The start of this book finds the
heroine chasing a ferret through the winding halls of an exclusive Regency era
London hotel. As one does. The heroine
is, of course, Poppy Hathaway, third of the Hathaway sisters, and the ferret is
her sister Beatrix’s pet, Dodger, who enjoys being mischievous. Poppy is in her third London season and she
has finally met someone she likes and who likes her back. Dodger has stolen a letter from her paramour
which if made public would cause problems for the clandestine couple. So Poppy pursues the ferret into the service
hallways of the hotel and runs smack dab into a handsome stranger who turns out
to be the Hotel’s enigmatic owner Harry Rutledge. In that moment, though neither realizes it, their
fates are sealed.
Poppy Hathaway is 23 and the third
of the Hathaway sisters. While Poppy
loves and is close to her unconventional family, she’s had enough of the drama
that comes with being a Hathaway. In
books 1 and 2 of the series, both of her older sisters were compromised before
marrying their Gypsy husbands – scandalous indeed – and Poppy wants nothing of
the sort for herself. Unfortunately,
Poppy herself isn’t your typical regency era maiden. She’s smart and educated and growing up she was
encouraged to talk, debate and speak her mind.
She doesn’t really like or know how to make small talk so despite being
beautiful she confounds all the eligible men which is okay because she doesn’t
really like them much either. In her
third season, she thinks she has finally found someone whom she cares for and
who loves her back. The only problem is
that he is reluctant to declare for her and make their relationship official
and public - the Hathaway unconventionality getting in the way.
Harry Rutledge is a
thirty-something American who took London by storm ten years prior. While sought after for his restless
intelligence, wealth and competence, no one really knows his story and Harry
keeps everyone at arm’s length and truly believes he is happiest that way. He has been emotionally isolated all his life
and doesn’t really understand the concept of love and is appalled at the idea
that he might need someone else. His
emotional distance has also encouraged a ruthless character which he puts to
good use when he decides that he will have Poppy as his wife. While simultaneously being charming and
manipulative, he maneuvers Poppy away from the man she loves and forces her to
the Altar with him but not before she becomes aware of his machinations.
So that’s how Poppy’s marriage
begins, with her wondering what kind of monster she’s married, while Harry is
surprised that he is not just content to have Poppy, he actually wants her to
want him.
I think this is my favorite thus
far in the Hathaway series. I really
enjoy the hero/villain type like Harry – he reminds of Rhett Butler: sardonic
and charming, emotions hidden deep under a façade of insouciance. I
adored him. The way Poppy and he figure
each other out in the end is maybe a little easy but I found it satisfying
nonetheless. Kleypas as always has a
great sense of humor and she is really great at writing dialogue and setting up
scenes. Poppy is especially good at communicating and making intelligent
conversation. As Harry observes - the
thing that made her struggle on the marriage market as a single woman actually is
her greatest charm as a married woman. She also did a great job in this book
knowing exactly why her two lovers go together well which I think was perhaps
missing a little in book 2 between Winn and Merripen whose connection seemed
more mystical than anything else. I also
liked the setting of the hotel and the addition of the charismatic hotel
staff.
Furthermore, as long as the
quality keeps up through book 5, I think this book may have solidified this
series as my favorite regency era series by a modern author. The reason is The Hathaways – I adore them
and really enjoy seeing all of them in each of the books. Beatrix and her critters, her folksy wisdom,
her disregard for social convention; Leo’s droll wit; Cam’s easygoing and
protective leadership; Amelia as mother hen.
They are a blast to hang out with and I hope the spark doesn’t ebb
before the end as it has in other promising series (..ahem.. Julia Quinn’s
Bridgertons). Long live the Hathaways!
A number of people favor Richard
Armitage as the model for Harry – what do you think?What's your favorite "type" of hero in a romance novel?
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