Lottie Hughes likes people, as long as they aren't too close. Does it bother her that no one asks her to dance? Yes, but she's not sure how to drum up dance partners when she has almost no dowry, no title, and freezes up when anyone tries to talk to her. When she suddenly inherits a huge amount and is the new center of attention all over London, her secret dreams might come true but also her worst nightmares. Suddenly everyone wants to talk to her. Men ask her to dance. And she is inundated with interested suitors. She fights to stay close to the few friends she knows are true. One man saw her before her life changed forever. But does she want to accept his help when he, too, might be insincere?
♡ LETTERS TO A WALLFLOWER by Heather B. Moore
Ellen might be beautiful and considered a diamond of the first water by Society, but she is so very tired of the pressure to marry a titled gentleman so that her beauty won’t go to waste. When her cousin Dinah dares Ellen to attend a ball with no frills and to stand with the wallflowers, Ellen takes on the dare. What’s in the wager for her? The prize cuttings of her aunt’s extraordinary roses. But what Ellen isn’t expecting is Lord Ravenshire to engage her in the most interesting conversation. When she confesses to him of her opposition in marrying for a title, he confesses his distaste of the London scene. They strike a bargain together, one which will either push them apart or lead to a future sweeter than either of them could have imagined.
♡ TO MARRY A WALLFLOWER by Anneka R. Walker
Charlotte Winters is destined to spinsterhood until she turns down an unwanted proposal and everything changes. With gossip rampant, her father attempts to salvage her reputation by betrothing her to another. Soon she is sent off to her aunt’s to meet Lord Templeton, her intended. Anxiety-ridden, Charlotte begs her aunt to let her observe Lord Templeton from afar before their introduction. She never planned to pretend to be her fictional cousin to learn more about him, or to fall in love with Lord Templeton’s friend in the process. Lord Templeton dreads returning to the empty halls of Newcliff Manor. When his father’s old friend, Mr. Winters reaches out for assistance, Lord Templeton finds himself returning home engaged to a woman he has never met. Desperate to learn more about Miss Winters, he befriends her cousin. He wouldn’t have spoken to her, or lied about his identity, if he’d known the quiet woman would sneak into his heart.
The Wallflower's Dance is an absolutely enchanting way to begin an anthology! I adore stories where the main characters have already established a strong bond, as friendship is the perfect foundation to love.
I instantly connected with Lottie, as kindred spirits we are, and Denny I immediately fell in love with, “a regular entertainer” which is right up my alley. Plus, his knowledge and passion of horse breeding shines through so how could I not be smitten? The friendly and familiar banter between Denny and Lottie is refreshing, especially with most novels in this era being very stiff, and Grace is hands down the cherry on the trio.
The ending was positively swoon-worthy, and I loved that the villain of this tale got what he deserved! Very strong start to this anthology.
I was pleased that the more relaxed regency vibe continued with Letters to a Wallflower. The banter between Ellen and Dinah is immensely pleasing. It is so refreshing to see a spinster that is perfectly content with her lot in life, instead of the wayward and wishing woman that is so often featured in regency reads.
The spice of friendly wagers abound with several of the characters, giving the story a nice edge, and showing that sometimes stubborn individuals need a challenge to push them in the right direction.
In true Heather B. Moore fashion, the flow is perfection, and the overall story went by way too fast! All the characters are endearing, the plot is engaging, and honestly I could’ve seen this being a full length novel. I loved it so much!
There is quite a bit of deception going on in To Marry a Wallflower, but the trickery only makes for one interesting and entertaining read! Luke and Charlotte both find themselves in unique situations that end up with them being in an arranged marriage. The problem is they don’t know one another, and each is fearful of their unknown intended, so they decide to separately play sleuth to garner information, and end up coming together without either of them knowing who the other is. It’s such a charming premise that had me falling in love right along with them both!
There is a bit of letter writing between the pair that was so sweet to me. It took me back to a simpler time, when I would right long notes to my beloved about anything and everything. It is an art that I wish was more prevalent in our day and age, and I enjoyed getting lost in the nostalgia.
This was a strong ending to a wonderful anthology that I immensely enjoyed.
Jen Giggle Johnson
An award winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, Jen Geigle Johnson discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. She once greeted an ancient turtle under the water by grabbing her fin. She knows all about the sound a water-ski makes on glassy water and how to fall down steep moguls with grace. During a study break date in college, she sat on top of a jeep's roll bars up in the mountains and fell in love. Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure. She is a member of the RWA, the SCBWI, and LDStorymakers. She is also the chair of the Lonestar.Ink writing conference.
Heather B. Moore
Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty publications. Her historical novels and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.
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Anneka R. Walker
Anneka Walker was raised by a librarian and an English teacher turned judge. After being fed a steady diet of books, she decided to learn about writing. The result was a bachelor's degree in English and History. When she isn't dreaming up a happy ending for a story, she's busy living her own together with her husband and adorable children.
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