Loving the Hawke

The Seven Curses of London #1

by Lana Williams

A wounded war hero and a determined wallflower...

After five seasons as a wallflower, Lettie Fairchild is resigned to spinsterhood. Mostly. Determined to claim more meaning for her life than seeing her younger sisters married, she seeks a purpose. She finds what she's looking for when she happens upon a book describing seven curses that plague London.

Nathaniel Hawke is attempting to adjust to civilian life after retiring from the military, but his injured leg and memories of his time in the service prevent an easy transition. On his long walks during London's darkest hours, Nathaniel is appalled by what he sees taking place on the dirty streets and alleyways. He is determined to take action. Coming upon a proper, if rebellious, lady in the desolate area both intrigues and frustrates him.

Nathaniel's disregard for his personal safety infuriates Lettie even as her heart is touched by his determination to aid the city's neglected children.

As the two wounded souls stumble upon each other time and again in slums and ballrooms, they realize they fight a common cause--and share an unbridled passion.

Will the curse they fight be their downfall? Or will love win the day?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Amazon, British Literature

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2016

About the author

Lana Williams is the USA Today Bestselling and Amazon All-Star Author of over 55 historical fiction novels filled with mystery, romance, adventure, and sometimes a pinch of paranormal to stir things up.

She spends her days in Victorian, Regency, and Medieval times, depending on her mood and current deadline.

Lana calls the Rocky Mountains of Colorado home where she lives with her husband and a spoiled rescue dog named Sadie. Connect with her at https://lanawilliams.net/, find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lanawilliamsbooks, or on IG @authorlanawilliams.

Reviews

[Ursula · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant 2.5 stars.
Our hero is a good guy with a massive hang-up about being the second son. His inferiority complex got a bit much at times, despite the backstory of the verbally vicious dad, the uncaring mum and the cold, a-bit-like-dad brother (who features in Rescuing the Earl.)
The heroine Letty is sweet and well-intentioned, but very naive. Both want to do something about the poverty that lurks outside of the sheltered environs of Mayfair and about which they have read in a book called The Seven Curses of London. (The excerpts from the book are actually really interesting- the book is real, published in 1877 and describes a Victorian London not generally featured in HR.)
A sweet story where the hero is a principled and caring man who tries very hard to do the right thing. Nice change from the usual rake-shmake trope.

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

As my first read by this author, I was wondering what to expect as it been a while I haven’t read historical romance except for some time travel stories.
It was a good surprise, the hero Nathaniel Hawke is a damaged man, from the outside and the inside, but as he sees him a no-one not worst to save, he is the one saving the others.

Letitia Fairchild knows she has reached the end of her time as a wallflower, spinsterhood will be her next step. So in her naivety she wants to make a difference, help those who lacks of everything.
Their encounter will give them a new chance in love and life, but for that they will have to overcome their own fears and issues, each one thinking they are not worst a thought.

Together they are a great team only their inability to accept the other can care for them keep them locked in their mind.
It is a slow paced story but it matches the time it was set in, with no technology to urge things.
In all a good read, very entertaining.

[Gerda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not my cup of tea. It is not the typical historical romance I expected ( it is no romance at all) but on the contrary full of realistic scenes of poverty, cruelty, means to survive in the slums of London.
The two main characters try to better the situation of abused children, both characters did not get my sympathy. He is constantly wallowing in self pity about his limping caused by his war injury, she acts foolish by directly adressing girls in the public she wants to save. It might be a better and - for her sake - safer way to contact a reverend or local authorities to make a contact.

[Krystina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but...

Good book but it was a bit slow at times. The action really picked up in the last few chapters and the conclusion felt a bit rushed. Hawke went from pushing Lettie away to realizing he loved her in less than a chapter. I’m interested in the next book in the series and hope it isn’t as slow paced then rushed as this one.

[Coco.V]

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[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! The love story between Lettie and Nathaniel was so well done. Nether one of them felt like they deserved the other. I also like the excerpts from The Seven Curses of London. My favorite quote from the book kinda sums it up.
"No, She was a wallflower and he was a hero. No matter how much she stretched her imagination she wouldn't see any world where they were more than passing acquaintances."
I highly recommend this book and will be looking for the next in the series. I very much enjoyed Ms. Williams writing.

[Gail Koger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A run read

[Safari Spell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I know it's hard, but ignore the cover. It's awful. The storyline is really good, the characters are multi-layered, and it's a can't put it down seriously!! The only negative part of the whole thing was their sexual relationship because that was just silly. There was a ton of tension and every time they kissed, it was awesome. But him fingering her in the study one night and then having sex a few days later (after becoming "fake" engaged) was kind of cheapening to both their characters. I don't know why that rubbed me so wrong. It felt like forcing modern hook up culture on Victorians, so it pulled me out of the story because I had no reason to believe Leticia would do something so risky OR Captain Hawke being so chaste only to basically ruin his pants every time he looked at her lips. It just felt out of place.

[Ms. Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was only OK, this gets extra points for ambition and creativity. This is historical romance with a social conscience. Our hero is a real (fictional) hero with the medals hidden in a drawer to prove it. He's also got a massive inferiority complex and a bit of a death wish. Our wallflower heroine is the usual overlooked gem, treated like Cinderella by her mother. Together they tackle child abduction, trafficking and abuse 1850s style and of course they fall in love. I really liked the way the characters for the future books are introduced and look forward to reading this entire series.

[Granny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book

[Virginia Tican · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the finest works I've read while waiting for the passing of the old year (2017) into the new. I particularly like the flow and pacing of the story for although I am impatient about Hawke's prevarication about his importance/worth as a person in his own right despite being merely a second son and thus of no account in his father's eyes and in the eyes of other shallow status conscious as well as greedy members of the ton ~ the manifestation of which (Hawke's angst) to the reader has not dragged on so much and I also liked that the hostage situation has been dealt with immediately (for I heartily dislike loved ones being used as leverage by the story's villains). This is one writer whose works I wouldn't mind encountering during my reads. P.S.~ I sense a mystery about the situation between the late Earl and his sons as well as what secrets is the new Earl of Adair harboring? The author has introduced these facts to the reader and thus created a mysterious and intriguing series. There is also Dalia's sinister suitor and of course the fugitive Mr. Smithby, holder of the only known copy of Albertus Magnus' Book of Secrets.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lettie and Nathaniel, two troubled souls who keep bumping into each other, both after the same thing though they don't know it.
This story is beautifully written with romance, a mystery to be solved, clever detective work, a common goal to be reached and two strong and interesting main characters both of whom have issues that they need to work through.
The subject matter of the story revolves around a book telling of sad but interesting facts about conditions in London and I thought the author did a good job of getting the two main characters to do something positive to try to rectify the situation.
It is well written and kept me engrossed and interested in finding out what would happen and I am quite happy to recommend this as a very entertaining read.

[Betty Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did enjoy this book. At times it got a little boring but the premise behind Lettie Fairchild mission makes it a worthwhile read. Lettie is in her 5th season and is now ready to become a spinster and tries to find a real mission in life to help someone improve themselves. She wants to make a difference in London, at a time when London is deep in turmoil. She happens upon a book that lists the seven curses that plague London. Well, she sets out and promptly gets in trouble. Nathan Hawke saves her and the two combine forces. It was quite funny in spots but deals with a very serious issue in London. There is passion between the two but they both deny, deny, deny until they are blue in the face. Recommend.

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

[Brenda Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent enough story, but I find myself getting annoyed when authors give historical characters modern views. Social crusader? Cool. Regency period unmarried woman going to a bachelor's home alone at night? Not unless she wanted every female in her family to be a spinster. And while I like my heroes to be flawed, this whole inner beta male thing needs to go away. Maybe I didn't like it as much as I thought I did.

[☽ Rhiannon ✭ Mistwalker ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, insecure spinster who occasionally acts TSTL. A dashing veteran hero with secrets and a painful family upbringing that makes him ridiculously insecure for rather absurd reasons. A bit of mystery and action. Overall, played to my favored tropes well enough - I might check out more from the series.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

LOVING THE HAWKE is an interesting, at times intriguing look at London during the Victorian/Regency timeframe – the real London, the one where the average person lived, tried to survive, and often became lost in the shuffle of an indifferent society to those who are not of the ton.

Lettie and Nathaniel are both searching for a purpose in life. Each has their personal issues to be dealt with, some easier than others to make real changes in. While Lettie tries to save the impoverished young girls of London’s streets from truly evil people who would harm and use them for their own purposes, Nathaniel has a similar goal, one he will take just about any risk to accomplish. Watching this couple connect in their fight for these young girls, and begin to fall for each other along the way was an enjoyable journey. There is angst here for Nathaniel and Lettie have spent their lives under the thumb and control of others. Together they work finally finding someone who understands them, sees their worth and can love them without reservation. I liked them individually and as a couple.

We’ll meet some truly nasty people as well as those who will perhaps be the hero or heroine of their own story in this series. It’s not often that we get a look at the life of any character outside of the ton and it was an eyeopening experience to see the seedier, more dangerous side of London during this time. Of course, we know it’s there but it’s not often brought right into the story for more than a moment. I enjoyed myself and will definitely be following the series in 2020.

This title has been on my Kindle for some time now and the Winter COYER 2019 seemed like the perfect time to load this one up and learn more of a new-to-me author’s work. At the moment, this entire series is in Kindle Unlimited, yet when I picked it up LOVING THE HAWKE was a free series starter deal.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.

[Melissa Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story.
Based on the book The Seven Curses of London by James Greenwood, 1869...The story focuses on Letti, a near-spinster lady of the Ton, and Nathanael, a retired navy Captian who was wounded in the line of duty.
Both feel they are worthless, Letti, who is more a Governess to her sisters, and Nathanael was verbally abused by his father for being "The Spare" The second son, who wouldn't amount to anything.
But both have an incredible urge to help someone, mainly the neglected children of London's most poor. Someone is snatching young girls off the street and selling them to brothels.
Both having read The Seven Curses of London ...both Main characters are outraged and driven to do...something...anything. this of course throws them together. Their interactions are snappy and full of fire at first, as Nathanael knows the East End is too dangerous a place for a gentle-bred young lady to be...And Letti, is certain that her almost Spinster status and "Plain looks" along with simple and inconspicuous clothes have rendered her invisible; and she is wary that this man in thread-bare clothing is trying to lure the girls away.
I have nothing but good things to say about this book, however...the ending is disappointing. It is abrupt and very sudden. it goes from zero to 100 and back to Zero again within four pages. And then suddenly...it's done. While it was a happy ending, it was far from satisfactory.

[Vana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonably read with a good premise for a plot and some interesting secondary characters. It also gives us incite into the seedier aspects of Victorian London. I believe the author has done some research. However I did have some issues which can only lead me to an overall 3.5 rating. I was not enamoured of Nathaniel's self-deprecation as I found it way over the top, and I think Lettie did some irresponsible things. Some issues were also suspended in mid air and never really addressed. For example Nathaniel's brother, the Earl, is decidedly against marriage. The author suggest that the reason is beyond the norm but does not expand. The brothers obviously wish to be closer but their relationship really goes nowhere. The circumstance of Nathaniel's injury is not really explored, leading the reader to wonder what happened. The existence of a book of secrets was not expanded on a great deal, as far as its proven influence was concerned. Maybe some of these issues are expanded on in other works but a clue might have been good.
3.5 Rating for main characterisation and issues mentioned, but upped to 4 for plot and historical background as I hate to be a mean reviewer and I had no fault with writing style and presentation.

[Isalum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hacía tiempo que no tardaba tanto en leerme un libro. La historia en sí me ha gustado, me encantan las novelas que meten algo de realidad y la vida de las clases bajas era una realidad en la época victoriana.
¿Por qué no me ha enamorado esta novela? Me parece absurdo que el protagonista siempre esté recordando cómo su padre le hacía de menos frente a su hermano y heredero. Ese sentimiento de inferioridad repetido con frecuencia me ha chafado un poco el personaje.
En cuanto a Lettie, aún no termino de entender porqué su madre la trata más como a ana criada que como a una hija. No tiene sentido. Para mi gusto le ha faltado carácter al personaje. Por otro lado, es de aplaudir que quiera ayudar a los niños a mejorar su situación pero tampoco veo lógico que se vaya al puente de blackfriars a abordar a jovencitas. Hay detalles que han deslucido a la novela.
¿Me ha gustado? Sí, pero podría haber estado mucho mejor. Mi valoración un 3.5

[Candy Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letita Fairchild is the oldest of five girls,she takes care of her younger siblings. It is important that she do something to help the neglected children. Nathaniel Hawke is a second son and had been told all his life he was not needed.
I enjoyed this story. The mother is always asking Letitia to do things like she was still a child. Her father was a sweet man and she loved him very much.
There was so much going on, danger, mayhem and Intrigue. stealing children and killing people.
Nathaniel was in the Navy and loved it till he got wounded. He also is trying to stop one of the seven curses on London.
Hawke is a kind man but he will not stop till justice is done.
All the characters are very good, they are so full of life and eager.
I received this ARC free and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Michelle Delena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a very entertaining historical romance. I found the characters, particularly the main female, to be very interesting. Books like these often portray society women as shallow and only interested in the next social event/meeting a potential husband. In this book, the lead female is anything but shallow. She embarks on a journey to help the poor children of London and in the process meets a man with the same passion. This book not only tells of their love, but also their quest to stop young girls from being abducted. As this is the first book in a series, I expect the journey to continue throughout the next books.

[Book Him Danno · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well crafted love you that will keep your attention until the final page. The heroine, who is in her fifth season and a blue stocking wallflower, meets the hero, who is a medically retired Royal Navy Captain, in an unexpected encounter while both are engaged in doing social reform work for young girls. When they unite to accompany their social work, albeit by different means, they develop a mutual attraction for each other. The story is well told and will keep the reader's interest until the final paragraph.


I have rated this book 5 stars.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format. Thank you Frank for the Review.

[Karen Croan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good historical romance

It was great to read a good historical romance, with a proper story, where the correct contemporaneous language is used & the writer has properly researched the era. I have seen too many written by Americans which are frankly painful to read & have their protagonists speak & act in very modern ways. Where it lost a star was on the constant repetition of the hero's feeling of worthlessness due to a horrible father & being the 2nd son. It was just too repetitive on this theme & also failed to recognise that this was a very common occurrence in those days and that people were a lot less sensitive then. Enjoyable nevertheless.

[Zahra Karami · Rating 3 out of 5]

We had read in countless books about arrogant men. Those who are narcissistic and do not consider anyone worthy of them. There are countless such men in the real world. But the hero of this story had a strange sense of inferiority. Although his many honors in the military and a drawer full of his medals, he felt so inferior that he did not even consider himself worthy of marrying a woman from a noble family! That was because he was the second son! And the heroine also felt inferior, although she was very worthy. But thank God, in the end, love saved them. In my opinion, the story had many gaps that were not explained and ended too quickly.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story

This story is written around a book written in 1869 about the deplorable conditions of the poor in London at the time. I loved the way the main characters, Hawke and Lettie, were drawn to do something to help others and met as Lettie was determined to find a way and Hawke was compelled to keep her safe. Both believed they had little worth and it was wonderful to see how they each grew to learn otherwise through the caring of the other. It is a very satisfying read and I look forward to others in the series.

[Janet Denise Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHARMING & MEANINGFUL

I liked this very charming novella about two very deserving of love, yet scarred by their parents they were not. Letitia, our heroine is brought to the attention of our hero in this case, a Naval Hero, Captain Nathaniel Hawke while in a very poor section of London! It shows character in both personalities that they recognize the positive attributes of the other; and Lana Williams, has meaningful shown us their story as they fight each other, themselves, and family with these discoveries. 5 stars for 18 yrs and up!

[Amanda Geard · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent easy read historical romance. I enjoyed both the main characters and found the investigative story and action running alongside the romance entertaining. I also enjoyed the supporting cast of Julia, Tristan and Holly very believable characters and hope to hear more from them in future books. I am also pleased that this had no instant love and allowed the relationship to develop and also less explicit sex scenes as I find these detract from a good story. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable read! I absolutely loved the book! When Captain Nathaniel Hawke retired from the Navy to to an injury he didn’t know how he could be of use, until he found a ship full of kidnapped girls being sold in Brussels. Lettie wanted to help but didn’t know how to do it. When Hawke encounters Lettie on a bridge speaking to young girls from the factory to see how she could help. With these 2 forces of nature they will be able to change peoples lives and find love in unexpected places. A wonderful read!

[Sharyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

From a real book

The book 7 curses is apparently a real book that the author used for giving her characters a purpose. Letitia has decided she wants to help poor girls,but she doesn't exactly know how, until she meets Captain Hawke m, who has read the same book and also wants to help. It is a meeting of minds, but they each need to overcome their inferiority complexes to realize how perfect they are for each other. An interesting historical romance. There are more in the series, and I may read them at some point.