Reviewed by Kati Dancy
4.75 stars
For me, reading a Lisa Kleypas novel tends to be an emotional experience. Reading a Kleypas hero, on the other hand, is likely to bring on breathlessness and a suspicious weakness in the knees. Whether she’s writing a strong, Texas oil tycoon in present day, or a common, smarter than average hustler in the Victorian era, she manages to write a man who not just the heroine, but the reader falls in love with. Lisa’s books tend to be emotional. And they take us on a ride that can be harrowing, but always worth it.
Her newest release, Seduce Me At Sunrise is no exception. The book revisits the Hathaway family, who we met in Mine ‘Til Midnight. Where we finally saw the rogue, Cam Rohan, get his comeuppance, delivered by sensible, honorable Amelia Hathaway. But we were introduced to the rest of the Hathaway clan, Beatrice and Poppy, the two incorrigible youngest sisters; Leo, Amelia’s troubled, alcoholic brother; and Winnifred, Amelia’s closest in age sister, who after a bout with scarlet fever has become delicate and sickly. Also introduced is the mysterious Kev Merripen, a gypsy who was taken in by the Hathaways when he was very young. They nursed him back to health after a terrible beating, and then gave him a home and a safe place to grow up.
Kev is barely civilized when he comes to the Hathaways, and he connects almost immediately with Win, before she becomes ill. For some reason she is unafraid of the boy so different from her. And she gains his loyalty, and unbeknownst to her, his love. While Win is aware that there seems to be an attraction between the two of them, she cannot seem to goad Kev into acting upon it. She’s done everything but throw herself at him. But knowing that he is not an appropriate match for her, he holds her off, even as his desire for her brings him almost to his knees. After her illness, though it is Kev who cares for Win. He is tender and gentle with her, but also strict; never allowing her to do more than he thinks is healthy. She allows it because it is the only way to keep him in her presence, and she figures a little of him is better than none.
After Amelia’s marriage to Cam, the family is in a much better financial situation, and they hear of a doctor in France who is having much success working with respiratory illnesses such as Win’s. So they decide to send Win to France with Leo acting as her escort. Win is gone for several years, and when she returns to England, she is much changed. She is healthy and happy and in good spirits. And she brings with her, her doctor, Dr. Julian Harrow, who Kev hates on sight. Julian is hoping to convince Win to marry him, but her connection to Kev remains. She decides she must find out once and for all whether they are meant to be together. Win goes to Kev’s room to greet him and he mistakes her for a prostitute. He’s dominant and rough with her until she says one sentence to him: “Is this how you treat women, Kev?” She’s not complaining in the least, but he’s appalled to have treated her so roughly and yet, completely swept away by how beautiful she is and how much he feels for her. What follows is an incredibly emotional, touching love scene – which Kev stops about a moment before things get completely out of hand. He handles the, if you’ll forgive my pun, dismount terribly and hurts Win intentionally. She resolves that she and Kev are not to be together and that she will forge a new life with Julian, despite the fact that her love for Kev will be diminished. The two circle around and around each other as other secrets come to light. Both try desperately to forget about the other, never having much luck. And because this is a Lisa Kleypas book, we know that once they admit the truth, their union will be hotter and more emotional we as readers can imagine.
While I enjoyed the first book in this series, Mine ‘Til Midnight, it wasn’t an absolute “re-read immediately” book for me. Seduce Me at Sunrise is. First, Kev is one of those quintessential Kleypas heroes, blue collared and stiff necked with it. He’s obstinate and domineering, and could use a good smack in the head to come to his senses. Fortunately, while Win was away, she grew a spine, and she’s not afraid to use it. She challenges Kev both emotionally and mentally and pushes him beyond his ability to imagine happiness. It’s a story of one man’s slow realization of the power of love and its ability to heal not just old wounds, but the heart altogether.
There is one other storyline that should at least merit a mention, and that is Kev’s connection with Cam Rohan. It’s best not to say too much about it, except that it was explained in the book. I’d have liked to have seen a bit more about it, and have the two of them explore it more extensively, but that is a small quibble with what is another tremendous entry into Lisa Kleypas’s incredible oeuvre of books.
Lisa Kleypas remains in my top three favorite authors of all time. She is, for me, an absolute go-to for an emotional, well written, fleshed out story of love, and in this case redemption.
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PJ
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 3:02 pm:
Kati, I’m sure you’ve written another fantastic review but I’m not reading it.
I want to unwrap this story one page at a time without any advance “previews”. Can’t wait until release day!
Gannon
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 3:12 pm:
Kati, I was already looking forward to reading this, and after reading your review, release day can’t come soon enough! Brava!!
Stacy ~
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 4:03 pm:
GREAT review Kati! This is one of those books that had me totally running through all the emotions, and it was sad, beautiful, and incredibly romantic. I think their time apart was instrumental in bringing them back together, and it was wonderful. Sigh.
There were things I wanted to see more of as well, definitely that of Kev’s past, as well as more of the Wallflowers and more of Cam’s childhood. I hope we will get that opportunity in future books.
Andrea
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 4:22 pm:
Terrific review, Kati!! I am SOOOOOOO looking forward to next Tuesday!!
MK/Kati
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 4:22 pm:
PJ – I understand completely. I hope you love it as much as I did.
Gannon – Aww, thanks, I really loved this one.
Stacy – I had to wait until I’d finished reading it and writing my review before I read yours because you are always so observant, and I was afraid I’d end up inadvertently lifting some aspect of your review. Thanks for the positive feedback, it means alot coming from someone whose reviews I admire so much!
orannia
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 4:55 pm:
Thank you Kati! WOW! What a great review, and if I couldn’t wait for the book before….now I’m literally champing at the bit
And I’m glad we get to see some more of Cam….
orannia
Maria Lokken
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 6:10 pm:
MK – I’m with PJ – I skimmed your review, even though I posted it. Because I am breathless with anticipation. I saw the name CAM, and closed my eyes — I didn’t want to know… Oh Lisa, Lisa, Lisa!!!
katiebabs
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 6:22 pm:
Lisa’s heroes are the best of the best. I have to admit the connection between Kev and Cam seemed a bit contrived for me. But overall, I really did enjoy this latest by Lisa
Buffie
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 6:58 pm:
Fantabulous review Kati!!!! I am really looking forward to this book. I just love Lisa . . . and her heros!!!
heidenkind
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 7:29 pm:
Ah, yes, the old “oops I thought you were a prostitute” error. And he injures her while “dismounting”?!?! Wow. Poor guy can’t do anything right.
Kev was one of my favorite character from Mine Till Midnight (aside from Cam, of course), so I’m really excited about this book. Should be good.
LK does write great heroes, but some are better than others. I think my favorites are Simon and Marcus. But I also really liked Grant from Someone to Watch Over Me and Logan Scott from Because You’re Mine.
MK/Kati
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 8:14 pm:
Heidenkind, my favorites are her contemp heroes, Gage Travis in particular. But for my tastes, McKenna from Again the Magic is my favorite historical Kleypas hero.
Marisa
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 8:24 pm:
Kati, great review – you’re making my mouth water! I’m definitely in the mood for a Kleypas fix.
I have to say Cam was never one of my favorite secondary characters until his book came out last year – and then I began to appreciate his uniqueness. I’m definitely looking forward to Win’s story.
My favorite of Lisa’s heroes has got to be Zachary from Where Dreams Begin. I love the whole rags to riches theme.
heidenkind
on Sep 22nd, 2008
@ 10:53 pm:
MK–oh, I forgot about Again the Magic. I loved McKenna. And I think that might have been the first book where Marcus made an appearance (?).
Marisa–I liked Zachary’s character in Where Dreams Begin, but I wasn’t such a big fan of the widow.
Pam P
on Sep 23rd, 2008
@ 5:02 am:
I so can’t wait to read this. Mine Till Midnight isn’t a re-read for me either, I was more intrigued by Cam as a secondary character than in his own story – guess I was anticipating more conflicts or daring or something; but Kev definitely got my attention in that one.
My two favorite Kleypas heroes – Derek Craven and Nick Gentry, and I also liked Hardy (Blue-Eyed Devil) and Grant Morgan a lot.
Lisa is one of my alltime favorite authors, too, love her voice and the way she tells a story.
Marisa
on Sep 23rd, 2008
@ 6:11 am:
Pam – How could I forget Hardy from Blue-Eyed Devil, he does rank up there with the 10 ten. And Derek and Nick are also two of my favorites from two of my favorite Klyepas books.
LOL heidenkind – I know what you mean about the widow in Where Dreams Begin – but I found she was such a great balance to Zachary.
Buffie
on Sep 23rd, 2008
@ 8:16 am:
Nick Gentry is my favorite LK hero. That man just makes me melt in all the right places
Andrea
on Sep 23rd, 2008
@ 9:06 am:
My two favorite historical Kleypas heroes are Jack Devlin and Marcus. My favorite contemp hero is Gage, but I think Jack might give him a run for his money next March.
MK/Kati
on Sep 23rd, 2008
@ 10:11 am:
Have y’all been over to Lisa’s site lately?? New, DELICIOUS, excerpt from Smooth Talking Stranger is up.
*THUD* I’m already sure I’m going to fall as hard for Jack Travis as I did for Gage.
Buffie
on Sep 23rd, 2008
@ 1:30 pm:
Kati, I just hopped over to LK’s site and read the excerpt! WOW!!!!!!! I’m lovin’ these lines:
“One glance and I knew exactly who and what he was. The classic alpha male, the kind who had spurred evolution forward about five million years ago by nailing every female in sight. They charmed, seduced, and behaved like bastards, and yet women were biologically incapable of resisting their magic DNA.”
heidenkind
on Sep 23rd, 2008
@ 3:35 pm:
Wow. No, I haven’t been to LK’s site in a while… I’ll have to check that out.
MK/Kati
on Sep 23rd, 2008
@ 4:08 pm:
Buffie – Isn’t that the pitiful truth. And doesn’t it already make you connect with the heroine?? I loved the scene. Plus, we already know what a scoundrel Jack is, so this ought to be a hell of a ride!
*SQUEE*
I can’t wait, seriously!
Pam P
on Sep 24th, 2008
@ 8:49 am:
Buffie, those same lines got my attention, too. We’ve got some great reading coming up from Lisa, with Seduce Me at Sunrise and Smooth Talking Stranger.
Review: Seduce Me At Sunrise, Lisa Kleypas « Racy Romance Reviews
on Oct 10th, 2008
@ 11:39 am:
[...] Kati, Romancenovel.tv, 4.75 stars [...]
Racy Romance Reviews » Blog Archive » Review: Seduce Me At Sunrise, Lisa Kleypas
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 7:28 pm:
[...] Kati, Romancenovel.tv, 4.75 stars [...]