#scandal in spring

[maddiesflame]

Wallflowers layouts

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[maddie-grove]

Little Book Review: Romance Round-Up (May-December 2022)

It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas (2005): In the second installment of Kleypas's influential Wallflower Quartet, outspoken American heiress Lillian Bowman is looking for a husband at stuffy Lord Westcliff's weeks-long house party. Lord Westcliff is decidedly not on the menu, thanks to the huge stick up his ass, but we all know how that goes. This novel was a little slow, but solid and sexy. I probably wouldn't have even minded the pace if I were a little more into uptight aristocrats or feisty American heiresses in romance. Also, say what you will about love triangles, but Lillian's flirtation with villain/future-hero Lord St. Vincent added some nice tension.

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas (2006): In the third Wallflower book, debilitatingly shy heiress Evangeline "Evie" Jenner is desperate to escape her abusive maternal relatives so she can be with her dying father, who runs a London gambling house, and also avoid being forced to marry her cousin. She offers marriage to ne'er-do-well Lord St. Vincent, who's rather short on cash because his dad cut him off. She doesn't have high expectations, given that he was a real piece of shit in the last book, but he's good in bed, he's nice to her dad, and he has some good ideas about how to manage her dad's gambling house. Based on largely anecdotal evidence, I believe this is one of the most beloved romance novels of the 2000s, and I can see why. St. Vincent is an engaging chaotic bitch hero and Evie is both endearing and proactive. It didn't hit me as hard as some villain-hero romances (like To Have and to Hold, Shadowheart, Duke of Sin, and A Lady's Code of Misconduct), but I enjoyed it a lot.

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas (2006): In the fourth Wallflower book, Daisy Bowman, Lillian's fanciful younger sister, is issued an ultimatum by her dad to find a husband, or else marry the man of his choice. The man of his choice is Matthew Swift, an austere Bostonian entrepreneur whom Daisy finds soul-crushingly boring...but is her assessment fair or right? This is probably the least-loved Wallflower book, and I get why. It doesn't have a strong unifying concept or concrete stakes. Daisy's dad gives her a long timeline, she doesn't lack for acceptable prospects, and she can go live with her loving sister if worse comes to worse. Matthew, for his part, isn't actually on board with the ultimatum; he's in love with Daisy, but won't tell her because he's harboring a Dark Secret, plus he's not a mustache-twirling villain. So, most of the romance is them tentatively circling each other, forgetting more and more of the reasons they can't be together. And, honestly, I was so into it. Kleypas makes uncommonly excellent use of former protagonists as well. The three former couples, rather than being static and boring, are still going through struggles in the background despite being happily married. It's also really sweet how they come through for Matthew in his hour of need.

The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne (2015): Farah Mackenzie is a clerk for Scotland Yard who holds herself out as a respectable widow. Dorian Blackwell is a powerful underworld figure who kidnaps her out of the blue, claiming that he (a) knew her tragically dead young husband in prison and (b) wants to marry her as part of a byzantine plan to gain power in society. This book is an absolutely wild ride, with secret identities and marriages between ten-year-olds and romantic kidnappings. It does kind of lose steam after they leave the gorgeous kidnapping island, though.

Someone to Cherish by Mary Balogh (2021): Lydia Tavernor lived for years in the shadow of her husband, a magnetic and zealous vicar, and even after his heroic death (during which he saved a child from drowning), she's continued to be quiet and self-effacing. Then, at a small party, she finds herself feeling unexpectedly attracted to her amiable neighbor, Major Harry Westcott. Harry has suffered his own disappointments, namely losing the position in society he'd been raised for when his father's bigamy was revealed and suffering years of ill health due to horrific injuries sustained in the Napoleonic Wars. Although both are gun-shy due to their experiences, they crave intimacy and begin a no-strings-attached relationship. This romance had so much potential. I was invested in both characters and intrigued by the late husband's post-death effect on the characters' small community; I felt like there was going to be some exploration of how devotion to the memory of a good person (or maybe just a person who seemed to be good) can be twisted and make people act in cruel ways. Unfortunately, Balogh decided to go hard on demonizing an obviously troubled child character and having the hero and heroine bond over bullying him.

Jewel of the Sea by Susan Wiggs (1993): Roughly a decade after October Wind, which followed a bunch of characters in the several years leading up to Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas, a new crop of young people have to navigate life in both hemispheres. There's Armando, resentful son of the unethical Rafael/Catalina/Santiago throuple from the first book; Paloma, resourceful daughter of Spanish-nobleman-turned-Jewish-refugee Joseph and Taino wise woman Anacaona from the first book; Gabriella, lady-in-waiting to Katherine of Aragon and daughter of troubled Mercedes; and Will, Jewish-Spanish-English musician and chronic simp. The sequel is an improvement over the first book, in the sense that Columbus and Queen Isabella aren't major characters, but the cast of original characters is a little weaker. October Wind had three great characters (Joseph, Santiago, and Catalina), one underused one (Anacaona), and one annoying one. Jewel of the Sea has one great character (Gabriella), one underused but interesting one (Paloma), one pleasant but not terribly fascinating one (Will), and one annoying one (Armando).

How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole (2021): Makeda Hicks, eternal people-pleaser, is forced to move back in with her hotel-owner grandma after losing her job and live-in girlfriend on the same day. Burdened by a childhood where she had to parent her own mother, who struggled with alcoholism and was obsessed with the possibility that she was a long-lost royal, Makeda isn't amused when Beznaria Chetchevaliere, a detective hired to find the lost royal heir to Ibarania, turns up on her doorstep. However, pressing financial obligations and Beznaria's unconventional charisma make her take a chance. This one didn't really work for me. Makeda's a terrific heroine, but Beznaria is cartoonish, the couple spends too much time on a cargo ship, and Cole apparently still can't write a well-paced ending.

[tealeavesand-roses]

🪻Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas🪻

Secrets of a Summer Night Status: read Rating: 4.25 🌟 It Happened One Autumn Status: read Rating: 4 🌟 Devil in Winter Status: read Rating: 4.25 🌟

Scandal in Spring Status: read Rating: 3.75 🌟

After rewatching the first two seasons of Bridgerton in 2023, I went searching for a fix to hold me over until season 3 started lol. I ended up sifting through Regency-era book suggestions and I found this series. I read Secrets of a Summer Night last year (became swooned by Simon, obviously) and then decided to finally finish the rest of the series this year. What a charming series! I really liked It Happened One Autumn, I feel like I can resonate a lot with Lillian. Devil in Winter surprised me, I guess the good girl bad boy trope is always a little thrilling. And Scandal in Spring was really cute, I love Daisy lol.

[andiatas]

Me: I have a lot on my to-do-list to get done this month before autumn term begins

Also me: I know a great idea, I should re-read the Wallflower series!

[blueysbookshelf]

2024: Book 20 - Scandal In Spring

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas My rating: 5 of 5 stars Ladies and Gentlewomen…I would die for Matthew Swift. This man…He carried a button with a lock of her hair in it for YEARS because it was the only piece of her he thought he'd ever have because of his past, which comes back to haunt him eventually. He was so in love with her. Wanted nothing but her happiness and joy. And I love that so much. 😭😭😭😭😭 Kleypas writes the most amazing heroes who have such strength of self but also depth of heart. No one does it like her. This one is second in my list of favorites, only to Devil In Winter, because nothing can top that one. But this one comes really damn close. I use the CAWPILE Review method for my reviews (see explanation here), just to keep me honest and help me understand what exactly I liked/didn't like. My ratings are below. Characters: 9/10 Atmosphere/Setting: 7/10 Writing: 10/10 Plot: 9/10 Intrigue: 9/10 Logic/Relationships: 9/10 Enjoyment: 10/10 Total rating 56/70 divided by 7 = 8 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 🌶️ 🌶️ View all my reviews

[spring-siblings]

A Queer Feeling - A Heartstopper Regency AU

Mr. Charles Spring is widely regarded as one of the most eligible bachelors of the 1820 social season, to no one's greater resentment than his own. Tired of the social obligations and scrutiny of his position, Mr. Spring is ready to forsake it all, until he meets the dashing Mr. Nelson at a ball. As he grows closer to Mr. Nelson, Mr. Spring is afflicted by anxieties both old and new, as he weighs the danger of society's condemnation against the delight of Mr. Nelson's company.

Rating: T Chapters: 10/18

I made a playlist to go with this fic!

[consult-sherlockholmes]

Hey there Sherlock! I'm back! I hope you've been well and I hope you still keep up those awesome, braincell-revieving, scientific explainations about stuff like insects or arachnids like myself! 🕷️🥰😘😍❤️☺️😌😋🥳😉😁🥺🥹😳😭

I had noted your absence, and wondered where my second favourite arachnid had gone (the title of favourite arachnid still goes to @criminalisticonsultant, apologies). So your return is much appreciated. Welcome back, I had missed your questions and comments. But I will miss your old name, @shame-of-chimical. Reminiscent of better times. However, there have been some major changes during your absence. If you want to know more about it, I would advise you to read this post, some further information here, and if you have any more questions please direct them to my consulting assistant @veritassempervincit. But I do have some insects for you, as I have been bee watching last weekend.

[bearlytolerant]

Did a hot springs photo shoot with the side you don’t have to pay for and got this gem:

[sunlessea]

❛ now, i'll ask again, are you going to be good for me? ❜ - elyfires

this was always meant to be his place : ensnared by the claws of london's masters ... how could he have ever known, though? this isn't exactly what he'd had in mind, but he supposes he should've guessed. the gods are funny. he'd know, better than most, where he looks up at mr fires with parted lips, hair caught 'cross the bottom of them where his had been thrown 'round them, dragged to the ground in the jaws of a beast. he can't even mourn the mess of fallen books surrounding them, the number it had done on his bookshelves feeding from him against them.

he stares up at it with furrowed brows and a conflicted chew 'gainst his cheek. its fangs are red, like the blood that still falls down his neck where it'd bit, the top of his shirt torn, first buttons broken.

he's scared of it, in a way he doesn't quite think it's ready to comprehend. it isn't harm or terror that he's run from all these years, like most londoners would. what a foolish love story he'd make for the masters, if he let one of their own shatter his heart in their written tragedies.

"what if i'm not as good as you think i am? what if i break your heart? or you break mine? or worse..." when he finally finds his voice, it sounds choked out, and breathless. its innuendo is met with earnest romanticism, his ears flat 'gainst his head. he still won't say what's been unspoken, and he hasn't let it confess those feelings to him, either, foiling every opportunity it has tried. but this is deeply intimate, and not so easy to run away from, when he's pressed under its weight, skin burning and eager for its touch to explore further than its hands had already wandered whilst feeding.

he untangles one of his legs from underneath it and tries to reposition it to push against its waist instead. his intent it to push it back, from how it hovers over him. he's so ironically weak, though, he just ends up pushing into its thighs, and against his leg, he can feel how eager it is, without even undressing it. it's so close to him : if it leaned down, its cloaks would engulf both of them. but he can already see its face, so he raises the only hand it doesn't have pinned to push its hoods back, fingers brushing through its hair and over its ears. his chest is heaving, how desperately he's trying to catch his breath. he wants to pull them all off, no matter how terrible an idea it is.

"mr fires..." unmasking a master is probably sentence for death, for londoners like him. but they're alone, the shop empty throughout, with a grouping of bookshelves blocking them from the shop's windows. his heart aches as deeply as he suspects its body might : and maybe its heart, too, if his worst fears have been realized. he isn't sure what frightens him more, the idea that it could genuinely love him, or that he might want it in a way far beyond proper. "i'll be good for you now. i can be obedient..." his fingers trail down now, over its cheek, then to the bare skin of its neck, before it disappears 'neath the rest of its layers. this is wrong...

"do you want more than just feeding from me...?" but it's hardly the first time sexual tension has overwhelmed the two of them. it's certainly the first time he doesn't run from it. maybe this was inevitable. no matter how he tried to hide from it. "to be honest, i really ... want to touch you... taste you. more than that..."

[itsmarsss]

I think I should be allowed to punch verosika in the face PLEASE PLEASE.

That little snippet you posted... I'm so scared of the chapter now.

-💎

i swear she KINDA has a little bit of a point lol what happened in the past was a lot to deal with and she kinda closes herself to only think through her own point of of view so she gets to be angry instead of sad abt how she felt hurt

[triviareads]

I was checking my copy of IHOA for reasons and happened upon this passage and was very surprised I'd missed this before:

Guess I was too busy pondering upon McKenna's breeding kink to consider his BIL Westcliff might have one as well 🤷🏻‍♀️

[mermaidsirennikita]

Wallflowers PowerPoint????? I wanna see

Luckily (lmao) I posted it under my Wallflowers tag, which is much less extensive than my general romance tag. Here!

[shortstorytournament]

Short Story Tournament

STRAWBERRY SPRING by Stephen King (1978) (link) - tw: murder

What happened at New Sharon Teachers’ College that particular strawberry spring. . . there may be a cycle for that, too, but if anyone has figured it out, they’ve never said.

A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA by Arthur Conan Doyle (1891) (link)

To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler.

[maddie-grove]

My Top Twenty Books I Read in 2022

I haven't had a ton of time or concentration available to write book reviews this past year, or even to read nearly as much as I usually do, but I thought I would post my top 20 from last year.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2020)

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (2019)

Unmask Alice by Rick Emerson (2022)

Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss (2018)

Wahala by Nikki May (2022)

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (2014)

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas (2004)

Dune by Frank Herbert (1965)

Isabel: Jewel of Castilla by Carolyn Meyer (2001)

Maddaddam by Margaret Atwood (2013)

We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix (2018)

Summerwater by Sarah Moss (2020)

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll (2014)

The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel (2020)

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas (2006)

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas (2006)

Devil House by John Darnielle (2022)

The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman (2022)

Normal People by Sally Rooney (2018)

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix (2014)

[gradienty]

Spring Green Scandal (#1df58d to #d3fce6)

[tenth-sentence]

But the Aesthetic who answered appeared so horrified at the thought of a kender coming into the great library that the scandalized dwarf hustled Tas off before the monk could open his mouth.

"DragonLance Chronicles: Dragons of Spring Dawning" - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman