A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflowers, #4.5) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Aug 25, 2010 Juliana Philippa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, 2022-reads-march, romance-historical, set-in-england, hr-opposites-enemies-attract, novella-or-novella-ish, 0-own, 0-this-is-main-gr-edition, 0-reviewed, 4-to-5-stars

4.5 stars This was such a great story, though know beforehand that this is a novella. I say that, because there could have been much more development of the characters and the story and everything happened a little too quickly and easily. It's 200 pages though, so what does one expect? Had this story been expanded into a full-length novel, I have a feeling it would have been a 5 star book (though one never knows of course - I had thought there was absolutely no possible way that I wouldn't absol 4.5 stars This was such a great story, though know beforehand that this is a novella. I say that, because there could have been much more development of the characters and the story and everything happened a little too quickly and easily. It's 200 pages though, so what does one expect? Had this story been expanded into a full-length novel, I have a feeling it would have been a 5 star book (though one never knows of course - I had thought there was absolutely no possible way that I wouldn't absolutely love Leo and Cat's story ...).

Rafe Bowman was a thrilling scoundrel and I'm always a fan of any bad-boy-good-girl/wallflower pairing, so I was predisposed to like the story. Hannah is not a "wallflower" in the Evie vein, and is actually quite outspoken and straightforward, though she was also sometimes unsure, not self-confident, and often preferred to fade into the background. This description may make her sound like many other heroines you've read, but for some reason, I found both her and Rafe to be unique characters, though in a very subtle way that I can't really put my finger on. Each was an interesting blend of contrasts, and had this been a novel, I think the story could have been greatly enhanced by an exploration of those different facets.

My only plot/character complain was Lady Natalie Blandford, Hannah's cousin and Rafe's possible-intended: that girl drove me nuts; I found her spoiled, self-absorbed, and selfish; and I did not understand at all why Hannah had any fondness for her, let alone considered her her best friend, nor how Rafe (or her other suitors) could have any positive feelings about her. She's apparently beautiful, but that's pretty much it - I saw no evidence of her apparent intelligence or kindness. (Her name is very appropriate: she's supremely bland).

For all Wallflower fans, we see a heavy amount of the four women and their other halves. Two of the couples have their own love scenes, and while normally I don't like it when a book has too much of a focus on any secondary (or tertiary) romance(s), in this case, the novella-aspect made it so that it didn't bother me. The story is short and light in a way that makes it unlikely to give much satisfaction to readers who aren't Wallflower fans.

OH!!! I can't believe I forgot to mention the best thing and my absolute favorite part of the book: THE LETTER. ::HUGE SIGH:: Rafe Bowman can write me letters anytime he wants! Honestly, that was undoubtedly the sweetest, tenderest, hottest, most wonderful part (among many, I might add).

(Written on August 28, 2010) ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

Dec 20, 2013 Connie N. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: regency-romance, holiday, continuing-series, dress-on-cover

it is always good to visit old friends at Christmas, and that's exactly what this book felt like. it was wonderful to spend time with the Wallflowers and hear more about their lives. how odd that I started with that statement since the book is, of course, about Lillian and Daisy's brother Rafe, not the Wallflowers. He was pleasant as a hero, although we didn't get to know him as well as I would have liked since the book is so short. And we know even less about Heather, although she seems like a ...more

1 like · Like · see review