Smooth Talking Stranger

This is another great book by Lisa Kleypas. It is the story of Churchill's second son, Jack Travis and Ella Varner. What I appreciate about this author is that she spares her fans a repeat of the details of the stories of the rest of the family, providing just enough for new readers to place the family in context. Ella has always played the role of protector and counselor to her young sister Tara. So when the latter cannot handle her new born, it is Ella to the rescue. Believing Jack Travis to be the father, she barges into his office demanding that he takes responsibility for his child. Of course, this is just the beginning for these two. This has all the Kleypas trademarks, sparks flying, passion, humorous banter, a lot of heart, and of course a very dysfunctional family. I loved seeing more of Haven & Hardy (Blue Eyed devil); Liberty, Gage and even Carrington (Sugar Daddy). I listened to this book all day on saturday and could not put it down. I recommend it as well as the previous 2 before it by the same author. They are in this order: Sugar Daddy, Blue Eyed devil, and Smooth Talking Stranger. I can't wait for Joe's story now.

The best so far in Kleypas' Travis series. Ella was my kind of heroine, flawed yet strong and loving. And Jack made a great alpha-hero, handsome, protective, yet down to earth and not too over bearing. The thing I liked most about this book is the fact that their romance evolved slowly, realistically. By the time they get together, you really like and care about what happens to them. There is also plenty of humor in this book, and I laughed out loud a few times. I highly recommend.

Good book, but could not get into the narrator, which is why I gave it three stars. Enjoyed the first two better. I wish Ms. Kleypas would write a book about the last character in the book, but do not use this narrator.

Sugar Daddy, Blue-Eyed Devil then Smooth Talking Stranger. Must read in this order to follow the Texas family saga. This book is about JACK.

LOVED it. You will listen to these books more than once. Very much worth the credits.

I really enjoyed this 3rd installment of the Travis Family, but it was very hard getting over the awful narration. She tried to do a Texas drawl and she was so way off the mark that it just grated on my nerves. Her southern drawl was so guttural sounding it was as if the main character Jack Travis came off a chuck wagon instead of a smooth as glass drawl educated Texans are known for. Loved the book, but the narration was off on every level. I would give the story itself a 5 star, but the narration brought it down to 3 stars for me.

Being a native Houstonian I can honestly say her references to the Houston area, Uptown, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Galleria and even 1800 Main Street are spot on, with a few artistic liberties. The story is great addition to the other 2 in this series, I wonder what to took her so long to write contempory books? I wonder if we will get book about Joe? I have to say my favorite is Blue Eyed Devil...love the character of Hardy Cates he is introduced in Sugar Daddy. If you haven't read any in this series read all of them you won't be disappointed.

Normally I rate Kleypas novels very high. This one disappointed me some. For one thing, I was not happy with the narration. It just wasn't as good as I think someone else might have been with the accents

The story disappointed because the characters weren't all very realistic. Ella supposedly had overcome a really destructive childhood, but struck me as being a pathetic and willing victim of her mother and sister and boyfriend. When she turns from that particular boyfriend to one who is a major Alpha male, the switch isn't realistic. .

The plot itself could have been better played out in my opinion. Of course it is only my opinion.

This is my favorite Lisa Kleypas listens. I do not care for her historical romances, they seem contrived. However, I really like her contemporaries and this one does not disappoint. It has believable characters and a few steamy scenes. I love the addition of a baby, which provides an opportunity to see the softer side of Jack Travis. The narrators voice can be a little distracting at times, but not enough to take away from the plot.

The story is fresh and the characters were great. Delving deeper into the Travis family is fun. Narroration was good, but the male voices sometimes resembled each other a little too closely.

This is the first book I've read/listened to by Lisa Kleypas and I'm very pleased with the storyline. Nothing overly dramatic, but a nice listen to get you through your day. Another member posted about the reader....I'll admit I was initially turned off by her voice, but it only took me a few minutes to get used to it, and by then I was so engrossed in the story that her voice didn't bother me at all. I got used to it. Overall, a great listen. I'll definitely be checking out some of her other books.