Here we have the concluding story of the Wallflowers quartet (ok, not quite, there is a Christmas book about a brother that I have already requested from the library even though Mrs. Julien marked it two stars…) and we have arrived at Daisy’s story, our last remaining Wallflower. I’ve had ups and downs with these books this year, but mostly this book ends the series on a good note.
Scandal in Spring shows that Kleypas has learned from her previous outings. I still feel It Happened One Autumn suffered greatly in the pacing department (I was bored, and that’s never okay) this fourth book tempers the drama of the third, The Devil in Winter with the more reasonable pacing and practicality of the delightful first book, Secrets of a Summer Night (beware the beginning of that review, I probably owe the book a rewrite as it has grown on me in the last several months).
Daisy is the final remaining Wallflower and her father is done waiting for her to find a match. Lillian already nailed the most eligible bachelor in England and his business is secure, now he just needs to marry her off. In order to accomplish this goal, he gives Daisy an ultimatum: find a wealthy peer to marry or marry his protégé Matthew Swift. Daisy is not pleased about this idea.
Kleypas balances the unveiling of Matthew as not a bad man like Daisy’s father as well as moving Daisy out of the kid sister side kick role well. So much so that by the time the deed was done and these two were heading in the same direction I was not expecting the capital S scandal which is unleashed on them in the final quarter of the book. Matthew tells us it’s out there, but not what it is, and it’s a big one. This book rounds up to four and not down to three because Kleypas gives the plot time to unravel itself as it should to be even vaguely historically accurate (which she generally is, her 1840s England is recognizably 1840s) even though she doesn’t necessarily give it the page real estate it could have used. These plot points also continue to round out the cast of characters and build some good will towards them.
I’m on board with Lisa Kleypas and will be moving on to her Hawthorne series in 2017.
Scandal in Spring doesn’t often get the love I think it deserves. It’s one of my favorite Kleypas rereads. Daisy is spirited and Matthew is a great hero who adores her.
It’s like the sneak attack of Beatrix and Christopher’s book which I love more and more on each revisit.
I kind of want to read it for that quote alone. No one ever seems to give enough credit to pockets. That’s why we get so excited when we have them in skirts and dresses.
It’s a really sweet scene.
I can loan it to you. It isn’t due back to the library until January 9th, but its in rough condition.
I gave it two stars? That’s insane. I really liked Matthew and Daisy.
No you gave two stars to the Christmas one that follows… You gave Daisy and Matthew 4 stars. :)
Phew!
Ya, that Christmas one suuuucks.