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.

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.

Usually when I see a holiday themed book, I turn the other way. I am not really into the holiday reads, and when I first heard that Lisa Kleypas had written one, I almost groaned. I know, I should be ashamed, because it is a Lisa Kleypas book after all!I decided to give it a try anyway.

I am so glad I decided to read A Wallflower Christmas. Lisa has done it again, writing a superb romance with another to die for hero that you will place high on your list of all time favorite Kleypas heroes. Lisa's heroes have become a harem of seductive men who make both the heroine and the reader weak in the knees. I certainly found my knees shaking a bit *G*. A Wallflower Christmas is much shorter that her usual historicals, at a little over 200 pages. But the length did not take away from a wonderful romance that also includes some of Lisa's most beloved characters, The Wallflowers, which include Annabelle, Lillian, Evie and Daisy. It was so enjoyable to be able to see how they are doing as married women and very much fulfilled and in love with their husbands.

A Wallflower Christmas takes about three months after Daisy and Matthew were married. Daisy and Lillian's older brother, Rafe, has come to England where he is searching for a bride. Rafe adores his sisters, but can't get along with his parents, mainly his father who expects so much from him. Even though Rafe was able to do quite well without his father's help, Daddy Bowman continues to find faults with Rafe. He wants Rafe to marry well off and that means to a woman with a name and money. And the woman in mind is Lady Natalie Blandford. Rafe humors his father and if Natalie is pleasing to him, he will offer for her hand. But first he must make the acquaintance of Natalie's chaperone and cousin, Hannah. If he can make a good impression on Hannah, then he will have no problem in securing Natalie.

Hannah is a poor relation and was taken in by her Uncle and Aunt. She and Natalie are the best of friends and Hannah only wants the best for her dear cousin. She is not sure what to think about this brash American upstart, so she will meet him first and see if he is good enough for Natalie. And I can tell you, their first introduction does not go well. Rafe and Hannah both seem to hate each other on site. But the reader knows this is not the case because something deeper is going on here. The moment Rafe and Hannah meet, the Earth beneath them moves. They have no clue why they have such intense feelings for each other. And from that moment, it has been decided that Rafe and Hannah's life will be changed forever because we all know that they should end up with each other.

The joy in reading this story is watching both these two fall for one another. Rafe and Hannah are so confused about one another. Hannah at first believes the feelings she has for Rafe are disgust. Rafe's feelings for Hannah unnerves him, but he is quick to recognize his lust for the outspoken young woman. Their verbal arguments lead to some interesting interactions between them, which ends with Rafe kissing the life out of Hannah And let me tell you all, Lisa Kleypas is a pro at writing the best kissing scenes! The first kiss or rather kissing between Rafe and Hannah raised my blood pressure, and other than just kissing, they do nothing else. These two can't help but be attractive to one another and I love how they don't know how to deal with it, which leads to more kissing and long lusty stares from Rafe that makes Hannah blush.

Not only do we have a central romance, but Lisa gives us even more, as we see the Wallflower ladies interact with one another as well as their husbands. And you won't be disappointed in the least when St. Vincent and Marcus make their appearance. In only a few pages, the reader gets a taste of what life is like after the epilogue for these four women.

I do believe I may have been converted in reading more holiday themed romances. A Wallflower Christmas is just as good as any other novel by Lisa. The characters were lively, the romance steamy and emotional, and there was some great character dialogue and laughs. And did I mention how great the kissing scenes were? Again, Lisa Kleypas has shown why she is considered a master in the romance genre. A Wallflower Christmas is one book you will not want to miss.

Now I just have to decide where I should place Rafe in my Kleypas harem!

Katiebabs

If you are looking to please the historical romance lover on your Christmas list, look no further than this delightful book. This is the seventh book in the Wallflower series.
It's everything a romance should be at this time of the year; light, romantic, sexy and full of hope.

Rafe Bowman has come to London to marry. He is a rake; a wealthy American Industrialist looking to do his duty to his demanding and stubborn father by coming to England to meet Natalie Blandford, the "wife" that has been picked for him. The problem with this scenario though, is that he meets his intended's companion, Hannah Appleton first and becomes smitten.
Unfortunately Miss Appleton doesn't see Rake as either the perfect suitor for her charge nor does she realize that she has fallen in love with him herself until nearly too late.
And, well, with this being the Christmas season, all dreams are possible.
I have never read any of the Wallflower series; the only books of Ms Kleypas I've read are her contemporary romances, and since I love those I thought I'd give this a whirl. I'm thrilled I did and I will now be buying the rest of the series.

A Wallflower Christmas is the fifth book in Lisa Kleypas' WallFlower series. All the lovely ladies and their handsome husbands are back providing a perfect background for a holiday romance. Just like a Christmas Carol an American rake finds the importance of love and sacrifice. Coming to England to claim a bride, his father's choice, and to ensure his place in the family, Rafe Bowman loses his heart for the very first time. Romantic interludes between the characters from the four previous novels, Scandal in Spring, The Devil in Winter, It Happened One Autumn, and Secrets of a Summer Night add spice to this gentle love story.

It is not necessary to have read the first for books to enjoy this historical romance. It stands alone. However reading it will make you hungry to know more about the past adventures which have led the wallfowers to this particular holiday.

I recommend this book

I love the four Wallflower girls, from this author's series set in the early Victorian Age in Britain.

In their four novels, the four girls (wallflowers all for various reasons) enter into deep and loving friendships, as they aid each other in their hunt for suitable husbands.

All four girls end up in loving and happy marriages.

This little book was fun in that reading it seemed like visiting old friends. We get to catch up with the foursome as well as their husbands. It was good to see the Wallflowers doing so well in life, and so happy in their marriages and (in some cases) being fullfilled with parenthood.

I do wish that perhaps that the two new relationships and the heroines/heroes introduced in this book could have been developed a bit more. While I liked Hannah from the beginning, at first I did not particularly like Rafe - but when scenes from his difficult childhood were introduced, I came to view him in a much more sympathetic light. I wish something similar could have happened for both the secondary hero and heroine as neither ever seemed "real" to me.

In order to secure an interest in his father's company Rafe Bowman, eldest brother of Lillian and Daisy, has come to England for a Christmas holiday to meet the English lady his social climbing parents want him to wed. The independently wealthy Wall Street mogul is a typical American -brash, crude and downright improper. And its Miss Hannah Applegate's opinion that the brutish rogue would never make as acceptable husband for her gentle and beautiful charge. He's entirely too outspoken, direct and has no manners. So the stubborn companion blocks all his efforts in courtship. But Rafe is up for the challenge and no managing miss, no matter how tempting and beguiling she may be, is going to get in the way of his financial goals. And soon Hannah realizes that she might have been in fact wrong about Rafe. Beneath his uncivilized exterior lies a lonely and wounded child looking for happiness. Much to her dismay Hannah is falling in love with this imperfect man. But this handsome enigmatic man could never want a poor relation with no social ties such as herself, especially if it meant forfeiting his stakes in his father's company. Or could he?

After highly anticipating The Wallflower Christmas, I'm both happy and disappointed with the results. The book itself is *extremely short* merely 210 pages. So the romance, while excellent, reads more like those shorter anthology books (multiple stories by different authors) rather than a full blown historical romance. And while there's fair development of the delicious lovable rogue Rafe's character, Hannah's is sadly underdone. For example we find out barley anything about her family background. Happily though their romance is filled with the trademark Kleypas sexual tension with plenty of swoon worthy scenes. As far as the Wallflowers are concerned there are two very good parts with Sebastian & Evie The Devil in Winter (The Wallflowers, Book 3) and Marcus & Lillian It Happened One Autumn (The Wallflowers, Book 2), but they are very short (only a few pages each :( ). And Simon and Matthew might as well have been statues for all the attention they get.

So while I enjoyed the romance and the Wallflower update (technically not an update since the book takes place a few months after Daisy's book and well before Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, Book 1)) I hesitate to recommend this due to the steep price. Her novels normally run $8 and this is nowhere near the caliber of novel Kleypas usually writes. And I feel like the publishers counted on the fact that the readers would fork over extra just to read updates about their beloved characters. OK -you can make me pay more BUT give me more! Thats just not the case here.

Really a nice Christmas romance with a small treat for die-hard Sebastian and Marcus fans. And although its a very good short romance and frankly anything with Sebastian (*sigh*) is a keeper IMHO, I suggest checking this one out throughly at the bookstore or library before you buy.

The reading order of Wallflower and Hathaway books-
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)
A Wallflower Christmas
Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, Book 1)
Seduce Me at Sunrise (The Hathaways, Book 2)

Lillian and Daisy's social climbing parents strike again. Just as they did for their daughters, they have hatched a plan to use their obscene wealth (vulgar and American though it is) to catch a member of the peerage for another of their children. This time it is their eldest son Rafe.

Rafe is an unrepentant rake who is wealthy in his own right. But he wants to take over his family's soap company and so he allows himself to consider a betrothal to the lovely Lady Natalie.

In the meantime, Ms. Hannah Appleton, a poor relation to Natalie and her companion, is dispatched to visit the Bowmans and the other wallflowers for tea to see if Rafe is suitable.

In typical romance fashion, Hannah and Rafe butt heads (the reader understands that this denotes instant attraction). Rafe acts outrageously and Hannah is disapproving.

I really enjoyed the earlier wallflower books and highly recommend them. It is not necessary to have read them to enjoy this one, but having the history helps. The match up of Hannah and Rafe is a no-brainer and Kleypas isn't really forging any new romance ground here. But it is a lovely, brisk read. Rafe is a little too over the top at first, but you really grow to like him. And I love books that are set in house parties especially during the Christmas season so that is a big plus for me with this.

One thing that I also really like is that while Hannah was a poor relation, she wasn't treated like Cinderella. There was real affection (if kinda absent taking for granted-ness of her station) by Lady Natalie and her family. And Lady Natalie wasn't a shrew. She was also a nicely realized character with some surprising traits.

I recommend.

I read and really enjoyed all the entire Wallflower series as well as Lisa Kleypas's contemporary romances. And I am a complete sucker for romances set at Christmas time. I enjoyed this book too; my only complaint and the reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 is that it was too short.

"A Wallflower Christmas" takes place 3 months after Daisy and Matthew are married and features all 4 original Wallflowers and their husbands. This is part of the reason I felt the book was too short. Having come to care about these characters during the series books, I was glad the author included them. Rafe, the hero of this book, is Lillian and Daisy's brother, so it is natural that the two of them plus at least the odious Bowman father would be part of this book. The Christmas celebration at Lillian and Marcus's estate provides the reason for Annabelle and Evie and their husbands to be there as well.

The downside of having all the Wallflowers in the book is there is less time to spend on Hannah, the "honorary" wallflower (as her cousin's companion she isn't in the marriage market) and Rafe. This abbreviated the falling in love portion of the book just a little too much for my taste. But there is a love letter in the book that would melt any woman's heart. It may be the most romantic passage I've read in a long time.

The upside of having all the Wallflowers in the book is that it provided opportunities for more love scenes, for those readers who want that, without tossing Rafe and Hannah into bed before they even know each other.

I definitely enjoyed this book and hope the author will add to the Wallflower series (there are 2 more Bowman brothers!). But I hope the author will give her faithful readers both a look back into the original Wallflowers' lives and a full and complete love story for any future wallflowers and their true loves.

Lisa Kleypas' wallflowers are back in her new holiday themed story, A Wallflower Christmas. Beloved characters are revisited and new faces emerge in this sweet romance.

American Rafe Bowman has arrived in England to marry a member of the peerage. He is being pressured by his father to marry well and Rafe has reluctantly agreed. Rafe is a charmer, a bit of a rake but just handsome enough to make any lady of the English aristocracy swoon. Except one, that is. Miss Hannah Appleton is the companion for her beautiful and titled cousin, Natalie, Rafe's intended. Hannah and Rafe do not get off on the right foot needless to say, but a simmering attraction is on the rise between them.

When Hannah and Natalie get invited to Lord Westcliff's country estate for Christmas, the attraction grows in leaps and bounds. Rafe is starting to see that just accepting his future will not make him happy; he has to fight for the things, and the person, that he most desires. For Hannah, Christmas brings out another side to Rafe. She is starting to see that he may not be the right match for Natalie, but that this brash American may just be the imperfect soul mate she has been searching for.

It is hard not to enjoy this sweet, spicy, and well written holiday romance. Though holiday romances on the whole make me a bit wary, I was hopeful that a holiday romance written by the incomparable Lisa Kleypas would be a cut above the rest, and I was right. While this is a very straightforward romance, and while she does not toy with any romance conventions, there is a solid love story and interesting characters, bolstered by her wonderful writing style.

Rafe is everything one would expect from a Bowman. He wants to be his own man but also strives to please his parents, particularly his father. Those convictions play out in interesting ways in this story. Hannah has a good life as her cousin's companion. She is treated well, is loved by her family, so she certainly does not fall prey to the role of the poor, mistreated relative. All the same, she yearns for a life of her own, a family and husband to call home. She is making strides in that direction when Rafe shows her just how much fun, joy, and love can be found if she is willing to take a chance.

And for bonus reading pleasure, Kleypas shows us glimpses into the lives of the former Wallflowers (Annabelle, Lillian, Evie, and Daisy.) It is a treat to see them with their husbands and makes this romance even more tempting.

A Wallflower Christmas may not be Lisa Kleypas at her most original but it is definitely Lisa Kleypas giving it her all. Love and the warmth of the holidays go hand in hand in this tale. Devoted Kleypas fans won't want to miss it and even those readers a bit wary of Christmas themed romances will still find plenty of reading enjoyment to be had.

First impressions of this book were quite positive. The cover is lovely, and the title intriguing. This is part of a series of books about the Wallflowers a group of women who are friends and who get together to matchmake.

The heroine of this story is Hannah Appleton, a paid companion. The hero is American millionaire Rafe Bowman.

I found this story average and rather cliche. Rafe is a rake, tall, dark, handsome, rich and dominating. Hannah is a young woman who while not a ravishing beauty is described as appealing. Their romance starts off on the wrong foot, but soon they fall for eachother and its LURVE.

I kept waiting for a twist, something interesting or surprising to happen, but no, everything in this novel was predictable. The characters paired up like matching socks and towards the end the story really petered out.

If you like reunion books and have read the others in the series, you might enjoy catching up with old favorites. For me, I wanted a more meaty story, characters who were interesting or intriguing in that special way that hooks you. Instead, the plot and characters were fairly boilerplate and were not strong enough to stand on their own. This novel didn't overly impress me.

I am a big fan of the Wallflower series and have been anxiously awaiting this book since I read an excerpt Kleypas had posted. If you know Lillian, Daisy, Annabelle and Evie, you will be pleased to "see" the girls together again. I strongly disagree with the previous reviewer who felt bringing them into the storyline overshadowed the story between Rafe and Hannah. Be aware that this book is only a little over 200 pages - not a full length novel. That did not matter to me because Kleypas can craft a true romance in half the words of a lot of authors - she makes every word count and doesn't overdo the details that can bog down a story - she doesn't have to because of her use of the language.

Just don't expect a continuation of the Wallflowers' stories in which there is a focus on the the girls and Sebastian, Simon, Matthew and Westcliff (the hero hotties we all love). This is about the romance between Hannah and Rafe Bowman (brother of Daisy and Lillian). I think if you keep that in mind, you won't be disappointed.

This book was a true pleasure to read and I find it hard to believe that any Wallflower fan wouldn't find it satisfying, even if it is a little abbreviated. I thought there was just the right balance between the Wallflowers reunion and the Hannah and Rafe romance. I could feel the romance and the new characters were so well developed that I came to "know" them well. Great read for any Kleypas fan.

"A Wallflower Christmas" is the continuation of a quartet of novels which followed the efforts of four young women seeking husbands in Regency England. Always finding themselves passed over at major events and balls, and left sitting on the benches in the back of the Assembly halls, they band together, becoming friends and assisting one another in finding appropriate mates. In deference to how they met, they call themselves "The Wallflowers". The series is a delightful portrayal of how difficult it was in that era to attract a suitable wealthy or aristocratic husband, especially if one lacked social connections, wealth or great beauty. While this is the fifth book, it is easy to read it independently and grasp the characters' history.

This book concerns Rafe Bowman, the brother of two of the Wallflowers, a wealthy American whose goal is to find a suitable aristocratic wife. Instead, he finds another Wallflower, her companion, and a light hearted story ensues.

Other books in the series are: Secrets of A Summer Night (Book 1), It Happened One Autumn (Book 2), The Devil In Winter (Book 3), Scandal in Spring (Book 4).

Lisa Kleypas is an excellent writer and story teller. All her other books are also worth reading. A Wallflwoer Christmas will not disappoint.

I am a big fan of the Wallflower series and have been anxiously awaiting this book since I read an excerpt Kleypas had posted. If you know Lillian, Daisy, Annabelle and Evie, you will be pleased to "see" the girls together again. I strongly disagree with the previous reviewer who felt bringing them into the storyline overshadowed the story between Rafe and Hannah. Be aware that this book is only a little over 200 pages - not a full length novel. That did not matter to me because Kleypas can craft a true romance in half the words of a lot of authors - she makes every word count and doesn't overdo the details that can bog down a story - she doesn't have to because of her use of the language.

Just don't expect a continuation of the Wallflowers' stories in this book in which there is a focus on the the girls and Sebastian, Simon, Matthew and Westcliff (the hero hotties we all love). This is about the romance between Hannah and Rafe Bowman (brother of Daisy and Lillian). I think if you keep that in mind, you won't be disappointed.

This book was a true pleasure to read and I find it hard to believe that any Wallflower fan wouldn't find it satisfying, even if it is a little abbreviated. I thought there was just the right balance between the Wallflowers reunion and the Hannah and Rafe romance. I could feel the romance and the new characters were so well developed that I came to "know" them well. Great read for any Kleypas fan.

Ok, Ok, I admit. I have NEVER read anything by this author before. Never. But, somehow, due to my participation in Amazon Vine, I get to check out some great stuff and this one title piqued my interest, and I ran with it. The story of four different women in Victorian London who team together and get their man, and then turn around and help others in the same boat got me to thinking. Hmm. I mean after all, in those times, it was every man(or in this case, woman)for their own selves. But moving on, you have four women who kept meeting at the same balls in Victorian London. Instead of doing the usual divide and conquer, catty behavior, these ladies teamed together and worked towards a common goal of getting a hubby for the lot of them, which wasn't the best because one was real shy, another was always into a book, another was nice but opinionated, and yet another quite beautiful but also quite penniless. Once they got that accomplished, they get word that the brother of two of the ladies, Rafe(quite fitting since it's synonymous with the rakish reputation he has)comes to London to get engaged to an Englishwoman of title, but yet NO money; When the sisters decide to do some snooping on this woman, the woman's cousin goes in her place, who rather looks down her nose at these "Americans mixing with English blue blood" and finds herself attracted to Rafe himself. From there the fur or rather the gowns and eyebrows raises in this sweet heartwarming romantic tale set in Victorian London society. Guaranteed to keep your mind off the cares of the day if one for a little while.

This review is of a book I received free through Amazon Vine Voice.

This is a delightful, heartwarming love story. Lisa Kleypas has managed to blend together charm and atmosphere and a satisfying story about two people who were not supposed to fall in love.

Rafe Bowman and his father have a turbulent past but there is hope that the future will be better for them if Rafe will just meet and propose marriage to the English aristocratic young woman his father has chosen for him. Thomas Bowman has decided that he wants to settle even more firmly within the English upper crust and he can do that by holding a lucrative business arrangement over his son's head. Rafe is a rake, he knows it, his parents know it and his sisters know it. But he also has a very good head for business and he wants to be allowed to run the continental segment of his families soap manufacturing business. If it means marrying the woman his father has chosen, then so be it. He knows he will not love her but he doesn't intend to fight his father's wishes. Then Rafe meets Miss Hannah Appleton, the companion of the woman he is supposed to propose to. The problems begin when Rafe is instantly attracted to Hannah even though she doesn't like him at all.

Hannah has been the companion of Natalie Blandford for three years and truly only wants what is best for her. When Hannah is invited to tea at the home of Lady Westcliff she meets the brash American who slouches in his chair and has a terrible accent. This man will never do as a husband for Lady Natalie. He is too vital, too forceful, too audacious and too arrogant.

This book brings back the four original women from the Wallflower series in a country home setting at Christmastime. It is really wonderful to see the women together again and reacquaint ourselves with them as wives and mothers. Kleypas manages to insert very touching stories concerning each of the marriages into this new story and it is a pleasant updating. In one part of the story each of the wallflowers gather in an upstairs room to hear what is happening to Hannah and each vows to keep the secret she is sharing with them. But you just know that will never happen. Each one loves her husband too much to ever keep a secret like this from him. Besides, maybe the husbands can help solve the impass involving Rafe, his father, Hannah and Natalie.

This wasn't a very complicated plot but it was a very satisfying read. Just the kind of book to bring you up to date on some of your favorite characters, introduce you to several new ones and put you in the Christmas spirit.

I loved the entire Wallflower series, so this was a book that I was very eagerly awaiting. I couldn't wait to see the Wallflower girls back in action -- and apparently neither could Lisa Kleypas, who seems to have written the book for the sole purpose of being able to write about her favorite quartet again.

This isn't a bad thing -- in fact, I thought that the best parts of the book were in seeing Lillian, Annabelle, Evie, and Daisy interacting as married women and mothers. Their scenes were absolutely lovely depictions of true friends and co-conspirators still coming up with mischief while their adoring husbands look on. There were also a number of romantic scenes between the women and their husbands, which were very sweet.

Which left the actual main couple, Rafe (Lillian and Daisy's brother) and Hannah in the interesting position of actually being the 'B' plotline. (even worse off is the couple that was actually meant to be the 'B' plotline -- I could never quite bring myself to care about this 'C' couple) They went through all the motions, and seemed very nice together, but the real driving force behind the book was that the Wallflower girls were getting together for Christmas. It's a nice, satisfying book, but it's far from being Lisa Kleypas's best, and I would've been really disappointed if I'd spent the money to buy the hardcover.

Lisa Kleypas, probably the most talented author in romance today, has worked her magic again in this little gem of a novel which both updates curious fans about the fates of the four Wallflowers, ( Annabelle in Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1); Lillian in It Happened One Autumn (The Wallflowers, Book 2); Evie in The Devil in Winter (The Wallflowers, Book 3); and Daisy in Scandal in Spring (The Wallflowers, Book 4)); and presents a new love story about Daisy and Lillian's wonderfully rakish brother, Rafe.

In usual charming Kleypas fashion, the course of true love runs rocky, and here the problem is that although Rafe has been brought to England to marry a lady (hopefully the lovely Lady Natalie Blandford), he is drawn to lowly lady's companion and Blandford poor relation, Hannah Appleton. Most unsuitable, and most delicious. The sexy scenes are steamy and the repartee is bright and witty.

Reading about the further histories of the wonderfully happy marriages of the four original Wallflowers, Lillian, Annabelle, Evie and Daisy, while following the romantic peccadilloes of the sexy Rafe and the strong-minded Hannah is a tasty Christmas treat for any romance lover. But Kleypas fans will be in heaven.