Here together for the first time in a convenient ebook bundle, the five books from The Hathaways series by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Mine Til Midnight, Seduce Me at Sunrise, Tempt Me at Twilight, Married by Morning, and Love in the Afternoon.
Mine Till Midnight When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.
Seduce Me at Sunrise Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation…and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.
Tempt Me at Twilight Poppy Hathaway loves her unconventional family, though she longs for normalcy. Then fate leads to a meeting with Harry Rutledge, an enigmatic hotel owner and inventor with wealth, power, and a dangerous hidden life. When their flirtation compromises her own reputation, Poppy shocks everyone by accepting his proposal—only to find that her new husband offers his passion, but not his trust.
Married by Morning For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the Hathaway sisters—a pleasant position, with one caveat. Her charges' older brother, Leo Hathaway, is thoroughly exasperating. Cat can hardly believe that their constant arguing could mask a mutual attraction. But when one quarrel ends in a sudden kiss, Cat is shocked at her powerful response—and even more so when Leo proposes a dangerous liaison.
Love in the Afternoon As a lover of animals and nature, Beatrix Hathaway has always been more comfortable outdoors than in the ballroom. Even though she participated in the London season in the past, the classic beauty and free-spirited Beatrix has never been swept away or seriously courted…and she has resigned herself to the fate of never finding love. Has the time come for the most unconventional of the Hathaway sisters to settle for an ordinary man—just to avoid spinsterhood?
LISA KLEYPAS is the RITA award-winning author of 21 novels. Her books are published in fourteen languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.
If you have not picked up a Lisa Kleypas book and want to start. The Hathaway's is the best. Love the banter and the quirkiness. Start with the first as you will want the back story. Mine Til Midnight.
All of these books are in the 4 - 5 star range for me, it really just comes down to personal preference with the main characters and love interests. I have to be honest, I read all 5 of these back to back in a single day (well, the end of a day and a single night into morning).
I have ALWAYS loved Lisa Kleypas, and if you've liked anything else she's written I think these are right up your alley!
I rated these against the other romance novels I have read, and in my mind they are some of the best. The love interests are fantastic, the women are fantastic, the family is hilarious/marvelous/touching. This series grabbed me by the heart and funny bone and took me for a hell of a ride.
For fans of the Bridgerton family novels by Julia Quinn - I find these to be a bit better. They have a bit more substance, but also a bit more melodrama.
4 and 1/2 Stars: The Hathaway Victorian series by Lisa Kleypas. This series is set in mid 19th century England: Mine Till Midnight, Seduce Me At Sunrise, Tempt Me at Twilight, Married by Morning, and Love in the Afternoon. They are the stories of the romances of the Hathaway siblings...all but one are females.
Mine Till Midnight is the story of the oldest daughter, Amelia and her Gypsy lover Cam Rohan, who we met in prior Kleypas novels. He is the financial wiz behind Jenner's gambling club. I really liked Cam but the description of Amelia is ok but the description of her as shorter, more voluptuous and more mothering than the other girls made her sound short, fat and dull...likely not the case. Still, the story is a winning one and it's a good beginning to the family stories. I loved the Hathaways and would like to have been raised in such a diverse and unconventional family. All the stories are good but I most enjoyed the first two because of the Gypsy love traditions and the exotic nature of Cam and Kev.
Seduce Me at Sunrise is the story of the blond, blue-eyed and ethereal Win. As a child, she suffered from scarlet fever that left her weak. To recover, she and her brother go to a clinic in France where the head doc falls for her. But all of her life, she's been loved by the dark, brooding and mysterious Gypsy Kev Merripan. We first encountered Win and Kev in Mine Till Midnight and I couldn't wait to read their story. Kev fights his feelings believing she is too good for him but there is great passion between them. Will passion overtake his competition and his misgivings? It's down to the wire before we know and getting there is oh, so sweet. I just loved the Gypsy words and love the traditions Kleypas adds to the story.
Tempt Me at Twilight is the story of Poppy Hathaway and wealthy, reclusive and determined hotelier Harry Rutledge. He wants Poppy and he is determined to have her even if he has to ruin her reputation to get her. I had a lot of sympathy for Poppy and was very disturbed by Harry for part of the story. I especially liked that Poppy did not give in to him once they were married and that revenge of sorts softened me to Harry. The background of an exclusive and bustling hotel in mid 19th century London was also interesting. I liked this one and appreciated how Kleypas kept the family history going.
Married by Morning is the story of Leo Hathaway who by a twist of fate inherits the title of viscount. Having lost his first love to scarlet fever, which plunged him into a debauched lifestyle for years, he is now restored to health and good reason. But he says he'll never marry because he "loves like a mad man". Ah, but he doesn't reckon on the mysterious governess for his sisters, Catherine Marks. Catherine is in hiding and has disguised her beauty...but that is about to change. I liked the tension and arguments between Leo and Cat and the continuing saga of the Hathaway family. I did not enjoy as much all the back-story on architecture and farm equipment and frankly skipped over some of that to get to the real "meat" of the romance. Still, it's an entertaining add to the series.
Love in the Afternoon is the story of the youngest daughter, Beatrix, who has been in all the romances in this series as the animal lover and individualist who loves the out of doors and nature and who has no love for the ton’s frivolities. While men love her genuine nature, they care not for the Hathaway's unconventional lifestyle, the Gypsy members of their family, nor the fact they don't behave like aristocracy. The Hathaways could care less.
This book begins in a unique fashion with letters that Beatrix has written to a soldier (Christopher) who is writing to a young woman he met in the prior Season. She is a shallow friend of Bea's who doesn't even care to answer the man's letters. The soldier becomes a hero in the Crimean War and suffers from all the devastation he's lived through. His one lifeline is the letters and he falls in love with the woman behind them (Bea) and thinks it's the woman he's been writing to.
Beatrix falls in love with Christopher from his letters, proving that love can truly be established by the written word, but has promised her friend not to reveal she is the author. When the broken soldier returns as a national hero, he vows to marry the woman who has written to him...now if he can only find her!
I loved the way the hero and heroine came together, though I did find the ending a bit slow. Still, it's an enjoyable read and a fitting ending to the Hathaway series.
At first, i just want to read about Cam love story. But then i met the Hathaway. The outlandish and eccentric family. I love each character of the series. Leo, Amelia, Win, Poppy, Beatrix, Cam, Merippen, Harry, Cat, and Chris. They bring me happiness and make me finish the series in a week. My favorite hero is Cam (i think he's the most perfect man in tribe), while the heroine is Beatrix (i love her personality so much, her pet is the best supporting character). There's too much favorite scene to bookmark. I was glad i read this. Such a beautiful stories.
5 stars!! Wow!! I just realised that I just didn't love a particular character but I fell in love with the whole family !!
The Hathaways !! A bunch of beautiful characters. Beautiful stories. And beautiful writing. It's such a great series. And an amazing work by Lisa Kleypas :)
I wanted to do a review over all the books as a whole. I actually read this in hardcover form(all of then).
The books all range from 3 stars to 5. They all are pretty good reads, some have less than four stars because of points of annoyance that I had with certain things. I LOVE this family to pieces. I really do.
I PERSONALLY, dont think this series is good as standalones. You should read ALL OF THEM, from the beginning. Otherwise you miss big pieces that make the plots of other stories seem less rushed. Personally I felt like you most definitely wouldn't get the whole point of anyone's stories without reading the other books, except Tempt Me at Twilight and Love in the Afternoon.
Mine Till Midnight: 4 stars, very comfortable. Seduce Me at Sunrise: 3 stars, heroine was irritating. Tempt Me At Twilight: 5 stars, my favorite Married By Morning: 3 stars, Leo was a charmer Love In the Afternoon: 3 stars, I really like Beatrix
The only reason why Tempt Me at Twilight and Love In the Afternoon can be read as standalones is because TMAT-Poppy and Harry happened in London and LITA-Beatrix happened years after everyone else's romance.
I really wish there was an epilogue where we saw ALL the couples in the book, but I guess that's okay.
MY fav quotes from each book(well the ones that arent too long)
“I th-think I already have.” She sounded so perturbed that he laughed. “Then lie still,” he whispered, “while I breathe fire on you.”(Mine Till Midnight-Cam+Amelia)
Your heart is mine, he thought savagely. It belongs to me. And though he hadn't said the words aloud, it seemed somehow that Win had heard them. Her eyes widened, darkened, and a flush born strong emotion rose in her face.(Seduce Me at Sunrise-Win+Merripen)
"Would you say you're a good man, Harry?" He had to think about that. "No," he finally said. "In the fairytale you mentioned last night, I would be the villain. But it's possible that the villain would treat you far better than the prince would have."(Tempt Me At Twilight-Poppy+Harry)
"You can't outrun your problems, you know?" His mouth twisted in annoyance. "Why do people always say that? Of course you can run from your problems. I do it all the time, and it never fails."(Married By Morning-Leo+Catherine)
"On their way to you, mu words turned into heartbeats on the page."(Love In the Afternoon-Beatrix+Christopher)
For example this is why I say read the 1st book in the series! "Stay out of my dreams," Merripen whispered in the humid stillness. "Can't sleep when you're here." Win letherlsef caress him, the thick black hair, the handsome face devoid of it usual sullen sterness. She could smell his skin, his sweat, the sweet opiated breath, the pungent whiff of honey. Merripen was always clean shaven, but now his bristle was softly scratchy agains t her palm. She wanted to take him into her arms , against her chest, like a little boy. "Kev... let me look at your back." Merripen moved, swift and powerful even more now, more aggressive in his drugged state than he normally ever have permitted himself to be. He had always handled Win with a sort of exaggerated gentleness, as if she would blow away like dandelion floss. But at this moment his grip was hard and sure as he pushed her to the mattress. Breathing heavily, he glared down at her with glassy belligerence. "I said get out of my dreams."-Mine Till Midnight(Cam+ Amelia's romance)(AND THIS IS FROM THE FIRST BOOK. WIN and MERRIPEN's Romance isnt till the 2nd book and you don't get this scene).
There's also a big scene pertaining to Leo and why he is the way he is, they is just brushed by in his book.
The reason why most of these books are 3 stars which is still really good! Some are even great, but the star was taken away by shallow love triangles that don't even become big conflicts(which I am grateful for).
In the end, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this family. They were a great bunch of siblings and I'm going to miss them.
It has been a while since I’ve read one of Lisa’s books. I actually forgot how good she is. I love the characters and their eccentric ways. Must read if you love historical romances. Side note. Leo is my favorite.
I started with the Wallflowers and continued with the Hathaways, as soon as thé Ravanels will be completed I’ll meet them 😊 Yes I really enjoyed m’y introduction ti Lisa Kleypas
Ohhh dear. My heart raps with excitement writing this review! I’m incredibly smitten with each of the heroines in the Hathaway stand-alone series.
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Book 1: Amelia is exhausted, but as the defacto mother hen of her siblings, she’s praying her wayward older brother doesn’t fall completely off the wagon. Meanwhile, she must help her younger sisters as they step into their newly inherited role of ladies. That’s why she has no time nor energy to think of silly things such as marriage, especially to much-too-charming Cam Rohan. Despite his best efforts to pursue her and the maddening way he makes her knees weak, she just can’t fathom sparking a romance with the Roma.
Book 2: Winifred is tired of being seen as the incapable invalid. Maybe her lungs are a little weaker than they should be and she can’t quite match her vivacious sisters’ energies, but she’s done letting everyone else manage her health. After a restorative two-year trip to France, she’s ready to take charge of her life and live it fully, including going after the man she has secretively pined over since childhood. If only Kev Merripan would stop being so obstinate and ornery.
Book 3: Poppy is determined to settle with a man who offers her kindness, intelligence, and companionship. She wants a practical, conventional marriage with her clandestine beau. However, her plans go awry when she accidentally crosses paths with hotelier Harry Rutledge whose life mission is to persuade her that she’s meant to be with him instead. What troubles her the most is that she inexplicably desires him too, but how can she trust a man who has no compunction about turning her life upside down?
Book 4: Catherine Marks is infuriated that her body wants Viscount Leo just as much as she detests him. The eldest Hathaway sibling sure knows how to push her buttons, but she’d much rather that than allow him to undo them—for heaven’s sake. The last thing she needs is his meddling, especially with her sensitive past looming over her. However, slowly, against her will and his, they uncover one another’s sincerity behind their surly jabs and rapier wit.
Book 5: Beatrix is society’s idea of a disastrous wife. She has far too many animals, she wears breaches at home, and she’s invested in unfeminine topics like astrology and politics! When she continues a correspondance under her friend’s name with Captain Christopher Phelan—who she finds infuriating in person but humble in words—she can’t help but be absolutely smitten. However, if her identity is discovered, she fears the military man she can’t possibly dare to love will go to the ends of the earth to make her pay for deceiving him.
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I read the Hathaway series out of order, starting with volume 5, 3, 1, 4, and finally, 2. This is normal for me, as I endeavor to uncover spoilers and revisit confirmed couples if I like them in the latest book of a series that intrigues me.
Initially, I was drawn to Beatrix’s novel Love in the Afternoon because I’d just finished reading about a wild girl connected with nature. Beatrix is not feral but she is not entirely civilized either—at least not to the strict ton’s standards. The heroine is just too much drawn into her own world for a suitable match among the socialites. I love her quick wit and strength of character to do what she feels is right. I love her animal companions, and the generous and complete care she gives to her patients, family, and the hero.
I most related to Poppy in Tempt Me at Twilight, but I think I would have been a touch more internally unsettled by the hero’s manipulative antics. Though, if I were in her position, I can hardly imagine making much different choices than she. I love Poppy’s comparison to a rabbit. I wonder what creature animal-lover Beatrix would compare me to … perhaps a dove. All in all, the ending was the best part of the novel.
I’ve always been drawn to the warm but sensible big sister as a mother figure trope. Perhaps it has something to do with my being an only child or the kinship I feel as a protective, caring person myself. I most looked forward to reading Amelia’s Mine Till Midnight after familiarizing myself with all the Hathaway siblings. I’m disappointed to say that while the storyline was nice, it wasn’t my favorite either. The hero and heroine were much better characters as the series progressed.
To my complete surprise, Catherine’s book Married by Morning turned out to be my favorite! I’m usually wary of opposites attract, especially when both spend much of the book gridlocked in conflict, as this trope can be known for. But, the protagonists were endlessly entertaining and before I knew it, I was deep into rooting for their romance. The book also addresses grief and addiction, giving a weight of rawness that I don’t often experience with comedic romances. This forth Hathaway book was beyond stellar with its characters, dialogue, story writing, plot, and resolution.
I never intended to read Seduce Me at Sunrise, but I committed because Win is described as a “peacemaker.” She also has this elegance and class to her despite being part of an eccentric family. While she has a quiet nature about her, she also has a strong will, if gentler than Amelia’s. I wasn’t crazy about the hero, but I warmed up to him eventually. I guess I’m not really into big, tough broody men who are hostile to literally everyone. XD That said, I liked his devotion and one-true-love nature of this book. Although it’s personally my least favorite of the series, I still think it’s a solid read with a good plot, writing, and tension.
—— Spolier ——
My one true criticism for the series as a whole is the unfortunate use of love interests. I wished that the potential romance with the hero/heroine failed through no fault of either party—that these characters could have separated amicably. That was disappointing because a successful love-triangle aspect would have made tension even better!
****************************************** Overall rating: 4.7 stars Would I recommend this series: Yes. Would I re-read this series: Yes. Would I read future books by this author: Yes. — Read: June 8, 2021 Review: June 13, 2021 Posted: June 15, 2021
This is a series best read in order. Although each one focuses on one family member, there is significant overlap of characters and situations. Some of the males are more alpha than I care for, and there's a hint of racial fetishization in the first book, but I can excuse some of this as consistent with the setting. Unconventional family members meeting unconventional partners makes for great dialogue and situations, though occasionally one wishes for someone less unusual to make an appearance, and there's one too many unknown relative coincidences. Humour is balanced with dark moments, and overall this is a well written, engaging, and satisfying series.
This is one of the best book series I have ever read..infact I keep reading and re reading every few years! Deserves to be made into a TV series(netlix?)! Its better than Bridgertons and I do love Julia Quinn. Lisa Kleypas, though, is a writer like no other. She pulls at your heartstrings, writing with wit and subtlety. I cannot say which book I liked best; they are all wonderful. I wish I knew the Hathaway sisters and Leo in real life! Absolutely the best!
One of my favourite book-series of all time! "Seduce me at Sunrise" is my ABSOLUTE favourite of all the books in the "Hathaways"-series. Delightful humor, Addicting plots, Intense passion and love...and with heroes and heroines to die for, these series is a MUST-READ for all Romance Lovers!
I've read all of them, except for the first one. They all deserve 5 stars! Crazy, lovely family that loves fiercely and unconditionally. I'm going to get the whole set!
OVERALL: 4.4 stars I loved how eccentric the Hathaway clan was and how everyone was eventually able to get along. They had an unconventional family for the time but it was perfect for them!
Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways #1) - 5 stars Amelia Hathaway wants to make sure everyone in her family is okay. As the eldest of the four girls and a drunken brother, Leo, she takes the responsibility of the family upon herself. As Leo inherits a title and spins himself out of control Amelia removes the family to the country for a little rest. As a chance encounter with Cam, a Roma, follows them into the country Amelia finds it harder to resist the temptation not only of Cam but of the strength and support he possesses.
Amelia was a great character, yes, a little managing and stubborn, but I liked how she interacted with the family and she definitely showed more restraint to her brother than I would have been able to manage.
My favorite scene was with the bees!
I like how Kleypas writes real characters. They have flaws to their personalities but not so much that the reader despises the character (Except for the fact that I would love to have punched Leo in the face [multiple times]).
I was so glad we got to see a story about Cam after reading the Wallflower series! Also, how a lot of the characters in the Wallflower series helped drive the story.
Seduce Me at Sunrise (The Hathaways #2) - 4 stars After a bout with scarlet fever, Winifred Hathaway has never been the same, she suffers from a weaken constitution. Win will do everything she can to get better to finally be able to be with the man she loves, Kev Merripen, a Roma who came to the Hathaway family as a child after he was left for dead by his clan. When Win comes back and is finally able to say she is better she finds that winning the love of Kev may not be as easy as she thinks.
I liked Win, I think her personality shown through in the first book of the series and continued on to showing her as a stronger character than people expected her to be. I liked how she knew what she wanted and risked everything to have it. Kev, on the other hand, I liked him better in the previous book. His refusal to accept Win's love rubbed me the wrong way, especially since she was practically throwing herself at him.
Tempt Me at Twilight (The Hathaways #3) - 4 stars In a chance meeting with Harry Rutledge, Poppy Hathaway's life is forever about to change. Little does she know she doesn't have much say in the matter as Harry sets his sights upon her. She has to find a way to weasel past his façade of not letting anyone get too close and give him the family he has actually always wanted.
Poppy was the least impressive of the Hathaway girls to me, that quickly changed in the first chapter. I loved her surprised interactions with Harry Rutledge. After that the story declined a little for me, it was still entertaining but it did not hold the appeal of when they first met. Harry was a greatly flawed character but I think his turnaround with Poppy is well deserved.
I think Leo's character is becoming more redeeming since I wanted to punch him in the face for most of the first book. I'm interested to see his story with Cat.
Married By Morning (The Hathaways #4) - 4 stars Catherine Marks is hiding a secret, one Leo Hathaway is determined to find out. For the last three years there has been nothing but sparing words between the two but when one quarrel goes too far and ends in a kiss their relationship takes a different turn.
I think my favorite part in this whole book was Dodger, not that I did not like the human characters but the little ferret was so cute an entertaining (it makes me wonder if one would get on well with my cat). I have to say that from the first book until now Leo has truly redeemed his past behavior for me. I did not think that I would end up liking him as much as I did. His sparing with Marks and the hilarious questions he asks Marks to show how raddled he made her were extremely entertaining.
Love in the Afternoon (The Hathaways #5) - 5 stars Christopher Phelan has been writing letter from the front to the girl of his dreams, however, the girl of his dreams is not who he thinks it is. Unbeknownst to the hero Beatrix Hathaway has been writing him letters under the guise of her friend's name and what started out with the best intentions turned into a written love story.
There is no way I could give Beatrix Hathaway less than a five, she is simply a girl after my own heart! I absolutely adored her personality and affinity towards animals of all kinds (I would like to have a little hedgehog running about the halls but I don't think the apartment would allow for it). Her way with dealing with humans just like her animal friends was perfect for the personality of a war fought hero. Christopher needed the kind of patience and understanding that came naturally to Bea.
Book 1:The first book in the series is the story of Rohan and Amelia.
I forgave many flaws in this book because it was setting up for the series, but I what I liked about it is despite that Cam and Ameia's love story shined through. What this book was really great for was building the anticipation for Kev and Win's story (just saying their name makes me want to say awwwww).
Book 2: So I use this book as a reference to determine which historical romances deserve five stars. This book was amazing. The Hathaways won my heart in this book. All the characters were flushed out in this book. The little quirks and nuances of characters that Kleypas gave to these characters to give them depth also has made them some of the most endearing characters in HRs.
There is two scenes in this book, both very different in content and setting but man those scenes are worth all the crappy HRs I have read in my life to get to finally read this book.
The first is between Leo and Kev, when he is in the cell, and Leo talks to him about the time when Leo and Win was suffering from fever and Kev was taking care of them (something Kev had done at that point which makes their love story so amazing)
The second scene is when Kev kidnaps Win for the gypsy courtship ritual. Omg!!!! I want to be kidnapped and ravished by my gypsy after I read that (please note I said my gypsy not any gypsy lol ;))
Ok so there was one instance when I felt Kev went too far in his denial of their love...during the ball when the doctor had to step up to save Win's reputation.
Overall this was the best book of the series for me.
Book 3: Harry ohh Harry please come here so I can give you a hug. I really felt for Harry. This is the story of Poppy (weird sounding name lol even if it is a flower) and Harry.
I had a few issues with this book. First after all the build up and anticipation I didn't like the way their first love scene was concluded...it should've been different. I didn't feel the necessity for that scenario.
Second even though I knew Poppy was right in her position I just didn't like her treatment of Harry. My rational mind knows it was exactly what Harry deserved but the irrational part of me wants to love and protect Harry lol.
This book was Haryy's book for me, and so I overlooked all the other problems.
Book 4: Leo and Cath's book. This was interesting to me because as a secondary character Leo was my favorite, his favorite witty one liners was the life of this series, I also enjoyed the bickering between them in the other books, but somehow this story felt short of the other ones. I didn't understand and couldn't relate to Catherine's reasoning at all. I felt like LK created the obstacle just to move along the plot....but it felt very forced and staged. I still enjoyed the book but it was very forgettable and not at all up to standards of other ones. I was actually kind of disappointed because after Leo's background his lost love and the suffering and grieving he went through I wanted his story to be more impact-full. It failed.
Book 5: Beatrix and Christopher's story. I loved the way this book began the momentum was so fast and building I thought we were going to have a huge explosion of energy. Unfortunately that did not happen. LK tried too hard to make the ending different and the story became too scripted and structured for me.
But let me tell you the scene between Bea and Christopher where she talks about the mating habits of squirrels was priceless....lol. The letters were amazing and the love story was cute; however the moment of revelation felt stale and flat to me. The predictable sources of conflict was abandoned and the obstacles of the story came from very unexpected places and sometimes that is not a good thing, because you can feel LK pushing the story to her outline instead of letting the story flow.
It still was a great book and a good wrap up of the Hathaway series :).
Una vez había cuatro jóvenes damas que siempre se sentaban en un rincón de cada baile, fiesta y soirée durante la temporada en Londres. Esperando noche tras noche en una fila de sillas, las Floreros eventualmente empezaron a conversar. Se dieron cuenta que a pesar de que competían por el mismo grupo de caballeros, podían ganar más siendo amigas que rivales. Y más allá de eso, de verdad se gustaban. Decidieron unirse para buscar maridos, empezando por la mayor, Anabelle, llegando hasta la menor, Daisy. Anabelle, era sin duda la Florero más hermosa, pero no tenía ni un centavo, poniéndola en gran desventaja frente al resto de damas. A pesar de que los solteros de Londres esperaban encontrar una novia bonita, preferían una que tuviera una gran dote. Evie era atractiva de una forma poco convencional, con su cabello rojo y abundantes pecas. Era bien sabido que algún día ella heredaría la fortuna de su padre. Sin embargo, su padre era un plebeyo ex-boxeador dueño de un Club de apuestas, y semejante pasado de dudosa reputación era un obstáculo que una joven dama encontraba difícil de superar. Y a todo esto se le añadía que Evie era terriblemente tímida y tartamudeaba. Cualquier hombre que tratara de entablar una conversación con ella luego describía el encuentro como una verdadera tortura. Lillian y Daisy eran hermanas y de Nueva York. Su familia, los Bowman, eran asombrosamente, y casi inimaginablemente ricos, habiendo construido su fortuna con la fabricación de jabón. No tenían sangre azul, modales ni conexiones sociales. Lillian era una amiga extremadamente amorosa, pero a la vez era mandona y testaruda. Y Daisy era una soñadora que muchas veces decía que la vida real no era tan interesante como en las novelas que leía vorazmente. Mientras las Floreros se ayudaban la una a la otra a navegar por las penurias de la sociedad londinense, y se consolaban y se apoyaban la una a la otra a través de peligros muy reales, penas y alegrías, cada una encontró un marido y nadie nunca más se refirió a ellas como las Floreros.
A few thoughts as we approach summer 2015. When my life is in turmoil, I tend to go for easy reads. Anyone looking at my shelves since last fall would see that something's up - suddenly there are a lot of jello books mixed in with the creme brulee.
That said, I've also realized that when I go after these books, i'm not happy with reading just one. Approaching these as a series, instead of as one-offs lets me feel like I've met the family, seen the full story, and am ready to let them go.
So I've decided where possible to review/comment on series as 1 book. I'm reading them as a complete story (in this case, it was 2 days) so why not comment in that way? As I can, I'll differentiate the books, or comment on them, but it's not my priority.
So, here we go with the Hathaways. A big family (one brother, four sisters) they inherit a title in 1840's England, including an estate in Hampshire. After being raised outside the ton, will they fit in? Will they manage to keep the title and avoid the Ramsay curse? Will it all end happily (spoiler: yes!)
I really enjoyed this series. The first novel was a bit gothic as well as romance, and includes some interesting discussion of prejudice when the "Romany" are involved. Each family member gets their own story, and we see their motivations and preferences drawn clearly. My favorite of the books was the fourth...but in large part that was because the background for the story started in book 1. (A great reason to read them all in one go).
Highly recommended as a strong romance series, esoecially for anyone who has read/enjoyed Kleypas's Wallflowers.
My favorite Lisa Kleypas series as it’s a bit more lighthearted and hijinks heavy. The two Roma love interests were welcome even though the portrayals teetered on the edge of racism at times. It was great to see Cam again and I was glad how large a part of the series he remained, though the mystical element of the first book was rather bizarre. The second book was by far my least favorite and the third wasn’t terribly memorable, but the build up to the forth book was great. As with most of her books the interjection of high drama in the last act tends to drag things down but the forth and fifth entries both had great premises and delivered well.
I used to be a ravenous romance reader. But then life got in the way (college,marriage,twin girls, work etc) and I just got out of habit, and if I did try to read a romance it just kind of got on my nerves (????). I have read a few, but couldn't really get into any of them, and even if I didn't finish, it was no big deal. Anyway, I was looking through kindle one day in the mood for some reading and this series popped up. I remember reading some Lisa Kleypas back in the day and after reading some reviews thought 'what the heck?' And purchased it. It started out a bit slowly for me with Amelias story, but I liked her spunk. Then, I just got interested in her whole family. I just genuinely LIKED them. I liked how they just focused on family and each others happiness. Then, before I knew it, I was reading book two, then three, etc. All of their stories captured my attention and I even caught myself getting teary eyed with happiness when things worked out for them! The characters were likable underdogs, the love scenes were steamy, and the writing great. Each book entertained me and kept my interest. I just couldn't believe I gobbled all five up so quickly! My favorite was Poppy and Harry's story, but each book was worth the read for sure. Great set of books, great family, great writing. Highly recommend!
Extraordinary Family with a Harmonious Blend (Eventually)
All of the Hathaways are unique in so many ways, which makes their stories of finding love in unlikely places all the more intriguing. The story of Christopher Phelan is especially dear to me. First, I loved Sean Bean in The Sharpe series in his dark green uniform....and because I have a son with PTSD. The depiction of the nightmares and phantoms are exactly as my son has described. Fortunately, Beatrix had learned how to cope and calm his frightening flashbacks and bring him to balance and let him love. Great stories!
The Hathaways Series is filled with emotion, romance, laughter, family, and friendship! After reading the books that compiled the series, I walked away loving every family member and their spouse. Seeing Amelia, Win, Poppy, Leo, and Bea get their happily ever afters was amazing and seeing the family grow over the course of the books and come together as a family was beautiful.
I purchased the first book and enjoyed it immensely so decided to purchase the complete series. It was more economical... I could not have be happier as I read them one after the other. The times changed from the first through to The last book and the author handled it well. The family blossomed through her eyes and the characters were wonderfully enjoyable. A great series to read please enjoy
Book 1 - 3 stars, loved Cam, Amelia was a little annoying for me. Book 2 - 4.5 stars loved Win and Kev! Book 3 - 4 stars! Loved poppy and harry!! Book 4 - 2 stars. Didn’t like Catherine and Leo is just meh for me! Book 5 - love love love bea! The letters at the start are wonderful! Will be rereading!
Series overall - 4 stars! Fav H - Kev. I love a brooding, obsessed, intense H, Fav h - Bea, but Win is a close second!