About the Book:
Title: How to Woo a Wallflower
Author: Virginia Heath
Series: Society’s Most Scandalous #1
Page Length: 288
Publication Date: Aug. 23, 2022
Publisher: Harlequin Historical
Synopsis: He could have any deb
Except his best friend’s sister…
Jasper, the Earl of Beaufort, hasn’t seen Lady Harriet Fitzroy since her serious riding accident. She has grown into a kind, spirited woman, whose sinful smile plays havoc with his jaded emotions! Hattie’s family disapprove of Jasper’s rakish past, but when she risks her reputation to help him, the least he can do is pull her from the wallflower chairs and out of the shadows…
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My Review:
How to Woo a Wallflower is a charming and romantic friends-to-lovers historical romance and another fabulous read by Virginia Heath. The story follows Lady Harriet Fitzroy and Jasper, the Earl of Beaufort, friends who haven’t seen each other in years before Harriet was seriously injured in a riding accident. Jasper is a rake with a scandalous reputation and quite the opposite of Harriet, who is more of a wallflower. However, neither can deny the chemistry and growing feelings between them.
Harriet and Jasper are dynamic protagonists, and their characters are fleshed out well. Hattie is disabled. She did not recover fully from a horse riding accident, and she now walks with a limp. Though beautiful, kind, and intelligent, Hattie is judged because of her disability and is either looked down upon, coddled, or used by family and peers. However, Hattie doesn’t let this define her. She becomes an advocate for others with disadvantages and often helps the doctor who helped her recover. This work gives Hattie purpose and is so meaningful to her, which Jasper quickly realizes.
Jasper is a scandalous rake who owns an even more scandalous club, and though he is the son of a Duke, he, like Hattie, is very much judged. It doesn’t matter that he saved his family from financial ruin. His role as club owner brings derision with it. Like Hattie, he doesn’t let others’ opinions define him, though he does struggle to shake his poor reputation.
Jasper and Hattie have such a wonderful romance filled with fun banter, great chemistry, and a strong connection. The couple begins as friends, and their relationship develops into something more, which I loved. Friends-to-lovers is a favorite trope of mine, and Heath creates a romantic relationship that’s built on respect, admiration, trust, and a ton of sexual tension! Jasper is one of the few people in Hattie’s life that sees past her disability and doesn’t treat her like she’s incapable. And Hattie sees how hard Jasper is trying to make up for mistakes in his past. They make such a fantastic couple, even though many obstacles stand in their way. I like how they both learn from each other and gain surety and confidence because of their bond.
The secondary characters are also great, and I particularly enjoyed the Wallflowers of 1813 Club. They are fun and interesting, and I’m hoping they have roles in future books in the series. Though I didn’t love him, Hattie’s brother is another important character. He is a major obstacle in Hattie and Jasper’s relationship, and he continually warns Jasper away from Hattie. His coddling, unneeded protection, and refusal to see past Hattie’s disability parallel society’s perceptions. However, unlike society, his actions are based on love.
I really enjoyed How to Woo a Wallflower, which probably comes as no surprise considering how much I usually adore books by Virginia Heath. It’s an entertaining, heart-warming, romantic, and thought-provoking historical romance and one I’d highly recommend. It’s also a great start to Heath’s new Society’s Most Scandalous series, and I look forward to reading the next book.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Historical for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!
- The character development.
Favorite Lines:
Sometimes we all need to surrender to the self-indulgent futility of the moment because if we don’t, it festers.
I am a firm believer in the past staying there as it is redundant when only the present and future really matter.
He was a great believer in pride, even if it did often come before a fall. Pride did not only save face. It kept you going no matter what. Gave you the determination to succeed against all the odds. It put steel in your spine. Forced you to stand and fight when all you wanted to do was curl into a ball in defeat.
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