Seduce Me at Sunrise (The Hathaways, #2)

by Lisa Kleypas

[Amanda]

I seem to be a weird spot in my reading, where I need the break from historical romances, yet I find it impossible to drag myself away from all the glittering bounty of baubles and balls.

Seduce Me at Sunrise has a premise I'm slowly coming to dislike: "I love you, but I can't have you for some manufactured reason only I can see and I will insist on making us and everyone else miserable while I deny our love."

Cue exasperated sigh and eye rolling.

I used to dig it, so I'm not really sure what changed. Me, probably. My problem is less with this book and more with the trope at large. Kev's massive love for Win didn't make me swoon, nor did his belief that he'd crush her with his love -- for it was that great and all-consuming!

Meh.

The "attractive, seductive suitor" competing for Win's hand only seems to exist for the purposes of pushing Kev to take action. Which is fine, but I wanted more villainy, for him to be a character who existed for more than pushing the couple together. And I wanted more answers about stuff. Yes, stuff. Stuff about things.

Seduce Me at Sunrise also brings to mind my discussion post on fiction versus reality, and the sex scenes. I'm sure it's normal for virgins to be taken three times. Totally realistic.

THAT SAID. I liked how Win and Kev had been dancing around each other since childhood, and that type of relationship is fun to watch unfold -- they know each other already, yet there's still part of their relationship left unexplored.

I liked Tempt Me at Twilight better (naturally, it's impossible for me to read these books in order), but I'm also looking forward to Married by Morning, since the relationship between Leo and Miss Marks has been teased for a while.