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Sugar Daddy was another freebie.  One of those books that came my way at RWA last year.  Since this one is signed, I imagine the author had a signing as well.  Who can remember?  

During a seminar with Julia Quinn last year, she recommended the author Lisa Kleypas.  I don’t read historical, had never heard of Quinn, much less Kleypas, but a long vacation to Europe came up and I tucked one of Kleypas’ books into my suitcase.  I think I read the book somewhere between Lisbon and Evora, but it passed from my memory very quickly and I vowed once again to push historical romance to the very back of the shelf.  I think Kleypas is a historical author, and am not clear on whether she’s switched to contemporary or is just sticking a toe in the water – but I think this book is far better than whatever I read last year — and don’t remember.

Sugar Daddy should rightly be called a novel with strong romantic elements.  It’s the story of a half white-half Mexican girl coming of age, poor, and soon orphaned in rural Texas.  The romance is only a filter through which we see the character grow, and isn’t central to the story.  The book is also a very interesting foray into life in Texas.  Kleypas paints the landscape well.  I’ve never been to Texas – and after reading this, I feel all the more justified in not venturing that way – but her writing about it is evocative.  Though this will pass through my fingers like all others – I’ll keep her in mind should I bump into a Kleypas book in the future.