Scan barcode
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!
rosehillmb's review against another edition
3.0
I would probably give this book 3.5 stars if I could. I enjoyed the characters and their relationship, but the plot line just didn't gel for me. I found too much of it unbelievable. I had the same problem with the previous two books in the series. The tone felt too modern for the setting/time period. I had a hard time buying in. Enjoyed the trilogy, but won't be picking up anything else by this author.
rebleejen's review against another edition
2.0
I'm usually wary of books about writers, but I have difficulty resisting books about vicars. The vicar part was fine, but I didn't buy the heroine's character at all. The whole situation strained my willing suspension of disbelief too far. Also, she was a writer, and writers are insufferable.
malin12ccf's review against another edition
4.0
Lady Sarah Frampton may be the daughter of a duke with a sizable dowry, but she's known as the Watching Wallflower and is on her way to be firmly on the shelf. No one knows that behind her impeccable manners, the quiet and ever-observant Lady Sarah is in fact the author of a series of highly successful erotic novels. As The Lady of Dubious Quality, the virginal Lady Sarah uses the knowledge she's acquired from illicit French novels to write out all her sexual fantasies while her mother believes her to be deeply devoted to journal writing and keeping up her correspondence. When her publisher tells her that someone is trying to unmask the identity of the Lady of Dubious Quality, she starts to consider whether marriage might not be prudent to protect her from prying. What better candidate than the handsome and intelligent country vicar she's been growing closer to?
The vicar in question, Jeremy Cleland, is in London because his father, the deeply moralistic Earl of Hutton, has tasked him with tracking down and unmasking, you guessed it, The Lady of Dubious Quality. Jeremy didn't even want to take holy orders and become a vicar, but as the third son, he doesn't really have the finances or independence to go his own way, even though he's quite miserable with his vocation and struggles daily to control his desires. A while back, his cousin, the scandalous Vicount Marwood gave him one of the Lady's recent books, and Jeremy has in fact been reading all of them and appreciating them rather a lot. He doesn't really see what harm the books do, but with the treat of losing his allowance entirely, he sets about trying to figure out who the author of the erotica is. He feels an immediate affinity with the clever Lady Sarah Frampton, but knows that as the only daughter of a duke, she's much too far above him in rank to ever settle for a lowly country vicar, son of an earl or not.
Not realising that the man she's decided to marry for protection is in fact the same man who's been tasked with unmasking her and who could absolutely ruin her in the eyes of society, Lady Sarah proposes to Jeremy. They get married by special licence and while Lady Sarah's parents are none to happy, Jeremy's father is delighted that his son snared a lady with such an impressive family connection and dowry. The couple, after some initial difficulty, discover that they are in fact extremely compatible both in the bedroom and out of it. While a duke's daughter, Sarah isn't at all sorry to give up the luxuries of her father's house or the mindless pleasures of London's high society. Being useful as a vicar's wife, while still able to lock herself away to write in secret works very well for her. While Jeremy's father allows him a few weeks to enjoy his new marriage, he's not going to let his son give up his quest for long, however. What will happen when Jeremy discovers that the woman he's trying to track down is in fact his own wife?
In the previous two books in The Wicked Quills of London, an Earl and a Viscount married women of a much lower social standing to themselves. In this, it's Lady Sarah who is the one of higher social rank, who chooses to marry down, so to speak. While Jeremy may be the third son of an earl, he's also a lowly country vicar with only a small living, mostly wholly dependent on whatever allowance his tyrannous father chooses to give him. Even as they grow closer to one another and their attraction grows, they both know it's a bad match. It's only when Sarah is worried about the scandal that will ensue if she's unmasked that she decides that she doesn't care about her parents' possible disapproval or the risk of her dowry (she's of age and doesn't actually need their permission to marry). She proposes to Jeremy and while he initially refuses her, a conversation with his now happily married cousin changes his mind.
Of course, Sarah doesn't realise that the man she marries is the same man who's been hunting down her secret identity. Writing is the only thing that's ever made her truly happy, and while she discovers that Jeremy has in fact read all of the works by The Lady of Dubious Quality (and uses the tips he's learned from the books to satisfy both himself and his new wife thoroughly sexually), she doubts that he'd be pleased to discover that said Lady was in fact his own wife. So she keeps lying to him by omission, and all hell breaks loose once Jeremy (who really is both clever and determined, even though he hates the job his father has set him to do) finally pieces all the clues together and discovers the truth.
There's so much good stuff in this novel - two intelligent outsiders who fall for each other and ignore social conventions to be together. Sarah is a virgin, but reads a lot of smutty French erotica to be able to accurately describe the sex acts in her best-selling novels. Jeremy has only had sex once, but has read all of Sarah's books and is ready and willing to try put all the things he's only read about in practise after their first sexual encounter is less than thrilling for her. Because they are both enthusiastic beginners who are willing to communicate clearly about what they want, both in the bedroom department and outside it, they quickly settle into marital felicity. If only there wasn't that big ol' secret constantly threatening to ruin their happiness.
Sarah doesn't write her books just because she's bored and has nothing better to do. She genuinely finds the work incredibly fulfilling and is happy that her books seem to have found such an enthusiastic audience. She hates that she has to keep lying to Jeremy, but also honestly doesn't know if she'd be able to stop writing even if scandal struck. She loves what she does in a way that Jeremy frankly doesn't. He does his very best as a vicar, because he is a decent and responsible man, but only went into the church because his father pressured him, and given the financial independence, he'd devote his life to something different. Yet even when he marries Sarah and has her dowry at his disposal, he's reluctant to take advantage of her money, wanting to be his own man.
As the previous two books in the series, this featured two very engaging protagonists and explores a lot of feminist themes while also throwing in some believable relationship hurdles and plenty of smexy times. That the hero is apparently modelled physically on Tom Hiddleston certainly doesn't hurt either. There are cameo appearances by characters from the previous two books and as far as I'm aware, this is the final book in this series. It's not a perfect book, by any means, but [a:Eva Leigh|8886093|Eva Leigh|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1439934306p2/8886093.jpg] is absolutely becoming an author whose books I will absolutely be looking out for, and her new series seems very interesting indeed. She's not quite auto-buy or the most coveted of spots - pre-order - but a few more enjoyable books and this may happen.
Rating a book by its cover: This sure has a lot of pastel. I'm also not sure if the lady on the cover (whose hair is much darker than Lady Sarah's is described as in the actual novel) is reclining on a bed (which would be appropriate, given the contents of this book) or sinking into some sort of pink and lilac void. Once more we have an example of the lady from the back with her dress coming undone. As the lady in question appears to be wearing a nightgown, her lack of undergarments can probably be forgiven this time. I've yet to see pictures of any Regency-era nightie that opened that low in the back, though, especially without any evidence of buttons or lacing. I don't like this cover at all, which is a shame, because the cover of [b:Scandal Takes the Stage|24805314|Scandal Takes the Stage (The Wicked Quills of London, #2)|Eva Leigh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426976419s/24805314.jpg|44443685] is so gorgeous, with such lush details.
The vicar in question, Jeremy Cleland, is in London because his father, the deeply moralistic Earl of Hutton, has tasked him with tracking down and unmasking, you guessed it, The Lady of Dubious Quality. Jeremy didn't even want to take holy orders and become a vicar, but as the third son, he doesn't really have the finances or independence to go his own way, even though he's quite miserable with his vocation and struggles daily to control his desires. A while back, his cousin, the scandalous Vicount Marwood gave him one of the Lady's recent books, and Jeremy has in fact been reading all of them and appreciating them rather a lot. He doesn't really see what harm the books do, but with the treat of losing his allowance entirely, he sets about trying to figure out who the author of the erotica is. He feels an immediate affinity with the clever Lady Sarah Frampton, but knows that as the only daughter of a duke, she's much too far above him in rank to ever settle for a lowly country vicar, son of an earl or not.
Not realising that the man she's decided to marry for protection is in fact the same man who's been tasked with unmasking her and who could absolutely ruin her in the eyes of society, Lady Sarah proposes to Jeremy. They get married by special licence and while Lady Sarah's parents are none to happy, Jeremy's father is delighted that his son snared a lady with such an impressive family connection and dowry. The couple, after some initial difficulty, discover that they are in fact extremely compatible both in the bedroom and out of it. While a duke's daughter, Sarah isn't at all sorry to give up the luxuries of her father's house or the mindless pleasures of London's high society. Being useful as a vicar's wife, while still able to lock herself away to write in secret works very well for her. While Jeremy's father allows him a few weeks to enjoy his new marriage, he's not going to let his son give up his quest for long, however. What will happen when Jeremy discovers that the woman he's trying to track down is in fact his own wife?
In the previous two books in The Wicked Quills of London, an Earl and a Viscount married women of a much lower social standing to themselves. In this, it's Lady Sarah who is the one of higher social rank, who chooses to marry down, so to speak. While Jeremy may be the third son of an earl, he's also a lowly country vicar with only a small living, mostly wholly dependent on whatever allowance his tyrannous father chooses to give him. Even as they grow closer to one another and their attraction grows, they both know it's a bad match. It's only when Sarah is worried about the scandal that will ensue if she's unmasked that she decides that she doesn't care about her parents' possible disapproval or the risk of her dowry (she's of age and doesn't actually need their permission to marry). She proposes to Jeremy and while he initially refuses her, a conversation with his now happily married cousin changes his mind.
Of course, Sarah doesn't realise that the man she marries is the same man who's been hunting down her secret identity. Writing is the only thing that's ever made her truly happy, and while she discovers that Jeremy has in fact read all of the works by The Lady of Dubious Quality (and uses the tips he's learned from the books to satisfy both himself and his new wife thoroughly sexually), she doubts that he'd be pleased to discover that said Lady was in fact his own wife. So she keeps lying to him by omission, and all hell breaks loose once Jeremy (who really is both clever and determined, even though he hates the job his father has set him to do) finally pieces all the clues together and discovers the truth.
There's so much good stuff in this novel - two intelligent outsiders who fall for each other and ignore social conventions to be together. Sarah is a virgin, but reads a lot of smutty French erotica to be able to accurately describe the sex acts in her best-selling novels. Jeremy has only had sex once, but has read all of Sarah's books and is ready and willing to try put all the things he's only read about in practise after their first sexual encounter is less than thrilling for her. Because they are both enthusiastic beginners who are willing to communicate clearly about what they want, both in the bedroom department and outside it, they quickly settle into marital felicity. If only there wasn't that big ol' secret constantly threatening to ruin their happiness.
Sarah doesn't write her books just because she's bored and has nothing better to do. She genuinely finds the work incredibly fulfilling and is happy that her books seem to have found such an enthusiastic audience. She hates that she has to keep lying to Jeremy, but also honestly doesn't know if she'd be able to stop writing even if scandal struck. She loves what she does in a way that Jeremy frankly doesn't. He does his very best as a vicar, because he is a decent and responsible man, but only went into the church because his father pressured him, and given the financial independence, he'd devote his life to something different. Yet even when he marries Sarah and has her dowry at his disposal, he's reluctant to take advantage of her money, wanting to be his own man.
As the previous two books in the series, this featured two very engaging protagonists and explores a lot of feminist themes while also throwing in some believable relationship hurdles and plenty of smexy times. That the hero is apparently modelled physically on Tom Hiddleston certainly doesn't hurt either. There are cameo appearances by characters from the previous two books and as far as I'm aware, this is the final book in this series. It's not a perfect book, by any means, but [a:Eva Leigh|8886093|Eva Leigh|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1439934306p2/8886093.jpg] is absolutely becoming an author whose books I will absolutely be looking out for, and her new series seems very interesting indeed. She's not quite auto-buy or the most coveted of spots - pre-order - but a few more enjoyable books and this may happen.
Rating a book by its cover: This sure has a lot of pastel. I'm also not sure if the lady on the cover (whose hair is much darker than Lady Sarah's is described as in the actual novel) is reclining on a bed (which would be appropriate, given the contents of this book) or sinking into some sort of pink and lilac void. Once more we have an example of the lady from the back with her dress coming undone. As the lady in question appears to be wearing a nightgown, her lack of undergarments can probably be forgiven this time. I've yet to see pictures of any Regency-era nightie that opened that low in the back, though, especially without any evidence of buttons or lacing. I don't like this cover at all, which is a shame, because the cover of [b:Scandal Takes the Stage|24805314|Scandal Takes the Stage (The Wicked Quills of London, #2)|Eva Leigh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1426976419s/24805314.jpg|44443685] is so gorgeous, with such lush details.
choirlady76's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely one of the most wonderful reads of the year! A dynamic high 5 stars for Temptations of a Wallflower by Eva Leigh. This story kept me attached and up all hours reading from the first page!
We first meet Jeremy, a country Vicar who’s been asked to undertake a very special mission and find out who this Lady of Dubious Quality is, she’s the author of the most sensual, passionate erotic novels out there that have captivated the ton. Jeremy is tasked with finding this author out and shutting him or her down.
Lady Sarah Frampton known as the Watching Wallflower to society is a quiet, shy lady who’d much prefer being curled up with a book or writing a book than hunting for husbands. However, her mother is insistent that she find a husband and drags her to a garden party. Here she hides herself away in a little nook that’s got just what she desires, a writing desk. She brings out her quill and paper and begins daydreaming until her mother finds her and drags her out. While at the party she is introduced to the host’s nephew, the holy yet dashingly handsome, Vicar Jeremey Cleland. She and Jeremy have a stroll through the gardens and to Sara’s surprise she can’t help but find herself taken by this country vicar and finding her imagination going wild with stories. Jeremy too finds himself taken by the shy yet beautiful Lady. There’s just one problem, he’s far below her rank in society’s eyes. Also, Sarah holds a very dark and deep secret… she is Lady of Dubious Quality, she is the one who pens these steamy erotic reads… the one who Jeremy is on the lookout for… Will Lady Sarah finally give in and find a husband? Will the true identity behind these steamy reads be revealed? Will Jeremy find her out?
This series just keeps getting better and better and Eva Leigh’s writing is just phenomenal and this story is pure genius! I absolutely fell in love with our shy yet very sensual Sarah. Her character just comes alive on the pages and what a perfect character, one so backward and shy and one who wants nothing to do with a husband and the marriage bed, yet inside her lives this very steamy and sensual imagination… and one that is not at all shy in the ways of the marriage bed! I loved that she’s a writer and has this very vivid and wild imagination. I also loved Jeremy’s character, he too is one so shy and his passions and sensuality are hidden by the cloth yet it’s soon to be sparked! Excellent story-line and plot and one that is filled with suspense and thrill! I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait to read more! I highly suggest this whole series, you won’t be disappointed!
***I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review, all thoughts are mine***
We first meet Jeremy, a country Vicar who’s been asked to undertake a very special mission and find out who this Lady of Dubious Quality is, she’s the author of the most sensual, passionate erotic novels out there that have captivated the ton. Jeremy is tasked with finding this author out and shutting him or her down.
Lady Sarah Frampton known as the Watching Wallflower to society is a quiet, shy lady who’d much prefer being curled up with a book or writing a book than hunting for husbands. However, her mother is insistent that she find a husband and drags her to a garden party. Here she hides herself away in a little nook that’s got just what she desires, a writing desk. She brings out her quill and paper and begins daydreaming until her mother finds her and drags her out. While at the party she is introduced to the host’s nephew, the holy yet dashingly handsome, Vicar Jeremey Cleland. She and Jeremy have a stroll through the gardens and to Sara’s surprise she can’t help but find herself taken by this country vicar and finding her imagination going wild with stories. Jeremy too finds himself taken by the shy yet beautiful Lady. There’s just one problem, he’s far below her rank in society’s eyes. Also, Sarah holds a very dark and deep secret… she is Lady of Dubious Quality, she is the one who pens these steamy erotic reads… the one who Jeremy is on the lookout for… Will Lady Sarah finally give in and find a husband? Will the true identity behind these steamy reads be revealed? Will Jeremy find her out?
This series just keeps getting better and better and Eva Leigh’s writing is just phenomenal and this story is pure genius! I absolutely fell in love with our shy yet very sensual Sarah. Her character just comes alive on the pages and what a perfect character, one so backward and shy and one who wants nothing to do with a husband and the marriage bed, yet inside her lives this very steamy and sensual imagination… and one that is not at all shy in the ways of the marriage bed! I loved that she’s a writer and has this very vivid and wild imagination. I also loved Jeremy’s character, he too is one so shy and his passions and sensuality are hidden by the cloth yet it’s soon to be sparked! Excellent story-line and plot and one that is filled with suspense and thrill! I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait to read more! I highly suggest this whole series, you won’t be disappointed!
***I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review, all thoughts are mine***
stringreads's review against another edition
4.0
I have very high standards for this series and author and this book met them. It wasn't as good as the first one, but almost nothing is. It was fun, sex positive, and feminist. I loved the clergyman hero, and both the hero and heroine's enthusiasm for life and sex. They both brought a joy and a sort of innocence to sex that really made the book sex positive and healthy. That sounds very clinical, but this is a book about people willing to have fun in bed, while falling in love. Sure there is angst and secrets and conflict, because it'd be saccharine and boring without it, but the thing I took away from the book was the healthy joy they took in sex.