Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas
on April 20, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Historical / Victorian
Pages: 400
Goodreads

From the New York Times bestselling author of Devil
in Disguise, the first book in her beloved Wallflowers series.

The Wallflowers: four
young ladies at the side of the ballroom make a pact to help each other find
husbands . . . no matter what it takes.
Proud and beautiful
Annabelle Peyton could have her pick of suitors—if only she had a dowry. Her
family is on the brink of disaster, and the only way Annabelle can save them is
to marry a wealthy man. Unfortunately her most persistent admirer is the brash
Simon Hunt, a handsome and ambitious entrepreneur who wants her as his
mistress.

Annabelle is
determined to resist Simon's wicked propositions, but she can't deny her
attraction to the boldly seductive rogue, any more than he can resist the challenge
she presents. As they try to outmaneuver each other, they find themselves
surrendering to a love more powerful than they could have ever imagined. But
fate may have other plans—and it will take all of Annabelle's courage to face a
peril that could destroy everything she holds dear.

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas is book 1 in The Wallflower series. I have to say that Kleypas is one of my very favorite authors. In this series, four friends are experiencing very little luck on the marriage mart of London. Together they make a pact to assist each other in securing husbands. This first book is about the golden beauty Annabelle Peyton. Annabelle, though a true Venus to look upon, has no dowry and so many men have avoided her. But her family is in dire straits financially and so she must find a way to wed a wealthy man. Simon Hunt is a crass, brash successful merchant-class businessman who has enjoyed rubbing the aristocracy’s collective noses in his wealth. He and Annabelle have a combustible relationship, but he has a way of tenderly looking after her that is heartfelt and touching.

Kleypas is a master of the slow build romance, taking her sweet time and drawing the reader along. I absolutely love this series and the transformation of the characters.