We Love Lisa Kleypas discussion

Would you have married Simon Hunt in a heartbeat if you were Annabelle? Then you're in the right place.

I don't know if I would have married him in a heartbeat, as it took him awhile to decide he wanted to marry her. I was miffed that his first thought was to make her his mistress and he even taunted her by telling her that eventually she'd be so desperate (because clearly she wasn't worthy marriage material) that she would gladly accept his offer.

That wasn't nice. I agree, Dhestiny. But in his defense, I think he did that out of hurt. I like Annabelle a lot, but she was a snob, and she looked down on Simon (partly out of fear because she found him so attractive). I think Simon initially thought to pursue her with marriage in mind. But when she turned her nose up at him, he got spiteful. That's the way I read the situation, anyway.

Oh, I agree. As with all characters we dislike, once we take the time to look deeper, we find all the more to love.

And Annabelle was harsh. As I said in my review, I wanted to kick her to the curb on more than one occasion! LOL

I agree. I didn't love Annabelle until later on. I can't stand snobbery. But it's always good when a snob gets his/her education. Very good. But after they were married when she was kind of whiney about how she'd lost her 'world', I pretty much felt like she needed a good, swift, booty-kick.

I loved Simon, even though he was kind of jerky at some points. He was so obviously crazy about her for so long. In the end, I loved them as a couple.

Me too. I really dislike snobs, Bean. Dhestiny, I agree with you feeling like kicking her to the curb. She made things harder for herself in that regard. Yeah, she did annoy me how she liked the posh lifestyle, but didn't want to associate with Simon's family. I was glad that Westcliff gave her that talking to. Same here, about Simon. He was so crazy for Annabelle. I wanted him to get her. I was glad that he did marry her first, because I despise the mistress storyline. I was a little worried LK would go that way, and I was holding my breath. But she came through as always. :)

Early on when reading this, I felt like Simon deserved her, but Annabelle did not deserve him. Does that make sense?

I feel the exact same way, D.

UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~* wrote: "Early on when reading this, I felt like Simon deserved her, but Annabelle did not deserve him. Does that make sense?"

Yep. I felt the same way. I felt that way through various parts almost until the end. But it's still a good introduction to the series.

I love how Annabelle always refers to him as "Mr. Hunt" to other people. It's like she's almost bragging that he doesn't have a title.

They are an awesome couple... they haven't yet come right out and stated that she's pregnant, but it sure seems that way.

I'm reading Devil in Winter now and I keep laughing out loud. Sorry, I know it's not Simon but I couldn't resist mentioning it.

I never thought about the fact that Annabelle calls Simon "Mr. Hunt" to people, but I think you are right...It is like she bragging he doesn't have a title. I loved how Simon was so protective of Annabelle and took care of her family too. I thought that was a really sweet part to the book.

Alexis wrote: "I loved how Simon was so protective of Annabelle and took care of her family too. I thought that was a really sweet part to the book. ..."

He was very considerate of her family's situation. I thought that spoke volumes about his true character.

YES!!! It totally endeared me (even more) to his character. I think Simon sometimes gets overlooked when talking about the Wallflower series. St. Vincent and Westcliff are such imposing characters (in a good way) that I don't believe Simon sometimes gets the attention he deserves! LOL!!!

I think she came to embrace what a self-made man her husband was. Thus, I think you're right, Bean. The part with the fire was so pivotal, because it changed Westcliff's bad opinion of Annabelle, and also drove home how much she loved Simon. It was very well-written.

I'll be happy to give Simon my attention! LOL! I love the man, scandalous propositions and all. He came through in the end.

Danielle...You are naughty!!! LOL!!! I wonder where we can find a real life "Simon?"

I just realized as I am reading my messages that I have made A LOT of grammatical errors. Sorry! I guess I am more tired than I think.

My messages are horrible. I haven't noticed that your messages are error-ridden. But I bet you are tired. No worries.

Ok, so, I loved Simon Hunt from the start! He could bed me anytime...married or mistress! LOL

Simon is very sexy. I like how he was going to have Annabelle, no matter what it took.

We are on the same page, Vale. I completely agree with you!

Yep, yep and more yep, girls, I am right there with you!

Well, I'll be the first to say it - there's not a single Kleypas hero that I'd turn away. LOL Indeed, I'm a hero-ho.

He is so sexy and I love how he took control Simon is a big WOW!!!!!!!!!!

Sigh...Sigh....Sigh!!! I love Simon and I am with Dhestiny...There isn't one Kleypas hero I would turn away (except maybe for Nikolas in "Prince of Dreams"...I had a hard time with him).
Ally

I haven't read Prince of Dreams yet.

SPOILERS...Prince of Dreams!!!

I liked it, but it probably was my least favorite of LK's books. I loved Emmaline (the main character...I think that was her name), but wasn't so crazy about Nickolas...maybe it was just the mood I was in when reading it too...I don't know. He had a lot of "demons" that tortured him and it took him a long time to get straightened out and I don't like how he treated Emma until the end.

Hero-ho! That's the funniest thing I've heard today, Dhestiny. Love it!

I have to agree with Ally about Nikolas. He's probably the one Kleypas hero I'd toss back. Maybe Damon from Somewhere I'll Find You, as well.

Danielle...Damon was alright but I probably would "toss" him back too...LOL! Okay...there was one other hero that I wasn't crazy about and that was Logan Scott from "Because You're Mine"...Maddy was so sweet and he didn't appreciate her enough until the end either! Although, I still find these heros more appealing than some of the other books I read...For me, it is just LK's gift of writing that does it. I probably sounded like I just contradicted myself too!
Ally

Another thing we have in common. Wasn't overly fond of Logan, either. LOL.

Danielle...We are truly honorary sisters!!!

Indeed we are, Ally. :)

I totally agree with you. I couldn't stand Nikolas, Damon and especially Logan. He reacted too, too much too harsh toward Maddy. Good God, she didn't do anything that bad.
Thank goodness there are so many other heros to love.
Simon is one of my top fav's too. What a man.

So funny that we have those unliked heroes in common, Ally and Cynthia. We must have similar taste in men. :)

Yes, I think we probably do have similar taste in men Danielle (another thing we have in common)! It is funny that the three of us didn't care for any of those heroes. Although, I really think Nikolas tops the list for me (Wasn't he unfaithful to Emma one night after they were married in that book?). I think that was what sealed it for me and I had a hard liking him after that point.
Ally

Yep Ally, we was unfaithful...I didnt care for him to begin with but this sealed the deal!

Yes, that's exactly why I don't like him.

As with most LK heroes, I really liked Simon, but he didn't stand out to me quite as much as some others. I think it took me a little too long to get to know him. He only had two brief POV scenes in the first 150 pages. Once he tended to Annabelle after the snake bite, I started to fall for him slowly. He also wasn't nearly as intense as most of LK's other heroes either. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. I really did love his gentleness and protectiveness toward Annabelle and her family.

As to him wanting to make Annabelle his mistress, I would have to agree with Danielle's assessment early in this thread. I think he fell for Annabelle from the first time they met and was always pursuing her with marriage in mind. I don't recall him ever outright propositioning her or ever stating to anyone that he only wanted her as a mistress. It was mainly Annabelle and the others around them that assumed he only wanted her in his bed. I think if Annabelle had ever been willing to give him the time of day during the two years he was subtly courting her, she might have been surprised by what he had to offer. I think any harsh words he had for Annabelle were only brought about out of hurt and lost patience over her looking down her nose at him constantly.

Julie (Mom2lnb) wrote: "As to him wanting to make Annabelle his mistress, I would have to agree with Danielle's assessment early in this thread. I think he fell for Annabelle from the first time they met and was always pursuing her with marriage in mind.i>

I disagree- he said several times that he wanted A to be his mistress I believe even as late in the book as at the beginning of the music room scene- but I thought he was gorgeous anyhow. He was my favourite hero from the Wallflower series. I don't really know why- just that that book gelled really well for me.

I quite liked that he was from an ordinary background and didn't have any dark secrets or a difficult childhood. I also enjoyed that he didn't really care what other people thought (neither do I). As for the harsh words I think you are right but he also liked and respected A's toughness and resilience because that was something that he also had. This was definitely an attraction of two similar people rather than two opposites I thought.

Mrshj wrote: "I disagree- he said several times that he wanted A to be his mistress I believe even as late in the book as at the beginning of the music room scene- but I thought he was gorgeous anyhow. He was my favourite hero from the Wallflower series. I don't really know why- just that that book gelled really well for me. "

I went back and searched the book for an instance of Simon outright saying that he only wanted Annabelle as his mistress, but the only passage I could find was at the beginning of the music room scene. He did basically tell her to name her price, but at that point, I think he was feeling angry and jealous and was loosing patience with her, making his words harsher than he intended. Up until then, Annabelle had thought and/or said that he wanted her as his mistress many times including right to Simon's face, and Westcliff had done the same, but in both instances Simon never gave either of them a straight answer.

It seemed to me that he was taken with her from the moment he first stole a kiss from her in the prologue, otherwise, he wouldn't have been continuously pursuing her for two years. I think his feelings for Annabelle were very complex and much deeper than simply wanting a beautiful woman as his mistress, which was evidenced in his eventual proposal to her instead of a mere proposition. It's all very subtle and subjective rather than overt, but that's how I interpreted it.

Same here, Julie. I think he always wanted Annabelle for keeps.

;-)

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was another reason I came to the conclusions I did about Simon. IMO, Simon's actions simply didn't reflect those of a man who was merely looking for an illicit affair. Everything he did right from the start was very measured and deliberate. I loved how LK used the ongoing chess game between him and Annabelle as a metaphor for their developing relationship.:-)

I agree, Julie.

Julie (Mom2lnb) wrote: ";-)

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was another reason I came to the conclusions I did about Simon. IMO, Simon's actions simply didn't reflect those of a man who was me..."

Oh good point on the chess game. I'm not totally convinced about his honourable nature (maybe I just like a bit of dastardlyness though) but it is possible to read slightly different interpretations in books. Anyways in representing the opposing view I offer the following:

P36 (his private thoughts) "so far Simon's strategy had been to wait patiently knowing that desperation would evenutally drive Annabelle to do things she had never considered doing before......she would be faced with the choice of marrying a poor man or becoming the mistress of a rich one. And in the latter case it would be his bed..."

On page 168 his views seem to have moved following the adder bite. Thinking of Annabelle: "The increasing depth of his passion for her shocked him........It required nothing less than outright ownership".

I also think that maybe her supposed relationship with Hodgeham influenced him- he didn't want to risk her moving on for a better offer at some point. The other argument could be that if A had realised he was interested in marriage she might have been mercenary to have snapped him up anyway given her circumstances!

I put some super hot qotes from Simon in the thread where we guess who said what....he is a great dirty talker!

here is the link to some of my fave Simon quotes!

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

I LOVE Simon too.

Heidi wrote: "I put some super hot qotes from Simon in the thread where we guess who said what....he is a great dirty talker!"

Heidi LOL

HE IS! Love him, love him, love him!

Mrshj wrote: "Oh good point on the chess game. I'm not totally convinced about his honourable nature (maybe I just like a bit of dastardlyness though) but it is possible to read slightly different interpretations in books. Anyways in representing the opposing view I offer the following: "

After careful consideration, I wouldn't necessarily go so far as to say that Simon's intentions toward Annabelle were 100% honorable (after all he never outright stated that he wanted her as his wife any more than he ever overtly stated wanting her as his mistress), but I don't think he was dishonorable either. He was obviously an extremely patient man to bide his time for two years, putting up with Annabelle's snobbery and waiting for her options to run out, which seems an awful lot of trouble to go to just for a mistress. If anything, perhaps Simon didn't know his own mind early on, or maybe thought that he wanted one thing only to discover that his feelings went much deeper.

I'm finding the whole disparity of opinions on Simon's true character to be rather fascinating. From what I've seen in the reviews and comments in this group, most readers seem to view Simon as an unrepentant bad boy, while I didn't get that vibe from him at all while reading the book. I saw him as self-assured almost to the point of being cocky, a mischievous flirt, and highly mysterious. I just don't think his true intentions were as clear-cut as the cover blurb and the opinions of the other characters might lead one to believe, but short of asking LK herself, I guess we'll never know for sure.;-)

I believe that Simon was in love with Annabelle early on. But her snubbing him made him resort to less admirable behavior towards her. I think that he would take her anyway he could get her. Annabelle simply wasn't considering Simon as a suitable husband. It did take her situation getting fairly desperate, and Simon's continual pursuit of her to open her eyes to him.