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Showing posts with label Lisa Kleypas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lisa Kleypas. Show all posts

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Audible Book Review: It Happened One Autumn: Wallflower Series #2 by Lisa Kleypas

This historical romance is nice and moved along quickly.
It Happened One Autumn: Wallflower Series #2
by Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

It Happened One Autumn  By  cover art

Series: Wallflowers #2
Length: 11h 29m
Published January 8th 2010 by Brilliance Audio
Genre: Historical Romance, Victorian
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.75.


It happened at the Ball….
Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren’t entirely “the thing.” And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London’s most eligible aristocrat.
It happened in the garden…
When Marcus shockingly – and dangerously – swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn’t even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed…thank goodness they weren’t caught very nearly in the act!
It happened one autumn.…
Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable…as his bride.
Published January 8th 2010 by Brilliance Audio.


Review:
Lillian Bowman is a beautiful, head strong American daughter of a man who made his money in soap manufacturing. Lillian and her sister, Daisy, struggled to be accepted by society in New York and will struggle in London too unless they get an aristocratic sponsor. Lillian met Lord Marcus Westcliff at a ball, and they immediately disliked each other. She sees him as snobbish and insufferable. He sees her as crass and overly bold, especially after he comes across her and her friends playing rounders in their undergarments.

Marcus wants to do business with Lillian’s father, so the Bowman family has been included in a two-week house party at his lavish estate. He hopes that he can avoid the daughters, especially headstrong Lillian. He finds the American sisters playing rounders again, this time with their clothes with his stable hands. This time he steps up to try to help Lillian’s bat swing. They soon realize that they need to sneak back into the house and Marcus leads them along a back path. Nearing the door, Daisy escapes into the house but Marcus and Lillian are trapped behind a hedgerow as a group of men pass by. Inexplicably Marcus finds himself mesmerized by this inappropriate young woman and begins kissing her. This begins a reluctant draw between the pair who keep trying to tell themselves and each other that they don’t like the other who would be totally unsuitable.

Marcus’ roguish friend, Lord St. Vincent is willing to play escort to Lillian to keep her out of the way of Marcus. As the days go on it seems that St. Vincent may have plans of his own.

I enjoyed the reluctant relationship between the protagonists. The conflict showcases some class bigotry which is interesting. I was expecting and hoping for a bit of intrigue which finally appears in the last part of the book. I also enjoyed the elements involving Lillian’s skill at distinguishing scents which plays a fun role in the story. My only disappointment with this second book was there were more sexual encounters than were necessary for my taste. Still, it was a quick and mostly enjoyable listen. I have the next book, Devil in Winter, in print but I may have to pick up the audio.

Audio Notes: Rosalyn Landor is always a joy to listen to. She provides wonderful voices and seamless narration that enhances the story for me.

4.5 Source: Audible September 2021. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and my season goals.

Wallflowers Series #1: Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas; my rating 4.5

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Audio Review: Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

This delightful story moved very quickly.
Secrets of a Summer Night
Written by Lisa Kleypas
Narrated by Rosalyn Landor


Run Time 8h 35min
Release Date: March 16, 2021
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.75.


Publisher Description
The Wallflowers
Four young ladies at the side of the ballroom make a pact to help each other find husbands … no matter what it takes

Proud and beautiful Annabelle Peyton could have her pick of suitors—if only she had a dowry. Her family is on the brink of disaster, and the only way Annabelle can save them is to marry a wealthy man. Unfortunately her most persistent admirer is the brash Simon Hunt, a handsome and ambitious entrepreneur who wants her as his mistress.
Annabelle is determined to resist Simon’s wicked propositions, but she can’t deny her attraction to the boldly seductive rogue, any more than he can resist the challenge she presents. As they try to outmaneuver each other, they find themselves surrendering to a love more powerful than they could have ever imagined. But fate may have other plans—and it will take all of Annabelle’s courage to face a peril that could destroy everything she holds dear.


Review:
Beautiful Annabelle has struggled through several seasons but remains a wallflower because she has no dowry. She is being pushed by her mother to marry a wealthy suitor but she hasn’t found anyone suitable. Meanwhile, the men figure that eventually she will agree to become a mistress to save her mother and younger brother. Annabelle and three other wallflowers decide to band together to help each other find a husband. Annabelle sets her sights on a mild-mannered young man who is being besieged by many unwed debutantes.

One extremely wealthy man, Simon Hunt, continues to take an interest in Annabelle but he is an on the fringes of good society as an entrepreneur rather than titled nobility. Simon isn’t necessarily looking for marriage, but the more he is around Annabelle the more he is drawn to her caring nature. Annabelle is proud and not sure if society will really accept someone like Simon, in spite of his money and good looks. But as they spend time together she begins to wonder what it would be like to be more intimate with him.

I enjoyed the collaborations of the four wallflowers, but I enjoyed the ‘push and repel’ attraction between Annabelle and Simon. I’m not sure I agree that Annabelle should have remained silent as long as she did, but it fit the story plot. I had forgotten how much I enjoy this type of historical romance with its society intrigues and sensual romance. I am looking forward to the next book in the series for Autumn (It Happened One Autumn).

Audio Notes: Rosalyn Landor is a wonderful narrator for this genre. She presents engaging, distinct voices, and strong energy fitting the emotions. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of this story.

Source: July 2021 Purchase at Chirp for $1.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and 2021Season goals.

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