American cad Rafe Bowman goes bride shopping in London and must choose between love and money in Kleypas's coy Christmas romance. Rafe is wealthy in his own right, but his grossly wealthy father demands he marry the uninteresting Lady Natalie. Rafe, naturally, falls in love with someone else: Natalie's commoner cousin, Hannah. As his courtship of Natalie progresses, Rafe keeps returning to Hannah, who rejects his courtship because she thinks he is destined to marry her cousin. As Christmas draws closer, Rafe must choose between the woman he is falling in love with and his father's fortune. Throughout, veteran romancier Kleypas gracefully balances Regency mores, light humor and a dash of Christmas magic, and even if Rafe and Hannah hew too closely to genre archetypes, the book passes muster as a holiday bonbon. (Oct.)
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A Wallflower Christmas: A Novel
Narrated by Mary Jane Wells
Lisa KleypasUnabridged — 5 hours, 6 minutes
A Wallflower Christmas: A Novel
Narrated by Mary Jane Wells
Lisa KleypasUnabridged — 5 hours, 6 minutes
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Overview
New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas's sparking tale of love, romance, and Christmas magic, set in Victorian London, in which the irresistible Wallflowers help steer the course of true love for a notorious wealthy American and his reluctant British bride.
The search for true love brought the Wallflowers together. Now happily married, these four delightful society women reunite once again to help a notorious rogue find happiness under the Christmas mistletoe. . . .*
Rafe Bowman has arrived in London to meet the aristocratic young woman he hopes to marry-Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lord and Lady Blandford. But the dashing American's shocking reputation has preceded him. Before he can claim Natalie's heart, Rafe must learn to navigate the conventions of London society to win her hand.
Even with the best teachers- four former Wallflowers experienced in the art of matchmaking-the wildly rich and very impatient Rafe discovers that wooing a bride is far more complicated than he expected. But Christmas is a time of magic-when a rake can become a romantic . . . and ignite passion in even the most strait-laced young lady's heart.*
Editorial Reviews
Bowing to unreasonable parental pressure, successful American businessman Rafe Bowman hesitantly agrees to consider an arranged marriage to a beautiful British aristocrat. Yet when he arrives in London, it is not the lovely Lady Natalie but her forthright, down-to-earth companion, Hannah Appleton, who sends his libido into overdrive and his well-laid plans out the window. Rafe's brash American manners clash amusingly with the more rigid expectations of English society. Adding warmth and insight to the overall lighthearted feel of this merry tale is the well-intentioned meddling of Rafe's sisters (from Kleypas's "Wallflower" series) as they try to polish his rough edges and help him navigate the social scene. A charming, deliciously sensual holiday treat that updates Kleypas's popular series (e.g., Seduce Me at Sunrise) and adds another memorable pair to the Wallflower garden.
—Kristin Ramsdell
“Enchanting romance...Lisa Kleypas has created a cast of characters that could keep readers enthralled for years.” —Chicago Tribune on Tempt Me at Twilight
“Brimming with superbly nuanced characters, simmering sexual chemistry, and wicked wit, the latest in Kleypas' Victorian-set Hathaway series is a thoroughly romantic literary treat.” —Booklist on Tempt Me at Twilight
“From the first page to the last of her latest Hathaway novel, Kleypas delivers a witty, charming (wait until you meet the animals!), vibrant, sensual love story that takes your breath away. Her unique storytelling shines as she creates situations that elicit powerful emotions. Best of all, just when you think you know what's going to happen, she surprises you in this deep-sigh story.” —Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Tempt Me at Twilight
“A delectable story with a hero and heroine to savor. It's a fine addition to the Hathaway family series.” —The Romance Reader on Tempt Me at Twilight
“An absolute delight.” —Night Owl Romance on Tempt Me at Twilight
“Has plenty to keep readers turning the pages: Wit, suspense, secrets to learn and, of course, lots of love and passion…” —The Monitor on Seduce Me at Sunrise
“Each member of the family is a delight to meet, and the depths of emotions and love they have for each other is shown magnificently...a spectacular story that continues the saga of the Hathaway family.” —Romance Reviews on Seduce Me at Sunrise
“Lushly sexy and thoroughly romantic…superbly crafted characters and an intriguing plot blend together brilliantly in this splendid romance.” —Booklist on Seduce Me at Sunrise
“Vintage Kleypas…An unforgettable story peopled with remarkable characters and a depth of emotion that will leave you breathless with the wonderment of knowing what falling in love is really like.” —Romantic Times BOOKreviews on Mine Till Midnight
“Kleypas's effortless style makes for another sexy exploration of 19th-century passion and peccadilloes, riveting from start to finish.” —Publishers Weekly on Mine Till Midnight
“Will steal the hearts of readers.” —The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC) on Mine Till Midnight
“Captivating…The love story brims with humor and touches of pathos as the characters struggle with lost love and relinquishing grief to embrace life anew.” —Fresh Fiction
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940176288155 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Publishers |
| Publication date: | 07/06/2021 |
| Series: | Wallflowers , #5 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Sales rank: | 1,031,559 |
Read an Excerpt
PROLOGUE
Once there were four young ladies who sat at the side of every ball, soiree, and party during the London season. Waiting night after night in a row of chairs, the wall- flowers eventually struck up a conversation. They realized that although they were in competition for the same group of gentlemen, there was more to be gained from being friends rather than adversaries. And even more than that, they liked one another. They decided to band together to find husbands, starting with the oldest, Annabelle, and working down to the youngest, Daisy.
Annabelle was unquestionably the most beautiful wallflower, but she was virtually penniless, which put her at the greatest disadvantage. Although most London
bachelors hoped for a wife with a pretty face, they usually settled for one with a handsome dowry.
Evie was unconventionally attractive, with flaming hair and abundant freckles. It was well- known that someday she would inherit a fortune from her father. However, her father was a common- born ex- boxer who owned a gambling club, and such a disreputable background was a difficult obstacle for a young lady to surmount. Even worse, Evie was cripplingly shy and had a stammer. Any man who tried to talk to her would later describe the encounter as an act of torture.
Lillian and Daisy were sisters from New York. Their family, the Bowmans, were astonishingly, vulgarly, almost unimaginably wealthy, having made their fortune with a soap manufacturing business. They had no good blood, no manners, and no social patrons. Lillian was a fiercely loving friend, but also strong- willed and bossy. And Daisy was a dreamer who often fretted that real life was never quite as interesting as the novels she read so voraciously.
As the wallflowers helped one another navigate the perils of London society, and consoled and supported one another through very real dangers, sorrows, and joys, they each found a husband, and no one referred to them as wallflowers anymore.
In every social season, however, there was no shortage of new wallflowers. (Then, as now, there were always girls who were overlooked and ignored by gentlemen who really should have known better.)
But then there was the Christmas when Rafe Bowman, Lillian and Daisy’s oldest brother, came to En gland. After that, life for one London wallflower would never be the same. . . .
Excerpted from A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
Copyright 2008 by Lisa Kleypas
Published in 2008 by St. Martin's Press
All rights reserved. This work is protected under copyright laws and reproduction is strictly prohibited. Permission to reproduce the material in any manner or medium must be secured from the Publisher.
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