Once Upon a Wallflower (Entangled Scandalous)

by Wendy Lyn Watson

• ISBN10: 1500441481
• ISBN13: 9781500441487
• Publish Date: 8 July 2014 (first published 12 August 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 260
• Language: English

Reviews

[Lindsey Gray]

This book is a little confusing, but it is supposed to be. Let me explain. To gain an inheritance from their father, both Fitzhenry brothers named their daughters Mirabella. That way if the inheritance was left in name to one, they both would inherit. With me so far? It is because these two are both named Mirabella that the surviving Fitzhenry brother is able to fulfill his gambling debt by offering his niece’s hand in marriage instead of his much prettier daughter. So, Mira is off to marry a man she’s never met. A man who has been accused of murdering his last fiancé and two other women.

Nicholas, Viscount Ashfield, is scarred and expecting to scare his fiancé away within five minutes. He is a very solitary sort, but Mira is an unexpected delight he welcomes into his life. The two keep saying to themselves one or the other will call the whole marriage off, but as the days go by and they try to figure out the mystery of the slain women, they fall in love.

Watson has a great gift for storytelling and weaves a brilliant mystery in the love story of Mira and Nicholas. I loved that I was guessing who the villain was throughout the story. I was sure five different people were the murderer at different points, but in the end only one was finally revealed.

While this story was released in 2013 and I don’t see any follow up written by this author, I truly hope she will give her readers another wonderful historical romance mystery in the future.

I received Once Upon A Wallflower for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Based on the blurb for Once Upon a Wallflower, I was expecting something a little on the dark side, but really, this book is so much fun! I love the combination of historical romance and murder mystery. It was light, fun, steamy, and quite funny at times. It all starts with Mira's uncle owing a debt to Lord Blackwell. As payment he gives away her hand in marriage to the lord's oldest son, Nicholas. Now why does a wealth viscount need a bartered bride? Well, the whole town believes him a murdered who killed his last three fiancees. Luckily, Mira doesn't believe the town gossip and after meeting Nicholas and actually quite liking him, she sets out to find the real murderer!

I immediately thought Once Upon a Wallflower was a lot of fun, because Mira is just a great character. She's essentially been sold off against her will, but she takes it in great stride. She knows she's not what Society considers beautiful--she's a plump redhead with attitude--so her marriage prospects aren't many. Plus she's taking her cousin's place! It turns out Lord Blackwell is expecting the gorgeous (blonde) and proper Mirabelle Fitzhenry for his son. Yes, there are two Mirabelle Fitzhenrys! Mira our feisty heroine and Bella, her less feisty cousin. However, Nicholas is quite glad to have gotten Mira instead, since she actually treats him like a person unlike most women.

I adored Nicholas, too! He's funny and witty, and doesn't really conform to Society's standards. He's an artist and a bit of a loner, which only fuels the gossip about him. Rumor has it, he practices black magic and sacrifices young women! Ridiculous! Once Upon a Wallflower focuses on he and Mira attempting to prove his innocence and flush out the real culprit. Nicholas and Mira are a great team, working through the incidents logically. However, Nicholas has a secret that may put a damper on Mira's investigations. The mystery was great, and totally held my attention. There's plenty of scandals revealed along the way! I also solved this one before Mira did! I felt so smart!

Once Upon a Wallflower was just a good time! Even though I was expecting something dark and sexy, I became completely smitten with this adorable mystery. There are some steamy scenes, but I don't think the romance was the focus at all, and that was fine. I enjoyed clue hunting with Mira, and I loved how no matter what happened, she was not deterred from her goal!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.