Lisa Kleypas's Sugar Daddy

I love this book. It sucks me in. The author did such a good job from the first page all I want to do is root for Liberty and see where her life is going to take her. This is a contemporary romance, but unlike the harlequins you are picturing right now, this one will not let you down. Another good thing, it’s the first in a series so there is more to devour.

The author starts out with Liberty and her mother when Liberty is just a young girl and you grow up with her through all the joys, trials and tribulations of her life through her adulthood. Most books, to really get to know the character and care, are huge (in size) to encompass everything, but the author has done a good job giving highlights, stories, memories and insightfulness, so all the extra words are not necessary. Liberty lives with her single mother in a trailer park, after her father dies and they move to Welcome, Texas.

The first half of the back is the story of Liberty Jones. We follow her from the age of 14-years-old when her momma moves into a trailer park in Welcome, Texas through her teenage years. When Liberty is only 18-years-old, her momma tragically dies and leaves her the choice of struggling to raise her baby sister, Carrington (named after a famous soap opera star) or give her up to the system. While this has some spoilers, it is the skeletons of the back story. The author gives the reads as much humor and laughter as she does heartache.  

While growing up in the trailer park, Liberty meets Hardy Cates, an ambitious teenager with a bad reputation. Hardy's family is worse off than Liberty's and Hardy is the “man” of the house, helping financially supports his mother and siblings. Hardy is the guy everyone depends on to help out and save them, which he does naturally. Hardy and Liberty's relationship is a unique one and Liberty is heart-broken when Hardy leaves her to work on oil rigs and seek out his fortune.

The story continues with Liberty moving to Houston and working her way through beauty school while caring for her baby sister. She eventually meets mega wealthy investment mogul (which, we know by Texas standards is saying something), Churchill Travis, at a high class beauty salon where she works. She talks Churchill into a manicure and over the years a strong friendship is formed between them. I don’t want to tell you more without getting into some real spoilers but the plot thickens and gets better and better!

Carrington and Churchill are great additions to the plot, especially Churchill. The author left an aura of mystery that needed to be figured out, and while the reader suspects, Liberty doesn’t. It added another layer to an already well layered novel.

The couples in this book are, to me from growing up with Liberty, very believable and had me rooting for them at different times throughout the novel. I didn’t think I would want to switch from Team Hardy to Team Gage but I could not help myself. I felt like I was right there with Liberty trying to help her make her choices between the two loves of her life. Honestly, when it comes to deciding between the love of your past and the possible love of your future, I did not envy Liberty for having to make a decision, but I was rooting for her every step of the way.

I absolutely recommend this novel to anyone in the mood for a good fiction read, romance, wants to fall in love with new fictional characters, or just a book that has laughter and tears. The characters have you wanting to keep reading about them and their family in the next books in the series.