Nos. 61 - 65: Wallflower Series

The Wallflower Series by Lisa Kleypas
Secrets of a Summer Night
It Happened One Autumn
Devil in Winter
Scandal in Spring
A Wallflower Christmas

I read this series in a row, and in the correct order (for the first time) because I discovered that there were two new books in another series by this same author. You might be wondering, why would that make you need to read this series Holly? Well, it is because the series are interconnected. And I love this series. A lot. So I don't need much of an excuse to read them over again. I love them all, with varying degrees of intensity. In order of love - from most loved to least:

1. Secrets of a Summer Night - Annabelle and Simon. She is a beautiful but poor lady whose mother has entered into a distasteful relationship with a fat disgusting peer to pay the bills. Simon Hunt (which I think is an excellent name by the way) is a rich industrialist and not a member of British aristocracy. And there is an explosion at a railroad factory (or something, a foundry perhaps?) and they fall in love - unrelated I think to the explosion.

2. Devil in Winter - Evie and Sebastian, Viscount St. Vincent (another excellent name). She is the daughter of a gaming hall operator with consumption and is being held captive by her evil family that wants her money. He is a very very bad man who kidnapped Evies friend and tried to force her into marriage because he needs money. She proposes a marriage of convenience because she wants to take care of her father before he dies and Sebastian wants money. So they run off and get married. I liked this book because of the myriad olde timey illnesses including the pox (the kind that makes you crazy and die) and consumption (which also makes you die but does not make you crazy), and our introduction to Cam Rohan - who happens to be one of my favorite characters EVER! There are also several attempted kidnapping and murder attempts. Very exciting

3.It Happened one Autumn - Lillian and Marcus, Lord Westcliff. She is the daughter of upstart super rich American jerks. He is a fancy Earl with a crazy mother who hates Americans and loves being crazy. I like this one because of insight in to St. Vincents character (featured in the next book in the series) and the love potion, and the crazy surprise making out. And that they hate each other and then love each other. It is all very satisfying when it ends up that way.

4. Scandal in Spring - Daisy and Matthew Swift. She is the younger sister of Lillian, he is an employee of Daisy's father. Daisy's father, Mr. Bowman, has decreed that if Daisy does not find a husband in 2 months she has to marry Matthew. Daisy remembers Matthew as being skinny and annoying. Turns out he is awesome and super hot. And he has a mysterious secret past. So obviously they fall in love. And his past is revealed!

5. A Wallflower Christmas - Hannah and Rafe Bowman. She is the poor relation/companion to the woman that Mr. Bowman has decided will make a perfect wife for his son Rafe. Rafe is brother to Daisy and Lillian and (obviously) son of Mr. Bowman. He wants to become more involved in the family business and so is willing to marry some random girl his father picks out UNTIL he meets Hannah and they fall in love. She reads to children and has messy, yet very shiny hair. And other excellent qualities I am sure.

This series is good, but the next one is EVEN BETTER!!! Hooray!!!