Because You're Mine: Capitol Theatre, Book 2

In this sequel to  Somewhere I'll Find You , we get to read the story of Logan Scott, the great actor with the untouchable heart and the owner of the Capital, the theater featured in the previous book (& for which the series is named). This book is really more of a 4.5 star read.I enjoyed this book more than Somewhere I'll Find You, probably because I actually liked the fact that Logan was a bit of a domineering brute. (And trust me, he acted like slime more than a few times.) But really, he never DID anything terrible to Lady Madeline, he just said some pretty hateful things so as to avoid vulnerability.Kleypas did a wonderful job with character development & dialogue, per usual. She is definitely one of my favorite authors precisely because she rarely comes up short in these two areas.I felt complete respect for Madeline for several reasons, including her willingness to accept the consequences for her extreme actions intended to save herself from marrying a man older than her father. Add to that her innocence & sweetness (which made her likeable), plus the iron will hidden deep within her (which saved her from being a doormat, ew), and she becomes an admirable heroine. Watching her grow from a naive girl into a confident woman would've made this book enjoyable to read all on its own.As for Logan, his attitude toward women actually made sense when one considers how his "mother" treated him, then the behavior of his ex-fiancee. One can only imagine what kind of fool he feels like when he discovers Madeline's deceit. Yes, I wanted him to forgive her, & one could argue that she proved herself worthy of trust again, but Logan wouldn't have been the stubborn, broken hero if he had. It made perfect sense for him to finally admit he loved her only in the face of possibly losing her. He had to understand that she was his for no other reason than that she wanted to be.The part that didn't really click for me was his explanation for not allowing himself to be close to her again. Pffft! Really, though the fear was legitimate, it seemed to me like he was making excuses to Madeline instead of dealing with his real fears of abandonment & betrayal. I wanted Madeline to push him for more instead of acquiescing so easily. But she didn't, which is why this was really more of a 4/4.5 star novel.Despite the somewhat shallow resolution of tension, this book was still an excellent read. It was well-paced with good dialogue & likeable characters one can relate to on some level. I think I'll read this again at some point. Kleypas' style is one of the best I've seen, & this book is no exception.So ignore the reviews that didn't like this book. Really, it's surprisingly logical when one considers that both characters should have been neurotic messes given their abusive/neglected backgrounds.You can get another injection of these characters in the short story I Will included in  A HISTORICAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT , which offers a romance for Andrew, Lord Drake. (I actually read the short story first, which piqued my curiosity enough to read the series.)

FINAL DECISION: The strength of this story is the compelling Logan Scott -- a self made man with deep conflicts and desires. The sweet but strong Madeline is a match for him. I loved their story.THE STORY: Lady Madeline Matthews is on the verge of being married off to a lecherous old peer by her father. Determined to avoid that fate, Madeline runs away to London intending to meet with the famous actor Logan Scott and become his lover. In that way, Madeline intends to make herself marriageable and thwart her parents ambitions.OPINION: Kleypas has a wonderful way in depicting men who are self-made. While Logan Scott isn't up the standards of the marvelous Derek Craven, I found Logan a compelling character. I was fascinated by his rise from a farmer's son to the most celebrated actor and theatre owner in London. Such a journey has taken ambition, talent drive, discipline, determination, dedication, desire and will. Logan's hard focused exterior hides a man who has been deeply hurt in his life. Abused by his parents, betrayed by the woman he loved, Logan has opened himself up only on stage in his characters.Things begin to change, however, when he meets the sweet and innocent Madeline who appears honest and open with nothing to hide. But, of course, Madeline has much to hide. As she begins to discover the real Logan, she feels guilty about her deception. Madeline is a bright and generous woman who faced her own emotional abuse at the hands of her parents who are cold and do not understand their lively daughter.This book is divided into two parts which makes a nice narrative break because there are truly two relationships between Madeline and Logan -- before and after the revelation of Madeline's secrets. I loved how each of the parts worked as its own story and yet they are part of a whole journey for these characters.Some books just hit the right spot and for me I loved the setting of the story (regency theatre), the character of Logan (and this book is really his story) -- a good, forward thinking, damaged, self-made, brilliant man -- and the love story between Madeline and Logan which is filled with sweetness, angst and drama. When you fall in love with the hero, it is often easy to really like the book.WORTH MENTIONING: For readers of the first book in the series SOMEWHERE I'LL FIND YOU, there is a nice update on the couple.CONNECTED BOOKS: BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE is the second book in the Capital Theatre series. Although there are overlapping characters, this book can be read as a standalone.STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE is book two in the "Capital Theatre" series and was a re-read for me. It was originally published in 1997 and is simply a stunning romance from start to finish. It was much better than "Somewhere I'll Find you" which is book one and I thought was just okay. I honestly didn't start out liking Logan Scott too much, who was utterly an enigma to me in that first story. His character is brought to life here however, and I finally understood why and how he came to be the man he is. Madeline, while definitely a little naive, I couldn't help but fall in love with. She was strong, smart, willful, and went after what she wanted, which was great and what basically makes this story.Most moving of all and what I will always recall about this romance though, is the love between these two. While Logan and Madeline do have their share of troubles, their love for each other is practically palpable. When I finally closed this book I was left with the feeling that I'd witnessed a love that comes along only once in a lifetime. Just a deeply touching story that pulled at my heart, made me smile, and at one point actually made me cry. Ms. Kleypas did a wonderful job with her characters, leaving you feeling as if they were real, and pulling you into the story alongside them. Overall its a truly beautiful historical romance that you're sure to enjoy, and one I would absolutely recommend =)NOTE: There's also a novella that comes after this called "I Will" which stars Andrew, Logan's half brother. It first appeared in the 2001 "Wish List" anthology and then again in "A Historical Christmas Present" in 2008, and was recently released for kindle.

I hoovered this one up… After the first book in the series, I was completely gagging to read Logan Scott's story. Another of Kleypas's brilliantly tortured and taciturn and autocratic heroes, Logan is one of my favourites. Maddy - an innocent but determined young woman who will do anything to escape an arranged marriage to a hideous lecher (wouldn't we all), even seducing famed womanising actor manager Logan Scott (and wouldn't we all love to be ruined by him too!!)… The early sparring between the dictatorial Logan and the eager-to-please Maddy is delicious and then we have the sequence packed full of sensuality and emotion when Maddy saves Logan's life by nursing him through a life-threatening bout of fever. This book touches all the romance bases and then knocks them out of the park. Kleypas at her best.

"Because You're Mine" is another well-written historical romance by Lisa Kleypas' magic pen. The story is set in Victorian London mostly in the interesting surroundings of the Capital Theatre.Lady Madeline Matthews is a spirited young gentlewoman who doesn't want to marry her family's chosen old but rich lecherous lord.She is desperately planning some sort of escape when she gets the idea of socially ruining herself with the help of Logan Scott. Logan Scott is the most popular actor of his times. He is the owner of London's Capital Theatre and he is one of England's richest men. Madeline leaves school and goes to London directly to the Capital. Her plan is to make Logan Scott make love to her and ruin her. Maddy is an intelligent girl but she is very innocent in the ways of the world. Logan is her opposite. He is a hardened womanizer with no illusions about the hardships of life. He comes from a painful childhood and he fought for everything he has. He is attracted to Madeline from the beginning but he is angry as well. He doesn't want her around the theatre because she threatens the peace of his body and mind. Maddy is stubborn and doesn't want to give up hope that she will be able to seduce Logan.Both characters are strong, attractive and very alive. The story is full of their exciting verbal fights and the sexual tension between them is sizzling.Logan doesn't want to trust any woman but Maddy defeats his barriers and they make passionate love. The storyline is fast-paced full of emotional struggle between Logan and Maddy. They both misunderstand the other's motives and they hurt each other unintentionally. The path to happiness is long and not easy.There are some interesting well developed secondary characters who are meddling in the couple's relationship either positively or negatively. Ms. Kleypas is a very talented writer who finds the right way to describe her characters and their continuous change for the better.BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE is a beautiful historical romance set in the busy life of a Victorian theatre.The authors use of different sceneries is very original. I love the way she writes about her characters and make them come alive so we think of them as real persons.Fans of historical romance will cherish this book and they will want to read more by this excellent author.

I had read the mixed reviews but ordered the book anyway, and am glad I did. I agree that there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of chemistry between Maddy and Logan, but I enjoyed this book as the characters weren't at eachothers throats, professing to hate eachother when secretly they were in love. Maddy showed her love for Logan, he was the one with the "past" which made it difficult for him to show his love back. There was a great plot "twist" in the middle of the book which added to the story. I would recommend this book if you are a kleypas fan, you will not be disappointed.

My first time reading Lisa Klypas and I have never fallen more in love with a book, I was gripped from start to finish, there's no repetition of word or phrases,funny,romantic and just what you want to read. it was in keeping with the period it was written, I felt like I was watching a movie more than reading a book.well done Lisa keep it up and am certainly an avid reader now :-)

Once again Ms Kleypas delights with this tale of two unlikely and apparently incompatible protagonists finding that they cannot exist without the other.