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Just Imagine
The War Between the States may be over for the rest of the country, but not for Kit Weston. Disguised as a boy, she's come to New York City to kill Baron Cain, the man who stands between her and Risen Glory, the South Carolina home she loves. But unknown to Kit, the Yankee war hero is more than her bitterest enemy—he's also her guardian. And he'll be a lot harder to kill than she's figured on . . .
Believing that Kit's a boy, Cain offers the grubby rapscallion a job in his stable. But he has no idea what he's in for, and it's not long before the hero of Missionary Ridge discovers the truth. His scamp of a stable boy is a strong-willed, violet-eyed beauty who's hell-bent on driving him crazy.
Two hard-headed, passionate people . . . Two stubborn opponents with tender souls . . . Sometimes wars of the heart can only be won through the sweetest of surrenders.
This book is an updated version of the original title, Risen Glory.
Believing that Kit's a boy, Cain offers the grubby rapscallion a job in his stable. But he has no idea what he's in for, and it's not long before the hero of Missionary Ridge discovers the truth. His scamp of a stable boy is a strong-willed, violet-eyed beauty who's hell-bent on driving him crazy.
Two hard-headed, passionate people . . . Two stubborn opponents with tender souls . . . Sometimes wars of the heart can only be won through the sweetest of surrenders.
This book is an updated version of the original title, Risen Glory.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1984
253 people are currently reading
2961 people want to read
About the author
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
47 books15.8k followersSUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Susan's newest book, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.
You can visit Susan on Facebook, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 482 reviews
April 9, 2016
The War Between the States may be over for the rest of the country, but not for Kit Weston. Disguised as a boy, she's come to New York City to kill Baron Cain, the man who stands between her and Risen Glory, the South Carolina home she loves.
Believing that Kit's a boy, Cain offers the grubby rapscallion a job in his stable. But he has no idea what he's in for, and it's not long before the hero of Missionary Ridge discovers the truth. His scamp of a stable boy is a strong-willed, violet-eyed beauty who's hell-bent on driving him crazy.
Two hard-headed, passionate people.... Two stubborn opponents with tender souls.... Sometimes wars of the heart can only be won through the sweetest of surrenders.
With the blurb alone I knew I was going to like this one. Two strong-willed people. Her hatred and dislike of him. Oh, my, it was sweet.
Tortured hero. Stubborn heroine. I wasn't sure how it would work as she was quite young when they first met. But it worked. Yessir, it worked mighty fine.
He'd learned as a child not to get attached to anything.
She reminded him of a wild rose, growing tangled and unruly in the deepest part of the woods ......
"Flirting's in your nature, Kit. Sometimes I don't even think you know you're doing it. I've been told that Southern women acquire the knack in the womb, and you don't seem to be any exception."
She'd had her revenge.
Now it was his turn ...
Nothing was going to be easy for these two.
She was savagely beautiful, his wild rose of the deep wood, as untamed as the day he'd met her ...
I won't say too much more. I know a lot of friends do not read Historicals. Your loss, I say. But to my friends who do read them, I really think this is a great one.
At the moment he hated her ...
December 30, 2015
I had hoped to do a full review on this one but RL is a bit hectic at the moment. So this will be quick.
Just Imagine was another fantastic read. I know I keep repeating myself when it comes to SEP but it bares repeating. I LOVE HER STORIES. They are always comforting and never fail to make me happy.
I enjoyed Katharine (Kit) Louise Weston and Major Baron Nathaniel Cain and the animosity they felt towards each other. With each chapter that animosity started to weaken and something else took its place. ❤
She was savagely beautiful, his wild rose of the deep wood, as untamed as the day he'd met her, still ready to stab a man's flesh with her thorns at the same time she enticed him with her spirit.
Another fantastic read!!
Just Imagine was another fantastic read. I know I keep repeating myself when it comes to SEP but it bares repeating. I LOVE HER STORIES. They are always comforting and never fail to make me happy.
I enjoyed Katharine (Kit) Louise Weston and Major Baron Nathaniel Cain and the animosity they felt towards each other. With each chapter that animosity started to weaken and something else took its place. ❤
She was savagely beautiful, his wild rose of the deep wood, as untamed as the day he'd met her, still ready to stab a man's flesh with her thorns at the same time she enticed him with her spirit.
Another fantastic read!!
September 13, 2025
2.5 stars
This is the author’s second book, and it feels like an early work. Strike one.
This was first published in 1984, and it reeks of 1980’s excess. Strike two.
This is a slug-fest, not a love story, until the last few pages. Strike three.
This book begins three months after the end of the four-year American Civil War, which is a tad ironic because these main characters just keep on fighting the war on a personal level for the next four years. Kit has traveled from South Carolina to New York City to murder Baron Cain, the man who has inherited her beloved family plantation, Risen Glory, and makes two unwelcome discoveries: she doesn’t have the guts to kill him and he turns out to be her legal guardian. Cain tries to foist the guardianship on a long list of Kit’s neighbors in South Carolina, but no one is willing to take on the responsibility of the unwashed, foul-mouthed, feral 18-year-old so he sticks her in a finishing school for young ladies in New York City for three years, threatening to sell the plantation if she flunks out.
Fast forward to the end of those three years: Kit is stunningly beautiful, deeply angry, and ready to battle Cain for the plantation, which he’s turned into a success over the intervening years.
While the first third is interesting, the rest of the book just cycles through clashes and hurts and temper tantrums, pushing and pulling and what all, until the main characters batter each other to the point I wanted to be anywhere but where they were. The fighting felt never-ending and pointless, and the ending dragged out to a weak and long-overdue realization that all those negative feelings were actually love and the main characters flipped from hostility to tenderness on a dime.
No matter how much she’d tried to deny it, no matter how hard she’d fought it, she’d fallen in love with him. Her love had been written in the stars long before that July night when he’d pulled her down off the wall by her britches. All of her life since birth had shaped her for him, just as all his life had shaped him for her. He was the other half of herself.
That’s real purty. I’d be more impressed if she hadn’t spent the whole book being as big a bitch as possible, and if he hadn’t spent the whole book dodging attachment.
This is the author’s second book, and it feels like an early work. Strike one.
This was first published in 1984, and it reeks of 1980’s excess. Strike two.
This is a slug-fest, not a love story, until the last few pages. Strike three.
This book begins three months after the end of the four-year American Civil War, which is a tad ironic because these main characters just keep on fighting the war on a personal level for the next four years. Kit has traveled from South Carolina to New York City to murder Baron Cain, the man who has inherited her beloved family plantation, Risen Glory, and makes two unwelcome discoveries: she doesn’t have the guts to kill him and he turns out to be her legal guardian. Cain tries to foist the guardianship on a long list of Kit’s neighbors in South Carolina, but no one is willing to take on the responsibility of the unwashed, foul-mouthed, feral 18-year-old so he sticks her in a finishing school for young ladies in New York City for three years, threatening to sell the plantation if she flunks out.
Fast forward to the end of those three years: Kit is stunningly beautiful, deeply angry, and ready to battle Cain for the plantation, which he’s turned into a success over the intervening years.
While the first third is interesting, the rest of the book just cycles through clashes and hurts and temper tantrums, pushing and pulling and what all, until the main characters batter each other to the point I wanted to be anywhere but where they were. The fighting felt never-ending and pointless, and the ending dragged out to a weak and long-overdue realization that all those negative feelings were actually love and the main characters flipped from hostility to tenderness on a dime.
No matter how much she’d tried to deny it, no matter how hard she’d fought it, she’d fallen in love with him. Her love had been written in the stars long before that July night when he’d pulled her down off the wall by her britches. All of her life since birth had shaped her for him, just as all his life had shaped him for her. He was the other half of herself.
That’s real purty. I’d be more impressed if she hadn’t spent the whole book being as big a bitch as possible, and if he hadn’t spent the whole book dodging attachment.
November 20, 2017
Sigh!!! I loved this book. Super adorable. I hadn’t read an SEP book in forever and this one hit the mark for me. If only these 2 characters could have toned down their prideful personalities. Lol.
May 25, 2015
Although I haven't had much success with SEP's more recent stuff, or maybe I wasn't in the right mind frame...I really liked this. It had an epic feel to it, made me think of those sweeping romances. I loved seeing Kit transform from tomboy to vixen and finally to a woman comfortable in her own skin.
At first I felt Baron was an ass, but even he grew on me. His past was very depressing and traumatic. He and Kit shared so much yet couldn't seem to agree on anything. But as fate would have it, some things are just meant to be. The secondary plot about Sophronia and Magnus was fantastic. I loved seeing Magnus in his element and proving how much of a real man he was for Sophronia. The turmoil, angst, and ending, were all wonderful.
Thanks for the rec, Mo ;).
At first I felt Baron was an ass, but even he grew on me. His past was very depressing and traumatic. He and Kit shared so much yet couldn't seem to agree on anything. But as fate would have it, some things are just meant to be. The secondary plot about Sophronia and Magnus was fantastic. I loved seeing Magnus in his element and proving how much of a real man he was for Sophronia. The turmoil, angst, and ending, were all wonderful.
Thanks for the rec, Mo ;).
August 6, 2025
Read: 7/31/25
Setting: Restoration New York, South Carolina
Trope: enemies to lovers
What a hidden gem! I had no idea this author wrote hr, especially with that bookcover. I'm glad I found this book. I haven't enjoyed a story this much in a long time.
This couple was so much alike. They couldn't stop fighting long enough to see the love they had for each other. Kit was especially stubborn. She really put Baron through the ringer. I'd feel sorry for him, but I couldn't stop laughing. I wanted their HEA so badly.
Conclusion: This is an enemy to lovers romance done right! I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats😉. An all around good book!
I highly recommend this story!
Setting: Restoration New York, South Carolina
Trope: enemies to lovers
What a hidden gem! I had no idea this author wrote hr, especially with that bookcover. I'm glad I found this book. I haven't enjoyed a story this much in a long time.
This couple was so much alike. They couldn't stop fighting long enough to see the love they had for each other. Kit was especially stubborn. She really put Baron through the ringer. I'd feel sorry for him, but I couldn't stop laughing. I wanted their HEA so badly.
Conclusion: This is an enemy to lovers romance done right! I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats😉. An all around good book!
I highly recommend this story!
November 25, 2019
Nordul și Sudul Statelor Unite ale Americii într-un război cu final previzibil. Dar ce război! Demn de ținut minte! Un război între doi oameni iuți la mânie și încăpățânați, care refuză să lase armele și să își recunoască sentimentele. O poveste despre suferința dragostei, despre iubirea dincolo de limite și despre fericirea pana la adânci bătrâneți. Kit și Baron sunt doi oameni răniți de viața, care nu vor să își mai riște sufletul... De aici, avem parte de întâmplări neprevăzute, unele amuzante altele dureroase. O carte foarte frumoasa!
May 10, 2015
OMG! LOVED this one! Review to come...
September 15, 2014
Muy, muy bonito.
Se nota que es un estilo diferente al que SEP suele utilizar, pero puedo decir que incluso me ha gustado más. Muy descriptivo y situado con gran maestría en un momento histórico muy importante para los EEUU. La importancia de las apariencias sociales que se vivían en esa época están magistralmente representados en la novela con unos de mis personajes favoritos: la "chaperona".
La historia de amor es fantástica y la tensión se vive a pesar de no contener demasiadas escenas eróticas. Un diez para Baron Cain, que además de guapo y "comestible", tiene una mentalidad y tolerancia muy adelantada a su tiempo.
Nota: La portada no le hace justicia al libro
Se nota que es un estilo diferente al que SEP suele utilizar, pero puedo decir que incluso me ha gustado más. Muy descriptivo y situado con gran maestría en un momento histórico muy importante para los EEUU. La importancia de las apariencias sociales que se vivían en esa época están magistralmente representados en la novela con unos de mis personajes favoritos: la "chaperona".
La historia de amor es fantástica y la tensión se vive a pesar de no contener demasiadas escenas eróticas. Un diez para Baron Cain, que además de guapo y "comestible", tiene una mentalidad y tolerancia muy adelantada a su tiempo.
Nota: La portada no le hace justicia al libro
August 4, 2023
Estoy sumamente bloqueada, sin tiempo y sin ganas de leer, por eso me propuse releer algunos libros. Lo leí hace un año en digital y sé que me gustó mucho pero no me acordaba porqué... Lo ví en la biblioteca y me lo traje, no me arrepiento, como me gusta este enemies to lovers de principio a fin (casi), si bien el final se desinfla un poco, casi el 80% del libro entre las peleas y tensión sexual me atrapó como no podía hacerlo otro libro en este momento.
Hay mucho de Lo que el viento se llevó, que es mi novela favorita del año. Pero lo que tiene Imagínate a favor es que demuestra una parte del maltrato a los esclavos, sobre todo de las mujeres exclavas, y no lo naturaliza como lo hace la novela clásica.
En fin, me alegro mucho de haber leído nuevamente esta historia y conserva las 5 estrellas de su primera lectura.
Hay mucho de Lo que el viento se llevó, que es mi novela favorita del año. Pero lo que tiene Imagínate a favor es que demuestra una parte del maltrato a los esclavos, sobre todo de las mujeres exclavas, y no lo naturaliza como lo hace la novela clásica.
En fin, me alegro mucho de haber leído nuevamente esta historia y conserva las 5 estrellas de su primera lectura.
September 5, 2017
Review written September 4, 2017
4.4 Stars - Fabulous fun, well done and romantic as always when written by SEP. Enjoyed every minute..
Wonderful story and sweet romantic as always when by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Yay! Now I know her historicals are as good as her more famous contemporary romances.
**********************************************
Wow, just finished Just Imagine as a 11:27 audiobook terrific narrated by Christine McMurdo-Wallis (new for me).
« The heroine, Katharine Louise Weston, better known as Kit, has dressed all her life in britches and is more at home in the stable than the parlor. She travels from the Deep South to New York City to kill Major Baron Cain, the Yankee who stole her family plantation. When Cain hires her as a stable boy, Kit is delighted. But, before she can shoot him, Cain discovers she's a woman and forces Kit to change her strategy.... »
This time a SEP romance set in a historical time. I got a very nice Gone with the Wind feeling. It s after the American States Civil War and we are meeting a a wild southern innocent young heroine and a tough northern very dashing hero. Gosh!! — It is witty, lot of fun, heartbreaking sometimes and both nicely hot and very tender. Not a boring minute. Full speed and some surprising turns and twists and a nice enemy to lovers topic. — Yay! What more could I wish for? — ... Absolutely nothing a gray, rainy autumn week as this last one.
**********************************************
I LIKE - and I always enjoy to listening to great SEP romances
4.4 Stars - Fabulous fun, well done and romantic as always when written by SEP. Enjoyed every minute..
Wonderful story and sweet romantic as always when by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Yay! Now I know her historicals are as good as her more famous contemporary romances.
**********************************************
Wow, just finished Just Imagine as a 11:27 audiobook terrific narrated by Christine McMurdo-Wallis (new for me).
« The heroine, Katharine Louise Weston, better known as Kit, has dressed all her life in britches and is more at home in the stable than the parlor. She travels from the Deep South to New York City to kill Major Baron Cain, the Yankee who stole her family plantation. When Cain hires her as a stable boy, Kit is delighted. But, before she can shoot him, Cain discovers she's a woman and forces Kit to change her strategy.... »
This time a SEP romance set in a historical time. I got a very nice Gone with the Wind feeling. It s after the American States Civil War and we are meeting a a wild southern innocent young heroine and a tough northern very dashing hero. Gosh!! — It is witty, lot of fun, heartbreaking sometimes and both nicely hot and very tender. Not a boring minute. Full speed and some surprising turns and twists and a nice enemy to lovers topic. — Yay! What more could I wish for? — ... Absolutely nothing a gray, rainy autumn week as this last one.
**********************************************
I LIKE - and I always enjoy to listening to great SEP romances
July 24, 2024
Disguised as a boy, Kit Weston travels to New York City to kill Baron Cain. Cain inherited Kit's South Carolina home, Risen Glory, when her stepmother died. Kit is determined to get her home back from the Yankee scoundrel. She's surprised when she meets him, and he gives her a job as a stable boy. She is also shocked to learn that he has been named her guardian.
Just Imagine is the 2001 re-write of Susan Elizabeth Phillip's debut novel, Risen Glory, which was published in 1984. I never read the original, so I don't know what changed. This book felt like the historical romances I used to read in the 80's and 90's. They're the reason I stopped reading historical romance for so long. Kit and Baron were combative right from the start. Their fighting never let up until the last page of the book. Kit was just like Scarlet O'Hara. She thought her plantation was all that she had in this world. She never stopped to look at her life and the things that she had.
If you like the older historical romances, you will love this book. I prefer the newer, lighter historical romances that we have now. My rating: 2.5 Stars.
Just Imagine is the 2001 re-write of Susan Elizabeth Phillip's debut novel, Risen Glory, which was published in 1984. I never read the original, so I don't know what changed. This book felt like the historical romances I used to read in the 80's and 90's. They're the reason I stopped reading historical romance for so long. Kit and Baron were combative right from the start. Their fighting never let up until the last page of the book. Kit was just like Scarlet O'Hara. She thought her plantation was all that she had in this world. She never stopped to look at her life and the things that she had.
If you like the older historical romances, you will love this book. I prefer the newer, lighter historical romances that we have now. My rating: 2.5 Stars.
June 3, 2018
"Just Imagine" is the story of Katherine "Kit" Weston and Baron Cain.
When Kit is orphaned at the age of 18, and her family lands are thrust on to her stepbrother Cain- she decides to kill him and gain what is rightfully hers. However, as she's caught in his barn, she is mistaken as a stable boy and given a job.
Soon her identity is discovered, and Cain promises her Risen Glory in lieu her becoming a "proper lady", rather than the uncouth hellion she now is- and Kit reluctantly accepts.
Three years later, a beautiful belle enters back into Cain's life and attraction ignites. But all Kit has wanted is her land and trust fund, and all Cain wants is a semblance of happiness- can these two very different people finally come together?
I have to again confess- I love SEP- and I adore almost everything written by her- so the review might be a tad bit biased. This had impeccable plot and writing as expected, and I really enjoyed the banter between the characters.
Kit was impulsive and a bit immature, Cain was jealous and hard-headed; the passion and love between them was strong- so were the misunderstandings.
That being said, I hope that we had more insight on Cain and his inner feelings- because I'd have loved to read more about that. Veronica (the widow with lady boner for Cain) being a trivial part seemed un-necessary- but Dolly the chaperone was a pleasant surprise.
The second story revolved around the African-American Sophronia and Magnus, with a slight focus on treatment of slaves back in the day- this one had a cute ending.
Overall, this was not the best book by SEP- but I still did enjoy it. The ending was very satisfying- however I felt this one had the typical "oomph" factor missing- which makes me bawl and fall for this author every single time.
But I did cry.
Unsafe
3/5
When Kit is orphaned at the age of 18, and her family lands are thrust on to her stepbrother Cain- she decides to kill him and gain what is rightfully hers. However, as she's caught in his barn, she is mistaken as a stable boy and given a job.
Soon her identity is discovered, and Cain promises her Risen Glory in lieu her becoming a "proper lady", rather than the uncouth hellion she now is- and Kit reluctantly accepts.
Three years later, a beautiful belle enters back into Cain's life and attraction ignites. But all Kit has wanted is her land and trust fund, and all Cain wants is a semblance of happiness- can these two very different people finally come together?
I have to again confess- I love SEP- and I adore almost everything written by her- so the review might be a tad bit biased. This had impeccable plot and writing as expected, and I really enjoyed the banter between the characters.
Kit was impulsive and a bit immature, Cain was jealous and hard-headed; the passion and love between them was strong- so were the misunderstandings.
That being said, I hope that we had more insight on Cain and his inner feelings- because I'd have loved to read more about that. Veronica (the widow with lady boner for Cain) being a trivial part seemed un-necessary- but Dolly the chaperone was a pleasant surprise.
The second story revolved around the African-American Sophronia and Magnus, with a slight focus on treatment of slaves back in the day- this one had a cute ending.
Overall, this was not the best book by SEP- but I still did enjoy it. The ending was very satisfying- however I felt this one had the typical "oomph" factor missing- which makes me bawl and fall for this author every single time.
But I did cry.
Unsafe
3/5
December 2, 2015
~2.5 stars~
I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips, but this book...............not so much. Here's my breakdown:
The pros:
* I love a strong and independent heroine - Kit did have this characteristic in the beginning
* For a historical romance it had a modern feel to it
The cons:
* The plot execution was awful - it started strong but crumbled fast
* I despised both the hero and heroine - The hero was repulsive and nothing about his character was endearing nor redeemable - the heroine transformed from a strong girl to a weak and pathetic woman
* The romance, ugh, I don’t think there was any - I felt no love between the main characters - Their relationship was constantly hot and cold - hate and lust - they never at any point felt like a genuine couple - they were both so immature and were constantly making ignorant and impulsive decisions
* The ending felt incredibly rushed - an epilogue at very least would have helped
* One thing I adore about SEP is the humor and whit she delivers in her writing - this read never at any point even had me remotely smiling
* Overpriced at $5.99 - not worth that price
I'm sure I could think of a lot of other things to list, but I'm honestly tired of even thinking about this book. It annoyed me immensely. I do still love SEP and will likely read anything she publishes, this particular book was just a "miss" for me. Needless to say, I would not recommend this one.
I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips, but this book...............not so much. Here's my breakdown:
The pros:
* I love a strong and independent heroine - Kit did have this characteristic in the beginning
* For a historical romance it had a modern feel to it
The cons:
* The plot execution was awful - it started strong but crumbled fast
* I despised both the hero and heroine - The hero was repulsive and nothing about his character was endearing nor redeemable - the heroine transformed from a strong girl to a weak and pathetic woman
* The romance, ugh, I don’t think there was any - I felt no love between the main characters - Their relationship was constantly hot and cold - hate and lust - they never at any point felt like a genuine couple - they were both so immature and were constantly making ignorant and impulsive decisions
* The ending felt incredibly rushed - an epilogue at very least would have helped
* One thing I adore about SEP is the humor and whit she delivers in her writing - this read never at any point even had me remotely smiling
* Overpriced at $5.99 - not worth that price
I'm sure I could think of a lot of other things to list, but I'm honestly tired of even thinking about this book. It annoyed me immensely. I do still love SEP and will likely read anything she publishes, this particular book was just a "miss" for me. Needless to say, I would not recommend this one.
August 17, 2018
3 Estrellas, y conste que me ha costado mucho poner las estrellas porque es de SEP, aunque sea el primer SEP e histórico para más inri. He tardado muchos años en decidirme a leer este libro, porque no he tenido buenas experiencias con los primeros SEP contemporáneos, pero tarde o temprano había que leerlo, y también me echaba un poquito para atrás el contexto histórico, que no es mi favorito, pero vayamos al libro.
"Imagínate" nos cuenta la historia de Kit y Baron. Acaba de terminar la Guerra de Secesión, y Kit, la hija de un terrateniente sureño que ha tenido una infancia y educación muy descuidada, solo quiere una cosa, y es Risen Glory, la plantación de su padre, que debía haber sido suya por derecho y ahora su dueño es Baron Cain, un ex soldado del norte. Kit viaja a Nueva York con una sola idea, y es matar a Cain para que Risen Glory sea suya, pero las cosas no van nada bien cuando Cain la descubre. La plantación no solo pertenece a Cain, si no que éste es también el tutor de Kit, de modo que Cain se encuentra de repente con una propiedad que no quiere, y con una joven irritable que no es si no una molestia.
Entre ellos habrá una serie de tratos para que ambos puedan estar satisfechos con la situación, entre ellos que Risen Glory acabará siendo de Kit cuando se case, y que él reflote la plantación una vez que la guerra ha concluido. Pero pronto la situación sobrepasa a los protagonistas porque ambos son egoístas, cabezones y voluntariosos, piden el imposible el uno al otro y se suceden muchas escenas que a mí personalmente, me parecen muy desagradables, aunque acabes entendiendo sus posturas, pero ha tenido muchas cosas en el carácter y en el proceder de los protagonistas que no me ha gustado. Así y con todas, puedo decir que esta novela es un epítome de romance amor/odio, pero que no me ha gustado cómo se ha llevado.
Como libro histórico está muy bien contextualizado, y a este respecto SEP ha hecho los deberes, pero no deja de ser una novela ochentera, y ya sabemos que las ochenteras o eran un bodrio o realmente estaban tan bien ambientadas, que muchas hoy día no consiguen superarlas; pues "Imagínate" está entre las buenas. Repito, como novela histórica genial, como romance de los protagonistas ha dejado mucho que desear.
En la parte romántica vemos un resquicio de lo que en un futuro serán los personajes contemporáneos de SEP, pero no nos equivoquemos, es un libro de una autora primeriza y se nota, no es un libro cómico o divertido a los que tan bien nos ha acostumbrado la autora. Tiene escenas en las que quizás la intención es que la lectora se divierta, pero no es como sus libros posteriores. La evolución de los personajes se ha visto muy de refilón, es verdad que el cambio mas notable es el de Kit, de ser un machirulo a una dama, y en cuanto a Baron, es un hombre 100% SEP, atractivo, seguro de sí mismo, voluntarioso y sabe triunfar en lo que quiere, mientras su deber es "educar " a la protagonista; es el proceder típico de SEP, pero ha tenido muchas cosas que no me han gustado.
Por otro lado le añadiría un extra si la historia secundaria se hubiese desarrollado un poco más, pero me ha parecido muy anecdótica, y el personaje de Sophronia no me ha gustado porque no la he entendido. Sin duda el personaje secundario que más gracia me ha hecho es Dolly la chaperona.
En fin, un primer SEP que se queda en eso, entretenido pero poco más, me sigo quedando con la SEP de los Chicago Stars.
"Imagínate" nos cuenta la historia de Kit y Baron. Acaba de terminar la Guerra de Secesión, y Kit, la hija de un terrateniente sureño que ha tenido una infancia y educación muy descuidada, solo quiere una cosa, y es Risen Glory, la plantación de su padre, que debía haber sido suya por derecho y ahora su dueño es Baron Cain, un ex soldado del norte. Kit viaja a Nueva York con una sola idea, y es matar a Cain para que Risen Glory sea suya, pero las cosas no van nada bien cuando Cain la descubre. La plantación no solo pertenece a Cain, si no que éste es también el tutor de Kit, de modo que Cain se encuentra de repente con una propiedad que no quiere, y con una joven irritable que no es si no una molestia.
Entre ellos habrá una serie de tratos para que ambos puedan estar satisfechos con la situación, entre ellos que Risen Glory acabará siendo de Kit cuando se case, y que él reflote la plantación una vez que la guerra ha concluido. Pero pronto la situación sobrepasa a los protagonistas porque ambos son egoístas, cabezones y voluntariosos, piden el imposible el uno al otro y se suceden muchas escenas que a mí personalmente, me parecen muy desagradables, aunque acabes entendiendo sus posturas, pero ha tenido muchas cosas en el carácter y en el proceder de los protagonistas que no me ha gustado. Así y con todas, puedo decir que esta novela es un epítome de romance amor/odio, pero que no me ha gustado cómo se ha llevado.
Como libro histórico está muy bien contextualizado, y a este respecto SEP ha hecho los deberes, pero no deja de ser una novela ochentera, y ya sabemos que las ochenteras o eran un bodrio o realmente estaban tan bien ambientadas, que muchas hoy día no consiguen superarlas; pues "Imagínate" está entre las buenas. Repito, como novela histórica genial, como romance de los protagonistas ha dejado mucho que desear.
En la parte romántica vemos un resquicio de lo que en un futuro serán los personajes contemporáneos de SEP, pero no nos equivoquemos, es un libro de una autora primeriza y se nota, no es un libro cómico o divertido a los que tan bien nos ha acostumbrado la autora. Tiene escenas en las que quizás la intención es que la lectora se divierta, pero no es como sus libros posteriores. La evolución de los personajes se ha visto muy de refilón, es verdad que el cambio mas notable es el de Kit, de ser un machirulo a una dama, y en cuanto a Baron, es un hombre 100% SEP, atractivo, seguro de sí mismo, voluntarioso y sabe triunfar en lo que quiere, mientras su deber es "educar " a la protagonista; es el proceder típico de SEP, pero ha tenido muchas cosas que no me han gustado.
Por otro lado le añadiría un extra si la historia secundaria se hubiese desarrollado un poco más, pero me ha parecido muy anecdótica, y el personaje de Sophronia no me ha gustado porque no la he entendido. Sin duda el personaje secundario que más gracia me ha hecho es Dolly la chaperona.
En fin, un primer SEP que se queda en eso, entretenido pero poco más, me sigo quedando con la SEP de los Chicago Stars.
April 2, 2018
3,5 Estrellas
Buen libro, con una buena ambientación. La autora sabe situarnos en una época difícil sin caer en dramatismos a los que bien se podría haber agarrado. Aún así, sabe plasmar bien las diferencias de pensamiento entre unos y otros, por más que una opinión fuera un tanto insostenible (la esclavitud nunca es justificable). Aunque por encima, ya que no era el objetivo de esta novela, plasma bien no sólo el origen del conflicto sino lo que supuso para los vencidos.
Por otro lado, aunque la historia es buena y está bien escrito debo decir que me faltó ese “algo” que hace que me sienta verdaderamente enganchada a la historia
Me gustan mucho las historias de chica disfrazado de chico y las situaciones que eso puede desencadenar pero aquí no lo explotaron como me gusta a mí. Lo mismo digo de un par de situaciones más. Pero como digo, eso es meramente subjetivo porque objetivamente es un libro al que no tengo nada que reprochar.
Buen libro, con una buena ambientación. La autora sabe situarnos en una época difícil sin caer en dramatismos a los que bien se podría haber agarrado. Aún así, sabe plasmar bien las diferencias de pensamiento entre unos y otros, por más que una opinión fuera un tanto insostenible (la esclavitud nunca es justificable). Aunque por encima, ya que no era el objetivo de esta novela, plasma bien no sólo el origen del conflicto sino lo que supuso para los vencidos.
Por otro lado, aunque la historia es buena y está bien escrito debo decir que me faltó ese “algo” que hace que me sienta verdaderamente enganchada a la historia
Me gustan mucho las historias de chica disfrazado de chico y las situaciones que eso puede desencadenar pero aquí no lo explotaron como me gusta a mí. Lo mismo digo de un par de situaciones más. Pero como digo, eso es meramente subjetivo porque objetivamente es un libro al que no tengo nada que reprochar.
June 28, 2019
Of course I loved it. It’s Susan Elizabeth Phillips for crying out loud. This is a sad day for me though, as I have now read all of her books. She’s the best. Fabulous writing, witty banter, hate-to-love, slow-burn and a strong and intelligent heroine. What more can you ask for in romance?
June 12, 2009
I enjoyed this, even though I don't care for Antebellum setting at all. I think a shovel was in order for the overbearing hero (to hit him over the head with), though.
September 7, 2025
There's a lot to unpack here. The book reminds me of 'Ashes in the wind' and 'Gone with the wind' - with a happy ending though.
May 18, 2011
I did not like this very much - mainly because the characters never grew on me.
Kit Weston isthe daughter of a wealthy southern planter. He remarries and the wicked step mother has her thrown out of the house o live in near by slave quarters and denies her the education of a lady. She grows up with no manners or decorum and dressing as a boy. Upon her father's death, she learns that her plantation Risen Glory has been inherited by the step mother and the situation continues. When the step mother dies, she in turn leaves it o the son of her first marriage Baron Cain along with guardianship of Kit.
For some reason Kit decides to travel to New York to kill Baron. How she thought that this would mean that Risen Glory would be hers, is beyond me.
Baron initially takes pity on what he presumes is a 12 year old boy and offers him a job. Kit fails o kill him and her identity is revealed. He forces her to go o a finishing school to become a lady and decides he will keep risen glory in the interim.
Kit struggles at school but grows into a beautiful young lady. At the come out ball, she meets Brandon, one of her southern neighbours and forms a plan to marry him so as to buy back the plantation. Again her logic is not entirely clear. It is clear that brandon is pretty weak and that whilst he lusts after Kit, he doesn't particularly like her. Baron struggles with his attraction to her and refuses his permission to Brandon. In revenge, kit burns down the cotton mill and Baron forces her o marry him so as to have access to her trust fund.
Thereafter the relationship between the two protagonists is just difficult and incomprehensible. After about a week of marriage, Baron decides he can not risk having sex with kit asnhe may become too fond of her and get hurt. The marriage then gets into worse difficulties. Kit then decides to seduce him and subsequently they seems to not be able to stick each other during the day ( no real reason Given) whilst going at it like rabbits during the night.
They go to a party in Charleston and kit and baron end up in a confrontation. Baron announces he is leaving her and he takes off, not realising she is pregnant.
She has the baby and eventually chases him down in Texas.
She gave all her trust fund a way o her mixed race half sister and sold her plantation to the sister's black husband. Given that this is in south Carolina towards end of reconstruction, I wasn't left with any confidence that this would work out well.
Baron and kit decide to buy land in Texas and make a go of it there.
Neither character was particularly likeable, it was unclear why they could not get on with each other, why he left her, why she sold / gave everything she owned away.
I just didn't get it.
A bit like the Copeland Bride ( written under an alias) but not as brutal.
Her later contemporary books are much better.
Kit Weston isthe daughter of a wealthy southern planter. He remarries and the wicked step mother has her thrown out of the house o live in near by slave quarters and denies her the education of a lady. She grows up with no manners or decorum and dressing as a boy. Upon her father's death, she learns that her plantation Risen Glory has been inherited by the step mother and the situation continues. When the step mother dies, she in turn leaves it o the son of her first marriage Baron Cain along with guardianship of Kit.
For some reason Kit decides to travel to New York to kill Baron. How she thought that this would mean that Risen Glory would be hers, is beyond me.
Baron initially takes pity on what he presumes is a 12 year old boy and offers him a job. Kit fails o kill him and her identity is revealed. He forces her to go o a finishing school to become a lady and decides he will keep risen glory in the interim.
Kit struggles at school but grows into a beautiful young lady. At the come out ball, she meets Brandon, one of her southern neighbours and forms a plan to marry him so as to buy back the plantation. Again her logic is not entirely clear. It is clear that brandon is pretty weak and that whilst he lusts after Kit, he doesn't particularly like her. Baron struggles with his attraction to her and refuses his permission to Brandon. In revenge, kit burns down the cotton mill and Baron forces her o marry him so as to have access to her trust fund.
Thereafter the relationship between the two protagonists is just difficult and incomprehensible. After about a week of marriage, Baron decides he can not risk having sex with kit asnhe may become too fond of her and get hurt. The marriage then gets into worse difficulties. Kit then decides to seduce him and subsequently they seems to not be able to stick each other during the day ( no real reason Given) whilst going at it like rabbits during the night.
They go to a party in Charleston and kit and baron end up in a confrontation. Baron announces he is leaving her and he takes off, not realising she is pregnant.
She has the baby and eventually chases him down in Texas.
She gave all her trust fund a way o her mixed race half sister and sold her plantation to the sister's black husband. Given that this is in south Carolina towards end of reconstruction, I wasn't left with any confidence that this would work out well.
Baron and kit decide to buy land in Texas and make a go of it there.
Neither character was particularly likeable, it was unclear why they could not get on with each other, why he left her, why she sold / gave everything she owned away.
I just didn't get it.
A bit like the Copeland Bride ( written under an alias) but not as brutal.
Her later contemporary books are much better.
August 2, 2019
Явно са ми липсвали историческите любовни романи, защото беше истинско удоволствие да прочета този. Потапя ни в американския стар юг, което неминуемо напомня на атмосферата от Отнесени от вихъра. Южна Каролина малко след Гражданската война - Катрин наричана Кит е на 18 и е всичко друго, но не и дама. Тя стреля като мъж, язди като мъж, ругае като мъж, носи панталони като мъж и дори изглежда като мъж или поне като момче. Точно за момче я мисли нейният настойник Байрън, когато я вижда за първи път. Той пък е омразен янки, но по стечение на обстоятелствата трябва да се грижи за нея, а той изобщо не иска това. За да се отърве я изпраща в пансион за млади дами в Ню Йорк, където учат жените на обноски и етикет и как да бъдат примерни съпруги. Когато след 3 години тя завършва обучението си и се срещат отново той не може да я познае - тя вече го привлича неудържимо. Така започва сюжетът на тази вълнуваща история между двамата, чието привличане се оказва толкова силно, че непрекъснато се карат като котка и куче, непрекъснато се съревновават и непрекъснато единият иска да надделее над другия. Осъзнавам, че книгата не е много реалистична, осъзнавам, че подобни истории граничат с приказния и вълшебен свят, но емоциите, които ми донесоха тази книга бяха много приятни и аз истински се забавлявах с тези двамата, затова и оценката ми може би е малко нереалистична, но съвсем чистосърдечно й давам 5*.
November 12, 2009
I love when the-most-beautiful-lady-in-all-the-land has a guy's haircut and dresses in britches and everyone thinks she's a dude. NOT. This plot device is used a lot and, while it allows for the fun of mistaken identity conversations and that moment when the lead male character realizes that he has been attracted to a woman, not a preteen male, it usually is not very believable.
Also, I am not a huge fan of historical fiction to begin with but I still enjoyed this. I mean, any excuse to use the word rapscallion is a-okay in my book.
Something else I "learned" from this book: If you set something on fire, you should just chill out and wait until embers catch YOU on fire and smoke takes over your lungs. Don't run away. And, if at the last minute you decide you probably should've run away, make sure to leave a little token so people can figure out it was you. Seriously, Kit is supposed to be pretty intelligent. If an intelligent person is going to set a mill on fire (I know, right?), I'm betting they would spread the kerosene, strike a match, and then F-ING RUN LIKE HELL. She totally could've gotten away with it. Though I suppose Cain could not have "punished" her if he didn't know it was her. Alas.
Also, I am not a huge fan of historical fiction to begin with but I still enjoyed this. I mean, any excuse to use the word rapscallion is a-okay in my book.
Something else I "learned" from this book: If you set something on fire, you should just chill out and wait until embers catch YOU on fire and smoke takes over your lungs. Don't run away. And, if at the last minute you decide you probably should've run away, make sure to leave a little token so people can figure out it was you. Seriously, Kit is supposed to be pretty intelligent. If an intelligent person is going to set a mill on fire (I know, right?), I'm betting they would spread the kerosene, strike a match, and then F-ING RUN LIKE HELL. She totally could've gotten away with it. Though I suppose Cain could not have "punished" her if he didn't know it was her. Alas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2014
I didn't like the H/H much but I enjoyed the book very much . This book reminded me of "Gone with the wind". There were a lot of similarities .
The narrator was great .If I had been reading this ,I probably would have skimmed the second half of the book. She did a great job of mellowing out the hero's asshat tendencies . She made him sound gentle even when he was saying or doing something cruel.
The narrator was great .If I had been reading this ,I probably would have skimmed the second half of the book. She did a great job of mellowing out the hero's asshat tendencies . She made him sound gentle even when he was saying or doing something cruel.
November 27, 2017
Loved this one!
June 8, 2017
По принцип не харесвам книги, които се развиват по време на войни, и по точно войната между Севера и Юга, но тази толкова увлекателно е написана и така грабва още с първото изречение. Изобщо не подозирах, че Сюзън Елизабет Филипс може да бъде толкова добра в писането на исторически любовен роман. Разкош, разкош просто! Коренно различен стил и в същото време има малка доза от авторката. Прекрасна книга! <3
July 4, 2017
I was a little wary of this one, knowing how much I love SEP's contemporaries, and this was her first book ever, and a historical to boot. I thought maybe she stayed away from historicals because she may not have been that good. Although this is the revised edition of the original edition, called Risen Glory, so I don't know how much she changed to make it better. Even still, I could tell this was a SEP novel. It had all the same characteristics of her contemporary romance books, just the setting and time period were different. The way she describes her characters, their surroundings, the struggles they face, the typical bull-headed hero who somehow I still manage to like, the heroine who's strong and determined, but still vulnerable. All SEP traits, and things that I love.
I know this book got mixed reviews, but I guess I don't see how. If you like It Had to Be You or Natural Born Charmer, how could you not like this one? Unless it's the time period, which I can understand, it's not my favorite to read about. Actually, that's not true, I enjoy reading about history, it's just this time period in the south doesn't mesh well with romance for me. I tend to have a problem with the whole slavery thing, morals and all that. But this book handles it fairly well, even having the heroine, Kit change her tune when she realizes exactly what it meant to be a slave. It does gloss over it a bit, and really over everything of the time period. Without the ward/guardian relationship and Cain controlling Kit's fortunate, it'd have to be spun a little different, but you could almost pick up this story and drop it in a modern context.
I did like Safronia (not sure how to spell it, as I listened to the audiobook) and her struggles as well, that part would not have translated to modern terms so easily. The animosity she has against white men is understandable and I love that Mangus knows her well enough to love her the way she needed. I wish we had learned a bit more about Mangus as well. I especially liked the part where .
At first glance this doesn't seem like typical SEP, but I felt right at home in this story. I went to sleep thinking about them, wondered how Kit and Cain would end up together forever, was amazed at Kit's personal growth, and just enjoyed myself the entire time. I think if you like SEP's traditional romances and don't mind historical settings, you'll like this one as well.
I know this book got mixed reviews, but I guess I don't see how. If you like It Had to Be You or Natural Born Charmer, how could you not like this one? Unless it's the time period, which I can understand, it's not my favorite to read about. Actually, that's not true, I enjoy reading about history, it's just this time period in the south doesn't mesh well with romance for me. I tend to have a problem with the whole slavery thing, morals and all that. But this book handles it fairly well, even having the heroine, Kit change her tune when she realizes exactly what it meant to be a slave. It does gloss over it a bit, and really over everything of the time period. Without the ward/guardian relationship and Cain controlling Kit's fortunate, it'd have to be spun a little different, but you could almost pick up this story and drop it in a modern context.
I did like Safronia (not sure how to spell it, as I listened to the audiobook) and her struggles as well, that part would not have translated to modern terms so easily. The animosity she has against white men is understandable and I love that Mangus knows her well enough to love her the way she needed. I wish we had learned a bit more about Mangus as well. I especially liked the part where .
At first glance this doesn't seem like typical SEP, but I felt right at home in this story. I went to sleep thinking about them, wondered how Kit and Cain would end up together forever, was amazed at Kit's personal growth, and just enjoyed myself the entire time. I think if you like SEP's traditional romances and don't mind historical settings, you'll like this one as well.
Read
August 28, 2014Okay, I give up.
THIS BOOK ENRAGES ME.
I had this entire long review written but I clicked accidentally away and it didn't save and I don't care about this book enough to write it again so I'll just say:
Kit acts an infantile idiot in the second half of the book, Cain is a *hero* that I'd punch in the face in real life for being an entitled dick and lapses in character obviously aren't a problem when they move the story forward.
I mean, if someone let me simmer in agony that they have a complete control over my life and they misuse it regularly and they wanna make me leave the thing I fought for almost my entire life and is the only thing that's keeping me sane because oh she will be so grateful when I tell her in the morning that she doesn't have to go anywhere I mean I decided right now but just to punish her I'll tell her in a few hours that will be better omg yes my love he'd get more than a burned building, asshole.
You have no idea how mad this makes me. She acts out, burns the damn mill or what that was, he then gets his theory *confirmed* that women are satanic creatures and swears to make her life miserable. DUDE YOU STARTED IT. Just own up to your mistakes.
I can't even stand that dumb character that, as mentioned, misuses the guardianship (creepy), has rape-ish tendencies (creepier) but is masked by a *supposed* tormented love (the creepiest).
I hated his guts so much that I couldn't finish the book after they started sleeping together. I have ZERO patience for his stupid face and his stupid love story and his nonexistent character development. UGH.
THIS BOOK ENRAGES ME.
I had this entire long review written but I clicked accidentally away and it didn't save and I don't care about this book enough to write it again so I'll just say:
Kit acts an infantile idiot in the second half of the book, Cain is a *hero* that I'd punch in the face in real life for being an entitled dick and lapses in character obviously aren't a problem when they move the story forward.
I mean, if someone let me simmer in agony that they have a complete control over my life and they misuse it regularly and they wanna make me leave the thing I fought for almost my entire life and is the only thing that's keeping me sane because oh she will be so grateful when I tell her in the morning that she doesn't have to go anywhere I mean I decided right now but just to punish her I'll tell her in a few hours that will be better omg yes my love he'd get more than a burned building, asshole.
You have no idea how mad this makes me. She acts out, burns the damn mill or what that was, he then gets his theory *confirmed* that women are satanic creatures and swears to make her life miserable. DUDE YOU STARTED IT. Just own up to your mistakes.
I can't even stand that dumb character that, as mentioned, misuses the guardianship (creepy), has rape-ish tendencies (creepier) but is masked by a *supposed* tormented love (the creepiest).
I hated his guts so much that I couldn't finish the book after they started sleeping together. I have ZERO patience for his stupid face and his stupid love story and his nonexistent character development. UGH.
August 18, 2024
Both were more stubborn than I liked but it was still a nice read. I wished Ms.Phillips had written more historicals.
December 31, 2015
SEP es y siempre será una de mis autoras preferidas y favoritas del mundo mundial.
Haber leído el primer libro que publicó en solitario me daba algo de miedo,porque pensaba que iba a ser muy diferente del estilo que me tiene acostumbrada. Y ha sido así. Pero no ha sido malo, sólo diferente.
Imagínate me ha encantadooooooooooooooooooo! es un libro muy distinto, ambientado en una época totalmente diferente a la nuestra, que me ha calado hondo y me ha transportado a otro mundo y me ha deleitado con una historia intensa, preciosa y unos personajes con mucho carácter.
Sí, estoy totalmente enamorada de esta autora.
Reseña completa: http://ifantasiasyrelatos.blogspot.co...
Haber leído el primer libro que publicó en solitario me daba algo de miedo,porque pensaba que iba a ser muy diferente del estilo que me tiene acostumbrada. Y ha sido así. Pero no ha sido malo, sólo diferente.
Imagínate me ha encantadooooooooooooooooooo! es un libro muy distinto, ambientado en una época totalmente diferente a la nuestra, que me ha calado hondo y me ha transportado a otro mundo y me ha deleitado con una historia intensa, preciosa y unos personajes con mucho carácter.
Sí, estoy totalmente enamorada de esta autora.
Reseña completa: http://ifantasiasyrelatos.blogspot.co...
December 26, 2016
3.5 en realidad...me gusto mucho, pero no logro enamorarme como otros relatos de esta escritora.
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