Secrets of a Summer Night

Read this one over the course of a rainy weekend. It was a so-so historical romance, not nearly as good as some I have read, even by this same author. Nevertheless, it was a fun escape for a few hours. ( )

I like books that are unpretentious and do not try to be more that they are capable to be. Love story with fun and twist and turns. Interesting thing is that ending is not a wedding but we have a glimpse of how the couple is settled and tries to build a life together. Great book when you want to relax on the beach or on the quiet afternoon. ( )

Simon was one of the best Kleypas heros I've come across - she seems to have a knack for polishing less-than-perfectly-bred men to a shine in historical romances, and he's another example of that. What's really most satisfying about Simon is that he's so unflinchingly devoted - he pursues Annabelle for years, and he is not prone to temper tantrums or fits of masculine cruelty. All that, and he still manages to be tough and properly manly.

No, it's Annabelle that was the big disappointment. Her entire personality is defined by the fact that she is poor, and wishes that she were not; that she is gently-bred, and insists on marrying the same. She tolerates her reduced circumstances with fortitude and some grace; but she is materialistic to a fault, and that soured me on her. Whenever she is happy in the book, it's because she's gotten a present of one kind or another. She refuses to contemplate marrying a non-peer, which seemed rather revoltingly inappropriate in her situation. I didn't find her particularly witty, engaging, intelligent or thoughtful. I don't mind a heroine with flaws, but that's all this girl had.

As far as it goes, it's a decent enough Kleypas. Less action than she's capable of stirring up, but not unpleasant. ( )

Book 1 of Lisa Kleypas's Wallflower Quartet.

Okay, so I read this book last. (4, 2, 3, 1 was my order.) So I knew that Simon and Annabelle were going to be fabulously happy and have a baby and all sorts of stuff before I ever knew anything about their backstory. As I was reading Book 2, I tried to skip over the parts that kinda gave stuff away--like why Westcliff approves of Annabelle now, unlike during the majority of the book.

But anyway, so Annabelle's father died a few years back and she has a younger brother (by 10 years), Jeremy, as well as a mother... and they are poor. And untitled. Jeremy's in school, but they're not going to have enough money to send him back next semester. Annabelle is nearly 25 and is on her 4th and last season. She MUST MARRY.

She meets Simon (the butcher's grown son) at a Panorama show she is taking her (then 12-year-old) brother to. They'd upped the prices and now could only afford one ticket. Simon shows up (somehow Jeremy knows him...) and offers to pay for an additional ticket. Jeremy accepts, and Simon accompanies them to the show. During the show, Annabelle can't help noticing that Simon is staring at her... and he's really quite handsome, but he's a complete stranger... At one point, all the lights are extinguished, and Simon has the audacity (or carnal urge, perhaps?) to kiss her... and they like SERIOUSLY kiss. And then he just... disappears.

Over the next couple of years, Simon pays a lot of attention to her--trying to get her to dance with him and stuff, but she really doesn't want anything to do with him--he's not part of the aristocracy, and his maneurisms are not very polished... he's very blunt. And she just doesn't like him. Even though she IS attracted to him...

So Westcliff invites the Bowmans to a country party and Annabelle and Evie snag invitations to it from Marcus's sister, Olivia. Most of the book takes place out at Westcliff's place. There are only 3 unmarried men at the estate: Marcus Westcliff, Simon Hunt, and .... Lord Kendall. Well, Kendall is a viscount or something and has lots of money and is really nice, so she decides she will seriously pursue him.

And I really don't want to give too much away, but Annabelle hurts herself and Simon is very kind to her during the whole ordeal, and as she's recovering, she finds herself spending more time with him... and then, through a series of events, they end up getting married.

The end of the book was VERY important, and I'm VERY glad that Lisa didn't just stop with them getting married. Because once they're married, Annabelle is the wife of a businessman. She's not titled and she'll never BE titled. And so she goes through this change, where she has to come to grips with the fact that maybe the aristocracy isn't everything she thought it was, and how she's just glad she's married to Simon.

And of course, he's in love with her. He's BEEN in love with her from the very beginning... and I don't think he ever really believed that she would come to love him. He brings up the subject of money a lot, as if he's sure that the money is why she's with him... So he has to discover why Annabelle is really with him... :)

It's very very good. :) I wish we could do half stars... I'd give it a 4.5. ( )

Secrets of a Summer Night
4 Stars

Synopsis
Annabelle Peyton is in want of a husband. She doesn't require much only that he be a peer and have sufficient funds to raise her family out of poverty. Simon Hunt is a self made man who has everything he could ever want except the one woman who will never have him - Annabelle. Can these two very different people find a way to overcome their differences for love?

Reviews
Charming and funny read with a very hunky hero but the heroine rubbed me the wrong way.

While Annabelle is in desperate straits and it is difficult not to sympathize with her circumstances, she is nevertheless not a likeable character due to her haughty, mercenary, elitist and selfish personality. She does ultimately redeem herself but it was too late for me. Simon, on the other hand, is simply perfect - honest, intelligent, sexy and sensual, understanding and accepting, loving and determined - I could go on and on but I won't. His only flaw is his attraction to Annabelle as I have no idea what he sees in her.

The plot is an enjoyable yet predictable love/hate romance with some Pride & Prejudice thrown in for good measure. The historical background on Victorian social norms are well researched and interesting, especially the descriptions of the decline of the aristocracy and the rise of the industrialist middle class. The portrayal of the difficult choices faced by women who fall outside the accepted conventions is also very apt.

The writing is good although it does lack a certain flow. I sometimes found myself re-reading lines and even entire paragraphs just to make sure I was following the action.

The real highlight of the book is the hysterically funny banter, machinations and antics of the Wallflowers. The Rounders-in-Knickers scenes still have me smiling.

Overall, an entertaining beginning to a promising series. Lillian and Marcus are up next and I look forward to seeing just how crazy they can drive each other. ( )