A Wallflower Christmas
by Lisa Kleypas
I'm a huge fan of Lisa Kleypas's. Her books fill one of my Keeper Shelves. But the best word I can think of to describe A Wallflower Christmas is "slight" - both in length (215 pages) and in depth of storyline and character.
All the former Wallflowers are gathering together for the Christmas holiday. The two former Bowman sisters are also hosting their brother Rafe, newly arrived from America, who has agreed to marry a titled Englishwoman chosen for him by his father, a wealthy soap industrialist. This, Rafe is most willing to do. And then he meets his future-fiancée's poor relation companion, Hannah Appleton.
Sparks fly between the uncouth American and the proper English miss and it is clear to all that it is only a matter of time before they are together. So, with that foregone conclusion in the bag, how are those 215 pages filled? With Christmas preparations, with catching up on the Wallflowers, and with several of the wallflowers having sex scenes - as well as Rafe and Hannah, of course. It's not that I object to sex scenes, but with so little page space and all those couples' bedrooms to visit, that's a lot of time devoted to them that I would rather have spent reading a more compelling primary romance.
It was nice to catch up with characters from past favorite books, the Christmas preparations provided some funny moments, and Rafe and Hannah themselves had some very satisfying scenes, but the book as a whole still comes off as … slight.
So, a mixed review from me. If you're a major Wallflower fan, you might find the $16.95 price tag for 215 pages worth the investment. I'm afraid that I didn't.
Reviewed by Cheryl Sneed, November 22, 2008
“Disappointingly slight.”
November 2008, 215 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312533780
It's Christmastime in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady in waiting and, if it weren't for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.
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