Lawson’s review of A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
Historical romance released by St. Martin’s 14 Oct 08

A warm return to the lives of the four “Wallflowers” from Secrets of a Summer Night, It Happened One Autumn, The Devil in Winter and Scandal in Spring, and there’s also a new Wallflower introduced in A Wallflower Christmas. Though the four Wallflowers are all part of this story, this story is about Rafe Bowman, Lillian and Daisy’s brother, who has come to England to marry a debutante chosen by his domineering father.

Rafe isn’t very happy about his father trying to control him, but he wants shares in Bowman’s soap operations in Europe. He may even find some form of contentment with the chosen bride and Rafe is happy to be able to stay with his sister Lillian during the proceedings. To get an idea of the prospective bride, Lillian invites her companion, Hannah Appleton, to tea to test the waters where Natalie Parr, debutante is concerned.

The Wallflowers like Hannah and Rafe is instantly attracted to her, though she dresses in drab gowns and isn’t as open as American women. Rafe and Hannah meet again at Stony Cross Park, the Westcliff estate, for the Christmas holidays where it is hoped that Rafe and Natalie will form an attachment. Though he finds Natalie charming, pretty, and amiable, Rafe is instead drawn to Hannah and finds himself opening to her caring and warmth during the holiday season.

Hannah is made into an honorary Wallflower and she does fit well with the other four. She does have a motherly tendency, but as a companion to Natalie, this isn’t very surprising. In one scene, Hannah reads parts of a Christmas Carol to a group of children that is very charming and sweet and shows all her good caring characteristics in the best light, and of course that’s when Rafe really falls hard for her.

Rafe has some of his own issues with caring about people, due mostly to his parents. He’s a rake mainly because the only happiness in his life is making money in speculation and he has a hard relationship with his father. What Rafe sees in Hannah breaks some of the shell around his heart and when he does confess his love it is very passionate and shows a side to Rafe that probably has been buried for a long time.

What was hinted at, but not really explored until this book was the domineering nature and overall controlling aspect of the Bowman patriarch. He’s not happy with himself, his wife, his children and even making money doesn’t seem to bring him any happy feeling. That Rafe, Lillian, and Daisy have been able to be the characters they are with that sort of father and family life shows the depth of each of them to a greater extent.

Unfortunately, things to get a little short. The story is rushed, and it seems more time could have been spent with Rafe and Hannah. There are token appearances from all the Wallflowers and their spouses, which is nice, but again, the whole book is short. It felt as though there was too much being crammed in 220 pages. It’s a cute Christmas story though, and Wallflower fans will enjoy the time with all four in happy endings.

Grade: B-

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.…

It’s Christmastime in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady in waiting and, if it weren’t for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed. Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallflowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants. However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.

A Wallflower Christmas takes a trip to Victorian London, under the mistletoe, and on a journey of the heart. With her trademark charm, sensuality, and unforgettable characters, there’s no one like Lisa Kleypas to make you believe in the magic of Christmas.

Other books in this series: