Seduce Me at Sunrise

Spoiler Disclaimer

Synopsis

Taught to be a bare-knuckle brawler from the time he was just a little boy, Romany Kev Merripen had a brutal upbringing. After a fight gone wrong, he was left for dead by his Romany tribe and later found by a kind Englishman who nursed him back to health and made him a part of the Hathaway family. From the moment they met, Kev was drawn to second-oldest Hathaway daughter Winifred, and as they grew up, he started to fall in love with her, but fearing that his dark past might bring her harm, he's always kept her at arm's length. After a lengthy separation for Win to regain her health, she returns with a handsome suitor in tow, and Kev will have to decide if he's finally going to claim her or let her go forever.

Winifred Hathaway has been sweet on Kev since they first met as kids. She keeps hoping that one day he'll see her as a woman and not just a friend, but so far, he's stubbornly refused to become romantically involved. Ever since a bout of scarlet fever that nearly killed her, Win has been in poor health and believes that the cure for her condition may lie in a health clinic in France. Although it's difficult to leave her family and Kev behind, she knows she has to get better if there's any hope of being with Kev, so she goes away for two years. Upon her return, the handsome young doctor who treated her decides to tag along, making it clear that he wants Win to consider marrying him. Win's heart is still with Kev, though, if only he'll claim her, but he still seems reluctant to do so. Kev has always feared that either he or someone from his past might hurt her, but the real danger may be much closer than they think.

Review

Seduce Me at Sunrise is the second book in Lisa Kleypas's Hathaways series. This one follows second-oldest daughter, Win, and the darkly brooding, Kev, a Romany who was taken in by the Hathaway siblings' parents when he was just a boy and grew up alongside them. Win and Kev have had a special bond since the day they met, and have been in love with each other since they were old enough to know what romantic love was. Kev has been pushing Win away, though, thinking that he isn't good enough for her and he also worries about her health. In the previous book, Mine Till Midnight, we learned that Win is rather sickly because of scarlet fever. At the beginning of this book, she has decided to go to a medical clinic in France with her older brother, Leo, trying to get better so that Kev won't think she's quite so fragile anymore. The two are separated for two years, during which Win does in fact recover. Helping out during Leo's absence, Kev has made himself indispensable as an estate manager, rebuilding and running the country manor that Leo only recently inherited that burned down. Though the separation is difficult on both of them, when Kev and Win are reunited, there's still a passionate spark, but fearing that his dark past may unintentionally harm Win, Kev continues to refuse to allow things to go further between them. Win also brought back the handsome, young Dr. Harrow who treated her in France and he's made no secret that he's vying for Win's hand in marriage himself. Soon Kev realizes he has only one chance left to claim the woman who will forever hold his heart or lose her forever, but the real danger that could tear them apart ends up coming from an unexpected source.

Win met Kev when her father brought the injured boy home, nursed him back to health and invited him to stay. They grew up in an erudite and happy family until their parents passed away, leaving the Hathaway siblings to fend for themselves. Then tragedy struck again when Leo's fiancee succumbed to the same bout of scarlet fever that left Win's health compromised. From the moment they met, Win was fascinated by Kev and they became the best of friends. As they grew up, their love for one another turned into something more, but despite Win's best efforts, Kev keeps pushing her away. She decides to go to France in hopes of fully regaining her health so that Kev might see her as a woman and not just a fragile china doll. The two year separation is hard, but worth it when she's able to return whole again. However, their reunion isn't the happy, passionate moment she'd hoped for as Kev continues to deny his feelings for her. Instead, he seems to be pushing her toward Dr. Harrow, until one night, he finally comes to claim her. But when he discovers that Win lied to him about something important, it causes friction, and of all the things he'd feared might cause harm to Win, danger ends up coming from the least expected place. Win is sweet and kind and loves Kev fully with a pure heart. All she wants is to get better so that they can be together, but to her chagrin, he doesn't want to cooperate. I like that she didn't give up on him and when he finally opened his heart, she was there to receive the gift. She also showed surprising mettle when dealing with an emergency situation when someone's life is on the line.

As a young boy, Kev was sent to live with an uncle after threats were made against him by his white father's family. His upbringing was one filled with brutality as he was taught to bare-knuckle brawl as a kid and was abused if he lost matches. It was after one such match in which he was seriously injured that his Romany tribe left him for dead, and he was found by the Hathaways' father who gave him a home. He was practically a feral child, but between Win's sweetness, which entranced him, and the family's acceptance and love, he eventually became a healthier person. Although he fell madly in love with Win, he doesn't feel worthy of her and also fears that his dark past could eventually harm her, either accidentally by his own hand or if his father's family ever found him, so he pushes her away. The two year separation from her was torture for him, but he used the time wisely, proving that he's a great leader, managing and rebuilding the family estate. When Win finally returns, Kev runs hot and cold, sometimes pulling her into passionate clinches, unable to help himself, and others being a stubborn, broody mess, who wants so badly to keep Win safe that he can't allow himself to find happiness with her. It's not until Leo has a heart-to-heart with an inebriated Kev, which was very out of character for him, that he finally sees the light, but Win's little white lie and danger from an unexpected quarter could jeopardize their future. I'm a sucker for the tortured, brooding heroes, so Kev was like catnip for me. A part of me was starting to wonder if he was ever going to make his move, but there were enough stolen kisses and other romantic moments in between to keep me satisfied. I love that even though he was worried about possibly unintentionally hurting Win because of his past that he's nothing but gentle and sweet their first time together. Overall, I loved Kev, and know that he's going to rank pretty highly on my list of favorite Lisa Kleypas heroes.

With there being several Hathaway siblings, Seduce Me at Sunrise has a pretty colorful supporting cast. Cam and Amelia (Mine Till Midnight) are front and center, still madly in love and with new developments in their lives. Cam is funding the rebuilding of the country estate and looking after the family while Leo is away, while also doting on his wife. Poppy and Beatrix struggle with their first coming out and decide to pull back for a while. They hire a governess to teach them proper deportment, so the next time will be more successful. But with society's gossip about them once being commoners who've only just come into a title and them not being accepted because of Roms in the family, they're still having trouble finding suitable mates. In the next book, Tempt Me at Twilight, Poppy will be paired with enigmatic hotelier, Harry Rutledge, who owns the hotel where they stay while their estate is being rebuilt and who's briefly mentioned in this book. Beatrix, who's adorable with all her little animal friends, becomes the heroine of the final book, Love in the Afternoon. Leo, who has been having difficulty recovering from the loss of his beloved fiancee, travels to France to be with Win, and starts to find healing, too. Upon returning, he meets Catherine Marks, the new governess, who he initially thinks is far too buttoned up for his taste, but soon finds his curiosity about her piqued. These two are paired together in the fourth book, Married by Morning.

Overall, I loved Seduce Me at Sunrise. Win is really sweet and Kev is broody, the perfect grumpy/sunshine pairing. I'm also a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers trope and childhood sweethearts. Even though they didn't act on their feelings until now, there's so much longing expressed in their interactions even when Kev is pushing Win away. When he finally gives in and allows himself to be vulnerable with her, it's a beautiful moment that gave me all the feels. There are plenty of other plot points going on as well, with the meaning behind Kev and Cam's mysterious matching tattoos being explored. I like how that turned out and look forward to seeing them deepen their relationship. There's also a little trouble as Dr. Harrow tries to get Win for himself and a few questions about events from his past arise. I enjoyed seeing more of Cam and Amelia and their romance, along with meeting Catherine and seeing more of Leo, both of whom intrigue me. The touch of suspense at the end kept me on the edge of my seat, too. I can't really think of a single thing I'd change about the book. Seduce Me at Sunrise was nearly as perfect as a romance novel gets for me, and has left me very much looking forward to reading more to see how the remaining Hathaway siblings get their HEAs.

Visit

Lisa Kleypas

Themes

Amazing Animals
Friends Before Lovers
Opposite Sides of the Track
Tortured Heroes