Sunday Spotlight is a feature we began in 2016. This year we’re spotlighting our favorite books, old and new. We’ll be raving about the books we love and being total fangirls. You’ve been warned. 🙂
Lisa Kleypas is a favorite author of ours here at Book Binge. She writes wonderfully passionate historical romances that really knock us on our asses. Her characters are always lively, and her stories are always filled to the brim with love, laughter, friendship and families that are always so special. That is precisely why we’re featuring one of her books today.
Love in the Afternoon is the fifth book in the Hathaways series and it features Beatrix Hathaway and her Captain Christopher Phelan. It’s a story of love letters and war heroes and a woman who knows more about animals than she does humans and we love, love, love her.
Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas
Series: Hathaways #5
Also in this Series: Mine til Midnight, Seduce Me at Sunrise, Tempt Me at Twilight, Married by Morning, Love in the Afternoon
Genres: Historical, Romance
Release Date: June 29, 2010
Publisher: Avon
She harbors a secret yearning.
As a lover of animals and nature, Beatrix Hathaway has always been more comfortable outdoors than in the ballroom. Even though she participated in the London season in the past, the classic beauty and free-spirited Beatrix has never been swept away or seriously courted… and she has resigned herself to the fate of never finding love. Has the time come for the most unconventional of the Hathaway sisters to settle for an ordinary man—just to avoid spinsterhood?
He is a world-weary cynic.
Captain Christopher Phelan is a handsome, daring soldier who plans to marry Beatrix’s friend, the vivacious flirt Prudence Mercer, when he returns from fighting abroad. But, as he explains in his letters to Pru, life on the battlefield has darkened his soul—and it’s becoming clear that Christopher won’t come back as the same man. When Beatrix learns of Pru’s disappointment, she decides to help by concocting Pru’s letters to Christopher for her. Soon the correspondence between Beatrix and Christopher develops into something fulfilling and deep… and when Christopher comes home, he’s determined to claim the woman he loves. What began as Beatrix’s innocent deception has resulted in the agony of unfulfilled love—and a passion that can’t be denied.
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“All right, then,” she snapped, “do as you please! Perhaps afterward we could manage a coherent discussion.” Twisting beneath him, she flopped onto her stomach.
Christopher went still. After a long hesitation, she heard him ask in a far more normal voice, “What are you doing?”
“I’m making it easier for you,” came her defiant reply. “Go on, start ravishing.”
Another silence. Then, “Why are you facing downward?”
“Because that’s how it’s done.” Beatrix twisted to look at him over her shoulder. A twinge of uncertainty caused her to ask, “Isn’t it?”
His face was blank. “Has no one ever told you?”
“No, but I’ve read about it.”
Christopher rolled off her, relieving her of his weight. He wore an odd expression as he asked, “From what books?”
“Veterinary manuals. And of course, I’ve observed the squirrels in springtime, and farm animals and-”
She was interrupted as Christopher cleared his throat loudly, and again. Darting a confused glance at him, she realized that he was trying to choke back amusement.
Beatrix began to feel indignant. Her first time in a bed with a man, and he was laughing.
“Look here,” she said in a businesslike manner, “I’ve read about the mating habits of over two dozen species, and with the exception of snails, whose genitalia is on their necks, they all—” She broke off and frowned. “Why are you laughing at me?
Christopher had collapsed, overcome with hilarity. As he lifted his head and saw her affronted expression, he struggled manfully with another outburst. “Beatrix. I’m . . . I’m not laughing at you.”
“You are!”
“No I’m not. It’s just . . .” He swiped a tear from the corner of his eye, and a few more chuckles escaped. “Squirrels . . .”
“Well, it may be humorous to you, but it’s a very serious matter to the squirrels.”
The Hathaways
Do you love this book as much as we do? What are some of your favorite books by Lisa Kleypas?
About the Author
Lisa Kleypas
LISA KLEYPAS is the RITA award-winning author of 21 novels. Her books are published in fourteen languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.
I’m such a fangirl for Lisa Kleypas, her Hathaways series is one of my favorites all-time along with the Wallflowers and Ravenels series which I just finished book #1. While I really enjoyed Love In The Afternoon, I have to say my favorite of the entire series is Leo and Catherine’s book, Married By Morning.
There are a number of new releases I’m looking forward to this week especially Forever Mine by Erin Nicholas, Million Dollar Cowboy by Lori Wilde and Hot For The Fireman by Gina L. Maxwell.
I LOVED Leo and Catherine’s book. I will never get over the scene where Leo tells Cat, “You don’t have to be mine. Just let me be yours.”
*swoon*
You have great tastes in books. 🙂
Oh my gosh I loved that scene so much! I haven’t read that book in years. I should really re-read it.
You should re-read this book at least once a year, Quinn. It’s soooo good!
I don’t have a specific ones in mind.
Love in the Afternoon is one of my favorite historicals by Lisa Kleypas, but I’ll admit that I have a true fondness for epistolary novels. I also like her Lady Sophia’s Lover. Of her contemporary romances, I really like Blue-Eyed Devil and Smooth Talking Stranger.
I haven’t read Lady Sophia’s Lover. I wonder if that is one of the books Holly told me to read long ago and I never did. I adored both Blue Eyed Devil and Smooth Talking Stranger. Jack is one of my favorite LK heroes. He’s such a dream boat!