Genre: Historical Romance
POV: 3rd Person
Sensuality: Hot
Violence: A few fight scenes
Format: Print
Why I Read It: I’ve read the other books in the Hathaway series
My Grade: C
Married by Morning is the fourth book in the Hathaway series. It is the long-awaited romance between Leo, Lord Ramsay, and Catherine Marks, the Hathaway’s governess/companion.
Unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me. I struggled to write this review without spoilers, but in the end, I gave up. In order to explain my reaction adequately, it was necessary to include some SPOILERS, so be warned!
Leo, the head of the Hathaway family, has long lusted after Catherine Marks, his younger sisters’ companion. He has fought his attraction to her by deliberately provoking her and being obnoxious. Marks is reluctantly attracted to her boss, but she despises him for his irresponsibility and profligate tendencies.
In this book, the chemistry between Leo and Marks results in a secret affair, then a marriage proposal, followed by a refusal of said proposal, then lather, rinse, and repeat. For 350 pages.
There are a number of illogical occurrences in the story, and these added to my growing sense of frustration with the book. Firstly, we are required to believe that Catherine Marks has spent the last few years dyeing her hair and hiding from an Evil Man who bought her to be his mistress when she was fifteen. Given that Marks’ half-brother is the notorious Harry Rutledge, I didn’t understand why Harry didn’t deal with the villain years ago, especially as he had rescued her from him in the first place.
Secondly, Marks sleeps with Leo, then refuses his proposal of marriage because she will only marry for love. This is a sentiment which frequently appears in historical romances and never fails to annoy me. A single woman in Victorian England embarks upon an affair with an unmarried gentleman and refuses his offer of marriage? Seriously? What would she do if she became pregnant?
Last but not least, there is a hairbrained kidnapping plot involving an aunt rendered insane by syphilis. Yes, you read that right. By this point, I was ready to throw the book against the wall, but it was near the end, so I persevered.
In case it’s not already clear from my review, I did not like this book. So why a ‘C’, you might ask? Why not a lower grade? Well, it does have a few redeeming features. There’s no denying that Lisa Kleypas writes well. I enjoyed the cameo appearances from other members of the Hathaway family. I appreciated the fact that both Leo and Marks remained essentially the same characters they were in previous books in the series. (It annoys me when secondary characters in a series undergo a personality transplant when they finally get their own books.)
Readers who are less bothered by melodramatic suspense plots may respond better to this story than I did. Despite my reservations about Married by Morning, I’m still planning to read the last book in the series, Love in the Afternoon.
Other Reviews of Married by Morning:
Katiebabs – C+
Holly at Book Binge – 4 out of 5
{ 7 comments }
LOL. Although I can see where you’re coming from, I read this book this weekend and loved it. But now that I think about it, yes, Harry could’ve done something years ago but didn’t. But I thought that was part of Harry’s issues that until he met Poppy he didn’t care enough about Catherine to do anything about mending their relationship and being a real big brother to her!
But, although I loved Married by Morning, I also read another Sarah Dessen book this weekend because of you and loved it as well!
@Lynette: I wrote this review a while ago and I’ve had time to process my negative reaction to it since then. Part of my issue with it was its conventionality. Perhaps it’s not fair of me, but I’ve come to expect more of a Lisa Kleypas story. The first two Hathaway books worked better for me because of the unusual heroes (both gypsies, one of whom was a servant). The dissolute aristocrat and the bluestocking/companion/spinster is a tale I’ve read so many times before and this rendition simply didn’t offer me anything fresh.
I have to ask: which Sarah Dessen book did you read? I’m so glad the recommendation worked for you. I love her books.
I agree with expecting more out of LK. While I totally see where you’re coming from (with the same old same old theme), I couldn’t help loving it. I think Leo made the book for it. I loved all his sarcastic self-aware comments probably because it so mirrors my own sense of humor. Actually, I didn’t like Cam’s book. I think because I loved him so much in the wallflower series, I was expecting more from his book. I didn’t like Amelia so that ruined his story for me. I loved Win and Mer’s book as well as Poppy’s though not a lot of people like’d Poppy’s book.
I read Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. This is the second book of hers that I’ve read that I loved and it going to make is into my favorite 2010 reads. I started it like at 9:00 PM and I mean I literally stayed up all night reading this book and got a migraine because of it (I get migraines when I don’t get enough sleep)! So I’m going to have to slowly go through her backlist. I have another book by her from the library at hom. I can’t remember the title, but it’s Remy and Dexter’s story. He’s like in a band and she’s super smart or something like that. They made a minor appearance in the book I just finished.
@Lynette: Just Listen was the first Sarah Dessen book I read and I immediately bought up her backlist upon finishing it!
Remy and Dexter’s story is This Lullaby, probably my favourite Sarah Dessen book, although it’s really hard to choose. Remy is not a typical YA heroine, which is why I liked her. You’ll see what I mean when you read it.
Everything you said is how I felt. Catherine is so against marrying Leo but there she is sexing him up left and right.
This book left so much to be desired, including the lackluster suspenseful ending that seems tacked on.
The Catharine/Leo chemistry was so predictable in the other books. I think I would anticipate Leo’s book more if 1. his rakish tendencies made any sense, or 2. it wasn’t already obvious who he would wind up with.
@katiebabs: “This book left so much to be desired, including the lackluster suspenseful ending that seems tacked on.”
Yes! That’s exactly what I thought.
@heidenkind: Personally, I think Leo’s book should have been the third one. I was frustrated by Tempted at Twilight, partly because I wanted Leo’s story, not Poppy’s, and I knew I’d have to wait a year to get it. By the time Leo finally got his book with Married by Morning, so much of his story with Marks had already been told in the previous couple of books.