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ezichinny 's review for:
Secrets of a Summer Night
by Lisa Kleypas
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this series.
The Wallflower series features 4 "on the shelf" ladies who have been watching other ladies land husbands among the peer, but no one offers for them. The things they have against them:
Annabelle Peyton (the heroine of this story) has no dowry, the snobbiest of the crew and the most ambitious of the friends.
Evangeline Jenner: lacking in money as well, but she is the most shy of the group, yet the most observant. She also stutters a little bit (except if she is talking to an animal or child).
Lillian & Daisy Bowman (American Heiresses, who aren't "peer" and therefore considered vulgar), are bold and fierce and defiant, but undesirable as they are new money from the Continents.
So one evening, while they sat at a ball, since no one asked them for a dance, the ladies decided that they would help each other land husbands, and they dubbed themselves "The Wallflowers." Since Annabelle was 25 years old and the oldest, they would start their plan with her.
Annabelle is desperate because her family is broke and soon, they won't be able to afford her younger brother Jeremy's education. Her mother does whatever she can, but it is no longer enough. Annabelle has had offers to be a mistress, but the ever ambitious Annabelle believes she can do better and she wants a husband who is a peer.
A butcher's son and merchant, Simon Hunt, has been pursing Annabelle, but Annabelle is put off because he is not a member of her class. She doesn't want to settle and marry beneath her, even though Simon is extremely wealthy and she is broke.
Simon and Annabelle begin a game of chess, both literally and figuratively. Simon wants to win the queen of his heart and Annabelle wants to win what she thinks is her hearts desire--to be a wife of someone with Noble blood.
There is something about Lisa Kleypas books that just transports you into the story. Even if you find the people annoying, you can see where they are coming from and they always seem to evolve as the story progresses. She weaves timely humor into her stories and has great pace with the plot.
Annabelle's stubborness was annoying, but I applaud the author for the consistency. I just couldn't help but laugh to myself that she is broke, wearing paste jewels and rags for clothes, but she considered Simon so beneath her. Her mother also looked down on him, though she was having to pay her bills through less than respectable ways.
It reminds me of how people value "appearances" over actual content. Also how people would do almost anything to attach themselves to the "celebrities" of society, just so they can continue with the appearances. This is like the 1800 version of the Real Housewives Of Orange County or Beverly Hills. Still fake, still lacking in substance and still catty. I am glad things worked out for Annabelle and Simon and her family. I was proud of Annabelle because letting go of an idea is very difficult. But I credit Simon for his patience and love for helping Annabelle see beyond the facade. I can't wait for Book 2!
I really enjoyed this series.
The Wallflower series features 4 "on the shelf" ladies who have been watching other ladies land husbands among the peer, but no one offers for them. The things they have against them:
Annabelle Peyton (the heroine of this story) has no dowry, the snobbiest of the crew and the most ambitious of the friends.
Evangeline Jenner: lacking in money as well, but she is the most shy of the group, yet the most observant. She also stutters a little bit (except if she is talking to an animal or child).
Lillian & Daisy Bowman (American Heiresses, who aren't "peer" and therefore considered vulgar), are bold and fierce and defiant, but undesirable as they are new money from the Continents.
So one evening, while they sat at a ball, since no one asked them for a dance, the ladies decided that they would help each other land husbands, and they dubbed themselves "The Wallflowers." Since Annabelle was 25 years old and the oldest, they would start their plan with her.
Annabelle is desperate because her family is broke and soon, they won't be able to afford her younger brother Jeremy's education. Her mother does whatever she can, but it is no longer enough. Annabelle has had offers to be a mistress, but the ever ambitious Annabelle believes she can do better and she wants a husband who is a peer.
A butcher's son and merchant, Simon Hunt, has been pursing Annabelle, but Annabelle is put off because he is not a member of her class. She doesn't want to settle and marry beneath her, even though Simon is extremely wealthy and she is broke.
Simon and Annabelle begin a game of chess, both literally and figuratively. Simon wants to win the queen of his heart and Annabelle wants to win what she thinks is her hearts desire--to be a wife of someone with Noble blood.
There is something about Lisa Kleypas books that just transports you into the story. Even if you find the people annoying, you can see where they are coming from and they always seem to evolve as the story progresses. She weaves timely humor into her stories and has great pace with the plot.
Annabelle's stubborness was annoying, but I applaud the author for the consistency. I just couldn't help but laugh to myself that she is broke, wearing paste jewels and rags for clothes, but she considered Simon so beneath her. Her mother also looked down on him, though she was having to pay her bills through less than respectable ways.
It reminds me of how people value "appearances" over actual content. Also how people would do almost anything to attach themselves to the "celebrities" of society, just so they can continue with the appearances. This is like the 1800 version of the Real Housewives Of Orange County or Beverly Hills. Still fake, still lacking in substance and still catty. I am glad things worked out for Annabelle and Simon and her family. I was proud of Annabelle because letting go of an idea is very difficult. But I credit Simon for his patience and love for helping Annabelle see beyond the facade. I can't wait for Book 2!