused more recently on modern romance, she is one of the queens of the historical romance genre. Compared to Stephanie Laurens, Kleypas tends to have more individualized characters, and a better supporting cast, but less sensual/erotic love scenes. She’s also great at exploring a particular topic or setting – some of her books happen in gambling clubs, others in the theatre, and others feature protagonists who are deeply aware of social/political issues, helping to really establish you in the setting/time period in a way that not all historical romance authors can. She’s less funny and her characters and scenarios are less light-hearted than Julia Quinn’s, but her characters tend to have a greater degree of physical attraction/sensuality compared to Quinn’s.

I discovered the talents of Lisa Kleypas last fall when I picked up "Suddenly You". After reading that jewel, I quickly bought and read all her novels I could find. She is easily one of my favorite authors. It was with eager anticipation that I waited for "Lady Sofia's Lover" to be released; I have to say, I was not totally disappointed.
It was interesting to see the ways Kleypas expanded Sir Ross's since his introduction in "Someone To Watch Over Me"; showing us his concerns and emotions that crack the rock like public persona he presents. She has evolved him into a very likeable character, one you could as easily see yourself seeking out for advice as you would seek him out for pleasure.
The character of Lady Sophia was well created. Sensuous, yet vulnerable, she brings an aura of softness into the hardened criminal world that surrounds Bow Street. She is not without faults and struggles against them throughout.
My only problem with the book, and the only reason I gave it 4 stars, is the hasty ending. It seems to wrap up very quickly, leaving many things unanswered. Simplifying the ending doesn't seem fitting for the complex characters and story line Ms. Kleypas crafted for our enjoyment.

Within these pages, the pampered reader finds only contentment. The novel's cover claims it is "A novel of seduction". The editors should have included the word "love".
From the word go, Kleypas pulls the reader into her storyline. Sir Ross Cannon runs the Bow Street Runners (the elite police force of nineteenth century London). He is an unattainable man, rugged, masculine to the max, but to the right woman he is so tender.
Lady Sophia Sydney, is beautiful, clever and conniving. And what fun the reader has watching this woman use her feminine charms to lure our unsuspecting hero into her web. Revenge is Sophia's game, but the author didn't get carried away with this idea of vengeance -- how wonderful. Instead Lisa Kleypas wrote a love story.
The reader drifts along in a whimsical world of romance, lust, and fun. To Lisa Kleypas' credit, she totally raises the reader's intrigue for the sequel, "Worth Any Price". Without delay, I will be hunting down this paperback.
Lady Sophia's Lover is definitely keeper material. Oh how I love a good book.
Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada

I have to admit that after reading some negative reviews, I was quite hesitant to buy the book. But I am glad I followed my instinct with Lisa Kleypas. (And it helped that it was my first Bow street book to read because when I later read the prequel, Someone to Watch over me, I didn't like it).
The book is easy to read, the story is pleasant, the interaction between the hero and heroine is very enjoyable. All in all, a really nice romance. It's not her best (that would be the Wallflower series and some Hathaways for me) but it's very good, definitely worth reading. And it is a prequel to Worth any Price (Bow Street 3), another good read.

I must disagree with the last few reviews on this book. It definitely holds your interest! Yes, I am a Lisa Kleypas fan but if it were not up to her usual standards of excellence, I would rate it lower. BUT - this is another fine example of the talented wordsmith.
Lady Sophia approached Sir Ross Cannon, the Monk of Bow Street, prepared to destroy him and all he held dear. She blamed him for her brothers death and her intentions were to ruin him both professionally and personally.
It wasn't long until she discovered for herself that the rumours were not who the man really was. She found to her dismay that it was most difficult to hate and despise a man whom she had unwittingly become attracted to and was essentially fair and good.
Lord Ross, thought never to fall in love again, but the very cool and intelligent Lady who talked him into hiring her as his Bow Street assistant, was someone who made him feel more than human again. Who made him want to live for something other than work.
The sensual love scenes and hot sizzling sex are just some of the reasons this book is so good. The character development is extremely good and the secondary characters added much to the depth of this story. Great work! I highly enjoyed this and definitely would recommend it.

This was a bland, uninspired story about two pretty boring, though beautiful, people. The heroine comes to the hero, Sir Ross, head of Bow Street, under the pretense of a desire for revenge against him that is summarily abandoned after she enters Sir Ross's employ as an assistant. I take issue with most revenge plots in the first place, and when the form of that revenge entails seducing then breaking the heart of the intended victim, a generally annoying motivation degenerates into utter stupidity. It might have been alright if Sophia had gone about her harebrained notion with some conviction, but she falls in love with Ross so easily and quickly that her supposedly intense hatred of him proves to be very flimsy and unconvincing, just a plot contrivance to get the two together for many rounds of boinking. To make matters worse, the romance that develops between the two is very boring. It basically consists of Sophia being wifely/motherly towards Ross, making sure he eats, has clean clothes, ministering to him when he's sick/injured, which is nice and all. Just not that interesting. As for Ross, it's lust/love at first sight for him, and doesn't progress much beyond that. I don't find their interactions compelling in the least. Sadly, Lady Sophia's Lover, my second Kleypas novel, was a big disappointment for me, particularly after enjoying Mine Till Midnight so much. Oh well, on to the next.

OK, so there are enough reviews with the plot, so I won't get too in to detail. Basically Sophia talks Sir Ross into giving her a job so she can make him fall in love with her and then expose him as the horrible person she thinks he is.

I was a bit uneasy from the description and it all went downhill. I never felt a connection between Sir Ross and Sophia. She was always playing games and lying. He was always protecting her and forgiving her. He even broke his moral beliefs to help her. COME ON!!! She is too much of a ninny.

All in all, I found the plot predictable and not near as good as it should have been. I have read other Kleypas books and loved them. My suggestion is to read one of them or check this out of the library. Don't buy it.

Lady Sophia's Lover is steamier than the usual historical romance (though not nearly in the league of Lisa Valdez's Passion--more on the level of Emma Holly's historicals).

The heroine gets a job as a magistrate's assistant, planning to destroy him for indirectly causing her brother's death, by, among other things, making him fall in love with her and then breaking his heart.

Well, we all know plans like that are doomed to fail.

A couple of cute twists makes this even more entertaining.

All in all, a good read.

Having read only one other book by Kleypas, DREAMING OF YOU, I was hopeful that SOPHIA'S LOVER would follow in its footsteps and please me just as much. I was disappointed.

Lady Sophia Sydney is the orphaned daughter of a viscount. After the loss of her parents, Sophia and her younger brother, John have only themselves to rely upon, and they find themselves doing things quite out of the ordinary for children of nobility in order to survive. Following a troubled path into a life of crime, John is eventually caught stealing. Both John's and Sophia's life is changed forever when a magistrate sentences John, a juvenile offender to one year aboard an old, unseaworthy ship used as a prison for his crime.

Believing that magistrate, Sir Ross Cannon sealed her brother's terrible fate, Sophia answers Cannon's add seeking a personal assistant. Sophia's goal is to bring Cannon down in the most devastating way that she can imagine-by making him fall in-love with her, breaking his heart and ruining his professional reputation in the process.

First, Sophia disappoints on several levels. She is an example of a trend in which authors simply throw characters into a time period and endow them with behaviors that could have never happened for that time. For that matter, so is Sir Ross Cannon. Sophia is just too progressive for her time and position. For instance, she is not ashamed to have had an affair with a married man during at her last post; her discomfort stems more from the fact that it ended badly than from the fact that it occurred at all. Sophia is also not as committed to her revenge as one would think, given her motivation. While it is possible that she would have qualms with her plan once it was set in motion rather than just planned in the abstract, she gave over her outrage, her disgust for Cannon too easily. Sophia should have been more conflicted and blind to Cannon's good qualities.

Cannon too suffered from anachronistic beliefs and behaviors. For instance, when a poor woman seeks his assistance, because the old woman's daughter has been locked in her room by a husband who is punishing his wife for cuckolding him, Cannon reacts with an icy rage: "In my opinion, a man who truly loves a woman would never intentionally harm her, no matter how great the betrayal," he says of this `brutalization.' Even today, the `provocation' of an affair is considered a mitigating factor in charging a man who KILLS his wife. It is just hard to imagine Cannon would have such forward-thinking beliefs, going so far as to entirely overlook Sophia's own extra-marital affair. It doesn't seem to faze him at all.

And there were love scenes that bordered on the impossible, language used that was completely out-of-character and abrupt accelerations in Sophia's and Cannon's relationship: For instance, while Sophia is organizing a ball for Cannon's mother(I don't know how this jump was made), Cannon's married brother, Mathew improperly solicits and attacks Sophia. When Cannon walks in on this, Mathew leaves and Sophia tells him that she was trying to seduce his brother (to discourage his interest in her). However, Cannon is not discouraged and within seconds has Sophia down on the carpet and his pants undone. By the end of the weekend, Cannon has proposed, but before the weekend began, the two barely knew anything about the other.

SOPHIA'S LOVER was light on historical accuracy, realism, character consistency and satisfying love scenes.

A Disappointment.

Lady Sophia's Lover is steamier than the usual historical romance (though not nearly in the league of Lisa Valdez's Passion--more on the level of Emma Holly's historicals).

The heroine gets a job as a magistrate's assistant, planning to destroy him for indirectly causing her brother's death, by, among other things, making him fall in love with her and then breaking his heart.

Well, we all know plans like that are doomed to fail.

A couple of cute twists makes this even more entertaining.

All in all, a good read.

Having read only one other book by Kleypas, DREAMING OF YOU, I was hopeful that SOPHIA'S LOVER would follow in its footsteps and please me just as much. I was disappointed.

Lady Sophia Sydney is the orphaned daughter of a viscount. After the loss of her parents, Sophia and her younger brother, John have only themselves to rely upon, and they find themselves doing things quite out of the ordinary for children of nobility in order to survive. Following a troubled path into a life of crime, John is eventually caught stealing. Both John's and Sophia's life is changed forever when a magistrate sentences John, a juvenile offender to one year aboard an old, unseaworthy ship used as a prison for his crime.

Believing that magistrate, Sir Ross Cannon sealed her brother's terrible fate, Sophia answers Cannon's add seeking a personal assistant. Sophia's goal is to bring Cannon down in the most devastating way that she can imagine-by making him fall in-love with her, breaking his heart and ruining his professional reputation in the process.

First, Sophia disappoints on several levels. She is an example of a trend in which authors simply throw characters into a time period and endow them with behaviors that could have never happened for that time. For that matter, so is Sir Ross Cannon. Sophia is just too progressive for her time and position. For instance, she is not ashamed to have had an affair with a married man during at her last post; her discomfort stems more from the fact that it ended badly than from the fact that it occurred at all. Sophia is also not as committed to her revenge as one would think, given her motivation. While it is possible that she would have qualms with her plan once it was set in motion rather than just planned in the abstract, she gave over her outrage, her disgust for Cannon too easily. Sophia should have been more conflicted and blind to Cannon's good qualities.

Cannon too suffered from anachronistic beliefs and behaviors. For instance, when a poor woman seeks his assistance, because the old woman's daughter has been locked in her room by a husband who is punishing his wife for cuckolding him, Cannon reacts with an icy rage: "In my opinion, a man who truly loves a woman would never intentionally harm her, no matter how great the betrayal," he says of this `brutalization.' Even today, the `provocation' of an affair is considered a mitigating factor in charging a man who KILLS his wife. It is just hard to imagine Cannon would have such forward-thinking beliefs, going so far as to entirely overlook Sophia's own extra-marital affair. It doesn't seem to faze him at all.

And there were love scenes that bordered on the impossible, language used that was completely out-of-character and abrupt accelerations in Sophia's and Cannon's relationship: For instance, while Sophia is organizing a ball for Cannon's mother(I don't know how this jump was made), Cannon's married brother, Mathew improperly solicits and attacks Sophia. When Cannon walks in on this, Mathew leaves and Sophia tells him that she was trying to seduce his brother (to discourage his interest in her). However, Cannon is not discouraged and within seconds has Sophia down on the carpet and his pants undone. By the end of the weekend, Cannon has proposed, but before the weekend began, the two barely knew anything about the other.

SOPHIA'S LOVER was light on historical accuracy, realism, character consistency and satisfying love scenes.

A Disappointment.

LADY SOPHIA'S LOVER was probably the second Lisa Kleypas book I read, and to this day it remains perhaps my very favorite. The gritty feel of a less glamorous London, the revenge/betrayal between the hero and heroine. At the time I read this, it was such a breath of fresh air after reading so many Victorian Era drawing room romances (which I am a HUGE fan of!) But still, to find something that feels wholly new and unique while still having the sexy, emotional romance that I love in historicals from this period, was pure heaven.

Kleypas weaves an atomspheric, unique tale in this novel, and I recommend it to romance fans everywhere I go. Perfect ten!

I really liked Ross and the other characters, but the chemistry just wasn't all one might hope. Another thing I really find worrying are 'love scenes' in which the heroine quite clearly says no, for good reason, and the guy goes ahead anyway.
In this case they are in a house full of people and their first sexual encounter has him 'pinning her wrists to the ground as she turns her face away from him.'
A-it is rape.
b-it is not in character if this man is suposed to be the 'Monk of Bow Street'
c-it is not romantic even if we were to suspend our disbelief.
All these hairy alpha males she writes about do not have to act like this!
when he apologises it is only because he can't finish what he started! bad timing? bad romance.
I know they are trying to be steamy, but this is not.
finally another quibble is the info we are given in this book is changed a lot in the the next in the series, again with the effort to be more sensational.
It sort of ruins things for the more sensible reader who really wants to get involved in the couple falling in love.

I love Lisa Kleypas' no-nonsense, easy-flowing writing style.
And she managed to grip me with the gentle, caring, suave and still totally male Sir Ross Cannon.
I like them so much, I can feel the falling in love, sense their chemistry and they interact for most of the book!
Indeed, their feelings drive the book, not the plot. And it does have a lot of love scenes but are very well done.
It's a book I am sure to reread for the warm yet passionate connection the heroes have. I even agree with some of the negative reviews but I still loved this book!

I very much enjoy the Wallflower series by Kleypas but despite disappointment with _Someone to Watch Over Me_ due to a weak and predictable plot, I thought I'd still give _Lady Sophia's Lover_ a try. I knew I was in trouble when on page 7, with the heroine barely introduced to the hero, he was having a lurid and graphically described sexual fantasy about her despite having been celibate and aloof from women for several years. The plot seemed to basically consist of sexual chemistry between the two leads and a very thin and predictable plot involving the heroine who gets involved with the hero intending to betray him due to his arrest and seeming sentence of death of her brother but then falls in love with him. Plus an even more predictable sub-plot about the brother.

I should admit that I really dislike period romances that ignore conventions of the period and this one was chock full of that sort of problem: the odds of a gentleman supposedly well respected and concerned for the heroine's well being hiring her as his assistant and having her live in the same house with her (even with other people around) are nonexistent for that period, and presenting all of his tough and crude Bow Street runners as supportive and nonjudgmental when they realize their boss and his unmarried female assistant are having an affair is ludicrous.

Thumbs down on this one.

Sorry for the bluntness. I have enjoyed Kleypas in the past (someone to watch over me...the prequel to Lady Soph Lover)but boy did she get steamy in this one. I don't think there is one act of (normal) sex she didn't cover between these two hornballs. KUDOS to Kleypas on that one. Though the storyline was a little thin(I had Nick Gentry figured out first 100 pages). Who cares? Good, hot sex. I liked Ross from the first book (someone to watch over me) but felt the heroine could have had a stronger constitution. She was a little weak. Did I mention what great sex they had though?

This was Lisa Kleypas' first book with a "mature" hero and quite frankly one of her best heroes yet. Ross has it all: looks, career, money, tortured soul, etc., but he doesn't have sex. He is known as a monk among his peers because of his past....till Sophia entered his routine life.

The sexual tension starts in the first chapter and doesn't stop. This is a classic love story with a unique plot. "Lady Sophia's Lover" is the book that got me hooked on Lisa K.

again another nice light read by ms kleypas the only problem i now have with kleypas books is because ive read many there is alot of repetition amongst the stories like the love scenes and descriptions sadly i suffer from a very good memory and though her stories are great im tired of reading whole paragraphs that i read in her other books

Unlike the meandering tone of many Regency romances, Kleypas keeps true to her characters (many of whom reoccur throughout her books)and their mileau, wihout excessive decriptives and dialogue about fripperies! This is a wholly satisfying book, that you'll want to read in one sitting. It is better, in fact, than the preceding novel that links to it (Someone To Watch Over Me) - and you don't need to read one to read the other, though I'd certainly recommend both.

I loved everything about this book.

Sir Ross is an AMAZING hero. Kind, considerate, handsome and ohhhhhhhhh so very very sexy in a very quiet and dignified way!!!!

Sophia is one of the best heroines I have come across. Strong willed, but not bratty or overbearing.

The chemistry between them sets the pages on fire and the story is so well written.

Along with "Devil in winter" one of my absolute favorites by Ms. Kleypas!!!

I really enjoyed this story. Sir Ross in so straight forwward about what he wants. I really liked his character. I read this book from cover to cover non stop. very hot love scenes. Sir Ross is so sexy. I din't care too much for the heroine (Sophia). However, this is a hot and saucy read with a great plot. Definately a keeper!!! I can't wait to read Nick's story (Sophie's brother).

Ever since I read "Dreaming of You", Ms. Kleypas has enriched the Victorian Age romance with stories that display heat and passion. I often buy my books from used books stores so trust me when the cashier said that this book was over seven dollars I hoped with all my might that it would be perfect. I was not disappointed.
Ms. Kleypas once again blends a simple romance and complex plots twist into a story that one can read again and again. I had forgotten that Ms. Kleypas had plan a sequel for her Bow Street runners and now I hope that she supplies more stories about these real life historical figures.
Don't miss out on this book it is a great all night read!
I only have one other comment though, what happen to Sir Ross' fat cat that he kept in his office?

I am really enjoying books by Lisa Kleypas. This one does not disappoint either. Has a good set up, heroine plans on taking revenge on hero by making him fall in love with her and then destroying him. It wasn't a great book, but a good one that I would recommend. My only complaint is that Ross could have been a bit more "manly". He seemed kinda wimpy to me even though he wasn't.

the hero is too perfect. the love scenes are WAY graphic. like whoa. but the chase between the lovers in the begining is really good. I love that Grant Morgan is still in this book and this one REALLY made me want more Nick Gentry. I wish Sophia was more honest w/ Ross when they married though. Of the 3 bow street books this is actually my least favorite. but it was still a great Kleypas - and I wouldn't NOT recommend it to anyone.

Bow St. Chief Sir Ross Cannon hides behind his desk to conceal his erection caused by the visit of Sophia Sydney. He pats himself on the back for holding a rationale conversation with Sophia though his hormones rage out of control. Sophia has applied for the Bow St. assistant clerking job, but Ross says no as the position is male only. He offers her a housekeeping position, but Sydney says both or none. Ross known as a monk for his celibacy allows his desires to decide and agrees to a one month trial.

Sydney blames the death of her younger brother on Ross, the magistrate who sent him to die in prison. However, the cold hearted villain with no room for compassion inside the law is not what Ross is. She realizes he is a kind individual who tempers justice and the law. As they fall in love, her deceased brother casts a specter on any permanent relationship between them.

Lady Sophia's Lover is a powerful early Victorian romance that provides a deep descriptive panorama of the era. The story line contains erotic scenes that are deftly written in as part of the fast-paced plot and not used to shock the audience. Ross is a great protagonist filled with passion and courage, but Sydney acts out of character at times as she occasionally seems weak for someone so brave. The rest of the cast is three dimensional and their roles propel the powerful plot. Lisa Kleypas provides a wonderful novel that will return the author to all the best selling lists.

Harriet Klausner

Lisa Kleypas is generally an excellent writer with well developed characters and excellent plot. Unfortunately, here that is not the case. Sophia is annoyning in so many ways, she had TSTL syndrome- To Stupid to Live. Plus no backbone. With Ross, I'm still trying to figure out what his good qualities were, all he seemed to do was tell Sophia how she was wrong and he was right. I highly recommend reading Worth Any Price or Someone to Watch Over me, both are excellent books. Try those to discover what a wonderful writer Lisa Kleypas.

Lady Sophia's Lover keeps one's fascinated interest from beginning to end. The plot is one of the most creative and unusual that Kleypas has written. The characterization is extremely well done while the very descriptive intimate love scenes superbly enhance the story instead of backsliding into straight [adult films] such as a few of our well-known authors persist in doing. The tension between the two main characters is kept at fever pitch throughout. The details of the story are not overwhelming, like going on for pages and pages, nor is the dialog boring but to the point. After reading more popular author's plotless pornos interspersed with many pages of "sparkling dirty repartee", Lisa's book is a very, very refreshing, can't put down read! It is a KEEPER!! It is really a 10 star but there isn't any such animal!!

I love lisa kleypas. Undoubtebly the best regency romance writer we have, she knows exactly what us readers want to read. She never fails to deliver great sexual tension, and then superbly written love scenes. Bordering just on the edge of erotic romance, I guarantee that any Kleypas novel you read will leave you wanting more.

I really enjoyed this book even though I guessed the secret early in the book. or me the erotic factor was really up to par in this chapter of the Bow Street Runners series. I can't wait and read the next and final chapter.

Lady Sophia's Lover has everything, revenge, intrigue, Bow Street runners, a dashing bad guy with a questionable past. From page 1, this book hooks the reader in and does my favorite bit, grants an insight into the hero and the heroine's thoughts. Ms. Kleypas did not write the standard, run of the mill romance and her research into the legendary Bow Street runners was spot on

I didn't find myself surprised, delighted or laughing, but it was still a good read.

Sexual content: not evaluated. I read this book before I began counting sex scenes and describing the language. As I recall, it was probably moderate. Setting: About 1839 London. Copyright: 2002. Genre: historical romance.

For a list of my reviews of other Lisa Kleypas books, see my 4.5 star review of "Sugar Daddy" posted 8/19/08.

Ross and Sophia were truly a couple in love, although I think Sophia wasn't quite good enough for Ross in the beginning. His patience and understanding was great and probably rare and Sophia took her time coming to realize what a wonderful man he was. Nick Gentry was great in this book.

Another great, great author is Kathryn Bender - A Touch of Velvet is the absolute BEST book out there right now.

My advice, read her other series instead. Wallflowers is great, so is Hathaways (save for book 4). As for this series, sorry but as someone who enjoyed Kleypas till now I say, unfortunately, skip the entire series.

Although this author is still one of my favorites, I must admit that this story was not up to her normal standards. It was slow to start and I had a hard time wanting to pick it back up after I had set it down. The story was rather predictable and did bore me like I said earlier. If this is your first time reading Ms. Kleypas don't judge her on this effort alone. She is normally a very talented author.

Lady Sophia's lover is the perfect sequel to Someone To Watch Over me! If you enjoy novels with sizzling and steamy love scenes, this is one to read!
Be sure to first read Someone To Watch Over Me and end this trilogy with Worth Any Price. Thoroughly enjoyable!

As per usual, Lisa Kleypas has written another winner of a book! Ross and Sophia were magical from the moment they met and it was alot of fun watching the lady win the rogue with her charms. Every woman's fantasy right? *S* I liked this book even better than SUDDENLY YOU and trust me...that's saying something! Don't miss this book!!