Lisa Kleypas has been publishing books for decades including several historical romance series, standalones, and contemporary romance novels. She is a New York Times bestseller and has seen her books translated into 14 different languages. It is a difficult task to choose the best Lisa Kleypas books, but we did our best!
The dangerous and seductive Nick is sent searching for a runaway bride, Charlotte, who seems to have disappeared into thin air. He manages to find the intriguing woman and soon finds himself ready to do anything to keep her safe — even if that means marrying her.
Nick first shows up in the second book in the series, although readers shouldn’t have too much trouble reading Worth Any Price as a standalone. It is a tender love story with enough spice to keep the most avid romance reader satisfied. Kleypas brings 1800s England to life with her wonderfully wrought characters.
Will Nick manage to keep Charlotte safe? Find out here.
Devil in Disguise (Ravenels Book 7)
The clever and beautiful Lady Sterling has managed to run her shipping company and skirt a scandal — no matter how much London society may be hoping for one. But when she meets a rugged Scottish distiller, her sensible side goes right out the window. Keir MacRae has no plans to fall in love, but the attraction he feels to Lady Sterling is undeniable. He can’t afford the distraction, however, with someone out there who wants him dead.
For those already in love with the Ravenels series, Devil in Disguise is a welcome addition. The characters and intimate scenes are written with Kleypas’s usual panache. But it is still a great story for those jumping into the series for the first time.
Kev has loved Win Hathaway since he was a little boy, but he worries the mysteries of his past are too much for such a delicate beauty. When circumstances send Win far from his grasp, he tries to put his feelings behind him. But fate isn’t done with Kev and Win yet. She eventually returns to England, but now Kev has some competition for her affection.
Readers are introduced to the budding love story between Kev and Win, and the slow burn of their romance makes for a great novel. With themes of resilience and strength, Seduce Me at Sunrise is reminiscent of the classic Wuthering Heights.
Will Kev go after Win’s heart? Grab your copy today to find out.
Lady Sophia’s Lover (Bow Street Runners Book 2)
Disciplined and driven, Sir Cannon heads the Bow Street Runners chasing down London’s most dangerous. Nicknamed the monk because of his ability to put his own needs aside for the benefit of the job, Sir Cannon is blindsided by the beautiful Lady Sophia. Against his better judgment, he hires the young woman on as an assistant, but the attraction between the two becomes more undeniable as the days pass. The Lady has her secrets, however, but she may be underestimating just how far the driven Sir Cannon will be willing to go for the one he loves.
A fan favorite, Lady Sophia’s Lover has a good reputation, with thousands of positive reviews. It is a real page-turner with characters you can’t help but fall head over heels for! The story is full of intimacy and passion. Plus, you get a revenge plan turned love story!
A marriage of convenience was what Evie had in mind when she agreed to marry the dashing Lord St. Vincent. But the shy wallflower of a girl is more than meets the eye, and the Lord finds himself wanting more than just a marriage by name. Evie strikes a deal, if her husband can manage three months of celibacy, she’ll welcome him to her bed. However, when an enemy from her past threatens Lord St. Vincent’s bride, he finds himself vowing to protect her — even at the cost of his own life.
A Kindle bestseller ranking in the top 100 for 20th Century Historical Romance, Devil in Winter is the 4th book in the Wallflowers series. It is a series full of intrigue, romance, and steamy passions much like Kleypas’s Ravenels series.
Will the Lord be able to stay celibate and win his way into his wife’s bed? Grab a copy ofDevil in Winter to find out.
Dream Lake (Friday Harbor Book 3)
Cynical and bitter, Alex is nothing like his two brothers and their belief in love. He prefers to spend his nights with a bottle of whiskey nursing his own demons. When he starts seeing a ghost, Alex wonders if his mind has finally cracked. Enter Zoe — a woman as romantic as she is beautiful. Alex wants nothing to do with the promises of love she offers, but he can’t seem to stay away.
The Friday Harbor series takes place in the Pacific Northwest in a small town full of charm and ghostly delights. While this installment in the series starts out slowly, Alex and Zoe make for such an intriguing couple and you won’t be able to put it down.
Not willing to face her 30th birthday as a virgin, Amanda buys herself a night of passion from a local madam. But when Jack, a good-looking publisher, shows up on her door, Amanda mistakes him for her birthday present. Jack’s true identity comes out before the deed is done, and while initially, Amanda is understandably angry, she is also very intrigued.
Ranking in the top 500 for Victorian Historical Romance in the Kindle store, Suddenly You maintain a high rating. The characters Kleypas has created are realistic, and the dialogue is clever and entertaining. The chemistry between the couple sparks off the page!
Find out if Amanda makes it to her 30th birthday here.
Marrying Winterborne (Ravenels Book 2)
Rhys Winterborne may have been common-born, but his ambition has brought him wealth his younger self could only imagine. Rhys always manages to get what he wants, in business and in his personal life. So, when Rhys sets his sights on Lady Ravenel, his determination will allow for no other. Lady Ravenel may be a gently born, but her proper facade hides matching passions.
The characters contain a depth that keeps you on the page, and the Victorian England backdrop is just as compelling as the hero and heroine. The sexual tension between Rhys and Lady Ravenel practically scorches your eyes as you read.
Will Rhys’s ambitions get him Lady Ravenel’s hand or is he reaching too high this time? Find out here.
Again the Magic (Wallflowers Book 1)
Lady Marsden knows she should choose a sensible husband from her class, but one look at John McKenna was all she needed to forget what she should do. But when their passions are discovered, the Lady gives up the only man she’s ever loved to save his life. Her sacrifice unknown to him, John vows to become powerful enough to make her pay. But Fate has other plans for the pair.
In the top 100 for Kindle’s Regency Romance category, Again the Magic has many top reviews under its belt. Kleypas has penned another glorious historical romance that comes to a satisfying ending.
Will John still vow vengeance after he learns the truth? Read Again the Magic and find out.
Blue-Eyed Devil (Travis Book 2)
Hardy wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but his drive has made him a millionaire rising to the top of the oil industry in Houston. But one doesn’t get as far as Hardy has without collecting a few enemies on the way. But when Hardy finds himself darkening the door of heiress Haven Travis, he finds he isn’t concerned about those who are against him. All he wants is her.
A contemporary romance just as compelling as any of Kleypas’s historical works, Blue-Eyed Devil is a captivating story full of sensuality and powerful characters. You will be hard-pressed to move on after you’ve turned the final page.
Annabelle is stunningly beautiful and should have her pick of eligible suitors, but there’s one problem. Her family is on the edge of ruin, and she has no dowry to offer. To save her family, she needs a good match, but the ambitious Simon only wants her as a mistress. Annabelle can’t deny her attraction to the man, but it is a temptation that could ruin her.
A favorite in the 20th Century Historical Romance category, Secrets of a Summer Night offers a feisty heroine who is also kind, strong, and hard-working. Simon and Annabelle have good chemistry and the drive to overcome their individual struggles.
Find out if Annabelle succumbs to Simon’s charms here.
Dreaming of You (Gamblers of Craven’s Book 2)
The super shy Sara mostly keeps to her cottage in the country, but research for her newest novel sends her out into the streets of London where she witnesses a crime. Sara also finds herself saving a man’s life — the dangerous owner of a gambling club named Derek Craven. Derek knows he lives up to his reputation and doesn’t want to tarnish a sweet and innocent woman like Sara. But dangers lurk in the city, and Sara needs Derek to keep her safe.
Derek Craven is super popular with romance readers as they can’t seem to resist his bad boy turned reformed man storyline. Dreaming of You has hit the mark with many book lovers gaining thousands of positive reviews..
Can Derek keep Sara — and her heart — safe? Read Dreaming of You to find out.
It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers Book 3)
Lillian, an American heiress, is in England to snag a husband from the aristocracy, but the fierceness of her will continues to scare away any potential suitors. The Earl of Westcliff seems to be the only one who can hold his own, but Lillian, unfortunately, can’t stand him. The events of a single afternoon change the way the pair feels about each other, but they suddenly find themselves at the center of a conspiracy that may threaten Lillian’s life.
Published in 2009, It Happened One Autumn ranks well in Kindle’s Historical World War II Fiction category and has racked up over 5,000 reviews. Kleypas has created relatable, flawed characters that practically spring off the page. It is a slow burn that is well worth the read.
Will the American heiress get her aristocratic husband? Find out here.
Devil in Spring (Ravenels Book 3)
Pandora much prefers her board game business to the business of finding a husband. Unfortunately, she finds herself at the heart of a scandal with none other than notorious rake Lord St. Vincent. One night at a ball turns into a marriage of convenience for the unsuitable pair — only the Lord can’t seem to resist his bride and she seems to be more interested in him than she thought possible.
Devil in Spring was published in 2017 and has over 4 stars on Goodreads with 36k ratings. The heroine is likable and the hero is as funny as he is sexy. There is plenty of humor, sizzling chemistry, and historical charm.
Follow Pandora and Lord St. Vincent’s love story here.
Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways Book 1)
Hoping to make a fresh start on a newly inherited estate, the Hathaways still seem to find themselves dealing with problems. Fortunately, the siblings have a friend in Cam Rohan. Cam always seems to step up with the help they need, but for Amelia Hathaway gratitude is not the only emotion she feels toward Cam.
Fans of the Wallflowers series will recognize Cam as he showed up in Evie and Sebastian’s story. There are other characters Kleypas fans will love connecting with again in Mine Till Midnight making it a favorite among many of her readers.
London’s Devon Ravenel is a rake who has just inherited a new title and a new estate. There are a few problems, however. The estate comes with mounds of debt and the previous earl’s three sisters. Devon also finds the widowed Lady Trenear in residence. The young woman is not immune to Devon’s charms, but she is well aware of his reputation and does her best to resist him. Devon has other plans.
With great reviews, Cold-Hearted Rake is a favorite among romance lovers and Kleypas fans alike. The writing will make you feel like you’ve jumped on a time machine, and the characters will feel like old friends by the time you’ve reached the final page.
Lily loves to break London’s societal rules and shock the members of her class. But she is especially determined to keep her baby sister from marrying the arrogant Lord Wolverton — a man who has vowed he will never fall in love. Infuriated by Lily’s interference, the handsome lord decides to make her pay but instead finds a scorching desire between them.
Then Came You gives readers a heroine they will absolutely adore. Lily is not afraid to make a scene or cause a scandal. Some of the plot points seem a little far-fetched, but since they are tons of fun, it still makes for a good read.
Being the only female doctor in the country gives Garrett an independent spirit with a dash of daring to boot. She decides being a physician isn’t the only thing she can do like a man and decides to take her pleasures like a man as well. Unfortunately, none of her masculine counterparts are at all tempting, until ex-Scotland Yard detective Ethan Ransom crosses her path.
Hello Stranger is in the top 50 for American Historical Romance books and also ranks highly in 20th Century Historical Romance. It is a refreshing story with engrossing characters and plotlines.
Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow-Street Runners Book 1)
Investigating a near-drowning in the Thames, Grant manages to pull Vivien from the brink of death. While he recognizes her, Vivien has no recollection of who she was before she was pulled from the waters. In order to protect her, Grant takes her home, telling her she is his mistress. Vivien has doubts about the validity of the statement, but someone clearly wants her dead so welcomes Grant’s protection.
Kleypas is a master storyteller who has you laughing and crying on the same page. Her spirited characters in Someone to Watch Over Me offer genuine banter as well as a love story for the ages.
Beatrix prefers wandering the outdoors over dancing the night away in a ballroom and thus has resigned herself to never finding love. But in an attempt to help her friend hang on to her soldier beau, Beatrix starts composing letters to Captain Phelan. Unfortunately for Beatrix, she begins to fall for the Captain through his penned words.
Garnering great reviews, Love in the Afternoon is more likely to be consumed than casually read. Beatrix makes for a compelling heroine, and the Captain is quite sympathetic.
Fall in love with Beatrix and Captain Phelan here.
As characters cross over from series to series, many people like to start with either the Ravenels or the Wallflowers series.
Do I need to read books by Lisa Kleypas in order?
You will get more out of each of the books and series if you read them in the intended order.
What authors write similar to Lisa Kleypas?
While her fans will likely tell you Lisa Kleypas is incomparable, there are a few other authors that will put you in the mind of Ms. Kleypas. Some to try include Julie Anne Long, Sarah MacLean, and Meredith Duran.
