Seduce Me at Sunrise (The Hathaways, Book 2)
by Lisa Kleypas
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Book Reviews of Seduce Me at Sunrise (The Hathaways, Book 2)
Book Review: Lacks Passion and weak characterizations
Summary: 2 Stars
This is the first series I have ever read from Miss Kleypas, so the 2 Hathaway Books - Mine til Midnight and this one - are the only examples I have of her writing. Therefore, I cannot comment on how either compares to her previous work, I can only comment on them on their own merits.
I have written a review of 'Mine til Midnight (The Hathaways, Book 1)' and have posted it, so I will not go into any detail here. Suffice to say, I was overall disappointed in that book. However, I did find the snippets that spoke of the love between Win and Merripen more intriguing than the romance that was at the center of 'Mine til Midnight'. So, knowing that this book was their love story, I decided to read it despite my previous disappointment.
This author had an uphill battle with this story. After all, part of the charm of a romance is the "falling-in-love/ will they, won't they?" aspect. Considering we know from page 1 that these two characters are desperately in love with each other, well, it would take exceptional storytelling to make this story work.
Unfortunately, the author was in no way able to provide this.
The first problem is that the author threw out completely the characterizations of the first novel. Win was originally portrayed as a sweet, loving, sensitive soul who only told one lie in her life - to save Merripen's life - but was so bad at it (and they had that soul connection of course) that he was able to see right through it. All of a sudden she is cured from her disease, and she becomes a very forward and aggressive, demanding Merripen admit he loves her RIGHT NOW! or get the heck away from her, and able to lie straight to his face without batting an eyelash and him not knowing?
As for Merripen, well, I like dark and brooding, but one note is one note. He has two actions - making out with Win like there is no tomorrow, and pushing her away and telling her she's better off without him. Repeat cycle.
However, that wasn't even the main problem. By far the biggest problem was I felt no heat/love/passion between these characters. I felt more of a connection between them in two pages of the first Hathaway book then in the book that is telling their story.
In what is supposed to be one of those grand romantic speeches, Merripen tells Win how he'd walk through hell to protect her, etc., and in my head there is a little Ben Stein going 'Bueller'. That's about how much heat and passion I felt coming from the page.
I'm sorry, it just didn't work.
Concerning the rest of the novel, well it seems that this book, much like the other book in the series, is high in the melodrama quotient. Why just have a nice alternate suitor for Win when you can instead make him insane? Why have someone just spot them kissing when they can spot Merripen stripping Win right outside the doors of a huge party? Why have only one fantastical coincidence when you can have three?
The rest of the family appear in small roles except for Cam and Leo, who have bigger parts. Cam as regards to the tattoo he and Merripen share (I'll be shocked only if you don't guess what that's about), and Leo to obviously set him up for his romance in the next book of this series.
Bottom line for me is this: I can forgive much if I believe in the passion and heat between two characters. For a romance novel, I feel this is by far the most important thing. With this book and 'Mine til Midnight', I felt that pretty much zero percent of the time. At this point in reading this author, it would take a lot of persuading for me to either read the next in this series or another book by her, and if I did, it would certainly be the last chance book. Considering how positive reviews of her are, I expected more than overwhelming soap opera and underwhelming heat, but that's what I've gotten so far.
Book Review: 10 STARS - WHAT A MAGNIFICENT AND POIGNANTLY BEAUTIFUL STORY!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Sorry - my review is long - but there are so many facets to this book that it cant just be given the 3 paragraph rule!! :-D
I have always devoured Lisa Kleypas books. She is a magnificent Romance writer with an uncanny ability to make you laugh and weep at the level of compassion and beauty of her novels.
In the first Hathaway novel - MINE TILL MIDNIGHT - I was captivated with how Win and Merripen meet and after reading Amelia and Cam's story, I was hoping that Miss Kleypas would indulge us with Win and Merripen's story! I loved Cam and Amelia's story but I have to admit that SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE is a magnificent and beautifully written poignant romance that will leave a glow in your heart and a misty tear in your eye!
Kev Merripen was rescued by the Hathaway family when he was a young lad and was left for dead after his Rom tribe was attacked by Gadjos. Kev is like a wild animal - he has endured unbelievable cruelties from his uncle and doesn't want any form of kindness from these people - all he wants to do is get well so he can flee. The moment he lays eyes on Win Hathaway, it is love at first sight and that is the beginning of a magnificent and tumultuous love story.
The book starts with Win's departure to a clinic in France, where she is supposed to stay for an extended period of time to partake of a miraculous treatment that will make her well. She has also been in love with Kev for so many years and hopes to reclaim her heath so she can have a life with Kev.
The book has an amazing flashback which will tear at your heart of how both Kev and Win meet and how she tames his wildness in their younger years. A bout of scarlet fever almost claims Leo (Win's older brother) and Win. It is Kev that saves them both and is a tower of strength to Ameila - who cares for them during their illness. It is during that bout of illness that Win's health is compromised and she never fully recovers.
Win and Leo depart for France - Leo has become a shadow of his former self as he lost Laura - the love of his life to the fever as well. Four long years have passed since Win's departure - she has undergone treatment and has had a miraculous recovery - no longer is she the frail and fragile waif that left. She is glowing with health and has become a stunningly beautiful woman.
Since her departure - which almost drove Kev mad - he became immersed in the repair of the Hathaways country estate where he has labored long and hard these past four years. When Kev finally sees Win - he is stunned by how beautiful she is, how much he has missed her and how deeply and desperately he loves her.
Win's return to England is coupled with the French doctor that made her well. Not only have they developed a nice friendship but he wants to marry Win. Kev realizes that and even though he wants no-one around his precious Win, he still feels he is not good enough for her and unworthy to claim her as his own. Not only is Kev a Rom but he knows that he will never be good enough for Win and that is the main conflict in their story.
Their relationship is turbulent and vibrant - Win is not afraid to meet Kev's objections head on and is a wonderful and vibrant heroine. You feel so deeply for Kev and his inner turmoil at wanting Win but knowing he will never have her.
Unlike MINE TILL MIDNIGHT, where the book overly centered in the whole Hathaway family, SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE revolves around Kev and Win and their struggles to make their love triumphant. Although the family is around them rallying to bring them together, it is charming to see their interaction at how closely bonded they are as a family. This was one of Kleypas' more memorable novels and one that will stay in your heart and mind for quite a while, as well as in your keeper shelf! WHAT A GEM!!!!
Book Review: Fizzled Out 1/2 Way Thru...
Summary: 3 Stars
Ok, I know I'm going to get a lot of slack when I say all of this, but Lisa Kleypas has a bad habit of no follow through. In every book she introduces the hero and heroine of her next book and does a little foreshadowing with them, which is fine. But she always gets you excited to hear their story (for example, the brother and the governess in this one). But when it comes to developing their actual story it falls flat. So I really hope the story of the brother and Governess isn't disappointing.
I must say, however, this was one of the best beginnings of a romance novel I have read since the classics like The Wolf and the Dove and Whitney, My Love. I would even go as far as comparing Win and Merripen's story to that of Cathy and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. They shared that same torment and passion and longing. You could literally feel it. But, as Kleypas always does, right after the first 'love' scene, the characters get boring and lose their intrigue. Merripen becomes just another hero out of a romance novel instead of the dark and brooding gypsy he was in the beginning. And Win becomes sadly predictable and almost desperate. I always expect Kleypas to have weird, almost methodical conversations during the 'love' scenes. It's her style. I get it. But this story was far too passionate and almost fragile to have such lame and uncomfortable conversations during the love scenes. I felt like I was reading a Sex Ed class. Another thing, Kleypas always throws in about 150 sex scenes at the end of her books which I've noticed that I find myself kind of skipping thru with an attitude of `yaddi yaddi yaddi'. Which is kind of sad because I'm sure she put a lot of time and effort into writing them, but come on already... it's almost like a last stitch effort to recapture the excitement the characters had at the beginning of the book.
I could've just stopped reading about Win and Merripen's story the second after I read their first love scene and just kept reading about the brother and the governess. I'm sure I'll be suckered into buying their story when it comes out and look forward to it just from the how hysterically funny she had written the characters in this book. And I'll enjoy it up until their first weird, uncomfortable, chatty-cathy love scene, then I'll be ready to close the book. I adored Mine Til Midnight and Suddenly You. Both original and non-predictable. But if the next book follows in suit to the last 4-5 I've read, it will be my last Kleypas book.
PS: The first part of the book is the sultry kissing scene on her `sneak preview' page of her website. The chapters after that go back in time to describe the story of Merripen and Win (which is so well-written)... but my only complaint: I would've reversed the order. I would've put the past as the first part, like a prologue then went into the kissing scene and her departure. Only because the story of their childhood is soooo romantic and good that a kissing scene and her departure would've been more built up. As it was, the kissing scene at the beginning was just kind of out of the blue, especially if no one read part one. Editor's fault, not Lisa's. And one last thing, someone had said that throwing in Merripen's inheritance (which this really isn't a spoiler cuz it's so foreshadowed and predicted in EVERY romance ever written lol) isn't really Klepas' fault either, because there, unfortunately, is a standard and a guideline for authors to follow for their heroes and heroines and again unfortunately, the hero ALWAYS has to have some form of title or inheritance ...and basically just be a wealthy man.
Sorry for the bickering and the lengthy review. This is obviously the first time I've ever commented on a book review page. Goes to show how irritated I was. Crossing my fingers Kleypas will prove me wrong in the next book.
Book Review: "I love you for being the answer to every question my heart could ask"
Summary: 4 Stars
While I enjoyed reading Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, Book 1), the first book in Kleypas' The Hathaways Series, I felt that the romance was lacklustre and the result mediocre in comparison to her other historical. Yet, there was something about this unconventional family that drew me in. I felt that I had to read what happens to the rest of them especially to Win and Kev after being tantalized by the hint of forbidden love in the first book.
Before he was adopted by the Hathaways, Kev Merripen has only ever known violence. Despised by his uncle, he was punished and beaten for the simplest mistake. Raised like a savage creature, his only purpose was to fight, steal and do as his uncle commanded. Then one day, his tribe was attacked by Englishmen who wanted to scourge his Gypsy tribe from their land. Kev tried to fight them but he was stabbed and badly beaten. His tribe left him for dead. Then a Good Samaritan rescued and took him in. Kev found a family. And there he found his love.
From the time he came to live with them, Winnifred has been fascinated by the Gypsy boy. To her, he was an untamed creature in need of nurturing. The fascination grew stronger and they grew up sharing an unbreakable bond. When she was struck with the scarlet fever, Kev stood by her and brought her from the brink of death. But she was weakened by the disease. For years she lived as an invalid dreaming of things she couldn't do and of things she couldn't have - one of them was living a normal life with the man she loved. Then she was given the chance to live life to the fullest. However, what she wanted most seemed out of reach. How can she slip past the iron-clad solitude of this mysterious man? Would Kev continue to shun the promise of a shared lifetime with the very person who saved his soul? Will they overcome their inner fears and face a future fraught with much difficulty?
SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE is a heart-warming tale of forbidden love. Lisa Kleypas has penned a story with bold characters that leap off the pages. She delivers wonderful characterization, delving deep into their mindset that you feel an affinity with them. Kev and Win are typical Kleypas characters. Indeed, their love story somewhat reminded me of Dreaming of You. Just like Derek Craven, Kev is a man who has come far yet continues to suffer by denying himself the very thing he hungers for, while Win sees a man greatly in need of love. And she also knows that behind that great mask of toughness is a man capable of so much feeling.
I do believe that this is the most passionate story that Kleypas has written in a while and I really wanted to see more of Kev and Win. However, there is a lot of involvement by the Hathaways and I felt that Kleypas has used this book to continue with Cam and Amelia's story, therefore we got to see less of Kev and Win. Yet rest assured that every moment with them was poignant and memorable. And despite my aforementioned quibble about the attention given to the Hathaways, I enjoyed reading about them so much and their antics just made me adore them more. Kleypas also entices by giving us glimpses of what's in store for Leo. I cannot wait for his story.
Book Review: Another sensational story from Lisa Kleypas
Summary: 4 Stars
If you are anything like me, you became entranced with Kev and Win's side story in Lisa Kleypas' first Hathaway family book, Mine Till Midnight. When I got my hands on Seduce Me at Sunrise, I was ecstatic, though leery. Would my expectations be met? Well, have no fear, Ms. Kleypas makes Kev and Win's story a romance to remember!
Kev Merripen has been in love with the beautiful and sickly Winnifred "Win" Hathaway since he was rescued by the Hathaway family as a young boy. Their friendship has always had a tinge of the erotic, of something deeper to it but Kev will not let anything happen. When Win falls ill with scarlet fever, Kev is the one who cares for her and ensures that she lives. Unfortunately, Win's health suffered greatly. Win is determined to heal and try to live as normal of a life as possible, with the man she loves. Against Kev's wishes, she heads to France to heal and recover. Three years later, she is back, but nothing is the same, particularly Kev.
Kev does not see himself as good enough for Win and here is the central conflict of the story, a conflict that gets more complex with Win's re-entrance back into his life. And she is not alone. She has an ardent suitor who would do anything for her. Kev may think he is not good enough for Win, but she has a different view altogether. However, Kev's continued insistence that he is not the one for her is trying and well, she gets sick of it. Win has a backbone and thus one of the other main conflicts arises. Win wants a family and a life with challenges, laughter, and joy. Will Kev be on the man to give that to her or will she be forced to relinquish the bond that has been the driving force in her life for so long?
This will probably be one of my favorite Lisa Kleypas titles for a long time to come. Kev and Win's romance is tender, difficult, but redolent with full-bodied emotions. I really enjoyed seeing both Kev and Win come alive. Win is not afraid to tackle Kev's issues head-on. She wants a future with him and is willing to fight for it. It's hard not to admire that, especially in the face of Kev's determination to not have a future with her.
Kleypas also ties together Kev and Cam's storyline with interesting if somewhat predictable results. I saw the neat bow at the end coming a mile away but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.
One of the things I didn't like about Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, Book 1) was how much time was spent on getting to know the Hathaway family. This book is different. The Hathaway family has a presence but the growing relationship between Kev and Win remains the focus of the story. I didn't feel like their story got lost amongst the other stories of the Hathaway clan. At the same time, Lisa Kleypas lays some delicate storylines for future books, enough to definitely keep me interested but not enough to detract from Kev and Win.
All in all, Seduce Me at Sunrise proved to be the kind of story I know I will savor over and over again. Lisa Kleypas is a mastermind at fantastic romance and it shows. Even with its flaws, I found myself happily turning the pages and anticipating Kev and Win's happily-ever-after, and to me, that's a sign of good storytelling. Romance fans are going to relish this love story!