Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas was a quick read and exactly what you expect. I like that the main character displays autistic characteristics. It gave a little diversity to the genre that typically is pretty homogeneous. Overall the book was forgettable. I read it two weeks ago and had to read the description to remember what the book was about. When I read the description details popped into my head and I was happy. If you want a straightforward historical romance that is written well, this is a good book. 3 Stars for being enjoyable but lacking anything extraordinary.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publisher for the ARC. This is an honest review.

This book takes one of the least sympathetic male characters from this series his happily ever after. I liked the way his character was expanded and the characterization of the heroine Cassandra. This book can be read as a stand alone, and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys Lisa Kleypas.

I was super excited when I heard that Lisa Kleypas was returning to historical romances, but the Ravenel series has been hit-or-miss for me. I loved Devil's Daughter, but had niggling issues with most of the others. So how did Chasing Cassandra shake out?

Cassandra and Tom were such a sweet couple, but I felt like there was a lack of central conflict for the book. Her family opposes the match, I guess? They spend most of the time apart, and that combined with a number of time jumps made the pace feel a bit sluggish. From the title and the description, I was expecting a lot more chasing, but instead Tom almost immediately stepped back. Which was fine! I just wasn't expecting that from how the book had been sold/publicized. I was also surprised by the number of subplots that were either never resolved (their conversations about novels), or resolved way too quickly for my liking (Tom's family).

And while I liked the way that Cassandra and Tom complemented each other, I wish there had been more critical focus on some of the bad or morally hazy things that Tom had done for the sake of business. I don't know, I was expecting something more like Tempt Me at Twilight or Dreaming of You, to reference some classic Kleypas titles.

In short: the hero and heroine are great, I loved their interactions, I just felt like the rest of the book fell short. A good romance, but not an amazing one.

Tom. Oh how i loved Tom and his 5 emotions (one of which isn't love.) Hes strong but sweet. Alpha but still nice. Hes evolving as a human and it was great that we got to read it unfold. Cassandra is the last sister who needs "marrying off." Shes absolutely beautiful and wants to marry for love, not just good breeding and society. (You can see where this could be a problem.) Cassandra was adorable, lovable and nurturing I bonded with her over our love of sweets. She has a sweet tooth and stress eats, which is bad for her fitting into her dresses. She just wants to fall in love, but it has to be "right".
After some gossip that can ruin Cassandras good name, Tom decides to step up. The chemistry between them is H-O-T. There isn't a lot of external conflict though. Tom discovering his new emotions and Cassandra learning she doesn't have to settle really is all the conflict you need.
I loved being able to see the rest of the characters in the series in this book. They are all quite involved in the dating of Tom and Cassandra.
I think it was a strong end to the series.

Cassandra is the last in her family to remain single, but not because she has anything against marriage. On the contrary, she wants a home and family of her own but has one requirement of her husband: love. Men may offer for her because of her beauty and wealth, but they don't look beneath the surface to the woman inside and she's determined not to accept a traditional, 'surface' marriage. Tom Severin is more intelligent than most men, his brain always running five steps ahead of everyone else in business- a talent that has made him rich and powerful. But he doesn't know much about people, and even less about the heart. He's willing to give Cassandra everything she wants- except love. Can these opposites do more than attract, but find a way to be happy together?
Cassandra may be willing to play by (most of) society's rules, but she refuses to lose herself and what is important to her as she navigates the Season's dangers. She's intelligent, curious, compassionate, and loving- a delightful combination of personality traits that men tend to ignore in favor of her appearance. Kleypas did a wonderful job switching up the expected trope: instead of a plain wallflower waiting to bloom, Cassandra is a beauty hoping to be seen for herself. Kleypas also addresses a form of body shaming with delicacy and tact: Cassandra is told because of how she looks, she's clearly "asking for" whatever a man wants to do to her. Fortunately, while she may question herself and believe this, she has a loving family who's more than willing to set her straight on the subject. Through them, she learns the difference between men and boys (other rather excellently descriptive phrases used by various Ravenel men can also be entered here).
At first I worried that Tom was going to be too similar to Rhys Winterbourne (Marrying Winterbourne). While I love Rhys (he may be one of my favorite Kleypas heroes), something different was needed for Cassandra. I shouldn't have doubted Kleypas though. Tom may be a self-made man who is now rich and powerful, but that's about where his similarities to Rhys end. Tom is incredibly intelligent, but not necessarily when it comes to people. He prides himself on having only five emotions, believes that his own upbringing didn't affect who he is now, and is sure he is incapable of love because it isn't a real thing. Despite all that, he's a good person without knowing it. And his interpretations of the point of various novels are priceless.
Chasing Cassandra can be read as a stand alone book, but other Ravenels and their spouses are key characters throughout the book, so if you've enjoyed the rest of the series you get to catch up with them. It was a fast-paced and entertaining, with Kleypas' usual excellent writing style drawing the reader right into Cassandra's world. An excellent new book reader's are sure to enjoy!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Gorgeous read!

I was enchanted by Cassandra and her relationship with railway magnate Tom Severin.
Tom it seems is restless. "Things that gave him pleasure now bored him." With that jaded mind set Tom accepts an invitation to Pandora Ravenel's wedding and finds himself even more adrift. The now married Revenel men are no longer as amusing as they once were. How to dispel his mood? "Maybe he should marry" After all he's made his fortune, and marrying into the right circles should help to advance him socially.
Retreating to the library whilst considering all this, he's quite startled when he overhears Pandora's twin Cassandra sobbing to West that she's now about to become an old maid, and proceeds to list her deficiencies.
Such a delicious moment when the distant Tom, apparently a man who only knows FIVE emotions, leapt out of an alcove in the library and declared himself ready to marry Cassandra even though they'd never met.
What propelled Tom to be so out of character? Well it appears "Tom Severin was smitten. Smitten and slain."
I just loved the journey Tom takes discovering emotions he either didn't know existed or had never had the experience of. This man is in love and that emotion is totally foreign! I loved the dance between Tom and Cassandra. There's some quite delicious moments of repartee.
And then there's the street urchin Bazzle. He's just a fabulous addition. Getting him cleaned up is even more hilarious.
When Cassandra is "slandered by a rejected suitor" Tom leaves no stone unturned to rectify the situation.
The tension mounts as their story unfolds towards the HEA they deserve. Such a satisfying read. Ah, the bliss of it all!

A HarperCollins ARC via NetGalley

Tom Severin, will you please by my book boyfriend? You start the book only having five emotions (having long ago decided that the rest were superfluous) and end up with all the feels. The last possible Big Misunderstanding is circumvented because you are so in love with your bride and so aware of needing to be a decent human being in order to keep her.
Was this book perfect? I can't remember much about Cassandra other than that she's gorgeous but has a heart of gold so... maybe not. But it was damn near.
Cassandra Ravenel is stoked for her twin. Of course she is. Pandora is marrying the love of her life and he's a good man. Cassandra just wishes she could find her own oyster. Nothing shocks her more than, after confessing that feeling to West, Tom stands up from the chair he was sitting in (not hiding, just not able to get out without it being awkward) and offers to be that man for her. Her family is against the match (at least the men are; the women are willing to wait and see.) But Kelypas takes us through their relationship over the course of several months as Tom learns to have all the feels because Cassandra convinces his to read fiction. I'm not crying; you're crying.

Four and a half stars
This book comes out February 18th
ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins Publishers
Opinions are my own

Rating: 6/5
I have found my favorite read of 2020 and it's Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas.

I nearly passed out when I found out that NetGalley had blessed me with an early copy of what has been my most anticipated read, ever since Lisa Kleypas first hinted at this pairing in an interview I read two years ago, and right before a three-day weekend!

I devoured this book in just over a day and was not disappointed. Tom Severin has officially dethroned Rhys Winterborne as my favorite hero from The Ravenels series by Lisa Kleypas. I am strangely obsessed with nontraditional heroes, anti-heroes and the likes; and I was praying the LK would give Mr. Severin a book since his first appearance in The Ravenels series.

I loved the pacing of this story, from the initial meeting between Tom and Cassandra, I knew they would be magic together. Every interaction between the two main characters left me with a smile. I absolutely loved the fact Tom, who honestly believed he was incapable of feeling, fell so obviously in love with Cassandra. This was evident in the fact that he always there for Cassandra, even after she initially rejected his proposal of a marriage of continence. Tom was a true hero to Cassandra in the aftermath of an attack and his story with Cassandra truly began.

I should also mention that I love Cassandra, she and Pandora, will always be my favorite female characters in this series. She was so lovely and kind and all she ever wanted was a family of her very own to love. She initially refused to "settle" for Tom, but through their interactions learned that their was far more to Mr. Severin than met the eye. Cassandra particularly shined when she defended, not only Tom to her family - when they were more than hesitant in accepting their potential relationship, but also her right to chose her own destiny.

The second half of the book was my favorite; the negotiation scene between Tom and Cassandra was hilarious and sweet, their subsequent marriage and the realization that they loved each other; all absolutely magical. A perfect romance, but what also could I expect from the queen of romance herself.

I adored getting to see the other characters from this series - and even characters from my other favorite LK series, The Wallflowers - featured within Chasing Cassandra. It's like catching up with old friends. I truly hope Lisa Kleypas' next series features more of the offspring from The Wallflowers (a girl can dream, right?).

Lisa Kleypas truly has a gift in her ability to transport us to other worlds and sweep us up in the magic and romance of it all. I love how Ms. Kleypas gives attention to the details of day to day life in the time period featured within all of her historical romance novels. I love reading fun facts throughout her story about specific locations, foods and traditions.

Overall, Chasing Cassandra was magical and a wonderful conclusion to a wonderful series. I'll probably reread it when it's released...in two days

I have been enamored with the world of the Ravenels since I read my first book in the Wallflower series many years ago. Since reading that series, and her other novels, I eagerly await each new release and devour the stories as soon as I can get my hands on them. Chasing Cassandra was no exception. I'm very happy that my original wish for Cassandra and Severin to fall in love came true, and it happened in a meaningful way as well. Ever since Severin was introduced in The Cold Hearted Rake it was clear that his emotional intelligence was not on the same wavelength as other people. But despite this he worked to adjust his behaviors, habits, and thoughts, in order to woo Cassandra. His trials, as well as her willingness to put her foot down when he attempted to run roughshod over her, were very real. I enjoyed this book immensely and would suggest it to any historical romance reader.

Another solid entry in the Ravenel, this time focusing on Cassandra and Tom Severin. Having watched all of her siblings fall in love and marry, Lady Cassandra is desperate for the same. However, none of the society men she meets really does it for her. Despite an instant connection and attraction between Cassandra and Tom Severin, Cassandra resists him as he is very adamant that he will never be in love. When Cassandra's reputation is besmirched by a scorned suitor, Tom Severin appears to save the day and Cassandra takes a chance on him.

Lisa Kleypas has a wonderful way of making me fall in love with her characters every time I read her books. Chasing Cassandra was a wonderful adventure in learning to love a character who has seemed unlovable and unable to love throughout the entire series before this book. The author's ability to describe emotions accurately and also include a bit of humor draws me in to the story and keeps me unable to put the book down. As always, I can't wait for her next title.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.

This was sweet, but it was disappointing that Cassandra and Tom didn’t interact for so much of the novel. Content warning: sexual assault.

Lisa Kleypas books are such a pleasure to read and Chasing Cassandra, the sixth (and final?) in the Ravenels series, was no exception. I devoured this book in one sitting and loved every minute of Cassandra and Tom's story! It may not appeal to everyone, but I really enjoyed that this was a fairly low angst romance with not a lot of external conflict. We finally get the story of two characters who have appeared often in previous Ravenel books - ruthless emotionally unavailable business magnate Tom and sweet yet spunky twin sister Cassandra who longs for a great love and to start a family of her own. They engage in witty discord throughout, seem to have a mutual respect for each other, and ultimately enter into a marriage of convenience and fall in love despite of themselves. The contract negotiation scene was a 'chef's kiss' delight. This was such a lovely addition to the Ravenel family saga and it was great to revisit the family and characters from the previous books as well. I highly recommend to all fans of romance! Lisa Kleypas remains one of the greats and I'm already eagerly anticipating her next book!

Lisa Kleypas is a fantastic writer, and she always manages to balance the emotional development of her characters with just the right amount of humor and drama. "Chasing Cassandra" is no exception, yet I feel this is a pretty standard and safe addition to the series, and doesn't distinguish itself much from other romances. The "Ravenel" series has not been a particular favorite of mine, although I'm a big fan of the "Hathaways" and "Wallfowers" series, and I think it's because the characters in this series feel less developed.

Cassandra and Severin are lovely characters and definitely a couple you find yourself rooting for. However, I felt that Cassandra did not really develop much as a character throughout the course of the novel, and was quite passive overall. I like Severin a lot, and he did have more development over the course of the novel in comparison to Cassandra. However, I would've liked some more unique personality quirks beyond genius-who-has-trouble-expressing-emotions. All in all, an alright but basic addition to this series and the romance genre. Would appeal to fans of this series, but there is nothing that really distinguishes it in the romance genre for someone to pick it up as a standalone.

One of the thing I like about this book was it got your attention with the first paragraph. We have seen how these characters have grown in other book. An enjoyable read highly recommend it.

Lisa Kleypas is the gold-standard when it comes to historical romance! She fills her novels with independent heroines and compassionate, sexy heroes who, while staying true to the time-era being portrayed, also resonate with a modern reader. Amazing.

"Chasing Cassandra" is the 6th in the Ravenels series. These books can be read stand alone although reading them in order is lovely because then you enjoy the reappearance of beloved characters from earlier books. In this book, the seemingly heartless industrialist, Tom Severin, catches sight of the elusive Cassandra, the last of the Ravenel siblings to still be single and (like most of London) he is immediately smitten by her beauty. However, he soon learns that he can not acquire her just because he wants her - he's going to have to earn her by opening up his heart.

I enjoyed this last installment of The Ravenels series. I had a hunch that Tom would be Cassandra's love interest a few books back. Lisa Kleypas books are always enjoyable and I find the romances well paced and interesting. I wasn't sure how I would feel about Tom Severin, but I ended up finding his character refreshing. Romance heroes are most often good looking and well liked, but Kleypas describes Tom as lean, angular, and rawboned. He is a ruthless business man who has no friends, but becomes fixated on Cassandra. You could even make the argument that he is autistic, which was interesting. Overall, I'm sad this is the last book in the series but I had a good time reading it!

Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorite authors and she doesn't disappoint with Chasing Cassandra. Her characters reappear from previous novels but her storylines remain unique. I read this book in one sitting.

A refreshingly angst-free British historical, Chasing Cassandra is a welcome addition to the Ravenel series. Lady Cassandra--the laid-back twin--is in danger of going onto the shelf when an overheard conversation stimulates the interest of powerful businessman Tom Severin. Though a friend of the family, Severin is known to them as cold, removed, and occasionally downright dangerous in negotiations. Nonetheless, Cassandra is drawn in by the fact that he takes her at face value without further expectations. After an ornamental life, she finds his attentions much more appealing than any of the supposedly appropriate string of suitors that she has been turning away. Lady Cassandra's popularity will get her in a bit of trouble, but for the most part, this story is a straightforward romance without gut-wrenching plot twists.

Gah! Absolutely delightul.

Historical romance is actually my first love, but I don't get to read it very often. <i>Chasing Cassandra</i> was the perfect book to dive back into my favorite subgenre of romance. And, of course, I can always count on Lisa Kleypas to deliver an emotionally compelling and uber romantic journey.

I've been wanting Tom Severin's book for so long! He may not relate to others as you'd expect or react in certain ways and he may be a bit more analytical and practical, and you may not always agree with how he comes about in his business dealings, but there's so many intricacies to his character.

Meeting Cassandra is a catalyst, of sorts, for him. Tom's easily bored and he's always on the lookout for some new venture. But nothing has gotten him excited for life in a long time. Not like catching his first glimpse of Cassandra, but she makes him <i>feel</i> and much more than Tom's allotted, self-proclaimed 5 emotions.

Cassandra on the other is looking for love. Her twin sister just got married, and she wants it so badly for herself. The only man who interests her, however, is one who is looking for anything BUT love in his marriage.

These two had some of the most romantic moments--and romantic dialogue--to date. There were just these moments of honest declarations and newfound appreciation that would come out unexpectedly but at just the right moment and let me tell you, it made an impact.

Chasing Cassandra is a character-driven story, through and through, so there isn't a lot of "action" scenes in that sense, but there's a lot of dare-I-take-a-risk, and I-may-be-falling-in-love, and It-feels-good-but-it-shouldnt-and-I-cants. Also, some of the best, most spicy kissing scenes. It's a slow-burn romance, in a sense, but damn. This is a great example of how one kiss can completely up to the sensuality all on its one. It was indecently lovely.

Now, there are some content warnings to heed and could be harmful to some readers. I listed those at the end of the review because some were pretty prevalent throughout (the first two, in particular).

I loved watching Cassandra and Tom get to know each other. The contract scene...SO GOOD. I know this one will be a re-read. I absolutely <i>loved the volume of romance</i> and I can't wait to see what this author does next.

5 stars!

Content notes: fat microaggressions, body image, slut-shaming, scene of sexual assault