I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Wallflower books by Lisa Kleypas and was excited when I saw this newest edition that continues the series. I don't normally buy hardcover editions of books due to the higher costs, and the cost of this latest in the series was a tad more expensive than warrants the length of the book, but I was so excited to have another Wallflower story that I went ahead and shelled out the extra dollars for the hardcover. This is not best of the Wallflower series, but A Wallflower Christmas is indeed a fun story, albeit I felt as though it is was trifle short. I loved getting to catch up with the lives of the Wallflowers, although this story was Rafe's story. It was fun to get to know one of Lillian's brothers that we have heard mentioned, but we never really got to meet in previous books. It would be fun to meet her twin brothers and learn their stories also. Getting to see more of Annabelle and Simon, Evie and Lord St. Vincent and Lillian and Marcus was so much fun, although I would loved to have a bit more to Annabelle and Simon's time together in the book. Simon's quick appearance of coming up behind Annabelle to surprise her and then whisking her off, was much too brief and had me wanting just a bit more interaction with these two characters together.

All in all, a fun little story, but I did come away with a feeling of wanting just a bit more.

I love Lisa Kleypas, but her Christmas Wallflowers book was TOO short. I still loved it though. Her writing is incomparable. Her characters are full of life and hilarious, and her storyline always includes a steamy romance.

I love Lisa Kelypas and most of her pervious books, but this one did not take me where most of her other books did. This book was OK, but not great as my title states.

The beginning started out fine, but as the book progressed it dulled a bit for me; my favorite couples were all there but it still was not enough to liven up this book which could have been a fantastic read!

If this is your first time reading a LK book, please do not start with this one, find one of her previous books to start with by this wonderful author.

I usually really Love Lisa Kleypas novels, but this Christmas compilation did not have enough story plot for any of the previous character or the new couple, It really reads like an Epilogue to a complete novel and it surprised me that it was published as a hardcover.

Once upon a time, four young women who were always the wallflowers of London society's social events banded together to help one another find love, happiness, and the perfect (or wickedly imperfect) man for them. Now it's Christmas, and the Wallflowers are once again reunited to celebrate the holidays and, perhaps, welcome a new member to their ranks.

Raphael Bowman has come from America to meet and likely marry the aristocratic Lady Natalie. Lady Natalie is everything Rafe's parents want for him, and his father isn't above making Rafe's marriage to her a condition to Rafe securing an interest in his father's company. Though not enthusiastic about the idea, Rafe is agreeable, but upon arriving in England finds that his brash American ways may not lend themselves to wooing the perfect English rose. To help Rafe, his sisters and their friends decide to invite Lady Natalie's companion to visit so that Rafe can learn the way to his proposed intended's heart. There's just one problem...

Once Rafe meets Miss Hannah Appleton, he can't seem to get her out of his mind. Her good, proper, English demeanor makes the wicked American want to be very, very bad. She thinks he's a cad. He thinks she's irresistible. And Rafe's father would definitely think a match between them is unacceptable. But with a little help from friends, perhaps the impossible can become possible, just in time for Christmas.

There is truly no better way to spend an afternoon than curled up with a Lisa Kleypas novel. Her books are always charming, entertaining, and bright from beginning to end, and A Wallflower Christmas is no exception. I was swept away by Hannah and Rafe's love story; it's filled with delightful characters, sparkling banter, and, at the center of it all, a sensual, heartwarming romance.

Rafe is a truly irresistible hero. He's sexy, clever, and irreverent - a rogue to the core that I couldn't help but fall in love with. In Hannah, Rafe meets his match. She's intelligent and sweet, but with a spine of steel. She's the kind of heroine you can't help but feel close to, as if from the very start she is a friend. In other words, she fits in perfectly with her fellow Wallflower heroines as an endearing character who is easy to identify with and adore. And like her four predecessors, Hannah doesn't fall for a rake's usual tricks, even if that rake is a man she finds utterly irresistible. Her no-nonsense attitude makes her the perfect foil for Rafe and his careless charm, making their love story a joy to watch unfold. From their first meeting, sparks practically fly off the page, making A Wallflower Christmas impossible to put down.

I confess, though this book is Rafe and Hannah's story, before "meeting" them, what I had been looking forward to the most was getting to revisit the characters I loved so much from the original Wallflower quartet. Ms. Kleypas did not disappoint. Annabelle, Lillian, Evie, Daisy, and, to a lesser extent, their husbands all played a large role in A Wallflower Christmas. While Hannah and Rafe were undeniably the center of the story, it was pure joy to see my favorite Wallflowers together again. Their cheerful, boisterous, teasing, caring presence added another wonderful layer to this story. Ms. Kleypas also provides a peek into each of the four's lives after their happily ever after, a wonderful gift for any Wallflower fan. And for those who have yet to read Ms. Kleypas's phenomenal Wallflower series, A Wallflower Christmas does stand on its own. Yet after finishing this enchanting tale, I am sure every new fan will be rushing to read Secrets of a Summer Night, It Happened One Autumn, Devil in Winter, and Scandal in Spring.

A Wallflower Christmas is everything I've come to expect from one of Ms. Kleypas's novels. It's sensual, witty, imaginative, and fun, with characters that are so full of life they seem to come right off the page. I cannot speak highly enough of Ms. Kleypas's talent for writing engaging, entertaining love stories, and A Wallflower Christmas is a perfect example of why her books always end up on my list of favorite novels. I absolutely loved this book and hope that Ms. Kleypas will one day write stories for the remaining two Bowman brothers, Ransom and Rhys, for I cannot get enough of this incredible series. For now I'll content myself with curling up with A Wallflower Christmas and falling in love with Rafe and Hannah all over again.

Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Enjoyed it, loved reading about the wallflowers but in case you have not heard there's an economic crisis going on across many business sectors and that includes retail book stores. I paid $19 bucks for it and while I love Ms. Kleypas it is clear I have to be less eager to run out on the day it hits shelves and think about hitting my local library.

I HAVE READ ALL THE FOUR WALLFLOWER AND LOVED THEM, THEY ARE LIGHT, FUN AND I CAN'T STOP READING THEM TILL I FINISH THEM. LISA IS WITTY AND ENTERTAINIG. THE CHARACTERS ARE ALL PERFECTLY DONE AND THE MATCHES THOSE WALLFLOWER GIRLS MAKE ARE MATCHES IN HEAVEN, BECAUSE THEY ARE REAL GIRLS, WITH FEET ON THE GROUND. VERY VERY ENTERTAINING.

A Wallflower Christmas was the PERFECT way to begin this holiday season. It put me in the Christmas spirit and really was "the icing on top of the cake" of the wallflower series! I have loved this series. Annabelle, Lillian, Evie, and Daisy all are special in their own ways, and now we add Hannah to the mix.....oh how I love Lisa Kleypas.

Rafe is Lillian and Daisy's older brother. He is somewhat estranged from their father and has become in someways a "self-made man". He is supposed to get married to the daughter of a wealthy nobleman in England, but instead falls for her companion, Hannah.

This is a perfect "forbidden love" story. Their classes are different. She is in a lot of ways, a servant, and he is a very wealthy man destined to marry someone greater than a servant. What I love about romance is that challenges like this are able to be overcome!

Yes, we do get to visit the other wallflowers and their husbands, but this is Rafe and Hannah's story. Lisa Kleypas has a great writing style, and she flawlessly knows how to balance several storylines.

For the length, there is PLENTY of meat and LOTS of spice (if you know what I mean!). I recommend this book and the entire wallflower series wholeheartedly.

Not my favorite Kleypas, but not horrible. It was nice to revist the old wallflower characters, but the short format of this novel did not allow for any sort in-depth development of the new characters. I never miss a historical Lisa Kleypas novel, and if you don't either, I would add this to the list (if only for sentimental [wallflower] reasons). Reviewers Note: Devil in Winter is on my Top 10 List. All in all, I wish I had waited and paid the paperback price!!

When this comes out in paperback, I will most definitely buy it; as soon as I finished reading my library copy I wanted to read it again! Kleypas is so solid and so talented in the genre. She is certainly my favorite, and I am so impressed that her contemporaries are equally good. If you love or even like The Wallflower series I think you will love this book. Kleypas revisits favorite characters without taking too much attention away from Hannah and Rafe. At just over 200 pages, this book moves fast, but it has several satisfying scenes and there's nothing extra and no filler that doesn't work, as is often the case when romances cash in at over 300 pages.

The way the plot works reminds me a lot of one of the major sections of Jane Eyre: the house party. We see a vulnerable woman caught between the status of servant and family/guest, and we feel so much for her being trapped in the glittering world of the wealthy. The difference here is that of course the guests turn out to be kind rather than horrible, and we get a lovely happy ending as well as some sex. I know I'm gushing here, but I thought this book was a lovely fairy tale for adults. Kleypas is all about balance in plot and superb control in characterization. Her style flows pleasantly and her dialogue is fun. For me, there were no flaws in this book.

The book's plot is really sweet and uncomplicated, and Lisa Kleypas' writing makes it an enjoyable fun read. The Hero and Heroine are loveable characters. Of course, I love having the Wallflowers and their spouses in the book. This book is a nice 'escape' from reality.

I was very anxious for this book to come out. I love hearing about how the wallflowers are doing, but not enough emphasis on the main characters. It seemed it was done too quickly and missed the usual wallflower magic. I absolutley loved the wallflower series with all the girls, but my favorite is devil in winter. I have read it dozen times over again....

The Christmas Edition
The only thing better than a romance story is one set at Christmas. I loved Wallflower Christmas, filled with aroma of pine needles and love. I only wish it were a bit longer so I could have enjoyed it more.

A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas
Hardcover - October 14, 2008
4 ½ Stars

Lisa Kleypas's A Wallflower Christmas is a special holiday installment in the popular Wallflower series that is both heartwarming and delightful.

This book tells the story of Rafe Bowman, eldest brother to Lillian and Daisy (two of the Wallflowers). At the request of his father, Rafe travels to London to meet and marry Lady Natalie in order to secure the interest in his family's company and fortune.

Upon arriving in London, he meets Hannah Appleton, cousin and companion to Lady Natalie. He is immediately attracted and fascinated by this intriguing woman. The relationship between Rafe and Hannah is unforgettable and intriguing.

A Wallflower Christmas is and extra addition to the Wallflower series, the story is shorter and the characters are a little under developed. However, Lisa Kleypas does an outstanding job of giving life to her characters and making them appealing to the reader. She combines a new romantic storyline with little insights into the lives of other beloved Wallflower couples.

This book is an absolute must for any fan of the Wallflower series. It's a charming and fun treat for the holiday season.

Reviewed by Mary at Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I was anticipating this book and was a little nervous because of the length of the book, etc. To say the least, I absolutely loved this book. It was delightful.
Funny thing is, I had wanted it so see what happened to the Wallflowers, kind of a "What's next?" What I didn't expect was to fall in love with the lead characters, Rafe and Hannah. Rafe Bowman is a brash American rake and Hannah the lovely English miss. It was such a fun read, with their story taking precendence, but adding delicious little updates on the Wallflowers and their spouses. I found myself really feeling for Rafe and for Hannah.
What also added to the charm was that the characters stayed true to themselves. Lillian's boldness tempered by her insecurity, Daisy's fresh charm, Annabelle's beauty and sincerity, and Evie's shy warmth. The only thing a bit sad was that the snippits for Annabelle and Daisy's relationships were smaller than Evie and Lillian's. (I really loved Lillian's sub-plot though!).
I'm not going to summarize the story (others have done that) but I wholeheartedly am giving my recommendation. This was a wonderful read. Pure goodness!

Welcome back to the world of the Wallflowers! Now, it is Rafe Bowman's turn - Lillian and Daisy's infamous brother. He is in England to court the Lady Natalie Blandford during the Christmas season.

Our beloved Wallflower ladies (Evie, Lillian, Daisy, and Annabelle) are all present and accounted for and we are given a bit of an update on where they are in their lives. However, the biggest disappointment about the book is that Kleypas touches on a few things regarding our Wallflowers which I do wish she might have gone into a little more in depth - maybe a later book?

Rafe is enjoying himself whilst in England. He has made is own fortune over the years and would like to add what his father offers as well as the Lady Natalie to his list of achievements. However, the twist comes when he starts to look in another direction ... toward Lady Natalie's cousin. Rafe's father finally makes it clear that Rafe will either choose the Lady Natalie or be cut-off from the family - gasp! Disinherited? You must read the story for yourself to see what happens.

As with most of Ms. Kleypas' books, there is fun, love, laughter, and enough steam to keep one warm on a cold evening.

Well, I liked the book because I like Lisa Kleypas, Wallflowers and Lord St.Vincent particularly; it took me one evening to read it, as it's rather short, but it's cute and features everything we love about Lisa's novels. There are no ebullient passions, no blood and no shooting, no evil characters: it's a pleasant Christmas story.
Don't expect too much, and you'll enjoy it without being disappointed

A WALLFLOWER CHRISTMAS - G+
Kleypas, Lisa

I do enjoy Lisa Kleypas writing. Her characters are great and her dialogue is so well dont. However, the plot was so predictable that I found myself bored.

This book was okay. But went too quickly. But the first 3 wallflower books are more developed in terms of interesting interplay between the characters with insight and affection growing. The romance grows naturally over time instead of being forced. My favorite is the first with Simon Hunt and Annabelle.
The only question that stands out in my mind is how the parents who seem so remote from each other and so stern and strict and unaffectionate could have turned out I think 5 children with 3 so far able to find true love. What does that say for parenting?

This was a nice, sweet Christmas story and, at only just over 200 pages, a very quick read. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't recommend it for someone who hasn't already read the Wallflowers books.

The main story in this short novel is that of Rafe Bowman (older brother to wallflower, Lillian), and Hannah Appleton, companion to the beautiful, spoiled young heiress Rafe's father has selected for him to marry. Rafe travels to the country estate of Lillian and her husband for Christmas, where he is to become acquainted with his intended, but upon meeting Hannah is instantly smitten.
Rafe has to decide whether to follow his heart or be disinherited if he goes against his father's plans.
The wallflowers -- Lillian, Evie, Annabelle and Daisy -- make frequent appearances throughout the book. There is also a scene devoted to Sebastian and Evie, which for me was alone worth the cost of the book. A scene between Lillian and Marcus, in which she worries he has feelings for another woman, is also a bonus.
Personally, I was hoping to see more of the wallflowers, but with such a short page count, I doubt it would have been possible while keeping the main focus on Rafe and Hannah.

This book wasn't brilliant but it definetely was awesome!! After reading it, I felt that the love song playing on the radio was a stupid excuse for love. The singer wasn't really singing about love; especially like the love in the book. It wasn't a hard read either, so it went rather quickly. I felt though, that I was the main character while I was reading! I wanted to be.

Pretty love story, no doubt about it, but it's almost pretentious to state that it's Hannah and Rafe's book. The interaction between the Wallflowers simply steals the show and the main characters of this story kind of fade in the background. I'd have loved to read more about Rafe and don't get me started on how very little we are told about Hannah! Such a lovely character deserved being developed much, much more.

I do agree with those reviewers who said that this story had better been included in an anthology since it's rather short. I think it's ludicrous to consider it the fifth installment of a series that has each book properly refined.

The heartfelt sincerity of the Holiday Season descends on the lives of the wallflowers and their families and extends this time to include Rafe Bowman, brother to Lillian and Daisy. Rude, crude and all things American men are expected to be, he seems like the most unlikely of suitors for Hannah's cousin, Lady Natalie. Determined to make the best of his life, Rafe sets out to woo the lady with the help of four resourceful wallflowers. When he meets Hannah though, it's an instant, fiery attraction that fuels their heated exchanges. Caught between his ambitious father and his heart, Rafe will have to decide which is more important.

The Wallflowers series is amongst my most treasured of Kleypas' work. Revisiting Lillian, Annabelle, Daisy and Evie again was a real treat. Kleypas inserted into each of their matrimonial relationships a sense of reality we don't often see in romances like this; most of the men are off working for a living and the wives are wistful for their company and patiently waiting for their men to arrive for the holiday celebrations. Meanwhile, Rafe Bowman arrives at the behest of his father to observe and woo a woman chosen for him, who will be his entrance back into the family business. Thinking to gain a head start, Rafe and the wallflowers engage Lady Natalie's companion, Hannah, in an unusual teatime Q&A session. From here, what begins is a whirlwind dance between Rafe and Hannah. Believing the brash gentleman not good enough for her cousin, Hannah sets out to stand in his way.

As usual, Kleypas presents a thoroughly romantic tale that didn't fail to draw me in. Not only was revisiting the wallflowers nostalgically wonderful, but I really came to like Hannah for her open honesty and sincere actions. Rafe was somewhat amusing, but also tad too sugary sweet during some of his encounters with Hannah. Yes, he was actually a bit too nice at times, especially when looking back and seeing how bull on the charge he was at first and sincerely unabashed about it. Maybe it was the holiday season and sentimentality that infused their relationship too, but I enjoyed their interactions more when they weren't laced so heavily with sticky sweetness. That aspect just became to much, especially as the book came close to The End and a resolution to their conflict.

Other small notes of annoyance were the conflict itself and at times, the interference of wallflower scenes. Perhaps if this story had revolved completely around a wallflower storyline, I wouldn't have felt so, but just when I hoped to see some good development of Rafe and Hannah's situation, there came another Wallflower scene instead. They do tie into Rafe and Hannah's plot, but I really enjoyed the two seperately as opposed to together.

The conflict between Rafe and Hannah was rather weak as was his instant attraction, and at first I attributed to it being such a short book, but in reality there are plenty of short stories that manage to have an amazing and believable conflict between the hero and heroine. It's pretty much an old fall back on Bowman senior, who I started to wonder could he truly be such a selfish, twisted and curmudgeonly old man, someone who has absolutely everything, yet his prime goal in life is to dictate his children's lives so that they are miserably at his beck and call. But we saw this in Lillian and Daisy's books to a point, so seeing such a similar plot again was just too weak to make Rafe and Hannah's relationship feel real and true. Too, I would have preferred to see a lot more interaction between them to enable their romance along as opposed to Hannah coming to several important realizations about Rafe through second-hand means. As it was, they don't really discover much of one another through contact with each other; it mostly happened in conversations between Hannah and the wallflowers, private reflections on Hannah's part or similar such situations.

This volume is definitely worth a read, and mostly for fans of the wallflower books. I enjoyed parts of it, it was a very quick read and it read like a long-awaited comfort book. I was very surprised at the abbreviated length though and it's hardback state. I thought maybe it would be a trade size at most, but expected a mass market. Fans will probably like having the hardback in their collection, but I'm glad I was able to get the ARC. The price is a little steep for such a short book.

All in all, an OK addition to the wallflower books, but definitely not my favorite of Kleypas' work. I find I prefer her full-length writing strengths much better.

Lisa Kleyaps, who is an outstanding writer let me down on this recent work. Although I thoroughly enjoyed MOST of the Wallflower Series, I thought that this was lacking somewhat. Rafe, who happens to be Lillian and Diasy's American brother shows up to marry Lady Natalie, only to fall for Natalie's companion Hannah. The characters although all reunited seemed somewhat one dimensional. The book was very short and length and the typically exciting storyline that Kleypas is famous for, was missing. I have seen better work from Ms. Kleypas. I often compare Kleypas to Johanna Lindsey and this reminds me of some of her Chirstmas series "Home for the Holidays", that also were letdowns. Kleypas needs to stick to creating works of quality, and not fall into the trend of releasing holiday works. This book was short and to the point, which took a lot of fun out of what I anticipate from such a writer.

As always, Kleypas is a fun read; however, you should know that this is really a rather skimpy SHORT STORY in hardback form! It barely fills 213 double-spaced, wide-margined pages. It's even skimpier when you realized that it includes recaps of her wallflowers' lives, one sexy scene for each of the original wallflowers, plot summaries of and quotations from Dickens' Christmas Carol, lyrics of "Here we come a-wassailing,...." among other "fillers."

Because of all of the fillers, we barely get to know Rafe Bowman, Natalie Blandford, or (the heroine) Hannah Appelton! Their lives outside of the story are touched on as briefly as possible. That's a shame because Rafe sounds like there's a lot more that could be said about him (though he replicates, in part, Sebastian St. Vincent), and Hannah's life has been a constant struggle that would certainly be worth reading. But most of all, I would have loved to know how Natalie became the little snot that she is--and I would have loved to see some comeuppance in the story for her (and not to be told, in one sentence, about her "happy-ever-after" in the Epilogue)!

Call me scrooge, but it's not worth $16.95 (retail) or even worth Amazon's discount price. Wait until the used copies come out for less than a dollar. I assure you it will be worth the wait and the price (especially if ordered on a "free shipping" combined purchase).

Shame on you, Lisa (and dump that tacky picture on the inside back cover!)! Happy Holidays, anyway!

The Wallflowers are a delightful band of four young ladies who united to make sure they found true love in their marriages. Now they've come together again to help the brother, Rafe Bowman of two Wallflowers' find the perfect bride.

Rafe has come from America to meet with Lady Natalie Blandford, a beautiful young woman with very blue blood - and one whom his demanding and overbearing father wants to align their family with. However, Lady Natalie's cousin and companion Hannah knows deep in her heart that Rafe is definitely not the right woman for her cousin - the Wallflowers recognize this also; though it could be that Rafe is just perfect for Hannah!

*** As a Kleypas fan from the beginning of her career, I buy anything with her name on it and I am happy to report, Lisa has never failed to entertain me with likeable characters and lovely sensual romances. While this book was short as well as lively and witty the author did do a very thorough job of fleshing out the character of Rafe and a reasonable job with Hannah. If you are new to the series, you can gauge enough of the other Wallflowers characters to have some idea of what their stories would be like and these glimpses will be enough to whet your appetite for the previous books in this series. I confess to having all of the Kleypas Wallflower books in by TBR stack and after reading this novella, I am definitely going to make it a point to read them - SOONER rather than later. Not only did I fall in love with Hannah and Rafe's characters, and the trials they needed to overcome in order to achieve happiness, I found myself totally intrigued with the rest of the Wallflowers and know their stories must be equally fabulous as well.

This romance was sweetly sensual with wonderfully laugh out loud moments and was condensed enough to make this a delightful read, cover to cover, all in one sitting. While some may consider this a bit pricy because of the length, die hard fans like myself will only consider it another treasure for their keeper shelf.

Marilyn Rondeau FOR AMAZON VINE

This is the sweetest little novel, little being the operative word. In fact it is the only complaint I have in this wonderful book--it's just too short! Rafe Bowman may become my favorite Wallflower husband. (Sorry, St. Vincent.) And Hannah certainly has every bit as much charm as her Wallflower companions. I truly enjoyed every word of this little book. Rafe is just a delight, right down to his devilish toes. When he tells Hannah he would "debauch her from her head down to her innocent little toes" I knew he was going to be a man after my own heart. What a man. You'll never find a hero who comes on more strongly than he does from the moment he meets Hannah and every moment of it is charming and sweet, even if he is breaking every English rule of courtship.

As always this little jewel is written by a master and hums along with choice tidbits into the lives of our beloved Wallflowers. Of course they are all living happily ever after, except maybe Lillian? Hmmm Masterful Marcus sets her straight quickly enough and that scene is just delicious. Incorrigible St. Vincent's cameo reunion with his wife is delicious as well.

As with the choicest morsels this little confection will leave you dying for more, but don't miss out on the Ms. Kleypas' latest treat. I finished the book in just a few hours and turned back to the beginning and read it all over again. It's that good. I promise.

This is a beautiful love story.
I have never read the previous books. I was still drawn to all the main characters: the wallflowers, Rafe, Natalie, and Hannah.

Rafe is a rich, handsome, strong, American man looking for a bride. His family has earned his money instead of inheriting it -- making him in need of someone with "peers". The right pick of a bride will give him great connections.

Natalie is such a girl. She has the kind of connections that would help Rafe in business. She would be a fine pick. She has received several proposals and is waiting on the right one.

Hannah is an intelligent, but middle class type. She is Natalie's companion. Hannah is unexperienced with men. She has never even been kissed. Rafe comes to meet her while courting Hannah. They both develop feelings for each other. Unfortunately, she wouldn't be considered a good pick for Rafe.

Rafe's father decides to disinherit Rafe if he doesn't marry Natalie. Rafe is forced with difficult decisions. Hannah wouldn't dare let Rafe presue a relationship with her considering all he would loose.

I found myself indifferent to Rafe and Hannah. Perhaps because their relationship felt rushed and forced. But mostly because THE WALLFLOWERS are such amazing and polarizing characters that if they're in a book you can't help but be pulled into them and their shenanegins.

Make no mistakes about it, the most enjoyable aspect of the book was the interaction of THE WALLFLOWERS themselves. I found myself wanting less Rafe/Hannah and more Evie, Lillian, Annabelle, and Daisy with a double side dish of St. Vincent, Lord Westcliff, Simon Hunt, and Matthew Swift.

This book is at it's BEST when these ladies grace the pages. I hope Lisa Kleypas will take it upon herself to continue to write stories that feature the lives and adventures of Evie, Lillian, Annabelle, and Daisy. Truly, they are the stars and the only thing needed to keep the readers attention.

If you're addicted to THE WALLFLOWERS and can't get enough of them this book will be most enjoyable for you, but truth to right, this isn't one of Kleypa's best efforts if we're talking about establishing another new relationship and couple you can root for.

Rafe Bowman, the eldest son of an American entrepreneur, is an unprincipled rake and the last man any well-bred young lady would consider as husband material. However, in order to gain a stake in his father's business, Rafe agrees to marry just such a young lady, signing over his romantic future to benefit his financial one. Rafe travels to London to meet his future wife and is subjected to the matchmaking efforts of his sister, Lillian, Lady Westcliff, and her group of companions, the Wallflowers. On Rafe's first day in town, Lillian organizes a meeting between her brother and Lady Natalie's companion, Hannah Appleton.

Hannah is Natalie's cousin as well as her companion. She knows Natalie as well as anyone, and has her best interests at heart. When she meets Rafe Bowman, she immediately knows that he and Natalie won't suit. The man is lacking manners, has an overbearing personality, and his rakish tendencies are too much to be borne--oh, and there's also the fact that he kisses her. No, Hannah is determined that Natalie meet a nice, charming, sedate Englishman who will treat her the way she deserves to be treated, and have the bearing and temperance to be a good husband. Only, in order to drive them apart, something has to be done to take Rafe's mind off of Natalie--and to take Hannah's mind off of Rafe.

A Wallflower Christmas is the charming follow-up to Lisa Kleypas's Wallflower series, which began with Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1). The Wallflower series is about heroines who have been relegated to the outskirts of the ballroom because of their shyness, lack of wealth, or unconventional personalities. Hannah Appleton is a great addition to their esteemed company. Hannah is sweet and naive initially, and unused to the attention of men. Accordingly, she has no idea how to react once a womanizer like Rafe Bowman sets his sights on her. Rafe brings out passions Hannah didn't know she had, and shows her that she deserves more than to be just a lady's companion--she deserves happiness of her own. And Hannah shows Rafe that there is more to life than business, and that he shouldn't sacrifice his hope at happiness for his father's approval. She teaches Rafe what love is, and shows him that he not only deserves it, he's found it in her.

A Wallfower Christmas is the perfect book to curl up by the fire with on a cool fall or winter night. It's a quick read, but with the trademark sensuality, charm, and classic romance that have become a standard of Kleypas's writing.

Predictable, but charming. I have enjoyed this series, and hope that Ms. Kleypas continues to dream up more stories that involve these two families and their satellite members. I particularly liked Hannah, who is a female character with a fine intellect and self awareness. She stands in powerful contrast to so many other female characters typified in this genre of writing by other authors. It is very tiresome to read about females who are characterized as brainless, simpering, fainting and delicate little darlings, or of the aristocrats' courtesans who also give up all their personal power to the conquering males. Rafe was not overdone as a "typical" American boorish male, thankfully. Hannah is a "middle class" type person and one can relate to her without pity. Well done.

Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorite authors and to be offered this book on Amazon Vine was a real treat! I'm a big fan of her Wallflower series and she certainly didn't disappoint me with her newest romance between Rafe (Lilian's Brother) and Hanna which has her trademark heart stoppingly tender romance! The biggest plus for me was also to revisit all of my favorite characters from her series who I still remember so fondly thanks to her excellent writing and characterization! My only gripe is that it was a bit short especially since revisiting the old characters took up quite a few pages leaving little for the newest pair. If you've read the Wallflower series, I highly recommend this book and if you haven't, run for her old ones. This author is worth it!

While a little overly descriptive and flowery at the beginning, this book really got rolling the further you read. While I haven't read the other books in this series, Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1), I was able to enjoy this installment once I got to know Hannah and Rafe. In one early scene the author actually had me laugh out loud while reading, which is a rare thing. I wish the book was longer, allowing for the characters to be fleshed out more but I did enjoy the tidbits of information on when & where Christmas traditions started in England and by whom.

This is a fun book if you love to read romances. A classic historic English setting, the characters are a bit predictable, but believable. The book is very well written, if a bit short. The characters are very 'real' in feel- like hating to sew, and botching up a Christmas tree skirt (sounds like me). It is even educational- who knew that gowns used to be made with seams in the front and back that could expand if the woman was expecting?

These women stick together through thick and thin....which is nice and leaves me hoping that real life could be a bit more like the novel (where best buddies blow you off if you say the wrong thing in an email). All in all, I think it should prove to be a very fun book for women to read during the Christmas season. Who has time after all to read a long novel with all the parties and goodies to eat (where are those expansion seams in my clothes)?

As long as you go into this book expecting a pleasant, predictable, well-written romance novel, you won't be disappointed. I haven't read an historical romance novel in years, not counting Jane Austen, and I forgot they could be really good. I liked this one enough to order all four of the other Wallflower books.
Rafe Bowman is your typical leading man, rich, not worried about what others think, very experienced with women. He's expected to marry rich, upper-class girl Natalie Blandford, a union that would benefit both their families. Hannah is Natalie's poor cousin who acts as her paid companion, and she meets Rafe first to try to find out a bit about him. Rafe is immediately attracted to Hannah, but she dislikes him because of his informality and borderline crude ways. She thinks he's completely wrong for Natalie. What follows is no surprise. Rafe's charm starts to get through to Hannah and her resistance crumbles. Because he's a "rogue" with a devil-may-care attitude, he has the guts to go against his father's orders that he propose to Natalie. Isn't that the kind of man we all want? One who would renounce his family's fortune to be with us but ultimately still be wealthy?
This book is just the kind of pleasant fluff you crave sometimes and it's done well.

The major strength of Lisa Kleypas 'A Wallflower Christmas' is the likeability of the protagonists. Uncivilized American rake Rafe Bowman is at heart a charmer who can't help being drawn not to the wealthy English lady he's supposed to be courting, but to her penniless cousin/companion, Hannah. Both Hannah and Rafe are drawn as essentially good people who have had difficult lives. But it's their biting wit and strong sexual draw that make the sparks fly. The major question, will Rafe and Hannah get together, is of course answered by the genre, and there's really little plot or character development, yet it's a pleasant read.

'A Wallflower Christmas' will, of course, be of interest to those who have read the earlier books in the series, but this novella stands alone. I haven't read the others and enjoyed this one. My major complaint is one of marketing: $16.95 for 213 pages is a bit steep.

I admit it. I am a hopeless sucker for a holiday story. As an urban fantasy/paranormal romance reader I tend to favor Halloween ones, but having recently decided to dabble into historical romances A Wallflower Christmas seemed like a good place to start. Kleypas' popularity was an obvious draw... and I love a pretty cover!

When the heroines of the Wallflowers series get together to celebrate the holidays romance is afoot. When Rage Bowman, elder brother of Lillian (heroine of It Happened One Autumn (The Wallflowers, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)) and Daisy (heroine of Scandal in Spring (The Wallflowers, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)) , comes to London to court Lady Natalie Blandford, the Wallflowers are set on helping him be a proper gentlemen. Having invited Lady Natalie's companion, her cousin Hannah Appleton, for tea in order to learn more about Natalie it should come as no surprise that his rakish behavior digusts her. There is no way the American scoundrel is suitable for her esteemed cousin. What makes matters much more complicated is his obvious attraction to Hannah and the one he awakens within her. With his father demanding he propose to Lady Natalie by Christmas Eve or he shall be cut from the family; Rafe has to choose between what his father demands--marriage Natalie who is likable but not lovable--and the needs of his own heart--sharing his life and love with Hannah. Meanwhile Hannah herself must face her own suitable but loveless proposal or risk it all on the American rake who has won her heart.

I am sure there are some who will find major flaws in this story. It felt like a book cut down to novella size. If Kleypas had expanded on the side stories of Evie's pregnancy, Lillian's suspicions of her husband's infidelity and more it would have made for an entertaining novel indeed. But this IS a holiday story and because of that I felt that it was more suited to a novella length. As such I do feel it should not have been published in hardcover. On the same token I think die-hard fans of the Wallflowers would perhaps enjoy having the collectible size.

It was a rushed romance and yet it felt just right to me. Sometimes that works in fiction and sometimes it does not. Fans of the Wallflowers will be happy to note that there were some sections devoted to the heroines of the previous stories, they had their own goings-on that were happening around the romance itself. Those looking for sex will get some of that too. I don't usually comment on that aspect when reviewing romances but I liked that Kleypas wrote the scenes tastefully and without being gratuitous about it. Rafe was a rather sensual hero that I actually found charming and Hannah, while almost annoying in her devotion to Natalie, was a suitable heroine to match him. It was, in the end, a short but enjoyable read, just the sort of reading one might look for on a snowy Christmas Eve. And did I mention it's pretty and tasteful enough to leave out on your end-table during the holiday season? Add a cup of hot cocoa, put on some snuggly slippers and have yourself a merry little Christmas!

This Victorian romance is typical of the genre with its obvious characteristically good and evil players . There is the "rake" who is truly good at heart, the innocent who gets "compromised" , the confused deb who finally figures "it" out and the loyal "friends" who make it all right. It is a fast and easy read with several twists . There are however, no real surprises. In this style, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Buy this novel for a quick , predictable read with its usual happy ending. I enjoyed it!

This book was absolutely engaging. I didn't want to put it down to even make dinner.

The 4 "Wallflowers" have since married and beginning to have children. At Christmastime, Rafe, a brother of two of the wallflowers is supposed to be marrying a girl and if he does he will get the family business. If he doesn't he will be disowned. Is it better to follow your heart or earn the family business?

I hadn't read any of her books previous to this, but I have since added them to my wish list! This book was an outstanding book for romance. Makes you want to nibble on your own loved one's ears :) heheh

Read this book you won't be disappointed!

A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas is a delightfully charming Regency period novel for anyone who loves to read books such as Jane Austins series. Hannah and Lady Natalie are at opposite ends of the social ladder but are the best of friends. Lady Natalie is supposed to be getting married but will Hannah her Lady's maid really encourage such a thing considering the man in question for the marriage is a rake, a womanizer, a gambler and an American. Oh dear, what could our Lady Natalie be thinking of? An American for a husband. A man who falls far below her station in life and a Heathen none the less even though he is a very rich Heathen.
The author has given us a truly delightful story of snobbery, innocence, delightful bantering, charmiing scenes and a good case of the "Vapors" in this funny and lite story. A very delicious and delightful read that would be the perfect Christmas Eve activity.

I've enjoyed the Lisa Kleypas "Wallflower" series. I think because I have enjoyed following the stories of the women, this book became an extension of characters already known and was - therefore - just ok. Felt very much like a rush to get a Holiday story out and quality in storytelling suffered for it.

Rafe Bowman comes from the rough and tumble Americas to win the hand of titled woman (Natalie Blandford) and secure a place for him in his family fortune. Hannah (Natalie's cousin) is absolutely certain this is not a proper man for Natalie. And so begins the hunt toward truth.... He is not the man for Natalie, but perhaps he is the man for someone else. Question is... will either of them realize it in time.

It is an easy ready. It is good if you've read the rest of the wallflower series. Other than that.... I found myself disappointed at the way this book felt like it was phoned in for Christmas.

I used to read a lot of historical romances, by Julia Quinn, Stephanie Laurens and especially by Lisa Kleypas. I'm not sure why I stopped especially after reading A Wallflower Christmas.

A Wallflower Christmas goes back to Ms. Kleypas's Wallflower series, which from the introduction we learn is four young ladies, who each don't quite fit in to the London society, helping each other to find their true loves.

Lillian and Daisy, two of the Wallflowers have a brother, Rafe, who is being pressured by his father to marry if he wants to run the London branch of the family business. His father has even picked out his bride, the beautiful Lady Natalie.

I don't want to give away plot points but I will say that I absolutely loved this story and couldn't put it down. Now I'm off to read the Wallflower series itself. After getting to read about Lillian, Daisy, Evie and Annabelle and their men, I can't wait to read their stories!

Highly recommended and a wonderful holiday treat.

I devoured this book in a few hours - it is SO good. If you have read the Wallflower series this is Lillian and Daisy's brother Rafe's story.

The Wallflower series (historical romance) is a group of women who for some reason they were not the belle of ball and because of their friendships they found love. In this story its Christmas and all the Wallflowers are back together and Rafe is in England with instruction to marry Lady Natalie. When Lady Natalie companion Hannah meets Rafe for the first time, sparks fly and amazing fun story unfolds. I love that this author gives us glimpse of how the Wallflower's marriages have been doing. Enjoy!

I would suggest reading all the Wallflower series;Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1), It Happened One Autumn (The Wallflowers, Book 2),The Devil in Winter (The Wallflowers, Book 3),Scandal in Spring (The Wallflowers, Book 4).

Lady Natalie Blandford comes from a titled family that is in need of a financial boost. Rafe is an American who is wealthy by his own means and also set to inherit the mass fortune that his father has made in the soap business. Rafe is willing to do what he needs to do to cement his place in the family company; marrying Natalie is one of those things. But when Miss Hannah Appleton, Natalie's cousin and companion, comes to meet Rafe she is convinced he is not right for her Natalie. Suddenly Natalie isn't looking too good to Rafe, either.

I am a fan of Ms. Kleypas and her Wallflower series contain four of my favorite books by her. I jumped at the chance to read yet another part of this series and wasn't at all disappointed. It's a lot shorter than the others in the series, more of a novella than a novel and I flew through it in one afternoon. Rafe isn't quite as entertaining alone as his sisters Lillian and Daisy are, but when paired up with Hannah they manage to sizzle and shine.

The humor and the uniqueness that made the wallflower series and characters standout is present in this tale and Rafe may not be as precocious as his sisters, but he is definitely memorable. Hannah presents the perfect counterpart to his personality and their journey is well worth the ride.

This book also features the characters from the previous books and gives you a glimpse into their lives now that they have all found their happily ever after. Guaranteed to make you smile and put you in the Christmas mood, this was an excellent addition to my favorite series! Enjoy!

Cherise Everhard, September 2008

Like everyone else who reads romance, I loved (for the most part) Lisa Kleypas' Wallflower books. The first three, at least. They were such strong entries, both individually and as a set, that they set the bar really high for the fourth and last. Alas, in my opinion, Daisy deserved better than she got. And as for Cam's story, a really huge disappointment.

But this entry, a sort of adjunct, gave me a chance to catch up with all my favorites and that was very enjoyable. And of course, I'd wondered whether we'd ever meet any of the Bowman brothers. I loved the character of Rafe, and Hannah was his perfect counterpart.

The story was a nice froth, an appetizer rather than a main course, or perhaps a dessert, with several stock characters (Natalie and her parents, Lord Travers). However, Ms. Kleypas did a great job of further ellucidating the facts of the Bowman children's childhood trials, and indeed the portraits she painted of Mr. and Mrs. Bowman pretty much completed the picture she'd begun in the earlier books. Two characters completely without any redeeming qualities whatsoever.

For that reason alone, I could have done without the Epilogue, since it more or less undermined the portrait painted of Thomas Bowman by hinting that eventually he, Rafe and Hannah made peace. Oh, well. A small nitpick.

Lovers of the series should definitely add this to their collections.

I'd never read any of Kleypas' previous work so I had nothing to go on but the jacket. Some of the themes may be a bit redundant of romance novels but that did not stop me from enjoying the book. This author has a fine grasp of her characters and the dialogue is most engaging and witty. Many LOL moments. By the seond page, I was sucked in and finished the book in one sitting. I was just sorry that it was not longer. But since she writes this as a series, I can only hope that she has another in the works. I will certainly look for her early publications. I most heartily recommend this to my fellow romance reader.

The cons:
The trade size means an equally large price tag. For the size of the book, which is rather small, it's a steep price.
The story reads more as a novella, which means the plot and characters are less involved than I typically enjoy. The secondary couple, particularly the man, receives very little attention. The reader has little if any emotional investment with them.
Some of the visiting characters from the series barely get a mention. St, Vincent, for example, is a wonderful character, whose presence here is sadly small.

The Pros:
The Wallflowers are back, and it's fun to see them interact again.
Rafe is a very interesting character ans is well-fleshed out for a shorter story. I liked him a lot.
Hannah is a more than adequate heroine if not a thrilling one.
It contains Kleypas' trademark sensuality.
This story contains one of the most beautiful love letters in fiction. Especially considering its author. Brilliant, really.
Most holiday books are mere excuses for publication. This one at least gives the reader wither a renewal of acquaintance with the couples for the series or an introduction to them. Either way, more of Kleypas is never a bad thing. Here, we also get primed for Christmas and a really great leading man to boot.

If the book were the regular size and price, I'd rate it 4 stars. As it is, I'd place it somewhere between 3.5-3.9 stars. Far better than most books/authors, but not at the top at of Kleypas' talent.

I have read everything Lisa Kleypas has ever written, published, that is. I adore the Wallflowers. I think it wonderful that the girls would bring in someone else to join their group (Hannah) and see the situation for what it was - Rafe & Hannah.

I liked hearing about where all the characters are and about their advancements in life, their kids, parents, etc.

What I didn't like? I would have liked more meat and potatoes in the story of Rafe and Hannah coming together. It was almost too neatly done. Even though the book was short I found myself saying, "come on already."

This may not be the most tightly woven story to add to this wonderful series of books, however, it does merit reading. If nothing else you are back with the Wallflowers and enjoying them.

While I feel that A Wallflower Christmas is not Lisa Kleypas' best work, I found a story that didn't disappoint.

A Christmas Wallflower is a revisit with all the characters you fell in love with during Kleypas' Wallflower series. It's nice to know that all of them are happy and still having their friendship and then expanding their circle.

Though I did not know each individual wallflower, it was nice to see them and get a feel for their relationship with each other.

The central story revolves around Rafe Bowman, an heir to an American Company in 1845 and the chaperone to his intended bride to be. Rafe is Lillian and Daisy's brother.

What worked: I loved Rafe's complex character. What he does not share is as powerful as what he does. Hannah too is a sufficient character but does not demand pity for her position. The others: Lillian, Daisy, Annebelle and Evie all stand in their former positions as wallflowers, yet do not hinder the story much. The interactions between all characters never felt distracting.

What did not work: I had trouble figuring out the other characters but that was more of a result of not having read the other Wallflower stories. I would have appreciated some sort of reminder like a family tree to see who married whom though the story did manage to weave that information in successfuly, I just felt the information was too far apart. While the entire event revolves around Christmas preparations, I think that the house was a little too organized for a Victorian Household around Christmas time. I know that was a sign of good housekeeping, but there's this influx of people and there was only one or two moments where any of the house's guests knew they were adding to the uproar in the house.

For those who want a sweet Christmas time story to read by the fireplace, Lisa Kleypas' A Wallflower Christmas will not disappoint.

A Wallflower Christmas is a shorter book than I expected. It barely passes 200 pages but brings back all of the familiar characters. If you haven't read the series, this book will definitely make you curious enough to check out the previous books. However, because much of the book is spent on characters in earlier books, it gives less time to the 2 main characters and their romance, which strangely seems secondary. However, the main characters' love story is solid and touching, if a trifle rushed.
This is a wonderful Christmas romance that revisits beloved characters and tells of their trial and tribulations and ultimate happy resolutions. An enjoyable Regency romance, especially for prior Lisa Kleypas fans.