What a Wallflower Wants by Maya Rodale
Publication date: September 30, 2014
Series: Bad Boys and Wallflowers #3
Publisher: Avon
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~~Reviewed by Sharon~~
After reading the first two books in the Wallflower Series, I anxiously awaited Prudence's story; however, I believe I may have set my hopes too high, as it did not live up to my expectations. This series is about three wallflowers and close friends who, after four years with no marriage prospects, strive to find a husband prior to Lady Penelope's Finishing School for Young Ladies Annual Ball since there has never been an unmarried graduate after four years on the marriage mart in the 100 year history of the school. During their third season the "gentlemen" of White's had named them London's Least Likely's with Olivia being the least likely to cause a scandal (Book One: The Wicked Wallflower); Emma, least likely to misbehave (Book Two: Wallflower Gone Wild) and Prudence, least like to be caught in a compromising position.
Although the book started out a little dark with what the reader will realize right up front is Prue's being raped at her first ball, the book lightened up and actually was entertaining for the next few chapters. We find Prue eloping with Cecil, Lord Nanson, expecting to have a "white" marriage since Cecil's sexual preferences did not include women, but at least she would not be classed a failure when she attended Lady Penelope's Annual Ball. After being overtaken by a highwayman and having her intended push her out of the carriage to save himself, we find Prue running through the woods, then walking to the nearest inn to take cover from the rain. After getting to the local inn, she meets up with John, Lord Castleton, whom she had met previously on the road, but refused to take him up on his offer of a ride since she could not allow herself to be alone with a man. This is where the story began to take a downward turn for me. I realize the author was attempting to show Prue's reluctance to be near any man because of her previous rape, but the long, drawn-out episodes at the inn had me struggling to continue to read. There was Prue's reluctance to be in the same room as John, and also Prue's rapist showing up at the Inn and attempting to corner her again, but the whole thing just seemed to take forever for the author to explain. John was a wonderful hero, but he, too, had a secret that he did not reveal till the very end of the book, so that in itself was also a turn-off for me. I will say that after plugging away at this book for over a week (I usually read a book in one day), the ending was better written and had me cheering John and Prue on to their HEA.
Although the book wasn't as well done as the previous two books (in my opinion), I was happy to see Prudence get her story told and it was great meeting up again with the other wallflowers and their husbands.
Although the book started out a little dark with what the reader will realize right up front is Prue's being raped at her first ball, the book lightened up and actually was entertaining for the next few chapters. We find Prue eloping with Cecil, Lord Nanson, expecting to have a "white" marriage since Cecil's sexual preferences did not include women, but at least she would not be classed a failure when she attended Lady Penelope's Annual Ball. After being overtaken by a highwayman and having her intended push her out of the carriage to save himself, we find Prue running through the woods, then walking to the nearest inn to take cover from the rain. After getting to the local inn, she meets up with John, Lord Castleton, whom she had met previously on the road, but refused to take him up on his offer of a ride since she could not allow herself to be alone with a man. This is where the story began to take a downward turn for me. I realize the author was attempting to show Prue's reluctance to be near any man because of her previous rape, but the long, drawn-out episodes at the inn had me struggling to continue to read. There was Prue's reluctance to be in the same room as John, and also Prue's rapist showing up at the Inn and attempting to corner her again, but the whole thing just seemed to take forever for the author to explain. John was a wonderful hero, but he, too, had a secret that he did not reveal till the very end of the book, so that in itself was also a turn-off for me. I will say that after plugging away at this book for over a week (I usually read a book in one day), the ending was better written and had me cheering John and Prue on to their HEA.
Although the book wasn't as well done as the previous two books (in my opinion), I was happy to see Prudence get her story told and it was great meeting up again with the other wallflowers and their husbands.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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