Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas

She gave him her innocence . . .Lady Aline Marsden was brought up for one reason: to make an advantageous marriage to a member of her own class. Instead, she willingly gave her innocence to John McKenna, a servant on her father's estate. Their passionate transgression was unforgivable — John was sent away, and Aline was left to live in the countryside . . . an exile from London society . . .and he took her love.

Now McKenna has made his fortune, and he has returned — more boldly handsome and more mesmerizing than before. His ruthless plan is to take revenge on the woman who shattered his dreams of love. But the magic between them burns as bright as ever. And now he must decide whether to let vengeance take its toll . . . or risk everything for his first, and only, love.

In Again the Magic we follow a story of two children, one born to peerage and one a lowly servant, that form a friendship and when they grow up a passionate love. Both know it can never be but they love each other so much they take all the risks to be with each other when ever they can. Until one day Aline's father finds out about the relationship and banishes McKenna from the manor. Aline knows McKenna will never go if he knows she loves him, he'd always find a way back and then her father would ruin him. So she makes him believe that she has just been playing with him and she could never really love a lowly servant. And although it crushes her she watches him walk away thinking she hated him and knowing he'd come to hate her for it.

Twelve years later McKenna returns to Stoney Cross not a servant anymore but a successful business partner from NY in America. And he comes with one thing in mind, to take Aline, to use her ... to get his revenge.

But when Aline and McKenna are together feelings they both do not want to acknowledge cannot be held at bay. Aline has secrets from a horrible accident and McKenna cannot trust the girls who once broke his heart.

So while reading this book first I was thrown because in the first few chapters we are lead to believe that Aline and McKenna have such a unique and special bond as to even be the others half. They know each others thoughts with just a look. And yet when Aline's father finds out the truth and tells McKenna he is to leave, and he goes to see Aline he just believes the bull she is spouting? She has always said she'd love him forever, and they knew each other so well, why then didn't he argue with her? Why couldn't he see the fake front she was putting on?

So 12 years later when McKenna returns for his revenge and they both fall for each other all over again what happens? Well because of a accident Aline had years ago she won't let the love bloom. She AGAIN pushes him away. I mean how many times does the man need to get his heart broken? It is all about the heroine making the ultimate sacrifice for the hero, the sacrifice that is so stupid you want to hit her.

Of course at the end we get our happily ever after, and McKenna was so swoon worthy at the end he totally made up for annoying me a bit in the story. But Aline? Yeah, by the end maybe I understood her a bit more, but she still totally irked me. She just seemed a bit shallow, or maybe just really stupid.

I was a lot more impressed with the secondary characters Gideon and Livia. Such a sweet romance with them. With true struggles not shallow superficial one's. I would love to have an entire book on them. A man actually struggling with a real problem, being an alcoholic, and a woman that loves him so much ... to much to marry him and watch him kill himself slowly. So in them we see Gideon struggle to over come his demons not only for a woman's love but for himself, and Livia with such an unselfish love.

So I would say this is a must read if only for Gideon and Livia. And for the ending with McKenna. And grudgingly I'll admit that although the hero and heroine annoyed me a bit with there ignorance through a lot of the book it kept my interests. So good writing.

And here are a few of the memorable quotes from McKenna, the man did have a way with words:

"My lady, you're about to receive an education in how to conduct and affair. Because for the duration of my stay at Stony Cross, you're going to work off your debt to me...on your back, your knees, or any other position I desire you in."

"I want you for a thousand reasons other than your legs, and ...no, damn it, I want your for no reason at all, other than the fact that you're you. I want to shove my self deep inside you and stay for hours...days...weeks. I want morning and noon and nightfall with you. I want your tears, your smiles, your kisses...the smell of your hair, the taste of your skin, the touch of your breath on my face. I want to see you in the final hour of my life...to lie in your arms as I take my last breath."

"You sleep too," she said groggily, her hand creeping to the center of his chest.
"No." McKenna smiled and pressed a soft kiss against her temple. His voice was husky with wonder. "Not when staying awake is better than anything I could find in a dream."

Grade- C+ (the plus is because of the great secondary plot)