Series: Wallflowers, #4
Traits & Tropes: pining hero; arranged marriage; wallflower
Publication Date: 07.25.06
Genre/Setting: Historical; Victorian; Hampshire, England
Heat Level: 5
Rating: 5 stars
Narration Rating: 5/5
Daisy Bowman is the last of her friends remaining unmarried and her father is furious at her lack of success in securing a titled husband. He’s given her an ultimatum: find a husband by the end of the season or marry the man of his choosing, cutthroat businessman Matthew Swift.
Daisy is shocked and determined not to fall in line with her father’s plan. She’ll do anything to find someone else to marry besides her father’s crony whom she’s never liked. But when she meets Matthew again, Daisy is even more surprised to find that he’s incredibly charming and they have an undeniable sensual chemistry together. Soon Daisy comes to realize that the man she thought she hated is actually perfect for her.
But Matthew has a scandalous secret and its revelation could destroy the fragile love they’ve established together.
I’m a bit surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, mostly because Daisy hasn’t been my favorite supporting character in the other wallflower books; though I can definitely relate to her bookishness, her tendency to have her head in the clouds is something I definitely can’t resonate with. Her immediate rejection of her father’s decision to marry her off to Matthew and her description of him doesn’t make her seem very kind either, but she’s quick to amend her views when reunited with Matthew after not seeing him for several years. Matthew’s pining for Daisy is what got me in this one. I always love a hero who’s secretly been in love with the heroine for years. It just melts my heart and that’s what happened here, though of course Matthew came with a secret that could keep him and Daisy apart despite her newfound interest, so he tries to put her off. Thankfully, Daisy was having none of it and went after Matthew in a ruthless bit of courtship, which I loved. I also enjoyed seeing them work through the issues Matthew faced together, along with the rest of her friends and family, showing Matthew what it was like to have people he could depend on at his side. Matthew is also responsible for some of the swooniest dialogues I’ve ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed this listen, especially as it came during what is turning into a terrible book slump for me.
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