London, 1852
Three seasons and still the only prospect of marriage for Poppy Hathaway was a man (Mr. Michael Bayning)who had still not told his father that he wanted to court her. The love letters between the two of them promised marriage, but shortly after being kissed by Mr. Harry Rutledge, the elusive owner of the Rutledge hotel, she was informed that there was no way Michael’s father would ever consent to their being wed. Knowing what he wanted and then getting it was a regular task for Harry and this would be no different. There was something about Poppy, who had stumbled upon one of his secret passageways and then had shown interest in his private collection. He had to have her as his wife, no matter how he had to get her.

Book 3 … Lisa Kleypas has a grasp on historicals that leaves even the most mundane of characters one that you want to watch for again and again. I really enjoyed the inclusion of all the other Hathaways (and husbands). I was not sure about how much I would like Poppy’s story but Harry was a fabulous character and made it easy to like it. While definitely not my favorite Hathaway, Harry is the best villain I have seen in a long time. I also really enjoyed the Catherine Marks parts of the story and am eager to hear more of her story and to see how Lisa Kleypas can give young Beatrix something more than just her critters. ( )

Of all the Hathaway sisters Poppy had always been considered the most ladylike. Unfortunately after three seasons out with no husband to show for it, Poppy had started to think that being the most normal of the Hathaways really wasn't acceptably normal at all. Even her secret love, Michael, was embarrassed to tell his father about his intentions to someone so far below his class. When Dodger the Ferret gets hold of one of Michael's love letters to Poppy she is determined to find the animal before he wrecks everything. Instead, she is led into a secret passage which hides the secret rooms of reclusive hotel owner, Harry Rutledge.

Harry has only ever known hard work and ambition, neither of which ever touches his heart. When faced with the captivating Poppy Hathaway he is determined to win her over, even if it means ruining her secret love affair and marrying her to do it.

I almost always adore Ms. Kleypas' historical romances and this one continues that tradition. The characters of both Poppy and Harry were very engaging and I even enjoyed the glimpses we get of past and future couples (I'm very much looking forward to Leo and Catherine's story!) This was a very hard book to put down and moved swiftly. I do find myself kind of skimming the love scenes because although she writes steamy interludes, they all seem pretty similar book to book. Frankly what I like best about her books are the characters and the story, everything else is just a bonus anyway.

Another very lovely entry into the Hathaway series and this author continues her reign as my most favorite historical romance author. ( )

Book 3 of the Hathaways. When Poppy Hathaway chases her sister's escaped ferret she runs into mysterious Harry Rutledge, in whose hotel her family takes up residence during the season. Harry is known for his exacting work life, and his exacting standards when it comes to getting what he wants. When he decides he wants Poppy he maneuvers her into being found in an embrace with him and the two marry shortly thereafter. But marriage and love are two different entities, and it is up to Poppy to decide if she really wants both - and with Harry. Interesting characters and a cute setting at the hotel. Very intriguing epilogue leading to Leo and Cat's story too. Can't wait for that one! ( )

~ A SOLID KLEYPAS READ WITH A WONDERFUL "VILLAIN" HERO AND ANOTHER CHARMING HATHAWAY SISTER ~

At last!! Another Kleypas novel --- now we all just have to survive the wait for the story we've all been waiting for: Leo and "Marks" (or Catherine/Cat, which we learn in this novel is her first name). I completely agree with the reviewer Luckee that this book was definitely satisfying and enjoyable, but there was just a little something missing. Is it worth rushing out to your nearest bookstore and buying though? Yes. Will you be left feeling giddy after you read it? Yes. And are there the classic characters we all love, the chemistry Kleypas excels at writing, and the humorous and witty scenes we adore? Yes. So basically: yes, buy it, steal it, whatever, but read it!

SUMMARY (from back cover):
~ He was everything she'd sworn to avoid. ~
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.

~ And she was everything he needed . . . ~
Harry was willing to do anything to win Poppy --- except to open his heart. All his life, he has held the world at arm's length . . . but the sharp, beguiling Poppy demands to be his wife in every way that matters. Still, as desire grows between them, an enemy lurks in the shadows. Now if Harry wants to keep Poppy by his side, he must forge a true union of body and soul, once and for all . . .

MAIN CHARACTERS, Harry Rutledge and Poppy Hathaway:
Harry (early 30s) is a wonderful hero --- the kind of bad-guy-whom-we-love-to-love hero that Kleypas created for DREAMING OF YOU, THE DEVIL IN WINTER, and WHERE DREAMS BEGIN. Harry is ruthless, complex, very emotionally closed-off, and will stop at nothing to get what he wants --- which usually comes very easily to him now. However he's also fair, humorous, extremely hardworking and intelligent, intense, passionate, loyal, and can be extremely tender and sensitive.

Here LK has created a "hero" à la Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent (from DEVIL IN WINTER), because as Harry himself says in the scene that was being used as the teaser-excerpt: in this story, it's the villain of the fairy-tale who gets the princess, not the prince. Harry definitely does some questionable things, though I would say that Kleypas does a very good job of having her character toe the line, but never quite crossing it --- and writing him in such a way that one can't help but understand why Poppy is so attracted and drawn to him, because frankly what woman wouldn't be?! Basically, you know him . . . he's the bad/cold guy who just secretly (even unconsciously) wants to love and cuddle / be loved and cuddled but was --- surprise, surprise --- just waiting (even if he didn't know it) for the right woman to come along. Let's not even pretend that we don't all (or okay, to be fair, *most* all of us) absolutely **LOVE** this type of hero, lol.

Poppy (23) is a great counterbalance to Harry --- as he so eloquently puts it in one scene in the book when he compares her to a clock mechanism ;-). She's charming, friendly, outgoing, loving, intelligent, and a wonderful conversationalist (sounds like a mundane attribute, but really isn't in this case) who is interested by almost everything and everyone. All Poppy has ever wanted is a calm and quiet life --- something not often found in the Hathaway household --- with a partner whom she loves, and though she thinks she has found this in the form of Michael Bayning, Harry maneuvers everything so that . . . well, let's just say that path becomes somewhat obstructed for Poppy.

I liked Poppy's freshness and honesty --- there is no guile with her and it's easy to see why someone like Harry (or anyone, for that matter) would be drawn to her. One of the things I loved best about Poppy was that she wasn't written as being so perfect that it was almost hard to like her or feel any kinship with her; she has flaws --- though admittedly not as many as Harry, lol --- and there's one scene in particular where after speaking with Leo about something, she decides that she was in the wrong and is going to apologize. If you want to know what other LK heroines she's most like, I would probably say a combination of Sara Fielding (DREAMING OF YOU) for her honesty and friendliness, Daisy Bowman (SCANDAL IN SPRING) for her simplicity and positivity, and Charlotte Howard (WORTH ANY PRICE) for how her relationship with the hero is portrayed and in the way that he needs/wants her.

OTHER COMMENTS:
We see lots of the whole Hathaway clan (and are given great teasers about Leo and Marks, see P.S. for more details) and the staff of the Rutledge Hotel are great additions to the book. They really add to the story, as well as giving further depth to Harry and the relationship he develops with Poppy. They also provide some wonderful humor, which is always a great thing for any romance book, and this book definitely has some of the LOL scenes that I always come to treasure in LK's novels --- one of the greatest ones is when the hotel top-staff are in the kitchen discussing the intimate side (or lack thereof) of Harry and Poppy's relationship and the chef is making all these vegetable metaphors. :-))) Couldn't stop laughing!

CRITICISM:
The "there's-something-missing-but-I'm-not-exactly-sure-what" factor is hard to describe because, yes, I'm not exactly sure what it is. The whole relationship feels somewhat rushed to me and takes place over a shorter period of time than I feel is usually used in Kleypas' books (at least in her historicals). Because they know each other for so little time and the period (time-wise) that the book covers is somewhat on the short side, I think that the development of their relationship seems a little rushed or stilted, not containing as much plausible depth as some of Kleypas' other main characters, and problems that dog the story and their marriage seem to conclude almost too quickly right before the end.

Also, although the chemistry between Harry and Poppy is definitely there, it's not AS shimmery/practically-tangible as in some of her other novels. Compared to a lot of other authors out there, it's still absolutely wonderful and excellently written when it is there and you definitely will NOT feel like you were short-changed on the romance part --- however compared to the first two Hathaway books (MINE TILL MIDNIGHT and SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE), it just was not as "charged."

Finally, most authors have to include some mystery/villain twist at the end and LK provides this obligatory plot twist. I myself thought it seemed a bit superfluous and could have been done without, but no more details since then I would have to include spoilers.

BOTTOM LINE:
It's still a great read, and I definitely do NOT regret rushing out this morning and buying it at the nearest bookstore (my apologies, Amazon.com). We're teased at the end that Summer 2010 will see --- get this --- TWO NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCES by LK. Yes, I know, take a moment to sit down, take a deep breath, and collect yourself (. . . or was that just my reaction?). They are the remaining two books in the Hathaway series: MARRIED BY MORNING and LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON.

P.S. FOR ALL THE LEO AND MISS MARKS FANS (i.e. everyone in existence who is aware of them):
The rumor is that MARRIED BY MORNING is Leo's story (and Marks/Catherine/Cat's, because really, it's just too cruel to even IMAGINE she's not his heroine) and will be the next Hathaway book released - I don't know about the rest of you, but even the thought of the Leo/Cat story has me jumping up and down like a kid in a candy store (but no pressure LK, lol). As other reviews mention, this book is choc-a-bloc FULL of little teasers and further developments in their relationship (plus some new and *very interesting* disclosures about Cat's past --- though still not everything, of course). Whenever their book finally DOES come out, it will be an absolute must to reread the previous Hathaway books first so the anticipation can really build . . . and then we can just wallow in enjoyment, lol. I can (seriously) barely contain my excitement --- good to know I have a whole ~10 months to work on it ::sigh::.

For mini-micro-spoilers about both books (though really mini when it comes to LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON) go to this interview with Lisa Kleypas that was posted the day after this book came out: http://goodbadandunread.com/2009/09/2... Thank you to L. ROACH on Amazon.com for the post about it; the spoiler for MARRIED BY MORNING is absolutely great and is a definite must-read if you're left wondering about a certain exchange between Leo and Cat at the end of the book. ( )