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tracydurnell's review
2.0
Hero was undeserving. Heroine's constant remarking on what she would write fit the character but annoyed me. Her arguments for romance writing felt awkwardly earnest, as if the author was using it as a soapbox. You're preaching to the choir.
bookishkelly's review
4.0
This book really surprised me. I enjoy reading historical romances and frequently pick them up when I'm trying to climb out of a reading slump. It's nice going into a story knowing you'll have a guaranteed happy ending. Eva Leigh's prose is lovely and this book is very well written. At times certain phrases or language gave me pause because it felt too modern, but overall this wasn't an issue. The chemistry between the two characters was incredible, and I loved that Leigh didn't defuse their sexual tension by having scenes fade to black (like I still find many novels set in this time period do). Sarah's depth was definitely greater than Jeremy's. His resolution felt a bit quick for me, and I at times was frustrated by his inability to stand up to his father. Still, I'd rank this above any of the other historical romances I've read this year and I definitely will be picking up the other two volumes in this series.
em_reads_books's review
3.0
Loved the setup and the way it ended, but I was unfortunately bored a lot in the middle.
mephala's review
4.0
Although it has a slow start, Temptations of a Wallflower offers a delightful story of two unique characters not only finding true love, but themselves along the way.
I’ve read my first Eva Leigh’s book some time ago, and as it happens it was the previous one in this very series. I remember it vaguely, but looking at my review notes, I guess I wasn’t very taken with it. Nevertheless, as I heard and read so much good things about Temptations of a Wallflower, I decided to finally take a gander myself.
The first couple of chapter were a little rough for me. The story was interesting, especially because of the main hero, but the slow pacing and seemingly lack of tension bored me. Fortunately, somewhere around the middle mark the story finally picked up and I was enjoying the build up to the ending.
The thing that intrigued me the most about this book was Jeremy, a Vicar as a romantic lead. It was the first time I’ve read a romantic novel with such unique main hero. I can safely say he was great; Eva Leigh did an amazing job developing his character. Among the sea of rakes, rogues and silver tongue charmers, this stoic, reserved, almost virginal hero was like a breath of fresh air. Not only that, he wasn’t “too good to be true”; in fact it was his character that brought the most tension and dramatic scenes in the book. And that sensual hidden streak of his? Very very nice, indeed. I fully admit, I was disappointed whenin the epilogue, it was revealed he actually left the Clergy, but it’s understandable given his wife’s literary career.
Compared to him Sarah didn’t stand out so much, but I still thoroughly enjoyed her journey to finding herself and the independence that went with this discovery.
They worked well as a couple; I liked their chemistry, especially during those, oh so delicious, erotic scenes.
The plot and characters were great, unfortunately the prose felt a little awkward in places. The uneven pacing mentioned earlier, made the annoying word repetitions and clumsy sentence structures stand out even more. It’s interesting, as Eva Leigh knows how to sizzle the pages with delicious sex scenes. The difference in narrative flow between “regular” scenes and the intimate ones was curiously noticeable.
Temptations of a Wallflower might be a little rough around the edges, with pacing issues and a slightly awkward prose, but it has a compelling story with well-developed characters. Jeremy Cleland was definitely the strongest element of the book, and I loved how complex his personality was.
3,5/5 stars
I’ve read my first Eva Leigh’s book some time ago, and as it happens it was the previous one in this very series. I remember it vaguely, but looking at my review notes, I guess I wasn’t very taken with it. Nevertheless, as I heard and read so much good things about Temptations of a Wallflower, I decided to finally take a gander myself.
The first couple of chapter were a little rough for me. The story was interesting, especially because of the main hero, but the slow pacing and seemingly lack of tension bored me. Fortunately, somewhere around the middle mark the story finally picked up and I was enjoying the build up to the ending.
The thing that intrigued me the most about this book was Jeremy, a Vicar as a romantic lead. It was the first time I’ve read a romantic novel with such unique main hero. I can safely say he was great; Eva Leigh did an amazing job developing his character. Among the sea of rakes, rogues and silver tongue charmers, this stoic, reserved, almost virginal hero was like a breath of fresh air. Not only that, he wasn’t “too good to be true”; in fact it was his character that brought the most tension and dramatic scenes in the book. And that sensual hidden streak of his? Very very nice, indeed. I fully admit, I was disappointed when
Compared to him Sarah didn’t stand out so much, but I still thoroughly enjoyed her journey to finding herself and the independence that went with this discovery.
They worked well as a couple; I liked their chemistry, especially during those, oh so delicious, erotic scenes.
The plot and characters were great, unfortunately the prose felt a little awkward in places. The uneven pacing mentioned earlier, made the annoying word repetitions and clumsy sentence structures stand out even more. It’s interesting, as Eva Leigh knows how to sizzle the pages with delicious sex scenes. The difference in narrative flow between “regular” scenes and the intimate ones was curiously noticeable.
Temptations of a Wallflower might be a little rough around the edges, with pacing issues and a slightly awkward prose, but it has a compelling story with well-developed characters. Jeremy Cleland was definitely the strongest element of the book, and I loved how complex his personality was.
3,5/5 stars
racheldida's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mskennedyreads's review
3.0
I liked how this one was very different from the other two - these two were less experienced and married before anything else. But that last few chapters before the ending was weird.
And how often do her characters get emaciated when they are separated from their lover? Like hello doesn't anyone stress eat? That's frustrating.
Basically see what Jo wrote in their review. Exactly what I thought too.
And how often do her characters get emaciated when they are separated from their lover? Like hello doesn't anyone stress eat? That's frustrating.
Basically see what Jo wrote in their review. Exactly what I thought too.
annastarlight's review against another edition
3.0
Sarah is deemed a wallflower, but what society doesn't know is that she writes erotic novels in her spare time. Jeremy is a vicar tasked with uncovering the author of said salacious novels, and unbeknownst to each other, they fall in love despite their opposing goals.
I really liked the idea of a female main character that isn't of the timid virginal sort - although Sarah's experience is purely hypothetical, she knows what she would like to try. The book definitely delivered in this regard and gets quite spicy sometimes.
On the other hand, the story was surprisingly shallow for the length. While there is familial conflict, it's not given much space to reach a resolution. Beyond the core conflict, the characterizations felt rather thin. Despite apparently being a man of learning, Jeremy never refers to any philosophers or theories he finds interesting. The story didn't quite grab me, and it took me surprisingly long to finish.
---
Content warnings: slut shaming, abandonment by family. Contains explicit sex scenes.
I really liked the idea of a female main character that isn't of the timid virginal sort - although Sarah's experience is purely hypothetical, she knows what she would like to try. The book definitely delivered in this regard and gets quite spicy sometimes.
On the other hand, the story was surprisingly shallow for the length. While there is familial conflict, it's not given much space to reach a resolution. Beyond the core conflict, the characterizations felt rather thin. Despite apparently being a man of learning, Jeremy never refers to any philosophers or theories he finds interesting. The story didn't quite grab me, and it took me surprisingly long to finish.
---
Content warnings: slut shaming, abandonment by family. Contains explicit sex scenes.
katieg's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This was a bit of a disappointment. I haven't had much luck with historical romance, and I'm beginning to think that it's style in tropes aren't for me. That being said, I think this book in particular has some issues, especially with its plot and conflict. Several different conflicts are presented, but each of them are quite flimsy with predictable resolutions from the get-go, they gave the book a bit more substance but weren't individually compelling. The characters were fine, and they had a believable connection, but I wasn't really rooting for their romance in any really way. I was hoping for a bit more from the vicar, a more unusual hero, but religion was not used in this book in a consistent way and to me was overlooked as something to create conflict. I was had issue with how the book presented its female writing characters. It's semi-feminist takes on women writers from this era was too melodramatic and one dimensional for me to take seriously. The sex scenes were good, and I really liked the premise, but the execution was lacking on a lot of levels.
xsophiehoughton's review against another edition
4.0
Temptations of a Wallflower follows two characters we have briefly met before, Lady Sarah Frampton and Jeremy Cleland. Jeremy is the cousin of Lord Marwood, and a vicar, and when he last met with his cousin, he was given a book by the renowned erotic author, The Lady of Dubious Quality. He shouldn't have been as engrossed in the books as he was, especially considering his father received his earldom because of his morality, and with his place in the church. His father, Lord Hutton, recalls Jeremy to London, and gives him an ultimatum - he must find The Lady of Dubious Quality, and expose her, or he will lose his allowance and have to survive on his small living. No one has ever been able to discover her identity, but Jeremy must do so, or be cut off. Lady Sarah Frampton is the Watching Wallflower, the daughter of a duke who has never found anyone she wants to spend her life with. Her parents have always despaired over her love of writing, and stopped her from becoming a 'bluestocking' by forcing her into society, even when she doesn't want to. Little do they know, but she has been writing prolifically, for years, and actually is The Lady of Dubious Quality. If anyone discovered she is The Lady, she would be ruined, but she needs her writing to live, to give her purpose. When she meets Jeremy at a garden party, even with their wholly different social status, they are drawn to one another, and soon feelings develop. And when Sarah realises someone is searching for the Lady, she asks Jeremy to marry her, in a way to give her some protection, but still keeps her secrets. Will Jeremy's search reveal his wife is in fact the Lady he's looking for, and how will the revelation affect their marriage?
To say that Eva's books have quickly become some favourites of mine would be an understatement. In each book she writes, there are fantastic characters and relationships, amazing plot lines, and engaging language. Sarah and Jeremy in this book were, on paper, so very different, but together they were wonderful, and true, and could be real with each other. Even though Jeremy was the son of an Earl, he was the third son, and had been forced into the church, even though it wasn't for him. He enjoyed his work, but it didn't fulfil him like he would've wanted, but with Sarah he felt more like the real Jeremy. Also, he developed a backbone after meeting Sarah, starting to go against his father and stand up for himself, rather than relenting to his wishes. Sarah did the same, too. Her mother, in particular, was adamant about the way her daughter should behave, and forced her to attend events with people who should be her 'friends', but wanted to see her fall. The scene at the gallery was one of my favourites, where both Sarah and Jeremy, together, defied the expectations of those around them, and it was the first real moment we could see their affection blossom. Of course, there were moments of angst and despair, but I enjoyed the way Eva wrote it so that when it was overcome, they were stronger together, and could fit anything head on. All three of The Wicked Quills of London books were beautiful, and I can't wait to start Eva's next series!
To say that Eva's books have quickly become some favourites of mine would be an understatement. In each book she writes, there are fantastic characters and relationships, amazing plot lines, and engaging language. Sarah and Jeremy in this book were, on paper, so very different, but together they were wonderful, and true, and could be real with each other. Even though Jeremy was the son of an Earl, he was the third son, and had been forced into the church, even though it wasn't for him. He enjoyed his work, but it didn't fulfil him like he would've wanted, but with Sarah he felt more like the real Jeremy. Also, he developed a backbone after meeting Sarah, starting to go against his father and stand up for himself, rather than relenting to his wishes. Sarah did the same, too. Her mother, in particular, was adamant about the way her daughter should behave, and forced her to attend events with people who should be her 'friends', but wanted to see her fall. The scene at the gallery was one of my favourites, where both Sarah and Jeremy, together, defied the expectations of those around them, and it was the first real moment we could see their affection blossom. Of course, there were moments of angst and despair, but I enjoyed the way Eva wrote it so that when it was overcome, they were stronger together, and could fit anything head on. All three of The Wicked Quills of London books were beautiful, and I can't wait to start Eva's next series!