What a Wallflower Wants

Bad Boys & Wallflowers, Book 3

By: Maya Rodale

Narrated by: Carolyn Morris

In the third novel in Maya Rodale's charming Wallflower series, London's Least Likely to Be Caught in a Compromising Position finds temptation in a devilishly handsome stranger.

Miss Prudence Merryweather Payton has a secret.

Everyone knows that she's the only graduate from her finishing school to remain unwed on her fourth season - but no one knows why. With her romantic illusions shattered after being compromised against her will, Prudence accepts a proposal even though her betrothed is not exactly a knight in shining armor. When he cowardly pushes her out of their stagecoach to divert a highwayman, she vows never to trust another man again.

John Roark, Viscount Castleton, is nobody's hero.

He's a blue-eyed charmer with a mysterious past and ambitious plans for his future - that do not include a wife. When he finds himself stranded at a country inn with a captivating young woman, a delicate dance of seduction ensues. He knows he should keep his distance. And he definitely shouldn't start falling in love with her.

When Prudence's dark past comes back to haunt her, John must protect her - even though he risks revealing his own secrets that could destroy his future.

©2014 Maya Rodale (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

I didn't want this to end

I enjoyed this a great deal.

It's no spoiler to say this book involves a rape and the psychological effects it has on our heroine. I think it's handled well and poor Prudence is lucky to meet Castleton and their relationship is quite a ride! Maya Rodale writes a delightfully witty story that tugs at emotional strings before it ends.

The narration was wonderful! I want more of Maya Rodale and these wallflowers.

Loved this book!

What made the experience of listening to What a Wallflower Wants the most enjoyable?

The narrator was amazing, first off. The story was unique and engaging, which I've found is incredibly rare in historical romances. It can be easy to find engaging historical romances, but I've noticed very few authors stray from the path of cliched plots and characters. I'm very happy I've discovered another one that isn't afraid to create their own story.

What other book might you compare What a Wallflower Wants to and why?

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. The story couldn't be more different in so many ways, but as I was listening to Rodale's book I kept thinking back to Millay.

*Spoiler Alert*
Both these stories deal with the aftermath of rape/attack, and both had an incredible empowering undercurrent through out.

Have you listened to any of Carolyn Morris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I heard the first novel in the series. She's excellent, I'll be looking into more novels she's narrated.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moments where Prudence reclaimed her body and her identity, then her strength to find happiness despite of the oppression of her time.

Any additional comments?

Okay, so here's the thing with Rodale's novels from what I've experienced. These books are NOT historically accurate and the characters don't fit all too well into their time period.

This can be very distracting. When you listen to these stories, you really have to listen to them the way you would listen to a dystopian or science fiction novel; otherwise, it'll drive you insane.

However, the characters and plots are so good, it's worth excusing the inaccuracies. At least it is to me. I definitely recommend at least giving them a try.

Needs a SA trigger warning

Great book but I wasn’t expecting the SA to be as descriptive as it was. The author did a great job portraying how it impacts the victim, physically and mentally, for many years.

AMAZING, WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC!!

WOW what an amazing story! Loved it! I couldn't put this book down it was so good. The story line was fantastic, the hero, Castleton was wonderful, handsome, kind, smart, and sexy. The heroine, Prudence was just wonderful, especially after what she went through. She was strong, witty, and just beautiful. The dialogue was wonderful throughout the entire book. The chemistry between to them was great. Some of the best written good sex\yes sex I have read.

I totally recommend this entire series. I can't say enough good things about this book! This book made it to the top of one of my favorite books list for sure!

As for the narration. It was fantastic. I love Carolyn Morris' narration. She puts the perfect amount of emotion and feeling into her narrations, all the men sound like men and the hero always sounds like a sexy man! She gives everyone their own distinct voice. Perfect narrator for historical romance novels by far!

Refreshing!

Would you listen to What a Wallflower Wants again? Why?

Absolutely. The characters were wonderful. They both stayed true to who they were and they managed to build a strong relationship by working through real issues. I highly recommend this book. The narrator was perfect.

Which scene was your favorite?

The first time they are intimate with each other is one of the most romantic love scenes I have read.

Any additional comments?

This book deals with some very sensitive issues. I loved it, but the story may not be for everyone.

Hated to see it end.

I really loved the first book in this series, and this one was just as good.

Prude Prudence is desperate to find a husband before the big school ball. As a last resort, she goes to Bath with her aunt to avoid the embarrassment of being the only graduate to not be married by her fourth season. There she meets a man who has no interest in being with a woman, but who also needs to marry. They run off together to do the deed, but the coach they are in is attacked by highway men.

Separated from her fiance, Prudence ends up walking for miles in the woods to escape. Eventually, she comes to a road, and meets Castleton, a young nobleman with a carriage, who offers to give her a ride to the next village. She can't accept his help. She really, really wants to, but she just can't. Why? No spoilers here -- this is Pru's story to tell.

Eventually, Pru finds her way to the inn where Castleton is waiting. He's been very worried, and hated to leave the well bred young lady alone on the road, but she insisted, and a gentleman always accedes to the desires of a lady.

As a powerful rain storm strands the couple for several days, they form a tentative friendship that naturally turns into love. The way this is written is beautiful and delicate and sweet, and I loved it.

There are villians and a HEA, and while Pru's friends eventually play a part, it is her relationship with Castleton that forms the basis of the story and I really enjoyed that. They are both beautifully written characters, but as a hero, he is superb. I hated to see this book end.

Carolyn Morris is rapidly becoming my favorite HR narrator. She does such a wonderful job with this series that I know I will re-listen many times in years to come. She and Maya Rodale make a great team.

Enjoy!




Warning: SLIGHT SPOILER

My only caveat is a page long description of a remembered rape scene. I am fortunate enough to have never experienced that kind of assault, but for women who have that trigger, I would advise caution when you get to that passage. It's short, but it upset me enough that I fast forwarded over it. It went by quickly and did not detract from the lovely story of a young woman overcoming a traumatic event with the help of a caring man who understands what she's going through. Those moments between them are very special, and no to be missed.

Fabulous end (unfortunately) to the trilogy.

I have loved ALL of Maya Rodales books on Audible. In this one we venture into the life and life's history of Prudence, the last unwed wallflower in a lovable bouquet. I found the serious depths of this book were colored with soft yet seriously sincere brush strokes. The loving hand of Maya Rodale kept the humorous joy of the trilogy alive even while embarking on such a journey. I would encourage everyone to learn from this book as well as love it. I give it my heartiest recommendation! I dearly love a good historical romance with a HEA.... (happily ever after).

CREDITWORTHY? A very emphatic YES!!!
(did I mention that this was also the 2nd time I have listened to it?)

NARRATOR : Carolyn Morris brought every character to life while keeping each character from all the other books singularly alive. To know who is speaking even when hearing a voice from another book is an amazing feat! She deserves high praise indeed. From cadence to intonation and everything else I have not even a hint of complaint.

HEAT FACTOR?: For this book that it a difficult thing to put into words. With simmering moments and a singular VERY steamy scene there was also a very graphic and violent one. ( I don't feel that that fact is a spoiler as it is presented immediately. ) So as for heat factor I have to say both hot and cold and leave it for you to decide.

loved it!

This series is the first I've listened to by this author. I plan to listen to many more, especially if Carolyn Morris narrarate them.

The first book was funny. The second was slightly less funny, but a really cute story. This book was not funny. It was much more serious, but was absolutely beautiful and inspiring. Loved this story and how everything turned out.

Not a lighthearted romance

I liked this book very much, and it was a thought-provoking read. But, it deals with some fairly dark subject matter, and doesn't really fit with the first two books in the series because of that.

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SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

The h is raped several years before the main story takes place, and she has never told anyone, not even her dearest friends. She becomes more serious, avoids men, and lives her life in fear of being assaulted again.

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It's a very well written book, and there is certainly room for stories like this in Regency/Victorian romance novels. But a bit more of a heads up in the blurb would have been welcome.

I like the inner journey our h embarks upon, and I like what she becomes in the end. It's an interesting and worthwhile book, and I do recommend it.

unsure

I was a bit nervous about the rape plot line. However, it was handled beautifully. Loved the book