During my Christmas break I binge-read the Wayward Wallflowers trilogy by Anna Bennett. I first discovered Anna Bennett when she wrote the Honeycote series as Anne Barton. I love the witty banter and steamy chemistry between the hero and heroines and the quirky secondary characters in all the novels. Spoiler alert I loved this series!
MY BROWN-EYED EARL (The Wayward Wallflowers: #1) Anna Bennett
2016; 333 Pages (St. Martin’s Paperbacks)
Genre: historical romance, fiction, series, romance
(I received a paperback copy from the AUTHOR)
Rating: ★★★★
William Ryder, Earl of Castleton, has broken up with his longtime mistress as he is left with his late cousin’s illegitimate twin girls. He is looking for a governess for the girls, but is not expecting the woman that turned him down at a young age.
Orphaned as young girls, Meg and her sisters are taken in by their widower uncle, Wiltshire. He is known as being mad as a hatter and the girls have been dubbed the Wilting Wallflowers. Money is tight so Meg decides to become a governess but didn’t expect the man she jilted to be her new employer.
As the two try to stay out of one another’s way, they are only more attracted to one another. And, as they try to raise the spirited girls they discover their late fathers didn’t share the whole truth behind their former match.
I loved the twins, Diane and Valerie. They each had their own personality that aided in Meg and Will’s romance – kind of like the Parent Trap. The twins remind Meg of her sisters and bring out her maternal side. While Will is getting used to being an Earl and taking care of things, the twins bring out his responsible and loving side. I really enjoyed this novel and couldn’t wait to read book two.
I DARED THE DUKE (The Wayward Wallflowers: #2) Anna Bennett
2017; 334 Pages (St. Martin’s Paperbacks)
Genre: historical romance, fiction, series, romance
(I received a paperback copy from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY)
Rating: ★★★★
In the second book, we meet Meg’s middle sister, Beth Lacey. Beth has become a companion to Alexander Savage’s, the Duke of Blackshire, dowager grandmother and enjoys it until Alex comes home. Alex is known for his ornery ways, having women seduce him for his prowess and scars from a house fire. Alex has returned home after being poisoned and then having his carriage tampered with. Someone is trying to kill him, and until he finds the killer he needs to move his grandmother to the country. Beth could help him with that but first insists he must grant his grandmother 3 wishes so that she does not feel like he doesn’t want her around. As he dodges further threats, and tries to make his grandmother happy he finds himself falling for the girl he once dubbed the Wilting Wallflower.
I really like Beth’s sassy attitude and Alex’s brooding as their banter and romance is fun. With the hint of mystery and suspense, of who is after Alex, I liked this novel even better than the first book. The dowager and Beth’s uncle steal the show with their humour and endearing moments. This is another fun historical romance.
THE ROGUE IS BACK IN TOWN (The Wayward Wallflowers: #3) Anna Bennett
JANUARY 2, 2018; 352 Pages (St. Martin’s Paperbacks)
Genre: historical romance, fiction, series, romance
(I received a paperback copy from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY)
Rating: ★★★
Second son, Sam has messed up again and forced his older brother’s hand. If Sam wants to have a home and money he must evict a man from his brother, Nigel’s property. When he goes to the home he discovers that the man is an older man with his niece. As he tries to get them to leave he falls for the niece, Julie.
Julie thinks she loves Nigel, but discovers that he wants her for a mistress not a wife. She discovers that Sam, the rogue is the one worth giving her heart to.
I really enjoyed the first two novels in this trilogy but this one really fell flat. Everything seemed forced in this book. While, I can buy that roguish Sam turns into a prince, but how they come together is quick and less romantic. However, hating Nigel and loving Julie’s uncle saved the book for me and I liked it. I was sad to hear that Charlotte and Alec didn’t get a book…unless there is a spin-off.
For more on Anna Bennett and Anne Barton please go to the author’s website!
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