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Seduction Diaries #1
Diary of an Accidental Wallflower: The Seduction Diaries
Pretty and popular, Miss Clare Westmore knows exactly what (or rather, who) she wants: the next Duke of Harrington. But when she twists her ankle on the eve of the Season’s most touted event, Clare is left standing in the wallflower line watching her best friend dance away with her duke.
Dr. Daniel Merial is tempted to deliver more than a diagnosis to London's most unlikely wallflower, but he doesn’t have time for distractions, even one so delectable. Besides, she's clearly got her sights on more promising prey. So why can’t he stop thinking about her?
All Clare wants to do is return to the dance floor. But as her former friends try to knock her permanently out of place, she realizes with horror she is falling for her doctor instead her duke. When her ankle finally heals and she faces her old life again, will she throw herself back into the game?
Or will her time in the wallflower line have given her a glimpse of who she was really meant to be?
Dr. Daniel Merial is tempted to deliver more than a diagnosis to London's most unlikely wallflower, but he doesn’t have time for distractions, even one so delectable. Besides, she's clearly got her sights on more promising prey. So why can’t he stop thinking about her?
All Clare wants to do is return to the dance floor. But as her former friends try to knock her permanently out of place, she realizes with horror she is falling for her doctor instead her duke. When her ankle finally heals and she faces her old life again, will she throw herself back into the game?
Or will her time in the wallflower line have given her a glimpse of who she was really meant to be?
Audiobook
First published February 24, 2015
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About the author
Jennifer McQuiston
10 books731 followersA veterinarian and infectious disease researcher by training, Jennifer McQuiston has always preferred reading romance to scientific textbooks. A New York Times and USA Today bestseller, her books include WHAT HAPPENS IN SCOTLAND, SUMMER IS FOR LOVERS, MOONLIGHT ON MY MIND, DIARY OF AN ACCIDENTAL WALLFLOWER, and THE SPINSTER'S GUIDE TO SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR. She also has a novella, HER HIGHLAND FLING. Visit her website at www.jenmcquiston.com or follow her on Twitter @jenmcqwrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 404 reviews
November 20, 2015
Happy release day! This is the first in a new HR romance series by one of my favorite authors! What are you waiting for? Get your copy!!
4.5 ‘and then she kissed him again…’ stars
Oh, how I enjoyed this story! I laughed out loud, I fanned myself, and found myself teary-eyed, more than once. This is, without a doubt, a series you won’t want to miss!
Blurb…
Pretty and popular, Miss Clare Westmore knows exactly what (or rather, who) she wants: the next Duke of Harrington. But when she twists her ankle on the eve of the Season’s most touted event, Clare is left standing in the wallflower line watching her best friend dance away with her duke.
Dr. Daniel Merial is tempted to deliver more than a diagnosis to London's most unlikely wallflower, but he doesn’t have time for distractions, even one so delectable. Besides, she's clearly got her sights on more promising prey. So why can’t he stop thinking about her?
All Clare wants to do is return to the dance floor. But as her former friends try to knock her permanently out of place, she realizes with horror she is falling for her doctor instead of her duke. When her ankle finally heals and she faces her old life again, will she throw herself back into the game?
Or will her time in the wallflower line have given her a glimpse of who she was really meant to be?
My thoughts…
I’m a fan of Jennifer McQuiston’s writing, so I knew Diary of an Accidental Wallflower would be good, but I wasn’t prepared for just how good this story is. In some ways it’s your typical historical romance with Seasons, titles, and “perfect” marriages the theme throughout, but what sets this apart is just how well represented the difference between the ‘classes’ is.
Not to worry, though! There was no ‘boo-hoo, I’m not worthy of your love’ yada-yada-yada, from the hero. He’s intelligent, strong, clever, and realistic. Class seems to mean nothing to him when it comes to true love, though he is bound by the rules of the ton. I love that Daniel is proud of who he is, of his family, and his contributions to society. He’s one of the most solid non-titles historical romance heroes I’ve read, and I feel in love with him early on. So, you see, he is a big part of why I adore this book.
Our heroine, Clare, rather is a typical London princess, something that would normally wear on me a bit. But deep down in a place she’s not supposed to think about, there are questions. This is what made her an intriguing woman, someone who had to battle what she was expected to do with what she should do. So, the truth is, rather than be annoyed by her ‘status matters’ attitude, I couldn’t help but cheer her on as she begins to understand what is truly important in life; family and love.
The supporting cast – brilliant!! Clare’s brother and sister, Geoffrey and Lucy, are seriously funny, and I cannot wait to get their stories!!
The bottom line...
This is definitely one of my favorite historical romances. If you’ve not read Ms. McQuiston’s writing, give Diary of an Accidental Wallflower a shot! You’ll be so very glad you did!
An ARC was generously provided by Avon Books via Edelweiss. To show my appreciation I’m giving them an honest review.
March 25, 2021
This one sounded so cute from the premise. Our heroine is being courted by a duke and is trying to get a marriage proposal, but she hurts her ankle and one of her friends swoops in to dance with the duke. Instead, a handsome and infuriating doctor tries to help her and a romance ensues. The beginning of this was cute, but this book definitely went on way too long. The last half seemed to drag and really only two things happened. I did enjoy the drama behind her family and I loved her siblings, but the romance was just okay. I wasn't dying for them to get together and I wanted there to be even more drama with her friends and the duke she was trying to marry. So much more could have been done with this story and instead it was just an average read.
July 2, 2015
A poignant, heartfelt romance that includes the perfect balance of witty banter along with many laugh out loud moments.... And Jennifer McQuiston does a fabulous job telling it!
October 9, 2020
This was delightful and I really enjoyed Jennifer McQuiston's writing style. The plot was far more involved than I expected from the start.
Oh Dr. Merial...sighs...I truly loved Dr. Daniel Merial's personality. He was not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside too! What more could a woman ask for? He was also brilliant and damn good at his job!
Miss Clare Westmore had a mixture of wonderful qualities but I wanted to kick her for the first 75% of the book. She was determined to fit in with society's fashionable mean girls in order to be accepted by the ton. Clare hated their behavior, but she was determined to endure it because she had set her eyes on marrying a Duke.
Ironically, Clare's family was an absolute disaster. Totally dysfunctional yet very adorable. Clare finally got her act together near the end, and redeemed herself.
I loved the twists and turns and how this story unfolded. I look forward to the reading the rest of this series!
Oh Dr. Merial...sighs...I truly loved Dr. Daniel Merial's personality. He was not only beautiful on the outside, but on the inside too! What more could a woman ask for? He was also brilliant and damn good at his job!
Miss Clare Westmore had a mixture of wonderful qualities but I wanted to kick her for the first 75% of the book. She was determined to fit in with society's fashionable mean girls in order to be accepted by the ton. Clare hated their behavior, but she was determined to endure it because she had set her eyes on marrying a Duke.
Ironically, Clare's family was an absolute disaster. Totally dysfunctional yet very adorable. Clare finally got her act together near the end, and redeemed herself.
I loved the twists and turns and how this story unfolded. I look forward to the reading the rest of this series!
September 28, 2020
3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Diary of an Accidental Wallflower follows the story of Miss Clare Westmore in pursuit of the most eligible bachelor of the season: The Future Duke of Harrington known as Mr. Alban. But Clare’s life drew another path for her when she injures her ankle and the fetching Dr. Daniel Merial comes into the picture.
What was supposed to be Clare’s most successful season turned into a melodrama of excruciating attraction to a Doctor beneath her class, scheming friends whom are jealous foes and old secrets coming to light that will unsettle Clare’s entire existence.
This was a charming regency romance novel and I liked Daniel whom remained earnestly sweet and brilliant and I especially adored his relationship with the Dowager Countess. I found Clare to be annoying for the majority of the book yet I was pleased with the improved change in her character towards the end. The slow-burn romance wasn’t as heart-pounding as I would’ve liked it to be, it did bore me sometimes.
What I had an issue with in this book is the inconsistent pacing that tempted me many times to skim a page or two.
It was a nice light read since I was in the mood for some sweet fluff.
The Diary of an Accidental Wallflower follows the story of Miss Clare Westmore in pursuit of the most eligible bachelor of the season: The Future Duke of Harrington known as Mr. Alban. But Clare’s life drew another path for her when she injures her ankle and the fetching Dr. Daniel Merial comes into the picture.
What was supposed to be Clare’s most successful season turned into a melodrama of excruciating attraction to a Doctor beneath her class, scheming friends whom are jealous foes and old secrets coming to light that will unsettle Clare’s entire existence.
This was a charming regency romance novel and I liked Daniel whom remained earnestly sweet and brilliant and I especially adored his relationship with the Dowager Countess. I found Clare to be annoying for the majority of the book yet I was pleased with the improved change in her character towards the end. The slow-burn romance wasn’t as heart-pounding as I would’ve liked it to be, it did bore me sometimes.
What I had an issue with in this book is the inconsistent pacing that tempted me many times to skim a page or two.
It was a nice light read since I was in the mood for some sweet fluff.
December 26, 2015
My review is based on 60% of the book. I stopped trying at 60%.
Jennifer McQuiston's style reminds me of Julia Quinn. Definitely on the funnier side and I did laugh a few times. I would even say quite clever, her writing. It has a light tone and isn't a chore to follow.
But the story itself has nothing else to be recommended. I disliked Clare early on. A society miss who set her mind on marry the heir presumptive of a duke, just because he was the heir. But at the same time she was intelligent and read the editorial of London Times for fun? What intelligent woman dreams about marrying a future duke just because? She was also very snobbish to Daniel in the beginning, when Daniel just wanted to help. I don't care how pretty she was, for Daniel to be attracted to her, I lost respect for Clare and for Daniel.
Other than the flaws in characterization, the worst was that there is no chemistry between Clare and Daniel. No pull and no yearning. Instead we get to read about how great Daniel was with Clare's sister Lucy and brother Geoffery, who were both some kind of juvenile delinquents who required adult attention. And Daniel, wonderful caring Daniel, was there to serve as an older brother. I am no expert on history but I have trouble believing that this was a realistic projection of the society back then.
I have had a lot of 2 stars books in the past 2 months. I had hoped for a 3 stars book but I regret to say that my 2 stars phase continues. I don't mind the writing so I will probably try her other books but this story and its characters are a big fail for me. I cannot recommend it as a great romance. It might not be an awful read if you were looking for something like The Little Woman.
Jennifer McQuiston's style reminds me of Julia Quinn. Definitely on the funnier side and I did laugh a few times. I would even say quite clever, her writing. It has a light tone and isn't a chore to follow.
But the story itself has nothing else to be recommended. I disliked Clare early on. A society miss who set her mind on marry the heir presumptive of a duke, just because he was the heir. But at the same time she was intelligent and read the editorial of London Times for fun? What intelligent woman dreams about marrying a future duke just because? She was also very snobbish to Daniel in the beginning, when Daniel just wanted to help. I don't care how pretty she was, for Daniel to be attracted to her, I lost respect for Clare and for Daniel.
Other than the flaws in characterization, the worst was that there is no chemistry between Clare and Daniel. No pull and no yearning. Instead we get to read about how great Daniel was with Clare's sister Lucy and brother Geoffery, who were both some kind of juvenile delinquents who required adult attention. And Daniel, wonderful caring Daniel, was there to serve as an older brother. I am no expert on history but I have trouble believing that this was a realistic projection of the society back then.
I have had a lot of 2 stars books in the past 2 months. I had hoped for a 3 stars book but I regret to say that my 2 stars phase continues. I don't mind the writing so I will probably try her other books but this story and its characters are a big fail for me. I cannot recommend it as a great romance. It might not be an awful read if you were looking for something like The Little Woman.
August 17, 2020
this one was about a doctor and a wallflower who are in love with each other but can't be together because of what they think society would think. it was cute, romantic, hot but the hot/cold and the no communication messed me up. it was kind of slow at times too.
July 5, 2023
Wait this was so cute 💁♀️💁♀️💁♀️
August 1, 2024
Review from 2015
B- for narration / B+ for content.
Even though I wasn’t overly impressed with the last book I read by this author, quite a few of my Goodreads friends, people whose opinions I respect and often share, enjoyed Diary of an Accidental Wallflower very much, so I decided to give it a try in audio.
Harper has opted to retain the services of Lana J. Weston for this new series, so I looked back at my review of Summer Is for Lovers to see what I’d had to say about her, because I haven’t listened to her since. I discovered that I have pretty much the same issues with her performance in this audiobook as in the previous one; namely that the narrative is a bit on the slow side and that there are quite a few glaring mispronunciations. One other issue – that her male voices weren’t quite masculine enough – wasn’t a problem here, because she did a much better job voicing the hero, and all the other male characters were more appropriately portrayed.
I did, however, have a real problem with the kind of “simper” Ms Weston adopts for the narrative, which reminded me of someone talking to small children. It also sounded as though she was speaking in a weird sort of “half-voice” , a cross between normal speech and a whisper, and that was also terribly grating. In fact, I had a hard time for the first forty minutes or so and was seriously considering putting this aside and listening to something else. But this is the reviewer’s lot – sometimes we’re lucky enough to listen to narrations which work for us and sometimes not, so I stuck with it, determined to grit my teeth and get on with it.
Fortunately, once things really got going in terms of the plot, the narration improved sufficiently to enable me to concentrate on the story, which is a very good one.
The daughter of a viscount, Clare Westbrook is young, beautiful, well-dowered, and as such is expected to make an excellent match. She has her sights set on the attractive Mr Alban, the heir apparent to a duke, and is eagerly looking forward to her next ball, when she hopes to secure at least one dance with him and to fix his interest. An unfortunate accident puts paid to her plans, however, because she very badly sprains her ankle on the afternoon of the event, but she refuses to let such a thing stand in her way. She ignores the severe pain in her ankle and limps her way to the ball, determined to dance just once with Mr Alban. On arrival, her two best friends commiserate over Clare’s unfortunate accident and suggest that she take a seat until the first waltz, undertaking to hint to Mr Alban that Clare will certainly agree to dance it with him.
Unaccustomed to watching from the sidelines, Clare takes one of the seats normally reserved for the elderly and the wallflowers, and is surprised when she is addressed by an extremely handsome young man she does not know. She tries to freeze him out, but he will have none of it, telling her that he is a doctor and that her ankle clearly needs medical attention.
Doctor Daniel Merial is young and ambitious, eager to advance the cause of medical science and knowledge. In his spare time, he is working on a device which will enable doctors to regulate the doses of chloroform used to render patients unconscious, while maintaining his position as a lecturer and teacher at St. Bartholemew’s hospital. His position doesn’t pay him all that well, so he needs to supplement his income by providing medical services to those that can pay for them, and has been fortunate to find a patron in the elderly Lady Austerley. Over the time he has been treating the lady for her heart condition, she and Daniel have become friends as well; the affectionate, tender nature of their friendship is well drawn and one of the high points of the book.
Daniel inspects Clare’s ankle and pronounces it a very bad sprain that she will need to rest for four weeks. Clare is aghast – she can’t possibly absent herself from all the season’s events for that long if she is to land herself a “cream of the crop” husband, but Daniel is adamant, and Clare reluctantly agrees to do as he says. During the course of her convalescence, Daniel visits Clare a number of times and before long, the couple has fallen into an easy friendship, which is poised to blossom into something more.
While ostensibly a simple cross-class romance, there are a number of underlying themes in the book which are addressed at the same time as the protagonists are gradually falling in love, many of which are just as relevant today as they were at the time the story is set. The need for conformity and acceptance; the importance of being true to oneself; the difficulty in crossing boundaries of class and race – the author has skilfully incorporated all these ideas while at the same time penning a romance full of warmth and tenderness; and has crafted her story so well that everything blends perfectly and there’s no feeling that the other elements are detracting from the romance.
Daniel and Clare are attractive, sympathetic characters and I especially liked the way Ms McQuiston reveals Clare to be a completely different woman to the one we initially meet. At first, she seems to be the typical social butterfly, one who pretends she doesn’t like to read in order to avoid being seen as bookish, or who talks about others behind their backs simply to be accepted as one of the “cool kids” – whereas in fact, she is intelligent, thoughtful and perceptive. Daniel is quite simply delicious; handsome, witty, kind and caring, he is truly altruistic and works selflessly to make things better for others. The romance between the couple develops quite slowly to start with, but it’s very well done with a nice undercurrent of sexual tension. I also appreciated the fact that the author doesn’t gloss over the difficulties presented by the class differences between Clare and Daniel, making clear the cost each could bear should they pursue anything beyond a client-patient relationship; but I was less pleased with the latter part of the story in which Clare decides she must get back to her husband-hunting, and in which a secret comes to light which could have a serious impact on her future. In fact, the ending is perhaps a little too pat, but I enjoyed the story in spite of it. It’s well written and thought-out, and there’s a strong set of secondary characters, including Clare’s tomboyish sister, and her typically sex-obsessed thirteen year old brother, Geoffrey, both of whom lend humour to the story at the same time as they are benefiting from Daniel’s acquaintance.
In terms of the narration, once I’d got past that first forty minutes, the story became sufficiently engaging as to enable me to get past the issues I mentioned at the beginning of this review. The narrative is still fairly slow, but when Ms Weston is narrating passages that switch quickly between narrative and dialogue, the pacing seems faster and has a much more naturalistic feel overall.
The thing I really can’t find fault with is Ms Weston’s characterisation of the secondary characters, which is very good indeed, from the wonderful old Lady Austerley, who sounds just like Julie Walters performing a “posh old dear”, to the heroine’s maidservant, or the cockney prostitute, Handsome Meg. She lowers the pitch of her voice only slightly for the male characters, but she differentiates effectively between them, and portrays Daniel rather well by dropping her pitch slightly and giving him an attractive, no-nonsense tone.
Taken as a whole I ended up enjoying Diary of an Accidental Wallflower more than I expected to at the beginning, but while I certainly intend to read the next book – if it’s as good as this one, I’m in for a treat – I’m not sure if I will continue with the series in audio because the narration was so difficult to warm to.
B- for narration / B+ for content.
Even though I wasn’t overly impressed with the last book I read by this author, quite a few of my Goodreads friends, people whose opinions I respect and often share, enjoyed Diary of an Accidental Wallflower very much, so I decided to give it a try in audio.
Harper has opted to retain the services of Lana J. Weston for this new series, so I looked back at my review of Summer Is for Lovers to see what I’d had to say about her, because I haven’t listened to her since. I discovered that I have pretty much the same issues with her performance in this audiobook as in the previous one; namely that the narrative is a bit on the slow side and that there are quite a few glaring mispronunciations. One other issue – that her male voices weren’t quite masculine enough – wasn’t a problem here, because she did a much better job voicing the hero, and all the other male characters were more appropriately portrayed.
I did, however, have a real problem with the kind of “simper” Ms Weston adopts for the narrative, which reminded me of someone talking to small children. It also sounded as though she was speaking in a weird sort of “half-voice” , a cross between normal speech and a whisper, and that was also terribly grating. In fact, I had a hard time for the first forty minutes or so and was seriously considering putting this aside and listening to something else. But this is the reviewer’s lot – sometimes we’re lucky enough to listen to narrations which work for us and sometimes not, so I stuck with it, determined to grit my teeth and get on with it.
Fortunately, once things really got going in terms of the plot, the narration improved sufficiently to enable me to concentrate on the story, which is a very good one.
The daughter of a viscount, Clare Westbrook is young, beautiful, well-dowered, and as such is expected to make an excellent match. She has her sights set on the attractive Mr Alban, the heir apparent to a duke, and is eagerly looking forward to her next ball, when she hopes to secure at least one dance with him and to fix his interest. An unfortunate accident puts paid to her plans, however, because she very badly sprains her ankle on the afternoon of the event, but she refuses to let such a thing stand in her way. She ignores the severe pain in her ankle and limps her way to the ball, determined to dance just once with Mr Alban. On arrival, her two best friends commiserate over Clare’s unfortunate accident and suggest that she take a seat until the first waltz, undertaking to hint to Mr Alban that Clare will certainly agree to dance it with him.
Unaccustomed to watching from the sidelines, Clare takes one of the seats normally reserved for the elderly and the wallflowers, and is surprised when she is addressed by an extremely handsome young man she does not know. She tries to freeze him out, but he will have none of it, telling her that he is a doctor and that her ankle clearly needs medical attention.
Doctor Daniel Merial is young and ambitious, eager to advance the cause of medical science and knowledge. In his spare time, he is working on a device which will enable doctors to regulate the doses of chloroform used to render patients unconscious, while maintaining his position as a lecturer and teacher at St. Bartholemew’s hospital. His position doesn’t pay him all that well, so he needs to supplement his income by providing medical services to those that can pay for them, and has been fortunate to find a patron in the elderly Lady Austerley. Over the time he has been treating the lady for her heart condition, she and Daniel have become friends as well; the affectionate, tender nature of their friendship is well drawn and one of the high points of the book.
Daniel inspects Clare’s ankle and pronounces it a very bad sprain that she will need to rest for four weeks. Clare is aghast – she can’t possibly absent herself from all the season’s events for that long if she is to land herself a “cream of the crop” husband, but Daniel is adamant, and Clare reluctantly agrees to do as he says. During the course of her convalescence, Daniel visits Clare a number of times and before long, the couple has fallen into an easy friendship, which is poised to blossom into something more.
While ostensibly a simple cross-class romance, there are a number of underlying themes in the book which are addressed at the same time as the protagonists are gradually falling in love, many of which are just as relevant today as they were at the time the story is set. The need for conformity and acceptance; the importance of being true to oneself; the difficulty in crossing boundaries of class and race – the author has skilfully incorporated all these ideas while at the same time penning a romance full of warmth and tenderness; and has crafted her story so well that everything blends perfectly and there’s no feeling that the other elements are detracting from the romance.
Daniel and Clare are attractive, sympathetic characters and I especially liked the way Ms McQuiston reveals Clare to be a completely different woman to the one we initially meet. At first, she seems to be the typical social butterfly, one who pretends she doesn’t like to read in order to avoid being seen as bookish, or who talks about others behind their backs simply to be accepted as one of the “cool kids” – whereas in fact, she is intelligent, thoughtful and perceptive. Daniel is quite simply delicious; handsome, witty, kind and caring, he is truly altruistic and works selflessly to make things better for others. The romance between the couple develops quite slowly to start with, but it’s very well done with a nice undercurrent of sexual tension. I also appreciated the fact that the author doesn’t gloss over the difficulties presented by the class differences between Clare and Daniel, making clear the cost each could bear should they pursue anything beyond a client-patient relationship; but I was less pleased with the latter part of the story in which Clare decides she must get back to her husband-hunting, and in which a secret comes to light which could have a serious impact on her future. In fact, the ending is perhaps a little too pat, but I enjoyed the story in spite of it. It’s well written and thought-out, and there’s a strong set of secondary characters, including Clare’s tomboyish sister, and her typically sex-obsessed thirteen year old brother, Geoffrey, both of whom lend humour to the story at the same time as they are benefiting from Daniel’s acquaintance.
In terms of the narration, once I’d got past that first forty minutes, the story became sufficiently engaging as to enable me to get past the issues I mentioned at the beginning of this review. The narrative is still fairly slow, but when Ms Weston is narrating passages that switch quickly between narrative and dialogue, the pacing seems faster and has a much more naturalistic feel overall.
The thing I really can’t find fault with is Ms Weston’s characterisation of the secondary characters, which is very good indeed, from the wonderful old Lady Austerley, who sounds just like Julie Walters performing a “posh old dear”, to the heroine’s maidservant, or the cockney prostitute, Handsome Meg. She lowers the pitch of her voice only slightly for the male characters, but she differentiates effectively between them, and portrays Daniel rather well by dropping her pitch slightly and giving him an attractive, no-nonsense tone.
Taken as a whole I ended up enjoying Diary of an Accidental Wallflower more than I expected to at the beginning, but while I certainly intend to read the next book – if it’s as good as this one, I’m in for a treat – I’m not sure if I will continue with the series in audio because the narration was so difficult to warm to.
did-not-finish
July 2, 2018I stopped past the point of the incident that occurred that caused me to stop. Things only got worse, so my desire to stop will be allowed to be processed and applied. Wow that's awkward.
A doctor took advantage of his patient. She solidly slapped him. Told him to leave, forget about any apologies, leave instantly. He thought to himself about how he hadn't been about to offer an apology.
The 'things only got worse' part? The woman was starting to feel bad about how her dismissal of the man had had a negative impact on her siblings, about how she was being selfish. pfft. I'm done.
No rating, I did only read 44% of the book.
July 1 2018
A doctor took advantage of his patient. She solidly slapped him. Told him to leave, forget about any apologies, leave instantly. He thought to himself about how he hadn't been about to offer an apology.
The 'things only got worse' part? The woman was starting to feel bad about how her dismissal of the man had had a negative impact on her siblings, about how she was being selfish. pfft. I'm done.
No rating, I did only read 44% of the book.
July 1 2018
June 6, 2017
I thought this was a sweet romance but not the page-turner I was hoping for. While the book has its moments, I didn't feel the chemistry between Clare and Daniel even if Clare had her sights set on another. At times, I did feel a little sorry for Daniel and the way he was treated just for being a physician and not someone of a higher station. This isn't a hot, steamy romance but a love story that develops very gradually.
July 19, 2017
I don't have any problems in suspending my disbelief when it comes to this genre, but not this much.
From certain actions to the ridiculous and out-of-the-blue resolution, it was asking too much from me and I didn't like the heroine at all.
Still, there were a couple of good moments so I can't say I completely disliked it.
From certain actions to the ridiculous and out-of-the-blue resolution, it was asking too much from me and I didn't like the heroine at all.
Still, there were a couple of good moments so I can't say I completely disliked it.
May 24, 2015
Quite an enjoyable, almostly epistolary-style novel. :)
February 8, 2015
Summary
Clare Westmore, is the daughter of a viscount, and has her sights set on a future duke. But on the afternoon before a important ball, she ends up spraining her ankle, and it becomes so swollen that she can barely walk, but she is determined to go to the ball and make her appearance. But then she meets Dr. Daniel Merial, who notices her in pain and discomfort. He makes it clear that if she goes dancing, that the consequences would be disastrous. So she is left on the sidelines watching her friend dance with the future duke. When Daniel examines her further he insists that she must keep off the ankle for at least a few weeks, and the season is just getting started. Clare knows that she can’t afford to lose those weeks, but she doesn’t see how she has much choice. While Clare is resting up, Daniel visits often, checking on her progress and this handsome doctor does more for her than aide with her swollen ankle. She starts to see who Daniel really is, and his potential to aid others. Clare knows that she will need to make a difficult choice, a life among society married to a man she doesn’t love, or be with the man that is poor but is driven to succeed and would love her…
The Hero
Daniel Merial, is a Doctor and the son of a gypsy horse trader. He is just starting to make his name known among the higher members of society. Daniel is busy with his experiments and contributing to the hospital when he can. But there is one elderly lady among the Ton, who is his patient, but also his friend. She has brought him slowly into her world and in that world he meets Clare. Daniel knows that he isn’t good enough for Clare, but he is drawn to her. The character of Daniel is quite deep, which you don’t expect when you first start the story. There is so much to his character, and I loved how firm he is with Clare. He doesn’t let anyone tell him what he knows is right and wrong, especially when it comes to his knowledge of the human body. He is intelligent, good humor and handsome. He has no family, and works alone on his experiments quite often, but he can be charismatic and charming. He was such an endearing character, and I wanted so much for him in this story to get his HEA.
The Heroine
Clare Westmore, on the surface seems to be a simpering miss, only after a title. Clare is not your typical English lady. She puts up a front for society, but she has depth and perception that not many see, except for Daniel and her siblings. Clare was a heroine that at first I didn’t know what to make of her, I thought her to have a weak spine and not having much intelligence. But you see how she has character and she grows on you as the story moves forward. You start to see how smart she is, and that she has dreams of her own, but can be hidden underneath the expectations of her family and society. I loved her gumption, and she totally won me over in the end. I love a woman that goes after what she wants, no matter the consequences. She was pretty amusing at times, and she was pretty well developed.
Plot and Story Line
The beginning of the story seems like your typical light hearted regency romance. This is the first of a new series by Jennifer Mcquiston. I am unsure what the series is really about yet, I am hoping to see more of Clare’s sister and brother…boy were they a hoot and jolly good time. There were so many instances in the story they added character and wit to the story that you don’t see until it happens. They were fun and quirky…what’s not to love right? IN the beginning the connection between Daniel and Clare is slow going. But you see the flirtations a bit, and a friendship building up a bit. There isn’t’ much heat until the latter half of the story. I feel like the story needed to be built up first before they could get to the “good stuff”. But this pair was original, and I loved seeing the little games they would play with each other without seeming like they are playing games. It was very subtle, but by the end you see how it leads up to it. I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy the heroine as much as I did. Because at first, I was very unsure about her. I knew that I probably wouldn’t like her too much, but the author proved me wrong on that score. (Don’t you just love it when authors do that?) What I loved was the slow and engaging romance that this turned out to be. It had many promising qualities to it that becomes a gem of a romance.
Cover
This is such a simple yet gorgeous cover. And from the first time I saw it, I knew that I wanted to read it just for the cover alone. Her dress is beautiful, I love the bright red dresses, and it’s so bold and really draws your eye. The pretty green settee blends well, and I love the blurred floral background we have. Makes me just want to jump right into the scene and get a book of my own and forget about the stresses of the world.
Overall View
A winning romance set in the regency era, of two mismatched people, that need the love of each other. A story of true love and friendship and doing what is right no matter the consequences. A beautifully written romance that will win your heart.
Clare Westmore, is the daughter of a viscount, and has her sights set on a future duke. But on the afternoon before a important ball, she ends up spraining her ankle, and it becomes so swollen that she can barely walk, but she is determined to go to the ball and make her appearance. But then she meets Dr. Daniel Merial, who notices her in pain and discomfort. He makes it clear that if she goes dancing, that the consequences would be disastrous. So she is left on the sidelines watching her friend dance with the future duke. When Daniel examines her further he insists that she must keep off the ankle for at least a few weeks, and the season is just getting started. Clare knows that she can’t afford to lose those weeks, but she doesn’t see how she has much choice. While Clare is resting up, Daniel visits often, checking on her progress and this handsome doctor does more for her than aide with her swollen ankle. She starts to see who Daniel really is, and his potential to aid others. Clare knows that she will need to make a difficult choice, a life among society married to a man she doesn’t love, or be with the man that is poor but is driven to succeed and would love her…
The Hero
Daniel Merial, is a Doctor and the son of a gypsy horse trader. He is just starting to make his name known among the higher members of society. Daniel is busy with his experiments and contributing to the hospital when he can. But there is one elderly lady among the Ton, who is his patient, but also his friend. She has brought him slowly into her world and in that world he meets Clare. Daniel knows that he isn’t good enough for Clare, but he is drawn to her. The character of Daniel is quite deep, which you don’t expect when you first start the story. There is so much to his character, and I loved how firm he is with Clare. He doesn’t let anyone tell him what he knows is right and wrong, especially when it comes to his knowledge of the human body. He is intelligent, good humor and handsome. He has no family, and works alone on his experiments quite often, but he can be charismatic and charming. He was such an endearing character, and I wanted so much for him in this story to get his HEA.
The Heroine
Clare Westmore, on the surface seems to be a simpering miss, only after a title. Clare is not your typical English lady. She puts up a front for society, but she has depth and perception that not many see, except for Daniel and her siblings. Clare was a heroine that at first I didn’t know what to make of her, I thought her to have a weak spine and not having much intelligence. But you see how she has character and she grows on you as the story moves forward. You start to see how smart she is, and that she has dreams of her own, but can be hidden underneath the expectations of her family and society. I loved her gumption, and she totally won me over in the end. I love a woman that goes after what she wants, no matter the consequences. She was pretty amusing at times, and she was pretty well developed.
Plot and Story Line
The beginning of the story seems like your typical light hearted regency romance. This is the first of a new series by Jennifer Mcquiston. I am unsure what the series is really about yet, I am hoping to see more of Clare’s sister and brother…boy were they a hoot and jolly good time. There were so many instances in the story they added character and wit to the story that you don’t see until it happens. They were fun and quirky…what’s not to love right? IN the beginning the connection between Daniel and Clare is slow going. But you see the flirtations a bit, and a friendship building up a bit. There isn’t’ much heat until the latter half of the story. I feel like the story needed to be built up first before they could get to the “good stuff”. But this pair was original, and I loved seeing the little games they would play with each other without seeming like they are playing games. It was very subtle, but by the end you see how it leads up to it. I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy the heroine as much as I did. Because at first, I was very unsure about her. I knew that I probably wouldn’t like her too much, but the author proved me wrong on that score. (Don’t you just love it when authors do that?) What I loved was the slow and engaging romance that this turned out to be. It had many promising qualities to it that becomes a gem of a romance.
Cover
This is such a simple yet gorgeous cover. And from the first time I saw it, I knew that I wanted to read it just for the cover alone. Her dress is beautiful, I love the bright red dresses, and it’s so bold and really draws your eye. The pretty green settee blends well, and I love the blurred floral background we have. Makes me just want to jump right into the scene and get a book of my own and forget about the stresses of the world.
Overall View
A winning romance set in the regency era, of two mismatched people, that need the love of each other. A story of true love and friendship and doing what is right no matter the consequences. A beautifully written romance that will win your heart.
December 4, 2015
4 1/2 stars
May 22, 2015
This was just an alright book for me. The book wasn't horrible but the characters were just not likable or compelling. I liked Daniel but his character did not flourish with Clare. I thought Clare was unlikeable. I thought she was snobby and lacking in substance. She gets embarrassed with her family, not even thinking she might be the embarrassment. She thinks she is too good for Daniel, not even considering he might be too good for her. She was just not a good person. I don't think she was remarkable considering she wanted the best while not offering much herself. This is my main contention with heroines who are husband hunting, they demand everything in their prospective husband while they, as a person, don't amount to much. Why should they be rewarded with treasure when they don't bring anything to the table. Her wealth doesn't cover for her lack of substance.
Another thing I disliked about this book is Clare's statement about her illegitimacy. She's not illegitimate since she was born when her mother was married. The father she grew up with was her lawful father. It was just too much. My eye twitches every time I read it.
The mother was also awful in my opinion. Clare really takes after her. Her mother was upset that her husband had a child outside of their marriage. Hello? Hypocrisy much? You saddled him with your child and didn't even bring up the issue. I get that he had the child while he was married to her but he was in love with the woman. If she was similarly trapped in an arranged marriage and her lover was still alive, I guarantee that she would also commit adultery. Nothing of her character hints otherwise. To vilify him for actions that she also committed was just too much. I couldn't sympathize with her distress because she was just really selfish.
Anyways, I guess the worst part of this book for me is already mentioned. I don't like Clare positing that Daniel is not good enough. She viewed him as others did, as a pretty face who she socially outranked. She wanted to use him while not giving consideration to him as a person. When she wanted to give their relationship a chance, she constantly looked for ways in which she could retain her wealth and have him too. If not, then screw him. I'm fine with this but the fact that she thinks so highly of herself is what kills it for me. Why does she think so highly of herself? Why is Daniel in love with her? Why does she get to have everything while losing nothing? She lacks mettle. Her siblings alluded to a more interesting person than what she had become, fine, give me that person. I saw no indication of it. I just want her to bring something to the table because as I see it, there really isn't much outside of her dowry.
This book isn't a one star, despite the unlikable lead character. This is because I am fine with awful characters as long as they have a redemption arc. I think my favourite part of this book is when everything starts to fall apart for her. She finds out her father is not her biological one, her friends aren't really her friends, her prospective husband, the duke, isn't really paying her much attention, and she is the embarrassing one in their family and not the one who holds them above scrutiny. She gets a reality check. To some degree, she did improve. However, things were given to her easily again. Just when I thought she found her mettle, the book leaves her untested. She finally decides to marry Daniel but it turns out, the duke, her prospective husband, is really her uncle. It just so happens that he is willing to bequeath a large sum of money to her. Also, it turns out that the approval her father needed to gain her dowry is a non issue since he would approve her choice anyways, even if he was of lower rank.
Ultimately, I don't think she really improved as a person. She improved, maybe a little, but the extent of it wasn't really astounding. I still think that the Clare who viewed lower ranking people as lesser beings still exist. She could learn a thing or two from her sister.
I wish this book was about her siblings. They are far more interesting. Clare was just this delusional heroine. While it made the journey for a redemption arc more interesting, it also produced moments where she treated her supposed lover like dirt. I just couldn't believe love flourished in that type of relationship. She was just entirely selfish throughout the book and I don't think she grew enough as a person to give consideration to others. What has she sacrificed to convince me that she had grown. The book ended with sudden wealth from both sides. She had an inheritance and the old lady gave him money. It took away from her decision since all the conflicts were removed without much effort from her.
Anyways, story brief: She injures herself. She waits for the duke to approach her but he doesn't. She witnesses her friend, who suggested she go to the wallflower area, make moves on the duke. Daniel notices her limping and approaches her. He feels out of place in the gathering but the poor health of his client forced him to stay, to watch over her. He notices Clare's injury and offers to inspect it. Clare takes his well-meaning suggestions in the worst possible way and starts being a shrew. She feels ashamed when she finds out that he was telling the truth. She doesn't feel ashamed that she said them to a person but rather it might come back to the hostess. Anyways, she wants to leave. She had an awful and unproductive evening. Her friends aren't really her friends, the duke isn't approaching her, and she made rude remarks to the hostess' personal physician.
She, along with the doctor, stumbles upon her mother's tryst. She employs Daniel for her ankle so that she could invoke the doctor-patient confidentiality. His advice was to take it easy for two weeks. She does. Her friends visit once and her sister overheard them making snide remarks about her. The duke also visited and he talked about how she didn't resemble her father. Her siblings befriend the doctor quickly. The sister extracts a promise for him to take her on an outing while the brother gets guided to bigger purposes in life. The sister stops being contrary to society's whims and just becomes herself and the brother stops being a troublemaker for the sake of it and finds a direction. Meanwhile, he kissed her and she dismissed him.
The dismissal backfired since he was a good influence on her siblings. They pushed for his reinstatement and she gave in for one last day of goodbyes. They went out to see a performer. This time, she was the one to initiate a kiss.
Meanwhile, they said their goodbyes. It doesn't stop them from meeting. Daniel comforted her when she was being bullied by her friends. She made a move on him but he declined, understanding that she was distressed and would regret it afterwards. She gets angry with him.
She also found out about being unrelated to her father. She confronts her mother about it when her mother absolutely forbade her to marry the duke. The mother confessed about her love affair. It ended with her biological father's death. She also confided in her about her husband having a child outside of their marriage. He wants to bring her to the family and she is not happy with that.
When her life is crumbling, she seeks solace with Daniel. They do it in his apartment. The landlady discovers him and she evicts him. He gets a letter informing him of the old lady's death. They leave each other with no finalization on marriage. He told her he loved her but she did not tell him she loved him back. Their last interaction before he left was her looking uncertain before she went back to her house.
She finally tells the family and they are all accepting. However, days pass and he is still not there. She finally confronts him in the funeral. He admits to not feeling good enough. He doesn't want to trap her and make her give up everything when she doesn't even love him. She tells him that she does and she also has money. Afterwards, he gets summoned by the lawyer with regards to the old lady's will. It turns out that she left her wealth with him to establish a medical center.
Throughout the book, the idea of Daniel's great nature is hammered home. He went to medicine to help people. He saw how his father died because of malpractice. His mother and brother also died at childbirth. He wanted to do good in the world. He dedicated his life to health without thinking of profiting. Even when Clare was asking about the profit of his invention, he adamantly denied wanting to take part since he wanted lower ranking people to have as much rights to health as to their richer counterparts. Why am I mentioning this? Well, because it contributes to the disparity between the two. Clare might think that she is the catch but in terms of strength as a person, Daniel outclasses her far and away. It just wasn't a good pairing in my opinion because Daniel had a lot to offer and Clare just didn't.
Another thing I disliked about this book is Clare's statement about her illegitimacy. She's not illegitimate since she was born when her mother was married. The father she grew up with was her lawful father. It was just too much. My eye twitches every time I read it.
The mother was also awful in my opinion. Clare really takes after her. Her mother was upset that her husband had a child outside of their marriage. Hello? Hypocrisy much? You saddled him with your child and didn't even bring up the issue. I get that he had the child while he was married to her but he was in love with the woman. If she was similarly trapped in an arranged marriage and her lover was still alive, I guarantee that she would also commit adultery. Nothing of her character hints otherwise. To vilify him for actions that she also committed was just too much. I couldn't sympathize with her distress because she was just really selfish.
Anyways, I guess the worst part of this book for me is already mentioned. I don't like Clare positing that Daniel is not good enough. She viewed him as others did, as a pretty face who she socially outranked. She wanted to use him while not giving consideration to him as a person. When she wanted to give their relationship a chance, she constantly looked for ways in which she could retain her wealth and have him too. If not, then screw him. I'm fine with this but the fact that she thinks so highly of herself is what kills it for me. Why does she think so highly of herself? Why is Daniel in love with her? Why does she get to have everything while losing nothing? She lacks mettle. Her siblings alluded to a more interesting person than what she had become, fine, give me that person. I saw no indication of it. I just want her to bring something to the table because as I see it, there really isn't much outside of her dowry.
This book isn't a one star, despite the unlikable lead character. This is because I am fine with awful characters as long as they have a redemption arc. I think my favourite part of this book is when everything starts to fall apart for her. She finds out her father is not her biological one, her friends aren't really her friends, her prospective husband, the duke, isn't really paying her much attention, and she is the embarrassing one in their family and not the one who holds them above scrutiny. She gets a reality check. To some degree, she did improve. However, things were given to her easily again. Just when I thought she found her mettle, the book leaves her untested. She finally decides to marry Daniel but it turns out, the duke, her prospective husband, is really her uncle. It just so happens that he is willing to bequeath a large sum of money to her. Also, it turns out that the approval her father needed to gain her dowry is a non issue since he would approve her choice anyways, even if he was of lower rank.
Ultimately, I don't think she really improved as a person. She improved, maybe a little, but the extent of it wasn't really astounding. I still think that the Clare who viewed lower ranking people as lesser beings still exist. She could learn a thing or two from her sister.
I wish this book was about her siblings. They are far more interesting. Clare was just this delusional heroine. While it made the journey for a redemption arc more interesting, it also produced moments where she treated her supposed lover like dirt. I just couldn't believe love flourished in that type of relationship. She was just entirely selfish throughout the book and I don't think she grew enough as a person to give consideration to others. What has she sacrificed to convince me that she had grown. The book ended with sudden wealth from both sides. She had an inheritance and the old lady gave him money. It took away from her decision since all the conflicts were removed without much effort from her.
Anyways, story brief: She injures herself. She waits for the duke to approach her but he doesn't. She witnesses her friend, who suggested she go to the wallflower area, make moves on the duke. Daniel notices her limping and approaches her. He feels out of place in the gathering but the poor health of his client forced him to stay, to watch over her. He notices Clare's injury and offers to inspect it. Clare takes his well-meaning suggestions in the worst possible way and starts being a shrew. She feels ashamed when she finds out that he was telling the truth. She doesn't feel ashamed that she said them to a person but rather it might come back to the hostess. Anyways, she wants to leave. She had an awful and unproductive evening. Her friends aren't really her friends, the duke isn't approaching her, and she made rude remarks to the hostess' personal physician.
She, along with the doctor, stumbles upon her mother's tryst. She employs Daniel for her ankle so that she could invoke the doctor-patient confidentiality. His advice was to take it easy for two weeks. She does. Her friends visit once and her sister overheard them making snide remarks about her. The duke also visited and he talked about how she didn't resemble her father. Her siblings befriend the doctor quickly. The sister extracts a promise for him to take her on an outing while the brother gets guided to bigger purposes in life. The sister stops being contrary to society's whims and just becomes herself and the brother stops being a troublemaker for the sake of it and finds a direction. Meanwhile, he kissed her and she dismissed him.
The dismissal backfired since he was a good influence on her siblings. They pushed for his reinstatement and she gave in for one last day of goodbyes. They went out to see a performer. This time, she was the one to initiate a kiss.
Meanwhile, they said their goodbyes. It doesn't stop them from meeting. Daniel comforted her when she was being bullied by her friends. She made a move on him but he declined, understanding that she was distressed and would regret it afterwards. She gets angry with him.
She also found out about being unrelated to her father. She confronts her mother about it when her mother absolutely forbade her to marry the duke. The mother confessed about her love affair. It ended with her biological father's death. She also confided in her about her husband having a child outside of their marriage. He wants to bring her to the family and she is not happy with that.
When her life is crumbling, she seeks solace with Daniel. They do it in his apartment. The landlady discovers him and she evicts him. He gets a letter informing him of the old lady's death. They leave each other with no finalization on marriage. He told her he loved her but she did not tell him she loved him back. Their last interaction before he left was her looking uncertain before she went back to her house.
She finally tells the family and they are all accepting. However, days pass and he is still not there. She finally confronts him in the funeral. He admits to not feeling good enough. He doesn't want to trap her and make her give up everything when she doesn't even love him. She tells him that she does and she also has money. Afterwards, he gets summoned by the lawyer with regards to the old lady's will. It turns out that she left her wealth with him to establish a medical center.
Throughout the book, the idea of Daniel's great nature is hammered home. He went to medicine to help people. He saw how his father died because of malpractice. His mother and brother also died at childbirth. He wanted to do good in the world. He dedicated his life to health without thinking of profiting. Even when Clare was asking about the profit of his invention, he adamantly denied wanting to take part since he wanted lower ranking people to have as much rights to health as to their richer counterparts. Why am I mentioning this? Well, because it contributes to the disparity between the two. Clare might think that she is the catch but in terms of strength as a person, Daniel outclasses her far and away. It just wasn't a good pairing in my opinion because Daniel had a lot to offer and Clare just didn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2018
3.5 stars
October 14, 2018
The writing itself ranges from above average to excellent, and the author has a very engaging style. The plot is slow and somewhat all over the place, but I've learned not to expect much from romance plots anyway---which is fine, because I love books in this genre for the prose, dialogue, swoon-worthy and heartwarming passages and, of course, its characters. Speaking of which...
I absolutely love the hero in this one, a working class doctor who's bright, genuinely compassionate, hardworking and hates most frivolous social niceties as much as I do. The heroine, however, is a vain, snotty social climber. I *love* flawed heroines, but in this case Clare's flaws don't seem to be balanced out by many positive traits, and she doesn't even have a particularly compelling reason for being as awful as she often is. She's not, for example, desperate to marry a rich duke to save her family from destitution or even eager to please her parents. She just wants to be "popular" and cares a lot about appearances, status etc. because...well, because she does. And that's probably realistic in many ways: women of that time were so restricted in what they could do and who they could be. Socializing, husband hunting etc. was one of the few arenas in which they were allowed to 'compete', so it makes sense that some would be intent on winning that particular game. But Clare just seemed so unlikable in ways that weren't even amusing or interesting. Even her 'growth' felt false to me, and when she finally fell for him, it felt like she was doing the hero a favor by deigning to be with him.
Lately my main source of disappointment with romances has been feeling as if most of the wonderful women I read about are far too good for their "heroes", so many of whom are written to be raging jerks for far too much of every novel. While reading this, however, I was continually wishing that this wonderful hero could find someone far kinder and less shallow and snotty than our supposed "heroine."
This one is still worth reading if you're starved for really awesome heroes and decent writing, but just don't expect to find the heroine inspiring or even especially likable :)
I absolutely love the hero in this one, a working class doctor who's bright, genuinely compassionate, hardworking and hates most frivolous social niceties as much as I do. The heroine, however, is a vain, snotty social climber. I *love* flawed heroines, but in this case Clare's flaws don't seem to be balanced out by many positive traits, and she doesn't even have a particularly compelling reason for being as awful as she often is. She's not, for example, desperate to marry a rich duke to save her family from destitution or even eager to please her parents. She just wants to be "popular" and cares a lot about appearances, status etc. because...well, because she does. And that's probably realistic in many ways: women of that time were so restricted in what they could do and who they could be. Socializing, husband hunting etc. was one of the few arenas in which they were allowed to 'compete', so it makes sense that some would be intent on winning that particular game. But Clare just seemed so unlikable in ways that weren't even amusing or interesting. Even her 'growth' felt false to me, and when she finally fell for him, it felt like she was doing the hero a favor by deigning to be with him.
Lately my main source of disappointment with romances has been feeling as if most of the wonderful women I read about are far too good for their "heroes", so many of whom are written to be raging jerks for far too much of every novel. While reading this, however, I was continually wishing that this wonderful hero could find someone far kinder and less shallow and snotty than our supposed "heroine."
This one is still worth reading if you're starved for really awesome heroes and decent writing, but just don't expect to find the heroine inspiring or even especially likable :)
July 23, 2017
This book started out really interesting with a story line that was new to me. A commoner doctor and a highborn lady hoping to become a duchess. He would tend to her injuries, there would be sparks flying, they would fall in love.... that's what I thought going into it.
The first thing that ruined it for me was the heroine. Normally it's an ice princess heroine that ruins it for me.... Not in this case. But she was still a bitchy bitch. A very snobbish, selfish bitch. (at least up until page 207, where I stopped). At more than half-way thru the book, she was still looking down her nose at the hero. I kept asking myself, "why does he like her, what does he even see in her?!" I finally gave up on page 207, where the hero was describing to her and her two siblings how when he was younger, his beloved father had passed away from an amputation gone wrong, and that he bled out, and that the hero felt guilty for holding him down during the surgery, etc. The first response from the heroine? I quote, "You sound as though you miss him." What an idiotic statement. At no point had he spoken ill of his father, so why would he NOT miss him??? Her comment was meant (I believe) in the sense that she was surprised a commoner can have feelings and emotions and miss loved ones. So at that point, an 'oh no you didn't' look came across my face and I told myself that's enough out of her. Such a snobby bitch.
The other thing that was odd.... the heroine's parents. They were written so poorly that it was beyond unrealistic. They were nonexistent, had no idea what their children were up to, and were in general pathetic people.
The first thing that ruined it for me was the heroine. Normally it's an ice princess heroine that ruins it for me.... Not in this case. But she was still a bitchy bitch. A very snobbish, selfish bitch. (at least up until page 207, where I stopped). At more than half-way thru the book, she was still looking down her nose at the hero. I kept asking myself, "why does he like her, what does he even see in her?!" I finally gave up on page 207, where the hero was describing to her and her two siblings how when he was younger, his beloved father had passed away from an amputation gone wrong, and that he bled out, and that the hero felt guilty for holding him down during the surgery, etc. The first response from the heroine? I quote, "You sound as though you miss him." What an idiotic statement. At no point had he spoken ill of his father, so why would he NOT miss him??? Her comment was meant (I believe) in the sense that she was surprised a commoner can have feelings and emotions and miss loved ones. So at that point, an 'oh no you didn't' look came across my face and I told myself that's enough out of her. Such a snobby bitch.
The other thing that was odd.... the heroine's parents. They were written so poorly that it was beyond unrealistic. They were nonexistent, had no idea what their children were up to, and were in general pathetic people.
September 20, 2017
So, I'm pretty sure of the new historical romance authors I've tried in the last couple of weeks, Jennifer McQuiston is my favorite. And I finally listened to the first book in the Seduction Diaries series and I think it's my favorite so far. Everything that was only hinted at in the other two books finally makes sense. (Of course, if I were a normal person, I would have read them in order in the first place, but that's neither here nor there.) I loved Clare and the facade she put on for society while being a wallflower at heart. I loved the little twists and surprises. I especially loved Lady Austerely and Clare's family. But my heart was really all aflutter for Dr. Daniel Merial. There is just something about the common man who seeks to wins a society lady's hand that I adore. It was just such a sincere, lovely story and it kind of makes me want to go back and re-listen to the two subsequent books, even though I just did that last week. :)
April 24, 2015
Following Julia Quinn and the idea of comfort reads, Jennifer McQuiston is another author whose books I can count on to lift up my spirits. I read Diary of an Accidental Wallflower when I was recovering from that procedure in early March and, in true Jennifer McQuiston fashion, for that one moment, I truly forgot my discomfort.
Clare Westmore is the most popular girl of this Season, and she has set her cap on Mr. Charles Alban, heir of the Duke of Harrington. All evidence points to Clare's receiving a proposal before the Season ends, and she is basking in the glory of her near-success.
Until she sprains her foot and is forced to sit out the rest of the Season.
In Jennifer McQuiston's latest offering, she explores the question: What happens to the popular girl when she is no longer popular? It's a relevant question even in our time where a person's value and identity is gauged by how well he/she is accepted in society.
Clare has successfully cultivated her image: she's perfected her conversation, her hair and clothes -- her whole self, in order to snag the most eligible bachelor of the Season. The accident literally sidelines Clare -- and she's finally able to see her social world from the outside in.
And what Clare discovers surprises her. It isn't as disastrous or terrible as she thought it would be. In fact, she finds that there are very good benefits to being a wallflower:
- she can be herself.
- she can see who her real friends are.
- she can keep company with Dr. Daniel Mercer
It's the third benefit that Clare enjoys the most -- but, like all good things, it comes at a price. Clare is the daughter of a viscount, and Daniel is a doctor who serves the Ton. The social divide is wide, and there's more that Clare needs to consider: her family is harboring a deep, dark, potentially-ruinous secret, and one social misstep might mean that the whole house of cards tumble down around Clare, her sister, her brother,and their parents. Marrying well (read: marrying Mr. Alban) would protect Clare and her family.
The gem of this story is Dr. Daniel Mercer. I love how down-to-earth and humble he is, and how he genuinely cared for Lady Austerely's well-being.
It's nice how McQuiston plays with the idea of "noble" and sharply contrasts the behaviour or nobility and one who answered a noble calling -- who is the truly noble one? Which one is more honourable? Is it the one who gained it by virtue of birth? Or the one who earned it?
The relationship that develops between Clare and Daniel is an enlightening one -- Clare learns so much about herself from Daniel. Daniel helps Clare understand her younger siblings better, and to understand herself better -- and to cure her of her snobbery. Daniel helps Clare realise that there is more to a person than a title and wealth
Which leads to the big question for Clare: about what she stands to gain and what she stands to lose if she pursues the relationship with Daniel. It is not a one-sided concern -- there's also a lot at stake for Daniel. Even before their first kiss, questions swirl about Daniel's intentions: is he a fortune-hunting social climber, who will use Clare to further his career? Will he lose his integrity as a doctor if he starts catering to the shallow whims of the titled class?
What seemed like a light and fluffy read now becomes a thoughtful discussion on class, family, and keeping up appearances. In the end, what makes this a wonderful read is how McQuiston balances commentary and romance. At the end of the day, by the final page, this is still a truly soul-satisfying, truly enjoyable love story.
Clare Westmore is the most popular girl of this Season, and she has set her cap on Mr. Charles Alban, heir of the Duke of Harrington. All evidence points to Clare's receiving a proposal before the Season ends, and she is basking in the glory of her near-success.
Until she sprains her foot and is forced to sit out the rest of the Season.
In Jennifer McQuiston's latest offering, she explores the question: What happens to the popular girl when she is no longer popular? It's a relevant question even in our time where a person's value and identity is gauged by how well he/she is accepted in society.
Clare has successfully cultivated her image: she's perfected her conversation, her hair and clothes -- her whole self, in order to snag the most eligible bachelor of the Season. The accident literally sidelines Clare -- and she's finally able to see her social world from the outside in.
And what Clare discovers surprises her. It isn't as disastrous or terrible as she thought it would be. In fact, she finds that there are very good benefits to being a wallflower:
- she can be herself.
- she can see who her real friends are.
- she can keep company with Dr. Daniel Mercer
It's the third benefit that Clare enjoys the most -- but, like all good things, it comes at a price. Clare is the daughter of a viscount, and Daniel is a doctor who serves the Ton. The social divide is wide, and there's more that Clare needs to consider: her family is harboring a deep, dark, potentially-ruinous secret, and one social misstep might mean that the whole house of cards tumble down around Clare, her sister, her brother,and their parents. Marrying well (read: marrying Mr. Alban) would protect Clare and her family.
The gem of this story is Dr. Daniel Mercer. I love how down-to-earth and humble he is, and how he genuinely cared for Lady Austerely's well-being.
It had not escaped his notice that he was one of Lady Austerely's most frequent -- indeed, one of her only -- visitors. Her husband was long dead, and their forty year union had not been blessed with children. The cousin who had inherited her husband's title never came to call.
- Chapter 2
It's nice how McQuiston plays with the idea of "noble" and sharply contrasts the behaviour or nobility and one who answered a noble calling -- who is the truly noble one? Which one is more honourable? Is it the one who gained it by virtue of birth? Or the one who earned it?
The relationship that develops between Clare and Daniel is an enlightening one -- Clare learns so much about herself from Daniel. Daniel helps Clare understand her younger siblings better, and to understand herself better -- and to cure her of her snobbery. Daniel helps Clare realise that there is more to a person than a title and wealth
... "Honestly, Sophie, was it necessary to be so cruel? He's done naught to earn our ire."
"Oh, don't look so glum," Sophie chided. She flicked her fan open and fluttered it lazily below her green eyes. "Truly, the occasional set-down is the best thing all around for him. Have you forgotten the debacle last year, when he had the gall to think you might consider his proposal?" The air rang with her light laughter. "It isn't as though he should harbor hopes for anything beyond the occasional dance where we are concerned."
Clare held her tongue. It was true she had set her sights higher than a proposal from Meeks, but that did not mean she thought it was all right to snub him. There were some in the crowd who thought she should have accepted his proposal, her mother among them. After all, Mr. Meeks had an annual income of two thousand pounds and would one day be a viscount, the same title as her own father. There was potential there, to be sure.
But Sophie had decided, based on some unfathomable criteria only she knew, that Mr. Meeks was not within their sphere.
- Chapter 3
Which leads to the big question for Clare: about what she stands to gain and what she stands to lose if she pursues the relationship with Daniel. It is not a one-sided concern -- there's also a lot at stake for Daniel. Even before their first kiss, questions swirl about Daniel's intentions: is he a fortune-hunting social climber, who will use Clare to further his career? Will he lose his integrity as a doctor if he starts catering to the shallow whims of the titled class?
What seemed like a light and fluffy read now becomes a thoughtful discussion on class, family, and keeping up appearances. In the end, what makes this a wonderful read is how McQuiston balances commentary and romance. At the end of the day, by the final page, this is still a truly soul-satisfying, truly enjoyable love story.
February 21, 2015
I generally enjoy historicals where the hero is of lower station than the heroine. Often there is some delicious angst involved with the forbidden nature of the romance and the hero’s concerns that he isn’t good enough for his lady love. This story doesn’t exactly take that approach, but I ended up liking it, despite a heroine who was something of an acquired taste.
Clare is a lady bent on a prestigious marriage. She has her eye on the heir of a duke and it seems like her dreams are about to come true when she sprains her ankle and is forced to sit out weeks of the season. Daniel is the young doctor who attends her. He is poor, but he is very smart and has a great bedside manner. He is also hopelessly good looking. Clare does not want to see him as a man, but the more house calls he makes –and the more she sees him interact with her unconventional family, it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore his appeal.
Daniel knows he is handsome but it really just gets in his way more often than not. He wants success practicing medicine, even it means treating spoiled ladies who don’t want to take his medical advice. But Clare stirs something in him. He is pleasantly surprised by the intelligence she hides. He enjoys her wit –and her beauty doesn’t hurt. There’s no pining for her, though. It’s all business. Until one day, it’s not.
I think I would have liked a little pining. It’s one of my favorite parts of the trope. Then again, I can’t say that Clare really presented herself as someone worthy of pining over. In the first part of the book, she comes off as very superficial. –Scratch that– she WAS very superficial. Even her brothers and sisters could see it. And speaking of them, I liked both as secondary characters, and I kind of wished the sister, Lucy, would have been a little more developed.
Anyway, the sexual tension is fairly good, and I liked the way the physical payoff played out. I think things worked out a little neatly for Clare in the end, especially considering just how dire the circumstances were that could have ruined her. Daniel was definitely the better person in the relationship and she was lucky to end up with him, in my opinion. Overall, I liked it fairly well, though it didn’t inspire strong emotions in me.
Rating: B/B-
*ARC Provided by Avon
Clare is a lady bent on a prestigious marriage. She has her eye on the heir of a duke and it seems like her dreams are about to come true when she sprains her ankle and is forced to sit out weeks of the season. Daniel is the young doctor who attends her. He is poor, but he is very smart and has a great bedside manner. He is also hopelessly good looking. Clare does not want to see him as a man, but the more house calls he makes –and the more she sees him interact with her unconventional family, it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore his appeal.
Daniel knows he is handsome but it really just gets in his way more often than not. He wants success practicing medicine, even it means treating spoiled ladies who don’t want to take his medical advice. But Clare stirs something in him. He is pleasantly surprised by the intelligence she hides. He enjoys her wit –and her beauty doesn’t hurt. There’s no pining for her, though. It’s all business. Until one day, it’s not.
I think I would have liked a little pining. It’s one of my favorite parts of the trope. Then again, I can’t say that Clare really presented herself as someone worthy of pining over. In the first part of the book, she comes off as very superficial. –Scratch that– she WAS very superficial. Even her brothers and sisters could see it. And speaking of them, I liked both as secondary characters, and I kind of wished the sister, Lucy, would have been a little more developed.
Anyway, the sexual tension is fairly good, and I liked the way the physical payoff played out. I think things worked out a little neatly for Clare in the end, especially considering just how dire the circumstances were that could have ruined her. Daniel was definitely the better person in the relationship and she was lucky to end up with him, in my opinion. Overall, I liked it fairly well, though it didn’t inspire strong emotions in me.
Rating: B/B-
*ARC Provided by Avon
March 16, 2015
4.5 Stars
"I promise you, there are more rewarding and scintillating aspects to my life than wrapping the ankles of spoiled, fashionable young ladies."
It's not often that I come across a between-the-classes historical romance that is low angst, low drama and so well thought out. The setting is the fairly typical Season that involves a lot of plotting, social maneuvering and 'catching' of titled gentlemen. The result is a beautiful, heartfelt romance wherein I genuinely was invested in our main couples' journey.
The dual pov is what makes this story a winner! We get to see nearly two different Londons- from Daniel's eyes, one of poverty, hope and struggle and the other from Clare's eyes, one of careful planning and flitting around balls to snare her 'perfect' husband.
It works all too well that Clare is a typical regency miss. Achieving her 'perfect' marriage is foremost on her mind; but underneath it all, she is an intriguing young woman. Her journey is one of knowing the meaning of happiness, and of choosing to take the alternative path and actually chase it.
"Tonight Daniel had described the imposter, the thief, the poor cousin to her grand dreams. And yet, a part of her soul mourned the loss of the sort of idyll he had described."
When it comes to describing Daniel, there is only one word- dependable. Highly intelligent, realistic and self assured. As a physician for the social elite, he navigates the delicate line between being a 'saviour' to his patients in private, and being avoided for his low status in public. He is bound by the same rules as society, yet he is not one amongst them. Despite of this, he is generous and a huge heart to give. I love that he is serious about being with Clare, even with the odds stacked against him. He is a big part of why I loved this book so much :)
The parent's storyline added another layer to this complex tale. As for Geoffrey and Lucy-they were a delight to read, and I really hope to read their stories in the future!
"I promise you, there are more rewarding and scintillating aspects to my life than wrapping the ankles of spoiled, fashionable young ladies."
It's not often that I come across a between-the-classes historical romance that is low angst, low drama and so well thought out. The setting is the fairly typical Season that involves a lot of plotting, social maneuvering and 'catching' of titled gentlemen. The result is a beautiful, heartfelt romance wherein I genuinely was invested in our main couples' journey.
The dual pov is what makes this story a winner! We get to see nearly two different Londons- from Daniel's eyes, one of poverty, hope and struggle and the other from Clare's eyes, one of careful planning and flitting around balls to snare her 'perfect' husband.
It works all too well that Clare is a typical regency miss. Achieving her 'perfect' marriage is foremost on her mind; but underneath it all, she is an intriguing young woman. Her journey is one of knowing the meaning of happiness, and of choosing to take the alternative path and actually chase it.
"Tonight Daniel had described the imposter, the thief, the poor cousin to her grand dreams. And yet, a part of her soul mourned the loss of the sort of idyll he had described."
When it comes to describing Daniel, there is only one word- dependable. Highly intelligent, realistic and self assured. As a physician for the social elite, he navigates the delicate line between being a 'saviour' to his patients in private, and being avoided for his low status in public. He is bound by the same rules as society, yet he is not one amongst them. Despite of this, he is generous and a huge heart to give. I love that he is serious about being with Clare, even with the odds stacked against him. He is a big part of why I loved this book so much :)
The parent's storyline added another layer to this complex tale. As for Geoffrey and Lucy-they were a delight to read, and I really hope to read their stories in the future!
March 3, 2018
Not a fan of forced kisses, especially if it's a first kiss. They are creepy and not fun at all. I actually liked the hero in the beginning but after this I lost interest. Pretty small thing to dnf over, no doubt, but eh... there are better books out there so why bother?
October 19, 2016
Good story, not so good narration by Lana Weston (audible review)
So this story was good. I really enjoyed it. I liked these two main characters Clare and Daniel together. They ended up making a good couple after a bit of angst between them. A couple of nicely written sex scenes, not erotica not rated G. I absolutely loved her brother and sister! They were a hoot. Funny to the point and I looked forward to all the scenes they were in.
The story line and plot was good. I liked that he was a doctor and inventor. A nice twist to HR instead of a Duke. There was lots of great dialogue throughout the entire book. I love lots of dialogue.
As for the narration. Well, Lana Weston REALLY REALLY needs to work on her men's voices. They all sound like women. At times I had rewind to see who was talking. She also reads a bit slow and needs to speed it up and use a bit more emotion when reading. She does have a nice reading voice that doesn't grate on the ear nerves, so there is that. I want to listen to the next book but I am hesitant because of this narrators mens voices. Sigh..
So this story was good. I really enjoyed it. I liked these two main characters Clare and Daniel together. They ended up making a good couple after a bit of angst between them. A couple of nicely written sex scenes, not erotica not rated G. I absolutely loved her brother and sister! They were a hoot. Funny to the point and I looked forward to all the scenes they were in.
The story line and plot was good. I liked that he was a doctor and inventor. A nice twist to HR instead of a Duke. There was lots of great dialogue throughout the entire book. I love lots of dialogue.
As for the narration. Well, Lana Weston REALLY REALLY needs to work on her men's voices. They all sound like women. At times I had rewind to see who was talking. She also reads a bit slow and needs to speed it up and use a bit more emotion when reading. She does have a nice reading voice that doesn't grate on the ear nerves, so there is that. I want to listen to the next book but I am hesitant because of this narrators mens voices. Sigh..
March 14, 2015
Everybody wants to shine a little bit, even a wallflower. - Phyllis Smith
Clare Westmore is on a mission to charm and marry Mr. Alban, the next Duke of Harrington. As the daughter of a Viscount, she is given entree to London's social season. Clare learns to dress, dance, flirt, and gossip, all in the effort to make the match of the season. Yet she twists her ankle while feeding the ducks in the park with her younger siblings. Despite the injury, Clare insists on attending the ball where she expects to see Mr. Alban. Her injury sidelines her with the other wallflowers but still draws the attention of Dr. Daniel Merial. He comes to her aid when it is apparent that her ankle is painful. Thus begins a dance between two fated lovers as they challenge snobbery between the classes.
McQuiston delivers a heartfelt Victorian romance in which Daniel shines as the humble hero. He sees Clare for the intellectual beauty that she is; he becomes a positive influence on her younger brother; and he inspires her younger sister to act like a lady. Daniel also brings fruit shaped marzipan to cheer Clare during her recovery ... a small gesture that chips away at her facade. Although Clare believes she needs to be an "ornament" to attract a titled husband, she realizes through Daniel that the privileged life may not be her destiny.
McQuiston herself gives readers our own marzipan treat, so to speak. She incorporates her knowledge of medicine, Latin, and animals from her experience as a veterinarian. These tidbits added an extra depth to the story.
Recommended read for fans of historical romance who appreciate a story outside the ballroom.
I purchased DIARY OF AN ACCIDENTAL WALLFLOWER since I enjoyed McQuiston's debut series.
Clare Westmore is on a mission to charm and marry Mr. Alban, the next Duke of Harrington. As the daughter of a Viscount, she is given entree to London's social season. Clare learns to dress, dance, flirt, and gossip, all in the effort to make the match of the season. Yet she twists her ankle while feeding the ducks in the park with her younger siblings. Despite the injury, Clare insists on attending the ball where she expects to see Mr. Alban. Her injury sidelines her with the other wallflowers but still draws the attention of Dr. Daniel Merial. He comes to her aid when it is apparent that her ankle is painful. Thus begins a dance between two fated lovers as they challenge snobbery between the classes.
McQuiston delivers a heartfelt Victorian romance in which Daniel shines as the humble hero. He sees Clare for the intellectual beauty that she is; he becomes a positive influence on her younger brother; and he inspires her younger sister to act like a lady. Daniel also brings fruit shaped marzipan to cheer Clare during her recovery ... a small gesture that chips away at her facade. Although Clare believes she needs to be an "ornament" to attract a titled husband, she realizes through Daniel that the privileged life may not be her destiny.
McQuiston herself gives readers our own marzipan treat, so to speak. She incorporates her knowledge of medicine, Latin, and animals from her experience as a veterinarian. These tidbits added an extra depth to the story.
Recommended read for fans of historical romance who appreciate a story outside the ballroom.
I purchased DIARY OF AN ACCIDENTAL WALLFLOWER since I enjoyed McQuiston's debut series.
February 28, 2016
The book just wasn't that great. The premise was excellent and the characters were poised to blow the readers' mind off but the book didn't have enough steam later on. I kept involuntarily looking for things to distract me while I was reading. A book deserves utmost respect while being read but it just did not encourage such feelings in me.
The two stars are simply for he promising starting and a cute enough end. Everything in between was just nah!
The two stars are simply for he promising starting and a cute enough end. Everything in between was just nah!
March 21, 2020
*unassuming and surprisingly good historical novel and above all very charming with a lot of humor
*amazing character development
* great first by new to me author and I am intrigued by the rest of the series
*amazing character development
* great first by new to me author and I am intrigued by the rest of the series
July 7, 2017
Despite its slow start, it had a sweeping finale. I mean, I'm still awake at 12am, steeping in the glow and happiness. I'm so happy.
March 3, 2021
Loved this story. Funny, witty. A joy to read. First book by this author. Will be reading all her work. I really found this story deligghtful!
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