Married by Morning

Title: Married by Morning
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: Hathaway Series (Book 4)
Genre: Romance


Leo, the only brother of the Hathaways has had a hard life. He watched his fiance die in his arms from scarlet fever, contracted the fever himself and had a death wish. For most of the previous books in the series, he's been destructive and out living a fairly despicable life. In this book it seems he's made a 180 and is now a fairly nice and loving brother who cares for his family more openly and wants to do what he can to help them and keep them safe.

Catherine Marks is the governess/companion of the youngest and only remaining unmarried sister, Beatrice. She has her secrets and to keep those in tact she dies her hair and tries to disappear at public functions. At home she and Leo are constantly bickering and disagreeing with each other. Until one day they find that they agree fairly well after a stolen kiss in the gardens.

The Hathaway family gets some bad news, even though Leo has inherited the title and land, he has no inherited the house they are living in and have essentially brought back to life. It looks like Leo needs to find a wife and produce an heir in less than a year to keep the house.

I loved the interaction between the couple in this story. I usually love the stories of the withdrawn quiet woman finding love and blossoming, which is exactly what happens with Catherine. I did not feel that Leo's dilemma with finding a wife and having an heir was the driving force between him and Catherine, but instead that it was just inevitable, the workings of fate.

I also adored the role that Dodger, the ferret played in this role. By the end I wanted to be cuddling up with him. He's such a remarkable and loyal little fellow.