Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels, #6) by Lisa Kleypas
Published by Avon on February 18, 2020
Genres: Historical
Pages: 384
Goodreads

FINAL DECISION: Fabulous ending for the Ravenels series although I admit to being much more interested in Tom than in Cassandra. Cassandra is a kind person and the way she gentles Tom is wonderful, but Tom is the compelling character in this one.

THE STORY: The first glimpse of Lady Cassandra Ravenel is enough for railroad magnate Tom Severin to know that she was exactly what he wanted. But Cassandra wants to marry for love and Tom knows that he cannot love.  There is a compelled by circumstances marriage and Tom and Cassandra try and manage their expectations of one another.

OPINION: Tom is definitely the star in this book. Indeed, this is really Tom’s book. That was perfectly fine with me because he is such an interesting and damaged character that his journey was compelling to me. I really loved how the gentle and kind Cassandra really shakes up Tom’s life and expectations of himself. Tom is a man who doesn’t know how to process feelings. Readers of the series will know that he also has a flexible version of right and wrong. Neither of those characteristics are things that Cassandra can accept. Tom doesn’t know if when he meets Cassandra, but he is going to be completely willing to change for her.

Tom’s character is so compelling that Cassandra seems to be lost. But on my second time through the book, I began to notice her more. To see how she guides the events in this book even if she isn’t as prominent in this book as other Kleypas heroines. This feels like Tom’s journey. I loved that change and loved the relationship between these characters.

WORTH MENTIONING: Content Warning for attempted sexual assault.

CONNECTED BOOKS: CHASING CASSANDRA is the sixth book in the Ravenels series. The romance in this book is self-contained and can be read as a standalone, but since these two characters have appeared in prior books in the series, I think this book is much better after reading the others in the series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Edelweiss. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.