Every Wallflower Has Her Thorns

Revenge of the Wallflowers #26

by Bronwen Evans

For Lady Alice Montague, love is a prickly business, especially when she’s in love with her brother’s best friend, Calum, and he doesn’t even know she exists. It’s the age-old problem of being a wallflower. No one ever notices a wallflower. That is, until she mistakenly creates the biggest scandal of the season, and ends up betrothed to the one man she thought she could never have. For Calum Arden, the Marquess of Skye, and heir to the Galloway Dukedom, love is a word he refuses to use. He has a world to travel and conquer before he is yoked to his future title and duty. So, imagine his horror when his best friend’s little sister traps him into marriage. With his plans in ruin, Calum must find a way to make this marriage of convenience work without his heart being torn apart by his wallflower's thorns.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Historical Romance, Regency, Romance

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2024

About the author

USA Today bestselling author, Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Evans is a three-time winner of the RomCon Readers’ Crown and has been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. She lives in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with her dogs Brandy and Duke.

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Reviews

[Aou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly & sweet!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Alice Montague has been in love with her brother George’s best friend, Calum for years but he sees her as a little sister. Calum Arden, the Marquess of Skye, and heir to the Galloway Dukedom, had his heat broken & now he has a world to travel and conquer before he is yoked to his future title and duty. Then Calum intercepts a message for Alice & the pair are caught in a compromising situation.
A lovely romance, strong characters & sizzling chemistry. I loved the intelligent Alice who suffered a riding accident which has left her with a limp, I loved how protective both George & Calum were of Alice & how Calum started to realise that Alice was no longer a little girl. An engrossing romance, which I loved
I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually my 28th book by Bronwen Evans. I started reading her Disgraced Lords Series in 2016 and loved them all. Not sure why I didn’t continue reading her and didn't pick her up again until 2018. This is only her 2nd book out in 2024 and her last books came out in 2022. Glad to see more of her writing out.

This was a good read. I enjoyed reading about Alice and Calem and their story. There wasn't much drama or friction just a nice sexy read. Cute couple. Overall a good read.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSprout for a copy of this novella and this is my freely given opinion.

This is a novella from the Revenge of the Wallflowers series, by Bronwen Evans, that can be read as a stand alone story. Goodness knows, with over a couple of dozen stories in the series so far, I have only read a small percentage of them.

This is a short story with friends to lovers, accidentally compromised/forced marriage, mean girls, childhood/hidden crush tropes.

Alice Montague is a beautiful young woman, from a good family who would likely have been a popular debutante if it was not for a tragic riding accident as a young girl causing a broken leg that did not set properly and became infected. Luckily she survived, but it left her with a painful, uneven gait. Because of this imperfection, she is often a wallflower, sought out more often for her dowry by fortune hunters, or by other debutantes hoping to gain closeness to her titled bachelor brother, and his best friend, Calum, the handsome, eligible Marquess of Skye, and heir to a dukedom.

Alice has hidden a secret crush on Calum since childhood. But she knows he is a popular rake with no intention of wedding, and when he does wed, it would not be to a disfigured cripple such as her. Calum has no intentions of being married as yet, especially after a broken heart from his youth. He is jaded and sick of being chased on the marriage mart. When he comes to realization that his good friend Alice is an overlooked wallflower, he decides to help her by paying attention to her and bringing up her social cache, which kills two birds with one stone, as it may help keep the other marriage seeking harpies away.

Things go awry however, when they are compromised, while trying to foil the spiteful mechanisms of another debutante to take Alice out of the running for Calum's attentions. But the more Calum contemplates their forced marriage, the more he comes to realize that Alice is the right woman for him. Except Alice loves Calum too much for him to be forced to wed her, with his choices being taken away from him, to wed a woman she thinks he doesn't love.

A sweet, short friends to lovers romance with a bit of steam.

3.5 stars out of 5

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Alice Montague is in love with her brother's best friend. Calum Arden, the Marquess of Skye, is protective of Alice, but he vows to never love again. He plans to travel for one year before he marries, but saving Alice from a compromising situation finds them engaged. Her only choice is to sacrifice herself for his happiness. Calum must decide what's more important, Alice or his plans to travel. Always a good trope.
Descriptive sex.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Trap is Sprung.
A limp due to a riding accident has consigned Lady Alice Montague to the ranks of the wallflowers. Unable to dance she is ignored by the men and tolerated by the ladies who want introductions to her brother and his friends. One unlikeable lady is determined to make a match to a gentleman of high rank and when she believes that Alice is in her way, makes plans to ruin her. Her trap however captures the wrong gentleman, a man Alice has been in love with for years but she is heartbroken to think he has no choice but to marry her.
An appealing heroine and a hero who has to be shaken out of his stubborn mindset before he loses his soulmate.
I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[GONZA · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a little bit disappointed because I liked Alice a lot but she didn't shine in her story. Maybe the next book will be better, but still it hurts.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Alice Montague, sister of George Montague, the Earl of Hampton has a secret, she is in love with her brother’s best friend Calum Arden, Marquess of Skye and heir to the Duke of Galloway. Too bad he only thinks of her as a sister and even worse, feels guilty about her wallflower status, because he thinks it is because of the riding accident she had ten years ago while following George and Calum. The accident resulted in a broken leg that was set poorly and left her with a limp and labeled as a “cripple”. But that is not the reason Alice hasn’t married; she hasn’t married because no man has ever captured her heart like Calum and the thought of marrying anyone else is untenable. But when Calum gets it into his head to help her find a husband, things take a turn that she never could have imagined, and they end up engaged. It should have been her dream come true, but instead it is a nightmare, and she would rather be ruined than marry a man who she loves but who will never love her.

Calum Arden, Marquess of Skye is not ready to marry, and he definitely isn’t looking for love, he’s been there, done that, and regrets it. No, when he marries, it will be a sensible arrangement with a lady of good birth, with no messy emotions to muck things up. Besides he has plans to travel the continent and sowing some wild oats, before returning to Scotland and learning his future responsibilities to the dukedom and doing his duty in finding a wife and siring an heir. He plans to leave in a few months and is enjoying the London season, but when he notices that Alice is playing wallflower, it upsets him, and he thinks it is because of her limp. He decides to help her by paying her some attention, so the men of the ton will see what they have been missing. But things do not go as planned and he finds himself betrothed to her. Can he marry her and leave her for a year to travel or will he give up his travel dreams and end up resenting her? Neither thought is appealing, but soon that is not his biggest worry, since she seems set on ending their betrothal!

This was a nice addition to the Revenge of the Wallflowers author collaboration series, Alice and Calum are both likable characters and there is clearly a strong attraction between them. The story is a friends-to-lovers / brother’s best friend romance with quite a bit going on for a novella. The book has secrets, betrayal, unrequited love, a forced betrothal, scheming harpies, chess, horses, a heroine ready to be a martyr, a once-bitten-twice-shy hero, steamyish love scenes and finally a hard-won HEA complete with an epilogue. Overall, it is a quick read with cute, yet steamyish love story (perfect for those who enjoyed the Bridgerton season 3 carriage scene), that I would happily recommend to my fellow Regency romance readers. This is the 26th book in the series, but as with the other books, each is a standalone title.

3.5 stars, rounded up

*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. *

[Fanosse23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

In *Lady Alice Montague's* story, we are introduced to a wallflower who has resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood due to a limp that hinders her ability to participate in the social activities required for courtship. She anticipates living with her older brother, whom she adores, but is determined to make sure she likes his bride. However, she harbors a deep and long-standing love for Calum Arden, the Marquess of Skye, who also happens to be her brother’s best friend. For Alice, it’s always been Calum or no one.

Calum, will inherit the Galloway Dukedom, is wary of marriage after a past heartbreak. He has no interest in the debutantes eager for his title rather than the man behind it. Instead, he plans to spend a year traveling before assuming the responsibilities of his title. When he notices that Alice is often overlooked due to her limp, he starts paying attention to her, hoping others will see her value as well.

Though Alice is disheartened by Calum's brotherly affection, as they spend more time together, his perception of her begins to shift. The story takes a delightful turn when Lady Penelope, the very type of woman Calum wants to avoid, attempts to compromise him, only to fail spectacularly. This leads to Alice and Calum being found together alone, forcing Calum to announce that they are engaged to prevent any scandal. I was so happy that Lady Penelope’s scheme didn’t work and would have loved to see her face! The carriage ride home, is sizzling and beautifully captures the chemistry between them.

Despite their engagement, Alice’s selfless love for Calum leads her to consider sacrificing her happiness so he can pursue his dreams and have a choice in who he marries, she feels this option has been removed because of her. As is often the case, men are a little slow in acknowledging their feelings but when Sarah tells him about Alice’s plans he finally realizes his true feelings, and no one but him will marry her. The question is, will he act in time to stop Alice from marrying another?

This wallflower-themed romance is a delightful read, and the author does a wonderful job illustrating the deep connections between Calum, Alice, and George. They truly cared about each other and wanted the best for each other.

Alice is not only beautiful but also intelligent and kind, qualities that Calum comes to appreciate deeply. The author’s writing is engaging, with well-drawn characters and a perfect balance of tension and romance, with some humorous scenes too! The journey of Calum and Alice’s love story is heartwarming and satisfying, making this a book worth picking up.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Of Memories Remembered and Non-Noticing Glances

I love a good wallflower Regency romance, so I was very much looking forward to my dinnertime reading when I opened this book. However, within just a few paragraphs, I was tilting my head with a strange look on my face, wondering what the heck I was actually reading.

For some reason, this author likes to attribute human actions to non-concrete ideas, like stating “his glance didn't notice her,” or worse, “her memory remembered” (at least mix it up with two very different words!). These sentence structures just struck me as odd.

I was ready to close the book when I came across this phrase: “The smile he sent the widow, sensual enough to make a lady’s undergarments fall.” Seriously, is she trying to come up with a phrase in historical romance evocative and equivalent to the contemporary romance ideas of “panty-melting” or “panty-dropping” (both of which I abhor and make me groan whenever I read them in contemporary romance)? Does the author accurately understand what "ladies' undergarments" were back in the Regency Era? Pretty much the only givens for Regency gentry and nobility females would be a chemise, stays, and stockings with garters. Some may wear petticoats for modesty or warmth, but every woman did not wear them daily. Regency ladies wore nothing like drawers, bloomers, or “undies,” going commando instead. So, what exactly would she be dropping, as both stays and chemises had sleeves or shoulder straps—not so easy to "drop," no matter how seductive the smile. And I don't think the author was talking about dropping stockings!

After this, the author had the heroine refer to herself (twice in the first few pages!) as a “cripple”--talk about a cringeworthy word that should not be used. Let’s use another word or phrase, please, that doesn’t have so much venom and has caused so much hurt to so many over the decades. In our escapist fiction, let’s not perpetuate the myth that those with physical issues are in any way inferior. This casual and repeated self-deprecation could hurt some readers.

I ended up so disgusted by this very poor writing that I got little further than the second use of the C-word. If you prefer your historical romances to have a touch of class and be without odd concepts that make you go, “What the heck?” or use spiteful words for the differently abled, steer clear of this novella.

I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

[Slwd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wallflower Blooms

“Every Wallflower Has Her Thorns” written by Bronwen Evans is installment twenty six in the ever popular Revenge of the Wallflowers series. This multi author series brings the wallflowers away from the wall into the center of the room. In this story we have Lady Alice Montague, a highly intelligent, sweet, honest woman who believes her leg injury and limp will leave her a spinster living in her brother’s house. She does hold a torch for her brother’s best friend, Callum Arden, the Marquess of Skye, and the heir to the Galloway Dukedom. However, he merely sees her as his best friend’s little sister. Marriage is the last thing on his mind, traveling for a year is his heart’s desire. His efforts to show the bachelors of the ton Alice’s worthiness doesn’t really work. He ends up squiring her around town much to the dismay of the ton brat Penelope. Penelope tries to set up Alice to be ruined by a fortune hunter but fails when Calum steps in and is caught in the trap with Alice. As a gentleman, Calum announces they are to wed. Alice is now in a quandary—she loves Callum, but she doesn’t want to force him into a marriage he doesn’t want. Both Alice and Callum have soul searching to do. This Regency novella is a fast read. We get to know the characters right away. Both Calum and Alice are likable, they have strengths and weaknesses. Alice’s brother George is very protective and sympathetic towards his sister and a great friend to Callum. And Penelope? She plays the bad girl to the hilt. This is a friends to lovers Regency romance. It is well written and complete for a novella. The spice starts slow with meaningful kisses then advances quickly. This couple makes much use of the carriage! This was the first book I have read by Bronwen Evans and I can definitely report that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It encourages me to read more of her historical romances. Most definitely recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review, my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Nanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun read with much going on. It has a lot of emotions happening all the time which keeps you reading to see how it all going to come out. Alice is a wallflower; she never dances and has no friends among the debutantes. After a childhood accident she has a limp and doesn’t meet the “perfect” standard of the ton. The only ladies of the ton that talk to her are like the nasty, debutante Lady Penelope. She wants Alice to introduce her to her very handsome, brother George. Who just happens to be an Earl. A lot of the Debutantes would do just about anything to end up marrying a Duke or an Earl. George’s best friend Calun will be a Duke someday. Alice has known him forever and had a crush on him almost as long. Her accident was caused by her following him and her brothers. Both men feel very protective of her. When Calun finds out she is shunned by the ton, he takes it upon himself to be seen with her at balls and events. His thinking is if someone like him can see past her limp to how pretty and smart she is other men would too. Alice knows this plan will end in badly with her being hurt or teased even more when he leaves. Alice is a pro at chess and gets talked into helping both Calun and her brother win a bet. After getting caught in a scandal, they must marry! Oh, my Alice is heartbroken because she knows Calun is only acting out of duty not love. She has dreamed of a love match. Calun will have his work cut out for him to learn about the past, present, secrets and what true feeling and love are really like. All a tall order for a rake who just wanted his freedom. This is a very moving story with a great ending. Best part is what happens to Lady Penelope in the end! I was laughing out loud. This would be a great book for lazy afternoon read. I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. Very enjoyable, steamy read. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

[Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Wallflower Has Her Thorns is a standalone historical romance by Bronwen Evans. This is book 23 of the multiauthor series Revenge of the Wallflowers. The book is set in Regency era England.

Aside from being a Regency romance, this is also a brother's best friend/best friend's younger sister and a marriage of convenience romance. And really, I'm a sucker for all three of those.

The story follows Lady Alice Montague, who is a wallflower in every sense of the word. The biggest problem for Alice is is that she has a crush on her brother's best friend, a man that doesn't see her for the woman that she has become. Or perhaps, has never seen her as a woman who is no more than a sister, or worse, a friend.

Calum Arden, the Marquess of Skye and heir to a dukedom (a Scottish title, so there is a little of the English superiority complex at play on the marriage mart), doesn't want to marry. He isn't ready. He has plans. While his regard toward Alice appears to be slowly changing, he can't admit to anything. But everything blows up when Calum and Alice are unwittingly embroiled in a scandal someone else engineered.

I enjoyed the exploration of Calum and Alice's relationships. Alice's crush and Calum's view of his best friend's sister are feelings that belong in the past, and it becomes quite evident even before the scandal that there is a lot worth exploring between them. Alice is strong and intelligent, being considered a blue stocking isn't good for her marriage prospects, but Calum holds her intelligence in high regard, which gave me a lot of hope for these characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marion Löw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends To Lovers

I enjoyed this easy-to-read novella with its brother’s best friend, friends to lovers and engagement by scandal tropes and a bit of steam. Alice is a strong and intelligent personality who tries to make the best of her life despite her injury. Calum is a jaded hero who needs some time to realize that happiness is right under his nose. I loved the strong bond between Alice, Calum and their brother George and the way they all support and protect each other.
Nevertheless, in my opinion the story misses the theme of this series, as it was never about revenge (at least not that of the heroine) but about love.

Since a riding accident in her childhood, Lady Alice Montague has been limping, which makes her a wallflower. This doesn't bother her as she only wants to marry for love and has been in love with her brother's best friend and childhood friend Calum Arden, Marquess of Skye, for years, but he only shows her brotherly affection.
When he once again accompanies her to a ball instead of her brother, he learns of a plot against her and they end up in a compromising situation.

For years, Calum has been dreaming of a year travelling to the continent and after his ex-fiancée left him just before their wedding and broke his heart, Calum is not thinking about marriage in the near future and certainly not about love. But he can't expose Alice to social ruin and also feels strongly attracted to her, even if he is unhappy to have to give up his dreams because of her....

If you like easy flowing quick reads about childhood friends turned lovers, you are sure to enjoy this novella.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Calum, the Marquess of Skye and Alice’s brother George, the Earl of Hampton had been best friends for years, and both men were actively sought after by the ladies of the ton. Alice, on the other hand, was considered a wallflower. Due to a riding accident injury she sustained when she was twelve years old, Alice walked with a limp, was often in pain, and did not dance. After an uncomfortable scene at a ball, Calum decided that he would start paying court to Alice in the hopes that the other men would notice her, and if they thought he was courting her, the other ladies would leave him alone. He had no intentions of marrying anytime soon, as he planned to spend a year traveling before he needed to settle down, which was something that Alice was aware of since she had known him for years and been in love with him for a long time. Meanwhile, there was a chess match scheduled to take place and since she was a wiz at the game, George and Calum wanted Alice to coach their participant, which provided its own brand of entertainment. Fast forward and a conniving shrew of a debutante sets a trap for Alice, only to ensnare the wrong person, and force a marriage to save a reputation. When honor and love collide, drastic measures are taken. I love when rakes realize that they have fallen in love, and this story certainly fits that bill. It is heartwarming, has wonderfully portrayed characters, including a best friend and a shrew, and will tug at your emotions, even after the promised happy ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anita Byars · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful,romance swept me off my feet, with these fabulously crafted characters with sizzling chemistry as well as a charming story that I never wanted to end!.

This is Lady Alice Montague and Calum Arden, the Marquess of Skye journey and it deserves all the stars in the sky!

Lady Alice Montague, has been in love with her brother’s best friend, Calum for years but he sees her only as a little sister. At the age of twelve Alice had a riding accident where she suffered a broken leg that had not been set properly and to this day she still walks with a limp. She feels she is destined to be a wallflower forever and will never marry…If it isn’t for love.

Calum Arden, the Marquess of Skye and heir to the Galloway Dukedom. Every ball saw him as the target of many mamas’ machinations. But he was not ready to settle down after having his heart broken by another years earlier. Love was not for him. He has a world to yet travel and conquer before he is take over his future title and duty. Until… he intercepts a note for Alice and they are found together in a compromising situation. A set up that could be a scandal if Callum doesn’t step up and do the right thing.

Absolutely stunning! This story is a wonderful engaging, steamy, emotional, love story. So expertly written and so beautifully done. Delivering a sublime happy-ever-after with all the feels! Loved it!!

I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[Laci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked both the main characters and the supporting ones. Alice and Calum are such a wonderful pairing. He never once complained about their accidental relationship and embraced it. Maybe not fully at first but I can’t blame him. Alice, bless her heart, loves Calum but doesn’t want to have him if he doesn’t love her and she doesn’t want to hold him back on his plans. He liked that she was smart and kind and never put her down. What’s bittersweet is both are fighting the same thing. They’re afraid to love and get hurt.

Sarah is a bff after my own heart. I want one like her. She’s sassy and funny and 100% has Alice’s back. She’s looking out for her wellbeing and happiness even if Alice is being a self sacrificing idiot.

There’s a bit of surprising steaminess in the midst of the tale. I wasn’t quite expecting it but it actually helped the pair realize they were compatible in one way at least.

The ending was romantic and all lovely and spicy.

Great book. Absolute pleasure reading it.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel, the main characters, and the sparkle between them. However, what happens when the object of one's affection is so near yet at the same time so far away? Lady Alice has to keep her feelings for her brother's best friend under wraps, especially given her deformity after an accident, which not only earns her the scorn of society but leaves her hiding in the shadows at every social event. Calum has always viewed Alice as a sister but his feelings for her are mixed with a certain amount of guilt, given that he was present when she had her accident. However, she is the one woman he is most comfortable with and he sincerely respects her intelligence. When Calum discovers that a spiteful contender has engineered Alice's downfall, he is quick to come to the rescue. Unfortunately, it takes him a little while to recognize the feelings he has for Alice, and as a result, he almost loses the best thing that has ever happened to him. Fortunately, they have friends who care about what happens to them, bringing the novel to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this delightful romance as a gift through BookSprout and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Deborah Durand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and what a treat! Deemed a wallflower and unmarriageable, Lady Alice Montague has to endure the vapid, mean spirited ton’s remarks about her leg injury. They call her a cripple. Her brother George has a best friend, Calum Arden, a marquess, and both men are fawned over by all ladies. Alice isn’t immune to Calum’s charms and has crushed on him since childhood.
Read how Calum tries to bring attention, albeit unwanted, to Alice’s wit, intelligence and beauty to other gentlemen. Read how the two find themselves in a compromising situation which leads each to question their hearts.
Evans writes in a simple prose unencumbered by tedious descriptions of useless information. The dialogue between characters is direct and succinct. The writing, the storyline, the genre, the trope and the characters are impeccably delicious like a savory dessert made to be enjoyed alone. I have already purchased two more novels by this author.
I have received an ARC from Booksprout and I am leaving an unbiased review voluntarily.

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

fast paced, well written novella. Full of love, romance, society, feelings, family and twists. Alice is a young lady who has a limp and by society she is consider to be a wallflower. She was chasing her brother and his friend on a horse and took a jump that both she and the horse did not make. Calum is her brother's friend and there when she broke her leg. Not a successful repair causing her pain to this date. She helps them with some chess moves and needs her to teach a man the winning moves to win their bet. Calum sees how society treats her and how men tend to stay away from her. So he steps up and takes her to different functions in society to help her find the right man. If he had asked her, she would have told him that he was the right man. All she wants is to be loved and she did love him. With some help from her friend, they get to find the love they both want and need. Would recommend to others.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Robin Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Alice Montague, relegated to wallflower status because she has a limp, is in love with her brother George’s best friend. Calum Arden, Marquess of Skye, has had his heart broken, and is not interested in settling down until he has seen some of the world. An entertaining read with well-drawn characters, filled with emotion, drama, intrigue, and steam. Calum is protective of Alice because her limp is a result of an injury she sustained in childhood while trying to keep up with George and Calum . Alice is protective of George and Calum, because she wants each of them to find the right spouse (she doen’t consider herself worthy because of the limp). Alice is kind and compassionate, will Calum ever see her as anything other than a little sister? With scheming debutantes, wagers, chess matches and a compromising situation, this is an entertaining and enjoyable read with lots of action on the way to HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carmel Zumbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Lady Alice Montague, lacks confidence because of her scarred leg and limp. Also she’s in love with her brother’s best friend, Calum, who has only viewed her as a friend. Although attractive she has become. Invisible, a wallflower that no one ever notices. Fate intervenes and she is thrust into the scandal of the season resulting in a betrothal to the man she secretly loves.
For Calum Arden, the Marquess of Skye, and heir to the Galloway Dukedom, has plans has to travel and before he settles into to his future title and duty. So, a trap into marriage with Alice seems a disaster unless he really wants to marry her. Strangely he has become smitten and finds himself craving a life with her. With his plans in ruin, Calum makes this marriage happen for real not just convenience.This delightful story has you hooked from page one and the main characters are worthy of each other and the readers who follow their journey to a HEA. Don’t miss this gem!.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have many favorite authors but only a select few can hold my attention when they write stories with 35+ chapters and too much detail. This is the primary reason, I truly adore reading this author. Her creativity, talent and skills in writing short works never fails to thrill me with every story.

Calum a future duke and Alice, his best friend's sister, are the focal point of this story. With only 10 chapters, this author has provided a fully engaging, witty, and creative story that includes balls, musicals, chess and more without all the unnecessary details. She focuses on the characters themselves and presents them with both their strengths and weaknesses in such a manner that the reader is captivated and entertained at the same time. Excellent story, loved every minute of it.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Alice Montague is lovely, bright, and intelligent. She is a Wallflower due a limp, a result of a riding accident at a girl. Calum Arden, Marquess of Skye, is best friend to Alice’s brother, and a friend to her as well. Calum greatest wish is to travel before he marries and settles down. While at a ball, Calum is given a note meant for another man from Alice, and sensing a trick, waited for Alice. He is correct and he and Alice are caught in a comprising position. (Not exactly what was supposed to happen.) They plan to wed, but will their plan work? This is a delightful romance with wonderful characters (except Penelope). Calum and George were very protective of Alice, and I liked that they showed her that they respected her. The addition of the chess match and hints was a treat. The ending is happy, and the epilogue sweet.
I received an ARC of this book via BookSprout and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Trinnia Greenlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely friends to lovers romance. A well-written sigh-worthy story about unrequited love between Lady Alice and Lord Calum, her brother's best friend. There is a rich history between these two. She dreams of him being her's, while he's trying to find her the love match of her dreams. Enter the perfect villain of the story, Lady Penelope. She wants a man with a lofty title and has Calum in her sights. She sets off a chain of events that start this couple on the bumpy road to their HEA. This story has a great plot that is sweet and engaging while giving us lots of steam. A wonderful epilogue ties it all together. I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read and I think you will too.

TG.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Callum and Alice’s story. She’s been in love with her brother’s best friend, Calum, and he doesn’t even know she exists. No one ever notices a wallflower. That is, until she mistakenly creates the biggest scandal of the season, and ends up betrothed to the one man she thought she could never have. Calum Arden, the Marquess of Skye, and heir to the Galloway Dukedom, love is a word he refuses to use. He has a world to travel and conquer before he is yoked to his future title and duty. So, imagine his horror when he’s trapped in a marriage to his best friend’s little sister. With his plans in ruin, Calum must learn how to make this marriage of convenience work without his heart being torn apart by his wallflower's thorns. It was an engaging story. And voluntarily leaving this review.

[Tiffany P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute friends to lovers romance that began with Alice and Calum, her brother's best friend. Alice had always loved Calum since she was a young girl. Outside forces brought them together and made them realize how much they actually loved one another. So what was meant to be a marriage based on duty became a true love match for them both.

This was a steamy novella that focused on the characters and their relationships to one another. I really liked Calum and Alice and the friendship that they had. It provided a good backdrop for their love. The ending (HEA) did seem a bit rushed, but it was a novella.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Labbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this story of Alice and Caleb! Lady Alice is a wallflower and she believes she will never marry because of a horse back riding accident that left her with an ugly scar and a limp. Other ladies use Alice to get an introduction to her very eligible brother, George. George and his best friend, Calum look out for Lady Alice since they both feel guilty concerning Lady Alice’s accident. Lady Alice is set up to be in a compromising position which forces Calum to marry her to save her reputation. Lady Alice has loved Calum for years but she doesn’t want Calum to marry her out of obligation but for love. How will Lady Alice stop the wedding?.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calum is best friend to Alice’s brother and is the love of her life but he does not know that. He is everything she would want in a husband but she is just a friend to him but when Lady Penelope tries to ruin Alice by having her meet Lord Fenchurch alone it is Calum who gets the message and meets Alice of course they are found alone and now must marry and while she is thrilled only to realize that he is being forced to marry her so she sends a message to Lord Fenchurch to meet her for an elopement to Greta Glen so that Calum can someday marry for love. . Will Alice end up married to the wrong man?.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donise · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has been in love with her brother's best friend for years but he has never seen her that way. Do to an unfortunate incident in their youth she has been left with a limp and has become a wallflower who will most likely never marry. He has always know of her but his awareness of her is about to change except he still wants to travel abroad and he still doesn't want his heart to become involved. Can she apply the cunning that she shows in matching her wits against a man in playing chess to winning the man she loves for eternity? Read this heartfelt book and find out for yourself. Everyone deserves to be loved and cherished and this book helps prove that point.

I received a free copy of this book via Bron's Bold Belles Review Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.