A Wallflower Christmas (The Wallflowers)

by Lisa Kleypas

[Stephanie]

This review was originally posted on Once Upon a Chapter



"The Wallflowers are four young ladies in London who banded together in their wild and wickedly wonderful searches for true love. Now happily married, they join together once again to help one of the world's most notorious rogues realize that happiness might be right under the mistletoe...."

Rafe Bowman has spent his entire life in the shadow of his father, Thomas Bowman. As Bowman's oldest son, much was expected from Rafe. Rafe's childhood was spent with tutors. He was not allowed many toys and he rarely was allowed to spend time with his four younger siblings. Rafe's best was never good enough and his mistakes brought about severe reprimands.

Realizing he'd never have a place in his father's lucrative soap manufacturing business, Rafe sets out to make his own fortune. He makes his fortune by investing in the stock market and misleading guilible men into the wrong ones. In America, he leads the life of a rogue and gains the reputation of one to boot. After Rafe has made his own fortune, Thomas makes him an offer: marry Lady Natalie Blandford and Rafe will have a partnership in the family business and it's the onl way Rafe will get it.

Hannah Appleton is the poor country cousin of Lady Natalie Blandford and Natalie's companion. Lillian Bowman invites Hannah over for tea so that she, Annabelle, and Evie can learn more about Natlie. The morethey know, the more they can help Rafe with his courtship. When Hannah arrives, she and Rafe take an instant disliking of each other. Sparks fly and the quarrel between them is heated and crackling with tension. After the tea, Hannah decides she must do what she can to prevent a union between Natalie and Rafe.

Hannah is a sweet, caring and selfless girl and that is what Rafe is so attracted to. He can't help but get her riled up from time to time. Hannah is also opinionatedas well and unlike most youn English misses, she isn't afraid to tell a man how she feels. Rafe is fascinated by her, but he is all but bethrothed to her cousin. Rafe must choose: his father's business or love?

I adored Hannah and Rafe's story! A Wallflower Christmas is the perfect blend of everything I love as a reader. It's a reunion of favorite characters, a Christmas celebration and a great romance story all rolled into one. The four original Wallflowers become Hannah's supporters when she feels like she has no one to turn to. There are several tender moments that had my eyes welling up and even though I write this in May, there were also moments that reminded me of all the wonderful meaningful traditions of the Christmas season. For it's 213 pages A Wallflower Christmas is well worth the investment!