Scandal in Spring

I liked this well enough. I like the hero-with-a-secret thing. But there wasn't quite enough of the angst I love so well to give it as many stars as others in this series. (3 stars)

Maybe my favourite of the series.

So, apparently, I wasn't a huge fan of the Bowman sisters as protagonists. Both this book and It Happened One Autumn were my least favorite of the Wallflowers novels. Sadly, I can't pinpoint why, exactly, that may be. I liked Lillian and Daisy quite well as characters, but their stories just didn't spark for me the way Annabelle and Evie's did. Still, it's overall a great series and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.

After three seasons in London attempting to snare a husband from amongst the peerage, Daisy Bowman is dismayed when her father lays down an ultimatum: find a husband by the end of May or marry her father's protege, Matthew Swift. Daisy views Matthew with utter abhorrence as he is far to similar to her domineering and uncaring father to ever be suitable as a husband, particularly for a woman as bookish and romantic as Daisy. But when Matthew arrives in England, Daisy discovers that her memories of the young man she knew in New York do no justice to the man he's become. As Daisy finds herself considering the impossible, actually following her father's wishes, her greatest obstacle might be Matthew's own resistance to the match.Enjoyable historical romance, as I've come to expect from Kleypas. I was particularly fond of Daisy as a naive bookworm is a heroine after my own heart. Her romance with Matthew is sweet and satisfying from start to finish. Also, as the last full novel in the Wallflowers series, we get several sizable interludes with the other wallflowers and their spouses, giving everyone particularly satisfactory happy endings.

Daisy is the last of the wallflowers looking for a husband. She's invited to her sister's country estate while Lillian awaits the birth of her first child. Lord Westcliff has invited several eligible bachelors, business associates and friends for hunting, fishing, and business. Daisy's father, the soap manufacturer from America, has entered into a partnership with Westcliff and has sent for his right-hand man, Mathew Swift, who Daisy and Lillian hate, to get it up and running in England. Matthew has changed, matured, better looking, and stronger physically. He's secretly always loved Daisy and it's not long before she starts falling for him after a lot of bickering, rivalry and jealousy. I liked Daisy because she reminded me of Helen Ravenel Winterborne in that the shy girl comes out of her shell and goes after what she wants.

Definitely would have loved this more with MUCH less Lillian. I can't stand her personality and she was so whiney in this book.

I love this series, I just do. Every book leaves me charmed. We finally get Daisy's story, and it is really satisfying. Matthew is lovely, Daisy and Lilian's parents reveal themselves to be not 100% jerky, and all the Wallflowers now have their HEA. As I result I am smiling. When I am in the dumps, Kleypas is a reliable cure; the bacitracin to my wounded soul.

The last of the Wallflowers is still searching for a husband, Daisy. Her father is threatening to wed her to his employee, Mr. Swift. She has always thought Mr. Swift dull, unattractive and a butt kisser to her father. She has just a short time to find somebody from England before her choice is made for her.
One day a man arrives at the estate and walks towards her, he's tall, handsome and their is something that draws her attention to him. This man will upend her views and change her path forever.
This last tale of the Wallflowers is a wonderful end to the unwed ladies. This was a tough match, but so worth the effort. Now to see how they are all carrying on- Christmas with The Wallflowers. : )

So, I figured I knew who Daisy was going to end up with. I was totally wrong, but I like this outcome better. Matthew was clearly the best person for her. Officially all of the Wallflowers are married. I know can get to "The Wallflowers meet the Ravenels" . . . totally ready!

5 stars

The chemistry was mediocre and I wasn't really pulling for them. I had hoped that the character Daisy kissed in another book would be her love interest.

Not my favorite of the series as I didn't really connect to Daisy but still a great read. You cared the entire time about what was 'hanging over Mathew's head' and were just waiting for it to be dealt with. I'm sad to now see all the Wallflowers married.

While it's fairly predictable I found this historical romance entertaining. The fourth story in the Wallflowers series. This has the daydreaming Daisy Bowman finds a husband. Her father threatens her with his assistant, Matthew Swift, if she can't find another within two months but the more time the two of them spend together the more they are attracted to each other.Yeah, there are some moments that don't really ring true with the period but overall it's entertaining. You can see how the previous romances have progressed with children now on the scene, and a birth during the story. But you can also see how the relationships between the women have advanced and how the women recognise that these relationships need to be nurtured as well.Liked it, nothing major here but enjoyed the read.

Daisy finally gets her story!! Loved it!! It was so great to have all the ladies together again!! Love this series!!

I'm being lazy and reviewing the entire series as one. Also many of my thoughts apply to all the books. I've never been a big romance person but I've never been opposed to them either. I discovered this series on a list for top romance series when I needed something for the 2013 Challenge Group Februray Challenge. Spoilers for the series follow:


One thing I didn't like about each book was, with one exception, every single female was a virgin and every single male had had plenty of partners (and in the cases where the male was already attracted to her, he thought of her when with the person). The reason some of the proposals happened was because he had "compromised" her (loved that phrase). Yet the men never had that worry about all the other women they had been with?

Past that these books were fun and I enjoyed each one. I was happy I read Again the Magic first since then I had a prior knowledge of the Westcliffs and in particular Marcus. I was sad that Aline and McKenna never appeared in the rest of the series. McKenna's proposal was probably my favorite of all the couples.

Simon and Annabelle were probably my favorite couple overall. I was surprised that many other reviewers labelled her as snobbish. I understand at the beginning she was hellbent on marrying a peer but primarily for the money for her family. I don't see anything wrong with that. Simon only went after her as a mistress and that was why I felt she ignored him. Once he did actually propose she almost instantly accepted him. Loved that he kept trying to compromise her afterwards in order to make sure she would marry him. After the marriage she did have trouble accepting the change in her life but she never blamed him. I adored the ending with her going after him and Westcliff saving them both and the two of them finally getting along.

Westcliff is probably my favorite male character and I did really like Lillian. Their book was not my favorite because I felt it borrowed too much from Pride and Prejudice, which I adore. The two stubborn lovers with the male as an upper class aristocrat, a bad first proposal, a wedding obsessed mother, and a conniving countess. Loved the ending again with Westcliff beating the shit out of St. Vincent. Hilarious! This book did have my favorite passage:

"You may set your mind at ease with the knowledge that I do not find you desireable in any way whatsoever."
"I understand. Enough said, my lord."
"If the two of us were left alone on a deserted island, I would have absolutely no thought of approaching you."
"I realize that," she said shortly. "You don't have to go on and on about it."
"I just want to make it clear that what I did was a complete aberration. You are not the kind of woman wom I would ever be attracted to."
"All right."
"In fact-"
"You've made yourself quite clear, my lord."

St. Vincent and Evie's story was enjoyable and I thoguht they worked quite well together. I was sad that none of the other wallflowers showed up till over halfway through the book. I also didn't realize that Evie's father appears in an earlier series, so I may have to pick that up next.

Scandal in Spring was my least favorite of the four wallflower series. I liked the concept but I figured out basically what Matthew's secret was from the start and kept getting annoyed that he put off telling her till it was too late. The game between the two of them was interesting and I enjoyed seeing how protective Westcliff had become of Daisy.

Wallflower Christmas was fun but I did not enjoy it as much as the previous five books.

I LOVED this book! It may be my favorite of the series. I so enjoyed the humor in this book. There were a few different occasions where I actually laughed out loud (one of which was the scene with that unfortunate parlor game where poor Matthew had to moo.) The dialogue was so very wonderful as well. The banter between the characters was such a pleasure to read.Daisy is definitely my favorite Wallflower. She's a bookworm and a dreamer and she just wants to find a man that can appreciate who she is and find value in what she has to offer. Daisy is such a ray of sunshine and I love that she is so forthright.I loved Matthew from the moment I realized that he had been in love with Daisy for as long as he'd known her. His dry sense of humor kept me smiling and even though he kept his past a secret from Daisy, you could tell that he was a good, decent man.All the Wallflowers and their husbands made appearances in the book with Lillian and Westcliff playing a major role.Overall, a wonderful read filled with warmth and humor.Sidenote: I know there is a follow up novella to this series: A Wallflower Christmas and I plan to read it eventually, but I can't help thinking that this book wrapped everything up perfectly.

Daisy isn't my favorite wallflower she is like so uncertain of what she wants out of a husband, she is the last wallflower in the series, and she is to marry Matthew Swift, who isn't charming as well!! I preferred the other man who Daisy kissed in Evie's house, the pirate-kind-of-guy, Cam. this one was charming and sexy to be the Hero!!

I was hooked on HR for a very long time - this is my top book

This review is for all 5 books in the series, because while I think they're harmless one by one, taken as a whole, they support rape culture.Let me say that there is no outright rape in these books, but they are all steeped in the trope of a beautiful virgin (in this case one in each book) who only needs a forceful man to awaken her sexual urges.While I love the idea of the four wallflowers working together to secure husbands, and the descriptions of the gorgeous clothing, the characters themselves are fairly stereotypical--the shy girl, the brash American girl, the dreamer and the down-on-her-luck girl from the gentry. The men are equally two-dimensional--the rake, the industrialist, the stuffy lord and the irritating American.All of the female characters, the four wallflowers and a secretary in the last book, are preyed on by the men, who reduce them to quivering masses of sexual desire by forcing kisses and gropes (and in one case, oral sex) on them. It's always because the women are so, so desirable that the men cannot withstand their urges. It's been almost 200 years since The Lustful Turk was written, but apparently we're still believing this trope, glorifying it and in all too many cases, acting on it. We need to stop.

Daisy Bowman is the last of the wallflowers to find wedded bliss. Her father, Thomas Bowman, is tired of spending money on gowns, balls, and everything needed to land Daisy a titled husband. Thomas hands down an ultimatum to Daisy; find the husband she wants to marry by the end of May or marry his choice: Matthew Swift.Daisy can’t imagine being married to her father’s right hand man. What she knows about Matthew she doesn’t like. Matthew is dependable and Thomas holds him in high esteem. Surely this means that Matthew must be a lot like Thomas. As time passes, Daisy learns she could be wrong.Matthew has much to gain by marrying Daisy. He will gain the company when Thomas passes, but more importantly he has the opportunity he never thought possible. Matthew has loved Daisy for years from a safe distance. He knows he can’t ever get close to Daisy; his past could catch up with him any time and he wouldn’t want to taint her life that way. Can these two work through so much to find true love in the end?I was very much looking forward to Daisy’s story and I wasn’t disappointed. Daisy is a strong character and we get to visit Annabelle, Lillian and Evie again. Matthew’s past is not as terrible as it is made out to be. Overall, Scandal in Spring is a delightful trip back to England. The Wallflower series is a good one and I’m sad to know that there is only one more story to read after this.

Daisy Bowman is one of my all time favorite heroines! A bookworm and a dreamer, Daisy is a delight! She is compassionate, kind, generous, and so sweet. With her interest in books and frivolous notions, her father grows concerned that she will never marry. The structured stern Mr. Bowman insists that she finds a husband within 2 months time or he will marry her to his business partner Matthew Swift.

Matthew has always been cool and calculating, just like her father, and Daisy is determined to find any husband other than him. In addition to marrying her, Matthew would increase his shares in the company. Little does she know that Matthew is not who he seems to be. Despite his feelings for her, he is determined to keep her at arms length because the past he is running from can put her in danger.

Matthew Swift is a refreshing hero! A kind, dependable, caring man through and through. His character is a nice change from all the stories with rakes (although I do love them too).

The chemistry between Matthew and Daisy is electrifying. They are wildly entertaining together and this story is impossible to read without smiling.

The audio CD is great- well read and enjoyable. The story line is excellent - wickedly funny, great plot, lots of appearances by the other wall flowers.

This whole series is incredible!

Heroine: 5/5
Hero: 5/5
Side Characters: 5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Steaminess: 4/5
Overall story: 5/5

If it weren't for Lillian, I might like this book a bit more. There was simply too much of her and her infallibility. I think Daisy deserved a more pronounced role in her own story. Somehow other characters got in the way.

The good thing is I loved both Daisy and Matthew. I loved how they act together and apart. Neither is boring or overbearing like some characters tend to become in their own stories. Matthew's secret and problem are serious enough, but you are not beaten over your head with it. When it comes out, that part of story doesn't drag at all.
It hasn't bothered me that the reactions to his secret and the resolution are a bit unrealistic. Scandal in Spring is a romantic story before anything else. 'With your fondness for stories with dramatic twists and characters with mysterious pasts, it’s a foregone conclusion you wouldn’t have a quiet, ordinary courtship.' And it definitely isn't quiet and ordinary. Devil in Winter is still my favourite book in this series.

I really enjoyed this story, especially since he was clearly in love with her from the beginning. I loved the dynamics between these two, and enjoyed how much they really got along. Daisy and Mathew made a great couple.

Light and amusing with just the right amount of romance and mystery to keep you entertained.

The thing I liked most and the thing I liked least about Scandal in Spring were one and the same: the plot is almost completely determined by the ensemble characters.

Now, I was delighted to spend so much time with Lillian and Annabelle and Evie and Westcliff and Simon - although St. Vincent hardly appears at all. They're great characters, and the Wallflowers worked for me as a series that was about friendship as well as romance.

But the action - if you can call it action - in the story consists of little other than the ensemble characters deciding whether or not they approve of Matthew Swift. Since they're all so close, and care so deeply about one another, approval is a make-or-break issue. Is Matthew good for Daisy? Is he putting on a show to court her, or are his feelings sincere? Where will they live? Will Daisy be a good wife to Matthew?

This is fairly realistic, and when it's happening to you or one of your friends, it's even pretty exciting. It was fun to read about, sweet and amusing, and I finished the book the day i started it.

But the book is just an extended garden party, and it's not an exciting read, or an anxious read; nor is it particularly erotic. The action at the end really is tacked on, comes and goes too fast - like an epilogue when it could have been the whole book. That was really odd.

Matthew Swift blends pretty easily into the crowd of Kleypas heroes; he's tall, dark, handsome, self-made, gruff on the outside and gooey on the inside.

You probably won't regret reading it - but you also probably won't remember it very well in a week or two.

Scandal in Spring
4 Stars

Synopsis
After three years of failing to snare a husband, Daisy Bowman's father issues an ultimatum - find a husband by the end of the season or marry his protege, Matthew Swift. Daisy sees Matthew as cold and calculating, however, she soon learns that there is more to him than meets the eye when his slightest touch lights a fire in her blood. In fact, Matthew may just turn out to be better than her wildest dreams.

Review
Definitely the most hilarious book in the series. From the fish-tied goose to the bloodthirsty game of lawn bowls, the book had me gasping for breath.

Even though it is not as intense as Lillian and Marcus's or as sensual as Evie and Sebastian's, Matthew and Daisy's romance is sweet and endearing. Daisy is a delightful mix of whimsy and practicality. She is charming, witty and in possession of a huge heart. Matthew is the most romantic of the four heroes the button - need I say more and his mysterious past only adds to his appeal.

The nature of Matthew's dark secret is compelling but it should have been revealed earlier as the keeping secrets theme is not a preferred one for me. Moreover, the pacing here is off and the crisis feels contrived and the climax rushed.

The other Wallflowers all put in an appearance but it is Lillian and Marcus who continue to shine. There are moments where I could have throttled Lillian for her attitude towards Matthew but she comes through for him in the end so all is forgiven.

The entire series is simply amazing and I recommend it without hesitation. It is great that there is one more installment to look forward to - how will Rafe Bowman deal with the matchmaking wallflowers?

Summary:Daisy Bowman, the last of the wallflowers left to marry, has had three season and has yet to find a man to marry. So her father insists that she has two months to find a husband, or she will be marrying Matthew Swift. From what she remembers of Matthew Swift is a cold man so much like her father, who is driven and intelligent, but when she meets him again she is stung by how much he has changed over the years. No longer a “bag of cabbage” he is handsome, strong features and mesmerizing. So with the help of her brother n’ law and Evie’s husband, they have selected some gentlemen eligible for her, to come to Westcliff’s home in the country. Matthew Swift exudes charm and sensual beauty that has every woman tittering in his favor. However Daisy is insistent on trying to ignore Matthew, but as much as she tries, she finds herself feeling more alive around Matthew than any other man. His kisses waken up her senses, and she aches not only for his sensual touch but she also aches to know the man as well. But Matthew is hiding something, something that haunts him and could destroy everything….The Hero Matthew Swift, is driven and has always been since he started working for Thomas Bowman. He is a determined man, intelligent, full of charm, inventive, and in love with Daisy Bowman. Matthew has loved her for years, savoring each moment he sees her, but knowing he can never have her due to mistakes made in his past that haunt him every day of his life. But being near Daisy stirs him up inside and he starts to question if he could ever give her up.The Heroine Daisy Bowman is the younger sister of Lillian Bowman. After Lillian made a advantageous match, and her mother hopes that she can do the same. Daisy craves peace, gardens and a room full of books. She seeks a man who is similar to her wants and needs, someone that she can love. Daisy is a woman who is tender hearted, carefree, and a “free spirit”. She has never felt love from her father, and she starts to doubt that she truly is a “parasite” as her father claims. But as she starts to get to know Matthew as a man, she sees something in him that could make him become her future.My Thoughts:Scandal In The Spring is the fourth in the Wallflower Series. This is Daisy’s story. I find that whenever I read any books from this author, I just fall in love with the story and the characters, and the same is true for Scandal In Spring. It was such a delight to read this one, and it has been some time since I have. I loved both of these characters, as far as hero’s go Matthew Swift is one of my favorites. He is handsome, driven, passionate, and throughout the story we see Matthew come to life. The interaction between Matthew and Daisy is witty, fun, and at times sensual; and entertaining to the reader. As far as love stories go this is a golden treasure, and one that will charm any reading with a romantic heart. Scandal In Spring is definitely at the top of best romances!!My Favorite Quote:Matthew knew it was wrong the instant their lips met. Because nothing would ever equal the perfection of Daisy in his arms.

The Last Melon!! No wait, wrong story.I meant to say: The Last Wallflower! NOOOO! It’s so hard to say goodbye…This is Daisy’s book, the dreamer/romantic/bookish wallflower. She has been husband-hunting for 3 years but as we all know men can be idiots and the girl is still single – and as so, her father sends for his most dedicated employee, Mr Matthew Swift, and tells Daisy she’ll have to marry the guy. Daisy can’t stand the idea, because she loads Mr Swift, who she thinks is the very image of her father: someone who only cares for the business and making money. But it turns out Mr Swift wows everyone by being a quite impressive fellow - he is handsome, educated, sharp, and can make a baby stop crying in 1 minute or less. I thought it would be so much more difficult for him to sweep Daisy off her feet, especially because Lillian was determined to make him look bad, but it turns out that Daisy gives her heart away to Mr Swift shortly after the “Please, help me save this rude goose” scene, and that happens almost at the beginning of the story.For some reason this last installment wasn’t, let’s say, as intense as the other 3 -although I reckon Devil in Winter is a tough book to follow, because it is THAT GOOD, please go read it- but I loved it nonetheless. One scene made me laugh so hard I lost my breath: Daisy trying to climb to Matthew’s bed. You see, she’s kind of short, and the bed was uncommonly high. I couldn’t stop laughing for a while because of that image imprinted in my head.Needless to say I also loved the scenes with all the other wallflowers and their respective husbands - it's so nice to take a peek at their married lives. *sigh*So, yes! I want to read everything by Lisa Kleypas now. Everything!

He loves her and has loved her for years. But Daisy Bowman would never know it and Matthew Swift is determined to keep it that way. He harbors a hidden desire he must keep to himself in order to protect her from his past. What is he hiding? What is so unforgivable that he cannot profess his need for this woman, even when she beckons him with her innocent desires?As with the previous books in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed this tale, the last in Lisa Kleypas' Wallflower series. I got lost in her easy, free-flowing style and her witty sense of humour had me chuckling throughout the story. The banter between the hero and heroine was so enjoyable and hilarious that I was laughing out loud, especially during the heated "lawn bowling" game. Of course, neither character would admit defeat, something I can totally relate to. There is hope for we five foot lasses in this tale. I, only being an inch (or 2????) over five feet, could easily connect to the petite Daisy. She was a different kind of beauty, not the striking, regal vision of refinement. She was an every-day beauty....romantic and fiesty, my kind of gal. I loved how Daisy fell for Matthew, someone she never fathomed could possess all of the qualities she had sought for so long. In Matthew Swift she found someone whose presence she reveled in, even more than her precious books, someone who made her senses come alive with the brush of a fingertip, someone who accepted her for who she was, quirks and all. "Daisy rushed at him and whacked his chest with the book. She hated it that she felt so alive with him. She hated the way her senses drank in his presence like dry earth absorbing rain. She hated his handsome face and virile body, and the mouth that was more tempting than any man's mouth had a right to be."Matthew was a wonderful hero, a man with a duality of character that even women today seek. He could be a cold-hearted, aggressive businessman, very smart with a strong work ethic and a tenacious and unyielding drive to succeed. As we learn Matthew's secrets, we learn why this tenacity exists within him. Yet Matthew also possessed a gentle and playful side, easily apparent in the "goose" incident as well as his many debates with Daisy about her romantic notions of men. What I adored the most was his devotion to Daisy. He loved her for so long, secretly keeping his feelings to himself as he reveled in every glimpse of her face, every movement of her hands, every breath that she took. When a man keeps a lock of your hair in his pocket for years, knowing he could never possibly have you, I call that love and devotion. Thus, when Matthew finds himself alone with Daisy and she innocently proclaims her desire for him, he couldn't help but question this unfathomable reality. "Do you know what I want from you?" she heard him ask hoarsely. "Do you understand what's going to happen if we don't stop?" "Yes." Matthew lifted his head and gave her a doubtful glance. "I'm not as innocent as you might think," Daisy said earnestly. "I'm very well read." He turned his face away, and she had the impression he was fighting a smile. Then he looked back at her with piercing tenderness. "Daisy Bowman," he said unevenly, "I'd spend eternity in hell for one hour with you."Wow! Eternity! Sigh.....I would spend an eternity with Matthew Swift myself. And you can spend a few hours with him as well if you read this historical romance, another success by the very talented Lisa Kleypas.

Until now, the Wallflower series has been pretty good but not 100% satisfying for me like it has been for so many other readers. Based on the ratings I've seen at various book-related sites and the fact that I rarely see it mentioned as a fan favorite, it would seem that Scandal in Spring is possibly the least favorite book for most readers of the series. As such, I wasn't sure what to expect going into it, but now that I've finished it, I'm going to go against the grain again, by saying that in my opinion, it is the best book amongst the original quartet. Both the hero and the heroine were extremely likable which wasn't necessarily the case for me with the first three books. The couple had a sweet, tender relationship with plenty of deeply romantic moments. I also felt that the characterizations were more well-drawn, or at least, the characters were more relatable for me. The secondary characters were fabulous too, and there was also some decent suspense created by the wait to see what secret Matthew was keeping and what the fall-out from it might be. I suppose the ending was a tad bit rushed, but not enough to be unsatisfying. Everything just came together to create an emotional story that is definitely a keeper for me.Although I adore Marcus (It Happened One Autumn), Matthew has at the very least, tied him, but may have nudged ahead just a bit, as my favorite hero of the series. He is probably the closest Lisa Kleypas has come to writing a beta hero, and perhaps that's why I don't see a lot of love being expressed for the character. Ms. Kleypas is known for her sexy alphas, so Matthew is something of a departure from the norm. For me, that was a good thing, because I adore betas. Matthew is also a geek. Highly intelligent and a whiz with numbers, he's a force to reckoned with in the business world. His logical nature can sometime make him seem a little cold, but underneath it all he has a very kind and sensitive heart. It was amusing how his feelings for Daisy don't quite make sense to him in the beginning, and he simply wrote them off as mere lust. Daisy and Lillian seemed to have a preconceived notion that Matthew was an uncaring, ruthless businessman who is just like their father, simply because their father likes him so much and he is so good at being his right-hand man. I could tell right from the start though that there was much more to him than meets the eye. I think it was utterly sweet that Matthew fell in love at first sight (even though he didn't recognize it as such) and had been pining for Daisy ever since. My heart just went pitter-patter when I realized how closely he had been observing her over the years, so much so that he knew every detail about her, her likes and dislikes, the difficulties she'd had with her parents and the closeness with Lillian, and most of all what a wonderful woman she was when few other people seemed to see it. I thought it was rather funny when, feeling he couldn't have her for himself, Matthew tried to “sell” her attributes to another man in hopes of helping her find a match. Much like Marcus, Matthew is a well-spring of controlled, hidden passion which when unleashed for the woman he loves is a heady brew. He was also extremely dependable and responsible, as well as brave and determined to take the measures he did to better himself after a very rocky beginning to his life. All in all, Matthew was a very admirable, and lovable hero who was more of a gentleman than many men who were born and bred for that kind of position.Daisy was a really sweet girl. I've liked her throughout the series and she has now edged out Evie as my favorite Wallflower heroine. I just adore her bookishness and her imagination which takes her on many an adventure in her head. She has a big heart that allows her to love all creatures great and small and find the good in everyone, even those people who have wronged her. In fact, I was quite surprised that she had such a low and prejudiced opinion of Matthew in the beginning. I'm not sure that enough background information was given for me to fully understand where those feelings came from, but I was pleased and proud of Daisy when she dispelled those notions pretty quickly as she got reacquainted with Matthew and started seeing the man underneath the somewhat buttoned up exterior. I thoroughly enjoyed how Daisy drove Matthew to the breaking point by trying to make him jealous and then neatly sealed the deal by being just a little naughty. Matthew may have been extremely self-controlled (which I find very sexy), but by the time Daisy was done with her little scheme, he was so close to the edge of the precipice, she could have knocked him over with a feather. I also loved how Daisy trusted Matthew implicitly, never doubting him for a minute even when the truth about his past came out. She was definitely the type of woman who stood steadfastly by her man. Daisy was just a very fun and likable character that I really enjoyed reading about.As with the other books in the series, all the Wallflowers and their husbands returned with the exception of Simon who was present in the background, but I don't remember him having any actual scenes. I couldn't have been happier to see Marcus and Lillian front and center in this one, especially Marcus. The couple experience their own blessed event while being there for Daisy and Matthew. I was keenly reminded of why I adore Marcus so much and why he is one of my favorite things about the entire series. I love how tender he was with his pregnant wife and how he was an encouragement to Daisy. Once again, he showed his magnanimity of character by intuitively recognizing that Matthew was a good man, and pledging his full support for him even before knowing his secret. Lillian, on the other hand, was being a bit irritating again. I understood her fear of “loosing” her sister if they had to be separated by thousands of miles and an ocean, but I couldn't help but be upset with her for being so unreasonable. It seemed like she didn't think Daisy was capable of making an intelligent decision on her own. Daisy had always been there for Lillian, supporting her throughout the husband-hunting, so to have Lillian truly at odds with her for the first time over Daisy's choice of a husband was rather frustrating. Lillian and Matthew did have a talk though where they both laid all their cards on the table. I love how Matthew stood up to her, and I think it was a turning point in how Lillian felt about him with her finally allowing him some grudging respect. In the end, although her turnaround was perhaps a bit abrupt, Lillian redeemed herself by standing with her sister in a united front.There were many wonderful scenes within the pages of Scandal in Spring. The intensely competitive spirit between Matthew and Daisy in the game of lawn bowling was positively hilarious and nearly had me rolling on the floor. Matthew's reaction to the parlor games was equally funny, while the kiss he gave Daisy in library afterward was bone-meltingly hot. All of their love scenes were tender and sensuous, never allowing me to doubt for a moment that they loved each other completely, even though they didn't actually admit it until some time later. They were just absolutely perfect for each other. Even the suspense surrounding Matthew's secret was a pleasant surprise, and although it was easy to figure out part of it, there ended up being more complexity to it than I was expecting which only made him all the more sympathetic. Overall, I think that Scandal in Spring had a little more depth to the story while still embodying that trademark Wallflower humor. It was a fabulous read that I had a hard time putting down and was always excited to pick back up. It has definitely earned a spot on my keeper shelf, and now I look forward to finishing up the series with A Wallflower Christmas in a couple of months.

another lacklustre, and thankfully the last, installation for the wallflower quartet. i don't know if i just can't take too much of this author in one sitting, (i did, after all, enjoy secrets of a summer night) but all Kleypas' heroes and heroines seem to blend together after a while. meagre attempts at individuality ultimately provide stereotypes: one's dreamy, one's fiery, one's shy, one's practical, etc. they all seem to fall in love the same way, make love the same way, and enjoy very similar happily ever afters. i felt in particular that this story's plot was a copout - the hero's "disreputable" past and his efforts to keep it a secret are supposed to provide conflict, but the author forces the plot through the most desperate contortions in order to make any kind of conflict evaporate on the spot. in Scandal in Spring, everything is perfect. the hero is and has always been perfect. his angst over his past seems exaggerated and misplaced considering his is innocent of the charges that are eventually brought against him. the cast of guardian angels from the previous books are perfect and have the amazing super power of making sure everything stays perfect. i don't have a problem with happily ever afters, but none of this was remotely believable. never did I doubt that lord westcliff would be able to save the day. everything simply fell into place too easily. kleypas writes well, which is a small blessing, but that wasn't enough to get me hooked. i guess this would be the kind of book that appeals to readers with emotional attachments to the characters from previous books, who are trotted out for no other reason that i can divine except to gratify these fans. i'm beginning to think that Kleypas just isn't my cup of tea.