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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I have read quite a lot of bodice rippers in my day, my romance reading journey started with old thrifted regency romances and I can say pretty fairly that Lisa Kleypas is one of the very best. I am excited that her Wallflower series is finally coming to audible. The first official book in the series was wonderful. It runs the well paved path of destitute debutante desperate to make a match but it is amped up by the newly formed friendship between four wallflowers who spend most balls on the sidelines. Each of the 4 girls is uniquely lovable and when they put their hats together and all their effort into helping Anabelle find her match before she's officially on the shelf you end up rooting for them. Annabelle is pragmatic about her prospects and loathe to the idea of becoming a mistress even if its to a very wealthy businessman who clearly wants her. My biggest issue with the book was that I suppose I'm used to rakish characters with a bit more gentility, it offended me how often her goaded her and joked about her one day having no option but to be his mistress, when he knows how that would destroy her reputation. It was a bit callous so it took me a bit longer to warm to him. They did however, fall very slowly and very sweetly in love and as always I was left feeling very content.
3.5 stars
Meeh it's good. Too much focus on money and status. End is kind of rushed.
Mr. Hunt is a beast.
Meeh it's good. Too much focus on money and status. End is kind of rushed.
Mr. Hunt is a beast.
"I love you, dammit.”
She brushed her lips teasingly against his. “How much?”
He made a slight sound, as if the soft kiss had affected him intensely. “Without limit. Beyond forever.”
“I love you more”
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Simon Hunt is one of my very favorite LK leading men.
I sort of read this book in a haze and would very much like to re read it at some point (soon) these are the heroes I think that Kleypas does really really well, really good characterizations, conflict, adoration, devotion, ugh swoon. Let’s say 4 shall we? Perhaps not the most memorable but so sweet and so good and yayyy the wallflowers!
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was a hoot. The romance was solid, and the pacing was well done. The action at the end was kind of goofy, but since it was so competently written, I didn’t mind.
Halusin laittaa aivot hyllylle historiallisen romantiikan voimin. Toimii siihen. Ei pitkäaikaiseen käyttöön.
I have been meaning to go back and start this series ever since I read the first Hathaways book and realized these took place first in the chronology. I had been putting it off because I wasn't crazy about Mine Til Midnight and worried that maybe I just wasn't a Kleypas fan. But I have since read a few of her other books and was in the mood for a historical so it was good timing that Ezi spotted this one and picked it for me.
I loved the setup of a woman on the verge of losing everything, even with the creepy old suitor tropes leering about. I will say that considering how desperate their situation, it made it a little weird how much she steadfastly refused to consider Simon as a marriage prospect. I know, I know, he's not a peer and all, but for someone who had to watch her mother prostitute herself and was having a hard time affording decent food, it seemed strange that she was still so laser focused on the aristocracy when money was the biggest hurdle they faced. I think I just wished that Kleypas had better shown how important it was for Annabelle to cling to that last rung of good society because she seemed to truly entertain the idea of being a mistress but yet marrying a wealthy businessman is beyond the pale?
I very much enjoyed seeing a historical that explored the end of the peerage and the start of industrialization, particularly in their visit to Paris. It was fascinating to see Annabelle's horizons broaden and learn more about the world and how it was changing outside the stodgy British society she was used to. And I LOVED Lillian and Daisy and Evie and can't wait to keep reading their stories.
I loved the setup of a woman on the verge of losing everything, even with the creepy old suitor tropes leering about. I will say that considering how desperate their situation, it made it a little weird how much she steadfastly refused to consider Simon as a marriage prospect. I know, I know, he's not a peer and all, but for someone who had to watch her mother prostitute herself and was having a hard time affording decent food, it seemed strange that she was still so laser focused on the aristocracy when money was the biggest hurdle they faced. I think I just wished that Kleypas had better shown how important it was for Annabelle to cling to that last rung of good society because she seemed to truly entertain the idea of being a mistress but yet marrying a wealthy businessman is beyond the pale?
I very much enjoyed seeing a historical that explored the end of the peerage and the start of industrialization, particularly in their visit to Paris. It was fascinating to see Annabelle's horizons broaden and learn more about the world and how it was changing outside the stodgy British society she was used to. And I LOVED Lillian and Daisy and Evie and can't wait to keep reading their stories.
I loved it!! hello gateway drug to historical romance! I nearly cried in the end and I loved Simon and Annabelle! and the wallflower girls' friendship!!!