- I have a soft spot for those who do not fit into society’s norm, and poor Adele is one such character. Adele is considered too plump by the tons standards and her Aunt has no problem reminding her. To make matters worse, she dresses Adele in the wrong colors with ruffles and more ghastly adornments. Of course her younger sister is the crème de la crème of the season.
- Adele reminded me a little of a younger me. She is sharp, reserved and tries to please. I found her to be charming, and more than once, she had me laughing. The story takes places at her brother’s estate. Their father recently passed, and he placed his Aunt in charge of the young women. They are in the midst of a house party and Adele wants nothing more than to escape. I loved the first encounter between Adele and James Beauclaire. I enjoyed their initial chemistry and was ready to enjoy this courtship.
- James is in need of a wife to fill his coffers, and truth be told he was there to woo Adele’s younger sister. I am not a huge fan of fortune hunters but Wilde quickly shared his story and introduced us to his sister making me feel for him. Although he was often dimwitted as men occasional are I was soon rooting for this couple.
- Helene and Madelene seemed lovely and I look forward to learning more. I am curious as to whether Adele’s sister will get a story. She really is dreadful and I imagine the man who sets her straight will make for a delicious tale. Secondary characters like the Aunt and sister added to the tale while aiding the reader in understanding our hero and heroine. Sadly we learn very little about them as they stay in the background.
Decaffeinated Aspects of The Bride Behind the Curtain
- The chemistry between Adele and James was sizzling but the romance suffered as the Wallflower Pact took center stage. I would have preferred a slow burning romance to curl my toes.
- I wanted to know more about the notorious Deborah Sewell who has come to the girls’ aid. She seemed to be accepted by Adele’s overbearing Aunt, but there is a story here.
- I enjoyed the story and in fact read this in a single sitting, but I would have preferred a slower romance and all the details that come with a house party and courtship. The plot was well planned, and the story flowed naturally but I was not given time to become swept up.
- While we can guess how the romance wraps up, their story will continue as a side dish in the next book.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer