Blue-Eyed Devil

January 28, 2008
Scenes of domestic abuse and the journey to recovery make Kleypas's modern romance anything but fluff. A Wellesley grad and daughter of a Houston energy baron, Haven Travis is an unlikely romantic heroine until her brief but ardent encounter with a man who turns out to be Hardy Cates, the East Texas roughneck from Sugar Daddy
who worked his way up from poverty and then outmaneuvered the Travis clan in a business deal. Haven's engaged to Nick Tanner—a man her dad thinks is unfit for her—and though she and Hardy have a charged interaction, she elopes with Nick, and her father cuts her off. Nick turns out to be a bad guy, and a beaten and bruised Haven returns to Houston, where Hardy's still at odds with her family. Their passion proves as fervent as ever, but demons from Haven's recent past—as well as strife with her family and troubles at work and in bed—stand in the way. Kleypas isn't a literary stylist, but she delivers a page-turning, formula-breaking romance that takes on social issues and escalates passion to new heights.

Narrator Brittany Pressley delivers an A-plus performance of Kleypas's beloved Texas romance. Pressley introduces Haven Travis, daughter of an oil magnate, with a lilting drawl whose musical notes ring melodiously. Her declarative delivery packs an aural punch as Haven faces and later escapes a horrifically abusive husband. Hearing the menace that Haven's husband, Nick, exudes is chilling. Starting over in Houston, Haven reconnects with rough-edged millionaire Hardy Cates. Pressley drops her voice a register to portray Hardy's virile strength. Hardy's protective nature and his verbal wiliness are also exquisitely expressed, convincing listeners that Hardy is Haven's perfect match. The performance is a sensual delight, replete with romance, danger, and imperfect characters. A must-listen narration from Pressley. C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine