Married by Morning (Hathaway Series) [Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged] [MP3 CD]

Lisa Kleypas (Author), Rosalyn Landor (Reader)

Book Description

Series: Hathaway Series | Publication Date: May 25, 2010

He is everything she wants to avoid… For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the Hathaway sisters — a pleasant position, with one caveat. Her charges’ older brother, Leo Hathaway, is thoroughly exasperating. Cat can hardly believe that their constant arguing could mask a mutual attraction. But when one quarrel ends in a sudden kiss, Cat is shocked at her powerful response — and even more so when Leo proposes a dangerous liaison. She is not at all what she seems… Leo must marry and produce an heir within a year to save his family home. Catherine’s respectable demeanor hides a secret that would utterly destroy her. But to Leo, Cat is intriguing and infernally tempting, even to a man resolved never to love again. The danger Cat tried to outrun is about to separate them forever — unless two wary lovers can find a way to banish the shadows and give in to their desires… “Will leave you breathless.” — Romantic Times BOOKreviews

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Everyone in the Hathaway family loves Catherine Marks. Well, everyone except for the head of the family, Leo, Lord Ramsay. Leo thinks Catherine is far too outspoken, opinionated, and obstinate for a companion, and Catherine has an equally high opinion of her employer. For the sake of his sisters, however, Leo manages to strike an uneasy truce. But when he suddenly discovers he has one year to find a wife and produce an heir or lose the family’s beloved home, the first (and only) woman he even considers marrying is the one who drives him crazy. The only problem is that Catherine is a lady with secrets, and one of those secrets is about to destroy her carefully cultivated new life unless Leo can convince her to trust him to help set things right. A sharp-witted and sharp-tongued heroine closely guards the secret of her past from an equally determined hero with a few secrets of his own in the latest sinfully sensual, superbly written addition to Kleypas’ wickedly funny Hathaway series. --John Charles --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Review

SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE

“Has plenty to keep readers turning the pages: Wit, suspense, secrets to learn and, of course, lots of love and passion…”—The Monitor

“Each member of the family is a delight to meet, and the depths of emotions and love they have for each other is shown magnificently...a spectacular story that continues the saga of the Hathaway family.”—Romance Reviews

“Lushly sexy and thoroughly romantic…superbly crafted characters and an intriguing plot blend together brilliantly in this splendid romance.”—Booklist

MINE TILL MIDNIGHT

“Vintage Kleypas…An unforgettable story peopled with remarkable characters and a depth of emotion that will leave you breathless with the wonderment of knowing what falling in love is really like.”
—Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“Kleypas’s effortless style makes for another sexy exploration of 19th-century passion and peccadilloes, riveting from start to finish.”—Publishers Weekly

“Will steal the hearts of readers.”—The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

“Captivating…The love story brims with humor and touches of pathos as the characters struggle with lost love and relinquishing grief to embrace life anew.”—Fresh Fiction

“Strong characters, compelling romance, an intriguing story, and steamy passion.”—The State (Columbia, South Carolina)

“Aside from creating wonderfully alluring characters in Cam and Amelia, Kleypas shows sexual tension, sensitively handles prejudice, and expertly weaves in a bit of the supernatural to round out a tale that is pure delight. Cam and Amelia’s romance is well-paced and is a pleasing balance of wit and passion. Their relationship is…ri...

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• MP3 CD
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio on MP3-CD; MP3 Una edition (May 25, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441847405
• ISBN-13: 978-1441847409
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,968,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lisa Kleypas graduated from Wellesley College with a political science degree. She is a RITA award winning author of both historical romance and contemporary women's fiction. Her novels are published in fourteen different languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband Gregory and their two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great sequel to a wonderful series, May 25, 2010

By 

Carrie B. "renbearc" (Key West, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Married By Morning (Kindle Edition)

I have never written a reveiw, but I just loved this particular book and wanted to share my thoughts with others. Besides Devil In Winter, I don't think I have enjoyed a romantic novel as much as this one. True, some of the lines in the book were a little cheesy, but the narrative was wonderfully descriptive, and the story, sweet and loving. For once a hero is not brooding or denying his feelings, but embraces his nature and the heroines. Thumbs up all round.

67 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Second half of the book far better than the first ... and how can I get my own Leo?! (3.5 stars), May 25, 2010

By 

J. P. (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Married by Morning (Hathaways, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

[1852 - Hampshire and London, England]
So here it is! The long awaited romance of "Marks" and Leo! I know I'm not alone when I say that by the end of the second Hathaway book, SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE, I was sensing that they would be matched up in the future and was already anxiously anticipating it.

Many readers have been counting down the days till this book came out, and that same pressure and excitement also made me nervous - would it be able to live up to our expectations? I'm very conflicted on what my answer to that question is and cannot give a straight yes or no (hence the middling rating of 3.5 stars). One thing I will say is that I don't think this book should be read on its own, for two reasons: 1) reading Hathaway Books 2 and 3 will allow you to enjoy the Marks and Leo relationship *that* much more, and 2) see my CONS section.

SUMMARY:
Catherine Marks (23) has been the governess and now-companion for the two youngest Hathaway girls for three years and during that time, the antagonistic relationship between Cat and her employer, Leo Hathaway, Viscount Ramsay, has only grown stronger. Leo (30) has changed from the drunken wastrel that he became following the death of his fiancee, however he is still irreverent and enjoys nothing more than a good argument with the pinch-faced eyeglass-wearing "Marks" (as he so "affectionately" calls her). They are like night and day: the relaxed, charming, devil-may-care facade aristocrat and the closemouthed, rigid (though NOT unkind!), somewhat stern governess.

The normal routine of their relationship - one of constant fighting and teasing - changes drastically one afternoon when Leo finally gives in to the urge and kisses Cat ... and she kisses him back! There is no going back from the desire and attraction they have now been forced to admit they feel for one another, and each must face their own issues before any HEA can take place. Leo struggles with his increasingly resolute decision to pursue their relationship, while nonetheless wanting to avoid falling in love at all cost, not willing to put himself at risk of suffering another heartbreak. Cat has really only ever known solitude and loneliness in her life, and she is hiding a mysterious past that has left her in doubt of her own worth and wary and mistrustful of men.

Throw in Cat's concerned brother who also happens to be Leo's sister's husband, this mysterious past coming back to haunt her in the form of a vile 40-year-old lecher whose fixation borders on obsession, two people who wish our heroine ill, and a will that says Leo must marry within a year and produce a male heir or they will all have to leave Ramsay house, and you'll find yourself MARRIED BY MORNING!

PROS:
Leo is a fabulous hero, though granted I've had a soft spot for him from the beginning ... well maybe not the *very* beginning, when he was somewhat of a selfish lout, but almost :-). I've always loved that he calls Cat "Marks" and you can't help but smile when he's teasing and trying to get a rise out of her. We see a decent amount of all members of the Hathaway clan in this book, which fans of the family will enjoy, and the repartee among the Hathaway siblings and their respective partners is wonderful to read and often very humorous. Cat was intriguing and I'd been curious about her back story since we're first introduced to her; it doesn't disappoint, though how it plays into the book might (see CONS).

One of the strongest things about this book is that you really feel the characters of Cat and Leo belong together; you can see how they just fit right and actually picture them as a real-life couple. They are both what the other one needs and are extremely strong individuals in their own right, but made all the stronger - because they're made vulnerable - with the other by their side. We see their growth - Leo, over the course of the series, and Cat, in this particular book. Leo is finally able to gain the peace and happiness he deserves and Cat is able to let herself be vulnerable and rely on another person. (And did I mention I *LOVE* their kissing game, lol - so cute). Their banter is fabulous, the arguing/teasing is wonderful, and their tenderness and care for one another is adorable (and makes one oh so envious, ::sigh::).

CONS:
When I started the book, it was a rocky beginning and I was afraid that I was not going to be able to get into the story. It improved, but it really wasn't until the second half that the central relationship began to feel authentic. Part of the reason for this is that everything happens too quickly right at the beginning: much of Cat's "mysterious" past comes to light (by chapter three), she and Leo face their attraction, Leo begins intently pursuing her, etc. If someone starts starts the series with MBM it will definitely be jarring, but even for me, who has read the other 3 books multiple times, I felt like we were thrown into the story headfirst and blind. Yes, it's been building up for a few books, but even so, those previous interactions and passages don't do enough to smooth the way. Additionally, THIS is the book featuring Leo and Marks' story, so it's in THIS book that I want to see the full development of their relationship, (as much) start to finish (as possible).

Although at times the chemistry between Marks and Cat was sizzling, for the first half of the book I did not feel it AT ALL - Kleypas' skill in writing the passages was evident, but it just wasn't believable to me (which I think is a result of my criticism above). I also felt - again, especially at the beginning - that much more of the story was told from Leo's POV than from Cat's, so although Leo was very accessible, Cat remains an elusive character for quite awhile. It drove me crazy that she kept on "my-lording" him so far into the book; even the second time they sleep together, Cat says "my lord" while they're in bed together!

Finally, the mystery-villain subplot seemed contrived. Why would this man from Cat's past be obsessed for so long? Echoing another reviewer, Kleypas seems to have a penchant for certain evil subplots: particularly villainous men with an unhealthy fixation on the heroine (this book, Worth Any Price, The Devil in Winter, SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE, Because You're Mine, etc.) and kidnappings (most of the ones previously mentioned, plus Dreaming of You, TEMPT ME AT TWILIGHT, etc.). The other side of Cat's past involving her family was interesting and unfortunately not too hard to imagine, though one thing that kept driving me nuts was that these family members were supposed to be of the lower class and not very sophisticated, yet they spoke perfect English and had an admirable vocabulary.

HATHAWAY SERIES:
(Note: LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON comes out June 29! Two Kleypas books in two months: the HR goddesses are smiling on us!! And although I wasn't looking forward to Beatrix's story because she's always seemed immature in previous books, reading the excerpt at the back of this book has me VERY intrigued.)
1) Mine Till Midnight - Amelia and Cam
2) Seduce Me at Sunrise - Win and Merripen
3) Tempt Me at Twilight - Poppy and Harry
4) MARRIED BY MORNING - Leo and Cat ("Marks")
5) Love In The Afternoon - Beatrix and Christopher

BOTTOM LINE:
It's an enjoyable read and although I can't bring myself to give it 4 stars - I had too many issues, particularly with the first half of the book - I don't regret visiting the same bookstore twice in one day to finally get my hands on a copy or staying up late at night to finish reading it. If you haven't read the other Hathaway books, I would definitely urge you to do so before approaching this one (they're wonderful, so it's no hardship, I promise!).

P.S.:
For those readers like myself who don't like the hero or heroine to have had someone whom they truly loved before their HEA-partner (oh we're horrible!): although Leo did honestly love Laura, there is no vying for affection here and he is fully over her by the time this story takes place.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this series keeps getting better and better, May 26, 2010

By 

blissma - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Married By Morning (Kindle Edition)

Thank you Lisa Kleypas for another excellent book.

You know the plot: she's a spinster governess with a bad attitude and a mysterious past who longs for TLC. He's an accidental aristocrat who hides his massive capacity for love behind self-depreciating wit and naughty behavior. In short they are both hard candies with soft gooey centers.

The story takes place over several months while the actual romance has been building for a year as seen in the two previous novels. That said, the plot arc does get stretched (as others have noted). There's no question H & H will have their HEA. That predictability is one of the reasons I enjoy romance so much. But it's always interesting to see what plot devices the author will use to complete the book. Although we learned about Cat's mysterious past pretty early on, the actual resolution of her past and resolution of the story was unexpected. Each character had to face his/her daemons to get to the HEA.

SPOILER: Interestingly, they each had to deal with the issue of prostitution. Hers was the literal meaning of prostitution via her history of family prostitutes and his via the aristocratic marriage to secure either money or land. Both of them resisted and showed that neither of them was "for sale" in spite of the outward persona they represented.

Some other reviews have commented on the fact that Lisa Kleypas uses kidnapping a lot as a plot device. This is totally true. But what they aren't pointing out is that Lisa manages to create new characters and a new and unique love story in each and every book. Also unique loves scenes. Amazing. I think this is a huge accomplishment given that she's had to have written more than 20 books. I've read everything but her first several books and my favorite part is the fact that with each novel you meet new people. There are quite a few authors who recycle characters and after you've read 4 books, you've read them all. Not so with Lisa Kleypas.

Cat & Leo were great. Worth the money and lack of sleep. I'm really looking forward to the next book about the youngest sister and in general just very appreciative that romance of this quality is available when I need a break from the headlines.