A Ranking and Review
Cam and Amelia. I went back and forth when placing Seduce Me at Sunrise and Mine til Midnight because there are certain things about each story that I liked better than the other so that in the end I just decided it made them even. Cam Rohen is a character I kinda had a crush on during the Wallflower Series. I loved the idea of Gypsy heroes and was so interested to see how it played out–class difference is another trope I love, I think it sparks a lot and I really enjoyed it in Again the Magic. But something about these first two books fell slightly flat to me. In this first novel, I enjoy Cam and Amelia as characters more than Win and Merripen. I just think they have more spark and fight to them, which I love. They are less mellow, less held back. But at the same time something about their story together refused to hook me. That being said I think this book did a great job of setting up a winning series, with a great setting of the run down estate and a great ensemble of characters in the Hathaways.
Win and Merripen. I mentioned in my ranking and review of the Wallflower series that one of my catnips was the “they’ve grown up together” trope. Is that an acknowledged trope? And do they have an official name for it? Because that is my trope! And so I think that’s a reason why I really like Win and Merripen’s romance so much more than Cam and Amelia’s. They also had a great deal more conflict keeping them apart that made their tortured love a little bit more dazzling. That being said, I don’t actually like Win and Merripen as much as I do their (SEMI SPOILER) siblings. I just find that they tend to be a little lackluster in comparison to the other Hathaways and their significant others. That being said the dynamic that Win’s sickness and Merripen’s forgotten lineage/history brought to the plot of the book was very interesting, and something I definitely appreciated. Also this book introduces the more whimsical side of Leo (one of my all time favorite LK characters), Dodger the ferret (another all time favorite character), and Miss Marks (which brought out even more of the Leo characteristics I loved). Great, great!
Poppy and Rutledge. I feel bad as parts of this book have become forgotten to me. But I know I remember the oddness, and different aspect that Rutledge and Poppy’s relationship brought to the table. Poppy is another one of those earnest characters that I quite like. I don’t love her by any means, but I respect the kind of person she is. I loved the calm way in which they approached their relationship. It’s a different, but necessary pace to a series like this one! I think it goes to show how much thought LK really puts into her characters, their matches, and the order in which her series goes. Again we have a lot of ensemble fleshing out, and the ensemble cast of characters is where I think this series really shines. Leo and Marks really add some romantic excitement to this story in the shape of their passionate bickering, (ANOTHER SPOILER) Rutledge and Marks history was an added bonus that actually surprised me (also I forget do we learn this in this book or the next?). A decent dose of Dodger, Beatrix, and Leo was a plus (again, these are my favorite characters!!!)
Leo and Miss Marks. It’s no secret at this point that I adore Leo. His character growth throughout the series is one of it’s most interesting parts. I was very surprised (much like with Devil in Winter) that it didn’t end up being my absolute favorite of the bunch. That being said I did really adore it, I remember reading it in almost one sitting. Leo and Marks challenge each other in ways I quite like. And I love how as characters they both have such full and complex back stories, it added this sense of deep realism I enjoyed. Leo was so in love with someone else he lost that he lived in a way that was near death for a long time. Miss Marks ran from a horrible past and has in many ways, a fear of trust. Yet despite all of these barriers they come together, accept their imperfections, and know deep in their hearts somewhere that it brought them together for a reason. That is such a real and complicated romance, and I appreciate that LK brought it into the mix.
This one really came out of nowhere as my favorite. I really wasn’t expecting it! I spent the whole series kind of forgetting the kid sister and her whimsical life, until I opened this book and truly fell in love with her a heroine. She is so real, honest with herself and others—which is even more fascinating, since her whole romance is based on a lie! LK, you are a brilliant goddess! Another trope I discovered I love? Mistaken identity/he fell in love with one girl, but thinks it’s another. I also happen to really love letter writing in historicals. Gimme gimme. This all on top of an eccentric heroine is so exciting. I loved her affinity for animals. It showed how tender and compassionate she was as a person. And the way she and Christopher were truly meant to bring out the best and comfort each other through the worst was so lovely. I enjoyed how he didn’t fight his love for her once he realized she was the girl he’d fell for through the letters. He wasn’t angry and macho about being deceived. He was relieved. He was like “Oh thank god, finally, it’s you.” SO lovely, so truly romantic. Devine and satisfying!
And I just realized my ranking was in chronological order, WOW!
By this point I’ve started to notice that LK has a formula for her series that works. Head of family for the first novel, more reserved and timid second couple for the follow up, and then she goes for the more wild plot lines and eccentric characters in the final books. Interesting, but it really creates a fascinating rhythm and flow to hook readers. She also creates a cast of characters that work well as an ensemble—so that you read on for more than the romantic relationships but the relationship between each and every character and how they develop as a whole. So smart, and so luscious to read. She really creates something bountiful in each series.
5 stars, of course!
Let me know if there are any other historical romance writers who build strong ensemble series
