When an unexpected
inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia
Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward
brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even
more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and
dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter...
Comment: This is the first book in the Hathaway family series, written by author Lisa Kleypas. I've been a fan of the author, and, as it happens with so many authors' work, some books look better to me than others. This is the first of a series I didn't know yet and I liked it a lot.
This story presents us Amelia Hathaway, the oldest girl in a family of five siblings, and how she meets Cam Rohan, a gypsy and her future love interest, the night she looks for her drunk brother in the city.
Amelia's family has been elevated to aristocracy but her family has humble origins and a past they can't just delete. Her brother Leo inherited the title but still fights some inner demons Amelia can't protect him from. Asking for Cam's help wasn't part of her plans nor something she thought about but the truth is there's something about him...
Cam is wealthy but as a true gypsy that doesn't matter to him. When he feel trapped and decides to leave, Amelia is there, needing help, as well as her family and Cam has the means and the will to help. But what does this mean to his desire for freedom?
I liked this story and, in particular, I liked how we met beloved characters from other books, namely Westcliff and Lillian from It Happened One Autumn (my favorite title in the Wallflowers series).
The Hathaways have a challenge, to overcome society's rules and expectations when they inherited the title and a house but not the knowledge nor the money to accomplish what society expects of them.
The new house isn't as clean and tidy as they hoped but thankfully they're neighbors to the Westcliffs and they have some help.
Amelia is a good character, reliable, strong and wanting to take care of all her siblings. Leo, the heir , is the most troublesome because he's had his heart broken in the past and still couldn't get over it. I like her dedication to her sisters, her concern with her brother and she never thought much of herself, even when happiness was taken from her in the past, she didn't dwell on it.
Now she met Cam Rohan, someone very different from the people she was used to, but despite what others say about gyspsies she can't help feel attracted to him.
The feeling's mutual and I actually liked how simple the plot was, how careful each step in their relationship was and even when things seemed to go out of hand, it still made sense for them as a couple. It was good to see them together and to slowly learn things from one another. I especially liked how Amelia learned to trust and to follow her heart.
Cam is an intriguing character, he feels the appeal of going away, so characteristic of his people, but at the same time he feels good where he is and cares about his friends and those who respect him too. His relationship with Amelia isn't too unbelievable because the author has written this well and despite how fast everything really is, it doesn't seem so because of the narrative. I also liked how sure of himself he was but without any arrogance. It was good to read about someone not needing to overcome some huge drama to be happy and accept it.
I liked the couple's interactions with secondary characters. They help in the growing of the protagonists personalities because they allow us to see them do things usually we wouldn't and that adds layers to them and to why we should want them happy.
The secondary characters themselves offer interesting POVs or future ideas to be developed and that is good too. Leo, specially has a long way to healing but I'm confident we will see it in the following books and when it's his own, the story will be as wonderful as I hope.
The elements about Gypsy culture were interesting as a means to compare with what we know more but to be honest that didn't got my attention that much, I don't know if it was because I've read books featuring gypsy characters and that gave me enough tools already or if I simply don't find it that interesting, but the reality is it didn't bother of affect me.
All in all, this was a good story. the romance was balanced, it wasn't silly nor rushed and that allowed us to see the evolution of their feelings and much sense it is for them to be team both in love as in talking care of others.
I'm also curious about the next book and I can't wait to start it.
Grade: 8/10
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