How to Be a Wallflower: A Would-Be Wallflowers Novel

Cleo Lewis’s goal is to be a wallflower. She walks into Quimby’s for WF-esque dresses and finds out that the proprietor has to move to America because of a stipulation in a contract. Being in business herself, Cleo realizes that the unsigned contract allows her to become the savior of Quimby’s. Jake Astor Addison cannot deny the talent he sees in Martha Quimby and offers her more than Cleo did to ensure she becomes a part of his investments back home. He goes as far as moving into Cleo’s hotel to convince her to give Quimby’s up. I love the wager the enemies cook up because it meant they can make each other look a fright. However, the wager allows as much close proximity between the two who keep having to set boundaries denying their desire for each other. I love how kippers play a role in this book. It is unexpected and hilarious. Who knew kippers would create a connection, allowing a friendship and romance to bloom. If you love reading about independent women and men who know the value of letting go for something more valuable, then you will enjoy this book. I stopped a couple of times during my read to appreciate and just be in awe of EJ’s writing, so if you are a fan or seeking a new author to read, you will not be disappointed. Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it. I adored this charming book. It is the new of a new series that I can't wait to read more of. This is written in my favorite dual POV format. Getting that glimpse into the characters' thoughts really help me to better understand the characters. Jake comes to England looking to buy a few businesses that he will bring back to America. One of those businesses is a clothing emporium, Quimby's. Quimby's will clothe the theaters that he inherited from his father in style. Jake is a big brute of a man who would never be mistaken for an English autocrat. He goes to the emporium to discuss the contract with the Martha Quimby to discover that a Miss Cleopatra Lewis stole the business right out in front of him! It was never Cleo's intention to purchase the business but she couldn't stand for the women to be upset. They had just found out that the business was to leave England for America and they didn't want to go. Both Cleo and Jake come to an arrangement to see who would actually be able to make the purchase. Jake is the typical alpha male. He wants the emporium but he wants Cleo even more! Cleo has some troubling issues stemming from her mother's behavior while growing up and even though she is drawn to the American, she wants to be a wallflower to be able to avoid marriage. These two are a delight to read. I love reading historical romances as there are usually a few words that I have to look up to see the definition. This was no exception. Learning should never stop. This read had a few sexy scenes but the author does a wonderful job of not going over the top in the details. I hope Yazmin gets a story but I don't know if it would be in this series as I can't really see her as a wallflower!

Definitely not the best from James. Scenes are cut abruptly, the issues are not well defined nor described. The climax in an anticlimax and also cut abruptly. The behaviour of the characters are mildly put erratic, contradictory and not well founded... a shame, since I really like Eloisa's novels quite a lot, specially the desperate duchess and duchess by the numbers series... not to mention the Wilde series and the Essex sisters... a shame. Hope the next book in the series will be more coherent.