Ratings24
Average rating3.6
Lisa Kleypas
(The second book in the Hathaways series)
Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins - and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation.and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.
Then, Win returns to England.only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It's now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny - or risk losing the only woman he has lived for.
Featured Series
5 primary books6 released booksThe Hathaways is a 6-book series with 5 primary works first released in 2007 with contributions by Lisa Kleypas.
Reviews with the most likes.
Childhood sweethearts isn't my favorite trope and this still has a little bit of the Roma exoticization that I disliked in the first book, but I really liked Win. The villain was not quite developed enough for me, but overall I enjoyed this one.
Merripen is a dumpster 🔥. Any enjoyment of win and family was taken away by immature piece of shit merripen.
Normally I'm a Kleypas fan, but I just didn't love this one! Can't put my finger on exactly why: I like both Kev & Win, the protagonists, and liked the structure of both of them having roughly equal interiority, but I found myself leaning toward skimming as opposed to savoring. There is also a lot going on plot-wise: half-Roma/half-Irish brothers separated since childhood realize they're related, grandfather who turns out to be a murderous, racist asshole, charlatan doctor trying to poison people. Some of the additions I liked, like getting to see more of Cam and Amelia, but others felt less welcome: based on the set up for Married by Morning in this book, Leo Hathaway's change of heart regarding Catherine Marks is going to induce whiplash.