Brother's best friend is one of my favourite tropes in historical romance and "How to Win a Wallflower" delivered it quite meticulously. John and Charlotte's love story was easy to read and easy to feel their emotions.

4.5/5 stars
2/5 spice
Lots of plots and twists in this fun regency romance

The wallflower in this book is actually the MMC, John, who suffers from social anxiety and stutters when nervous. Charlotte, while the social butterfly of the ton and unfailingly kind, is also a massive people pleaser. John would prefer to stick to his inventions and 5 close friends instead of taking care of his late brother's debts and fiancée. Charlotte, being the helper that she is, can't help trying to rescue her childhood crush from an awful situation.

Their escapades were entertaining and full of twists. I greatly enjoyed seeing them bond and grow closer together as friends and eventually fall in love. There are A LOT of plot twists in this book that you keep wondering "What's going to happen next?!" It definitely kept me turning the pages...

Great for fans of Bridgerton and historical regency romance. This is the 3rd book in a series but works as a standalone.

Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Grumpy/Sunshine
Opposites attract
Age gap
Carriage fun 👅

CW/TW: Bullying, emotional abuse discussed, PTSD from war, violence, sexual content and dialog

Thank you Netgalley and Forever/ Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered freely.

I’m a sucker for a cute wallflower novel and this was completely adorable. I enjoyed the pace and humor.

How to Win a Wallflower is the third book in Samara Parish's Rebel's With A Cause series. The title is a bit of a misnomer. I don't really consider Charlotte to be a Wallflower. She's kind of a darling of the ton. I read the first in the series but not the second. I definitely want to go back and read Fiona's story.

Charlotte has turned down twenty proposals since her coming out. She's been holding out hope that her brother's best friend, John, will return someday to be with her. Charlotte is surprised when she bursts into her brother's study in her nightgown to find John returned and newly titled. John has inherited a title riddled with debt from his wastrel of a brother. He must set it to rights before he can return to America and resume his entrepreneurial life. Charlotte is a fixer. She volunteers to help John earn money to clear debts but gambling. It's hard for them both to fight the attraction that has been simmering.

This is a very slow burn. There is a lot going on with the plot: dead brothers, gambling schemes, unwanted fiancés, ptsd, and more. That doesn't even include the crazy twist that I actually didn't see coming. John is introverted and wants to go back to America. Charlotte is very social and want to remain in London. This is the main reason why her overbearing brother doesn't want them together. I loved all the ways they find to spend time together along with the secret rendezvous. I did think it would be out of character for Charlotte not to seek help from her family regarding her younger brother and his addictions. I'm curious how they will set up the next story. His alcoholism and laudanum dependency was wrapped up kind of quickly and neatly; almost like an afterthought. I did really enjoy this story and look forward to continuing on with the series.

3.5 stars rounded to 4
Thank you to NetGalley, Samara Parish, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing for a copy of this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #netgalley #samaraparish #howtowinawallflower #forevergrandcentralpublishing

A beautiful story and romance, lots of heart felt emotion. I loved John and Charlotte, their getting to know each other and developing love. Great characters and great writing make this a very enjoyable story.

Brothers best friend/childhood crush- regency style?! YES PLEASE. Very much enjoyed this one. I loved Charlotte’s fierce personality and strong willed attitude, especially for this time period. I do feel that it dragged a bit at the end when it could have been wrapped up quicker but it wasn’t a deal breaker. Now I need to read the previous 2 books!

A great Regency period read. Here we meet John, a scientist and inventor, who returns to the family estate after the death of his brother; and Charlotte, his best friend’s sister, who always does for everyone else, and has had a crush on John since childhood. A great read filled with drama, betrayal,
friends to lovers, secrets and a bit of action. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.


Thank you NatGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for giving me the opportunity to read and review this beautiful story. The book will be published on December 13, 2022

After unexpectedly inheriting his brother's ruined estate, John Barnesworth also finds himself saddled with said brother's unpleasant fiancee. The key to his escape seems to lie in Charlotte Stirling, his fiancee's mortal enemy--but if John is going to work with her, he probably shouldn't feel such attraction to her. And that... is a problem.

So, here's the thing. Off the bat, maybe I should have figured that I would have an issue with the plot, and it wouldn't be for me--because whenever there's a "this other woman is unpleasant and we loathe her" thing going on, I'm almost always like "MAYBE SHE'S FRIENDLY" and I don't know. That may mean I'm just not the target audience there.

But I will also say that the last Samara Parish book I read just seemed... hotter... than this one? And I'm kind of bummed that I wasn't feeling that here. There's sex, don't get me wrong--but the entire tone of the book leaned more towards that chaste, sweet vibe, and that's just not what I'm here for.

It's romantic, don't get me wrong. It's fun. The hero and heroine are very pleasant. But I suppose that my large takeaway was "pleasant", and while that is totally someone else's brain candy that they need right now, for me it's just not. So this really may be a case of "it's not you, it's me"--I wasn't offended, there's nothing wrong with the writing. It just didn't hit me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

John Barnesworth is an inventor and businessman but, when he inherits his brother's title unexpectedly, his world is turned upside down. Lady Charlotte Stirling has had a crush on her brother’s best friend for years...but she did not anticipate him returning to London from Boston under such unusual circumstance. Charlotte is desperate to help John and perhaps have a chance at claiming his heart.

This is the third book in the Rebel with a Cause series. Book two's couple appears in this book as that hero is Charlotte's brother and John's friend. The title of this book is a bit ill-fitting as Charlotte is NOT a wallflower, but rather a well-loved social butterfly.

This is a slow burn story, but I enjoyed it because there were quite a few layers. John inherits after his brother is in a drowning accident and he finds the estate bankrupt and in shambles. There is also the pesky matter of a betrothal contract written in such a way that obligates the title-holder and not specifically his older brother. The woman in question happens to a complete harpy and Lady Charlotte's sworn enemy. John refuses to tie himself to either lady just to get out of debt, but a spark emerges as Charlotte tries to help John with his money problems. As it turns out, Charlotte needs to raise funds too, for a situation has arisen with her back-from-war brother. I was glad to get a sneak peek at William and can't wait to see his story unfold in the next book. The twists and turns kept this story interesting!

Tropes: Opposites Attract, Brother's Best Friend/Best Friend's Sister, Friends to Lovers

Steam: 1

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #HowtoWinaWallflower #NetGalley

When John Barnesworth inherits unexpectedly, he abandons his solitude and returns to London to settle his brother's affairs, only to discover his estates are crumbling and he is now betrothed to his brother’s unpleasant fiancée. Her dowry might save him from ruin, but at what cost? His only hope lies with the vivacious, charming Lady Charlotte Stirling, whose audacious solution to John's troubles might actually work. If only he can keep his feelings for her out of the equation . . .
Lady Charlotte Stirling knows she can’t fall for John. He’s her brother’s best friend, he’s engaged to her mortal enemy, and he wants to return to America. Not to mention he’d never survive in her bustling social life. She can, however, try to solve his money problem. But the closer she gets to ensuring his freedom, the harder it is to let him go.
John and Charlotte are meant to be together. John was now an earl whether he wanted to be or not. Charlotte knows that he can't possibly be engaged to her mortal enemy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

This is so delightful and satisfying! Lots of back and forth, twists and turns, ups and downs, with a well-deserved happy ending. And as with the first book, William has gone through so much during the course of this book, I can only hope he finally achieves the happiness he deserves in book four.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Charlotte is in love with her older brother’s best friend. Even though it’s been years since she last saw John, Charlotte has still held out hope that there could be a possibility for something to grow between the two of them. When John’s brother dies unexpectedly, he returns to settle the huge debts his brother owed. The only option appears to be marrying his brother’s mean-spirited fiancée. Seeing an opportunity to help (and get closer to) John, Charlotte comes up with a scheme to settle his debts. John still plans on returning to Boston because he likes to have his alone time., while Charlotte is a social butterfly. So as they start to get closer the question of going with him to Boston or staying in London and losing the man she loves is a hard decision, This was a cute story and I would recommend this to anyone that wants a sweet romance. This is my honest review for I got an advanced copy from NetGalley.

This was a bit disappointing.
The book had too many plots that it was hard to keep track of what was going on at times.
Also, I felt the romance here was close to nonexistent. I just wasn't seeing why these two cared about each other. It seemed to happen rather abruptly.
I felt the plot twist was random and didn't really help propel the story forward.
Overall, this book was just not for me.

To say How to Win a Wallflower by Samara Parish was a roller coaster ride of events is an understatement. There was a lot packed into this novel and I often found myself wondering if my draw to finish it was because I was completely gripped by it, or if I was just so stressed out by what was all occurring that I needed to hopefully get to a part which did not feel so anxiety inducing.

I really enjoyed the characters as well as Samara Parish's writing style. I liked the opposites attract of John and Charlotte and how they were both able to bring out/teach the other a side of themselves that they had not always allowed themselves to. How Charlotte found that she did not have to say yes to everyone and everything, and how she could carve out time for what she wished to do, not what was expected of her. And how John learned that although his family had treated him horrifically due to his stutter and brilliance in things not related to the ton (his physicist mind) that he could find people who would treat him with respect and kindness within society outside his very small group of friends.

I will note, in all honesty, that this was my first what felt like real fade to black moment within a historical romance, and when I first read it, I worried that I might have skipped a page. Thankfully there was a slightly steamy scene later in the book, but again when I reached the epilogue I was slightly shocked by another fade to black scene.

I would definitely like to read another Samara Parish novel but am slightly reluctant with the high stress events and (even more reluctantly to admit) the fade to black scenes. I loved her characters and the pacing, but again my heart was a little in my throat regarding all the things that were occurring. Also I will add that the scene with John being beaten, was more triggering for me, than I thought it would be. I know events like that happened, it just felt a bit too much for my heart to have Charlotte screaming in the carriage, the reader reading John bleeding on the ground, and then when she later was remembering which man, had done what during the beating.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A wallflower will put everything on the line . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Rebels with a Cause is an AMAZING historical romance series. I've fallen in love with every single one of Samara Parish's characters! You do not need to read them in any order by all means, these are great reads as a standalone.

Book 3: How to Win a Wallflower is an adorable grumpy x sunshine, forbidden love story of John Barnesworth who unexpectedly inherits his brother's title and estate - only to find himself deep in debt. However, his best friend's sister, a beautiful wallflower, comes to his rescue… well to everyone's rescue! She has such a wonderful heart and is such a genuine person.

For fans of Bridgerton and historical romance, this series brings you a twist of strong female leads, including some in a male profession which is rare historically! A twist of betrayal and venturing into dangerous situations, this story will leave you hanging on the edge!

Thank you to @NetGalley, @SamaraParish and @ReadForeverPub for my ebook!

John and Charlotte embody a favorite trope - the wallflower who captivates the hero. How to Win a Wallflower has romance galore, scenes that make you swoon, and a satisfying storyline. A must read if you love regency romance.

Regency
Brother’s Best Friend
Opposites Attract
Friends To Lovers
Age Gap

Another excellent Historical Romance read from Samara Parish. I really loved returning to the world she’s created and getting glimpses of past characters in addition to our current MCs.

In this case we have Charlotte Stirling (sister to Edward and his wife Fiona, whom you might recognize from the last book) and John Barnesworth.

Lady Charlotte is the social butterfly, society darling and younger sister of the Duke of Wildeforde. John is reserved engineer and younger son, turned unexpected Viscount and the best friend of Wildeforde. On paper, the two don’t seem a match, and the Duke (brother and best friend respectively), does not approve of the idea.

However, it turns out the two are the perfect puzzle pieces that complete and compliment one another in unexpected ways. I found the two and their slow building romance, to be charming and sweet. I liked how they helped one another grow and embrace new facets of themselves, while still remaining true to who they were. John was a wonderful romance hero, I liked how he didn’t fit with what one might typically expect. He was thoughtful and intelligent and didn’t miraculously change, but did learn to stretch a bit.

The twists and turns were fun for me, and kept the book feeling interesting and fresh. This was a one day read for me, I just kept going since I was enjoying myself. I was so satisfied by the ending too.

I can only hope we’ll get a book for William next, I’d love for him to find a HEA. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever / Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely offered.

This is the third installment in the Rebels with a Cause series. This is the first one that I have read, but I will definitely be reading the first two! This book revolved around Charlotte and John. Charlotte has always had a crush on her brother's friend John and it just so happens that John is back in London having just inherited his brother's Viscount title and debts. There are lots of obstacles that the characters have to overcome, which was a bit frustrating by the end, I just wanted them to be happy already! Fun adventure and a great read. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC. 3.5 star read.

2.5 stars

I wanted so much to love this but multiple issues rose up, one after the other, to turn it into a mostly frustrating read with a few exceptional saving graces.

It started out very well. It was shaping up to be a wonderful romance with tension and passion. Then her brother's subplot took center stage. Totally external problems with a gambling debt (as though the hero's debt from his brother wasn't stressful enough). The brother acted horridly to the heroine and just let her fix his problems.

There's such a thing as too much compassion. Charlotte should have told their other brother about their brother's issues almost immediately. I understand her rationale but doing anything else was foolhardy, and that makes me respect her less. She was in way over her head with bad people who would take advantage of her without blinking.

Honestly, this was a thoroughly unpleasant sub-plot and nothing to do with the main plot, except that the same people were in it. It made me think much less of both hero and heroine. And it becomes the main plot when the heroine decides the answers to their money troubles is gambling their way out of it.

I cannot stress how unlikely and bad this decision is. If they win, it's because it's a fictional story that leans into the implausible by presenting a highly irresponsible choice as valid. If they lose, it's just more expected misery.

It also got a bit tiresome that John, the hero, apparently had all the major invention ideas of the century. One or two adapted for the novel's purposes is fine. That happens all the time. But there were so many different innovations other people did that were instead attributed to our hero. It stretches the reader's charity.

At one point, the hero is set off his course simply because a closed-minded lord bullies him. I would have thought he'd have experienced that enough times in his life to ignore it by now, especially after so many successes in his life, and most especially right after the king pays him such a compliment. He acts like a sulky, insecure teenager. It's tedious.

And then the heroine starts cheating at cards. Not card counting like the hero but actually marking the cards. This is supposed to be an upright, moral lady whom we love for her integrity. She lost me there. So of course, when they suffered the predictable consequences, I had no sympathy. And then the villains demanded even more money—twice as much as before, after taking all their winnings, and to be honest if I weren't nearly finished with the book (72% through) I probably would have DNFed it. This is not entertainment to me. It's stressful and full of anxiety, especially because it came from such dumb choices.

The climax got stretched out with very little anticipation, because we knew the whole time Charlotte was struggling at the docks to find John that he'd already returned. And then more time negotiating her trip to America with her brothers when, as said, we already knew he was staying in England and just needed to show up. He'd already shown up at the ball and started blathering on publicly about his love, without even confirming she was present. That was unrealistic and silly. I did enjoy the reunion, though.

A half star extra is solely because I enjoyed the character of Lady Luella very very much.

Another half star added because I loved the king's solution in the end.

Overall, I will continue reading Samara Parish's works because there's very good promise in them, but I do hope the plotting improves.

Oh My Gosh! This was such a good book!! I hate the character named Walter!
Contains spoilers!
This was so GOOD!!!!
The heroine is the sister if a duke and she has always loved the neighbor's younger brother. He and her brother were the same age and best friends. She would tag along because she thought the younger neighbor was so beautiful. He is about 4 years or so older. She has turned down 31 offers of marriage because she always thought if him and compared her present suitor to him and they would fail. Her brother, the duke, married a super intelligent woman who is an engineer. But, she was also a commoner. So for the past 5 years, the heroine has continued to be the hostess and mistress of the house while her new sister is getting used the duties required of her. But this has changed. The heroine wants to get married and have a home of her own. The heroine loves people. She goes to the balls and dances with whoever asks, she helps the wall flowers and new debutantes from America find their way around the ballroom and she greets every person as if she personally cares about them. She is a loving people person.
The hero is the younger brother of a baron. He had a stutter as a child and was treated very badly for this. His parents couldn't stand it and he preferred to be alone because he was teased all the time. He was exceptionally intelligent; he was an engineer and inventor. He created a valve safety for the steam engines of trains and save countless lives. His brother recently passed away when he fell off the King's party barge and was never found. He returns from Boston to run the estates and then go back to America. But, the estates are stripped of any valuable that could be sold. There is nothing left in any of the properties. The properties are all entailed and can't be sold. His brother signed a marriage contract with a wicked, mean girl and the hero is being forced to marry her.
I wish I could say more, but you need to have some surprises of your own. This seems like a normal childhood romance, but it isn't I was surprised all through the book. It was fresh and intriguing story. I give this book 5 stars. Try to read as soon as possible, it is so good.