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Friday Favourites is a weekly meme hosted by Natalie @ Book Lovers Life where you can showcase a book or series that’s on your Favorites shelf. It could be a book you’ve read recently or a few years back.
This week, I’m featuring one of my favorite Historical Romance series, Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas.
Four women with seemingly nothing in common except for the fact that they have all walked on the sidelines of ballrooms forge a special friendship with one another. Together, they hatch the most devious plans in order to secure a husband for each of them.
I really, really enjoyed reading this series. My favorites are Devil in Winter and It Happened One Autumn and I’ve re-read these books a couple of time already. This series was my first foray into Lisa Kleypas’ writing and I absolutely was not disappointed. All her characters were engaging and full of life. Their personas were jumping out of the pages and grabbing at you (in a completely non-threatening way). The romance and chemistry were off the charts and the humor added to that perfect mix.
Book #1: Secrets of a Summer Night
From Goodreads:
Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.
Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle’s most intriguing—and persistent—admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition . . . but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction.
Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon—and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon’s passionate embrace and tempting kisses . . . and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.
Book #2: It Happened One Autumn
From Goodreads:
It happened at the ball…
Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren’t entirely “the thing.” And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London’s most eligible aristocrat.
It happened in the garden…
When Marcus shockingly—and dangerously—swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn’t even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed…thank goodness they weren’t caught very nearly in the act!
It happened one autumn…
Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable…as his bride?
Book #3: Devil in Winter (My favorite!)
From Goodreads:
A Devil’s Bargain
Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition:marriage!
Sebastian’s reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden’s good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared,unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.
But Evie’s proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another of the dashing libertine’s callously discarded broken hearts — which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions … or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.
Book #4: Scandal in Spring
From Goodreads:
“I want you to do everything you’ve ever imagined doing with me . . .” With those scandalous words, Daisy Bowman, the sole “Wallflower” yet to be married, seals her fate with the last man she ever expected to tempt her.
After spending three London seasons searching for a husband, Daisy Bowman’s father has told her in no uncertain terms that she must find a husband. Now. And if Daisy can’t snare an appropriate suitor, she will marry the man he chooses—the ruthless and aloof Matthew Swift.
Daisy is horrified. A Bowman never admits defeat, and she decides to do whatever it takes to marry someone . . . anyone . . . other than Matthew. But she doesn’t count on Matthew’s unexpected charm . . . or the blazing sensuality that soon flares beyond both their control. And Daisy discovers that the man she has always hated just might turn out to be the man of her dreams.
But right at the moment of sweet surrender, a scandalous secret is uncovered . . . one that could destroy both Matthew and a love more passionate and irresistible than Daisy’s wildest fantasies.
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About the author:
After graduating from Wellesley College with a political science degree, Lisa published her 
first novel at age twenty-one. Her books
are published in fourteen languages and are bestsellers all over the world.
Lisa writes for St. Martins Press and is represented by her agent Mel Berger of the William Morris agency.
Lisa was named Miss Massachusetts in the 1985 MissAmerica competition. Among the challenges she faced: wearing a banner with such a long state name, when she is only 5’2″. Because of the rule that contestants had to tuck the excess length of banner into their swimsuits, she became known as “Miss Massachu.”
At the competition in Atlantic City, Lisa’s talent was singing an original composition, which won her a “talented nonfinalist” award. And to her delight, she got to keep the big sparkly crown, which sits on her bookshelf and now attracts keen interest from her daughter.
By 1998 Lisa had started a family- getting married and receiving the award of having the most wonderful little boy in the world.
That same year, Lisa’s novel “Stranger In My Arms” was given the Waldenbooks Award for greatest sales growth. The following year, Lisa’s “Someone To Watch Over Me” was a Rita finalist at the Romance Writers of Americaconvention.
In 2002 Lisa’s novel “Suddenly You” was a Rita finalist and Lisa won the Rita award for her Christmas anthology novella featured in the Dorchester publication “Wish List.” A banner year, Lisa’s novel “Lady Sophia’s Lover” was awarded Best Sensuous Historical Romance from Romantic Times magazine, and “Lady Sophia’s Lover” was given a starred review in Publishers Weekly, as was “When Strangers Marry.”
Over the following years, Lisa continued to garner critical and popular success. Lisa’s novel “Worth Any Price” was awarded a starred review from Publishers Weekly. “Worth Any Price” and “Where’s My Hero” were listed in the Amazon Editor’s Top Ten Picks for Best Romance of 2003!
“Worth Any Price” won the RITA award for best Short Historical and a few months later, “Secrets of a Summer Night” (Nov 2004) received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly!
“It Happened One Autumn” (Oct 05) was a finalist in the Short Historical Category of the 2006 RITA Awards, and in 2007, Lisa had two finalists for RITA Awards: “The Devil in Winter” and “Scandal in Spring” Lisa was a keynote speaker at the Romance Writers of America July conference. Listen to her speech.
Lisa’s first contemporary novel “Sugar Daddy” was a finalist for the RITA Award “Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements” while “Mine Till Midnight” was a New York Times Bestseller and a finalist in the RITA Awards “Best Historical Romance” category.
Lisa followed up that success with her second contemporary novel, “Smooth Talking Stranger“, which hit the New York Times Bestseller List, as did “Tempt Me At Twilight” and “Married By Morning” which was #3 on New York Times Bestseller list.
In 2011, re-releases of two of Lisa’s early books made the New York Times Bestseller list, as did her most recent contemporary novel, Rainshadow Road, released in 2012, which was been nominated for the Romantic Times Book Reviews “Best Contemporary Romance” Award. Dream Lake, the 3rd of the Friday Harbor Series was also a NY Times Bestseller. It was followed by Crystal Cove in 2013.
In December 2012, Lisa’s book, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor was the basis for the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Christmas With Holly.
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Find out more about Lisa Kleypas on her Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
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