Love in the Afternoon

Title: Love in the Afternoon
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: Hathaway Series (Book 5)
Genre: Romance



Beatrix is the youngest of the Hathaway family. She is not your typical lady of the times. She loves nature, animals and wearing breeches.

Christopher is away at war and then comes home with emotional as well as physical scars left from the battles.

Prudence, a friend of Beatrix's, was sent a letter from Christopher while he was still away at war. He wishes for Prudence to write back to help him get through the horror that is war. She is unimpressed by the things he talks about, and Beatrix offers to write back for her. Beatrix feels that someone should write back to him and starts to routinely write back and forth with Christopher.

But she signs all of her letters Prudence, thinking Christopher would not want any letters back from her. He once had said that Beatrix should be left in the barn with the horses. She was hurt and remembered that, but was able to put it behind her to help him in his time of need.

The two fall in love and Beatrix sends Christopher a letter telling him she can no longer write to him. Since she has been masquerading as Prudence, she is hurt too much by loving him and he not knowing who she is.

Christopher comes back from the war and seeks out Prudence. He expects the woman who he has been conversing with through the letters and wants to marry her. Eventually, since Beatrix and Prudence are nothing alike, he figures out that he was not actually exchanging letters with Prudence. He also figures out it was Beatrix and the two have somewhat of a whirlwind romance.

I adored the letters that the two wrote back and forth. There were so many beautiful passages and words of love. The two seem well suited for each other and I enjoyed seeing Beatrix finally get her chance at love.

The only issue that I had with the storyline was Christopher and his post-war issues. They were a legitimate concern and I thought very well written until he seemed to just take a stance and get past one concern he had. I felt like after all of the development of his problems, that they deserved a more thorough chance to be resolved.

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.

Tempt Me At Twilight

Title: Tempt Me At Twilight
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: Hathaway Series (Book 3)
Genre: Romance



I was mistaken. I thought that the third book of the series was going to be about Leo and Catherine Marks. However, it was about Poppy one of the younger sisters.

Poppy has set her sights on Michael and Michael also appears to love Poppy. The two are having somewhat of a secret courtship because Michael's father would not approve. Michael's father does indeed find out and Michael drops Poppy as fast as he possibly can. While she is sad other prospects quickly come about.

Harry is a wealthy hotel owner who wants Poppy no matter the cost. They get married quickly without the two even feeling much affection for each other. Harry must learn to love.

Seduce Me At Sunrise

Title: Seduce Me at Sunrise
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: Hathaway Series (Book 2)
Genre: Romance



I'd been on the waiting list at my library for this book for so long, I forgot why I wanted it in the first place. I knew it was by Lisa Kleypas, who I really enjoy, but was worried because it was book 2 in a series where I hadn't read book one.

Boy was I mistaken. I started reading the story and thought hmm... these names sound familiar. Then I stumbled upon the thought that I had indeed read the first book, Mine till Midnight. Not only had I read it, but I had highly enjoyed it and immediately requested the next book. This all was a pleasant surprise when I was starting to read it. Although I enjoy reading new books, it is always nice to read a book where you already know some of the characters and the world behind it.

Seduce Me at Sunrise followed in the footsteps of it's predecesor, I highly enjoyed it. It follows Winn - the younger sister of Amelia (First Book) as she goes away to France to become well. She has been extremely ill since she had scarlet fever as a child. She has also been in love with a Gypsy that her family took in as a child, Merripen. This is their story as Merripen overcomes his demons from childhood and can finally have the life with Winn that she wants.

Since there are several Hathaway sisters left, and a brother - I am assuming there will be at least 3 books more. I also predict book #3 will be about Leo and of course, the Governess. We shall see - I can find no mention of the title or release date, must be to far in the future.