Member Reviews
I felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story and missed the beginning. The duke and Rosemary had previously met and kissed and it was never explained! I had to keep going back to see if I missed something. After that I felt like I was behind for the rest of the book.
This one was the best out of the whole series!
Loved the plot, it focused more on the characters development, which I liked, also loved how they realized they are in love kind of gradually and suddenly in the beginning.
.
The couple was awesome, their chemistry was top notch, they both held my attention the whole time, really interesting.
.
Loved the ending, especially having closure about the other characters, too.
Would definitely keep an eye on other books by the author.
.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book a lot.
Sterling is now the duke after his brother was killed in a duel. He has spent all his time since drunk, especially now that he has been framed for the murder of his mistress.
Rosemary has always been a wallflower with only her squirrel as a friend.
I really enjoyed how Sterling and Rosemary's relationship developed. The changes they brought in each other.
I do think the murder mystery was lacking and rushed in the last few chapters.
Overall I recommend this book.
Note - I received this digital arc for free as a courtesy of Net Galley and Dragonblade Publishing in return for an honest feedback.
To start with, I would like to thank author Jillian Eaton, Net Galley and Dragonblade Publishing for this opportunity to review this title. Moving on to the review - this book is an absolute must read for all those who love historical romance , specially the ones set in the regency era. Infact it is a perfect read for all Bridgerton fans out there. Although this is the fourth tittle in the series - The Perks of Being an Heiress, the narrative has been composed such that it can be treated as a standalone read. Despite being a romance based story, there is sufficient character development, suspense and mystery infused which helped to remove any possible cringe feeling that could have come up. I absolutely enjoyed the conventional enemies to romance trope between our leads - the Duke of Hanover Sterling Nottingham and RoseMary Stanhope. While the former was a rake and alcoholic renowned for debauchery and so much more, the latter was a wallflower , content with her pet squirrel Sir Reginald. The build up of romance into a solid relationship along with a few suspense elements formed the overall plot of the story.
Although the reading experience was delightful, I would have loved the book a lot more had I not watched Bridgerton series for Sterling and RoseMary seemed to be a carbon copy of Duke Simon and Daphne Bridgerton. Infact the characterization and build up of their relationship felt starkly similar to how Simon and Daphne entered into a relation. The only difference between RoseMary and Daphne was the former's love for scientific knowledge and intensive reading, kind of similar to Eloise Bridgerton.
Further the mysteries introduced in the story were not resolved which I presume may be dealt with in the upcoming books. Otherwise this is a perfect must read.
The Rakehell Duke and the Wallflower
This is a delightful romance about an unlikely couple. He is a man, haunted by pain and scandal. She is a wallflower, different from those around her. Sterling did not intend to get involved with Rosemary, but it all started with a kiss, and once he kissed her, he unknowingly changed both their lives. Could love save the duke from himself? He resisted Rosemary with all his might, but love had other plans. However, there was a mystery to solve, and there just might be unseen villains of which the duke was quite unaware. Why was Sterling accused of killing his mistress? He knew he did not do it. This story has romance, mystery, and a bit of suspense. It is heartwarming and infused with humor.
Book four in the Perks of Being an Heiress series is a definite winner. Rosemary is kissed by Sterling, a drunken rake. Neither is sure why he kissed her, but both are surprised by the electric connection they feel. Takes a while, but they will get their HEA. Ms. Eaton has a way of drawing you into a story and making you like even degenerate hero's such as Sterling. Loved it!
Thank you Jillian Eaton, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.
Sterling is a drunken degenerate. Alcohol, gambling, orgies, any type of debauchery. He enjoys being the second son with no expectations until he drunkenly goads his brother into participating in a duel. His brother is killed and to escape the crushing guilt, Sterling enters into a years-long phase of alcoholic fog to not feel anything. At his bleakest moment, having suicidal thoughts, he meets Rosemary. Sweet, good, kind, if something of an oddball to those in high society, Rosemary brings him out of the fog into the light. With her pet squirrel, Sir Reginald, you'll find Rosemary in the corner of the ballroom with a good book. When Sterling's friends (husbands to Rosemary's cousins) tells him gin or Rosemary he goes into a week of detox and with Rosemary's help realizes he has a lot to live for. Oh, but wait, the murder. Did I mention Sterling is being accused of murdering his mistress? Her room was found covered in blood but the body is missing. Doesn't he sound like a catch! But really he is sweet and funny while Rosemary isn't your usual debutante. Evie and Joanna from the previous books are here, and good news, their sister arrives from America in time for the wedding!
I really enjoyed Wooed by the Wallflower, which I believe is my first book by Jillian Eaton.
Though this is book 4 in the series, there is plenty of background information and many characters from the other books make an appearance. There is a mystery that ties through the entire series, so you may want to read in order. I didn't feel it hindered anything by starting at book four, I still found the plot interesting, easy to follow, and really enjoyed the characters, their friendships and witty banter. The book is somewhat lower on the steam scale (at least for me) especially considering quite the situation the Duke finds himself in at the beginning of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
This is the fourth installment of Ms. Eaton's The Perks of Being an Heiress series. I've always loved picking up one of Ms. Eaton's books as they are always such a delight to read. This one was no different. Sterling, The Duke of Hanover, is a drunk, gambler, and generally a rake. Rosemary is a unique, self-sufficient, and intelligent lady and a bit eccentric, as demonstrated by her having a pet squirrel. When an accidental kiss happens between the two, neither can stop thinking about it. Rosemary seems to intrigue him, and he sees her and admires her for who she really is, squirrel and all. Sterling has had a tough past and doesn't necessarily deal with it all very well. But when he and Rosemary grow closer, she sees the man beneath all the drunkeness and sullied reputation, and realizes he is a man filled with guilt and sadness and is just handling it all very poorly. These two were so beautiful together, to look past the appearances and understand who the heart of the person really is. Such a charming and romantic read! There is also a bit of mystery and danger that will definitely keep you turning the pages. I was hooked from the very start up until the very end. Well-developed and engaging characters, strong chemistry, and witty banter all make for a compelling storyline you will not be able to put down. Really enjoyed the story!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
"Sterling Nottingham, Duke of Hanover, had kissed her.
Miss Rosemary Stanhope, Squirrel Keeper Extraordinaire."
A wonderful story that stole my heart. Rosemary is a wallflower. She loves to read and rescue animals, with her latest being her pet squirrel. She is a caregiver and it seems that her next project is Sterling. As careless as he seems, drinking too much, rumors spreading about killing his mistress and other being a total rake, she can see the pain her tries to hide in his eyes.
Sterling never wanted to be the Duke. He had killed his brother... Yes it was his fault and he tried to dull that pain with drink. But there was something about Renee, no Regina, wait, Rosemary that had made him just go up and kiss her.
This author is one of my favorites and always pens a story that wraps around my emotions and I have to say, I think this is one of my favorites of this amazing series!
Having read many books by Jillian Eaton including the other books in her Perks of Being an Heiress series, I was prepared to enjoy Wooed by the Wallflower. I have to say I absolutely loved this book and its beautiful story!
Rosemary has been overlooked by society, but she is the catalyst for Sterling to change. He learns to forgive himself for his past and allow love to enter his life. Rosemary and Sterling complete each other.
This book has so many feels and so much emotion. You will also laugh out loud at Sterling's encounter with Rosemary's squirrel, Sir Reginald!
Characters from the previous books figure in Wooed by the Wallflower and, while it can stand alone, I do recommend reading the other books in the series for maximum enjoyment.
Wooed by the Wallflower by Jillian Eaton has a slightly different story than many romances. Rosemary Stanhope was a true eccentric, and hence, a wallflower. She was a bluestocking who had a squirrel as a pet. Truth be told, she like animals better than people. She was visiting Hawkridge Manor, the home of her cousin's betrothed, along with her grandmother, who was hoping to find her a husband. A husband Rosemary had no interest in obtaining. This is the third in the series and can be read as a stand-alone but there are a few pieces of background that Eaton retells to keep the reader current. Sterling, the Duke of Hanover, was a drunk. There is no other way to say it. But he was interesting. He still felt guilty in the death of his older brother, the real duke, six years earlier. He knew he had to heed his sister's pleading to return to London and repair his reputation, but he was not ready. He had enjoyed that one kiss with Rosemary however.
In London, just in case she's been compromised, he proposed to her and then announced it to a gossip, then disappeared for over a week. She finally got up the nerve to visit him at his home, looking to compromise herself further. What she discovered amazed her. Sterling had taken on a guilt that was not his. Then bad things happened. Killings, kidnappings, and now Rosemary was in danger. This had to stop. The mystery was a good one, the perpetrator one would never have expected. Rosemary was a good character, drawn beautifully buy Eaton. Sterling was eve better. She was eccentric. He was damaged, but strong enough to right the ship, once motivated. This is a lovely story. Eaton has outdone herself.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Wooed By The Wallflower by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #dragonblade #jillianeaton #wooedbythewallflower
I found the opening chapters a bit confusing. It seems much of the MC's first meetings take place in previous books and their interactions are either alluded to or described through thoughts of the past events. It did not take me long though to become enchanted with Rosemary and Sterling. I adore a wallflower who knows herself. Rosemary knew who she was and did not really care what others thought of her. Sterling was your usual dissolute drunk after a family tragedy he felt was his fault. Love this trope!
I enjoyed the slow coming together of the MC's and how their views of each other changed and grew. I enjoyed the supporting cast, even the dour grandmother. Was not a fan of the squirrel.
Sterling Nottingham, Duke of Hanover, drinks too much, womanizes too much, gambles too much, and carries a tremendous amount of guilt. He blames himself for the duel that killed his brother, and he doesn’t know what happened to his mistress. Miss Rosemary Stanhope lost is an orphan raised by her grandmother, a strict and somewhat cold lady. Rosemary is sweet and is kind to people, and animals. She has a wonderful pet and companion in Sir Reginald, a squirrel she raised from a baby. At first glance, this is a couple that cannot possibly happen.
This a well-written touching and charming story. I love the silly interactions between Sterling and Rosemary, a rogue and a wallflower. Characters from the previous books are present to offer support for Rosemary and to keep Sterling straight. Surprise kisses, a rambunctious squirrel, and a kidnapping make this a story hard to put down. A good story, appealing characters, a wonderful HEA, and the solution to a mystery, it’s all here. I recommend the story and the series.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
Wooed by the Wallflower was such a sweet and emotional read. I loved this story so much especially because of the heroine Rosemary! Rosemary is such a strong character she's the perfect match for our hero the Duke of Hanover. Rosemary shows how strong she is by staying true to who she is no matter how much the ton is cruel to her for her love of animals. My favorite part of the book are the scenes with her pet squirrel Sir Reginald! The Duke's backstory is really emotional and Stirling himself has a hard time overcoming it but he had such a great character development in the sequence of the story. In the end he realizes through Rosemary's help that he is so much more than his past mistakes. I really liked how the plot played out Eaton did a wonderful job of tying it all together. This is the first book I have read by this author but it will not be the last! Thank you Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Miss Rosemary Stanhope knew exactly who she is. A wallflower with a kind heart and love of animals. After all she had raised an abandoned baby squirrel into a wonderful pet; even named him Sir Reginald. But she was still a wallflower. Lord Sterling was a second son and behaved as such. Never abiding by the rules and caroused all hours of the night. But that ended, when the first son was killed in a dual. The characters are appealing and the situations they encounter are amazing. I found this to be a charming and well written read.
Sterling Nottingham, Duke of Hanover, didn’t plan on kissing Rosemary Stanhope. It was a complete accident, spurred on by too much gin and a temporary loss of sanity. Unfortunately, now that he knows what she tastes like, kissing her again–this time on purpose–is all he can think about. Rosemary was as surprised as Sterling when he kissed her. The sinfully handsome rakehell isn’t exactly known for paying much attention to wallflowers. Yet for some reason, their paths keep crossing and before long she finds herself falling for the one man who loves her for who she is, squirrel and all.
This is the fourth book in the series & it could easily be read on its own even though this romance had been teased in earlier books. I really liked Sterling flaws & all, I loved how he saw the real Rosemary & most of all I loved how their relationship developed. Their banter was witty & the chemistry grew & grew. A fun, light hearted read which I enjoyed but felt it didn’t get to the nitty gritty of solving the murder
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Rosemary is a wallflower with a pet squirrel named Sir Reginald. She never felt like she belonged in society. Her parents both died when she was young and she was raised by her strict Grandmother. Sterling is a Duke who brother was killed in a duel. As a second son, he never wanted to be the Duke. He feels guilty for not being able to stop the duel that killed his brother and is suspected of killing his mistress, whose body was never found.
The plot line moved pretty fast from their meeting to their engagement.
This was an engaging and charming read. It was my first book by Jillian Eaton but won't be my last.
This is the first book from the series that I read, but that didn't end up being a problem. There is enough from the previous novels to give you a basic understanding of who everyone is, but not so much that it would ruin the previous books if I wanted to go back and read them. I loved Rosemary as a character and her eccentricities were endearing rather than over-the-top. You could understand why someone like Sterling would be drawn to her. The opening chapter involving Sterling's brother definitely draws you in and gives you a good understanding of why Sterling is as closed off as he is. I'm not sure I totally buy that his brother would do what he did (it seems a bit over the top) but at least it's bad enough that it makes sense as to why Sterling would blame himself for it. Sterling and Rosemary's chemistry is really well written and it was so much fun to watch their relationship grow throughout the book. Their banter is so natural and I had to chuckle when he kept calling her by other 'R' names. The mystery surrounding his former mistress is a little underdeveloped, but adds just the right amount of drama to the story. The subplot of Rosemary's desire to be a part of a family and her grandmother's behavior towards her adds more to Rosemary's personality. I really liked the way the women from the previous novels support and reach out to Rosemary - it's always good to see women helping other women rather than putting them down (although there are characters that certainly do that to Rosemary).
Miss Rosemary Stanhope is used to being the odd one out. At a ball, rather than dancing, she's much more likely to be sitting in a corner, book in hand and her squirrel on her shoulder.
Our heroine is a woman with a very kind heart. She's drawn to help any person or creature that's in pain. Unfortunately for her other people are nowhere near as kind to her.
Sterling Nottingham, Duke of Hanover was always a fun loving, party goer but since the death of his older brother he has dived into dissolution completely.
Our hero carries his guilt as a very heavy load. When he eventually gets his wake up call, he's surprised at just how hard it is to come back.
This is at times an emotional, and others funny, historical romance. It's easy to fall in love with our characters, even Sir Reginald. The secondary characters you might have met before in previous books in the series, but you can read each book on it's own.
Good fun.