Love In The Afternoon: Number 5 in series (Hathaways) [Paperback]

Beatrix Hathaway has always felt more comfortable outside with the animals than in a ballroom crowded with people. Despite that, she still yearns for the kind of love and passion that will sweep her off her feet yet no man has ever taken her breath away or even seriously courted her.

Captain Christopher Phelan is a dashing, handsome soldier who has plans to marry Beatrix's pretty, flirtatious friend, Prudence, when he returns from fighting in the Crimea. But life on the battlefield has darkened his soul and he fears he is no longer the man he once was. The only light in his life are the regular, witty letters he receives from Pru. So much so that he's beginning to fall in love with his correspondent. So when he returns from the war, determined to claim the woman he loves, he's confused as to why he feels nothing for Pru and so much for Beatrix. But who really is his letter writing love and what will he do when he finds out he's been duped?

This is the last in the Hathaway series of books following Mine Till Midnight, Seduce Me at Sunrise, Tempt Me at Twilight and Married by Morning (Hathaway Series). As with the other Hathaway books, you could easily read this book as a stand alone but you're more likely to understand the characters and the history of the family if you've read the other books before reading this one.

The first half of this book was an absolute delight. The story was fast paced, exciting with so much tension and potential conflict - I could not put the book down as the story had me hooked. And then it just seemed to peter out. The story slowed as it seemed to shift to a more character driven storyline. It wasn't bad but after such an exciting start, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. The story picked up right before the end and it was nicely concluded which is always a good thing!

I loved both Beatrix and Christopher. Beatrix is such a free spirit and smart too and I really liked and could identify with her. Christopher is a handsome soldier who is haunted by his past and could really do with the love of a good woman making him the perfect partner for Beatrix. The pair had good chemistry and I liked reading about them as a couple. Despite Christopher's problems in the aftermath of the war, the book never got bogged down in gory or depressing war detail.

The other Hathaway's appear in the book, but for a last book in the series, perhaps not as much as I had hoped.

And, surprisingly for Lisa Kleypas, there were a couple of Americanisms that cropped up throughout the book which annoyed me a little as they pull you from the story.

Overall, this is an enjoyable book that despite a few flaws, is still a good read and a really good end to what has been an excellent series. If you're a fan of Lisa Kleypas, the Hathaway series or just fancy a romantic, Victorian read then I would recommend this book to you. 4 stars.

When I read Winn and Marripan story which was somewhat lacking emotional depath and Leo and Cathrine story in 'married by morning' I was beginning to despair the Lisa Kleypas lost her touch. I was not impressed and I didn't like Leo story but she proved me wrong and bounced back with vengeance. I bought this book in New York JFK airport bookshop coming back from my holiday and by the end of my flight I was finished two third of the story. I didn't even take a nap and it was a night flight. There squeezed in middle between an oversized man and sleeping lady that I found LK magic.

This is the story of Beatrix the youngest of the Heathway family and the animal lover. Reader of the series will recognise her from her consistent appearances the story and from her famous pet ferret and hedgehog. Beatrix start a correspondent with a Captain Christopher Phelan after the girl he wrote original to refused to corresponded with him for the fact he write about war and not fashionable. In simple terms she start writing letters to him under her friend's name but everything in the letter is Beatrix. Of course they both fall in love with each but after a while Beatrix start to feel guilty for the deception and send him a letter telling him that she is not who he think she is and asking him to come and find her. After the war Christopher come back from war a changed man and determined to find the women he fall in love with and marry her. As you can imagine everything unravel from.

I loved this story as Beatrix direct and honest emotion is the excellent foil for Christopher serious character. Christopher has to deal with the aftermath of the Crimean war, loss of his friends, his brother death and his love live. For the fans of Heathway there is a recurrence with the family in this book which bring this story full cycle. Also LK presented couple of new characters which I believe they will get their own story in the future.

This is the style I expected from LK. Very satisfying and deeply moving story. I found myself crying, laughing out load and cheering all the way and smiling for the big ending.

I can't recommend it enough

This is the 5th Book in the Hathaway series, and I found it completely enjoyable. With quite a few heart churning and breath catching moments in it. The story of the youngest Hathaway Sister, Beatrix, a free-spirited girl with a love of natural history and animals. She had a couple of Seasons in London, and whilst men seemed to like her, the unconventional lifestyle of the Hathaway Clan never managed to ensure that a suitable mate would offer for her.

Christopher Phelan once told everyone that she was more suited to the stables than the ton in fact, so how did they end up together?

Christopher planned to marry Beatrix's friend, Prudence when he returned from fighting in the Crimea, and had arranged to write to her via his Sister-in-law, Audrey. However, Prudence a shallow, conceited and self-absorbed lady really couldn't find any need to write back to him. Beatrix was horrified and begged her friend to let her reply on his behalf.

Somewhere along the way those letters turned into love letters, and Beatrix wrote breaking off contact.

Christopher eventually returned a war hero, and determined to claim the girl he had irrevocably fallen in love, but soon realises that the Prudence in the letters is far from the reality of Prudence the girl.

What began as an innocent deception turns into agony and unfulfilled love for them both.

A 4.5 ***** Star read if I could award half stars.