What a glorious read! Eloisa James may have written this book for me! How to Be A Wallflower can read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading My American Duchess first. Some characters make an appearance and plot lines are mentioned.

Cleo Lewis has returned to London to meet her grandfather. Cleo has had a very interesting life and she is such a lovable heroine. She owns and runs a very successful commode business she inherited from her father. She had an interesting life with her bohemian mother who traveled with theater troops. She has a grand plan to transform herself into a wallflower and settle down as a single woman. Until Jake walks into her life.

Jake Astor Addison is an American in London trying to poach theater professionals for his companies in American. He is set to buy a costume emporium when Cleo buys it up in front of him. He makes a plan to ruin her plans for the costume emporium but finds he may like Cleo more than kippers.

I loved the delicious humor, the costuming world of theater, hotels and the instant attraction all jumbled together! One of my very favorites this year!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own. #EloisaJames #HowtoBeaWallflower #NetGalley

This book is classic Eloisa James. There’s such tension between the MCs and you can’t wait for them to come together, but you also want the build up to continue. The humor is laced throughout the story and with the wonderful secondary characters. I read it in one sitting and found Cleo to be exactly the kind of heroine I adore. She’s strong and smart, but slow to trust. Jake is also smart, and wily but open. He knows he needs to work his way into Cleo’s heart, but has to mix being tricky and honest. I loved everything about this book.

Cleo has promised her grandfather a London season, but she wants no part of marriage after seeing her mothers tempestuous relationships with leading men. She vows to be a wallflower.

Jake wants to buy a costume emporium to supply his American theaters, but when he goes to the business he finds Cleo has outmaneuvered him. The battle for Quincy’s quickly becomes a battle for Cleo’s heart when Jake realizes she is the perfect woman for him.

3.5*
I wanted them totally love this book but it fell a bit short. I had to push myself to continue to read the book through the first 1/3 of it. I just couldn’t get in to the characters. Then Jake started to shine and that brought out Cleo’s true personality and I was hooked. I really like when it’s the hero who sets out to convince the heroine that they belong together. The secondary characters are really good and I’m assuming that that Yasmin’s book is next? I hope so, she is such a spitfire!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How To Be A Wallflower is a stand-out, sparkling romance sure to steal your heart. American businessman Jacob Astor Addison, “Jake” and English businesswoman Cleopatra Lewis, “Cleo” make a devil’s bargain. Each wants the same costume emporium. The couple strikes a deal to have a competition that finds them dressing each other. A battle of will ensue where hearts and passions intertwine.

Jake is a rough-hewn, straightforward American who unashamedly goes after what he wants. Jake shocks England’s nobility’s delicate sensibilities. I adored Jake’s character; what he wants, he goes after with the idea of losing not an option. Jake almost instantly falls for Cleo and is brave enough to own it. He is more noble, intelligent, and passionate than any refined Duke. Jake is not strikingly handsome and is too big and inelegant, yet he has an undeniable aura, a huge heart, and a shrewd mind.

Cleo is a forward-thinking, independent businesswoman who, through her past with her mother, has sworn off men. Passion is fleeting, and love is a fickle, unsteady emotion to be avoided. Cleo is fierce yet vulnerable. I loved how Cleo thought. She was logical and precise except when it came to Jake and her fragile heart.

This plot is a slow burn. I usually like a faster pace; however, Jake and Cleo’s journey is exquisite, even if it unfolds slowly. Jake’s emotions toward Cleo develop instantly, and he fights for Cleo very early on. I found this point unusual in a plot in this genre. Usually, the heroine has these “instant love” feelings. The dialogue had a rhythm or an ebb and flow that created a vulnerable, inquisitive bubble for the couple to evolve. The storyline felt natural, and the relationship between Jake and Cleo was grippingly organic. The connection between the couple was instantaneous. The physicality was understated; the passionate languid kisses were strikingly romantic. These moments were more captivating than the more sensual scenes. I enjoyed the secondary characters as much as Jake and Cleo. These characters, even down to the insignificant flower girl, breathed life and depth into the story.

How To Be A Wallflower is the first book in the Would Be Wallflowers series. This novel grabbed my attention from the first chapter, which is quite a feat when it is a slow-burn plot. This slowly grew into a passionate, realistic, loving representation of a couple falling in love. Ultimately this is a tale of two independent, strong people who find that love can be an incredible, freeing, permanent fixture in a turbulent world. Love can’t erase the past, but it can heal and make a way to a bright future. Eloisa James has created magic in a breathtaking journey of discovery and passion. I could not put this book down and eagerly wait for the next one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

How to Be a Wallflower by Eloisa James is the first in a new series and it is an absolute delightful and entertaining story. Cleopatra Lewis is about to make her debut into society with her Viscount grandfather and has a plan to keep her single. Needing a wardrobe, she heads to a costume emporium and before she knew it, she finds herself buying into a new business venture and encountering a hot under the collar American business man, Jake Astor Addison, who is fit to be tied when his purchase fell through. Seeing he was outbid by a British businesswoman, he has to find a way to get her to change her mind. To try and outwit her he proposes an unconventional wager. He will design her wallflower clothes and she will design his. Does the clothing make the man or in this case, the woman? What it does for both of them is what they least expected but made things far clearer in what he wants. Cleo and Jake both find that they enjoy each other’s company and slowly become friends.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story because the characters were fun and interesting. Cleo had a past with her mother and father she had to work through to overcome her emotional issues with her feelings on love. Once Jake made it his mission to win Cleo’s heart and get her to marry him, he showed her daily with flowers, coffee and kippers. The secondary characters also help to bring this story to life and advance the story to its happy conclusion. The author’s writing style made it easy to read and it flowed nicely. I didn’t want it to end because the characters were so enjoyable to get to know and cheer for. I love the conclusion and how Jake and Cleo worked it out for themselves. Eloisa James has a hit on her hands and I look forward to reading more in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Miss Cleopatra Lewis is to be introduced into society just as any proper granddaughter of a viscount is meant to be, but Cleo isn't any such lady. Inheriting a business involving water closets, "Lewis Commodes" she is a woman with means and without any want or need to marry. Cleo has resolved herself to be a mere wallflower in the coming season, but it seems that fate has other ideas.

The moment Jacob Astor Addison walked into Quimby's Costume Emporium he didn't expect to be swept off his feet by the english-woman who speaks her mind and knows her way around business dealings, including snatching up Quimby's Costume Emporium right under his very nose. As his persistence spawns a battle of wits they agree to put the fate of Quimby's sale upon a bet. He will design the clothing meant to entice patrons to the shop while she will design the attire to set him apart from the normal English gentleman. The winner takes all, but Jake soon realizes he has already lost his heart to Miss Lewis hoping he can turn this resolute wallflower into his wife.

There's something warm and familiar about Eloisa James' writing that draws you in. This was unlike any historical romance that I have read and I really appreciated it. The characters were quirky and self assured without feeling like a caricature. Their larger than life personalities and backgrounds helped them feel rooted in reality.I could see Cleo as someone I'd like to be friends with if I were transported to such a time, though I doubt I'd fair well with my tattoos in the early 1800's. Still, I think Cleo who was raised around the theater would bat an eyelash.

Then there's Jake who had all the swagger of such a sturdy American "brute" with charm that was in need of a bit of polishing, but fit perfectly along Cleo's always candid personality. It was really enjoyable to see how they were so similar without it feeling like they were mirroring each other, how they accompanied each others like puzzle pieces that needed to be turned in such a way so that they lined up. It was truly a friends to lovers story as entertaining and heartwarming as they come.

In a sea of stories hoping to attain Bridgerton status, this was a refreshing take on historical romance. A nice brandy instead of the proper lemonade.

How to Be a Wallflower is the first book in the Would-Be Wallflowers series by Eloisa James. Ms. James is one of my all-time favorite authors; she's never written a book I didn't love! This book is no exception. What was especially great was this one had Merry from My American Duchess in it. I just adored her and was excited to get another chance to spend time with her. I also think the book cover was just beautiful and really captured Cleo's spirit.

Miss Cleopatra (Cleo) Lewis, a commode heiress (yes, you read that correctly), is going to be launched in society by her aristocratic grandfather after the death of her mother. Cleo has no intention of being married and fully intends to be a wallflower to fend off suitors. She visits a costume emporium with the purpose of obtaining unflattering dresses to help her in her endeavor. American businessman Jacob (Jake) Astor Addison is also in London, planning to buy businesses to add to his theatrical holdings back home. He's mad as a hornet when he finds the bewitching Cleo is buying Quimby's Costume Emporium out from under him. The two agree to a wager: Jake will design the wallflower wardrobe for Cleo, and she in turn will design a wardrobe for him, however outrageous. They will see whose clothes will attract more people to Quimby's, to determine who will be able to purchase it. Soon Cleo and Jake become close friends, then lovers. They belong to two different worlds; will they find happiness with each other?

This was a wonderfully sweet and clever story with lovely steamy bits making an appearance. I just adored both main characters. Cleo has no intention of marrying, in no small part due to the sort of the marriage her parents had. Her father worked hard building his commode empire, while her mother Julia had one affair after another with actors she met while traveling with entertainers. She bought Cleo with her most times. She loved her mother, but in no way wanted the type of marriage she had. Jake was in England to build up his businesses back home, and he planned to eventually marry a sweet and biddable woman (who was a huge cow enthusiast... yes, you read that correctly) when he returned to America. He had changed his last name to distance himself from family members who engaged in the opium trade; he refused to be involved in opium. And then he met Cleo. I liked the progression of their relationship from competitors to friends to lovers. Jake was particularly sweet, big gruff American that he was. He didn't hesitate to let Cleo know his feelings for her. He sent posies daily with the same message about how he liked her more than kippers. And that man really loved his kippers! Intimate times were quite steamy but not overly so. Their intimacy did make Cleo wonder if she was more like her mother than she thought. There was a misunderstanding near the end which gave a little bit of angst but not too much. There was much witty banter here that really made the story completely engaging. And of course, we had Jake's best friend Merry around, which greatly added to my pleasure. I can't wait to see who the next couple will be in the series, but I have my suspicions!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

My goodness, Eloisa James has outdone herself. There are so many things about this book to love. First....Cleo. Cleo was raised very unconventionally despite being the granddaughter of a Viscount. She spent most of her childhood traveling on the road following theaters with her mother, who enjoyed the company of men with zero commitments. Now that her mother is gone, Cleo has decided to focus solely on her inherited commode business. As a business-owning woman who saw very little of true love growing up, she is completely uninterested in marriage.

Enter Jake. Jake is an American determined to whisk away Cleo's modiste to America to attire his actors overseas.
They meet when Cleo announces she is buying the modiste. Jake is such a romance hero. While I didn't love how quickly he fell for Cleo, forgetting his own business interests and home country, I couldn't help buy sigh at how romantic he was. His abruptness and American ways were endearing to me. I loved his friendship with Merry, a duchess from a previous James book and the banter and respect between he and Cleo were great. Plus their chemistry was fantastic!

This book is just so well written and the characters so interesting. James has such talent for blending a quintessential historical romance with modern elements that make it captivating. I would say any lover of romance would enjoy this one and I certainly cannot wait for more in the series..

"How to Be a Wallflower" really has little to do with how to be a wallflower. What it does have however, is a found family, a hero who is enticed to dress like a peacock (for business reasons), and a heroine who is wary of becoming vulnerable in the ways of love.

Jake Astor Addison first meets Cleopatra Lewis when the two of them are at odds over a company that they want to acquire. Jake is a self-assured American businessman with a gruff, but honest disposition. Jake is an inelegant man with a big heart, and has an honesty that is blunt and unflattering; but it is a facet of his personality that Cleo comes to adore-and so do I, for that matter. Jake describes Cleo as being not the most beautiful woman-she has big eyes, a witchy chin, and wild red hair; but it is her opinions, intelligence, genuine nature that attract him and make her beautiful. I adored how he was so gentle with Cleo and took the time to woo her. This was a very slow burn romance and courtship, but Jake is a man who saw a woman of worth and treated her accordingly. Also, kippers-who knew they would play such a big role in this quirky courtship!

Cleo moves with a certainty that is unique to her independent circumstances. She is a woman who took over her father’s business-“Lewis Commodes”-and runs it with success. However, Cleo does not move through romance with as much certainty. She adored her mother, but her mother was the female equivalent of a rake. Her mother’s uninhibited proclivity to have a stream of men in and out of her bed, whether married or not, created a lifelong anxiety in Cleo. She does not ever want to be like her mother-someone who flits from one lover to the other. But when she slowly lets herself ease into Jake’s attentions, and affections, she begins to realize that lust without love is far from what she has with Jake. Cleo is a beautifully constructed character. She is complex and vulnerable while being strong and independent. My heart broke right along with her in the third act conflict. And my heart soared when Jake’s bluntness showed itself in the form of communicating with Cleo and not letting any misunderstandings see the light of day.

These two characters are unique and endearing. I loved that they were not described as perfectly, beautiful people. They felt like real and honest characters. And I adored the descriptions of Jake in his peacock-like wardrobe; that is a man who does not care what anyone else thinks! I loved that about him. Cleo and Jake are the most memorable characters that Eloisa James has written to date! I highly recommend reading this refreshingly honest historical romance.

I voluntarily read and review an advanced copy of this eARC thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#HowtoBeaWallflower #NetGalley

I am a fan of Eloisa James from the first one I read till this one. I was so entertained by the characters the story as usual a pleasure to read and another book of hers I will be recommending.#netgalley #Howtobeawallflower.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Ms. James for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Oh My! So, when I received this ARC, I put down another book as I love Eloisa James as an author and welcomed reading this book in a new series. “How to Be a Wallflower (Would-Be Wallflowers#1)” was a one sitting enjoyable read for this reader.

Miss Cleopatra “Cleo” Lewis is very much a bluestocking, thanks to her profitable inventor father. She is very much the businesswoman where her fortunes are inherited from her father’s commode business. Although her mother, Julia was a free spirited theatrical loving individual, Cleo was taught the ways of society. It is the carefree life that her mother has lived that she is determined to become a wallflower with no thought in mind to marry. After her mother’s death, she is 10 months later reconciled with her estranged grandfather, Viscount Falconer to gain his assistance with introducing her into London’s society. However, to play the part of wallflower she needs to dress the part. She visits Quimby’s Costume Emporium where she becomes an investor in the business.

American, Jacob “Jake” Astor Addison is in London visiting an old friend and attempt to acquire Quimby’s for his theatrical ventures in the States. Unfortunately, he does not count on meeting Miss Lewis who buys the business right from under his nose. Now that he has met Cleo, all bets are off the table and he will do anything in his power to take back the business and win the heart of the new proprietress.

As this was around the Gilded Age, I do think the independence of the heroine and her business savvy could have been scaled down just a tad. It was a little slow in pace in some parts but picked up closer to the end. Although Cleo and Jake had to reckon with their own personal issues, I enjoyed their escapes that turned into adventures. This was a well-written story with likeable main characters and some secondary ones that I noted were in “My American Duchess” by the author. There was just enough…close to naught in banter and chemistry to build their relationship beyond the wooing. I was caught off guard a bit with the fast submission of Jake’s feelings for Cleo, and Cleo becoming a wallflower being lost somewhere in the story. I love historical romances that include the steamy and the intimacy between the H/h was nicely done. For me, the title misleading but the story was enjoyable and worth reading. Recommend....4/5 Stars

Cleo and Jake meet-cute when she steals a business deal out from under his feet. At first he gets heated because he's an American business magnate - of course he should win all of the deals! But then he just get hot for Cleo. Jake's one of those heroes who pursues the heroine relentlessly. Obviously if she weren't into it, it would be a little stalkery. In this case, since the only thing keeping Cleo from committing to their relationship is her fraught memories of her mother, it's totally cool that he moves into the hotel suite right across from hers, sneaks into her room at night so they can have long conversations over cognac, and follows her into the dark avenues of Vauxhall.

Jake totally gets Cleo: she's falling for him but hesitant to commit because of her past experiences with her parents' marriage. She's also the head of her own company, and she doesn't want to give it up. (There's one point in the book where she realizes she might love Jake more than she loves being a boss - but to be clear, she never has to make a choice.) Eloisa James's writing is as flowing and fun as usual, and it's refreshing to be back in Regency England after her last Georgian-set series. If we have any criticism, it's that Jake might be a little TOO understanding. Cleo never really has to explain herself, and at times Jake seems to understand her contradictory feelings better than she does herself. We don't love angst for the sake of angst, but there really seems to be no impediment to their eventual HEA. Sometimes we just want the hero to work a little!

Heiress Cleopatra Lewis is about to - reluctantly - join society with no interest in finding a match. Jacob Astor Addison is in London, acquiring businesses to add to his holdings in America. When Cleo steals a costume emporium business deal out from under him, the frenemies make a deal...Jake will design Cleo’s “wallflower wardrobe” and Cleo will design a wardrobe for him. When Cleo becomes the toast of society, Jake realizes he wants her for himself!

This is the first in the Would-Be Wallflowers series, but it is also a companion novel to My American Duchess. The heroine of that novel is friends with the hero of this novel.

I think there are a lot of readers who will enjoy this book, but sadly I just couldn’t connect with it. There was some good banter, but I couldn’t make it work. The hero seemed to fall in love and change course unbelievably quickly. 2.5 stars rounded to 3.

Tropes: Wallflower, Enemies to Friends to Lovers

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Ms. James for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I am a longstanding fan of Ms. James, although I didn't care so much for the Wildes series. I was very excited to try this series, which appears to be set during the Gilded Age.

I was drawn immediately to Jake, who is precisely the sort of hero I like most: muscular, straightforward, capable, American (ha), dark-haired, upstanding. Frankly he seemed like sort of a historical version of my husband, if my husband was given to romantic statements (alas, he is not. At least, not usually.)

Cleo, on the other hand, I had mixed feelings about. I liked her very much as a strong-willed, independent female businesswoman, but I had reservations about her as a romantic heroine. For one thing, her childhood and upbringing had serious repercussions on her mental and emotional health. I felt uncomfortable with the relationship between her and Jake given the magnitude of her issues (insecurity, abandonment, complete lack of a maternal influence, etc). I also sort of felt badly for Jake, who has an uphill battle to climb. He seemed completely willing to do whatever it took, for as long as it would take - even forever - like some sort of more modern Sisyphus. Despite the HEA I really can't imagine Cleo ever completely feeling secure. Good luck to Jake on that one.

The questionable business strategies of dressing each other in order to compete for Quimby's was an interesting conceit that is executed inconsistently - why should men want to look ridiculous? Why should women want to look like actresses? How exactly is this supposed to drum up actual business for Quimby's? (Especially if Jake's clothes are not only ridiculous looking but ALSO, and this is for real, literally split apart every time he breathes hard or exerts himself in any way, INCLUDING sitting down. Puts a whole new meaning to the "I flexed and my sleeves fell off" meme. It just makes the fitters and seamstresses look sloppy and inept; not a good look for Quimby's.) The relative success of Quimby's as its own business and under either Cleo's or Jake's ownership is also not really addressed at the end, unless I missed it somehow.

Don't let me fool you: this is a charming, sweet, more or less unproblematic romance in which the course of things generally runs smooth and uninterrupted. It's quite obvious who will feature next in the series: Yasmin first, and cow-loving Frederica next. I will likely sign on for both. I enjoyed the story very much, especially the banter between Jake and Cleo, and I would recommend it. I'm not going to lie, one of my favorite parts was imagining my husband in Jake's ridiculous outfits. Ha ha.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 Stars

HOW TO BE A WALLFLOWER is the first installment in the Would-Be Wallflowers series. Our hero is tied to the MY AMERICAN DUCHESS standalone.

As a feminist, I've always struggled with my desire to read historical romances. While it was more befitting of the era to be dependent, I always felt it wasn't in everyone's nature, no matter what society dictated. I appreciated the viewpoint of independent women during an era of dependency. Eloisa James always manages to bridge the gap between historical believability while resonating with today's modern woman.

A business woman, our independent Miss Cleo truly shined, walking a fine line by fulfilling her family's wish to enter society, while doing so in a way to make sure she wasn't the belle of the ball.

Our American Hero, Jake is in England to purchase an emporium, the very same emporium our business woman Cleo has purchased. Cue a slight bit of angst, where Jake battles Cleo, only to realize he wishes to have the woman instead. Cue massive pining with a side of insta-love on our hero's part, but Cleo is anything but an easy catch.

As someone who is not a fan of insta-anything, Jake's immediate fixation on Cleo was balanced nicely by Cleo herself. She was of a more logical nature, taking her time to allow the connection to grow, where finding one attractive did not mean future matrimonial bliss. A plot device that I generally do not enjoy was balanced, allowing Jake's personality to shine through.

With a great deal of banter, witty humor that never falls over the edge into slapstick territory, Eloisa James always entertains me. The characters were original and endearing. I was personally able to empathize with Cleo, while enjoying Jake's character.

The romance wasn't flowery and over-the-top, allowing the plot to be the focus. The romantic tension built to that of a smexy nature, detailed scenes that did fade-to-black during certain scenarios. The perfect mix of romance and lust, while staying focused on the plot itself – a little bit of this and that to appeal to the masses.

Highly recommend to fans of the author and historical romances. Every time I read a novel by Eloisa James, it never fails to make me wish to start at the beginning of her backlist and make my way through rereading them all over again.

I loved this book for the first half of it. Then is crashed and burned. Boom! Big eruption, never to rise . . . until the last 10%. Then, like a Phonex, it rose from the ashes, and it redeemed itself, somewhat. I loved the heroine, Cleo. She had so much going for her. She was crazy smart, not afraid to be a businesswoman in 1815 in England and she knew she didn't want to let a man control her. But, she was haunted by her mother, who was a free spirit, to put it nicely. Her mother really messed Cleo up, big time. The hero, Jake, was a man who wanted to grow his business empire and marry a nice, docile, serene woman. That wasn't Cleo. These two had a really rocky road to their HEA.

Miss Cleopatra Lewis is an heiress, her father made a fortune inventing and his most profitable invention was the Lewis Commodes, which were quite revolutionary for the time. Cleo is now in London reconnecting with the grandfather, Viscount Falconer, who is going to introduce her to London society, and hopefully, get her married well. Not that that is what Cleo intends, at all. She just wants to be a wallflower and endure the Season until her grandfather gives up on the marriage thing.

But, a personality and beauty like Cleo could wear a sack and she would still attract suitors, especially with the whopping fortune she has to boot. She has a smash up with a brash, rugged American, Jacob Astor Addison, when they both want different things for a business, Quimby's Costume Emporium, their both have their eyes on. Cleo steals the deal and Jake is furious, vowing to best Cleo if it is the last thing he does. Except he ends up wanting Cleo more than the business. As Jake and Cleo dance around each other, sparks fly and misunderstandings abound until they each have to just trust their feelings for each other. The End. 3 1/2-Stars

I am a huge fan of Eloisa James, so I was so excited to be gifted a copy of this book from NetGalley! Once again Ms. James delivers great story that I really loved. This book was of course well written and delivers everything you expect from this author. I'm giving this book 4 stars because I didn't like that the female lead thought she would be just like her mom in a relationship. Her mom was awful - have an awful mom, so I hate to read about those in my escape romances! Other than that, I really enjoyed this book.

I've been slowly (very slowly, I have so many more books to read!) reading through Eloisa James' backlist, and I am loving her books so much. So when I saw this book, I knew I absolutely had to request it! And I'm happy I did! This was another great romance, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series! And how pretty is this cover?! I love it!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I have really enjoyed that many of the more recent historical romances have been featuring main characters that are not titled. This has provided a fresh feeling to historical romances, and knowing all the research that goes into these books, it’s so interesting!

Cleo and Jake first felt like they would be enemies to lovers, but Jake fell for Cleo is fast, that I’m not sure I’d be able to classify this book that.

I love how open Jake was with his feelings and how he tried assuage all of Cleo’s fears about relationships. She definitely came into the relationship with a lot of baggage from her past.

I’m very intrigued in the next book in the series, I believe we know the heroine, but who will the hero be?!

4.5 stars, rounded up

After the death of her mother Julia, Miss Cleopatra “Cleo” Lewis, the owner of the very successful Lewis Commodes company, sets out to fulfill her mother’s last wish and has reconciled with her estranged grandfather. Julia was a “free spirit” and though raised as a proper lady, she eloped with the blacksmith’s son and proceeded to live life on her own terms, which included taking lovers and following traveling acting troupes. When Cleo tells her dresser that she has agreed to participate in the season with her grandfather and plans to don the role of a wallflower since her own experience and her mother’s behavior has left her with no desire to marry, her dresser suggests that Cleo visit Quimby’s Emporium for her attire. It is here that Cleo meets Jacob “Jake” Astor Addison and then proceeds to buy the Emporium out from under him.

Jake is in London to visit his dearest friend, Merry the Duchess of Trent, and to convince Martha Quimby to relocate to the States and design costumes for his theaters – something he thought was a done deal until he is thwarted by Cleo. Before their meeting Jake had planned to return to America and marry a very nice girl, he even purchased a ring, but all that changed after Cleo came into his life, and now nothing will stop him from winning her – not even a ridiculous agreement to pick each other’s wardrobes. Jake plans to win Cleo’s heart, one kiss, and one kipper at a time, and it seems like he might be successful, that is until a well-meaning letter results in an unexpected visit that may cost him the love of his life.

What a great start to a new series! This was a well-written, nicely-paced story with wonderful characters. The story is both fun and piquant, it is filled with emotion, witty banter, a relationship-shy heroine, a brawny, kipper-loving hero, a great cast of secondary characters, steamyish love scenes, an opal ring, and a very sweet ending complete with an epilogue. I really loved this book and Jake has taken his place in my top five of all-time heroes. I also loved Cleo, but I agree with another reviewer who stated that her resistance to marriage was dragged out a little too long – not so much as to be annoying, but enough to be a bit tiresome. All in all, it was an excellent read and I can’t wait to read the next installment!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*