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Smooth Talking Stranger (Travises #3)

by Lisa Kleypas (Goodreads Author), Emily Durante (Narrator)

4.16 · rating details · 5,417 ratings · 505 reviews

He answers to no one...No one has ever truly touched Jack Travis's heart or soul...until Ella Varner comes along. She appears one day on his doorstep with fury in her eyes and a baby in her arms. Her troubled sister is the mother and, according to Ella, Jack Travis is the father. But when Ella demands that Jack take responsibility for the first time in his life, he ends up...more

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Jul 14, 2010

♡KarLynP♡ rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: published-2009, audiobook, read-2009, genre-contemporary, re-read, read-2010, top-100-favorites, steam-hot

A wonderful steamy romantic story with a great and satisfying ending. The title really suites too! Jack was such a smooth talker. Yum. As with the other books in the series, there is an underline storyline of personal growth and recovery, but these characters weren't so deeply damaged emotionally as the characters in the previous books. I loved the realistic feel of their relationship starting, growing, and finally the realization they are meant for it other. I just started to skim chapter one a...more

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Aug 13, 2011

MelissaB rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Contemporary romance fans

Shelves: 2009-reads, contemporary-romance, southern-contemporary-romance, favorite-contemporary-romance, favorite-romances, best-heroes, paper-books-i-own, kindle

Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas was a wonderful read. I loved the characters and the storyline. Ella was a heroine who I could identify with, especially about trying to help out your family and the constant guilt you feel when you can never do enough. She has a very complicated relationship with her sister but she is there for her when her sister needs her. Ella gets a call from her mother saying her younger sister left her newborn baby at the mother’s house and disappeared. Ella knows h...moreSmooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas was a wonderful read. I loved the characters and the storyline. Ella was a heroine who I could identify with, especially about trying to help out your family and the constant guilt you feel when you can never do enough. She has a very complicated relationship with her sister but she is there for her when her sister needs her. Ella gets a call from her mother saying her younger sister left her newborn baby at the mother’s house and disappeared. Ella knows her mother cannot handle a baby, so she drives to Houston to try to figure out what is going on. Once there, she has to take over responsibility for baby Luke and try to figure out where her sister ran off to, along with finding out whom the father might be. Ella hears that Jake Travis, a rich local businessman, might be the father, so she goes to his office with Luke to demand a paternity test but he denies ever sleeping with her. Despite their rocky first meeting, Jack and Ella have a very powerful attraction to each other from the start. Jack finds an apartment for Ella and proceeds to help her as she adjusts to being a sudden mother to a newborn. Jack falls hard and fast for Ella but she has a lot of problems with commitment due to her bad childhood. Not to worry though, Jack is more than enough of a man to help her through her problems!

Jack Travis was quite a hero – he was sexy, responsible and the type of guy you would dream about having in real life. He loves Ella just the way she is and does everything he can to support and help her. He is a manly Texas man who loves hunting and fishing but he still helps with the baby and putting together a crib. I love the fact that he didn’t want Luke wearing pink socks or having a “girly” bunny rabbit, so Jack bought Luke a nice “manly” toy truck. I love how Jack was dominant and possessive toward Ella but he still gave her time and space to work out her feelings. There were a lot more love scenes in this book than the last two, which was great because Jack was quite a lover – nice and dominant in the bedroom just the way I like them. The whole story was sweet and wonderfully romantic, I loved reading it.

All three of Lisa Kleypas’s contemporary heroines have been wonderful. She manages to write women who I can identify with because I have some of the same life experiences. She does a great job characterizing the various feelings and emotions women go through as a result of bad childhoods and dysfunctional families. All of her heroes have been just amazingly sexy and powerful. I would have a problem choosing between them, but Hardy and Jack would have the top spots. Hardy was just such an overwhelmingly sexy man with a rough edge, while Jack was the sexy, dominant man who was always fun to be around. I can’t wait for Joe Travis’s story, I hope it’s as good as the first three Travis books!(less)

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Aug 13, 2011

Auntee rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fans of Lisa Kleypas; fans of hot contemporary romance

Shelves: lisa-kleypas, contemporary-romance, 2011_reads, part-of-a-series, husband-worthy_hero

No summary, just some thoughts...

Ohhh, where do I begin? All my GR friends said "wait until you get to Jack's book"...and you all were right! I adored milionaire playboy Jack Travis--he was absolute perfection! To tell you the truth, I thought it might take a while for him to win me over, since I expected him to be sort of a shallow man-slut. I was surprised that he put that all behind him and was ready for something different when he met advice columnist Ella. I wish ...moreNo summary, just some thoughts...

Ohhh, where do I begin? All my GR friends said "wait until you get to Jack's book"...and you all were right! I adored milionaire playboy Jack Travis--he was absolute perfection! To tell you the truth, I thought it might take a while for him to win me over, since I expected him to be sort of a shallow man-slut. I was surprised that he put that all behind him and was ready for something different when he met advice columnist Ella. I wish I knew what it was exactly that made Ella so attractive to him (besides what he tells Ella--how he admires her for taking care of her sister's baby and how he likes arguing with her). This is where I really felt that dreaded first person POV--it didn't bother me most of the time but there were times where I was dying to get inside Jack's head! Sometimes words just aren't enough--I needed his thoughts too!

Just add some chest hair, and this could be Jack…

Ella didn't win me over right away--she sort of grew on me. She was a little too stubborn about some of her beliefs about love and marriage and a little too independent. I realize she had it rough as a child (what a winner that mother of hers was!) but I wanted her to really want Jack like I did! LOL! I loved seeing her fall in love with baby Luke though.. I thought all the parts LK wrote about Ella's feelings towards Luke really rang true. And when she finally gave the idea of having a real relationship with Jack a chance, that's when I softened towards her. I felt bad for her when she thought to herself I lose everyone I care about, sooner or later. No wonder she never wanted to put her heart on the line. I think Ella underwent a real transformation in this book, and became a much more likable and sympathetic character as the story progressed and she opened herself up and became more vulnerable.

I loved Ella and Jack together. I loved how he didn't push her beyond what she was ready for, but was there for her always. He was patient, strong, generous, and so darn sexy! Loved him with baby Luke too. Made me forget all about Hardy! And oh God the love scenes? Red hot, and way more numerous (and inventive) than in the previous books!

I have no real complaints about this book or series. Lisa Kleypas is probably one of the few authors skilled enough in her storytelling to make me forget (most of the time) that these stories were all told in the dreaded 1st person POV. I will admit that there were times where I thought how wonderful would it be if I knew what Jack was thinking...but that would just be like the cherry on top of the whipped cream. It would've made a delicious story even more delicious. So I won't complain, and I'll be satisfied that LK served up one fantastic story, a very likable couple, and especially one yummy hero. So he wasn't covered in whipped cream and with a cherry on top...Jack Travis was still one tasty treat! 5 stars
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May 07, 2009

Shawna rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Contemporary romance fans

Shelves: contemporary-romance, lisa-kleypas, 2009-reads, favorites, made-me-cry, hero-im-gaga-over, best-top-favorites, hero-mix-of-alpha-beta, favorite-romance-series, hero-i-wanna-marry, series-travises, favorite-romance-couple-hh-pairings, austin-texas-rocks, hero-stud-mantel-hall-of-fame, hero-alpha‎, heroine-abused-traumatic-past-rape, cowboy-stud-fever, first-person-pov, pregnancy-fertility-baby-kids-drama, chick-lit, aar-top-100-romances-2007-2010, 5-stars-or-higher, hero-daddy-warbucks-wealthy, hh-author-writer-quill-mighty-sword, hero-attractive-handsome-heartthrob, hero-too-yummy-perfect-to-be-true, hero-besotted-so-smitten-its-sexy, hero-southern-boy-charmer, brothers-sisters-cousins-family, love-triangle-vying-courtships, heroine-kickass-spirited-strong, hh-love-commitment-marriage-phobic, enemies-to-lovers-opposites-attract, i-read-own-faves-keepers, sizable-packages, heroine-girl-next-door, hero-bad-boy-playboy, heroine-miss-independent, a-all-time-fave-hero, tearjerker-tugs-at-heartstrings, hero-entrepreneur-mogul-tycoon, a-all-time-best-of-best-fave-dik, hero-flirt-charmer-ladies-man, heroine-classy-lady, heroine-good-girl-nice

5+ stars – Contemporary Romance

Boy oh boy did I love this book!! “Smooth Talking Stranger” is a sinfully decadent treat for contemporary romance lovers! It’s like Godiva for chocolate lovers and a good French roast for coffee lovers...just yum!

I loved “Sugar Daddy”, despite that it leaned more towards chick-lit and really liked “Blue-Eyed Devil”, even though it was heavy on the drama and lacked Hardy’s viewpoint, but “Smooth Talking Stranger” is straight up romance and ...more5+ stars – Contemporary Romance

Boy oh boy did I love this book!! “Smooth Talking Stranger” is a sinfully decadent treat for contemporary romance lovers! It’s like Godiva for chocolate lovers and a good French roast for coffee lovers...just yum!

I loved “Sugar Daddy”, despite that it leaned more towards chick-lit and really liked “Blue-Eyed Devil”, even though it was heavy on the drama and lacked Hardy’s viewpoint, but “Smooth Talking Stranger” is straight up romance and nice and steamy, just the way I like it!

Bachelor playboy Jack Travis is positively delicious...pure male and completely irresistible. Miss Independent Ella Varner tries mighty hard to resist his charms, but she’s delusional if she thinks for one minute that would ever work against a sexy, sweet, confident, enticing man’s man like Jack. I kept screaming...girl, if you don’t hurry and snatch him up you are crazy!

There are so many funny, tender, sexy moments in this book that it’s impossible to do it justice. The banter between Ella and Jack is a real delight. And good lord, the scenes with Jack caring for and playing with the baby nearly made me faint! He’s just absolutely swoon-worthy! There’s really no other way to describe him.

Ella hales from Austin (where I happen to live) and Kleypas’s description of the hippie Austin boyfriend Dane, with his hemp shirt and Birkenstocks, cracked me up because it’s just so true. Being an independent-minded, liberal vegetarian living in the conservative Lone Star State myself, I identified a lot with Ella’s character, but knew she stood no chance against a force like Jack Travis! He could pursue me any day girlfriends!

Even if you didn’t care for “Sugar Daddy” and/or “Blue-Eyed Devil” or avoided them because of the mixed reviews, don’t miss out on the sheer pleasure that is “Smooth Talking Stranger”, and I think it would be okay as a stand-alone novel. It’s utterly delightful and a contemporary romance lover’s dream...big 5 stars!(less)

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Jan 26, 2010

Blue Eyed Vixen rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: no-one ... I want Jack all to myself - hands off ladies! lol

Shelves: take-charge-men, contemporary-romance, ebook-i-own, romance, series, alpha-male-heroes, oh-god-yes-sexy-heroes, would-re-read, favorites

OK ladies .... I'm packing my bags and moving to Texas because if this guy Jack Travis is alive and out there, I am in LURVE and ready to have his babies .... yep! I'm willing to take one (or 2 or 3 or 4) for the team!

This guy is as smooth as Lindt chocolate but without the calories (can it get ANY better I say!!!)

Ella Verner walks into Jack Travis' life with a week old and a demand for a paternity test to prove he is the father of her sisters child. Ella is certain of ...more

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Nov 24, 2010

Whitaker added it · review of another edition

Shelves: but-is-it-art, 2010-read

"This was the perfect weekend antidote after a crappy week at the office." -- GR Reviewer talking about a romance novel

Romance novels are the comfort food of reading. We all have our own types of comfort food. For some it's fried noodles, for others it's ice cream. (For Australians, it's

, but let's not go there.)

Whatever your comfort food of choice, chances are it'll have certain characteristics: it's familiar, reminiscent of childhood and security, and ...more

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Nov 02, 2011

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Contemporary romance fans

Shelves: favorite-or-autobuy-author, hero-or-heroine-has-control-issues, parent-issues, reluctant-heroine, adoptive-or-inherited-parents, reformed-rakes-make-the-best-hubbie, reformed-badboy, hero-falls-hard-for-heroine-fast, hero-i-loved, hero-in-pursuit, heroine-i-loved, angsty-read, hero-or-heroine-wears-glasses, set-in-texas, hot-and-steamy-romance, 1st-person-pov, favorites, owned-copy, part-of-a-series, possessive-and-or-jealous-hero, 2011-reading

Miss Kleypas, are you reading my mind? How do you get me where I live emotionally so easily? I felt as though reading this book you had delved deeply inside my psyche, laying my issues out for me to examine in the context of a character with whom I found myself identifying very deeply. You see, I too have control issues. I too am afraid to love deeply and to care, because when you do, you lose something, and you can't get it back. It seems so much easier to hide behind your fortress of hear...moreMiss Kleypas, are you reading my mind? How do you get me where I live emotionally so easily? I felt as though reading this book you had delved deeply inside my psyche, laying my issues out for me to examine in the context of a character with whom I found myself identifying very deeply. You see, I too have control issues. I too am afraid to love deeply and to care, because when you do, you lose something, and you can't get it back. It seems so much easier to hide behind your fortress of heart.

Reading your book was therapy for me. Because it helped me to look at things and to realize that holding oneself in won't save you from hurt. It just makes you feel more alone and hurting than if you did open yourself to loving others.

You made me cry with Ella's feelings for Luke. I could feel from the beginning, that tender thread of love that blossomed in Ella's wary heart for that helpless bundle of humanity. Babies are the secret weapon, and I think you know that. How can you not love a baby, who looks up at you and knows only how to love and trust you? They sink beneath your skin and find your tender areas of the heart that you have no defense or protection for. And that love builds a bridge between them to you, and from there, to the rest of the world. Luke felt like the way to open Ella up so that she could love Jack. I also think that Jack fell for Ella because he saw who she truly was in the way she cared for Luke, because she forgot to keep up her armor up then. I totally, totally got that.

You also made me laugh with this story. I loved the dialogue and the conversations. They feel very genuine to me. Like people I know talk, like conversations I might have. Texas is my stomping ground, although not Houston so much. But this book felt just like the Texas I know, the folks I see and live with every day, even if I don't really know the richer echelons. But people are people, no matter what how much money they have. You captured that beautifully.

And the romance. Ma'am you have a gift for writing romance that blesses your readers. You capture that deep, irresistible powerful intensity of a love story--the steam, the emotional connection, the powerful bond between a man and a woman. This book is one of your more steamy ones, and you definitely had me fanning myself as I read.

As for Jack Travis--yeah, he's irresistible. He's a mix of charm, determination, and realness that a woman can't overlook. Ella stood no chance. I'm glad she didn't, because they were made for each other. I don't go for that slick ladies man type, but you crafted Jack with a substance that goes beyond the charm and the playboy exterior to make him a fully realized character. I liked his confidence, and I liked that he also had vulnerabilities. Even though he'd been hurt in the past, he didn't hold back from Ella. He gave of himself deeply, and that's what I love in a man. He's not just saying what you want to hear. He's there to back up his words. His actions show where his heart is. Yeah, he played around in the past. In theory, that doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. But, on a realistic level, you take the good and the bad, the experiences that make a person who they are, and you love them for the unique creation that they have been made into by the experiences that have shaped them, along with their intrinsic core. That was my long, drawn-out way of saying that I loved Jack for who he was in this story, and that was a complex mix that worked very well for this story. He needed to be that man to be the right man for Ella. Yes, I can see why Jack is a favorite of many of your fans. I still love Hardy the best out of this series. I just do. Hardy....that man makes me sigh. But Jack....he ain't the slightest bit shabby!

I was surprised at the fact that I think I love Ella even more than Jack. It helps that I walked around in her skin in this book. I told you earlier that I felt a lot of identification with her, not on a superficial level. But on a deeper level, in the arena of the psyche. It was cathartic to see her work through her issues, and gave me something to think about. I loved the way she loved Luke, and I loved the way she loved Jack. I loved that she was a loyal sister and a patient daughter to a very difficult mother who needed that kind of love from her daughter. I liked that she picked herself from the ashes of a troubled childhood, and made a good life for herself, and sought mental and emotional wholeness. If she hadn't started that before she ever met Jack and Luke, then those relationships wouldn't have had the same hopeful resolution. I'm glad that's not the case.

Once again, you've given me a great read, and hours of pleasure, but also a read that engaged me fully. Thanks again, Ms. Kleypas!

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Apr 23, 2009

Miss Kim rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Miss Kim by: continuation of series

Shelves: contemporary, 2009

4 1/2 stars

I’ve enjoyed this three book series by Ms. Kleypas. I’ve got my fingers crossed for #4 which may tell Joe’s, the remaining Travis son, story. In Smooth Talking Stranger we get to know Jack Travis, who we met previously, and know as a womanizing playboy.

One day he walks out of meeting and there is a woman with a newborn infant with her and she is demanding that he take a paternity test asap. She explains the baby is her nephew and that Jack has to be the fa...more4 1/2 stars

I’ve enjoyed this three book series by Ms. Kleypas. I’ve got my fingers crossed for #4 which may tell Joe’s, the remaining Travis son, story. In Smooth Talking Stranger we get to know Jack Travis, who we met previously, and know as a womanizing playboy.

One day he walks out of meeting and there is a woman with a newborn infant with her and she is demanding that he take a paternity test asap. She explains the baby is her nephew and that Jack has to be the father. Jack is sure he is not the father, but agrees amiably.

Ella has been avoiding her narcissistic mother and sister for the past two years, and feels better for it. She feels inferior to their beauty, which they constantly point out to her. Both women, especially the mother, are mentally abusive and too self absorbed to notice Ella unless they want something from her. Ella finds herself with a newborn boy that was dumped on her by her sister. She hadn’t even known her sister was pregnant! She needs to find her sister and two the father. She can’t keep this baby. Not to mention she has a safe boyfriend back at home.

This third installment has plenty of steamy scenes, for those that want to know!

After meeting Jack, and determining that he is not the father, Ella realizes she has come to lean on Jack. He becomes a very close friend and ally. Not to mention he is drop dead sexy and unbelievably rich. He’s that mixture between Alpha and Beta—I think it’s called Gamma. ?

They become lovers, yet Ella cannot allow her self to fall for him. She is very slow to trust after the way she was raised with her mother. There is this, a little bit of a mystery and some nice chemistry. However, what kept me from the full 5 stars was I felt the resolution to who the baby’s father was, and also who is responsible for an near fatal accident at the end of the story was a nice build up to a let down. Very anti-climactic. Oh, Billybob is the father didn’t you know, and wait, that suspicious accident was not suspicious at all. Just an accident. I kind of felt the author originally may have wanted to tie the two together, but gave up at the end and tidied it up. Maybe I was just expecting more than there was.

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Jan 28, 2010

Lady Vale rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: best-150-books, best-50-books, cont-romance, beyond-compare-series

It's just wrong for a book to be so good. I loved it. It just doesn't make sense that one same author can write so many 5 stars books.

Ella was an amazing character. Everything about her was interesting and fascinating. I loved the fact that even though she suffer a lot during her childhood, she got over it and was able to become a strong, independent and intresting woman. She was so funny. I loved every time she talked of Luck as a boyfriend or a reason for Dane to be jealous, so fun...more

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Oct 01, 2011

Bekah rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads

4.5*

My review for:

Ella Varner has worked hard to maintain some proper boundaries between herself and her dysfunctional family. All those boundaries come tumbling down when she’s called to Houston to take care of her nephew for three months. However, it takes one day for Luke to change all of her ideas of motherhood and babies. In searching for Luke’s biological father, she meets the smooth talking stranger Jack Travis – who is too delicious for words. The combination o...more

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Mar 25, 2010

Sherri *SheLuvs2Read* rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

Shelves: ebook, contemporary-romance, 2010, best-of-2010, desert-island-keepers, hero-to-die-for, heroine-i-loved, made-me-cry, re-read, hero-hall-of-fame, lisa-kleypas, alpha-male, in-a-class-by-itself

I originally read this in e-book form and I wanted it for my keeper shelf, so now I'm reading it again in print. And I still love Jack!
Update: Even better the second time around.

Original review:
I am forever indebted to Daisymay for recommending this incredible, unbelievably good book to me. If I could give it 10 stars, I would.

I loved the story.
I loved the heroine - I want to be friends with her!
I loved Jack. I'm going to find him and marr...more

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Apr 23, 2009

Colleen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: own-book, contemporary-romance, favorites, 2009

Another hit for me - LOVED IT! I didn't want this one to end. I think Jack & Ella are my favorite Travis couple thus far. I'm assuming Joe will get a book too?? I really hope he does - I have enjoyed this series so much~

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Jun 06, 2011

Jan rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: romance, z-2011, contemporary-romance

When none of the books I wanted were available in the library, I decided to try another Lisa Kleypas, even though I've been very underimpressed with her historicals, and I decided not to fall for how universally loved she is anymore. But I remember this book being mentioned favorably on Dear Author recently, and I thought I'd try a contemporary Kleypas as a last effort. Even if it was in the not really loved by me and often dreaded 1st POV.

I really liked it however. Mostly because I ...moreWhen none of the books I wanted were available in the library, I decided to try another Lisa Kleypas, even though I've been very underimpressed with her historicals, and I decided not to fall for how universally loved she is anymore. But I remember this book being mentioned favorably on Dear Author recently, and I thought I'd try a contemporary Kleypas as a last effort. Even if it was in the not really loved by me and often dreaded 1st POV.

I really liked it however. Mostly because I have a thing for hero's and heroines with a difficult past, and love romances where they learn to deal with past issues. Ella's issues are severe, and it's clear she hasn't coped with everything yet by the end of the novel, but I don't think it's possible to completely recover from things like this, because your parents and your youth shape a big part of what you become and how you live your life.

Jake bordered on being a fantasy, but I thought his jealousy of Ella's boyfriend in the beginning, and his dealings with his ex grounded him enough to make him feel like a real person. A very romance hero sweep you of your feet and take care of things man, but a man nevertheless.

I thought the baby storyline was dealt with very realistically, diapers that need to be cleaned at inappropriate times, sleepless nights, and babysitters that need to get home, even if you'd prefer to sex it up a little longer.

My heart broke when the sister came back. Mostly because of Luke, but also because she seemed the person who needed help and love and care most, and she wasn't getting any. Churches like that creep me out immensely, and much like Ella, I wanted to scream at Tara to take care of herself and take of the blinders. It was a bittersweet wrap-up that story line.

One minor thing, and I know it's silly for me, but the condom pet-peeve roared it's ugly unsheated head. For a guy whose entire argument at the start of the book leans on the fact he never has sex without them, there is a serious lack of condoms in this book. As in none. Which I probably wouldn't have noted if he hadn't made such a point about them at first. I'll never get what it is with romance novels and unprotected sex, but that's just me.

Anyway, pleasantly surprised by this book, and who knows, I might actually try out another Lisa Kleypas.(less)

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Jun 07, 2010

DarienMoya rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-reads

^^SMOOTHER THAN SILK!^^

If you haven’t read a Lisa Kleypas book then you need to get on that, her leading men are always so bloody awesome. All confidence, sexy swagger and mostly their personalities is borderline asshole, but you love it cus their imperfections make them drool worthy. Smooth Talking Stranger does not disappoint, I have come to expect awesome things from the Travis’s and Lisa delivers. I want to be wrapped around Jack Travis like smooth silk whi...more ^^SMOOTHER THAN SILK!^^

If you haven’t read a Lisa Kleypas book then you need to get on that, her leading men are always so bloody awesome. All confidence, sexy swagger and mostly their personalities is borderline asshole, but you love it cus their imperfections make them drool worthy. Smooth Talking Stranger does not disappoint, I have come to expect awesome things from the Travis’s and Lisa delivers. I want to be wrapped around Jack Travis like smooth silk while he growls in my ears and I swoon and die, instead of behaving like a southern belle, I take him down like a back ally chick.

THE RUNDOWN- Ella Varner is your typical independent woman. She doesn’t believe in marriage and wants no children, she is in a relationship that doesn’t require too much and that’s the way she likes it. The sex is comfortable, life is comfortable and she feels safe in all that she knows. Well life is about to change for clueless Ella, when a phone call from mom, lands her with a baby and she has take all responsible for a new life. See Ella’s family is all about selfishness, mom believes she’s young and her life revolves around the men she dates, sister the rightful mother of the baby is the same, parties and good times is what she is all about. Through all this Ella is the rock, not responsible for the life of her sibling but she makes it her own , and comes in like super mom to feed and care for a baby. All this begins with a search to locate the father and this lands her in the arms of Jack Travis, he is like Ice Cold water underneath the Texas scorching sun.

ELLA- She sees people, and is not all about flash, coming from a pretty screwed up childhood, she is actually quite sane and caring. She writes for a magazine answering questions about love and life of women. Funny that Ella has trust issues and committing to anything is a long way off, so she feels like a fraud. Then the phone call and providing for her nephew leads to question as to what she wants out of life, and plus the involvement of notorious playboy Jack is making her think all kinds of crazy thoughts. Like love, marriage and kids, things she never wanted she now desperately craves, but fear of everything gets in the way.

JACK- Everyone sees him as the rich guy, women would kill to have him so when Ella walks in claiming that he is the father of the baby of her sister, warning bells go off. He can see the care in her eyes and realizes she is trying to right by the baby, and he has this urgency to do right by her. Jack image is all twisted in the media and that is the man Ella sees, but he is gonna do everything to prove how wrong she is. A woman like Ella is what he craves and he will work with her to the end to make sure she is happy.

PLOT- Well it’s a quest to find the father of the baby, and it’s a task that is proving to be very emotional for both Ella and Jack. Plus it’s a beautiful love story about two very different individual who both want the same thing, Love. They both have to fess up to what they want, and it’s a discovery about true self.

FEELINGS- This book was excellent, the chemistry between Jack and Ella was wonderfully written, even though a few months passed and love happened you can understand it. The circumstances in which they were thrust together would make anyone closer. I love Jack he has all the qualifications of a perfect man even with all his imperfections. He wasn’t a bastard like I always come to expect from Kleypas but I loved him anyways. Ella that chick annoyed me at times, not for reasons you would think. I wanted her to blow up and tell her mom and sister to go where the sun don’t shine and hit the drains where crap belongs. I hated those two women and kudos to the author for making them so believable in all their selfishness. The sex was hot, loved how Jack constantly wanted his woman, SEXY! Another winner by the Kleypas.

(less)

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Apr 16, 2010

Amelia Fransiska rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: in-english, contemporary-romance, lisa-kleypas, drop-dead-gorgeous-hero, hardcore-heroine, i-m-laughing-out-loud, read-in-2010, reread-more-than-third-times, man-of-my-dreams, favorites

Jack Travis is mine!!!
Hehehe

Ella Verner seorang penulis kolom ttg relationship, sex, n urban culture di salah satu majalah di Austin, Texas...
Dia memiliki seorang pacar yg cukup sukses -Betha male type, pecinta lingkungan dan blablabla-
Mereka brdua tidak percaya pd lembaga yg nama nya pernikahan.
Menurut Ella hidupnya cukup sempurna sampai adiknya muncul dgn seorang bayi dan meninggalkan bayinya di rumah ibu mrka di Houston, Texas.
Ibu Ella si peci...more

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Mar 29, 2009

Edna Lyn rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, contemporary-romance

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

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Mar 01, 2010

Cynthia rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: read-modern, read-favorite-books, read-audio-books

I loved loved loved JACK TRAVIS....... This book smooth Talking stranger was amazing it should be a sin for a book to be this good. Smooth Talking Stranger is the third book in the Travis Series which if you haven't read the first two Sugar Daddy and Blue eyed Devil you really should run out and get these book Lisa Klepas is a genius I love all her books she has a way of getting you to fall in love with her characters and smooth Talking stranger was no different the book is told on Ella Varner p...more

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Jun 12, 2009

Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: romance-contemporary, author-lisa-kleypas, owned-read, favourites

5 Stars!!!

Jack Travis?? HOT DAAAAAAAAAAMMMNNNNN!!!!! 'Nuff said! *^_^*

The man has some moves...and with his clothes on!! LOL Lisa Kleypas writes amazing heroes and I dare you not to SQUEE at the thought of him!

I was really cracking up at this scene in STS:

Jack: I can arrange a meeting, but the only way you'll get in there is by going embedded.
Ella: If you think I'm going to sleep with you just so I can see Gottler-
Jack: I said embedded...more

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Apr 27, 2009

Tammy rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, lisa-kleypas, 2009-reads, keepers

Smooth Talking Stranger is a fabulous book. Absolutely wonderful. Unlike the other books in the series, this one reads like a solid romance with Jack and Ella's relationship being the main focus. (It is 100% pure contemporary romance without the chick-littish feel to it and, for the most part, lacks the darker issues re: domestic violence, abuse and rape that became the main focus of the prior books.)

This book has an honorary place on my Keeper Shelf for one reason and one reason on...more

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Apr 06, 2009

Ellyn rated it

· review of another edition

Saw a review of it and picked it up at the library. I've not read the other books in the series (or any of the author's other books) but it stood alone. It was a quick read--not spectacular but not terrible.

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Apr 05, 2009

Julie rated it

· review of another edition

It was a nice story but it reads just like her other books for very predictable from beginning to end.

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Jan 26, 2012

Violet90 rated it

· review of another edition

I absolutely loved this book it was so good! At first I thought I would'nt really understand it since it is a series and I haven't read previous books because this is the first book I read in the series. But I was wrong I understood it completely and you don't need to read previous books in this series to understand this book. Although, it would be good to read about other characters who are mentioned a lot in this book. But I didn't like the concept of the other books, this is the one that soun...more

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Jan 20, 2012

Rachel rated it

· review of another edition

This was an enjoyable fast paced read. At times early on it seems sort of too good to be true this or that falls into place and maybe real life isn't that easy bit it became believable bc the author was committed and the characters like able and not too perfect so that you dont begrudge them when things go right or easy bc they have enough to deal with that's not easy emotionally and rather you end up rooting for them.
I didn't see HOW on earth the ending could be nice wherein there's n...more

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Jan 15, 2012

Tasmia rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, ebooks, genre-romance-2012, note-to-self

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Overall, the quality of the writing is good, with a good measure of humour and sweetness, but everything else is flawed or lacking. Ultimately, disappointing.

Something felt missing in the romance - especially with regard to characterization. The hero was little more than a cardboard cut-out, and it was never clear why he was initially attracted to the heroine. He does her some significant favours on the basis of an implicit attraction that we know is there simply because it has to b...moreOverall, the quality of the writing is good, with a good measure of humour and sweetness, but everything else is flawed or lacking. Ultimately, disappointing.

Something felt missing in the romance - especially with regard to characterization. The hero was little more than a cardboard cut-out, and it was never clear why he was initially attracted to the heroine. He does her some significant favours on the basis of an implicit attraction that we know is there simply because it has to be, but we get very little sense of what's causing it. The way he falls in love with her is believable, because it’s based on the time they spend together, but it's like the relationship starts out of nowhere. The heroine also mostly feels like a paper cut-out. Even though the narrative is in first person from her perspective, there seems to be little depth to her character. Not that she herself is shallow, but that we only superficially get to know her. Her sister and initial boyfriend, both of whom play important roles in the story, do not come across as real people, which doesn't help us get a sense of her as a person. Her terrible, one-note mother actually does, but she’s a stock character anyway.

Also I didn't find the heroine assertive enough when her sister makes completely unfair accusations about her being selfish and controlling - we're told the sister is in a mentally and emotionally vulnerable place and I respect that, but I think the heroine does herself and her sister a disservice by letting the truth slide on this issue. We're told that she herself has had helpful therapy and we can see that she's still got things to work out and that the romance is supposed to help her with it, but it was frustrating to see how little self-respect she still seems to have in dealings with her family. I expect a romance heroine to have her issues mostly solved or at least addressed by the end, otherwise the happy ending isn't believable. This heroine is in some ways still too fragile at the end.

The plot was a standard-feeling mix of stock situations, un-exciting but competently handled. The ending was utterly lacking in heft, though it did tie up loose ends as needed. The context of the sub-plot, with the “giga church” and her sister’s involvement with its leaders, was interesting to me. Good shorthand source for various elements of dramatic tension.

I get the appeal in depicting a heroine arriving at a sense of normality after a difficult and lonely early life, but I found Kleypas was aggressive and unsubtle about the definition of “normal.” The supposedly good contrast between the hero’s traditional masculinity and the initial boyfriend’s “alternative” character at times just made the hero stereotypical and unappealing. The boyfriend’s alternative lifestyle felt inconsistently and superficially developed - I found the random jabs at veganism an irritating and off-mark shorthand at establishing why we’re not supposed to like him, and in general his combination of attitudes and behaviour was unconvincing. Also, the idea that the heroine she was in an open relationship for six years but didn’t know it is ridiculous - it makes her look clueless and immature.

There was some degree of “no means yes” when the hero insisted on intimacy and the heroine succumbed rather than actively conceding. Off-putting. She was sometimes good at setting boundaries, so points for that, and it does make sense that she was learning to adjust those boundaries. And of course the romance plot had to move forward. But none of that excuses the slightly skeevy feeling of the hero ignoring her when she says she wants to stop kissing etc.

I was aware enough of the preceding installments of the Travises series to feel comfortable with the continuing characters, but I don’t know how well-integrated they would seem to someone who didn’t know anything about the series.

NTS: This hero has IMO the proper kind of history for a historical romance rake, or at least he felt that way - fleetingly involved with lots and lots of women who are mostly easily accessible to him, knows his limits ie is scrupulous with regard to "innocents" (ie not taking advantage of the drunk sister)...the one terrible disappointment in the past adds depth, and of course he is incongruously gentlemanly, but as a hero he has to be. Mostly in it for the pleasure, but the whole thing is framed by that disappointment.(less)

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Jan 07, 2012

Manda Collins rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary

Okay, so I'm way late to the Lisa Kleypas contemporary romance party. But thanks to some well-placed nudges from friends I have seen the light and OMG, I am even more in love with Kleypas' writing than I was before. I am not normally a big fan of first-person narratives. I worried that it would be limiting to only get the story from the heroine's point of view, but I didn't have a problem figuring out what Jack was thinking at all. Ella's childhood and her relationship with her sister was so hea...more

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Dec 27, 2011

Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it

· review of another edition

This review is from: Smooth Talking Stranger (Kindle Edition)
This will be the third time I've read this book (actually this series) and I have yet to grow tired of it or to find that it loses something as the years go by.

With such perfectly written characters, a story line that will keep you turning the pages long after you want to go to sleep and the inevitable HEA, this book shines in the contemporary romance genre. I just had to go and re-read Sugar Daddy as soon as I finished ...more

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Oct 07, 2011

Lily Bart rated it

· review of another edition

What is it with Lisa Kleypas and contemporaries?

When she's writing in the Victorian era, her voice is so confident, so knowing and sexy and warm, yet surprisingly witty and full of insight too. She just seems to get the feel of male-female relationships so perfectly . . . but only in a world where it is very clear that male strength is admired and female purity is honored.

In the modern world, Lisa Kleypas is lost. She's like a ballerina trying to break dance. Her "m...more

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Sep 13, 2011

Brie rated it

· review of another edition

Smooth Talking Stranger was a book that I read in a 24 hour period. As soon as I started, I was glued to the pages, anxious to find out how things would work out. Like Lisa Kleypas' previous contemporaries, I immediately took to the characters and their struggles. I felt for Ella and her damaging childhood and Jack was a classic Kleypas hero; strong, caring, and full of sex appeal. I was a little wary going in to the book, because I knew a baby would be involved. I'm usually not one for books th...more

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Aug 04, 2011

Barb rated it

· review of another edition

I was reluctance to buy one of Lisa's contemps due to it being written in the first person. I didn't think I'd like it in this format however I took the plunge and bought it anyways because she's such an awesome writer. I just finished it and have to say I was right, I didn't care for it in the first person.

Now about the book itself. I wasn't impressed. I absolutely love Lisa's books but felt Smooth Talking Stranger was very bland, lacked the sparkle of her historicals and her characte...more

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Jul 27, 2011

Saimah rated it

· review of another edition

The book is about Ella, who alongwith her sister Tara has had a terrible childhood, all thanks to their hyperventilating mother. Tara being the beautiful one prefers having a lavish lifestyle until one day she ends up with a child, Luke, whom she abandons and prefers going for a medical therapy instead. Ella, the supposedly level headed one, takes up the child's responsibility, inspite of her boyfriend being totally against it. Within a matter of few days she develops an instant connection with ...more

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About Lisa Kleypas

LISA KLEYPAS is the RITA award-winning author of 21 novels. Her books are published in fourteen languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.

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Books by Lisa Kleypas

Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers, #1)

It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers, #2)

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“I respect you," he murmured. "and your views. I think of you as an equal. I respect your brains, and all those big words you like to use. But I also want to rip your clothes off and have sex with you until you scream and cry and see God." -Jack Travis (Smooth Talking Stranger)” — 119 people liked it

“I'm a big believer in putting things off, In fact, I even put off procrastinating.

-Ella Varner” — 72 people liked it

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Smooth Talking Stranger (Travises #3)

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