Title: Seduce me at Sunrise
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Genre: Historical Romance
Stand Alone/ Series: The second in The Hathaways series
Summary: Win has been an invalid ever since she suffered a near-fatal case of scarlet fever. Merripen is a Romany Gypsy who was taken in by the Hathaway family when he was a boy. He has always kept his fierce passion for Win a secret, believing a romantic relationship would never be possible.
But Win goes to an exclusive clinic, far away from Merripen and the rest of her family, and makes a remarkable recovery. And when she returns two years later, a changed woman, the explosive passion between these long-denied lovers threatens their family, their future, and even their lives . . .
Why did I read the book: Win and Merripen were secondary characters in Mine Till Midnight and they completely stole the show with their longing for each other – I have been waiting for their story ever since.
Review:
“Kev loved her. Not in the way that novelists and poets described. Nothing so tame. He loved her beyond earth, heaven, or hell. Every moment out of her company was agony; every moment with her was the only peace he had ever known. Every touch of her hands left an imprint that ate down to his soul. He would have killed himself before admitting it to anyone. The truth was buried deep in his heart. Kev did not know if Win loved him in return. All he knew was that he didn’t want her to”
There are some love stories that are so powerful they leap from the pages and beg to be told. Kev and Win’s is one of those – a pair of secondary characters that first appeared in Mine Till Midnight, Amelia Hathaway and Cam Rohan’s story. In all honesty, I somewhat enjoyed Mine till Midnight but I didn’t think it was the best Lisa Kleypas offering. At least not when it came to the central couple – my favorite parts of Mine Till Midnight were the ones about Win and Kev. They completely stole the show with their love that could never be.
She: Amelia’s invalid sister who never fully recovered from Scarlet Fever and who loves the strong and powerful Kev; He: the Roma who had been adopted by the family when he was a child and was completely, utterly devoted to Win, even if it means to keep away from her. Every single scene when they were together spoke of a longing and the promise of a beautiful love story – one that I have been waiting for since I read Mine Till Midnight.
Seduce me at Sunrise opens and we learn that Win is about to leave on a journey to France to try a new treatment for her illness. She is sick and tired of being an invalid and believes this is what keeps her and Kev from getting together. She wants to get well and she wants to enjoy life and she wants him. Kev, even though loving Win with every bit of his heart ever since they were children, believes himself unworthy of her – his soul being too dark from the violent things he have done when still living with his tribe and her being too radiant to be tarnished by his. It kills him, but he thinks she deserves better, a gentle soul of a gentleman. She wants him to wait for her, wants him to be there for her – and he will be but only as a friend. So she leaves.
And we then go back twelve years in the past to learn how the Hathaways rescued Kev (beaten up and close to death), after his tribe left him behind and how he came to fall in love with Win. I absolutely loved these chapters that showed the connection between these souls. Kev behaves and feels like a wild dog, savage, broken. Prepared to leave at first opportunity, as soon as his body recovered but there is one moment that changes everything. He feels Win’s presence outside his bedroom and is restless until she finally comes inside to tend to him – that moment seals their destiny. It is quite simply, a case of Soul Mates, sharing a deep connection, the dark and the light that become friends and he chooses to stay because of her. It is very reminiscent of the Cathy-Heathcliff relationship in Wuthering Heights – there are things that are set in stone, there is no reasonable explanation, they just are. This is the case of Kev and Win.
It was heart wrenching to read all the scenes regarding the bout of scarlet fever that consumed Win – the despair on her part to get him away from her so that he wouldn’t fall ill and his despair and his decision not to leave her side and to nurse her back to life. Some of the best, most gut-wrecking scenes of agonising love when Kev breaths the same air coming out of her lungs because if she has to leave, he will follow suit. My dear friends, this just about killed me.
And yet, the stubborn man who is prepared to die for the woman, refuses to live with her. And so we go the future, to two years after Win has gone to France, when she finally comes back home. Body restored, prepared to live and with her, she brings a suitor, Dr Harrow, the man who helped her recover and who is prepared to ask for her hand. Kev agonises when he learns she has someone but since it is his choice not pursuit their love, he has to live with it. Except is easier said than done.
From that moment on it is just really a matter of how and when Kev would eventually let his stubbornness subside and realise he could not go on denying both of them their happiness. Win, one of those quietly strong heroines, is bent on the pursuit of her own happiness and she pushes Kev’s buttons and calls him on his arrogance on the unfairness of he being the one to decide their fates. But even if she realises theirs is one of those once in a lifetime love, she won’t be sitting around waiting for him, she wants a family of her own. And by gawd, she will have it. Sick and tired to be worshiped from afar, she wants everything she can get from him and when he finally relents she learns that she was never on a pedestal and he shows her just how much he too, wants everything from her, heart, soul, mind and body. And it is so.very.good.
But as much as this is a wonderful love story, there are also some secondary plots that were quite endearing. With this second book, I have come to love the Hathaways as a family and to look forward to their interactions. There are a few scenes between Cam and Kev and between Kev and Leo (the Hathaways brother) that are full of camaraderie and some between Cam and Amelia that I thought were better than their scenes in their own book. I think it is also worth mentioning that there is a otherworldliness to this series that comes from its connection with the gypsy world (curses, ghosts, Coincidences with a capital C) that adds a supernatural feel without really being a complete foray into paranormal area.
The only minor issue I had with the book comes from what I have come to call The Curse of the Romance Novel where we have, towards the end of a novel, a too villainous villain doing villainous acts and a care-bear resolution that wraps every single thing with pink cellophane paper with purple polka dots and rainbows – thank the gods it’s Lisa Kleypas writing which makes everything better. But even if the ending is not to my particular taste, still Kev and Win’s love is stuff for legends and with Kev, Lisa Kleypas has yet another wonderful hero that I am sure, will be making the rounds in top 10s henceforth.
Notable quotes/ Parts:
Kev’s love for Win clearly borders obsession but something needs to be said for these heroes that would do anything for their heroines. Damn me if I don’t love him -specially since he reminds me so much of Heathcliff.
“I’m not good enough for you. But no one is. And most men, good or bad, have limits to what they would do, even for someone they love. I have none. No God, no moral code, no faith in anything. Expect you. You’re my religion. I would do anything you asked. I would fight, steal, kill for you. I would…
“shhh.Hush. My goodness.” She sounded breathless. “There’s no need to break all the commandments, Kev.”
And later on, after he finally capitulates, there is an AMAZING inner speech about his love for her. I won’t spoil the whole thing but it ends like this:
“I love you for being the answer to every question my heart could ask”
So terribly romantic.
Additional Thoughts: a secondary plotline which started in Mine Till Midnight is Leo Hathaway’s. In that first book, Leo is going through hell after the death of his beloved. Drunk, not caring about anything, deep in despair. In Seduce me at Sunrise, Leo is starting to recover, becoming more centred and I have the feeling we have been introduced to his heroine, none other than the girls’ stern new governess who dislikes him at first sight (or does she) and whom he has repartees with.
There is also one scene that I thought was absolutely brilliant. Leo is trying to get through to Kev and they have a talk. Leo tells Kev that he knows that when Leo and Win fell ill all those years ago with the same disease that killed Leo’s fiancée, Laura and Kev ministered an unusual medicine as a last attempt to save their lives :
“(…) you would have taken the rest of that poison. And I’ve always hated you for that. Because you forced me to stay alive without the woman I loved, while you had no bloody intention of doing the same”
and then he shows an insightful side and says:
“if you had the bollocks to die with her, don’t you think you could work up the courage to live with her?”
Needless to say Leo’s book can not come soon enough. I really want to see how Lisa Kleypas will have him finding love again.
Verdict: Win and Kev’s love story reminded me of Wuthering Heights, one of my all-time favourite novels: their love was gripping, unrelenting and eternal. It should come as no surprise that Lisa Kleypas has another winner in her hands.
Rating: 9, damn near perfection
Reading next: A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
102 Comments
Katiebabs
September 24, 2008 at 4:15 amI also loved how we saw Cam and Amelia married.
And Kev also reminded me a lot of Heathcliff also. The love and devotion he has for Win is so powerful and oh so good.
Pam P
September 24, 2008 at 4:25 amI agree with you about MTM and that Kev and Win stole the show, which is why I’ll be reading this as soon as I can get my hands on it. Great review, glad to hear it sounding as good as I suspected. I’ve already wondered about Leo and the governess, we’ll have to wait and see.
MK/Kati
September 24, 2008 at 4:55 amTerrific review (again!). I really enjoyed this book after being slightly lukewarm on Mine ‘Til Midnight (well, Lisa on a lukewarm day is still better than pretty much anyone else).
I’d forgotten to write about Leo when I wrote my review, and am so glad you mentioned is story. I’m yearning for Leo, but I’m guessing it’ll be a while before we get to see his HEA. I hope he gets a fiesty miss who’ll kick his ass! 😉
Jill D.
September 24, 2008 at 5:38 amI am going to wait to read your review until I have read the book too. A 9 huh. Wow, I can’t wait!
Dev
September 24, 2008 at 5:53 amTerrific review! I will definitely be picking this up when it comes out next week.
I still need to read Cam and Amelia’s story. Can’t believe I haven’t read it yet….
Anonymous
September 24, 2008 at 7:49 amFrom Lisa Kleypas:
Oh, Ana, what a beautiful and thrilling review—THANK YOU! I am enjoying my LK week SO much, and I planned to stop by yesterday but my computer blew out (my 12 year-old borrowed it for homework and plugged in the wrong adapter—LOL).
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your kind words about SMAS. I have a few comments to share about Kev Merripen, because for me he was one of those rare characters that appeared fully-formed in my mind. It’s like a gift when that happens to a writer! At first I had no intentions of ever making him a hero—he appeared in MTM only because Amelia needed a companion. But there was a scene fairly on in that book, when Win, who was completely an invalid at that point, fainted after the long journey from London to Hampshire. At first I was going to have Leo go and catch her before she hit the floor, but then I tried it with Merripen. And it was like lightning striking—as soon as he put his arms around Win, I knew he was secretly and desperately in love with her. I couldn’t figure out how such a match would ever work, which of course made the idea irresistible!
When it came time to write SMAS, I gave myself permission to pull out all the stops and let Kev be as insanely intense as the story called for. Definitely over-the-top—I felt like every other page there was a near-death experience just because he loved her so much—LOL! I think Kev is the complete polar opposite of St.Vincent, who is so blonde and sophisticated and articulate . . . Kev is absolutely primal. And I think a lot of the sexual tension comes from the fact that the only one who can keep him under control is the most physically fragile heroine I’ve ever written.
I’ll be checking in with y’all today and the rest of the week . . . thanks again, this is wonderful!
Katiebabs
September 24, 2008 at 7:53 amI thought Win handled Kev very well, and of course he did the same to her! LOL
Ana
September 24, 2008 at 8:06 amOh wow! thanks Lisa, for the wonderful insight – I am forever impressed at how writers come up with their heroes and to learn that Kev came to life like that is fascinating.
“Insanely Intense” and “absolutely primal” are simply the best words to describe him. I wish I could have thought of those when I was writing the review LOL.
“And I think a lot of the sexual tension comes from the fact that the only one who can keep him under control is the most physically fragile heroine I’ve ever written.” I just melted all over again – this was such an intense journey, and I loved every minute of it.
Ana
September 24, 2008 at 8:08 amKatie – I loved seeing Cam and Amelia married too.
Pam, thanks! Leo and the governess SO much potential there!
MK – it seems next book is Poppy’s. which is fine, because I do feel Leo needs more time before he can fall in love again. It would be more realistic.
Lisa Kleypas
September 24, 2008 at 8:20 amYes, the next book will be Poppy’s, and I can hardly wait to start it . . . I think a lot of it will take place at the Rutledge hotel, and I know for certain the hero will be the hotel owner. Poppy craves normalcy–she is part of a family of misfits, and they’re all so odd *g* so she wants a conventional life with a normal guy. But this hotel owner, Harry Rutledge, is HUGELY mysterious and complex and very handsome, and right now in the planning stages he has a streak of outright villainy. I envision him as a more sophisticated hero, in the category of St. Vincent.
And Ana, you’re right about Leo . . . he needs to wait just a little longer, mainly because he NEVER wants to fall in love again. Losing Laura made him crazy and suicidal, and the intensity of his grief was almost too much to survive. So he will never willingly take that risk again–he knows it would kill him. I think it will be a really strange and unusual love story, because he is quirky and odd and very passionate.
Katiebabs
September 24, 2008 at 8:23 amLisa, you probably hear this a lot, but I am bowing down to you.
See here I bow:
*bow*
I was at RWA in San Francisco in July, but since I had to catch a Saturday morning flight, I missed you at the signing, even though Kristie J told me all about it 😀
Ana
September 24, 2008 at 8:28 amBe still my heart. St Vincent is my all-time favorite romance hero. Just to hear that you think of creating another hero that resembles him even if just a little is enough to send me into “I WANT IT” mode.
and Leo sounds more and more interesting by the minute.
Lisa, thank you so much for sharing all this with us!
Katiebabs
September 24, 2008 at 8:41 amI am such a sucker for those heroes who walk that fine line into become villains.
Poor Leo, I want him to have his HEA.
Lisa Kleypas
September 24, 2008 at 8:42 am((((Katie))))) I’m so sorry we missed each other . . . we will get another chance someday, I know it! BTW, I LOVE to hear that Kev reminded you of Heathcliff . . . poor Heathcliff, bashing his head against the tree when Cathy died . . . obviously you and I both like our men to be muscular, dark and slightly unhinged. LOL!
Rowena
September 24, 2008 at 8:42 amOh man, oh man you lucky duck! I can’t wait to read this one!
Lisa Kleypas
September 24, 2008 at 8:48 amDear Ana,
St. Vincent is your favorite? . . . that’s great, thank you dear!!! I adored him too, even in IHOA. And at the time, before DIW came out, some readers were understandably doubtful about whether or not he would be a good hero (the little thing about the kidnapping *g*) and the fact that he was blonde, and so obviously amoral.
You know my greatest worry about DIW? . . . I wasn’t sure anyone would like Evie, because I thought maybe her stuttering would get sort of annoying. I had to put in so many ellipses, some of my pages looked like they were written by Barbara Cartland *g*. But I found her endearing because I’ve always thought that very shy people, those with something to overcome, are usually the strongest people. And I think St. Vincent came to recognize that very quickly, and respected her for it.
Katiebabs
September 24, 2008 at 8:55 amLisa: I think St. Vincent and Evie balance each other out perfectly. Evie has her stutter and St. Vincent is a bit diabolical. And the way Evie tamed her husband was the fun in reading.
Your heroines sure do know how to tame the savage beasts inside these men! 😀
MK/Kati
September 24, 2008 at 9:19 am*Waving*
Hi Lisa! Congratulations on the release of SMAS! I loved it! Have you been seeing the reviews? I’ve seen a bunch of glowing ones!
So, can I ask about Smooth Talking Stranger? Because I love Jack, and I can’t wait to see him fall hard for a woman, being that he’s a big of a player. What surprised you most about writing him?
Will you continue to write contemps after this? Or was this just a three book series? Because I have to say that I adore your historicals, but the contemps just make me breathless!
Kristie (J)
September 24, 2008 at 9:46 amI’m reading this Seduce Me At Sunrise now – and while I’ll hold my thought ’til I finish – cause it will take me awhile and more talent then I have to formulate them – I was reading it at at the picnic table at lunch just about 10 minutes ago – deeply, deeply involved, feeling both Win and Kev’s pain, almost in tears – it’s that riveting and that tearing, when someone came over and said ‘oh, you’re by yourself’ and sat down. Since I think it’s rude to read in front of someone like that (sister Lisa takes me to task for doing that) I put the book back in my purse and wanted to scream “GO AWAY!!! I HAVE TO READ THIS!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!” I couldn’t do that of course – but I wanted to. Luckily she did leave when I still had 15 minutes to get my ‘fix’, but more time would have made me SO much better. As it is, I’m ITCHING to get home to read more. Except my son is coming over to do some work. Of course he’s used to seeing me absorbed by a book.
little alys
September 24, 2008 at 10:47 amI want to cry. This is just too good. Gahhaaa. I need this book like NOW, but since I have to wait another two weeks, this review (these reviews really) will just help me through. Ana, stop making me cry with your reviews! I’m already exceedingly vulnerable to Lisa Kleypas’ books and this is just sooooooooooooo good.
As much as I love Cam, I completely agree that Kev and Win stole the scenes in MTM. So beautiful and good. Eh, I’m gushing. I’ll go be quiet and squeal on the inside. 😉
little alys
September 24, 2008 at 10:54 amOMG, I just read the comments. She’s here. I’m going to go hide behind katiebabs and kristiej now. Where’s Christine? Need to hide behind her too! Excuse me.
*peeks out*
I really love your books Ms. Lisa.
*runs and hides*
Lisa Kleypas
September 24, 2008 at 11:19 amDear mk/Kati,
Oooooh, rats, the comment box just gobbled up my long, fascinating and brilliant reply (take my word for it *g*) so I’ll have to try again . . . HELLO, and thank you, you are so sweet, and I LOVE to hear that you enjoy my contemps.
I have not signed a contract yet, but I’ve been talking with my editor about a new trilogy set in Washington State, and I think she really likes the idea, so we’ll see!
I am still not finished with “Smooth Talking” yet, but lately I’ve been working on the payoff scenes, the sexy/dramatic/intense ones that were set up earlier in the book, and I think you’ll love Jack!
He is about as caveman-like as a contemporary hero can be–LOL– but he’s not a jerk, he’s just very commanding and self-assured.
The thing that surprised me are the conversations he has with Ella throughout the book. She’s an advice columnist, and she has an extensive vocabulary, but Jack is not at all intimidated by her brains. To me, their conversations are like sex, there’s this kind of back-and-forth and mutual fascination and rhythm to the talking. The actual love scenes are pretty good, too, I think *g*
He falls really hard for her, and that is always fun, I think, to see a ladies’ man get his comeuppance! (Incidentally, the baby is a facet of the plot, but actually not a significant part of it, so I think the UK cover is a little misleading in that regard. Although I do love men who like babies!)
Lisa Kleypas
September 24, 2008 at 11:20 amDear Kristie,
Hello sweetie!!!! LOL . . .I hate when I’m trying to read and I have to talk to someone!
Hope you enjoy the rest of the book–please let me know!!!
Lisa Kleypas
September 24, 2008 at 11:25 amDear Alys,
(((((you))))) You are too sweet for words . . . I wish I could give you a copy of the book right now! Thank you, dear.
I will confess, I have only cried two or three times in my entire career while writing something, and one of them was during MTM, when Merripen had the burn wound and he thought Win was overdosing him as a sort of mercy killing . . . He loved her so much that he almost wept with gratitude, because the best thing he could imagine was dying in her arms. And I thought that was so sad and pitiful, for him to think that was all he could have with her. I was sort of depressed about it all day afterward.
You would not believe what my husband puts up with. *g*
orannia
September 24, 2008 at 12:17 pmOK, if I wasn’t already hanging on (by a thread 🙂 for SMAS I am after such a great review – thank you Ana! And then there is Poppy’s story….. *SIGH*
Did someone mentioned St Vincent and diabolical in the same sentence? I *heart* St Vincent and Evie 🙂
orannia
Lori
September 24, 2008 at 12:33 pmCrying in frustration here…. I’m waiting for my copy to arrive. Me. Want. Now.
Kate
September 24, 2008 at 12:35 pmWhen does this release???
I liked MTM but agree with everyone – Kev and Win completely stole the book, especially when he was burned and Win was taking care of him. *tear*
The family as a whole was fantastic, and I can’t wait to read all of the stories. Especially Beatrix! I loved her.
Ana
September 24, 2008 at 1:39 pmLisa, yep St Vincent is my number 1 hero of all time. I just love these heroes that at first sight, seem to be unredeemable. I think one of the reasons why I love St Vincent so much is because he reminds me a lot of Sawyer, from Lost – my favorite TV character. Again so obviously amoral, but one that has fallen hard for the first time in his life.
and oh god, I can’t wait to read Smooth Talking Stranger – Jack sounds delish. His heroine sounds amazing too!
Ana
September 24, 2008 at 1:40 pmKate, the book is out on the 30th but some people seem to have found it already!
little alys
September 24, 2008 at 2:03 pm*peeking out from hiding area*
Hi Ms. Lisa – Oh goodness, thank you for just thinking of it – I’m too happy. I cannot wait for SMAS and I already know it’s worth the wait. So thank you! And for commenting back to me. ^_^ I feel like it’s RWA again (um, I was the little girl that was babbling and crying when I met you during signings *blush*).
When I finished reading the burns part with Merripan, I think I just stopped reading and went into a daze. It broke my heart and I just knew I had to read about them for a happy ending. At that moment, the love Merripan felt for Win was so deep and incredibly tender, I couldn’t help but tear up.
As for Evie. I love her! Love the fact that she stutters and was so strong. She stutters and I could relate to that! No one has their heroine stutter. She was so sweet too that I wished to have her as a friend. All of them really. Well, your books are my friends. 🙂 Honestly, you are an incredible writer and thank you so very much for bringing so many wonderful stories to life. Just wonderful.
Katiebabs- No offense to your love of Heathcliff (I know he’s one of your top-top heroes), but I like Kev better. Heathcliff got a little too dominating and obsessive. Merripan’s love, although just as deep and passionate doesn’t feel as distructive. IMO. Don’t get me wrong, Heathcliff was awesome, but what he did to their children and to his wife…it irritated me.
Ana – your point of redeeming the seemingly unredeemable heroes. Yes! What I love about all these heroes are the fact they’re human. Not perfect, have their problems, but often did the best they could to survive in a world that gave them nothing but grief and loneliness. Not to mention how the heroines are so sweet and compassionate, but no martyr. Strong and independent, yet completely realistic and someone (if real) I would love to approach and be friends with. A real role model without being an unobtainable facade.
Okay, I’m going to go back into hiding. ^_^
Ciara
September 24, 2008 at 5:36 pmLisa Kleypas is going to write something set here in my beautiful corner of the world??? *faints*
Can’t wait to read SMAS. I’ve loved every Kleypas book I’ve ever read, and I think I’ve read all but one or two.
Patty
September 24, 2008 at 5:48 pmIt’s interesting how each of the stories can affect us so powerfully.
Like Ana, there is something about St.Vincent that strikes a chord for me. And in truth, it is the sum of the entire book that draws me. The fact that Evie is a survivor in the face of her cruel relatives and she is extraordinarily resourceful in finding a solution to her problems in St. Vincent. Then there are the little details: St.Vincent shaving Ivo Jenner so tenderly, his real anguish when he really, really didn’t want to be in love with Evie because every woman he had loved when he was a little boy had died. Then his passion for Evie is so thick and palpable, you can feel it wrap around her like a hot, humid day. The last line of the book is so classically St.Vincent when he agrees with Evie that she has a point about being ravished in the billiards room. I just love that Evie is the shy wallflower who is the perfect match for the rake!
Why do I have to have a day job! I need more time to read- I have many of Lisa’s older books to catch up on. I think I need to move Nick Gentry to the top of that list!
Pam P
September 24, 2008 at 10:21 pmThe burn scene was so powerful and emotional, and especially because Kev is so intense and primal. I love a hero like that, who needs that special someone to bring out those hidden emotional depths, to balance him.
I need to go check my store and see if I can find a copy tomorrow, I so can’t wait to read this, and that caveman Jack is definitely going to be interesting.
“To me, their conversations are like sex, there’s this kind of back-and-forth and mutual fascination and rhythm to the talking.”
Lisa, I love when an author does this kind of bantering, not just relying on the sex itself to build the tension.
Thank you so much for all the wonderful stories and characters, I never miss any of your books.
Anonymous
September 25, 2008 at 12:20 pmWhat an awesome review! I am loving all the little bits about SMAS I can find out there till I can get my hands on it!! This has been the hardest wait for me since It Happened One Autumn! Reading MTM was the same for me..I enjoyed it, but I found myself really intrigued by all the scenes with Win and Kev! And when I found out the next book was theirs! Oh man! The wait has been torture!!!! Marcus, Lord Westcliff is my favorite hero next to Derek Craven…and I have a feeling Merripen is going to join their ranks!! I so adore all your books Lisa! Every one is always so wonderful!!!
On a different note. I have always been curious Lisa, if you played the casting game with Marcus…who would you pick? I have noticed with his character you are very specific to describe him as being of medium height(what is considered medium height in 19th century England??) and his looks being intense rather than handsome! I have always had a hard time picturing him?? Any help in this department you be wonderful! Tuesday cannot get here soon enough. My copies of all the Wallflower Books and MTM are going to fall apart from too much use!!!
So excited!!
Christine
Kelly Krysten
September 26, 2008 at 10:16 amI seriously have no clue what happened to my comment and it was brilliant.lol.
Ok, here’s basically what I said:
I only have one word: Mckenna.
I loved Again the Magic so much! I get so sloppy crying over it but I can’t stay away from it for long. I love every little detail of that book and the wide range of emotions it evokes.
It’s also the first time I met Marcus. I loved how he fought so hard for Aline to live after her accident. And I loved the protectiveness and easy comradery he had with his sisters.
I felt so horrible for Aline that she thought a flaw in her physicality made her somehow unworthy of Mckenna.
I loved the mixture of Mckenna’s anger and tenderness when he finds out she had been hiding her scars from him.
This book is my favorite romance of all time and in my top three books of all time.
I honestly think that the scene where Mckenna weeps as the housekeeper holds him is the most well written scene of all time.
Thank you, Ms. Kleypas, for writing such amazing stories. I don’t know what I’d do without always having a new Kleypas book to look forward to. And I truly think you deserve a RITA for every book you’ve ever written.