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Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Lisa Kleypas Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2009-03-31 ISBN: 0312351666 Number of pages: 352 Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Book Reviews of Smooth Talking StrangerBook Review: Excellent Handling of the Effects of Parental Abuse Summary: 5 Stars
Smooth Talking Stranger is the most recent book in a series by Lisa Kleypas about the Travis family. In the series, Ms. Kleypas explores the effects and recovery from abuse by parents and/or spouses. Both of my parents abused their four children in different ways. My brothers, sister, and I, now all in our 60s, have responded to the abuse quite differently. In general, I find that authors who tackle this subject are simplistic. Smooth Talking Stranger, I think, is one of the most realistic treatments I have seen of this problem.
The subject of abuse is not pleasant. But Ms. Kleypas has written a book full of humor, affection, and understanding. She touches only lightly on the abusive episodes. Instead she concentrates on showing how different experiences during the abuse, different treatment of siblings, different physical appearance, and different inherent personalities of the children produce different responses to the abuse in adult life. The heroine, Ella, works hard to confront the effects of the abuse, to not repeat her parents' behavior, and to change the way she thinks. While a child, she confronted the abusers and protected her younger sister. In contrast, her sister behaves passively in the face of the abuse and, as an adult, seems to allow the abuse to dominate her.
One parent in the novel, Jack's father, is not an abuser. But he is far from perfect. He is overbearing and much too directive. This constantly irritates his children. They all need to create space in order to become independent. In another book, this need for space thrusts his daughter into the hands of an abuser. Despite their issues with him, all of his children love their father, see him frequently, want him to be happy, and are proud of him. In contrast, Ella is embarrassed by her mother, wants to hide her, and expects and gets the worst when she is with her. When the book begins, she has not talked with her mother for two years.
Ms Kleypas is a wonderful writer. I enjoyed her humor and several times burst out laughing while reading. She deftly creates vivid scenes using a few evocative words describing smell, sound, and detail. Her descriptions of sex are passionate, original, and adventurous.
Rescue of a maiden in distress by a "prince charming" is a common theme in the romance genre. This book contains two "princes charming", Dane and Jack. Neither rescues Ella. But each gives her a safe place to grow and to confront her problems. Each man has problems to work through himself. What I see as Dane's problems eventually make him unable to continue to give Ella the supportive environment she needs.
Ella is not a passive princess. She is very independent. She also importantly gives to each of these men. Ultimately, she is able to give Jack the prospective he needs to solve his own problems.
Throughout the book, Ella struggles and sometimes is at the brink of failure. Her ultimate success stems from her own growth as a person. As a person who has been there and done that, I know that this is the way it must be done.
If you have been abused yourself or want to understand better those who have been, I highly recommend this very enjoyable and realistic book.
Summary of Smooth Talking StrangerJack Travis leads the uncomplicated life of a millionaire Texas playboy. He makes no commitments, he loves many women, he lives for pleasure. But no one has ever truly touched his heart or soul. Until one day, a woman appears on his doorstep with fury on her face and a baby in her arms. It seems Jack is the father and this woman is the baby?s aunt. The real mother has abandoned the child to her more responsible sister. And now, Jack is being called upon to take responsibility for the first time in his life. With delicious romantic tension, characters so real they walk onto the page and into your heart, Lisa Kleypas delivers the kind of novel that makes you laugh, love; cry and cheer.
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