Only With Your Love

by Lisa Kleypas

Book Overview

Celia Vallerand fears for her life as she stares into the deep, arresting eyes of the dashing man who purchased her from the brigands who had abducted her. But it soon becomes clear that it's her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380761513
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Avon
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

One of my favorites

I am a huge Kleypas fan, and this is definitely one of my favorites. I think the people who stopped reading after page 100 did themselves a disservice. Yes, Justin is very unlikeable at first. He takes what he wants when he wants it. That is the point. His upbringing and personality have turned him into a person who has no regard for anyone else's feelings. He admits it himself. And Celia hates him for it. When he is wounded and comes to his father's to be healed, he is very resistant to the idea of needing anyone, much less Celia. Celia is very resistant to having any feelings for him, and calls him a "filthy pirate". As she is caring for him, though, his defenses crumble and the good person underneath the jerk starts to shine through. The story is about redemption, and how a bad person might not be all bad with the right elements in place. I think his transformation from the terrible, selfish, nasty pirate to a caring, loving person is a wonderful story. I agree, there are some eyebrow raising plot items, such as Celia not recognizing him as an identical twin, and his nobel brother Philippe having an affair with a seamstress, but it's a romance novel - they almost all have some plot items that wouldn't stand a lot of scrutiny. Also, I believe the reason she threw in the affair for Philippe was to make Celia leaving him believable. If he had come back from being a prisoner and been beaten down and broken, Celia's personality would not have allowed her to choose Justin over him as a matter of honor and because of the goodness in her heart. As a reader, I believed that choosing Justin was the right thing for her to do since Philippe was in love with someone else as well. It was necessary for the story to turn out the way it did. Justin is a strong personality. Celia, not such a strong personality. It definitely takes some getting over Justin's early behavior, but I think he truly redeems himself at the end. His behaviors don't entirely go away, but it wouldn't be believable if they disappeared either. I say, if you are going to read this book, give it a chance and definitely get past the scene by the lake.

Magnifique!!

I did not know how much I enjoyed this book until I read it again!! The story is perfect. The heroine is naive at first and at conflict with her desires. The hero is dark and brooding!! And the sensuality....There were a few times when I thought the book would burst into flames. While Celia appears to be delicate, timid, and insecure, underneath it all she has a depth of character and strength that is a common thread in Lisa Kleypas' heroines.Who could not love Justin? The tormented "pirate" who is tortured by his past, struggling with the need to be free, yet needing to be loved. Usually, sequels are not nearly as good as the first. But, I think "Only With Your Love", picks up where the story of Max and Lysette left off. We get to see Justin and Phillipe as adults, and we get to see how Max and Lysette's love has continued. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It has romance, sensuality, adventure, depth, and characters who come to life. You will scream at Celia. You will get mad at Justin. But,you will cheer for them both as you watch them grow as individuals and as a couple. This is my favorite Lisa Kleypas book, aside from "Dreaming of You".

Lisa Kleypas' best by far

I agree with the previous reviewer. This is Lisa Kleypas' best book by far. It also has one of the hottest love scenes I've ever read.French-born Celia is a new bride on a voyage to her husband Philippe's home in New Orleans when her ship is attacked by pirates and Philippe is killed. She is taken to an island where a privateer called Griffin wins her in a fight. Griffin takes her through the bayou, seduces her against her will, and delivers her safely to the home of the Vallerands, her husband's family. There she learns that Griffin (whom she hates) is also connected to this family. When he is injured by the same pirate that killed her husband, Griffin is brought to the Vallerand home and Celia is forced to deal with him in close quarters.