Love In the Afternoon
Beatrix Hathaway has always felt more comfortable with animals than in London ballrooms, but she finds herself drawn into a secret correspondence with a soldier fighting abroad. Captain Christopher Phelan returns from the front lines a changed man, haunted by the horrors of war and unaware that the beautiful letters he treasures were written by Beatrix instead of her friend. As they spend time together in the English countryside, they must navigate the truth of their connection and the scars left by the battlefield.
This is the fifth and final book in the Hathaway series, and while it can be enjoyed on its own, reading the previous books first provides a richer understanding of the family dynamics and recurring characters.
This novel features a hero with significant trauma from war, which adds a deeper emotional complexity and a more serious tone compared to some of her earlier, lighter historical romances. It also showcases her skill in developing a quiet, unconventional heroine.