Series: The Hathaways, #4
Traits & Tropes: reformed rake; class difference; governess/employer; suspense/danger; enemies to lovers
Publication Date: 05.25.10
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; Hampshire/London, England, 1852
Heat Level: 5
Rating: 5/5
Narration Rating: 5/5
Catherine Marks has spent the past two years serving the Hathaway family as a governess and companion to the two youngest sisters of the family. She adores her position, and the only sticking point is Leo Hathaway, Lord Ramsey, her charges’ insufferable older brother. The two argue constantly but when one such occasion ends in a passionate kiss, Cat is shocked to find passion behind their near-constant bickering.
Leo has just learned that he must marry and produce an heir within a year if the family wants to retain the home they have so lovingly restored. He’s also learning that behind her prudish exterior, Catherine hides both passion and secrets that could be devastating to her future. Leo is completely intrigued by Cat, even as he reminds himself of his refusal to ever fall in love again. With the threat Cat has been eluding for years fast catching up to them, both she and Leo will have to learn to trust one another to avoid being separated forever.
If I had to rank this series, this book has always been at about number four for me, with only Seduce Me at Sunrise ranking lower in terms of how much I enjoyed it. Leo and Catherine’s story held up well for me and if it weren’t for how much I love Cam Rohan and how little I remember Beatrix’s story at the moment, I would bump this one up in my rankings. Anyway, I loved seeing Leo grow into the man he was always meant to be, finally healing from the loss he’d suffered. Catherine was a bit frustrating for me with her belligerence towards Leo, but this was likely because her characterization resonated so much with me as someone who can be similarly and inexplicably irritable. Her behavior and mistrust were also completely understandable when reminded of her background. It was also clear pretty early on that her animosity and fire toward Leo wasn’t really animosity at all, but a different sort of passion and I enjoyed seeing her figure that out. Leo’s patient wooing of her was especially endearing and he turned into such a surprisingly swoonworthy hero, especially given his formerly rakish ways. In fact, he turned out to be one of my favorite heroes, right up there with Cam and Harry, and I loved the sense of dry humor that he brought to interactions with the rest of the family. As always when I read one of these books, I’m left wanting to be a member of the Hathaway family myself and Catherine, with her sense of not quite fitting in anywhere, is perhaps the character I relate the most to. This is probably my favorite reformed rake story of all time and I loved Leo’s utter devotion to Catherine and hers to him in return.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2375590080
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