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Then Came You
(The Gamblers of Craven's #1)
by
A woman with a secret . . .
Reckless beauty Lily Lawson delights in shocking London society. She will break any rule to get what she wants . . . and she is determined to stop her younger sister from marrying Alex, Lord Wolverton, a handsome and arrogant earl who has vowed never to fall in love.
A man who will do anything to possess her . . .
To Alex's fury, the headstrong hel ...more
Reckless beauty Lily Lawson delights in shocking London society. She will break any rule to get what she wants . . . and she is determined to stop her younger sister from marrying Alex, Lord Wolverton, a handsome and arrogant earl who has vowed never to fall in love.
A man who will do anything to possess her . . .
To Alex's fury, the headstrong hel ...more
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Mass Market Paperback, 371 pages
Published
September 30th 2003
by Avon
(first published June 1st 1993)
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Start your review of Then Came You (The Gamblers of Craven's, #1)

Oct 30, 2008
Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books)
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Fans of sensual, intense HR
Lily Lawson is such a great heroine. This is one of the books I love more for the heroine than the hero, although I really loved Alex Raiford. This is Lily's story. She is not perfect and she is considered a fallen woman. But the grit, and the determination she has makes you love her for who she is. Alex cannot resist her, and falls hard for her. I thought this book was so passionate and intense. The words just jump off the page and into your heart.
Keira Knightley as Lily

Matthew Marsden as Alex
...more
Keira Knightley as Lily

Matthew Marsden as Alex


3 to 3 1/2 Stars
This is my first Lisa Kleypas book and there is not doubt that she is one INCREDIBLE writer. I can see why most of my Goodreads friends love and consider her one of their all-time favorite romance novelists. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me like I had hoped. While I adored and fell head-over-heels in love with the hero, Alex, I can't say the same for the heroine, Lily. I started the book very much loving her vivacious, witty, and incorrigible behavior; however, by the ...more
This is my first Lisa Kleypas book and there is not doubt that she is one INCREDIBLE writer. I can see why most of my Goodreads friends love and consider her one of their all-time favorite romance novelists. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me like I had hoped. While I adored and fell head-over-heels in love with the hero, Alex, I can't say the same for the heroine, Lily. I started the book very much loving her vivacious, witty, and incorrigible behavior; however, by the ...more

spoiler warning
There is a huge misunderstanding. Hero is leaving with his righteous anger. Heroine calls out to him and he stops. Heroine explains without turning it into huge ball of omissions. They talk it out and solve the problem. Aaannd romance readers everywhere cries!!!

Finally! This book gets a 5 stars rating just for that scene from me. I really liked the heroine and the hero as a cherry on top =) ...more
There is a huge misunderstanding. Hero is leaving with his righteous anger. Heroine calls out to him and he stops. Heroine explains without turning it into huge ball of omissions. They talk it out and solve the problem. Aaannd romance readers everywhere cries!!!

Finally! This book gets a 5 stars rating just for that scene from me. I really liked the heroine and the hero as a cherry on top =) ...more

I re-read this one, needing a book where I could really LOVE the hero after plowing through a surfeit of tortured, arse-hole heroes.
And I certainly do love the hero, Alex. Fabulous book- Kleypas at her best. We have a strong yet vulnerable heroine, Lily. And we have a passionate, caring hero who does his utmost to win Lily's trust and support her through everything. An interesting (and emotional) sub-plot as well.
Just a really wonderful romance with a capital "R".
If you are looking for a bastard ...more
And I certainly do love the hero, Alex. Fabulous book- Kleypas at her best. We have a strong yet vulnerable heroine, Lily. And we have a passionate, caring hero who does his utmost to win Lily's trust and support her through everything. An interesting (and emotional) sub-plot as well.
Just a really wonderful romance with a capital "R".
If you are looking for a bastard ...more

Addictive for certain, but did it have to had so much drama?
If this had been cut to half its size, it would get a solid four star rating!
As it was, it was just too much: I am an emotional wreck by now, and it's six o'clock in the morning! o_O
The positives:
The banter between the main characters.
The fact that they pretty much hate each other guts on sight, and for quite some time (yes, I choose to place this amongst the positives, lol)
The fact that neither of them is your typical a hundred per cen ...more
If this had been cut to half its size, it would get a solid four star rating!
As it was, it was just too much: I am an emotional wreck by now, and it's six o'clock in the morning! o_O
The positives:
The banter between the main characters.
The fact that they pretty much hate each other guts on sight, and for quite some time (yes, I choose to place this amongst the positives, lol)
The fact that neither of them is your typical a hundred per cen ...more

I liked this one. Strong heroine. Strong hero. Bit of a back story with her history.



Bit pressed for time with reviews at the moment.

...more

Oh she hadn't expected to enjoy this so much. She had never felt such pure delight in provoking a man.

"Lily, don't be afraid. I want to please you. Trust me."

"Say yes," his fingers curled into her hair.
"Say yes, darling."
Bit pressed for time with reviews at the moment.

It was unfashionable for a husband to dote openly on his wife, but Alex didn't seem to care.


I loved this book, that after I finished reading it, I flipped to the first page and started to re-read it again.
At first glance Alex Raiford is your typical A Alpha Male, wanting it his way or the highway. But slowly your shown what has left Alex so cold and unfeeling and that he’s finally has to see that he’s been hiding behind this pain and building a wall around himself and the one person he didn’t want around him in a million years is the one who opens his eyes.
Lily is a cutting, gambli ...more

Jun 05, 2008
Eastofoz
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Tammy, Kathrynn, Isis, JJ; lovers of Loretta Chase's "Lord of Scoundrels"
Shelves:
favourites,
historical-regency
What a page turner this turned out to be! It was nearly impossible to put down. This is right up there with Loretta Chase’s “Lord of Scoundrels” in terms of deliciously wicked banter between the h/h and the love-hate relationship is broiling hot with lots of unexpected twists and turns.
Alex is one short tempered, bossy man who cannot handle not being in control all the time. He just can’t stand the “screw you”, devil-may-care attitude of Lily Lawson and does everything he can to get one up on h ...more
Alex is one short tempered, bossy man who cannot handle not being in control all the time. He just can’t stand the “screw you”, devil-may-care attitude of Lily Lawson and does everything he can to get one up on h ...more

After all these years, still 5 stars
At the halfway point, I was certain that I must have been reading a different book to the one I had rated 5 stars. I was blubbering like a baby, swearing at men in general and calling Alex a bugger, bugger, poo bum git head (my most scathing insult). Had I got it all wrong? Maybe, I had read it with rose coloured glasses? It became imperative that I go on. I had to confirm that Lisa Kleypas is and was one of the Queens of Historical Romance.
What a bloody fool ...more
At the halfway point, I was certain that I must have been reading a different book to the one I had rated 5 stars. I was blubbering like a baby, swearing at men in general and calling Alex a bugger, bugger, poo bum git head (my most scathing insult). Had I got it all wrong? Maybe, I had read it with rose coloured glasses? It became imperative that I go on. I had to confirm that Lisa Kleypas is and was one of the Queens of Historical Romance.
What a bloody fool ...more

Originally Posted At Addicted To Romance.
I was shocked to learn I hadn't done reviews on this series and that has GOTTA change now!! Because quite frankly both of these books are amazing. But let me discuss the first book in the series...Then Came You. Now what is so great about this book?? Well quite frankly quite a bit. We have our heroine, who is unconventional, wild and free and doesn't like to be tied to. She likes to ride, hunt, shoot, wear trousers and jump into freezing waters for a thr ...more
I was shocked to learn I hadn't done reviews on this series and that has GOTTA change now!! Because quite frankly both of these books are amazing. But let me discuss the first book in the series...Then Came You. Now what is so great about this book?? Well quite frankly quite a bit. We have our heroine, who is unconventional, wild and free and doesn't like to be tied to. She likes to ride, hunt, shoot, wear trousers and jump into freezing waters for a thr ...more

Mar 20, 2009
Shawna
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Fans of historical romance; Lisa Kleypas fans
Recommended to Shawna by:
East & Rane (most recently!)
5+ stars – Historical/Regency Romance
Although I’d previously read and loooved Kleypas’s Travis’s series, this was the first historical romance of hers that I read, and it’s no wonder that she’s such an incredibly popular romance author. The relationship between wild spitfire spinster Lily Lawson and stodgy Alex, Lord Raiford, from bitter antagonism to explosive passion that turns to cordial respect and then deep affection, is sheer magic to behold. This book inflamed my LK admiration that fi ...more
Although I’d previously read and loooved Kleypas’s Travis’s series, this was the first historical romance of hers that I read, and it’s no wonder that she’s such an incredibly popular romance author. The relationship between wild spitfire spinster Lily Lawson and stodgy Alex, Lord Raiford, from bitter antagonism to explosive passion that turns to cordial respect and then deep affection, is sheer magic to behold. This book inflamed my LK admiration that fi ...more

Nov 24, 2019
Nenia ✨️ I yeet my books back and forth ✨️ Campbell
marked it as wishlist
This was one of the first romances I ever read and I really, really liked it, but I read it almost ten years ago. Hope it goes on sale soon because I really want to pick it up and see if it's as good as I remember. :)
What was your first romance? ...more
What was your first romance? ...more

Lisa Kleypas creates a carnal magical love-story between the spirited and scandalous beauty of a heroine Wilhemina "Lily" Lawson,and the one man she refuses her sister to marry, the head-strong and noble hero Alex Raiford. Alex with his realistic but tortured mind..can`t get over how quickly this wild-flower changes his whole life,soul and heart.These two head ahead together are MAGIC,and Lisa Kleypas is a master storyteller as usual in the way she presents these passionate characters,and their
...more

4.5 Gypsy stars!!
Well my Lisa Kleypas Cherry has officially been popped, and I now have a new unicorn author. I’m hooked on her writing! Historical Romance is my absolute favorite genre, and I’m so happy that Lisa didn’t disappoint at all.
“If you’re not quiet,” he interrupted with soft menace, “I’m going to give you the spanking of your life.”
“I’ve never been struck before tonight,” she said in a muffled, accusing voice. “My father never dared—” “He never gave a damn,” Alex replied curtly. “And ...more
Well my Lisa Kleypas Cherry has officially been popped, and I now have a new unicorn author. I’m hooked on her writing! Historical Romance is my absolute favorite genre, and I’m so happy that Lisa didn’t disappoint at all.
“If you’re not quiet,” he interrupted with soft menace, “I’m going to give you the spanking of your life.”
“I’ve never been struck before tonight,” she said in a muffled, accusing voice. “My father never dared—” “He never gave a damn,” Alex replied curtly. “And ...more


It is no secret that as of recent Lisa Kleypas is my go to author. I’m loving her Historical Romances. My first book by her was Sugar Daddy (Travis Series) and since then I don’t believe there has been book that I have read by her that hasn’t been a 4 or 5 star read. For me her storytelling is always engaging and entertaining. I adore her characters and the fact that love never really comes easy for them. There is always a challenge.
There was no insta-love between the heroine and hero but in th ...more

This book is so

...more



So that was my first Kleypas.
I hope to god that the other two I unfortunately also bought sight unseen aren't as bad as this one, because this was pretty rotten reading up to when I and the book parted ways.
Most importantly, I couldn't at all connect to the prose. It was brittle, unemotional and as dry as tinder, not to speak of very, very boring.

Boring appears to be a staple for this book, because inspite of their antics I found both H and h to be utterly yawn-inducing. In fact, if the most e ...more
I hope to god that the other two I unfortunately also bought sight unseen aren't as bad as this one, because this was pretty rotten reading up to when I and the book parted ways.
Most importantly, I couldn't at all connect to the prose. It was brittle, unemotional and as dry as tinder, not to speak of very, very boring.

Boring appears to be a staple for this book, because inspite of their antics I found both H and h to be utterly yawn-inducing. In fact, if the most e ...more

This book started out rather good. The protagonist was bold and funny and independent. Also, my heart ached for her because her child was kidnapped. It was certainly emotional at times because of that.
However, she started making really bad decisions, and it went downhill from there. And I get it. Desperation makes you do stupid things. However, I also wanted her to make smart choices, if she really wanted to find her child, and if she really wanted to be happy. It was just…complicated. There wer ...more
However, she started making really bad decisions, and it went downhill from there. And I get it. Desperation makes you do stupid things. However, I also wanted her to make smart choices, if she really wanted to find her child, and if she really wanted to be happy. It was just…complicated. There wer ...more

2.5
There is a lot of drama in this book, but I didn't mind that much.
Then Came You gives you two very stubborn and strong-willed people clashing for the most of the story.
It all starts when Lily decides that a man her younger sister is going to marry is not going to be good for her. I didn't get that. Only because he was unpleasant the first time they talked. You can't blame him for that really, because the first time he saw her was at a party when she jumped into the Thames to get her bonnet. ...more
There is a lot of drama in this book, but I didn't mind that much.
Then Came You gives you two very stubborn and strong-willed people clashing for the most of the story.
It all starts when Lily decides that a man her younger sister is going to marry is not going to be good for her. I didn't get that. Only because he was unpleasant the first time they talked. You can't blame him for that really, because the first time he saw her was at a party when she jumped into the Thames to get her bonnet. ...more

This book made me fall in love with Lisa Kleypas again. I had devoured her books years ago, and then things happend and I just stopped reading altogether, and then I picked this up...This is one of those books where once the hero has decided to stop being stubborn, he falls like a 100 pound cement block! :-) Luckily for Lisa she has this ability to write these stories that make you want to pick them back up and feel that tenderness again and again, and thus makes her books 'keepers'!
Reread: Marc ...more
Reread: Marc ...more

Wow. I’m sensing another Kleypas craze coming on! Have I ever said how much I love this woman!? I may have mentioned once or twice, but I absolutely adore her historicals! No one can really compare with her. Kleypas is simply the historical romance queen!
Although this book wasn’t my favourite of her works, it was still pretty damn good! At first I wasn’t too fond of Lily. She was too showy, cared too much about being the center of attention and I didn’t like that at all. Lily says she doesn’t be ...more
Although this book wasn’t my favourite of her works, it was still pretty damn good! At first I wasn’t too fond of Lily. She was too showy, cared too much about being the center of attention and I didn’t like that at all. Lily says she doesn’t be ...more

Overall rating: 5 stars!
Triggers:
Cheating: (view spoiler)
Love triangle: (view spoiler)
Sex with om/ow: (view spoiler)
Intimacy with om/ow: (view spoiler)
HEA: (view spoiler)
My review ...more
Triggers:
Cheating: (view spoiler)
Love triangle: (view spoiler)
Sex with om/ow: (view spoiler)
Intimacy with om/ow: (view spoiler)
HEA: (view spoiler)
My review ...more

After waffling between a four and a five, I'm going for broke and slapping a fiver on this wonderful story. Lily is a magnificent heroine. She just feels so REAL in everything she says and does. She's audacious and bold and makes mistakes, but she also has very human quirks and vulnerabilities that she doesn't want to reveal to anyone (or doesn't trust to reveal) after having gone so long only relying on her own independence. When Alex comes along and is smitten almost from the start, she doesn'
...more

Mar 20, 2018
MG *Bury Me with My Kindle.. & a REALLY Long Charger*
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
series,
regency-or-victorian,
romance,
fave-author,
strong-heroine,
alpha-male,
enemies-to-lovers,
historical,
steamy,
angsty
3 1/2 stars
To most, Lady Lily Lawson ("Lawless Lily") is a scandalous, devil-may-care woman who doesn't care what anyone thinks and yet earns the admiration and respect of the men with whom she hunts, gambles, and banters almost as an equal. Though everyone believes she is his paramour, Lily's closest (and platonic) friend and confidante, Derek Craven, who is the owner of the most opulent gaming hell in London, is the only one who really knows her private pain. Alex is Lord Wolverton, the always ...more
To most, Lady Lily Lawson ("Lawless Lily") is a scandalous, devil-may-care woman who doesn't care what anyone thinks and yet earns the admiration and respect of the men with whom she hunts, gambles, and banters almost as an equal. Though everyone believes she is his paramour, Lily's closest (and platonic) friend and confidante, Derek Craven, who is the owner of the most opulent gaming hell in London, is the only one who really knows her private pain. Alex is Lord Wolverton, the always ...more

3.5 STARS
It’s been an age since I’ve read this LK book, and on a night where I couldn’t get to sleep this was a lovely escape. This is a book high on drama, so before picking it up ensure you’re in the mood, I certainly was. If you want a book super high on juicy drama that you know is unrealistic (especially given the era the book/characters are situated in), and for that reason is difficult to put down this is the book for you.
Reckless/scandalous beauty Lily Lawson and Alex, Lord Wolverton cla ...more
It’s been an age since I’ve read this LK book, and on a night where I couldn’t get to sleep this was a lovely escape. This is a book high on drama, so before picking it up ensure you’re in the mood, I certainly was. If you want a book super high on juicy drama that you know is unrealistic (especially given the era the book/characters are situated in), and for that reason is difficult to put down this is the book for you.
Reckless/scandalous beauty Lily Lawson and Alex, Lord Wolverton cla ...more

There is no doubt that Lisa Kleypas is a gifted writer. I breeze through her books so quickly! However, I never seem to finish her books satisfied with the love story. I think I've figured out why. Lisa kleypas' stories usually have very volatile characters. For many, I think they feel like the volatility adds greats drama and a perception of passion. For me, it just doesn't ring true...most likely because I've never bought fully into the opposites attract thing nor violence in a sexual relation
...more

This oldie made me laugh! Lily was so unexpected and reckless! LOL
At the beginning I was incredulous about her antics, but I started loving her when she showed her love for her sister!
She's incredibly devious and she's not afraid of Alex who terrifies everybody else! She's so deternimed to break the engagement between him and her sister that she will stop at nothing at all! When Alex, exasperated by her scheming, throw her out of his home (and what a scene that was with her luggage flying out th ...more
At the beginning I was incredulous about her antics, but I started loving her when she showed her love for her sister!
She's incredibly devious and she's not afraid of Alex who terrifies everybody else! She's so deternimed to break the engagement between him and her sister that she will stop at nothing at all! When Alex, exasperated by her scheming, throw her out of his home (and what a scene that was with her luggage flying out th ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Romance Novel Boo...: SOLVED-Looking for book starts with a boat party | 4 | 36 | Jun 20, 2018 04:18PM | |
Happily Ever Afte...: Book of the Month Giveaway - Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas | 2 | 5 | May 28, 2018 07:30PM | |
We Love Lisa Kleypas: Book of the Month Giveaway - Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas | 1 | 10 | May 28, 2018 07:28PM | |
Free Books, .99, ...: Book of the Month Giveaway - Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas | 1 | 2 | May 28, 2018 07:27PM | |
Readers That Love...: Book of the Month Giveaway - Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas | 1 | 10 | May 28, 2018 07:26PM |
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