Sugar Daddy

by Lisa Kleypas, Jeannie Stith (Narrator)

book data

1,253 ratings, 3.87 average rating, 199 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		32%
4		35%
3		22%
2		7%
1		2%

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published

March 6th 2007 by Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged Lib Ed

details

Audio CD

characters

Hardy Cates, Liberty Jones, Gage Travis

setting

United States

isbn

1597378526 (isbn13: 9781597378529)

description

Lisa Kleypas has enthralled millions of readers with her powerfully seductive novels. Now she delivers a story featuring her most unforgettable charac…more

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Mar 22, 2009

Shawna rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351631)

Read in April, 2009

recommends it for: Contemporary romance fans; anyone who loves a great heroine

5+ stars – Contemporary Romance

This is the first novel I have read by Lisa Kleypas, and I mainly read it in order to have the necessary background to read “Blue-Eyed Devil” and “Smooth Talking Stranger”, both of which had sparked my interest. I honestly didn’t have very high expectations of “Sugar Daddy” based on the mediocre book jacket description, after reading some of the mixed reviews referring to it as chick-lit rather than romance, and that it’s written sole...more 5+ stars – Contemporary Romance

This is the first novel I have read by Lisa Kleypas, and I mainly read it in order to have the necessary background to read “Blue-Eyed Devil” and “Smooth Talking Stranger”, both of which had sparked my interest. I honestly didn’t have very high expectations of “Sugar Daddy” based on the mediocre book jacket description, after reading some of the mixed reviews referring to it as chick-lit rather than romance, and that it’s written solely in first person point of view, which isn’t my preference.

Needless to say, I was very pleasantly surprised and completely blown-away by this book. I read it on a plane and made an utter embarrassment of myself because I cried and laughed out loud through the entire book, often feeling both emotions on the same page! It’s extremely funny, touching, and emotionally moving.

I simply adored Liberty’s character and found myself rooting for her like a bubbly cheerleader. She goes through so much pain, turmoil, and hardship and yet maintains such a positive outlook on life. Witnessing her transition from an awkward, shy, self-conscious adolescent to a strong, independent, courageous, beautiful woman is heartwarming, especially since she always remains true to herself and her roots and puts her sister Carrington’s needs before her own. Liberty is funny, brave, selfless (almost too much so), caring, loyal, and innocent yet wise. She’s one of the most lovable heroines of any book I have ever read.

I agree that “Sugar Daddy” is perhaps more chick-lit than romance considering that the romance element doesn’t pick up pace until about a third of the way through the book, but I loved sharing Liberty’s life journey so much that I really didn’t mind it. Once the romance factor does heat up, it takes center stage in the story, and although it’s PG-13 and I usually prefer my romance to be a little (okay a lot) steamier, it’s absolutely engaging and beautifully written. There were moments when I would have liked for some of the narrative to come from Hardy's and Gage’s points of view, but the bottom line is that it’s Liberty’s tale and her life struggle and perspective are what drive the story.

As far as romantic interests for Liberty, there are two main hunks in the story, Hardy and Gage, and initially I thought I would be a Hardy fan, but I found myself being Team Gage all the way (at least as the best love interest for Liberty). Hardy might be sinfully sexy and devilishly charming, but I found myself rooting for steadfast Gage. He treats Liberty with so much respect and tenderness that it melted my heart like butter. He’s an absolute dreamboat once she manages to get past his tough exterior and defenses. The romance between Liberty and Gage is syrupy sweet...I couldn’t get enough of it!

Here are some random/favorite things that I loved and/or laughed about in “Sugar Daddy”: the emu story, Liberty giving her mom’s delivery nurse a folder with birthing instructions and preferences, the tender sister moments, references to how Texans love to deep fry everything (very true) and southern cooking and recipes (including my own sister’s favorite red velvet cake), accurate depictions of the differences between people from Dallas, Austin, and Houston, the sign “property of Liberty Jones” moment when Liberty gets custody of her sister (serious tears shed there), the relationship development between Liberty and Gage, and there are so many great life quotes and valuable life lessons in this book that it’s impossible to mention them all.

I grew up in Fort Worth/Dallas, have spent time in Houston for work, have lived in Austin for the past 8 years, and have family from/in various parts of Texas, and I can tell you that Kleypas’s portrayal of Texans and Texas culture in all three of her Travis’s series books (“Sugar Daddy”, “Blue-Eyed Devil”, and “Smooth Talking Stranger”) is quite fair and accurate.

Tammy’s review here on GR is great and includes a spot on story background, so I highly recommend checking it out.

“Sugar Daddy” is an utter delight, full of laughs and heartwarming moments, with characters to love and cheer for and terrific writing. I absolutely loooved it, and I would give it much more than 5 stars if I could...so big 5++ Texas stars!

The Travis’s series has turned me into a big Lisa Kleypas fan, and I plan on reading all of her historical romances now as well.
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Like this review? yes (16 people liked it)

23 comments

Jun 24, 2008

Tammy rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: 2009-reads, contemporary-romance, lisa-kleypas

Read in April, 2009

I approached this book with much trepedition. Lisa Kleypas is my favorite historical romance author, so I wasn't thrilled about her recent move to contemporaries. (Very few authors can actually pull this off.) And then there is the fact that this book is written in first person. (Not a fan!) The blurb on the back of the book does not do it justice either.

Frankly, I thought I would be forcing myself to plow through a Danielle Steel-esque type of soap opera.

But I found ...more

Like this review? yes (18 people liked it)

14 comments

Jun 01, 2008

Eastofoz rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: chick-lit

recommended to Eastofoz by: Tammy

What an utter disappointment this book was. I was tempted to give this two stars but then I changed my mind to three stars because it’s more like 2.5 seeing as it is generally well-written, but in no way is this a romance in my book. I’ve read mixed reviews from some saying it’s romance and others it’s women’s fiction. It’s 100% chick-lit which I dislike. I don’t care about the main character’s “journey” through hardship and angst, I want to see the romance, the emotiona...more What an utter disappointment this book was. I was tempted to give this two stars but then I changed my mind to three stars because it’s more like 2.5 seeing as it is generally well-written, but in no way is this a romance in my book. I’ve read mixed reviews from some saying it’s romance and others it’s women’s fiction. It’s 100% chick-lit which I dislike. I don’t care about the main character’s “journey” through hardship and angst, I want to see the romance, the emotional connection with the other person and all the additional “stuff” in the background. Apart from the chick-lit aspect, I found the story long, too drawn out and excessively boring.

In many ways this book reminded me of Judith McNaught’s Paradise the way it chronicles two people’s lives from their teenage years through to their 20s-30s. There’s a lot of build up and you keep wondering when are we getting to the “story”. Well the story here hits just after page 250 or so which is a long wait for a 400+ page novel in my opinion. I think all the history on the heroine could have been summed up in a few chapters and the present could have been more developed.

Being written in the first person didn’t bother me at the beginning but I really felt the one-sidedness of the story towards the end when she was describing the present. One of the heroes was short-changed I thought and could have been expanded on because he certainly had potential.

As for the romance, well there’s some but you’re left thirsty over and over again for the first 200-250 pages or so. Just when you think there’s going to be something between the h/h there’s really nothing and back we go to the bogged down story of Liberty’s hard life. After page 250 you start to get some romance but it reads like general fiction and not a true romance. A lot is glossed over and the emotion is subdued or just plain sedate.

So for me the book is blah. Kleypas writes a wicked historical romance, and maybe she writes good chick-lit too, but I for one don’t like it at all.
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Like this review? yes (11 people liked it)

19 comments

Jul 28, 2009

Summer rated it:

(review of isbn 0749937629)

bookshelves: contemporary-romance, own, romance

Sugar Daddy is about Liberty Jones. Liberty's father died while she was very young in an oil accident. He was Mexican while her mother is blond and fair. Liberty inherited her father's coloring though and feels like her family isn't enough with only her and her mom. They move to a trailer park in Welcome, TX and that's where she meets Hardy. Hardy is pure trouble, but from the moment they met Liberty is in head over heels. They are a few years apart however and Hardy plans on leaving Welcome. He...more Sugar Daddy is about Liberty Jones. Liberty's father died while she was very young in an oil accident. He was Mexican while her mother is blond and fair. Liberty inherited her father's coloring though and feels like her family isn't enough with only her and her mom. They move to a trailer park in Welcome, TX and that's where she meets Hardy. Hardy is pure trouble, but from the moment they met Liberty is in head over heels. They are a few years apart however and Hardy plans on leaving Welcome. He is affectionate towards Liberty and helps her and her mother when they need help. But he always keeps a wall between himself and Liberty no matter how hard she pushes. Liberty's mom becomes pregnant from her current boyfriend and Liberty get's a younger sister they name Carrington. A tragic accident occurs a few years later leaving Liberty the sole caretaker of Carrington. Liberty is determined to do her best for herself and her sister and goes to beauty school to become a hairstylist. Thankfully she gets a scholarship, and through some hard work and penny-pinching graduates and gets a job at a high-end salon in Houston. It's there that she meets Churchill Travis. Churchill is beyond wealthy and is an important business man in Houston. They strike up a friendship and Liberty begins to see Churchill almost as a father figure to her. After an accident on a horse, Churchill wants a personal assistant and makes an offer to Liberty. She and her sister would be able to live in Churchill's mansion and Liberty wouldn't have to constantly worry about their financial situation anymore. When she accepts, things mostly go smoothly until she meets Churchill's sons. Particularly the eldest, Gage Travis. The other family members seem to be friendly and welcoming while Gage Travis becomes outright hostile towards Liberty. Over time the hostility eases while he and Liberty form an uneasy truce. One day that all changes and Liberty begins to feel attracted towards Gage. After a fight about Carrington Gage suddenly kisses Liberty. They begin to date and Liberty finally feels like perhaps she can finally get over her long-held love for Hardy. That is until Hardy makes an appearance in her life again and now Liberty has to choose between the love of her past or the possibility of love with Gage.

This book is labeled romance but it doesn't really feel like one until the last third of the book. It's more accurately a book about Liberty Jones' tumultuous life. It does kinda sound soap opera-ish and in a way it does come off that way. But it is totally engrossing and doesn't feel cheesy like a Danielle Steele or V.C. Andrews kind of soap opera. It feels more grounded and the descriptions of Texas and it's inhabitants I can definitely vouch are all 100% true. You root for Liberty the whole book and want her to succeed. Lisa Kleypas writing is interesting and lovely as always. I was pretty hesitant about reading contemporary romance, even if it was Lisa Kleypas but I wasn't disappointed. I fell in love with this book and couldn't put it down. Highly recommended. (less)

Like this review? yes (8 people liked it)

5 comments

Mar 12, 2009

Danielle "The Book Huntress" rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: 1st-person-pov, angsty-read, awkward-misfit, character-multi-ethnic-heritage, chick-lit-or-women-s-fiction, coming-of-age, favorite-or-autobuy-author, favorites, latina-heroine-or-love-interest, mainstream-contemporary-romance, owned-copy, set-in-texas

Read in February, 2010

recommends it for: fans of coming to age stories about wonderful heroines

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Sugar Daddy was one of those books that I dreaded reading, in all honesty. Let me tell you why.

1)I do not like chick lit or women's fiction. I like a story that has a defined beginning and a defined end, that has landmarks, and ends on a happy note. To my understanding, chick lit and women's fiction does not need to meet these expectations.

2)I was dismayed that one of my most beloved authors was leaving the historical romance scene (my most beloved subgenre within my favo...more

Like this review? yes (18 people liked it)

50 comments

Jun 17, 2008

Kim rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: 2009, contemporary-romance

Read in April, 2009

recommends it for: Any CR fan

This was my first Kleypas book, so I went in without any expectations. I have ready many reviews that state this book stinks because it's not like her historicals. I liked it very much.

I loved the Texas references in this story. I'm almost jealous that I am not from such a cool state! LOL. There are almost inside jokes about how the wealth’s statuses are different from Dallas vs. say...Houston or Austin. They all seem to look down on the other. Also, the hero's hair was twice r...more

Like this review? yes (8 people liked it)

5 comments

Oct 03, 2008

L8blmr rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

Read in October, 2008

recommends it for: Those who enjoy Southern contemporary romance

This is NOT your mother's Lisa Kleypas (I've always wanted to say something like that!). What a departure! But, I truly enjoyed it. The lady has talent, and she used it in a different genre to produce dialogue and circumstances in a contemporary setting that tugged at my heart. Almost fairy-tale like, we meet the heroine, a poor girl who grew up in a trailer park in Texas after her father died. Most of the book takes place when the girl is a teen, and I found the details to be believable. W...more

Like this review? yes (7 people liked it)

6 comments

Nov 08, 2009

FlibBityFLooB rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: lisa-kleypas, love-triangle, made-me-cry, made-me-laugh, read-in-2010

Read in February, 2010

recommended to FlibBityFLooB by: Cherra

You know that expression about good singers: "You could sing the phonebook"? Borrowing that expression, Lisa Kleypas could write advertisements for the yellow pages that would leave me enthralled! She has such a gift of taking an average sounding story and turning into something compelling and full of romantic energy. I love her writing!

I originally picked this book off the shelf several months ago at the library after only having read one Lisa Kleypas book. I read the ...more

Like this review? yes (6 people liked it)

2 comments

Sep 01, 2009

Bekah rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: read---own

Read in September, 2009

I was really apprehensive about this book. Which is why I borrowed it from the library, instead of buying it. I LOVE and ADORE Lisa's historical books, and I am now ashamed to say that I didn't think she could pull off a contemporary. But I was oh so blessedly wrong. This book..I'm at a loss for words. It will make you laugh and make you cry, and I never easily cry from a book. It makes me want to write her and thank her and apologize for ever doubting her abilities. She is a PHENOMENAL writer...more

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

6 comments

Jan 11, 2010

Vale rated it:

(review of isbn 0749942193)

bookshelves: -faves, contemporary-romance

Read in January, 2010

OMG. Seriously, there are no words to describe how I feel about Lisa Kleypas's books. How is it that every book I read of hers ends up being even better. Her books are so good that once I start with them I can't stop.

But after starting with this series I have to admit that I would like to say several things.

This has automatically become my fave series. I mean, the wallflowers was amazing but this book... Damn... there is anything I can say that will actually describe how...more

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

13 comments

Apr 30, 2008

Kym rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: contemporary-or-chick-lit, favorites

Read in March, 2007

When awkward teenager Liberty Jones meets self-assured, loner Hardy Cates her life is changed forever. Liberty and her mother have just moved to a trailer home in Welcome, Texas. Hardy lives in the same trailer park with his mother and three siblings. Both the Cates the Jones families don't have much in the way of money, but their ties to their family make their lives complete. Liberty's mother works hard to support her daughter on her own, and when she becomes pregnant, Liberty steps in to help...more When awkward teenager Liberty Jones meets self-assured, loner Hardy Cates her life is changed forever. Liberty and her mother have just moved to a trailer home in Welcome, Texas. Hardy lives in the same trailer park with his mother and three siblings. Both the Cates the Jones families don't have much in the way of money, but their ties to their family make their lives complete. Liberty's mother works hard to support her daughter on her own, and when she becomes pregnant, Liberty steps in to help shoulder the extra burden. Likewise, Hardy also comes from a single parent home (his father is in prison) and he works hard outside the home to provide extra income for his family.

Liberty is going through puberty when she first meets Hardy and she falls for him hard. He is her constant advocate, helping her with tests, teaching her to play basketball, helping her see her own inner and outer beauty. But Hardy wants nothing more than to one day leave the sheltered trailer park life behind him and make something of his life. He is determined to not wind up like his father and he knows that falling in love with Liberty will only make it harder for him to go. To both of their dismay, he refuses to get involved with her and he walks away from Welcome and Liberty without turning back. Shortly after, Liberty loses her mother in an accident and is left to raise her two-year-old sister alone.

Forced to act as a single mother to her sister Carrington, Liberty makes sacrifice after sacrifice to ensure they are both fed, healthy, and happy. She sets out on a career path as a hair stylist and moves with Carrington to Houston to work at a prestigious salon. Once there, she meets Churchill Travis, a successful businessman who the other stylists tell her would make a perfect "sugar daddy." Liberty has never considered such an arrangement, but when Churchill takes a personal interest in her and offers her a live-in position as his assistant, she lets herself be swayed for the sake of her sister. Living with Churchill will give Carrington opportunities Liberty could never afford on her own. Soon Liberty has found love, happiness, and contentment in the Travis home and things are going well. But when Hardy steps back into her life after nearly 10 years, she has to decide if she's willing to sacrifice the happiness she's found for the future she'd always dreamed of.

I was skeptical when I found out Lisa Kleypas, one of the leading authors of historical romances, was going to be writing a contemporary novel. I mean, her historicals are so good--why ruin a good thing? Well, I'm here to admit that I was wrong. I forgive her for going the route of contemporary, and if they're all going to be this good, I say keep at it. Sugar Daddy was "unputdownable." I read it in six hours and stayed up until 3 in the morning to do so (and I have to go to work in the morning). But there was simply no other choice. I became absorbed in the characters, in the story, in the outcome and I just had to know how things were going to work out. Liberty Jones is a well-drawn character who develops from a shy, awkward teenager into a self-assured, confident guardian to her sister. She puts herself second to ensure that Carrington is well cared for and even sacrifices her own love life for the good of her family. When she finally finds someone to love, I was so happy for her, but then Hardy stepped back into her life and I had to wonder if she'd made the right choice. Hardy Cates was the stereotypical first love, but more than that he helped Liberty find her own womanhood. When she felt awkward and uncomfortable he put her at ease, and when she went through hard times, he picked her up. I wanted things to work for them, but at the same time it took Liberty so long to move on that I almost resented the easy way in which he walked back into her life. I've read enough romances that I can usually guess how they'll end (happily, of course), but Sugar Daddy's ending was a pleasant surprise for me. This story ranged from laugh out loud funny (the emu story) to heartwrenchingly romantic, and every emotion in between. Pick up Sugar Daddy when you're in the mood for a stellar contemporary romance that will keep you on your toes, but make sure you have a few hours to spare because you won't want to put it down.(less)

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Jun 23, 2008

Lauren rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

I totally loved this book in a big way. Not super crazy about the title or the blurb, which I don’t think does justice to what a great story this is - but it’s hard to encapsulate a book that takes you over a young girl’s lifetime and into her adulthood.

We meet Liberty when she’s 14 and has moved to a trailerpark with her mother and her mother’s latest loser boyfriend. The loser boyfriend isn’t trying to touch her in bad places and he doesn’t hit her mother so that’s...more I totally loved this book in a big way. Not super crazy about the title or the blurb, which I don’t think does justice to what a great story this is - but it’s hard to encapsulate a book that takes you over a young girl’s lifetime and into her adulthood.

We meet Liberty when she’s 14 and has moved to a trailerpark with her mother and her mother’s latest loser boyfriend. The loser boyfriend isn’t trying to touch her in bad places and he doesn’t hit her mother so that’s a welcome change from some of the storylines like this. But he is a loser, no doubt. Anyway, we also meet the grand love of Liberty’s life - Hardy.

I think the time, the way we’re drawn into Liberty’s life is done so well and I’m glad Kleypas chose to start out the way she did. Liberty is not a whiner when she’s confronted by some seriously unfair stuff in her life. She does what she needs to to survive and she takes care of people who need it.

Later, as Liberty is raising her little sister, we meet Churchill - an older man, a billionaire and someone Liberty ends up having a deep friendship with. He is not her sugar daddy though (just a peeve, LOL). They grow closer and he asks her to leave her job as a stylist and to come be his personal assistant.

She meets the sons, of course they think she’s a ho but then figure out she’s not, etc. What’s nice is that she’s not an idiot about it. I thought the situation was handled realistically (of course his children are going to be suspicious of a young woman who is moving in to their father’s mansion!). And a relationship begins with Churchill’s oldest son, Gage.

You can tell from the blurb that Hardy comes back and there is a triangle but not for very long and truly, while this is a romance, Liberty is the star of this book and it works.

The chemistry between Gage and Liberty is fabulously done, her reactions are wonderful and the way she pines for Hardy fleshes out the love she has for him as something real and not just what a girl feels for her first crush. You know pretty quickly that Churchill has ulterior motives, you know it has something to do with Liberty’s dead mother and you’re pretty sure they’re not related because he’s not alarmed by Liberty’s relationship with his son. That part wasn’t so suspenseful although I did find myself wondering why it took Liberty so long to figure it out.

Anyway, I can’t wait to follow up with Hardy’s story, Blue Eyed Devil. Sugar Daddy was a very promising trip into contemporary from one of my favorite historical authors. I loved the unique spin she put on the genre.

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Mar 30, 2009

Wendy rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: modern-romance

Read in April, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

This is the first book in the series that I call the Houston Series. I read Blue eyed Devil first and now that I have read Sugar Daddy I know the background of that one as well.

Liberty Jones moves to a small town in Texas called Welcome when she is 13 yrs old, with her mother and her mothers boyfriend. They move to the local trailer park and she quickly meets a boy named Hardy. He saves her from one of the neighbor ladies dogs. He is handsome, strong, smart and dedicated to his fami...more This is the first book in the series that I call the Houston Series. I read Blue eyed Devil first and now that I have read Sugar Daddy I know the background of that one as well.

Liberty Jones moves to a small town in Texas called Welcome when she is 13 yrs old, with her mother and her mothers boyfriend. They move to the local trailer park and she quickly meets a boy named Hardy. He saves her from one of the neighbor ladies dogs. He is handsome, strong, smart and dedicated to his family. Liberty has never felt like she wanted to get close to someone befor, but she is attracted to Hardy.

Hardy Cates is a boy on a mission to leave Welcome and seek a better life. His family background and oportunities are not the best, but he is willing to work hard and leave all behind to get a better life. His attraction to Liberty grows over time, but he can't give up on his dreams, so he leaves town and Liberty behind.

Liberty is left to raise her little sister when her Mother is killed in a car accident. She doesn't have much to look forward to in her life with no opportunities. When she sees a limosine parked at the cemetary after her mothers funeral, she wonders who it could be, but puts that aside. When she applies to go to Beauty School and is turned down, she is dispairs. But soon after she is turned down she gets a call saying that she got a scholarship.

Liberty and her sister live frugally, and try to make the most of their life. While at work one day Liberty meets a very rich and famous man that seems interested in her and her life. Over time he and she become friends and she looks to him as a father figure. When he is trhrown froma horse and breaks his leg she goes to his home to give him a hair cut. He proposes a new job for her as his assistant, including living at the house with him and his sister. She is worried about leaving the life that they know, but the opportunity is too great to pass up so she and he sister move to his home. But not everyone is happy about the situation. Gage the oldest son is wondering weather there is something between Liberty and his Dad. He warns her away from the job, but Liberty takes it anyway.

Over time Liberty is attracted to Gage and they begin a relationship, but when they attend a party on New Years Eve her past Love Hardy shows up. Hardy wants to pick up where they left off and start a life together. When Gage finds out that she wants to figure out her feelings for Hardy, he is jealous and angry. But Gage doesn't stand in her way to figuring out her feelings. Hardy on the other hand finds out some very important information about a deal that Gage is putting together and sabotages the deal. She is angry and embarressed that she made such horrible mistake that has hurt Gage, but she finds that her old love for Hardy isn't what it once was and that she loves Gage more than she thought. (less)

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Feb 28, 2009

Lady Jayne rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: re-reading, romance-contemporary

Read in June, 2009

Because I am a Lisa Kleypas fan, I gave this book 3 stars as it was just okay for me. I am a huge fan of Kleypas’ historical romances and was somewhat disappointed in this contemporary story. It read like the life story of Liberty Jones as opposed to a contemporary romance. I did love Liberty and really felt for her through her hardships, but felt a lot of the things that happened in the first half of the book, could have been shorter. Based on the blurb at the back of the book I expected a lo...more

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Apr 08, 2008

Christina rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

Read in April, 2008

How embarassing! I'm adding a "contemporary romance" to my list! So there's a legitimate reason I read a "romance." At the women's show, I'd snuck off to what I thought was a secluded little area to feed my daughter ... then people started to line up. There was a free book giveaway with an author signing. So I got in line. C'mon ... it was a FREE BOOK!!!

After the last few books I read, I needed something fluffy, so I gave this a go. I have to say that it was less ...more

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Jan 06, 2010

Mom rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

Read in September, 2009

Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas---if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty Jones is a complication he doesn’t need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.

HE’S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN’T HAVE
When Hardy leaves town to purs...more

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Dec 27, 2009

Ruth rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

Read in April, 2009

Usually when a book is termed a "romance novel" you know the plot pretty much from the first--boy meets girl, attraction, conflict, resolution (love). Sugar Daddy has those elements, but it is more than that--it is more the story of the teen and young adult years of Liberty, a girl who lost her father when she was four. After that, her mother moved from relationship to relationship and from low-wage job to low-wage job. When Liberty is in high school, they move to a trailer in Welcome ...more

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Jun 02, 2009

Kilina rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

Read in January, 2008

This was Lisa Kleypas first contemporary novel and based on how much I loved it, I hope she will continue with even more along with historicals. Every bit of this story was so detailed and well drawn, the characters, the setting and the culture. I could clearly see the story as if it had been real. The events and emotions through Liberty’s life make you truly wish her the best and celebrate along with her as she reaches beyond her beginnings.

I wouldn’t say this was a straight rom...more

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Dec 29, 2009

Lara added it (review of isbn 0312351623)

The first of the series and I really liked getting a sneak peak at the Travis family. Again, anything from Lisa has sexual content. I have to admit, I had my husband read a couple of pages and it paid off :) Not a book I would recommend to everyone.

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Aug 09, 2009

Grain de Beaute rated it:

(review of isbn 0312351623)

bookshelves: contemporary-romance, desert-isle-keeper, romance, series, travis-series

Owns a copy

To say that I love this book would be an understatement. I don’t know the right words to choose to express how much I love this book. It blew me away from the beginning until the end. I started reading it before going to bed and once I started it, I knew I had to finish it before I went to sleep. And I did! By the time I woke up in the morning, the first thing I did was grab the book from the bedside table and relived every scene and dialogue that I loved so much.

In my opinion, Sug...more To say that I love this book would be an understatement. I don’t know the right words to choose to express how much I love this book. It blew me away from the beginning until the end. I started reading it before going to bed and once I started it, I knew I had to finish it before I went to sleep. And I did! By the time I woke up in the morning, the first thing I did was grab the book from the bedside table and relived every scene and dialogue that I loved so much.

In my opinion, Sugar Daddy is Lisa Kleypas’ best work so far. Although I’m not really a fan of first person POV, in this book, it didn’t bother me at all. I felt an immediate connection with Liberty Jones. As a reader, I found myself crying with her, laughing with her, and watching her grow up, mature, and triumph in every hardship she had to go through.

I understood what she felt for Hardy because in a way, I had gone though the same thing she had when she fell in love with him (the powerful emotions she felt for him and the beauty of ‘first love’, not really wanting to let go of that wonderful past). I admired Liberty for her courage, bravery, and her deep connection with her sister Carrington.

Although I liked Hardy, I was rooting for Gage all the way. Hardy will always be a special person in Liberty’s life because he had helped her when she was younger and vulnerable. But when Hardy left, that’s when Liberty realized her own strengths. She learned to stand-up on her own, be responsible, and be selfless.

I think Gage was the perfect man for her. Since the beginning of their relationship, Gage accepted her for whom she was, and he loved her unconditionally, without limits. When Gage discovered Hardy messed up the Medina deal, he knew only Liberty could have told him about it but even then, Gage didn’t blame her because he didn’t want Hardy to create a wedge between him and Liberty. That’s when I realized that Liberty comes first, before anything else in Gage’s life and that he truly loved her.

This book made me cry more than any other book I’ve read before. It also made me laugh and think about a lot of things in my life. This book was wonderful, touching, and healing all at the same time.(less)

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