Romance Rewind: A Day with the Hathaways

The Hathaways by Lisa Kleypas
How you know you are a humongous Lisa Klepas fan:

(1) Reread all her books obsessvly avidly;
(2) Have daydreamed about all her heroes;
(3) Have a fangirl scream-dance release day routine perfected.

We have all the above ticked off and feel no shame, and although we can no longer do (3) for the Hathaways as it is a complete series, number (1) and (2) are still going strong (especially (2)) Like all LK's romances the Hathaway series is well written, funny and romantic, reading each one is like meeting up with your friends and family and settling in to watch the romance blossom.

The reading order is below with a small quote to entice you further!

Book One: Mine Till Midnight

“The Rom believe you should take the road that calls to you, and never turn back. Because you never know what adventures await. So we're going to take this road," he murmured, "and see where it leads.”

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Book Two: Seduce Me at Sunrise

“All the fires of hell could burn for a thousand years and it wouldn't equal what I feel for you in one minute of the day. I love you so much there is no pleasure in it. Nothing but torment. Because if I could dilute what I feel for you to the mil­lionth part, it would still be enough to kill you. And even if it drives me mad, I would rather see you live in the arms of that cold, soulless bastard than die in mine."

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Book Three: Tempt Me at Twilight

“In the fairy tale you mentioned last night, I would probably be the villain. But it's possible the villain would treat you far better than the prince would have.”

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Book Four: Married by Morning

“You are not a perfect woman. You have an evil temper, you’re as blind as a mole, you’re a deplorable poet, and frankly, your French accent could use some work.” Supporting himself on his elbows, Leo took her face in his hands. “But when I put those things together with the rest of you, it makes you into the most perfectly imperfect woman I’ve ever known.”

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Book Five: Love in the Afternoon

“Beatrix, do you know what happens to girls who ask such naughty questions?”
“They’re ravished in haylofts?” she inquired hopefully.

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Review: Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

Love in the Afternoon

by Lisa Kleypas

(The Hathaways # 5)

Master storyteller, Lisa Kleypas, has brought another series so dear to my heart to an end...gloriously!  Ohh what a beautiful book!  I always knew Beatrix was special but she is such a sweetheart in this story I couldn't help but love her to pieces.  And her hero, Christopher Phelan, is worthy of all her love and attentions.  Truly falling in love with Beatrice's beauty on the inside.

This book has some of my favorite things... a strong lovable heroine who is not afraid to be a bit unladylike and get dirty sometimes; a hero that is truly that, a hero; love letters and notes (I always love books that have that!); a lot of cute and adorable animals.

Beatrix is a favorite of mine.  She was always different even in a family like the Hathaways.  I love how she started her connection to Christopher through letters while he was during war.  Even if she wasn't writing them for herself.  And just as she can tame the wildest animals, she's the perfect woman to handle Christopher.

Christopher was amazing as well, he was intense and Beatrix was the only thing that seemed to have pulled him through difficult times and is still helping him now.  His PTSD was not addressed as good as I thought it should but I find in a lot of historicals with this subject, they don't go too deep either.

The Hathaway family makes a small appearance, which just makes me sad because I can't believe there won't be any more books in this series.  I will miss it dearly and I am on the hunt now for my next Lisa Kleypas read... Suggestions?

Lisa Kleypas wonderful contemporary romance stories but when she's at her best is definitely in historicals.  You feel completely transported to the world she describes, as if you were attending the balls and dinners and taking the walks through the gardens with the characters.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Married by Morning by Lisa Kleypas

Married by Morning

by Lisa Kleypas

(Hathaways # 4)

I've been wanting to read Leo's story from the very beginning of this series! When Catherine Marks first came in the picture I knew she was the perfect heroine for him. They both have spunk and personality and after reading this book, I just think they compliment each other in every sense. He's strong where she's soft, she's nurturing where he is damaged, he's protective where she's been hurt.

We found out in the previous book that she was running and hiding from something bad from her past and it all comes to a head quickly in this book. My favorite part? How Leo stands strong as her protector from the very beginning.  Even though he doesn't think too highly of himself he still wants her and goes after her.  He's determined to have her.  That was so refreshing after reading so many books where the hero thinks he doesn't deserve the heroine and just stays away.

And then there's Catherine Marks.  She's smart, she's a survivor, she's a fighter.  I just loved her!  And with that prime and proper exterior she still couldn't help but falling prey to Leo's charm.  But she was also an important part of the Hathaway family and she fit in with so many puzzle pieces.  For me, she was the one character that made the whole family tightly woven together.

This was definitely another one of my favorite Kleypas historicals and I really can't wait to read the next one.  Although it makes me sad because that means soon I won't have any new historical books by her to read.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas

Tempt Me at Twilight

by Lisa Kleypas

(The Hathaways # 3)

The magical writing that I've come to love is back 100% with this book!  With a hero who is an insensitive jerk at times, damaged from when he was a boy, with money but not much else.  So not what I was expecting for our sweet Poppy Hathaway, but oh so perfect!

After having two gipsy heroes, it was time to go back to London and what I thought would be a more traditional match.  And that's how I thought this would go since Poppy was in love, and secretly seeing Michael Bayning.  He had everything a girl could've asked for, came from a good family, did all the right things for Poppy to fall in love with him, except being out in the open about their courtship.  Because of course his father wouldn't approve.

But Harry Rutledge, owner of the famous London Rutledge Hotel, saw Poppy and was enthralled.  He had to have her, and if that required using some forced methods and a convenient and timely proposal, then so be it.  Harry was, as he best described himself, the villain.  It's a true testament to the amazing quality of Lisa Kleypas writing when she can turn what should've been an arrogant, manipulative bastard into a man you want to cuddle and take care of and you are rooting for his happiness and that he gets the girl.  There's just something about this type of hero in a Kleypas novel that makes him unforgettable.

While Poppy might not be my favorite Hathaway sister, she certainly was sweet and did what she thought was right for herself and her family, and in the process she fell out of what she thought was love and fell for a complicated man who needed a soft woman like her to treasure him and make him fell cherished.

A perfect couple and a perfect historical romance story!  Soft yet rough around the edges.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review: Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas

Seduce Me At Sunrise

by Lisa Kleypas

(The Hathaways #2)

Kev Merripen has been with the Hathaway family for years. He's helped them, he owes them his life. And he's always been in love with sweet and delicate Winnifred. 

I love the contrast in this couple.  Kev is strong, very alpha and domineering.  Win is much softer and calm, without being a wilting flower.  That was key in my liking this heroine.  She took charge of her life and fought her disease.  She went after the man she loved.  She sacrificed herself to protect her family.  Win was my favorite part of this book.  An awesome heroine! 

Kev in one word is intense. But on the other hand was a bit of a jerk for half the book. In the end he redeems himself, talk about a tortured hero, and yes he has a heart of gold and loves fully and unconditionally, with passion.

When we find out his true background I might've had a tear or two in my eyes.  It made me so happy to see them all be part of a family and form bonds with each other.  Don't want to give you a spoiler but this development in the story felt so perfect.

And of course, honorable mention has to go to Leo Hathaway and Miss Marks.  There's that incorrigible rake and the feisty heroine that I've come to love to read about in Ms. Kleypas' books.  I can't wait to read Leo's story.

Favorite Quote:

"All the fires of hell could burn for a thousand years and it wouldn't equal what I feel for you in one minute of the day. I love you so much there is no pleasure in it. Nothing but torment. Because if I could dilute what I feel for you to the millionth part, it would still be enough to kill you. And even if it drives me mad, I would rather see you live in the arms of that cold, soulless bastard than die in mine."

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

Mine Till Midnight

by Lisa Kleypas

(The Hathaways # 1)

After reading the Wallflowers I had two things in my mind before picking this up.  First, can Lisa Kleypas live up to the Wallflowers?  It's not easy to create a series with characters that are all flawed but lovable and that can captivate my heart and attention as that series did.  And second, two words for you: Cam Rohan.  I originally thought (after reading Devil in Winter) that he would end up with Daisy Bowman.  And since then I've wanted to read about the sexy gypsy.

I can now honestly say I am 100% satisfied on both counts.  This series already makes me feel right at home with the Hathaway family.  They are down on their luck, they've each been through so much heartache.  There's the older brother who lost his fiance and has gone off the deep end; the sister who is still a bit ill; the younger sister who will have the misfortune of not having things and opportunities because of their position; there's even a crazy sister who randomly steals things!  And then there's Amela Hathaway.  The backbone of the family.  The glue that holds them all together and pushes through.  Not wanting to marry because she can't give up her freedom to a man, she's a declared spinster who only cares about the well being of her siblings.

Except when faced with Cam Rohan.  He is all kinds of wrong, a gypsy who was raised by Evangeline's father and grew up at the gambling club, surrounded by mostly undesirables.  He's tough and he's not the reputable gentleman she should want to be in the company of.  But he's funny and down to earth, and simple.  He can make her laugh and make her blush.  And she can't fight her attraction for long.

Just as Cam can't fight his attraction to Amelia.  For a while now women have had no appeal to him until her.  And he knows she's the type of woman you marry, not play around with.  Still, he can't stay away.  And when they finally get together, well, Cam is just A.MA.ZING!  And lets leave it at that!

All the usual suspects from the Wallflowers pretty much make an appearance.  Of course my Lord Westcliff playing a big role as the Hathaways are taking residence next door to his estate.  But Lord St. Vincent is a big part of this book as well as he is now Cam's best friend.

Of course we also get a small glimpse of what's in store for book two.  Kev Merripen, who is a gypsy that was taken in and raised with the Hathaways, is in love with the most fragile of them all, Win.  I'm hoping for an intense ride with their story!

Favorite Quotes:

"Marry me, Amelia. You're what I want. You're my fate."

“...whether he stayed or left, whether they walked the same path or not. They could live on opposite sides of the world, and she would still be his.” 

Purchase Links: Amazon