Eventually, all wallflowers will have their chance at love . . . This is where it begins.
The Wallflower’s Dance by Jen Geigle Johnson
Lottie
Hughes likes people, as long as they aren't too close. Does it bother
her that no one asks her to dance? Yes, but she's not sure how to drum
up dance partners when she has almost no dowry, no title, and freezes up
when anyone tries to talk to her. When she suddenly inherits a huge
amount and is the new center of attention all over London, her secret
dreams might come true but also her worst nightmares. Suddenly everyone
wants to talk to her. Men ask her to dance. And she is inundated with
interested suitors. She fights to stay close to the few friends she
knows are true. One man saw her before her life changed forever. But
does she want to accept his help when he, too, might be insincere?
Letters to a Wallflower by Heather B. Moore
Ellen
might be beautiful and considered a diamond of the first water by
Society, but she is so very tired of the pressure to marry a titled
gentleman so that her beauty won’t go to waste. When her cousin Dinah
dares Ellen to attend a ball with no frills and to stand with the
wallflowers, Ellen takes on the dare. What’s in the wager for her? The
prize cuttings of her aunt’s extraordinary roses. But what Ellen isn’t
expecting is Lord Ravenshire to engage her in the most interesting
conversation. When she confesses to him of her opposition in marrying
for a title, he confesses his distaste of the London scene. They strike a
bargain together, one which will either push them apart or lead to a
future sweeter than either of them could have imagined.
To Marry a Wallflower by Anneka R. Walker
Charlotte
Winters is destined to spinsterhood until she turns down an unwanted
proposal and everything changes. With gossip rampant, her father
attempts to salvage her reputation by betrothing her to another. Soon
she is sent off to her aunt’s to meet Lord Templeton, her intended.
Anxiety-ridden, Charlotte begs her aunt to let her observe Lord
Templeton from afar before their introduction. She never planned to
pretend to be her fictional cousin to learn more about him, or to fall
in love with Lord Templeton’s friend in the process. Lord Templeton
dreads returning to the empty halls of Newcliff Manor. When his father’s
old friend, Mr. Winters reaches out for assistance, Lord Templeton
finds himself returning home engaged to a woman he has never met.
Desperate to learn more about Miss Winters, he befriends her cousin. He
wouldn’t have spoken to her, or lied about his identity, if he’d known
the quiet woman would sneak into his heart.
Excerpt:
Excerpt 1 from To Kiss a Wallflower
Letters to a Wallflower
by Heather B. Moore
Chapter 1
London, 1817
Miss Ellen Young was tired of being called beautiful.
As she gazed into the gilt-framed mirror, wrinkling her pert nose, pursing her rosebud lips, and narrowing her lake-blue eyes, she scowled at her reflection. Perhaps if she held this facial expression for an hour, a wrinkle would result. Or perhaps if the rain would stop for an afternoon, she could traipse through gardens and earn a few freckles.
“There you are, dearest,” Mother said, coming into the bedroom. “Why, Ellen, you’re not even dressed for the ball. Cousin Dinah is downstairs, ready and waiting. What will I tell her?”
Without turning, Ellen said, “Tell her she’s ready an hour early, and that I’ll be ready on time.”
Her mother sighed her usual sigh. In a couple decades, Ellen would probably resemble her tawny-haired mother, with gentle lines about her eyes and lips.
“Now be sure to tell Sally to add plenty of curls to your hair. Curls are most becoming on you.”
Ellen hid a grimace. “Of course.”
Her mother’s gaze was full of affection and admiration, which should make Ellen feel guilty. But it didn’t. Stepping forward, Mother smoothed a hand over the sleeve of Ellen’s day dress. “The Society papers were right. You are the diamond of the Season, dearest. I only wish I had the funds to buy you the latest fashions from Paris—”
“You’ve spent enough on my gowns,” Ellen cut in. “I don’t need extra frills or more luxurious fabrics.”
Mother tutted. “You’re right. You’re stunning without them, and you’ll have a marquess, or an earl, or even a baron proposing to you in no time.”
“Not all men of the ton are desirable, Mother,” Ellen cut in with a firm voice. “In fact, most of them are rakes—is that what you wish for my future? A cold marriage bed after I’ve delivered the requisite heir and a spare?”
“Ellen Constance Young! I did not raise you to speak of such vulgar matters!”
Ellen felt a little contrite, but only just. “I apologize.”
“Now,” her mother said, her tremulous voice taking on a new calm. “You must listen carefully to my advice, since I will not be attending tonight.” She brought a handkerchief to her mouth and coughed delicately.
Everything about Mother was delicate, even when she was ill.
“There will be many eligible gentlemen there, and Cousin Dinah knows who’s who. Don’t accept dance invitations from any men beneath your station.”
“Of course not,” Ellen murmured.
“I will send Sally in,” Mother said. “Expect her shortly. Make sure that she takes extra care with your hairdo tonight by adding in the orange blossoms that Aunt Margaret went to all that trouble to send for. They’ll set you apart from the other young misses, and you’ll earn compliments in the Society pages again.”
Ellen nodded, as if she lived and breathed mentions in the Society pages.
This was par for the course—the typical admonitions Mother had been giving her all Season. Thankfully, the Season was half over, and Ellen was happily counting down.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to marry—unlike Cousin Dinah, who was thirty-one and a declared spinster. Having a wealthy husband certainly would have its perks, but did Ellen have to be on display to secure a husband? Parade in front of the hostess and the eligible bachelors, as if she were at a horse auction?
She couldn’t think of one sincere conversation she’d ever been a part of at a social function this Season. It was all gossip, judgement, and speculation: who was dancing with who; who was wearing the most fashionable dress; who had obviously eaten too many sweets the week before.
Would all the henpecking end with marriage?
No.
Married women were criticized even more: who was with child; who drove the nicest carriage; who had the invitation to dine with royalty; who had produced an heir; who was hosting the best event of the Season.
Instead of going to ball after ball, Ellen would prefer to tend to her small garden of flowers and herbs—the one that widowed Aunt Margaret allowed her to fully plant and care for by herself on the back terrace of her London townhome. It had become Ellen’s solace, her sanity while she and her mother spent the Season here. Ellen’s father had passed away a few years before and left them a widow’s cottage, but the estate had gone to the nearest male relative.
Review:
The stories in this book all focus on a "wallflower" but each one is very different. I didn't feel like I was reading the same old, same old as I finished one story and moved on to the next. I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters in The Wallflower's Dance, but I absolutely LOVED the second story. Novellas can be tricky for me, but Letters to a Wallflower ticked all of the boxes, and I found myself unwilling to put it down. To Marry a Wallflower was an enjoyable read as well.
If you are looking for a quick and easy read, To Kiss a Wallflower is a great book to choose.
Title: To Kiss a Wallflower
Purchase: Amazon
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Andrea. I enjoyed discovering how the wallflowers found love and am looking forward to the next Timeless Romance Collection anthology, An Autumn Kiss this September.
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